Volume 4 - CH 2

Part 1

A very sunny early afternoon──

Diablo extended his leg out a bit and stepped into the 《Kohigashi Forest》.

He was further east than where Shera made her contract with her Summoned Beast before.

This time, only Rem and Shera were accompanying him.

No matter how disguised they were, he didn’t want to take Krum and Edelgart, who had no business here, along through the gate.

──It’s been awhile since we acted with just the three of us.

At the inn, they were together with Krum and Edelgart, and as usual, Diablo didn’t have any quests that were big enough to make him go out, and it was all left to Rem and Shera.

They came out to an open grassland slope.

A gentle wind blowed.

There was a grassy scent.

Going *U～～～n!*, Shera raised both arms and stretched out.

「This place feels so good!」

「……I agree.」

Rem nodded. The two never ceased to quarrel over things, but now they got along and smiled.

「Ehehe, Rem, you feel the same way.」

「Fufu……It is pretty rare though.」

「Makes you want to sunbath in the nude, doesn’t it～」

「Fuahー!? I don’t, you perverted Elf!」

「Ehh!? There’s no point if you sunbath wearing clothes, right!?」

「To begin with, your way of thinking of stripping outdoors is strange!」

「It’s not embarrassing because it’s sunbathing, you know!?」

「Nude is nude! Unbelievable!」

With just their races and rearing being different, the gap in their lifestyle customs seemed to be deeply vast.

Diablo spotted a decayed tree that collapsed on the ground.

「Fumu, I suppose this is good enough.」

Shera clung onto him.

「Diablo, what do you think!? Sunbathing with wearing clothes is just weird, right!?」

Rem glared at him with reproachful eyes.

「……Diablo, please tell it to her. Something like undressing outdoors, she does not have enough of a sense of danger.」

「You two really do like to fight. From here on, I am going to test out a new magic. Do not get in my way.」

Seeming to have forgotten the quarrel that they were having up until now, both Rem and Shera now had faces full of interest.

「……And what kind might it be?」

「By new, what kind is it!?」

「It is 《Flight Magic》. However, because I reflect all magic, I have to make an object the target and try to ride that.」

In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, that sort of thing wasn’t possible. However, the application range of magic in this other world was vast. It was worth testing.

There was the possibility that the result of the experiment wouldn’t turn out well.

But, their relationship wouldn’t break from just a failed experiment──their relationship had accumulated enough to make him think that. That is why he explained his intentions ahead of time.

In the game, Diablo possessed equipment that was bestowed with Flight-type Magic, but since he was inside a dungeon when he was summoned to this other world, he didn’t have it on.

His other equipment was within his 《Warehouse》.

In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, there was a system called the 《Warehouse》.

Since it wasn’t something that was handheld , it couldn’t be used immediately at one’s destination, but it was possible to retain an enormous amount of items with it.

A countless number of super-rare items whose acquisition method were unknown even in this world were stored within Diablo’s 《Warehouse》.

──When I try to remember the game’s settings, it probably should be within my dungeon’s treasury.

In Cross Reverie, a peculiar plot of land would be granted to Players that raised military gains that went over a fixed amount. Diablo constructed that peculiar space into a Demon King-like dungeon.

Its location was in the western direction, and was close to a town in the Demon King territory.

He thought about it before but──it might be good to try and search for it at least once.

Thinking about it normally, it was probably reasonable to come to the conclusion that “only I was summoned to this other world from the game”.

However, his own dungeon might exist, is the reason that Diablo thought of.

It seemed that the 《Demon King of the Brain Enkvalos》 existed in this world just like the game. It was already defeated, but it is unknown who subjugated it.

The first one to defeat Enkvalos in Cross Reverie was Diablo.

He had done it in the game, but there was also the possibility that it bestowed an effect in this world.

He didn’t know the reason behind it.

However, to begin with, since the paranormal event of “being summoned to another world with the appearance of his game character” had occurred, it wouldn’t be strange if “the dungeon he created in the game existed” as well.

Putting his speculations aside, he returned his focus to his original objective.

Diablo touched fallen decayed tree with the tip of the 《Staff of Tenma》.

The range was through contact.

And then, the time it took until it activated was excessively long.

Putting it honestly, it wasn’t a magic that could be used in the middle of battle. This was exclusively used when moving about the map.

In Cross Reverie, when Flight-type means of travel──whether it be through magic, through sky flying Summoned Beasts, or through that sort of item──is unusable, there was a step that wouldn’t allow one to advance ahead.

In other words, obtaining a means of travel was a test for beginners.

──To think I would experience this test a second time.

Diablo chanted the magic.

「Change your location according to my will──《Adzet》」

The decayed tree slowly rised up.

It unsteadily shook, as if it were being hung up through the use of a crane.

Rem and Shera raised their voices.

「It, it’s floating!?」

「Fuwah, amazing! It’s floating! It’s floating!!」

「……To think that this magic existed.」

「It’s amazing, isn’t itー. Incredible!」

「……Diablo really exceeds our common knowledge quite easily.」

「Amaーzing!」

It was embarrassing for them to be that astonished. Above all, the main part was going to happen from here.

「You’re in the way. You two, step back a bit.」

Since it was dangerous, he asked the two of them to keep at a distance.

Diablo placed a hand on the decayed tree that floated at waist height.

The tattered surface crumbled.

It might be more rotten than he thought.

He climbed onto the decayed tree.

In the game, Diablo was a level 150 Adventurer. Since he possessed physical strength that separated from that of an ordinary person at that level, it was surprisingly easy.

It shook.

「Uu……!?」

Since this was a magic experiment, there would probably be some failures. That was fine. He didn’t think that he would lose any trust from the two of them from a failed experiment.

However, he wanted to avoid an unsightly result.

Slipping off from the floating decayed tree, or half rotating the moment he got on, those sort of skit-like displays would be too comical.

