Volume 5 - Epilogue

Part 1

「Diablo────────!! That was amazing!」

With the sun that was sinking in the west at her back, the one that rushed over to him while shouting was Shera.

Making a face that said ‘Naturally’, Diablo nodded.

「They were weaker than I thought.」

「That sparkly light, it was amazing. The Demonic Beings, they went *pya～* and vanished!」

「If it is something that is needed, I am able to do that much. It was just that up until now, the replenishment was delayed.」

In Diablo’s treasury, he had a countless stock of potion types.

The things that he created as practice in order to increase the level of his Sub Class 《Compounder》 mostly remained.

For the meantime, it was probably unnecessary for him to worry about running out of stock.

「So that’s how it wasー, that’s amazing! So cool!」

Shera clung onto Diablo’s arm.

*Munyun* Her soft bulges pressed onto him.

He was seized with an impulse of wanting to touch them with his hands.

However, something like following his carnal desires and thoroughly rubbing a young lady’s chest, that was not something that was allowed. It was also for the sake of maintaining their current relationship──

Shedding tears of blood in his mind, he endured it while creaking his heart. Rather, if they were right in front of his eyes, he wouldn’t have suffered this kind of hunger.

Having no way of knowing of that Diablo’s hardships, together with words of praise, Shera continued to press her plump breasts up against him as if it weren’t enough already.

*Tayun, tayun, boyon, boyon……* (jiggle, jiggle, bounce, bounce……)

Rem came running there.

「Diablo! It’s terrible!」

「Muh?」

Celebrating victory──She didn’t have that kind of atmosphere. Her face was pale.

「Please hurry, over this way!」

With Rem’s guidance, Diablo’s group arrived at the edge of the battlefront.

In a place that seemed to have nothing──

A single young lady was loitering there.

She did not move.

She neither smiled, nor looked this way.

Rem’s voice trembled.

「……Ro, Rose……She doesn’t respond at all……She doesn’t have any injuries……And she doesn’t move.」

「No way!? I mean, it looked like she had an easy victory, you know!? She was totally composed, you know!?」

Shera raised a voice that sounded like she was going to cry.

Diablo approached Rose who ended up looking like she had truly become a doll.

「What has happened, Rose?」

Would she, no longer, look at him and smile?

Why, did she end up like this?

Was it a mistake to take her out of the dungeon?

『Ｐ! Master confirmed in the effective range──Releasing Sleep Mode──Current charge amount, 15%.』

Rose, who had hardened up like a mannequin, incessantly blinked.

She smiled sweetly.

「Oh my, thank you very much for your hard work, Master.」

「Wha……? Rose, just now, you were……What had happened to you?」

「Since it seemed that this Rose was going to run out of magical power, I went into Magical Power Conservation Mode. If I am not either in Master’s base or near Master, I cannot recover magical power. No, there is a much quicker means of recovery but……」

「I had thought that you were taken down by the Demon King’s Army.」

「Fufufu……This Rose is Master’s Magimatic. Something like falling behind small fry such as those, that is impossible. Merely, it is a fact that Battle Mode’s magical power consumption was much larger than hypothesized.」

「Be sure to not make me worry too much.」

「I am terribly sorry. To think that I would make Master worry about me. But, the fact that I was able to receive Master’s concern, this Rose’s internal circuits are overheating, and I am feeling so happy that it feels as though they will burn out.」

With her cheeks flushed, she said that.

She was a hopeless machine.

「It was not only me……Both Rem and Shera were worried about you.」

「About, this Rose?」

She turned a curious-looking gaze at them.

Rem wiped the corner of her eye.

「……Thank goodness. So it was nothing.」

「Waーn, Rose-san, I thought that you died!」

Shera tried to hug her, but Rose pushed her away with one hand.

「What is it? The ones allowed to touch this Rose, is only Master, you know? I have not fallen so low as to be worried about by you all.」

Rem smiled and nodded.

「……That’s true. I’m relieved to hear that you’re in your usual condition.」

「Uuuuー」

Shera did not know what to do with her feeling of wanting to hug her, so for some reason, she came to Diablo’s side. Once again, she pressed her bulges against him.

