Volume 4 - CH 3

Part 1

Two weeks later.

Lifelia Kingdom Calendar, Year 164, Month 7, Day 20, Midday──

Receiving wind on the sails, the sand ship sailed.

It was a small wooden yacht that had about 10 people onboard, but the location wasn’t the sea, but a desert.

The hull that was strengthened by magic cut through the waves of sand and advanced forward.

With this being her first time, Shera was extremely excited. Rem was nervous. As for Lumachina, she prayed to Kami-sama the whole time.

This was something that Diablo experienced in the MMORPG Cross Reverie but……

──This feels super good!

He crossed his arms and sat down looking massive like a Demon King, but he had trouble keeping the ends of his lips from grinning.

The ship’s captain that wore a black cloth on his head pointed straight ahead.

「There’s Zircon Tower!」

「Umu!」

In the horizon that was nothing but light brown sand, a warped tower could be seen.

Surrounding the tower, there were several tents.

There was a lake in the middle of the desert.

It was one of those so-called oasis things.

And then, at the center of the lake, a sand colored tower was erected. Looking closely, rather than sand, it was stone──Or rather, it was precious stone.

It was faintly transparent, and light was complexly reflected on the interior and dispersed.

It wasn’t a structure of the Races. It was said that this as a tower that the Demonic Beings created.

This was former Demon King territory──

Up until just 30 years prior, this was a land where the Demon King reigned, Demonic Beings lived, and Demonic Beasts crept about.

As the speed was slowing down, Rem was finally able to regain her composure.

「……I thought I was going to die.」

「Kuku……You are surprisingly a coward.」

Her cheeks blushed a bit.

「……Diablo, you might not understand this since you are able to fly as far as the sky but……I am not good with travel where I do not use my own two feet. Both carriages and ships……」

「It is something you get used to.」

「……Yes. Nevertheless, we arrived here quite easily.」

「Would you have preferred if we went through more hardships?」

「No, of course not……Diablo, you talked like you were familiar with the Demon King territory, didn’t you? Isn’t this your first time coming to the former Demon King territory?」

「Mu……」

Diablo had introduced himself as a “Demon King of another world”. It was a bit strange for him to be familiar with the Demon King territory of this world. Frankly speaking, the setting was half-hearted.

「That is……in other words……th, though I have not come here before, I know about it. For I am a Demon King.」

This was agonizing.

It was an agonizing setting that would warrant a tsukkomi on the BBS.

Rem nodded.

「……Demon Kings do have that sort ability, don’t they.」

What a good girl. He ended up feeling like he would reflexively pat her head.

Diablo hid the turmoil of his mind, crossed his arms and reclined back looking self-important.

「Umu, as I am a Demon King, it is only natural that I am familiar with the Demon King territory.」

Though they had some surprising hardships like getting lost on the road, having the weather go bad on them, and not being able to find the ferryman……

The map was fairly different from the one in MMORPG Cross Reverie.

In any case, it was vast.

That was also the case with the distance between Faltra City and 《Starfall Tower》 , but it was much more vast when compared with the game.

Because of that, he had mistaken the road several times until he became familiar with it.

Even with a dungeon that was a straight line in the game, in this world, it swerved quite a bit. Though, that was natural if it were a natural cavern.

Also, the fact that Diablo forgot a portion of the map was also a reason for their hardships.

Since he traveled by nothing but 《Transfer》 after becoming high leveled, it had been a staggeringly long time since he had passed through the area that they immediately entered from Faltra City on their way to the Demon King territory.

If it were a normal Player, they might have gone along with some newly made companions, and passed through this area many times over but……

Diablo pretty much never joined a party with other people.

──Ah, I guess I’m doing that right now.

For Rem and Shera, this was their first time coming to this place. Though, Lumachina was more of someone they were escorting than a companion.

「I guess it was something like this……」

The voice that he accidentally muttered was drowned out by the sound of the ship pushing the sand out of the way.

When they entered the town, the sand ship approached the pier.

Though it was called a pier, it was different from the ones that project out to sea from the shore.

Right now, the place that it crossed over was the desert, but the sand ground continued on even into the town. There weren’t any particular differences.

The pier was a slope for the sake of getting down from the sand boat’s tall gunwale to the ground.

Just as he carried some large luggage and was about to jump down──

Shera yelled 「We’re hereー!!」 and jumped down from the boat.

*Zuboh* Landing on both feet, her legs were buried in the sand. It went up to her knees.

「Fugyaa～!?」

「…………We’ll leave you behind you know?」

「Are, are you alright?」

Rem and Lumachina got down using the pier. Diablo also did the same.

「Wait, wait, I can’t get outー!?」

When she struggled about trying to break free, she was buried further into the sand. When a large amount of sand gets on top of one’s instep, it’s surprisingly hard to get the foot out.

Diablo grabbed onto the nape of Shera’s neck, and pulled her up. Going *dosa～～～っ*, the sand fell down. Even the inside of her boots were covered in sand.

Because there was a difference in their physique, Diablo ended with only sinking a little bit.

「Hmph」

「Th, thank you, Diablo～」

*Gyuu* She clung onto him.

Part 2

As they left the sand ship behind──

The main street, is that how it should be expressed as? There were tents that were round like pancakes lined up on the left and right, and the sand road continued on inside the town.

Bustling about, children approached them.

「Your luggage, I’ll carry it! Your luggage, I’ll carry it! Your luggage, I’ll carry it!」

──This kind of thing didn’t happen in the game.

Rem stopped Shera who was going to ask them to.

「Don’t. They’ll either carry your luggage away, or, even if they’re good and don’t, demand payment for carrying your luggage, you know?」

「Is, is that so……」

「Since we don’t have any heavy luggage that we need to entrust to someone, let’s just carry it ourselves.」

「’Kay!」

Lumachina made a sad-looking face.

「…………」

She was probably feeling sorry for the poor-looking children.

Rem called out to her.

「……They are purposely wearing tattered clothes, you know? If you look at their complexion, you’ll understand that they are eating properly. It’s the children’s petty way of earning some extra money.」

「Is that so!?」

「……It isn’t limited to the former Demon King territory. It’s like this in any town.」

With a surprised look, Lumachina looked around.

Diablo was surrounded at a distance by those greedy children. Whether it be the horns that could be seen growing from his head, or his appearance that was dress in complete black, it seemed that he had an atmosphere that made it hard to approach him.

Diablo’s group walked heading towards the tower.

The sand ground didn’t change, but the buildings increased.

He didn’t pay any atttention to it in the game but──even though it was sandy soil where one’s feet would sink if one wasn’t careful, for them to make stone built buildings, he was a bit surprised. Some kind of devising was probably done.

「Ah, there’s a flower.」

Lumachina pointed.

Amazing, there was a flower bed in front on a building in this barren land.

Rem smiled.

「……It looks like it’s quite easy to obtain water in this area.」

「There is the smell of water after all.」

Shera pointed ahead.

At the end of the road, the lake was there. Small waves sparkled.

Zircon Tower City was in MMORPG Cross Reverie as well, and had the same structure. However, rather than a lake, it was more of a moat that surrounded the tower.

──Well, in the game, it was a small base that only had the needed buildings to play after all.

In the Zircon Tower City of this world, there were children, as well as their parents. There were also restaurants and clothing stores.

「What the heck is that!? It’s quite different from what I was told, isn’t it!?」

A high-pitched voice was heard.

Was it a child?

Looking at where it came from, there were four men that looked like Adventurers and a rabbit-eared young Grasswalker boy having a dispute.

No, going by his appearance, was the young boy also an Adventurer? He wore lightweight leather armor, and carried a short sword.

The Grasswalkers were a race that didn’t change from their child-like appearance no matter how old they got. He most likely wasn’t a child.

A Pantherian man pushed the shoulder of the Grasswalker that they were drawing near.

「It’s only natural for the useless one to get less of the reward!」

「Oi oi oi～!? I was useful, wasn’t I!? I guided you there, didn’t I!? I did the lock-picking, didn’t I!? There was even treasure, wasn’t there!?」

「A huge amount of strong monsters rushed out, and we were almost wiped out!」

「Eh～!?」

──A monster house huh. That’s a standard trap.

Diablo also set those up in his own personal space.

There existed a large amount of dungeons in the former Demon King territory. They were probably an Adventurer party that was capturing one of them.

In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, the division of acquired items and experience points was performed automatically. Things like having it stolen by force didn’t happen.

Even so, sometimes there were people that proposed things like 『parasite Players that didn’t play an active role should hand over their rewards』 though……

Since Diablo did nothing but play solo, he was unrelated to that sort of trouble. He was glad there was any such pains for him.

──As I thought, if you’re going to do an MMORPG, playing solo is the way to go!

The Pantherian man displayed his long sword.

「Well, this is quite a sharp sword. My great self will use it effectively.」

The blade was clad in flames.

The surrounding guys cheered on.

「Uhyoー, tha’s incredible!」「Nice goin’, Aniki!」「Let’s go and test it out!」

──Is that a 《Red Sword》?

It was a weapon that he recognized.

Rank R trash……That way of thinking was his sense in the game. In this world, even that seemed to be a fairly precious weapon.

In the game, in order to obtain rare raw materials, Players would do rash things without taking their lives into consideration. The death penalty wasn’t light, but it wasn’t like the account was deleted.

However, in this world, it’s the end once they die.

Those that collected rare raw materials were limited, so accordingly, nothing but weapons with low quality were circulated.

Suddenly, Diablo had a thought.

──Come to think of it, I also created a monster house in my dungeon and placed a 《Red Sword》 there. That’s a coincidence……right?

The young Grasswalker boy refused to back down.