Diablo carefully took his balance.

It was unstable, but he was somehow able to stand on top of the decayed tree without falling.

──Alright! It’s floating!

Since it was only at waist height, as things were, it wasn’t “flight” but “floating” though……But even so, being suspended away from the ground was enough for Rem and Shera to receive a shock.

The experiment was a success!

Diablo made a fist pump in his mind.

Nonetheless, its usefulness was lacking like this. There wasn’t much of a difference from standing on top of a rock. A horse was probably better.

「I guess I’ll try raising it up a bit more.」

He tried moving the floating decayed tree in the air. First was to move it to a slightly higher spot──so that it would be at a level where he wouldn’t die even if he were to fall, he tried raising it by about three meters.

It slowly raised up. It unsteadily shook, but it wasn’t enough to make him fall.

──Can it still keep on going?

It climbed even higher.

Even if it was obstructed by the foliage of the many trees, the view from a high place was fresh and enjoyable. It felt as if he was viewing things from an observation deck or a ferris wheel.

「Ooh……This is good.」

「Waah! Diablo, amaーzing!」

Shera was in high spirits and looked like a child.

Rem looked worried.

「……Um, since this is the first trial, please don’t overdo it.」

「I know.」

However, as he grew accustomed to it, the slight shaking made it feel as if it were a boat floating on the water’s surface, it instead felt pretty good.

It wasn’t bad as an amusement activity. Though, if it was going to be used as a means of travel, he would need to be able to move it more freely.

It rose even higher. When it got even higher than the surrounding trees, the wind became stronger.

It was easy for him to lose balance whenever it moved in any direction, so he was pretty nervous.

Was moving up and down like an elevator in a place with little wind the only safe thing to do? It looked like using this as a transport would be accompanied by danger.

──It would be a relief if a lifeline were to be attached, but something like a Demon King that goes with safety first……That’s different from my image of Demon Kings.

「Nn?」

When he casually looked to the east, a part of the forest shined.

「What’s that? A light?」

At first, it was a tiny spot, but then it started to extend straight up to the sky.

It pierced through the clouds, and went even higher.

「C, could it be……that’s……is that magic power!?」

The magic power turned into a pillar of light and pierced the sky.

Shera seemed to have noticed as well, as she started to make a fuss.

Since Rem couldn’t see magic power, she tilted her head.

Diablo once again confirmed the location.

──Is that a bit too far to walk?

Since it would be slower than normal after advancing through the forest, it would most likely take more than an hour on foot.

It was still unstable, but he decided to try going there with Flight Magic just like this.

Diablo called out to the two that were on the ground.

「Rem! Shera! I will go check things out just like this!」

「Eh～～～!? Take me alongー!!」

「……Let’s do as he says, Shera……We would become a hindrance if something were to happen.」

「Puー」

──Sorry. Since I’m in the middle of practice, it would be dangerous if a girl were to get on and I lost my balance.

「Fuh, go and head back to town ahead of me!」

Manipulating the decayed tree with Flight Magic, he approached the pillar of light.

Since he should no longer be seen by Rem and Shera, he got on his stomach and clung onto the decayed tree.

「So scary……」

It should have been at the speed of a bicycle, but it shook a lot.

If he wanted to, he should have been able to raise the speed even more, but he would certainly be thrown off.

──To be flying through the sky in another world, I thought I would be having a more pleasant reaction like 「Wah～～～!! Incre～～～dible!!」 with a more excited feeling but……

That’s absolutely impossible!

Holding onto the vibrating decayed tree so that he wouldn’t be thrown off took all of his might.

He didn’t have the leeway to look at the scenery.

It was because it was a pretty high place, but it was also because the crosswind was strong. In that case, he thought that it might be fine if he flew at a lower position but……

It wouldn’t stabilize at any height, and when he approached the standing trees, he could only come into contact with the branches.

He was some how able to get close to the pillar of light.

──I knew it, it’s magic power itself.

He was astonished.

According to Diablo’s impressions, a normal Magician──Rem for example, possessed a cupful of magical power. That’s why Summoned Beasts can be manipulated by using that magical power efficiently.

He himself had something like a bathtub’s worth of magical power.

This pillar of light was a torrent of magical power that was many times larger than Diablo’s magical power. The only thing that could release something like this was someone like Krum (Demon King Krebskrum) who has a bottomless amount of magical power.

That genuine Demon King should be eating snacks with Edelgart in town around this time.

The attribute was also different.

Part 2

Kami-samaaaa──is what he heard a girl shout out.

*Gushari* He crushed something gigantic.

Maybe there was something below him.

Thanks to that, Diablo was let off without receiving much damage.

At his feet, there was the familiar fallen decayed tree.

Also, there were fragments or pieces of meat of something that seemed plant-like yet animal-like scattered about.

「What is this……Eh!?」

Casually looking to the side, Diablo doubted his own eyes.

There was an extremely beautiful girl.

Her transparent like platinum blonde hair gently waved, and her hazel eyes seemed to suck him in. Her skin was smooth enough to seem like even the skin of the Elves could compare, and her physique had an exquisite balance between mature beauty and an innocent cuteness.

Moreover, she was nude.

It seemed that she wore a dress, but it was destroyed to the point that she could pretty much be considered naked.

The beautiful girl with such an appearance was sitting on the ground. Her legs were opened and facing his way. Her hands were at her back side and supporting her upper body.

The extremely beautiful girl was almost completely naked.

──Was she sunbathing!?

There’s no way that was the case.

The thin cloth that continued its final resistance gently fell, making it so that she was exposed right down to her important spot.

*Gokuri* Diablo made a gulp.

In a bright place like this, this was his first time seeing a “girl” right in front of him. Moreover, she was an extremely beautiful girl. Even though this was their first time meeting.

While tears came out from the corners of her eyes, she asked him a question.