That in itself stirred Rose’s jealousy though……

Diablo shrugged his shoulders, and told them that they were returning to Zircon Tower City.

──Well, thank goodness.

Diablo secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the fact that the three who went to the frontlines were safe.

Part 2

The rear forces──

Lumachina was tending to the treatment of the injured.

The war had ended, but it seemed that the rear was busier now than before.

Moreover, there were a lot of severely wounded people that couldn’t be saved by anyone other than her.

Lumachina lowered her head with a tired look.

「I am sorry, Diablo-sama. I still cannot leave even for a short while.」

「Umu, so it would seem. You need not worry about me. Contact me if there is something that you require. If it is something at the base, I shall bring it over.」

「Thank you very much. Ah, also, once things have calmed down here, I intend on using the town’s chapel. I would like to dispel the Marked Death Disease with the 《White Cow Statue》.」

「Have you discussed it with Lamnites?」

The chapel was blockaded on Feudal Lord Lamnites’ orders. It was said that it took a pretty large amount of rent.

Lumachina shook her head sideways.

「Not yet. But, there aren’t any other places more suitable than there……I intend on trying to ask her about it later.」

「If it is going to be like that, I shall go talk to her.」

Rem nodded at Diablo’s words.

「……That would be good. In this war, Diablo was extraordinary, and I believe that we also worked satisfactorily. We should be able to at least obtain the chapel’s license.」

「Yup, yup!」

Shera was also in agreement.

Rose made a thin smile.

「If she tries to refuse Master’s request, this Rose will──」

「……Since that sort of thing will complicate things, please bear in mind the time, place, and opponent.」

Having been warned by Rem, Rose glared at her.

It seemed that they weren’t going to get along with each other any time soon.

「Ohh, so you were here.」

The one that called out to them was the Feudal Lord Lamnites that they were just talking about.

Diablo thought that it was unexpected.

「What is this? Did you come to receive treatment as well?」

「Certainly, I have not come out of this uninjured but……This place is a medical treatment tent for ordinary solider-use. I have come to make an inspection and to give encouragement. It is thanks to everyone here that Zircon Tower City was protected.」

「Fumu……」

She was a surprisingly hardworking fellow.

「Of course, the one with the greatest distinguished war service this time, is you though.」

She looked hard at Diablo.

To be honest, he felt embarrassed.

「H, hmph, you should not be mistaken! It was nothing more than me teaching those fools that claimed themselves to be the Demon King’s Army without obtaining this Demon King Diablo’s permission about what only a fragment of the true Demon King’s abilities looks like. It is not like I was thinking about trying to protect a town of the Races.」

「……Fu……I see, that is fine as well. Putting that aside, may I entertain you all as guests?」

「Mu? As guests huh……」

Shera raised up both hands.

「Hoorayー!! It’s food! Food! It’s nice and warm, foodー」

So she was happy enough to start singing a song. Come to think of it, they haven’t had a decent meal since that dungeon food.

Lamnites made a wry smile.

「Very well, I shall have all of Zircon Tower City’s energy prepare the greatest cuisine.」

「Hoorayー!!」

It would seem that they would be participating in the victory celebration.

Even for Diablo, there was no reason to refuse.

Rem raised one hand.

「……Um, Feudal Lord-sama, I would like to consult you about the matter of the chapel.」

「Hou?」

「We have brought back a treasured article that cures the Marked Death Disease. Could we use the chapel for a low fee as a place to make it available to the public? This is also a request from the High Chief Priest.」

Lamnites turned her gaze towards her.

Even now, Lumachina was in the middle of healing injured soldiers with miracles.

The other priests were also the same.

Lamnites shook her head left and right.

「That is rejected.」

「……Why is that!?」

「There is no way I could collect something such as rent from the distinguished people that saved the town. It is to the point that I have no way of showing my gratitude to you all and the High Chief Priest. From now on, you may freely use the chapel. If there are any parts that require repair, I shall deal with it as much as possible.」

Going *Ohh!*, voices leaked out from the priests.

Lumachina put both of her hands together, and expressed words of gratitude towards Kami-sama and the Feudal Lord.