「That sword has a value of around 10,000,000 F, doesn’t it!? Why the heck did I only get one silver coin!?」

One silver coin was 4,000 F.

For someone that dove into the dungeon together with them, that’s just wrong.

The Pantherian man bared his fangs.

「If we weren’t there, you would have been monster food around this time, wouldn’t you!?」

「If I weren’t there, you wouldn’t have reached the treasure, right!?」

「Hou……You looking for a fight? I’m fine with testing this thing on you first, you know?」

He thrust the sword before him.

Since the flames were just an effect, it didn’t give off any heat, but the young Grasswalker boy panicked and drew back.

「Uuu……」

「That’s a suitable amount for a Grasswalker that only sneakily hides the whole time.」

「……Even though you said I would get an equal split.」

「Aan!?」

The young boy became timid from the threatening voice that sounded like he would cut him up soon.

He unwillingly nodded.

「N, no……This is fine.」

「You should have said that from the beginning. If you’re fine with that amount, we’ll use you again. See ya! Gehahaha!」

While raising laughter, the four Adventurers disappeared into a bar. It was still midday, but most bars would operate while it was bright out, and serve lunch.

After the figures of the other party disappeared, the young Grasswalker boy raised the silver coin overhead.

「Don’t screw with me! Those cheating bastards! Go get torn to shreds!」

Throwing the silver coin onto the ground──He only made the motion for that, and crammed it into his pocket.

Having also seen the whole story like Diablo, Rem shrugged her shoulders.

「……Similar things happen everywhere.」

「Does that sort of thing happen in Faltra City as well?」

「……I also, have had my reward unjustly reduced for the reason that I was a woman.」

「How idiotic.」

「……Yes. I didn’t hesitate to Summoned Beasts against those sorts of people though.」

「Umu.」

Shera and Lumachina were in front of the flower bed and were excitedly talking about methods of raising flowers.

It seemed that the conversation the Adventurers were having didn’t enter their ears.

Part 3

「You guys, are you Adventurers?」

The young Grasswalker boy from before called out to them.

Because of his somewhat quirky and rather short hair, his high-pitched voice, and his energy filled countenance, he looked very cheerful. His rabbit ears swayed left and right. Going by his appearance, he was the exploratory type.

Surprisingly, it seemed that he didn’t have a timid personality.

Diablo folded his arms and responded.

「What is it?」

Sensing that things might immediately turn into trouble, Rem got in between them.

「……We are Adventurers that came from Faltra City, but what about it?」

「Faltra? What, are you out shopping?」

「……We are escorting a certain person. Though that will be ending today.」

「Oh, is that so! Would you like to go a dungeon then? Since you’ve gone through the trouble of coming out as far as Zircon Tower, I don’t think it’ll be a loss for you to challenge a new dungeon, you know?」

「……A new dungeon, is it?」

「Yeah, an amazing one was discovered recently! Going by the entrance, it isn’t a normal one. The treasures inside, all of them are special!」

「……That does sound interesting.」

「How about it? I’ll introduce you to an experienced dungeon guide and expert lock picker, you know? To be precise, me!」

He turned his thumb towards himself.

──Capturing a dungeon, huh.

Certainly, returning empty-handed would be absurd.

Diablo thought that might also be fine once they were done escorting Lumachina.

Rem enquired about it.

「……That abnormal entrance, what do you mean by that?」

「That’s something to look forward to when we form a party……is what I would like to say, but alright. I’ll tell you as a special offer.」

Putting on an air of importance, the young Grasswalker boy talked.

「The lion statue that appears in front of the gate, it moves and attacks you.」

Diablo gulped from those words.

──What was that!?

「T, tell me about that in detail!」

He reflexively grabbed both of the Grasswalker’s shoulders.

「Wawa!?」

「Oi, you, that dungeon, does it go down as far as thirteen floors!?」

「There’s no way I would know that, no one’s gone past the third floor after all……」

「If it’s the third floor……Once you defeat the slimes in the order of green, black, red, blue, dark green, and dark yellow, the key to the next floor should appear, right!?」

「Ehh, is that true!? Certainly, there are various colored slimes aimlessly wandering about……」

「Was 『Ｆ43』 written on the floor’s door!?」

「If I remember correctly……it, might have……!?」

「ッ!!」

──That’s, totally my dungeon, isn’t it!?

Since the retro game that was the inspiration for it didn’t exist in this world, it probably became a bit too difficult for them.

The young Grasswalker boy conversely started asking questions.

「Hey, you, who are you!? Was that just now true!? Do you also know about the fourth floor!?」

「About that……」

Talking about everything here, would be foolish.

If it was Diablo’s dungeon, the 《Warehouse》──the treasure room that stored the items that he gathered was on the lowest floor.

He had no intention of handing those over to other people.

He let go of the Grasswalker’s shoulders.

「You should forget about this.」

「Wai……Don’t be like that -ssu yo! Danna (Boss), you’re an amazing Adventurer, ain’t cha -ssu ka!? Hey, hey, let’s go to the dungeon, the dungeon!. I, I’ll be useful, you know -ssu yo?」

Probably sensing something──Rem shifted the topic. She truly was a smart girl.

「……I’m sorry but do you know about the Holy Knight Baduta? We have come here to meet with him.」

「Eh, a big-wig of the Church? Uーn……He lives on the west side of the town but……」

The Grasswalker frowned.

Was there something up?

As they were standing around talking, Shera came rushing over.

「Diablo, that!」

「Mu?」

Lumachina was in the middle of the street, and glaring at an armored man for some reason.

──She’s causing troubleー!?

So he got too engrossed with the talk of the dungeon!

Rem panicked and flew to her.

「D, did something happen!?」

While saying that, she wedged herself in between the armored man and Lumachina.

The Human man talked sounding irritated.

「This woman, she came picking a fight!」

The pointed at Lumachina didn’t take a single step back from the towering giant, and glared at him.

「Kicking a woman that was seeking help, that is something I cannot overlook!」

Beside the two of them, there was a woman.

She was a Pantherian whose age was around 30. She had fallen on the ground, and was preciously holding a baby that was wrapped in cloth. With Lumachina and the man’s quarrelling happening in front of her, she completely flustered.

The man talked sounding displeased.

「If she requires Priest-sama’s aid, then she should get in line, and pay a contribution! Even if she brings something like a crying baby to a place to eat food, it’s just a bother! It’s inevitable for guys that bothers others to be kicked, right!?」

「Do you believe yourself to be sinless? If those that have faults are forgiven no matter what they do, then you also should have your sins deeply censured.」

「Keh! There’s no way I would have something like sin! After all, I am part of the Holy Knight Unit!」

Lumachina made a puzzled face.

「Eh? What is the, Holy Knight “Unit”?」

Now that he mentioned it, the crest of the Church was engraved on the man’s armor.

It wasn’t elegant armor on the level of the Holy Knights, and was something cheap similar to what the other Adventurers wore, but the crest couldn’t be attached to people that weren’t authorized.

Diablo’s mantle was pulled on.

When he looked, it was the Grasswalker from earlier.

「So you were still here.」

「So mean!? This is bad -ssu yo, Danna! That guy’s part of the Holy Knight Unit.」

「What is that? I do know about the Holy Knights though.」

According to Lumachina and the man’s conversation──

It seemed that Pantherian mother came seeking medical treatment for the baby with God’s miracle. Finding that to be a bother, the Holy Knight Unit kicked her away.

Having seen that series of events, it seemed that Lumachina got mad and sermoned him.

Since you’re in a position where your life is being targeted, don’t cause trouble, is what he thought. However, if she had a personality that would pretend to not see an assault on a weak person, her life wouldn’t be targeted by the Cardinal Institute in the first place.

Lumachina sermoned him saying that “anyone has sin”.

「It is written even in the third chapter of the Scriptures of the Beginning……As all people are born, they harbor sin……」

It seemed that she had completely memorized the scriptures.

Since the other party claimed to be an authorized person of the Church, he has probably heard that verse before.

Lumachina’s body was faintly shining.

As she was reciting the scripture from memory, magical power overflowed from her. Since it was a phenomenon caused through prayer, to be accurate, it might be something different from magic power.

The wind became stronger, and sand fluttered about.

Birds flew away from the lake due to the abnormal event happening, and dogs were barking in the distance.

In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, the Church’s dogma wasn’t divulged in detail. He thought that usual religion was most likely used as the base, as standard of European-style fantasy, but……

Not going too deeply into religion and politics was part of the basics of works for amusement.

And then, the Holy Knight Unit man that was being overpowered──He snapped.

「Acting so self-important, you’re so annoying!」

「Listen to me!」

「A mere Adventurer shouldn’t go making a sermon to my great self, a person of the Holy Knight Unit!!」

He tightly gripped a fist, and pushed it out.

Diablo’s 《Staff of Tenma》 hit the man’s face hard.

He was flashily blown away.

Flying about five meters, and even after landing, about five meters of the ground was gouged out, and he stopped with about half of his body buried in the sand.

Diablo shrugged his shoulders.

「Hmph……It was going one ear and whatever it was, for him. For those like him, it’s no good no matter what you say.」

No one cared if it was a quarrel as it seemed like those happened often but──Since a man of the Holy Knight Unit was blown ten meters away, as expected, it gathered attention.

They talked about it and caused an uproar.

Surprisingly, the man stood up.

Sand fell from the armor. And then, blood was dripping from the corners of his mouth.

「Ugugoh……Y, you bastards……ッ!!」

「Hou, you’re quite sturdy, aren’t you.」

──His level might be higher than Emil’s. As expected of a town of the former Demon King territory that was made into a base.