「…………Ka, Kami-sama……is that you?」

So she called him “Kami-sama”. Come to think of it, he did hear her shout out 「Kami-samaaaa!」, didn’t he?

──This is bad. Is she a girl whose head is a bit screwy!?

Just as he was being bewildered with what was going on, a man raised a shriek from behind him.

「Ahhhhhh──!? My darling 《Beast Mushroom》!?」

「Muh?」

On that guy’s armor, there was a familiar crest engraved on it.

──This guy, so he’s a Holy Knight.

「You, how could just suddenly fall from the sky like that!? What will you do about my darling 《Beast Mushroom》!? Even though there was only one of them!」

At Diablo’s feet, the fragments of the scattered about plant-like thing vanished and turned into a darkened crystal.

It seemed to be a Summoned Beast.

「Hmph……As if I care about your mushroom.」

When he said such easily understandably hostile words, it showed that even Diablo was getting the mood.

He completely forgot the fact that he misjudged the effect time of the Flight Magic and crashed, and majestically glared at the Holy Knight.

I am the Demon King of another world, Diablo, got it! is what he was going to continue with, but the young girl’s voice interrupted him.

「Kami-sama!」

「Wh, what……?」

When he turned around, the beautiful girl was prostrating herself to him in the nude.

She was tightly grasping the holy symbol used in the Church in her hand.

「Ahh, you have finally appeared in front of me! I have always only heard your voice, and since I could not see your figure, I felt so lonely! This Lumachina Weselia, has given my prayers to you this whole time!」

「I, I don’t really care but, wouldn’t it be better for you to wear some clothes?」

「Eh?」

Finally, it seems that she noticed her own appearance.

She hid her breast and waist with her hands.

「Kyaaaaaahhhhh～～～～～!? D, don’t look, please don’t look, Kami-sama!」

Her face went bright red.

Even Diablo’s cheeks went hot.

──Kami-sama she says? Is she saying that to me?

At the very least, the one that this young girl called Lumachina was prostating to in the nude was unmistakably Diablo.

──I don’t get what she means.

However, there was no mistake that she was embarrassed.

Diablo took off his mantle, the 《Curtain of Dark Clouds》, and presented it to Lumachina.

「Use this.」

「ッ!? Ah, thank you very much……To have clothes lent to me by Kami-sama……I, I am too blessed……」

Lumachina preciously wrapped her body with the black mantle. A so-called naked mantle. It couldn’t help that that in itself was a bit erotic.

*Han!* The Holy Knight snorted his nose.

「Whaat God! This guy is just some vile Demon! He reeks so much that I can’t stand it. At best, he just jumped down from atop the trees or something!」

「Hmph……You’re wrong. I am──」

「He is Kami-sama! I can tell! My prayers got through to heaven!」

──Girls really don’t listen to what people say!

Still, did she say “prayers”?

He was preoccupied by the girl’s good looks and nude body but……

Once he gathered his senses, he saw that magical power was overflowing from the girl. Right now, it wasn’t enough to create a pillar of light, but evenso, a gigantic flow of magical power could be seen.

It seems that there was no mistake that that pillar of light sprung forth from this young girl called Lumachina.

「Please be careful, Kami-sama. That person called Geibalt is a sinful person unworthy of being a believer, but I estimate his abilities to be very high!」

「No, like I was saying, I am not some God……」

The Holy Knight Geibalt raised a loud voice.

「AHHH, I don’t care anymore! Just as I was going to get her, you went and crushed my darling 《Beast Mushroom》! I’m pissed off now! No playing around. I will murder the both of you!」

Diablo tilted his head.

「What is the meaning of this? I had heard that Holy Knights were envoys of the Church and killed Demon King Worshippers though? Does this one called Lumachina not have a deep faith in God?」

The girl that was hiding her body with Diablo’s mantle right now, hadn’t let go of only her holy symbol even when she had become naked earlier. She was deeply religious to the point of being a bit abnormal.

Geibalt laughed through his nose.

「There’s no way I know about the decisions of the guys of the Church, would there!? Since I was ordered to kill her, I’ll kill her! I don’t need any reason other than that!」

「I see……So it was something like that. You’re no different than a mercenary.」

「I’m completely different. I’m a lot more expensive!」

──So he’s aware of it.

Geibalt threw a crystal at the ground.

A Summoned Beast!

A worm appeared.

「Fumu……It’s a level 60 《Hunter Worm》.」

As expected of a Holy Knight. Saadra, who he fought against before, was the same, but he is on a different scale from the Adventurers in Faltra City.

However, it was no match for Diablo.

He readied the 《Staff of Tenma》.

「I need Wind for the Earth attribute. 《Aero……」

However, he wasn’t able to complete the spell.

The ground underneath his feet collapsed.

「What!?」

「Kyaaaah──────!?」

A gaping wide hole opened in the ground. Not only Diablo, even the young girl fell into the hole.

From the bottom of the hole, a gigantic mouth drew near.

──A level 80 《Trap Worm》!?

Moreover, a simultaneous summoning!

This Holy Knight Geibalt or whatever, despite his boorish speech and conduct, he was rather strong.

Diablo’s mouth spontaneously turned into a smile.

「Don’t underestimate my AGI!」

While kicking the edge of the 《Trap Worm》’s open mouth and jumping, he grabbed the naked mantle young girl──Lumachina, who had fallen together with him.

She was a girl that was a bit of a pain, but as expected, it would be too pitiful to not save her and let her be eaten by the worm.

Diablo took the young girl along and broke out from the hole.

The Holy Knight Geibalt shouted.

「You’re good, Demon! But with this──ッ!!」

The 《Hunter Worm》 was already approaching.

「If it weren’t like this, it would be mere child’s play. Burst apart! 《Aero Shredder》!」

The approaching Summoned Beast was wrapped up in a green flash, and a thunderous roar was raised.