And not just the priests, even the injured soldiers that happened to be present and the normal medical treatment soldiers offered their prayers in a similar fashion.

Diablo talked with a gentle voice.

「You have become quite amicable, haven’t you, Lamnites.」

Going *Ha!*, she shrugged her shoulders.

「I would be feeble minded if I were unable to comply with situation, would I not? As long as the Demon King has revived, it feels as though the dominion of the Races, let alone Zircon Tower City, would turn into scorched earth in a flash unless people of all positions join their strength together. If it can guarantee a cooperative relationship with the Church, then something like a chapel is cheap. That is simply all.」

「Fumu……I suppose I shall leave it at that.」

「Nna!? H, hmph! You as well──It feels as though you are a different person compared to that time.」

「That time, you say?」

「The time that you headed towards Vanaknes. I had thought ‘isn’t this fellow the real Demon King’. You had made that sort of face, you know?」

Part 3

Zircon Tower City・Plaza, Evening──

A lavish victory celebration was prepared.

As if to say that it was here, a large amount of reserves were set out.

Amazingly, Diablo’s group had seats next to Feudal Lord Lamnites prepared for them. Lamnites herself had not yet appeared.

Once she came, that would surely be the start of the victory celebration.

The staff officers of the army sat on the right side of the Feudal Lord seat.

And then, the left side was seats for Adventurers and those related to the Church.

It had ended up being that sort of layout. Within that left line, Diablo was in the highest position.

──Being in a seat that gets this much attention, the burden on my communication disorder heart is huge, you know!?

Rose was at his back, waiting upon him. She did not eat. Rather, since she was receiving a supply of magical power from Diablo right now, it could be said that she is in the middle of her meal.

To his left, Rem, Shera, and then Lumachina were seated.

One seat was open. Diablo asked a question.

「Where is Horun?」

Lumachina tilted her head.

「She had given her help when I was treating those that were injured though……?」

「She had come to the plaza. She had a hesitant look when we were coming up on stage though.」

──Even I didn’t want to be in a place that stood out like this either after all. I sat down though since coming up to the seat but then turning it down was lame.

「Come to think of it, it kind of felt like she was worrying about something, didn’t itー?」

「……Now that you mention it, she might have.」

Diablo didn’t notice Horun’s state at all.

He stood up.

「I will go and feel the wind for a bit.」

「Me too……」

He stopped Rem and others with one hand as they had gotten halfway up.

If all of them left, it felt like Lamnites would complain to them afterwards.

Rem nodded.

「……That’s true. There is also the matter with the chapel. You could say that deepening friendly relations with the Feudal Lord and the staff officers here is an important job.」

「Ah, now I get it.」

Lumachina nodded. She was a girl ignorant of that sort of political bargaining.

Shera couldn’t take her eyes off of the cooking.

「I’ll, do my best, with Diablo’s portion too, okay!?」

「……Be sure to bring a bit to back to the inn, got it?」

He stepped down from the stage.

It felt like his body had become immensely lighter!

「Horun～? Horun～?」

Even if he called out like that as if he were calling for a cat, there was no way she would come out.

Diablo walked along the street as part of his stroll. The main street was in revelry.

Since it was a reversal from a desperate situation, their joy was probably huge.

──I can’t get close to a place like that.

She looked like she was worried about something, if that was the case……She was probably in a much quieter place.

「The inn?」

He tried going back to the inn that Lamnites prepared for them.

The dagger, 《Shadow Knife》, was there. In addition to that, the ability-strengthening type mantle and accessories, and the HP Recovery Potions were placed on the desk.

It was all of the stuff that Diablo gave her. No, only the Western clothes, the 《Treasure Mini》, wasn’t left behind.

And then, even the rewarded gold coins that came from the Feudal Lord for having participated in the war, all of it was left behind.

「……What is the meaning of this?」

Did she only leave behind her adventure-use tools at the inn? It didn’t feel that way.

The accessories were things that didn’t need to be taken off, and if she was going bring along her old dagger, there was no reason to leave the Shadow Knife behind.

──Could it be, she doesn’t plan on coming back?

Diablo clicked his tongue.

If you’re going to leave, then do what you want, is what he thought.