「You’ve gone and opposed the Church, haven’t you!?」

「That again, huh. Small fry cling onto their distinct organizations really quickly. No……since they class themselves with large organizations, do they act haughty on a regular basis?」

「It’s too late for you! I’ll purify you right here!」

The man drew his sword.

The people that were watching in the vicinity quickly took their distance.

As the worry that people would get dragged in disappeared, things became a lot easier.

Since they knew of Diablo’s way of fighting──Rem and the others went behind him and went back a bit. They also took care of the mother and child who were the cause of the turmoil.

──Good grief, now how should I go easy on him?

Should he use the 《Trial-Made Great War Scythe》?

No, with an opponent that was stronger than a level 50 Warrior, there was the fear that it would become a close fight with that weapon.

Since there was a target to protect, he couldn’t allow that possible chance.

The basics of an Escort Quest is “don’t let the enemy get close”.

Diablo pointed the 《Staff of Tenma》.

「Get blown away! 《Explosion》!!」

It was a magic that is learned at level 50, but since Diablo’s parameters were high, it had abnormal power.

He fired that at the ground.

The Holy Knight Unit man that had readied his sword was once again blown away by the explosion──’s after-effect.

Even the citizens of the town that properly took their distance went into an uproar from the unexpected hot winds.

The black smoke cleared up.

A large hole opened up in the ground.

The people of the town……looked fine.

──Phew, thank goodness. I want to make as little trouble for them as possible.

The Holy Knight Unit man was half way buried in the sand once again.

Going *gahah!*, he got up.

「Ah, ga, gagah!?」

「Hmph……To still be alive, you are quite a lucky one.」

「Wha……!? Was that……Chemical Elemental Magic!?」

「So you still haven’t had enough of it. Very well, I will turn you into ash with the next one without fail!」

Of course, that was just a threat.

When he pointed his staff──The Holy Knight Unit man’s face went pale, and he threw his sword down and ran away.

「Hii～～～～～～～～～～!!」

「Kukuku……What a dull small fry.」

While Diablo took a haughty attitude, on the inside, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that the guy had ran away, he thought about what they should do now.

Part 4

The surrounding had become completely noisy.

──Was that bad? Was using magic in the middle of town in midday a mistake!?

He was acting aloof like a Demon King, but a cold sweat was going down his back. Both Rem and Shera were also troubled on how to control the situation.

As for Lumachina, she talked to the Pantherian mother and child.

「Earlier, you required the Church’s aid──is that correct?」

「Y, yes! This child is!」

Seeing an explosion nearby, she should be fairly shaken up, but when it came to her child, it felt like she couldn’t care less about the explosion.

──A mother huh……

She took off the cloth that wrapped around the baby.

On it’s feet, there were eight nevi that looked like dark purple × marks had been written on it.

Diablo was about to reflexively raise his voice and go 「Eh!?」. It was because there was something quite similar to that even in the MMORPG Cross Reverie.

Lumachina made a puzzled face.

「What is that?」

The Pantherian mother bitterly appealed to her.

「It’s the Marked Death Disease……It is an illness that is a prevalence in this town right now……The number of nevi gradually increase, and once the ninth one surfaces……Th, they die……」

「What was that!?」

「If they receive the Priest-sama’s miracle, they can be cured but……」

「Let’s quickly go to the chapel!」

「We can’t.」

「Why is that!?」

「Th, that’s……」

The mother found it hard to talk.

「It’s money.」

It was the young Grasswalker boy. He was gritting his teeth.

「Those guys of the Church, even though they can use miracles, they demand a incredibly huge amount of donations. Not just the Marked Death Disease, it goes for other illnesses as well.」

「No way……!! I mean, the life of such a young child is at risk, you know!?」

「Although I don’t know how things are in other towns……This place is just that sort of town. Even that person, she begged to that Holy Knight Unit guy from before, and she just got kick away, didn’t she.」

The mother hugged the baby tight.

Her shoulders trembled.

Death would come with nine ×s.

On the baby, there were already eight nevi lined up.

Diablo was about to speak.

However, what should he say? The information he had in regards to the Marked Death Disease was something he obtained in the game. The cause and method of dealing with it might be different from the one of this world.

「…………」

Lumachina clenched her fists.

「──I understand! I will do the healing!」

「Eh? It isn’t something so simple as……」 is what the young Grasswalker boy said as he tilted his head.

Lumachina pulled her holy symbol out from her breast, and pointed it towards the baby.

「This is my first time seeing this disease, but Kami-sama will protect him. My prayer will surely get through to him. Isn’t that right?」

The one she turned her gaze to, was Diablo.

──Come to think of it, she mistook me for Kami-sama, didn’t she. No matter how much she prays to me, I can’t even cure a cold though.

Diablo calmly nodded.

「Fuu……If it is you, then it should be possible. Ahー……Um……Do not mind me, and do it as you normally would.」

「Yes!」

Lumachina nodded with eyes full of confidence.

The mother asked as if she were imploring her.

「Could it be that your great self, is a Priest-sama……?」

「I am only a novice though……」

Despite being on top of the sand, the mother respectfully lowered her head.

「I beg you! I beg of you, save this child!」

「I understand. Let us pray together. Kami-sama will surely save him.」

「P, please!」

「Yes!」

Lumachina knelt in front of the baby.

She recited words of prayer.

「O great God in heaven, grant this request for salvation. Heal the evil illness that plagues this child. Grant magnanimous mercy for this child’s sin, and allow him life……」

The mother put her hands together and trembled.

Even the people of the town that were watching in the vicinity knelt down one after another and put their hands together.

Even Rem and Shera did so.

Diablo started to feel uncomfortable. With him being the only standing, he couldn’t help but feel out of place.

However, kneeling down and praying was an action that was a bit different from his image of a Demon King. Moreover, for Lumachina, she believed that ”he was God”.

Diablo stepped away from the ring of prayer. He cooled off in the shadow of a stone built building.

「Fuu……」

「Aren’t you going to pray?」

「Mu?」

The young Grasswalker boy came along. Going *nihehe*, he amiably laughed.

「Me, I’m called Horun. How about you, Danna?」

「I am Diablo, a Demon King of another world.」

「Heh?」

He looked a bit surprised but……maybe because he thought it was a joke or a nickname or something, he didn’t look too deeply into it.

「Aren’t you going to pray?」

「Me, I’m not good with things that deal with God. And I’ve never gone to the chapel.」

The people of this world were deeply religious. Not having gone to the chapel was rare.

Horun made a wry smile.

「And they just take donations when you go. Me, I’m poor.」

「Fumu……」

「Thinking I could earn a lot, I went through hardships and came all the way out to Zircon Tower but……It isn’t going all that well -ssu.」

「So it would seem.」

「That’s why, Danna! Let’s go to the dungeon!」

Diablo almost ended up nodding.

──It’s dangerous to be deceived by his childish appearance. Since he’s a Grasswalker, he might be older than me.

「I am busy right now.」

Thinking about that Holy Knight Unit’s attitude, and how they abandoned a child whose life was in danger and demanded donations, the Head of the Holy Knights can’t be trusted.

It didn’t seem that he could entrust Lumachina with him.

If that’s the case, what should be done to protect her from the Cardinal Institute?

「Nn?」

Feeling some powerful magical power, he turned his head.

So it was the effect of Lumachina’s prayer. A pillar of light reached the heavens. That brilliance was even stronger than the last time he saw it.

The effect rose because a large number of people participated in the prayer, is that how it was?

Horun tilted his head in wonder.

「Is there, something in the sky?」

「No……」

It seems that pillar can’t be seen by normal people.

Going *WAH!*, the prayer ring erupted in cheers.

「We did it!」「The nevi have vanished!」「That’s incredible!」

The Pantherian mother hugged her child tight, and lowered her head with enough vigor that she buried her forehead in the sand.

「Thank you very much! Thank you very much! Thank you very much!」

The baby cried. It was a healthy crying voice.

Lumachina wiped the sweat from her brow.

「Thank goodness. Truly.」

Rem and Shera exchanged smiles.

「……As expected of her.」

「We did it!」

The voices of praise from the people of the town didn’t stop. Someone started singing a religious song, and then it turned into a chorus.

──That’s great!

The corners of Diablo’s mouth spontaneously slackened.

Horun was bewildered and his mouth was agape.

「Incredible!? Even though it would take several hours of prayer even for the priest of the Church for the nevi to finally start decreasing!? Was it really cured!? Th, that girl, she’s amazing, ain’t she! She’s a true priest!」

「Fuu……It’s natural that she could do at least that much.」

Since even the local priest could heal it, then it can be healed by the High Chief Priest──is what he had thought, but there was also the possibility that some unique trick, or some special knowledge and tools were required.

It was a relief that she could heal it properly.

──With things being fine over there, the problem is over here.

Diablo turned his gaze towards the end of the road.

「So they’ve come.」

Horun made a startled face.

「Ueh!? They’ve already come!? D, Danna and everyone, you’d best hurry up and run -ssu yo!」

With the guy that was blown away earlier at the lead, a pack of Holy Knight Unit members came running.

So there were around twenty of them.

Diablo stood in the middle of the street to greet them.

「Oi, Horun or whatever……Get away from here if you don’t want to get dragged in…………」

He was already gone.

──He’s fast at running away!

As expected of a Grasswalker. Although they were weak and fragile, their race trait was that covert actions were their forte and that they had high agility.

「Well, not having anyone in the vicinity makes it easier to fight, so this is perfect.」

Diablo prepared his 《Staff of Tenma》.

Part 5

He would kick about another approximately twenty Holy Knight Unit members. He had predicted that sort of course of events but……

──What the heck is going on?

The people of the town created a wall in front of Diablo’s group. They were the group that had prayed together with Lumachina just a little while ago.