Pieces of meat flew about.

It returned to being a darkened crystal.

Geibalt opened his eyes wide in astonishment.

「What……in the……world? Th, that’s……the highest grade Chemical Element Magic of the Wind attribute, isn’t it!?」

「Hou, so you knew about it.」

After the limit is broken through, even stronger magic can be learned though.

「Of course I know about it. There is a Holy Knight that can use is as well.」

「Wasn’t Chemical Element Magic weak and out of the question to you all?」

「……Yes, it’s weak……But it’s different when mastered. If it’s about firepower in a single attack, Chemical Element Magic exceeds all others.」

「So you’ve studied it well.」

He was a bit happy.

It seems that the guys that grew close to the level limit have reached the same assessment as the game.

「But you know what, Demon? There’s no way you could fire off such extreme magic that many times, got it!? I still have a lot of Summoned Beasts!」

「Hmph……If you’re fine with something at the level of 《Aero Shredder》, I have enough leeway to fire around 100 of them, you know?」

「D, don’t go making a lie like that!」

「Do not measure me by your standards, you novice.」

Why is it that people decide “because they can’t do something then no one else in the world can do something”.

Come to think of it, even in the MMORPG Cross Reverie’s strategy guide BBS, when a statement that said “since 《Bloody Dance》 can be seen, it’s possible to evade” was posted, they were called a liar.

Something like that is easy!

Since Diablo was also bad at writing, he didn’t make any comments but……

To not dodge after seeing an attack that had six frames (0.1 seconds) from the start of the motion to the occurrence of the attack, how foolish.

Already begin evasion operations the moment you’ve already noticed the attack──deny it after you’ve done at least that much practice, is what he thought.

It’s no good while one’s fingers were doing human movements. The operations of extreme Players, an ordinary person’s eyes becomes unable to keep up with them. There are robots that construct machines at a factory, but having movements with no uselessness in them like that is the ideal.

──If you want to win, then stop being human!

Diablo pointed the 《Staff of Tenma》 towards Geibalt.

「I am also busy you see……I have no interest in keeping all of your Summoned Beasts company. The weakness of Summoners, is that you are weak against ranged attacks! 《Cross Blizzard》!!」

Two tornadoes sprung forth.

All that touched them were frozen over, and on top of that, they were smashed to pieces due to the winds.

Immediately after the standing trees were changed into ice sculptures, they were turned into very small fragments.

It was a magic that was learned at level 110. For guys that haven’t broken through the limit, they probably didn’t even know that it existed.

Geibalt grimaced.

「Wh, wha……What in the world is thaaaattttt──────ッ!?」

The fragments of ice fluttered about, and brought about a wondrous spectacle.

The enemy’s scream was drowned out by the tornadoes’ winds.

There was only the rumbling sound of the wind.

After Diablo’s group had taken their leave──

The frozen ground caved in.

A hole opened up.

What appeared was a 《Trap Worm》.

*Peh* It spat something out.

What tumbled onto the ground, was the Holy Knight Geibalt.

「Ueeegh～～～! The inside of a Worm, stinnnnkssss～～～～～!! That damned Demon, I’ll crush his balls!」

Also, there was another──

She looked unconscious and was covered in blood, but the female Holy Knight had also tumbled onto the frozen ground.

Part 3

「Tolia!!」

*Gaba* Lumachina sprang up.

She saw a dream where the female Holy Knight that allowed her to escape had fallen into a hole in the ground.

──Nuh-uh, that wasn’t a dream.

Lumachina turned her gaze towards her own body. She was wearing a light brown hemp one piece that is often seen in towns. She was secretly relieved that she wasn’t naked.

And then, she surveyed her surroundings.

It was an unfamiliar room.

There were inorganic stone walls, and a wooden board ceiling that looked like it would leak. On the wall, the flame of a candle swayed, and that was the only light source.

Appearing to already be nighttime, the outside that could be seen from the small window was pitch dark.

If there wasn’t anyone else in the room, she probably would have thought that she was placed into a prison, and would have felt anxious.

In the vicinity of the bed, there were two girls──an Elf and a Pantherian.

The Elf brought her face near.

Her chest was excessively big, but going by her long ears and her countenance, she should be an Elf.

「Waah, she woke up! Thank goodnessー」

「……Are you alright? We did some medical treatment to the gashes on your legs, but are there any other places that hurt?」

Possessing black ears, tail, and hair, she was a rare black panther type Pantherian. She looked at her face with a worried look.

「Eh? Ah, erm……」

The two of them were beautiful, or rather, really cute.

However, the iron rings on their necks──She was worried about the things that were most likely 《Slave Chokers》 that were attached to them.

The young Pantherian girl uneasily asked her some questions.

「……Could it be that your memories are in disorder? What is your name?」

「My name is……」

Her absentminded head rapidly became clear.

「Ah, it is Lumachina Weselia. It’s alright, I properly remember it.」

「……Thank goodness. I am Rem Galeu. As you can see, I am a Pantherian, and I work as an Adventurer.」

「And I’m Shera! I’m an Elf!」

「……Lumachina, this is a bit sudden but……there are a lot of things I would like for you to explain but……above all, there is one important question I have for you.」

Since Rem’s expression was all too serious, Lumachina became nervous.

「Wh, what might that be?」

「……Diablo didn’t do anything strange to you, did he? More specifically, things like touching this and that, or pinching you, or licking you, or doing, um……*mutter mutter* with his fingers……」

As she was talking, Rem blushed, and her voice became quieter.

Lumachina also looked like fire would come out from her face.

She properly remembered that she was saved from a dangerous spot while she was completely naked.

「B, by Diablo, do you mean the Kami-sama that saved me? In that case, of course, I swear that he absolutely did not commit s, such filthy taboos.」

She didn’t know about when she lost consciousness, but there was no way Kami-sama would commit such crimes.