Diablo had a trauma about people leaving him. Chasing after them was painful enough that his heart felt like it would break.

「But, if there are words of a farewell, I know that they should be heard from the person themselves. No matter how painful they are.」

──The mistake from the time with Shera, I won’t have a repeat of that!

He rushed out of the inn. The sun had already set.

Voices making toasts in the victory celebration could be heard from the plaza.

Part 4

「Ow.」

Diablo noticed Horun’s voice. His hearing wasn’t as sharp as Shera’s, but it was better than the average person’s.

It was a vacant lot where materials used in the war were piled up.

Diablo peeked into the shadows of the wooden crates.

Horun was there!

She was on the ground after falling onto her bottom.

It seemed that someone picked a fight with her.

The opponents were four man group of Pantherians.

If he remembered correctly, they were the guys that Horun was disputing the rewards of the dungeon exploration with when he had first seen her in town.

The man with a particularly good body build hung the 《Red Sword》 on his waist.

「Oi, Horun-chan? Ta think that ya were a womanー」

「Uu……」

「We went to the war, but we didn’t meet with any really strong Demonic Beings, ya seeー. Just went we thought that it’d drag on, it quickly came to an end. The feeling of not knowing what to do with this leftover power. The feeling of lacking Ｆ (Furis). You understand, right?」

「Is that so -ssu ka.」

「Then whaddya know? It was a surprise, the weakling Horun was a member of the distinguished party! I was flabbergasted. But we got lucky. Ya got a lot as a reward, right?」

「I did but……I left it back at where everyone else is -ssu.」

「Don’t go makin’ such lame lies. Come on, make with a bit of campaign funds. We’re always, lookin’ after ya, right? Show us a sign of gratitude.」

「Even if it was the same adventure……It was completely different -ssu.」

「Aahn?」

「The adventure with everyone, it was fun -ssu! All I did was drag them down, but it was the best -ssu! I was the worst and didn’t do anything though! But, everyone, was amazing……Too amazing……」

Horun’s eyes were moist.

The Pantherian man tilted his head.

「What are you talkin’ about, kora? We’re in a hurry, so leave the talkin’ to yerself for later. The chairs at the pub are gonna get filled.」

「What, level 80 -ssu ka! You guys aren’t even half as strong as Shera-san -ssu!」

「……Hohoo?」

The atmosphere of the Pantherian men changed.

From their foolishly laughing attitude, they let out an open bloodlust.

Even guys like these, they were more or less Adventurers. Only their intimidating air was strong.

Horun drew her cheap dagger.

「No more! I, I……won’t let myself be threatened to do what you say, any more -ssu!」

「It kinda feels like, yer misunderstandin’ somethin’ here, ya know, Horun-chan?」

「Uuu……?」

「I bet, ya got scared from bein’ evaluated beyond yer position, and ran away, didn’t cha? If it were true, you’d be in a seat right in the center of the victory celebration, wouldn’t cha?」

「Uu」

Horun flinched.

Her summoned up courage was easily broken by his persistent mental attacks.

The other Pantherian guys sneered.

「Ain’t that just grand! Bein’ a member of the distinguished party, that’s a lot of responsibility ta bear for you whose only specialty is ta sneak and hide, ain’t it!? If that’s the case, I’ll switch with ya! Introduce my great self to ‘em!」

The four Pantherian men talked with amongst each other saying whatever they liked.

「Did ya see her, that black panther girl! Ain’t she a perfect match fer Aniki!?」「Ou, I was actually thinkin’ just that! Guhahaha!」「The Elf girl was also amazin’. Ta think that there were Elves with huge boobs like thatー」「Only problem is that High Chief Priest, even if her looks are good, she looks like pretty uptight.」

The lead man shrugged his shoulders.

「That’s it. In the end, that party is just a bunch of extras to the High Chief Priest, ain’t it? They became distinguished just ‘cause of that, I bet.」

──I suppose it’s about time to come out. It feels like my head will hurt if I carelessly listen to these guys’ words any more than this.

However, right when Diablo was about to move.

「Take that back!」

Horun shouted.

Readying her dagger, she shouted once more.