The wall of people stood in front of the Holy Knight Unit’s way.

All of them had faces full of determination.

「The Holy Knight Unit should get out of here!」「That’s right, that’s right!」「We won’t let you meddle with these people!」

Diablo was amazed.

So this was the influence of the High Chief Priest!

To think that she could make the surrounding common people into her own personal followers with just a single prayer.

They didn’t know about Lumachina’s status. They simply felt adoration by her actions, and now they had become a shield in order to protect her from the ruffian Holy Knight Unit.

Even though they didn’t even carry any weapons.

──So they would even risk their lives for people that they had just met. This in itself is a cheat power. If this was material for the founding of a nation, wouldn’t this be too easy and not make it much of a story? Well, it’s no wonder that she has enough authority as the king.

This was a great difference from Diablo who couldn’t even make one friend, let alone a party, no matter how much he raised his military gains.

If they were to withdraw from repeatedly being told 「Get out!」 by the common people, the Holy Knight Unit wouldn’t have been appraised as “bandit-like”.

A huge guy that had a wide girth even among those guys came forward. He was a Pantherian, but he looked more like a bear than a panther.

「Gufufu……Well ain’t this funny……I don’t know what happened but……I’ll make y’all remember the Church’s authority!」

He carried a spear that was longer than his stature.

It was a jousting lance.

It was a spear that was originally meant to be used while straddling a horse, and not something to be handled on foot. He wielded it like it was a club.

He couldn’t tell without seeing him fight first but……It didn’t seem he was an opponent that he could hold back against.

There wasn’t anyone that had the appearance of a Holy Knight. So this meant that the Head of the Holy Knights didn’t come.

──Now then, what should I do?

The ordinary people had created a wall between Diablo’s group and the Holy Knight Unit.

He was happy about their strong spirit to become their shield, but they would get dragged into his magic like this.

──It’ll take a bit of time but, should I use 《Volcanic Wall》? A wall of flames would be created between the ordinary people and the Holy Knight Unit with that.

And on top of that, should he use 《Burst Rain》 only on the enemy’s side?

Would that kill them if it’s a direct hit?

From the enemy’s HP and POW (Magic Defense Power) that he could guess, he calculated the damage.

The alarm bell was struck.

Both the Holy Knight Unit members that glared at them and the ordinary people became noisy.

──Did something happen!?

Somebody shouted.

「It’s a Demonic Beast! An extra-large……Demonic Beast!! It’s a 《Sand Whale》!!」

Those were words equivalent to announcing a great disaster.

Part 6

There was a sand ship that was referred to as 《Galleon Class》 that more than a hundred people could board. Three masts that had three sails each and were sixty meters in height were erected.

That large sand ship had all sails unfurled, and was sailing at full speed.

It was escaping.

There were large crossbows that could be drawn with a handle placed on the deck of the ship, but there was no one that tried to shoot at the thing that was chasing them. It was because that would be pointless.

They could no longer do anything but pray to the wind and the Gods.

The large 《Galleon Class》 sand ship, which was many times bigger than the sand ship that Diablo’s group came on──A monster several times more gigantic than that sand ship was chasing after it while raising up the sand.

What was swimming through the sand sea was a light brown whale.

Its surface was hard like stone. It was said that it had a strength that rival even dragon scales and that the weapons of the Races couldn’t make even a single scratch on it.

Its overall length exceeded 300 meters.

The size of its mouth boasted of being the largest class among all monsters.

If it were to plunge into a town, a great number of people would probably get eaten along with whole buildings.

It was an extra-large Demonic Beast that stood in line with Green Behemoths and Sea Serpents. Its size could be expressed as being as big as an entire mountain, or an entire island.

Whether they were the people of the town or the Holy Knight Unit, it didn’t matter anymore.

Shrieks, roars, and screams flew about.

「Why are they heading towards the town!?」「We can only run away!」「Where to!? We won’t make in time anymore!」「If it’s the Head of the Holy Knights-sama, then!」「Get Feudal Lord-sama!」「Hurry up and go call somebody!」「Ahh, it’s gotten that close! It’s already impossible────!!」

It seemed that they thought either the Head of the Holy Knights Baduta or Zircon Tower’s Feudal Lord could somehow do something about it.

It was considerably close. The shape of the 《Sand Whale》 could be seen clearly.

It probably wouldn’t take even ten minutes for it to reach the town.

「O darkness yielded from the blackest night, congregate into an arc……《Dark Arc Seek》」

With the tip of the staff as the center, a black light started to spread up and down.

It was similar to the black bow that Shera possessed, but its size was in a different league. The bottom half went inside of the ground.

Even just the upper half was several times bigger than Diablo’s height.

「O nihility that engulfs all of creation, come forth in my hand……《Black Hole Arrow》」

A black sphere was born at the tip of the staff.

It was a hole.

It was a hole that swallowed anything and everything including light.

The earth tremors became bigger, and tents finally started to collapse.

Even the stone made buildings started to get cracks.

The large sand ship that was running away passed at the town’s side. It really was planning on pushing the 《Sand Whale》 off on the town and escaping.

──Ignore them for now.

The Demonic Beast that was as big as a town was drawing near.

The 《Sand Whale》 opened up its mouth.

Diablo’s heart rate skyrocketed. It aroused terror. His breath became rough. It was way too different from the image on a display!

──S, such a gigantic……mountain-like monster, would magic fired from one individual even work on it!?

Doubt had risen to his head.

──No, don’t waver! This is the same as when I first used magic! Believe in yourself! No, believe in Demon King Diablo! The current me, is Diablo! A Demon King of another world!!

He shouted.

「O arrow of nihility, pierce the linchpin that is at the boundary of heaven and earth! 《Gravity Abyss》!!」

The projectile that released a black radiance flew towards the large Demonic Beast.

The atmosphere trembled.

The crystallization of the three maximum magic spells──

hit the tip of the 《Sand Whale》’s nose.

The magic was invoked.

That sturdy skin was pulled into the black hole.

The strong skin that rivaled a dragon’s skin crumpled and cracked. It was slurped and pulled into a hole small enough that it couldn’t be seen at a distance.

The Demonic Beast’s forward movement stopped.

──Hell yeah! It was invokedddd────!!

While he was making a fist pump in his mind, Diablo glared at the magic with a cool-headed expression.

Before long, the reverse shock wave──the force that pulled things towards the magic, reached the town. It felt as if he was being pushed from behind.

Sand gathered towards the 《Sand Whale》.

Tents flew, and small articles tumbled over. Portions of broken stone walls also soared.

It looked like even people would be pulled into it, but the surrounding people extended their hands and grabbed them, and somehow brought them back.

The strong winds that were like a typhoon continued.

The sounds of something hard breaking happened consecutively. The 《Sand Whale》 fell into a miniscule hole.

The air trembled.

「OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO──────N!!」

Was that the large Demonic Beast’s scream?

At any rate, it was enormous.

Just way too excessively big.

Even though it was about time for the magic’s effect time to end, it still hadn’t fallen.

Diablo considered another magic spells.

He couldn’t use something similar to that just now for a while. When it came to other high power magic spells that felt like they would be effective on the 《Sand Whale》……

Part 7

A flash came from a corner of the town.

Diablo noticed that an enormous amount of SP was put into it.

It was a long distance attack by means of a Martial Art.

Although he couldn’t determine the move’s name since he didn’t know what weapon was being used, there was no doubt that it was a Martial Art.

Its might wasn’t as strong as the Multiplex Magic 《Gravity Abyss》 that Diablo fired. A force strong enough to change the terrain with a single attack could only be with magic.

However, Warrior-types were able to use killer techniques continuously.

Flashes were fired in succession.

Damage was soundly being inflicted on the 《Sand Whale》 that had its charge stopped by Diablo’s 《Gravity Abyss》 and had lost its armored nose tip.

Furthermore, a firing sound was raised from behind Zircon Tower.

A sound that felt like it reverberated in Diablo’s gut──It was as if it were from a tank gun.

He felt sound not with his eardrums but with his skin.

Don! (Bang!)

—Don! (Bang!)

——Don! (Bang!)

It was done in succession.

And then, after about ten seconds, the 《Sand Whale》’s body──exploded.

It were as if bombs were set inside of its hard skin, and those were exploding one after another. It was a spectacle that looked just like that.

Bon! (Boom!)

—Bon! (Boom!)

——Bon! (Boom!)

──This is……Could it be a Magi Gun!

The High Class that Archers who strengthened their magical power could Class Change into was 《Magi Gunner》.

Even though he thought “could it be that they don’t exist” in this other world whose average level was low……To think that one would be in a place like this.

《Magi Gunners》 used Magi Guns which were special equipment, and fired magic filled bullets.

Furthermore, by piling up magic spells at the time of firing, they were able to exhibit might that rivaled Chemical Elemental Magic despite being an Archer.

In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, they were too strong at the time of implementation, and was a Class that was repeatedly nerfed.

The early Magi Gunners were cursed at with things like “broken performance”, “official cheat”, and “balance breaker”.

──If they exist in this world as the early version, they’ll be a bothersome opponent.

The air trembled once again.

It was the 《Sand Whale》’s shriek.

While writhing in pain, it sunk to the sand.

──Was it defeated?

Or could it be that it ran away?

Unlike the game, there wasn’t an announcement of the battle results, nor did he receive experience points and drop items.

Because of that, he wasn’t able to confirm any military gains.

However, the earth tremors became smaller.

The feeling of oppression disappeared.

It was certain that the 《Sand Whale》 had left from the town’s vicinity.

Diablo snorted his nose.

「Hmph……An unnecessary hindrance joined in.」

Rem wiped the tears that rose to the corner of her eyes.