Going *Fuu～～～*, Rem breathed a deep sigh.

「……Thank goodness.」

「Ahaha! We were really surprised when Diablo came carrying Lumachina-chan back. We thought that he attacked you.」

「……That’s unbelieveable, is what I thought but……since we couldn’t completely deny it, I was worried that something had happened.」

「Diablo, at times he does nothing but say “ah, yeah”, doesn’t he.」

「……For some reason, there are times where he dislikes saying words. It really is troubling.」

This time, Lumachina made a question.

「Um, you girls, what sort of relationship do you have with Kami-sama?」

「……Who do you mean by Kami-sama? Are you talking about Diablo?」

Rem made a verification, and Lumachina nodded.

「The personage that rescued me.」

Shera held her own choker.

「Ya see, Diablo is, our owner I guess.」

「No way!? Kami-sama has slaves!?」

「You’re wrongー. This isn’t a 《Slave Choker》, it’s a 《Slavery Choker》. Erm, when we summoned a Demon King at 《Starfall Tower》, thanks to his Magic Reflection……」

She did her best in her own way to give an explanation, but Lumachina couldn’t really understand it.

Rem made a summary.

「Diablo is, the leader of our Adventurer party, and a companion.」

「Is that, so.」

──Kami-sama is a companion? An Adventurer?

She made a verification just to be sure.

「Um……The personage called Diablo, he is Kami-sama, isn’t he?」

「……He is a Chemical Element Magician. He’s outlandishly strong.」

「He always says “I am the Demon King of another world”.」

Lumachina held her head.

「Th, the one that saved me should have been Kami-sama……If he wasn’t, then I’ll be troubled……」

「……And why is that?」

Rem tilted her head.

While blushing, Lumachina muttered.

「It’s because……my skin……was seen.」

「……What about it?」

Shera blurted out 「We also show that normally, right?」, and was hit by Rem.

There was something that had been decided in Lumachina’s heart.

「The only one that one’s skin can be shown to, is the gentleman that will be their partner.」

「……Ha?」

「Like I said, if the personage that is called Diablo isn’t Kami-sama, then I believe that we will have to become a couple. 」

Rem’s tail stood straight up.

「Fuahー!? What are you getting all excited on your own for!? You naked mantle girl!」

「Th, that’s right, you need to properly protect the order of things! First, would be me, right!?」

「EHH, what do you mean by that!? Rem-san and Shera-san, you are only Adventurer party members, aren’t you!?」

Rem turned her gaze away.

「……That’s right.」

「W, well, that might be? But, I think that Diablo likes big ones.」

*Munyu* Shera held up her chest with both hands.

As they were talking about such things, the Diablo in question entered the room.

Part 4

The ones that were in the room were Diablo, Rem, and Shera.

And then, Lumachina, who had been laid down on the bed, now had her upper body raised up.

Since Lumachina’s background was unknown, Krum and Edelgart were told to not come out from a separate room.

Or rather, since it was already nighttime, the two of them were sleeping. Eat, sleep, play──They were living such envious slow lives.

Diablo made it so that the impatience in his mind didn’t show on his face.

──What does she mean “need to become a couple”!?

Since their speaking voices leaked out into the hallway, he was completely eavesdropping.

She was a young girl that suddenly asked him “Are you Kami-sama?” in the nude, and had her life targetted by a Holy Knight.

She was a young girl beautiful enough to make several double takes, and after seeing every nook of her body and even what made her a “girl”……Awawa……Being a couple would be troubling.

With his mouth about to slacken, Diablo gritted his teeth.

──No, no, life is precious.

It was no problem if it was just a single Holy Knight, but it would be dangerous if a faction was involved. At the very least, they were unmistakably stronger than the Adventurers of this town of Faltra and the Elven military forces.

In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, corrections would be made if there was a many versus one battle, but in this other world, there was probably no such help measures.

Even under normal circumstances, even though he had something to do with the death of the Holy Knight Sadraa……

He honestly wanted to avoid confronting the Church which possesses enough power to rival the King in this country.

There was nothing to gain from that!

──That being said, I guess we should at least hear her situation. It would be too pitiable to throw her out from the inn without hearing her story after all.

Diablo leaned his back on the wall. Crossing his arms, he looked down on Lumachina, who was on top of the bed.

「It would seem that you’ve realized it.」

「Yes, thank you very much for saving me. Um……Diablo-sama, you are Kami-sama, aren’t you?」

──Thinking that Kami-sama would appear to save her just isn’t normal.

He didn’t know how deeply religious she was, but no matter what, to think that she would believe “if she prays, Kami-sama should come to save her”.

──How about you try writing that on Twitter? You’d get an inescapable field of comments calling you an idiot you know?

However, if he were to deny it here, that in itself would be bad.

It seemed that she was under the impression that “if the person that saw her naked was a person of the Races, then she needed to marry them”.

She looked like she was at an age where she was no longer a child but……was she some huge country bumpkin? Did she believe babies came from the cabbage fields or the stork?

──Her appearance is cute. Putting it plainly, if she confessed to me in the real world, she was at the level that I would suspect marriage fraud. However, I’m only getting dangerous premonitions.

Diablo thought about it, and spoke out his evasion plan.

「For certain reasons, I am making it so that I cannot reveal my true identity on this earth. Presume as you will.」

Going *Ha!*, Lumachina opened her eyes wide.

In a rush, she got down from the bed.

It would be fine if she didn’t push herself since her legs were still wrapped in bandages──is what he thought.

「I am the most prominent person in the Church──the High Chief Priest.」

Rem’s eyes went completely round.

「……The High Chief Priest!? The pride of the Church!?」

Shera was bewildered and went 「Fue!? Fue!?」, raising a strange voice.

「……I had heard that she was a young woman though! Th, that is you!?」

「The real thing!?」

「Yes.」

Lumachina nodded.

Diablo kept his arms folded and slowly nodded.

Naturally, he knew──is the composed attitude he took, but in his mind, he was surprised to the point that it seemed like snot would come out.

So that’s it! He could now consent to her thinking that “Kami-sama would appear in order to save her”! She had that big of a position.

Rem made an inquiry.

「……P, please wait a moment. From what we heard from Diablo, it seems that your life was targeted by a Holy Knight, correct?」

「Yes.」

「……Unbelievable……The Holy Knights are people that obey the will of the Church. And then, isn’t the Church a group that obeys the will of the High Chief Priest? What’s the meaning of this?」

Lumachina bit her lip, looking vexed.

「Regretfully, I myself do not possess that much authority. There are people called the Cardinal Institute[1], and they are the ones that run the Church. The Cardinal Institute is composed of one chief cardinal official and six other cardinal officials, and the personnel selection is entrusted to the High Chief Priest……is how it’s made out to be, but to begin with, the ones that propose the candidates are the people of the Cardinal Institute.」

「……So the one that can actually move the Church is the Cardinal Institute.」

「That’s because the authority as High Chief Priest was bestowed upon me, but a majority of the Holy Knights, who are the absolute armed might of the Church, obey the Cardinal Institute.」

Though she has the authority, there was no meaning to it unless the ability to get things done accompanies it.

Rem nodded.

「……And so that is why you had your life targeted by a Holy Knight.」

「It seemed that the Cardinal Institute decided to eliminate me.」

「……Did something happen?」

Lumachina put a fingertip on her lip and pondered. It was a slightly child-like gesture.

「Nnー. Maybe it was because I enquired about the flow of dishonest money and goods that were in the concessions of rites? Or perhaps, it was because I gave the order to investigate the rumors of the unjust deeds that the Holy Knights were doing? Or maybe, it was because I made propositions that prohibited priest employment through personal connections?」

「……That is, I certainly do believe those things cannot be overlooked but……didn’t they give you some sort of warning before they started targeting your life?」

「Yes, indirectly from a portion of the Cardinal Institution……No, I was threatened quite bluntly.」

「And you didn’t obey them despite that?」

「I couldn’t possibly overlook such injustices.」

──She sure does have a strong sense of justice.

She seemed to have a personality that prized morals over her own life.

However, as a result of that, she really was about to die……This girl, she’s an idiot. There was no mistake she was an idiot……But even so, Diablo didn’t hate her.

Rem nodded.

「……Lumachina, you’ve said the righteous things. Hence, that is probably why your life was targeted. Doing the righteous thing is difficult in this world after all.」

「And that is why I took action in this latest campaign.」

「……A campaign?」

「Yes. A rumor that “the Demon King revived” in Faltra City had spread. And so I headed to Faltra City in the guise of “the High Chief Priest’s visit” in order to calm the people’s hearts.」

「……Th, the Demon King’s revival, is it. Something like that happening is──」

Since Shera blurted out 「That did happenー」 with a smiling face, Rem kicked her butt.

Lumachina nodded.

「The recent Faltra City has been in continuous turmoil, so I was worried about the citizens. However, I took action for the sake of a different objective. 」

「……And that objective is?」

「It was to report the current situation to the Head of the Holy Knights, Baduta, who was dispatched to a town that is in former Demon King territory.」

Rem cast her gaze off to the distance so as to remember.

「……The Head of the Holy Knights Baduta, is it. I have heard of him. That he is an influential person that experienced the 《Great Races and Demonic Being War》, and that he is quite a noble personage.」

「That is what I have heard as well. That he is a personage worthy of my trust……However, half a year before I was appointed at the High Chief Priest, Baduta was dispatched to the Former Demon King territory.」

「……Just as your life was being targeted, that person was sealed in the frontier……Is that what you mean to say?」

「That is what I believe. However, if he were to know of the current situation, I believe that he would surely take action, and would surely protect me as well──Though, the one that told me that was the Holy Knight Tolia.」

「……Are they trustworthy? That person you just mentioned.」

「If she had not saved me……Around this time, I would be……」

「……That person called Tolia, where is she now?」

Tears rose out from the corners of Lumachina’s eyes. Her shoulders trembled.

「In order to save me……she fell to the other Holy Knight……」

「Is, is that, so.」

Rem was at a loss for words.

Shera was also moved to tears.

「That’s so sad, such a good person was…… Lumachina-chan, you don’t have to worry anymore! We will absolutely protect you!」

「……Again, you’re saying that all on your own……But, we can’t leave her be.」

The two of them were completely intending to help Lumachina.

Diablo thought things over.

──What are the suspicious parts of her story just now? Were there any inconsistencies?

Couldn’t she write a letter to that Head of the Holy Knights, Baduta or whatever?

That would be useless.

After all, if it fell into the hands of the Cardinal Institute, it would just get Lumachina killed. Escaping took precedence over reporting her situation.

In that case, were there any other measures?

Diablo asked.

「Were you unable to rely upon the King? It is true that the Holy Knights are strong but……There are also people with skill in the national armed forces as well.」

Going by his own judgement, Feudal Lord Galford was around level 110.

Holy Knight Sadraa, and the Holy Knight Geibalt or whatever that he fought earlier were on the strong side, but it didn’t feel as though they had broken through the limit. That would make them below level 99.

Lumachina made a troubled looking face.

「I was estranged even from the situation inside of the Church, so I understood even less about the situation of the royal court. If the party that I sought for cooperation were to lead to the Cardinal Institute, then……」

Shera leaned her body forward.

「There are things like that!? I mean, they’re bad people, right!?」

Rem talked with a sigh mixed in.

「……Powerful people that commit corrupted actions generally have money. And then, there are quite a lot of people that would assist with injustice if they can accumulate money.」

「That’s just unforgivable!」

Although Rem looked like she wanted to say something to the indignant Shera, she changed the subject.