「……Truly……You are……tremendous.」

*Dadadadada* Shera rushed over to him. She clung onto him just like that.

「You did itー!! Amazing! As expected of you! That was amazing, Diablo──!!」

*Gyuugyuu* With her breasts being pushed up against him, his face felt like it would unconsciously loosen.

──Not good! A Demon King doesn’t make a slovenly face just from being hugged by a boobie Elf!

Clenching his teeth, he tore Shera off from himself.

As he tried to push her away, his hand grabbed onto something soft.

Shera raised a nasally voice.

「Ahn……Diablo, you perv.」

──Th, that wasn’t on purpose, you know!?

However, making excuses wasn’t Demon King-like. Demon Kings do not get flustered with something like boobs. They do not get flustered! But, then, what should he do……?

As he was in the middle of thinking, his fingers stayed grabbing on to Shera’s breast, and would push a bit and would pull a bit.

The Elf’s long ears became red even up to the tips.

「Ah, Nn……Diablo……You can’t……Even though we’re outside……Everyone, is watching, you knoww?」

──Then is it fine if we aren’t outside!?

Rem tore Shera away.

「Just how long are you going to do that, how shameless!」

The soft sensation disappeared, and he felt lonely yet relieved……

As if avoiding Rem’s reproachful eyes, Diablo cleared his throat.

At any rate, it was great that the town was protected.

When he turned his gaze──

Lumachina was kneeling down with her hands together.

「Ahh, Kami-sama……Thank you very much! You have my gratitude!」

Those words also looked like they were directed towards Diablo.

However, the people surrounding her couldn’t possibly think that Lumachina was calling the Demon in front of her Kami-sama.

Turning to the sky and putting their hands together, they unanimously expressed words of gratitude.

The ordinary people might not even be able to understand that Diablo had used magic. After all, in this world, it was considered that “Chemical Elemental Magic is at the level of causing a soft breeze”.

The Holy Knight Unit gang had remained.

Diablo shrugged his shoulders.

「Hnn, so you were still here.」

「Uuu!?」

When he called out to them, they finally recovered from their stupefaction.

Looking at things from their perspective──A 《Sand Whale》 had appeared abruptly, and they resigned themselves to death. However, the Magician that they were just about to try to fight against repelled that with a powerful Chemical Elemental Magic that they couldn’t even imagine.

It wasn’t unreasonable for them to freeze up from an excessive amount of surprise.

──Well, there was someone’s Martial Arts and attacks from a Magi Gun there as well though.

Diablo turned the 《Staff of Tenma》 towards the Holy Knight Unit.

「I will say this now……I will not hold back, understood? If you have resolved yourself to become ash, then take up your sword.」

The bear-like Pantherian hurriedly threw down the jousting lance he had in his hand.

He got on his knees and lowered his head.

The other guys of the Holy Knight Unit did the same.

「「W, we’re really sorry──!!」」

「……Umu.」

It seemed that they understood the difference in strength.

Things didn’t end with this.

In a certain meaning, a fellow more troublesome than the 《Sand Whale》 would appear.

Part 8

The one that galloped in on a horse, and got down from it was──

A Holy Knight.

He wasn’t one of those imposter-looking Holy Knight Unit members, but seemed to be a genuine Holy Knight. It was his recognizable armor.

And then, he possessed a spear tinged with enough magical power that it was overflowing with it.

He was a man at the prime of his life, and in terms of age, he was about the same as Faltra City’s Feudal Lord Galford. He possessed a beard abundant enough to cover his chest.

He seemed like a Dwarf, but he probably a Human.

The Royal Capital was strong with racial discrimination, and it seemed that only Humans were appointed to important positions. There probably weren’t any Dwarves among the Holy Knights.

The Holy Knight that had come along discovered Diablo──and his already grim-looking face became even more stern.

If Galford had an air of a “stern teacher”, then this man felt like a “pigheaded boss”.

That sort of Holy Knight opened his mouth.

「So it was you? The one that used the magic from before……?」

Before Diablo could respond, the gang of Holy Knight Unit members jumped up.

「Oyabun!」[1]

Their arrogant attitude returned. The man that had been the first one that was blown away got cocky.

「Fu fu fu……Oi, Magician! This is where your self-important attitude ends! I’ll have you know, this person is the Head of the Holy Knights, Baduta-sama, got it! How about that!」

「As I thought, so it is him.」

Diablo was half disappointed. To think that the Holy Knight that they had gone through the trouble of coming here to meet was the boss of such a bandit-like group.

Baduta kept silent.

Come to think of it, he did ask a question, didn’t he.

Diablo shrugged his shoulders.

「If by magic from before, you mean the one that was launched at the 《Sand Whale》, then that certainly was my magic. Same to you, were you not the one that fired off some sort of Martial Art?」

「Affirmative. That was my 《Seven Star Blast》 -de aru.」

「Mu!?」

──A levle 130 Martial Art!?

There was a difference in their parameters but depending on the situation and the fight, there was the possibility that he could surpass the level 150 Diablo. It was that sort of level difference.

If they were to fight in the current situation where his MP has decreased, he predicted that it would be a considerably hard fight.

His hands were moist with sweat. It was nervousness that he felt for the first time in a long time.

The guys of the Holy Knight Unit made triumphant looks.

「Kneel down, Magician! Your head is too high! To use such unreserved speech with Head of the Holy Knights Baduta-sama, even if God forgives you, we will not!」

「Tsk……」

The guys of the Holy Knight Unit went into ecstasy, and became even more carried away.

In a world where something like level 50 was “the best in town”, Baduta was higher than level 130. The Holy Knight Unit misunderstood and thought “our boss is peerless”.

It didn’t look like they could avoid a fight.

As they were glaring at each other, Lumachina came up to Diablo’s side.

──Oi oi, that’s dangerous, you know?

「Is this person the Head of the Holy Knights, Baduta?」

The Holy Knight Unit man’s eyes became bloodshot, and he yelled.

「You need to prostrate yourself before him, woman!!」

She was yelled at but──Lumachina ignored him. She gazed only at Baduta.

「What is the meaning of this, Head of the Holy Knights? What is this Holy Knight “Unit” that these people claim to be? I do not remember allowing such a thing. Did the Cardinal Institution authorize this? Or could it be that you created it all on your own?」

Baduta made a puzzled face at her way of speaking.

He stared at her.

Beads of sweat then fell down from his forehead.

「Y……you are……」

The Holy Knight Unit man drew his sword.

「Oyabun, please leave her to us! We’ll teach these guys a bit on the attitude they should have towards the Head of the Holy Knights-sama!」

「………………Could it be…………you? Is your great self the High Chief Priest!?」

「I believe this should be my first time meeting you?」

「In the time of your childhood, I had seen you only once! An h-honorable person that possesses such divine light, there should not be two such people in this world!」

「Is that so, at the time of my childhood……Please pardon my discourtesy.」

Lumachina put both of her hands together.

A shining holy symbol floated in front of her chest.

The light, from which warmth could be felt from, spread to the surroundings.

The people of the town that had taken their distance from the situation going on here leaked out voices going 「Ooh……」, and put their hands together and knelt down.

「O God……」「That honorable person is, the High Chief Priest……」「How sacred……」

Whispering voices could be heard.

Baduta also got to his knees.

「I, I am terribly sorry! I have no ways of showing apologies for the many impolite actions done to you!」

「WHA!? EH!? EH!? EH!?」

Seeing their own Oyabun lower his head, the guys of the Holy Knight Unit were completely bewildered. They looked at Lumachina several times.

Baduta raised his voice at just how bad at making judgements they were.

「You insolent fellows! Be aware of just who this honorable person is, is that understood!? She is the saint that announces the honorable voice of the great God to the entire Church──The High Chief Priest Lumachina Weselia, understood!? Your heads are too high! You fools, would you just prostrate yourselves before her!!」

「Hiiii!?」

──This is one of those reap what you sow things. This will be good medicine for them.

Diablo sneered at them.

Rem and Shera got close to him on his left and right.

「……That was a bit, satisfying.」

「Ahaha, same hereー」

He couldn’t deny that.

Rem tilted her head.

「……Does this mean that our escorting, ends with this?」

「Doesn’t it look fine if it’s that person?」

Diablo left that question unanswered.

Part 9

「It looks like an interesting guest has come, doesn’t it, swindlers?」

「Muh!?」

Baduta readied his spear and looked up overhead.

Diablo also glared that way.

There was someone standing still in the sky.

Having no foothold whatsoever, they were in the sky. Their red mantle fluttered in the wind.

──Is that the 《Deep Crimson Wings》!?

It was equipment that was just as rare as the 《Curtain of Dark Clouds》 that Diablo had equipped. It was bestowed with the effect of 《Flight Magic》.

They shouldered a gigantic gun that was likely to be about their height in length.

──That guy, could it be, they’re the 《Magi Gunner》 from before!?

Baduta shouted.

「It is fine if those words are directed at me! However, if you are insulting this honorable person, consider that head of yours gone! Lamnites!」[1]

「Add a “-sama” to that, you damned swindler.」

Diablo only realised it now.

──A woman’s voice!?

That person that wore the vivid red mantle came down from the sky.

As he thought, it was a woman.

*Fuwa* Her feet touched the sand. She handled the 《Deep Crimson Wings》 perfectly.

She was a woman glowing with sex appeal.

She looked to be the same age as Diablo.

And then, she was similarly self-important and arrogant.

Making only a single glance at Baduta, she turned her gaze to Lumachina.

「I (Yo), am the master that governs this Zircon Tower──Farnis Lamnites[2]. Are you the High Chief Priest?」[3]

Her scarlet lips faintly curved.

Diablo felt a sense of discomfort from her speech and conduct.