「……Lumachina’s insecurity is only natural, and I am able to agree with it.」

「Fumu」

Diablo nodded.

He didn’t know what position the Feudal Lord Galford or the Adventurer’s Guild Guildmaster Sylvie would take in regards to the Church.

Rather, he even thought that it was natural for anyone to support the side that was stronger and had money.

If there was anyone that would take great care of her with only her position of High Chief Priest, it would probably be people that were heavily pious.

Part 5

Rem asked some questions.

「……Lumachina, what do you plan on doing from now on? If the Holy Knight that attacked you doesn’t return to the Royal Capital, the Cardinal Institute will surely think that the assassination failed. Your life might be targeted once again, you know?」

「Even if that is the case, I cannot just run away and hide. If I do not go to the town Baduta was dispatched to and obtain his cooperation, then.」

「……It was in the former Demon King territory, correct?」

「Yes. I heard that it was the Frontier City Zircon Tower.」

Diablo had heard of that town’s name.

In MMORPG Cross Reverie, it was an area that was put in the middle stage.

It was one of the forefronts up until the large scale update from two years earlier was made, and was the base for the highest leveled Players in those days.

Of course, it was a town that Diablo also used for a short while.

──It was also at that time that I obtained my personal space.

In order to set that up, the place that Diablo’s dungeon existed should have been close to Zircon Tower.

Though, in the game, it wasn’t possible to walk the field and wander into someone’s personal space.

How would it be in this other world?

Could it just be walked into?

Or could it be that Diablo’s dungeon just didn’t exist?

Rem made a sigh.

「……So it’s the Frontier City Zircon Tower……That is one of the bases in the former Demon King territory. I know the route there from Faltra City, but for someone that is neither an Adventurer nor a peddler, it’s a place where you will require good luck just to barely reach it, you know?」

「I have resolved myself. I cannot give up here.」

Shera asked a question.

「Wouldn’t it be fine if you just wrote a letter to that Baduta-san!?」

Lumachina demonstrated her disapproval.

「A letter would surely not be enough to make him take action. Cooperating with me would mean confronting the Cardinal Institute. As I am seeking that much, it cannot be conveyed with a letter.」

Rem nodded.

「……With a letter, it’s uncertain if the person themself even wrote it.」

「Even for me, I would be reluctant if I were entrusted with the fate of someone I never met before. It would be just my own life after all. The Church’s future. That would also be this country’s future.」

「……I understand.」

The story went on to a grand scale.

However, it was probably a position where she should be thinking that far. It seemed that the Church’s authority was comparable with even the King. And then, originally, she would be in a position that supervises the Church.

Lumachina made a declaration.

「No matter how difficult it will be, I absolutely have to go to Zircon Tower!」

Since the story ran a bit long, Diablo organized it within his head──

It seemed that Lumachina was the High Chief Priest, the most distinguished person in the Church.

However, in actuality, the ones that controlled the Church was the Cardinal Institute.

It appeared that the Cardinal Institute earned money with dishonest means, and using those funds, they seized control of the Church. There was probably no mistake that Lumachina, who was going to expose their injustices, almost being assassinated by a Holy Knight was due to them.

Therefore, she decided to rely on the Head of the Holy Knights, Baduta, who was dispatched to Zircon Tower City that was in the former Demon King territory. He seemed to be a trustworthy person.

──Well, it would be best if the problems of the Church were settled by a person of the Church.

Rem came with a proposal.

「How about it, Diablo. How does escorting Lumachina there with us sound?」

「Mu……?」

Like this, Diablo misrepresented himself as God for the sake of biscuit expenses and avoiding marriage.

Part 6

The next morning──

When Diablo’s group went to the inn’s dining hall with the four of them, Krum and Edelgart, who had a rare early rising, were there.

Lumachina opened her eyes wide.

「Wh, what is this!? This sinister, dark, evil power that is gushing forth from these people……!?」

Krum stood up on top of the seat of the chair.

「Nuwahー!? What is this -nanoda, this person of the Races!? She has that guy’s stench!」

「What do you mean by that guy?」

Krum shouted at Diablo’s question.

「God!」

──That’s amazing. They’re the real deal, the both of them.

It seemed that Lumachina could see the magical power of the Demon King that Krum emitted.

If Diablo weren’t doing a roleplay and were a genuine Demon King, she probably wouldn’t haven’t mistaken him for Kami-sama.

Even with Krum, she was able to smell that Lumachina was the High Chief Priest, the one that was closest to God.

Krum didn’t have any malice towards the Races, but it seemed that her hatred towards the God that sealed her for a long time was strong.

──Ahh, it’ll turn into a fight at this rate.

He needed to stop them!

Diablo placed his hands on the heads of the two that were glaring at each other.

「You two, you are not thinking of quarrelling right before my eyes, are you? Dark magical power? God’s stench? That is just noise to stir my displeasure, isn’t it?」

Lumachina lowered her shoulders.

「I, I am terribly sorry, for making such a disturbance.」

「Hmph, she will make the biscuits taste bad. She should sit far away from Maou -noda.」

Krum sat back down in her chair.

Even Edelgart, who looked like she would jump at her at any moment, slowly lowered her fists.

With things ending without becoming an uproar, Rem and Shera let out sighs of relief.

Diablo also wiped the cold sweat in his mind.

──Their compatibility is the absolute worst!

As they had a large number of people, Diablo’s group ended up using the table next to Krum’s group.

While they were having breakfast──

Rem told Krum’s group the conversation they had last night.

「……And that is why we will be escorting Lumachina to a town called Zircon Tower in the former Demon King territory.」

「Fumu fumu」

「……Since there are travel preparations to be made, we leave tomorrow morning.」

「I see -nanoda.」

While she was nodding, Krum stuck a biscuit in her cheeks.