Rem whispered into his ear.

「……This person, calling herself with “yo”, and “master (aruji)”……It seems that she considers herself not as the Feudal Lord but as a king.」

「Hnn, I see.」

Faltra City’s Feudal Lord Galford was self-important, but he had an attitude of being in court service.

Lamnites’ attitude was that of a king himself.

──A setting where such a strong person was the Feudal Lord wasn’t in the game though?

Lumachina put her hands together.

「It is just as you say, I am Lumachina Weselia, the High Chief Priest. Nice to meet you, Feudal Lord Farnis Lamnites.」

「Fu……To think that the big boss of the swindlers, would be such a young girl.」

「What would you mean by, swindlers?」

「Even though you can’t do anything significant, you demand nothing but donations. I will not tolerate parasites in my territory. It means I do not approve of your religion.」

「EH!?」

「If you pay the taxes, I will allow you to do business though.」

「Just what are you saying!? The Lifelia King Dalesh Sandros should have decreed that building the chapel was the Feudal Lord’s duty, and that the Church would be tax free……」

「Hahn! As if I care about that coward’s incompetence! If he has any complaints about me, the king should try coming all the way out here!」

──I see, so the current Lifelia King has never come to the former Demon King territory which has been judged as dangerous. And so, the Feudal Lord’s rampage couldn’t be stopped.

Moreover, Lamnites’ strength was suitable for her attitude.

Taking a guess from her earlier attack through the use of her Magi Gun and her relationship with Baduta, it was certain that she was over level 100.

In the game, even if his opponent was a party of six level 150 Players, Diablo was able to win.

However, that was because there was compensation due to the difference of numbers, and above all, it was because he used a countless number of items. He has already used up all of the rare potions that were in his pouch.

──I’m also interested in what kind of specifications the 《Magi Gunners》 of this world have. While I don’t know that, I can’t carelessly fight against her.

The foundation of 《Magi Gunners》 is “once they fire a bullet with a magic spell enclosed in it, that magic spell activates”.

With the initial specifications, they were able to rapid-fire as much as they liked.

Although the bullets were consumable goods, the destructive power per unit of time was in such a different league that the game balance was broken.

Diablo had also been tormented by the pay-to-win Players’ “banknote stack smacks”.

──That reminds me, there was a Ranker that blindly fired a doubled barrelled Magi Gun that excessively focused on might, wasn’t there. It was dangerous since they shaved off about half my HP in an instant. Though I did annihilate them since they were a couple that had a 《Wedding Ring》 on!

Several adjustments were made, and in the most recent version, the Magi Gun’s rapid-fire ability was made more moderate, and its might also received a drastic nerf.

Even so, since there wasn’t any MP consumption during battle, it was plenty strong──is what Diablo thought.

Lumachina replied to her.

「I understand that you have an opinion about the Lifelia King. However, aren’t the people of your fief suffering?」

「That is because these swindlers here are demanding unreasonable donations.」

Having the conversation place on him, Baduta grimaced.

「After having the chapel confiscated, and having to pay the tax one way or another, I had no choice but to seek donations from the followers. Even Priests have livelihoods to sustain after all.」

「Hnn……Wasn’t God supposed to produce bread and wine?」

「Th, that is……」

Lumachina shook her head left and right.

「Even if it’s possible for Kami-sama, it is impossible for people to do. We are people that believe in Kami-sama and no Kami-sama himself.」

「Hohou? So you are sermoning me……These High Chief Priests or whatever are quite remarkable, aren’t they. If you are that remarkable, let’s test out if you truly have God’s divine protection!」

Lamnites readied her shouldered Magi Gun.

She turned it towards Lumachina.

「What are you……!?」

「Tsk!」

Diablo was about to use magic.

As he thought, it was the Warrior-type’s time to shine when it came to short distances. Baduta had thrust out his spear faster than him.

「You damned insolent fool!」

The spearhead struck empty space.

Lamnites landed in a spot ten steps away.

Fast.

Before Diablo could fire his magic, Baduta had thrust his spear, and Lamnites had jumped backwards.

──These guys, they’re strong.

It was a speed that made him admire them.

Lamnites let out a loud laughter.

「Aーhahaha! In the end, even you all don’t believe in your God! That is why you tried to protect the High Chief Priest. If there truly was a God, wouldn’t God have protected her even if you did nothing!?」

「That is sophistry!」

Baduta howled.

Diablo ended up secretly agreeing.

Lumachina shook her head left and right.

「You are misunderstanding Kami-sama to be “some kind of powerful armor or something”. With such shallow understanding, you do not have the qualifications to talk about anything.」

「I……am misunderstanding? Did you say, shallow!?」

She scowled.

However, Lumachina was composed.

「Listen well──Kami-sama watches things on the grand scale. If you commit a misdeed, eventually, the rebounding calamity will return to you……Or to your descendants. However, let us say for instance that you shot me right now and I died──That might be because my sin had been judged. I might have been called to Kami-sama’s side. It is impossible for people to understand Kami-sama’s doings.」

Lumachina had turned her gaze this way for only an instant.

──I see, since she had the ideology that “God cannot be understood”, is that why she accepted such an absurd “setting”?

No, judging from her speech and conduct, Lumachina is smart.

Isn’t it about time for her to notice his lie? In that case, just how much has she realized?

Could it be that she got as far as knowing that Diablo was a shut-in gamer that was only doing a Demon King role play!?

No, no, that’s impossible……

He was bad with people whose depths couldn’t be read.

Lamnites snorted.

「Hnn……In that case, the ones that rely on something like that are morons! Are there guys that rely on arms with uncertain movements on the battlefield? The calamity will eventually return you say? How stupid! You simply have to strike back at that calamity or whatever.」

「It isn’t that sort of……」

「You all, you take advantage of the insecurities of the masses, and are swindlers that only pluck their money.」

「The healing and miracles of good harvests certainly are there, you know?」

「It is fine for those that have a use to receive proper compensation. I acknowledge that because it is a business. But that is only if they properly pay the taxes!」

Lumachina breathed a sigh.

The conversation between her, who was deeply pious, and the completely utilitarian Lamnites did nothing but follow parallel lines.

If it went on too long, the Magi Gun would be turned towards her again.

Baduta went between them.

「Lumachina-sama, leave it at this for today. Lamnites, we haven’t used the chapel, nor have we done any tax evasions. I don’t believe we have done any faults to be reproached by the Feudal Lord, have we?」

「Hmph……To begin with, I had no business with you. Even that High Chief Priest over there was just an extra. The reason that I brought myself over here for was, to search for “the fellow that used strange magic” on the colossal Demonic Beast from before.」

──So it was me!!

Diablo instinctively made a displeased face.

Considering Lamnites’ speech and conduct, it looked like things would become troublesome no matter how things fell.

Baduta swung his head to the side with a fine performance.

「I also came here to search for them but……There is no one that knows about it.」

「Hoho～u?」

Lamnites’ eyes were fixed on Diablo.

He felt like he would unconsciously avert his gaze. It felt like being glared at by a bad-looking guy in town. Such a weak attitude wasn’t Demon King-like.

So instead, he glared back.

「You, what do you plan on doing once you find that Magician?」

The ends of Lamnites’ lips curved into a grin.

「If they’re a useful fellow, I will make them my subordinate! If they won’t obey me, then I thought I would teach them the difference in our strength!」

「You damned troublesome fellow.」

He unintentionally let his true feelings leak out.

He thought she might get mad, but surprisingly, Lamnites smiled looking delighted.

「Fufufu……If they were such a powerful person, they would eventually stand before me.」

──I’m already standing here though.

She had most likely noticed.

However, Lamnites stopped the conversation. She turned her gaze towards the west.

「It seems that my subordinates have caught the sand ship that did such a foolish act. Let’s end the conversation at this. We shall continue another day.」

She kicked up sand, and flew into the sky.

She flew towards the west of Zircon Tower City.

Rem talked with an exhausted voice.

「……Fuu……It seems that you’ve caught the eye of quite a troublesome person.」

「Don’t say that. It will make you all the more tired.」

Diablo shrugged his shoulders.

Shera happily laughed.

「She was a person who said things that I didn’t really get.」

──I want to follow her example, being so carefree.

Baduta once again knelt to Lumachina.

「Once again, I would like to apologize for the numerous impolite events. It seems that it was also due to my subordinates’ ineptitude. Please, would you allow me to invite you to my residence?」

「Thank you. I also have something to talk to you about.」

「I will immediately prepare a sand sleigh.」

Diablo’s group──Or rather, they were treated as Lumachina and her attendants, got on board a camel drawn sleigh.

They headed towards the northern side of town.

Part 10

A gentle time continued for a while.

The camel kicked sand away with its thick legs.

Since the wheels of a carriage would sink, it seemed that sand sleighs were used here.

Baduta grasped the reins, and Diablo’s group of four sat in seats.

There was a large building facing the main street.

It was made of stone just like the other buildings in the vicinity, but it had a solid flagstone base, and a belfry towered above it.

Even though it was in the middle of the desert, stained glass was set in the walls.

It was a splendid chapel.

However, local knights surrounded its vicinity. They were keeping watch so that no one would approach it.

Lumachina put a hand to her mouth.

「Is that, the chapel?」

「Yes. Though, it was shut down by Lamnites’ instructions……」

Baduta answered her.

The Feudal Lord branded the Church as swindlers, and did not allow them even a single privilege.

「Why would she go as far as shutting it down……」

「That chapel is originally something that the previous Feudal Lord constructed in accordance with the King’s decree. Therefore, its ownership is in the hands of the Feudal Lord. If we are to use it, pay the rent──That is what she told us. It was the market price amount but……it was much too high to pay from donations……」

「And that is why it isn’t being used.」

「There were voices from the townspeople saying that they wanted to make use of the chapel but……As you saw, Lamnites has that sort of personality.」

「How troubling.」

Lumachina cast her eyes down.

Rem muttered.

「……I have never heard of a Feudal Lord that would say such things towards the Church. However, paying rent in order to use it is a requirement that I can agree with.」

「That’s trueー」

Shera nodded.

「……How was the Church in your homeland, the Greenwood Kingdom?」

「Eh? I guess there was the Sacred Tree?」

「……Erm……What about the Priest’s bedroom?」

「They slept in their own house. The current Priest-san’s real job is a tea shopkeeper. It’s like they become the Priest-san only when there is a festival or when prayers are needed.」

「……Is that adequate for them?」

「Pretty muchー」

Since they weren’t exactly meshing together in their conversation, Diablo cut into the conversation.

「The reason why it was enough for the job of Priest to be done as a side job is because the population of the Greenwood Kingdom is low, and there aren’t many important ceremonial occasions there. Seeing as how Elves live long lives, their birth rate is proportionately low.」

「……I see. So that is why being Priest can be done as a side job.」

「In the Lifelia Kingdom, the Church does not only deal with prayers, but is also entrusted with money, and possesses the function of educating children. Even if they share the same name of being a Church, the duties differ according to the country’s population and systems. It just means that there is no use in simply comparing them.」

「……As expected of you, Diablo. It is surprising how high your level of discernment is.」

「This is normal.」

「……It is embarrassing but, I only know of Faltra City and several of the neighboring towns. I have never gone outside of the Lifelia Kingdom after all.」

「Fumu, I see.」

In this world, there was no TV or Internet, and the price of books was also high.

Even the knowledge on politics and economics that Diablo thought was common sense, the chance to study those was valuable.

Lumachina made an inquiry to Baduta.

「Aren’t you unable to do any divine services or anything with the chapel being shut down?」

「We have constructed a tent on the northern side of town in place of the chapel.」

「May I have you show it to me?」

「……It will be somewhat of a, detour. How about after taking a rest?」

「Right now, please.」

「I understand.」

Honestly, maybe because of the MP consumption, Diablo felt like he wanted to hurry up and eat a meal and dive into a bed. However, he also understood Lumachina’s feelings.

Keeping silent, he rocked in the seat of the sand sleigh.

Zircon Tower was a small town when compared to Faltra City. Without taking much time, they arrived at the northern side.

Several small tents were constructed. There were about 100 of them.

Lumachina rose up a bit.

「This is, all of them?」

「About half of them. The other half are ones that Adventurers and merchants built.」

「Even so, that is a lot.」

「There isn’t enough but……I am sorry, Lumachina-sama. If we get any closer than this, there will be a problem in one way or another.」

「What is it?」

The sand sleigh turned around.

Baduta pointed.

「That is, the line to wait for prayers but……」

In front of a tent that was a size bigger, a line of around 3000 people was made. It had adults and children, men and women, Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Pantherians, and Grasswalkers.

「Because of the earlier 《Sand Whale》 turmoil, it is currently quite large. Normally, it would be around 1000 people.」

「Are there that many followers that would wait like that?」

「There are also people that need to offer their prayers even if they have to wait a whole day. Since the night is quite cold, we tell them to come again the next morning but……most of them don’t leave the line.」

「Why, has it become like this!?」

「This place is former Demon King territory, and it isn’t rare for Demonic Beasts like the one from before to appear. There is no barrier to protect the town either. There are few Priests that come out here, and there are many people that need them. Because of that, the line is created like that.」

「……Is that so.」

Lumachina nodded.

Diablo sent his gaze around.

As he did, there were about three people lined up at a tent in a slightly separated spot. They were dressed up quite nicely.

「Hnn……Answer me, is that also a line it awaiting prayer?」

「……It is.」

Baduta nodded with a reluctant look.

Lumachina tilted her head.

「What is the meaning of this?」

「That is the line only for those that make large sum donations. Lumachina-sama, I ask that you listen to me so that you do not misunderstand. There are not enough Priests, and this place is dangerous region. We are unable to respond to all those that seek prayer. It is only natural to prioritize followers who strongly require it enough to offer up much larger donations.」

「…………」

Lumachina cast her eyes downward in thought.

She was smart. She understood that she could not arbitrarily decide that Baduta was corrupt.

Shera frowned.

「Isn’t that just weird!? Isn’t it fine if you make prayers starting from the people that came first!?」

「……Then what would you do if those that had no choice but to rush got belated treatment because of the people that weren’t in that big of a rush?」

Rem answered with a low voice.

「Uーn, it’s a bit pitiable but, isn’t it fair to keep the order of who lined up faster?」

「……That is giving favorable treatment to those who have time. Can you say that it is fair that hard workers that give up their assets get a cold reception more than people that don’t work and give up their time?」

「Ah, uーm」

「……For the Church, they are happier with getting large donations more than having others line up faster. That’s why they show favorable treatment to those that make large donations than those that line up faster.」

Rem’s comprehension was appropriate.

And then, the reason why Lumachina was groaning was most likely due to the case of the mother and child from earlier.

Even in the line of 3000 people, a fair amount of donations was demanded, and there were people that couldn’t even pay that.

Lumachina muttered.

「……For 1000 people to line up regularly, that really is a bit too much.」

Part 11

They returned to the center of town from the crowds of tents.

They arrived at the building that Baduta and the Priests lived in.

「This is a place that a certain merchant rented out to us cheaply. He was a deeply religious man.」

It had properly made stone walls and was fairly big. It was enough to think wouldn’t it be fine to use this place as a chapel but……

There wasn’t a wide place for worship.

Its structure was that of a normal house.

There was a foyer and a lobby, and with the dining room and living room at the center, there were private rooms surrounding it.

The windows were closed so that sand wouldn’t get in. Since it was dark because of that, the oil lamps that were hung from the ceiling were lit during the daytime. In this town, oil was easier to obtain than candles.

Pictures decorated the walls, and a white cloth covered the table.

It felt like he would forget that this was a town in the desert.

Around ten maids bowed deeply and greeted them. The one that stood at the head of the group was a beautiful maid with long black hair and a big chest. She was quite sexy. Her age was probably a bit above his own.

「Welcome, High Chief Priest Lumachina Weselia. I am the head maid, Shiiryuu. If you have any orders, please instruct us on whatever you may need.」

「Okay.」

Lumachina nodded. For her to be calm at a time like this, it made him think that she was a person of the upper class.

If he were greeted by a maid with “Please instruct use on whatever you may need”, Diablo would get nervous.

The feeling that he got with 《Relief Inn》’s poster girl, Mei-chan, was “like a maid cafe”, but that was comfortable in its own way.

Come to think of it, was Krum doing well? It had been two weeks since they left, but no one has noticed her true identity, right? She isn’t causing trouble to those around her, is she?

Was Edelgart serving her without any problems?

──If only there was a telephone or something.

They were guided to the dining room by the head maid Shiiryuu.

Lumachina sat at the head of the table, and Baduta sat beside her.

Diablo and the others were treated as guests. He had honestly thought they would receive underling treatment as her escort or attendants.

Come to think of it, Baduta feigned ignorance when Lamnites was searching for the Magician.

Since they had brought Lumachina here and had repelled the 《Sand Whale》, were they surprisingly treating them with care?

──Well, I still don’t know if we can trust in them just because of that.

Being in the middle of the desert, he wondered what sort of cuisine would come out but……

It was a reddish legume soup.

──Th, this is!?

Lumachina and Baduta had put their hands together. Diablo and the others also did the same.

「O great God in heaven, we are grateful for today’s blessing.」

To pray before a meal, he had never done it before, but after they started travelling with Lumachina, it became a habit.

In her case, when she prayed, the rotten smell of old meat would vanish, and dirty rain water would turn into tasty fresh water so they didn’t scorn her for it. It seemed that poison would also disappear.

He tried putting the red soup into his mouth with a silver spoon.

The inside of his brain went numb from the burning stimulus and the aroma of spices that came out from his nose.

──This is!!

「Spiーcy!」

Shera raised a scream.

Rem nodded.

「……It certainly is……but it is delicious.」

Diablo involuntarily raised his voice.

「It’s curry! Rice too!」

It was an extremely nostalgic taste. Of course, it was quite different from the curry that the Japanese ate, but it was without a doubt curry.

Since there wasn’t any viscosity, and the aroma of fresh leaves was strong, it was probably close to Thai curry.

The rice was crumbly and the grains were hard. When dipped into the soup, it became a food texture that was just right.

Baduta smiled.

「How do you like it, Lumachina-sama? It’s quite different from the meals of the Royal Capital though.」

「It is very delicious.」

While she said that, she drank her third cup of water.

「Was it too spicy?」

「Y, yes, just a bit……But, it is delicious.」

In the end, Shera had three shares while going “spicy, spicy”, and Diablo also ate five shares.

Part 12

After the meal──

As Diablo relaxed in the living room while drinking black tea, Lumachina came over together with Rem and Shera.

Seeming to have gotten Baduta prepare it, Lumachina had changed into her High Chief Priest outfit.

It was a loose robe with white and red as the basic tones.

The long cloth covered things down to her knees, but he was able to see wholesome skin from the gaps.

Her cheeks were faintly blushing, and she asked him a question.

「H, how do you like it?」

「Umu, it is good.」

Diablo nodded.

Lumachina let out a smile, looking delighted.

Seeming that Rem and Shera helped her change clothes, they were happy.

Since her High Chief Priest outfit was already torn to pieces when he first met Lumachina, this was his first time seeing her like this.