Edelgart raised her hand up a bit.

「Is that～……have to go……no matter, what? Might be……troubling.」

「……Do you have something going on?」

「Edelgart～, has work.」

She was talking like working Players that were invited to net game events.

Rem tilted her head.

「……Could you tell me more about that in detail?」

「This.」

What she held out, was a poster.

Bakery 《Peter》’s employee recruitment.

Rem was dumbfounded.

「……C, could it be, are you looking for employment!?」

「Edelgart～……for sake of Demon King-sama, will fight! For sake of Demon King-sama～, even make biscuit? Will make!」

She proudly stuck her chest out.

That is some considerable loyalty.

「……That ability to take action is admirable but……Do you understand your own situation?」

「Demon King-sama’s～, servant?」

「……It’s fine. Please take plenty of caution.」

「Leave～, it to me.」

Edelgart made a hand sign that couldn’t be broadcasted on television.

Lumachina was unable to keep up with the conversation, and was baffled.

That was only reasonable──There were two people among the people here that claimed to be the Demon King, and moreover, one of them was a little girl, and the maid that accompanied her was a Demonic Being.

It was too much trouble to explain.

Diablo said what he was thinking since last night.

「Krum and Edelgart will remain here.」

Rem placed her hand on her own neck.

「……Krum has a 《Slave Choker》 placed on her though?」

「This will become an experiment on that. There is no telling the limitations of “not being apart” is, right?」

「……Will that be alright?」

「We will pass through several towns until we reach Zircon Tower.」

Bringing these two along and passing through the gate, that would probably be accompanied by some considerable dangers.

In particular, Edelgart’s make-up, it is something done from the inn’s poster girl Mei’s skill, and it wasn’t something that could be copied so easily.

If it were to rain, they would be in a big pinch.

Moreover, she is being chased by other Demonic Beings.

「It’s fine since this town of Faltra is being protected by a barrier but……When we go outside, there is no telling what will happen. There is no barrier at Zircon Tower after all.」

「Is that true!?」

Rem was surprised and raised her voice.

Shera twisted her neck.

「The thing that keeps Demonic Beings and Demonic Beasts from entering is the barrier, right? Are they alright without that?」

──Could it be that it’s different in this world? It didn’t have any ramparts in the game though.

Diablo shrugged his shoulders.

「We’ll know once we go. In any case, it would be safer if Krum and Edelgart remained here. It seems that they’ve assumed some work after all.」

When he looked over at Krum’s group, they firmly nodded.

「Umu. Maou will not go to a place with no biscuits.」

──I was thinking about her personal safety though……Well, since she’s a child, it ended without a fight. Let’s leave it without worrying about the small details.

「Krum, I shall now give you orders. Listen to me carefully──First, protect yourself. After that, protect the people around you. Within those limits, be sure to listen to the people of the inn.」

「Umu! Just leave it to me!」

While saying that, she stuck a biscuit in her cheeks.

He became worried if she properly listened to him.

「…………」

「Mu? I listened to you properly. Do not die. Protect. Obey, right? I would normally be the one ordering underling Demonic Beings, but since Maou is magnanimous, I will accept it -noda.」

It seems that she understood.

However, he didn’t feel the flow of magical power.

──I’m starting to doubt if there really was compelling force to make her follow.

It might not work on a Demon King.

She technically did have the 《Slave Choker》 attached but……

Rem raised one hand. The poster girl came from the counter.

「Do you need something? If that wasn’t enough, I’ll bring you some more☆」

Rem made a brief explanation of the situation.

「……We’ll be going on a long-term commision, and it looks like Diablo, Shera, and I will be leaving Faltra City for a short while. Since we’ll be leaving Krum and Edelgart behind, I would like to ask you help them out.」

「That’s oka~y with me☆」

Shera hugged Krum.

「Krum-chan! I’ll be going out on a job, ‘kay!」

「I see. Do not worry, Maou is fine even when alone. I will be sure to practice singing. I have already memorized up until the 32nd verse of the biscuit song -noda.」

「Good, good!」

「Once you get back, be sure to teach me the chocolate song, got it?」

「I’ll be sure to make it!」

「I cannot help but worry since you are somewhat unsteady -nanoda. I shall give you a small bit of Maou’s power.」

「What? Since I’m not a Demonic Being, I can’t receive any power from Krum-chan, you know?」

「On this one here, this one.」

Krum extended one hand out.

She touched Shera’s bow.

The Demon King’s magical power poured into it. This time, he was able to sense it.

Rem reflexively half rose to her feet, and Lumachina tightly grasped her holy symbol. It was enough for even Diablo to secretly extended his hand to his pouch.

There was that vast amount of magical power being emitted.

The wooden bow was something close to white, but it transformed into a jet black weapon tinged with a sinister magical power. Shera’s eyes went round.

「Wawa!? It turned into a strong looking appearance!?」

「Fu fu fu, you should be fine with this -nanoda!」

「Yup. It feels a bit cursed but……Thank you, Krum-chan!」

With a *gyuu*, she hugged her once again.

Shera’s bow was originally endowed with a bit of magical power. It seemed to be a treasure in this world, but in the MMORPG Cross Reverie, it should be at the “hurry up and sell off at the Weapon Shop” level.

As for its grading of either N (Normal), R (Rare), or SR (Super Rare), it was around R.

However, the magical power that the strengthened jet black bow was endowed with wasn’t normal. It wasn’t on the level of Diablo’s equipment but……SR? No, could it suitable to be called SSR (Double Super Rare).

──If guys that spent their lives on the gacha and were in ecstasy from the SSR items that had an appearance rate of less than 1% were to see this, they would definitely cry.

That was an outrageous cheat.

He had the thought that he was really glad that this girl didn’t set out to go to war with the people of the Races.