He probably shouldn’t be looking at her with such eyes but……it was a pretty sexy-looking outfit.

──Nevertheless, to think that something like the “praise a girl on her clothes” event would happen in my life. I thought that only happened in gal games.

Suddenly, he noticed that Lumachina was holding down the back of her left hand with her right hand.

「Did something happen there?」

「Ah, it isn’t anything much but……」

It was scraped and had turned red.

Rem added some words.

「……It seems that she fell over as she tried to bring back a person that looked like they were going to fly away during the time you fought against the 《Sand Whale》.」

「I see. That is very Lumachina-like.」

──How could this be, so it was because of my magic! I’m sorry!

She made an embarrassed grin.

「It doesn’t hurt any more so it’s fine.」

「Can you not use healing miracles on yourself?」

「Ah……Actually, healing and recovery miracles don’t work on me. Even if I had someone pray for me, not even a little scratch would be healed.」

「What was that!?」

「Normally, miracles would be effective even on the Priests themselves, but it doesn’t work on me at all……It is quite a mystery but……I am sure that this is also part of Kami-sama’s discretion.」

──Is that compensation for being able to use powerful miracles? That is quite the constraint.

「What about healing potions?」

「I have used those when I got injured in the past. It worked properly.」

「I see. Carry this.」

Diablo took a potion tin out from his pouch and handed it over.

Lumachina’s eyes went wide open. She accepted it with trembling hands. For her, it was a boon from Kami-sama.

「Th, thank you very much! I shall treasure it for my entire life!」

「No, you have to use it when you need it, you know?」

Diablo leaned his back on the chair.

Rem and the others also sat down. Shortly after, the maid Shiiryuu brought in several people’s worth of black tea.

Four bedrooms were prepared.

Baduta guided them to the rooms.

It seemed that Lumachina, being the most valuable person, was assigned a special room which was the one furthest in the back of the building.

──This is good treatment, but it will be hard to deal with things when something happens if we’re in separate rooms.

Diablo whispered into Rem’s ear.

「Go along with her.」

When she made a small nod, she stepped forward. She said this to Baduta.

「……I, have been told by Lumachina-sama to assist with her everyday necessities. I have no intention of obstructing the jobs of the maids of the estate, but would you permit me to stay in the same room as her for today?」

Lumachina also had good judgement.

「That’s right! I will be troubled if I don’t have Rem nearby.」

Baduta looked up and down at Rem.

「The High Chief Priest has a slave?」

「……Th, that’s wrong. I only had this attached from a summoning blunder, and I am a slave to no one.」

Rem asserted that.

Lumachina also vouched for her saying 「That’s how it is」.

The Head of the Holy Knights didn’t doubt the High Chief Priest’s words.

「Are you a Pantherian……Adventurer? A Summoner?」

「……Yes.」

「Normally, those that do not possess the qualifications as a Priest are not allowed to approach the High Chief Priest but……This is a special case.」

He was reluctant but he allowed it. He promised to put Rem’s bed in Lumachina’s room as well.

Diablo was relieved.

──For now, I guess I’ll leave her to Rem for tonight.

Night──

Diablo had a water jug and tub brought to the room that he was assigned.

By sitting in the largish tub, and dashing the water over himself, the dirt would get washed off.

It was this world’s somewhat extravagant bath. Normally, it was something that ended with just wiping the body with a wet cloth.

「There are times where I want to soak in a bathtub……I wonder if I should make a bath soon?」

While thinking such a thing, he took off his clothes.

The door was knocked on.

He got subtly nervous.

「Who is it?」

「Ehehe……Diablo, are you awake?」

「So it’s Shera. Go ahead and enter.」

Diablo sat cross-legged in the tub, and turned his back.

The door opened and she came in.

「Ah, you’re taking a bath.」

「Umu……Have you already washed yourself?」

「Not yet.」

To think that she came over without even washing off the long trip’s sweat.

「Was there some kind of problem?」

「I, just can’t calm down when I’m alone.」

Come to think of it, Shera get lonely easily. Enough that she chose to be a Summoner with the reason of not liking to travel alone.

「Hmph……Then just do as you like.」

「Alright!」

*Shuru* The sound of cloth being rubbed was made.

Going “What was that?”, Diablo turned around to look at her.

Shera had started taking her clothes off.

「Wh, what are you doing?」

「Eh? It’s because I haven’t taken a bath yet.」

「I am using it right now though……」

It’s time’s like this that Shera becomes a princess, is what he thought. How she went at her own pace, how she didn’t care about her surroundings.

「Then, let’s us it together. I’ll wash your back!」

──Nonono! To bathe together with a girl, forget washing off the sweat, I’ll break into a cold sweat, you know!?

「S, something like that, I can do it on my own.」

「You don’t need to hold back.」

「No, I am not holding back or anything……」

While he was saying that, Shera became naked.

She got into the tub.

「It’s a bit packed?」

「……Ah, uh.」

Her presence approached right behind him.

This wasn’t the time for the Demon King role play. He was completely alone with a naked girl in the room.

He became unable to get words out from his throat.

In contrast, Shera seemed to be in a good mood as she hummed a tune.

「Nn～hnh～♪ Ah, where’s the towel?」

「……There is none.」

Come to think of it, he forgot to have one brought over.

As if he could call for a maid in this situation. He kind of wanted to avoid that……No, was he worrying about it too much? Was men and women bathing together something normal n this world? That shouldn’t……

Since there wasn’t any specifications for something like bathing in the game, he had absolutely no idea.

Shera talked sounding quite indifferent.

「Then, I’ll wash you without using a towel, okay?」

「……Eh?」

「A person’s skin becomes more smooth and shiny when washed with skin rather than using a cloth, you know?」

He had never heard of such a story.

However, he did think that Shera’s skin was more smooth and beautiful than silk.

When she scooped out some water with her hand from the water jug, she gently stroked Diablo’s back with that wet hand.

Being so soft and chilly, it felt good.

It was completely different from scrubbing with a wet towel.

「How is it, Diablo?」

「Ah, umu……It’s pretty good.」

He was embarrassed about how the both of them were naked, but this was his first time having a bath that felt this good.

Shera put water on her own body as well.

「Ehehe, it’s because I’m also covered in sand.」

「That is probably inevitable in this region.」

「I guess I’ll clean us up in a way that will get us clean all at once.」

「Nn?」

Right when he wondered what she was going to do, something soft glued itself to his back.

Water was poured right there.

Diablo stiffened up.

──Th, this thing pressing on my back, this is!?

Shera leaked out a nasally sigh.

「Nnu……Diablo, your back, it’s really rugged.」

「Ah, uh……」

「Alright, I’m going to scrub you.」

She moved her body up and down.

A soft sensation went up and down his back.

Diablo’s heart rate increased. And then, Shera’s heartbeat was also transmitted to him. Her body was becoming hotter.

「Hafuu……Nn……Diablo……You’re not pouring magic power out, right?」

「Y, you can tell just by looking, can’t you.」

「I wonder why? I’m, getting hot.」

「Fuah!?」

He felt like he would let out a strange voice.

As his back was scrubbed with her chest and whispered to by an erotic voice that came right behind him, Diablo, who was inexperienced with women, couldn’t keep his calm.

──A Demon King? What would a Demon King do at a time like this? A Demon King at a time where boobs were pressed up against his back and the girl had become hot!?

He had no recollection of such a Demon King.

Shera whispered.

「I’ll wash the front, okay?」

「ッ!?」

──I can wash the front myself. No, is being reserved not Demon King-like? Which one is it!?

While he was unable to decide on how to reply to her, Shera’s hands came around from the back as if to hug him and touched his chest.

With wet hands, she stroked his muscular chest.

「Nfuu……Diablo, your body, it sure is hard. It’s really, sturdy.」

「It, it’s because I’m level 150.」

「I see.」

What is this? Is there really a relationship between the two?

Was it about washing his body, or about some different act, he couldn’t tell any more. While her bulges were pressed up on his back, her smooth hands caressed his chest.

She also touched the nape of his neck.

And then, her hands went down to his stomach.

Then even further down.

「Ah……wai……That, place is……」

Diablo’s voice didn’t turn into a sentence. He stopped his breathing.

Shera’s hand touched a sensitive place.

「Nn? This part is also hard.」

「…………ッ!?」

「Is it a tail? Do Demons also have tails? Since it’s this hard, is it a horn? Diablo, you do have horns on your head after all.」

「You’re kidding, right?」

「Erm……I should wash this spot too, right? Nsho……nsho……」

He could no longer let his voice out.

Only Shera’s breathing and the sound of her hand wet with water sliding on skin could be heard. Every time she scrubbed, the heat inside Diablo’s body rose.

An electric current ran deep in his brain.

「ッ!!」

*Biku* The fact that the muscles along his spine twitched was also transmitted to her.

「Ah……Did it hurt? Was it too hard?」

「………………No」

「Really? That’s goodー」

*Gyuu* Shera hugged him.

「Ehehe～, bathing together sure is fun!」

「Ah, right.」

With his waist losing strength, even though he was bathing in cold water, it felt as if he was dizzy from spending too long in the bath.

──Having my body washed by hand, it’s something that feels really good.

Because the air was dry, the wet skin dried right away.

Brushing off the sand, he put his clothes on and then lied on the bed.

Wearing sleepwear, Shera jumped in, and clung onto him tightly.

Diablo remembered what happened earlier, felt like he was going to blush, and averted his gaze.

「…………」

「Diablo, it’s been awhile since we did this.」

「It’s because we continued to sleep outside for a while. Quickly go to sleep.」

「Un!」

He closed his eyes.

Since it was also due to the MP consumption, he immediately fell asleep.

If only such peace could continue forever……