「Take that back right now! Don’t make fun of m, my……of my companions! Everyone, everyone, they’re the realest of the really super duper amazing people! And then, everyone, they did their best with all of their power in order to save the town! They’re different from you cheapskates that try to earn points by showing your faces a bit in places that seem like you can win in!」

Going *un, un*, the Pantherian man nodded.

「……So, are ya okay with those bein’ yer last words? By tomorrow mornin’, you’ll be floatin’ in the central lake.」

The other three snorted.

「Ah～ah, she made Aniki seriously snap.」

「Ya diedー, Horun-chan. Ya just diedー.」

「Fer the time bein’, how about ya try takin’ out some money? Ya’ve still got one chance dependin’ on the amount, ya know?」

Horun didn’t falter.

「If I don’t fight, when my companions are being made fun of……I would never forgive myself -ssu!」

「Ya idiot! Even if ya forgive yerself, my great self won’t forgive ya! Die, ya weakling pipsqueak!」

The Pantherian man drew the long sword on his waist, the 《Red Sword》.

Flames sparkled on the blade.

He held the long sword aloft.

Diablo held back his feelings of wanting to go out. He believed in Horun.

Slash──

Horun jumped to the side, and avoided it.

「Teiya!」

She slashed at the Pantherian man’s hand with her dagger.

It hit.

「It reeks. The stench of monsters is in the air, you pieces of garbage.」

The bunch of Pantherians glared this way.

Diablo stepped out in front of them from the shadow of the wooden crates.

「Horun, I cannot praise you for walking the streets at night alone. Monsters appear even in the middle of town after all.」

「D, Danna!? Why……!?」

The men shouted at him.

「You, yer part of the distinguished group!?」

「Tsk! We’ll crush this guy, and get his bounty! And while we’re at it, let’s take the black panther girl!」

「Right……Now that we’ve been seen, we can’t go back empty-handed, right?」

The Pantherian possessing the 《Red Sword》 drew near Diablo.

Going *hehe*, he stuck his tongue out and laughed.

「So what if yer distinguished. Yer a Magician, right? Against me, a level 80 Warrior, the match was decided the moment the distance was this close!」

He struck his sword at Diablo.

Diablo stopped the blow with one hand.

「……Compared to a level 160 Warrior-type Demonic Being’s attack, it’s slow, weak, and look’s like mere child’s play. It’s not worth considering.」

Right now, the armor that he had equipped, 《Gigantes Mail》, primarily strengthened his physical abilities. It was because he concluded that in this world, having that was much more useful.

It was a situation where he could immediately verify that.

Having his sword grabbed, the Pantherian man panicked.

「Wha!? Why!? Let go! Let go! Why isn’t it cutting!?」

──It’s because I have the 《Supreme Ruler’s Bangle》 that cuts damage below a fixed value equipped on me. Something like catching a blade won’t injure me.

「What’s wrong? Wasn’t I just an extra to the High Chief Priest?」

「Kuh! Screwin’ around with me……Oi, get this guy!」

The guys that pinned Horun down turned this way and drew their swords.

「Uoooh!」「Kill him!」「Die!」

「You fools, as long as you have the intent to kill, you won’t have any complaints if you get killed, right?」

Diablo chanted his magic.

The entire vacant lot was frozen.

Part 5

Carrying Horun, who had become unable to stand, on his back, he walked to the inn.

「This is, only a special occasion, got it?」

「U, un, I know -ssu. Um……Why, were you there?」

「……It was the result of searching for you. It’s only natural.」

「For me!? But, isn’t it the middle of the victory celebration right now……?」

──It’s because food wouldn’t pass through my throat being in a seat as conspicuous as that.

Not knowing how she should take Diablo’s silence, Horun shed tears.

「I, I……didn’t prove useful at all -ssu. That’s why, I thought that I shouldn’t be allowed on that seat……」

「Didn’t prove useful? So what?」

「Eh?」

「Did someone tell you to leave?」

「……I wasn’t told that -ssu.」

「In that case, do you want to leave?」

「Th, there’s no way I would -ssu, but……Someone that just drags everyone down, it’s normal that a party wouldn’t need them -ssu.」

「Something like the values of other groups don’t matter. No one told you to leave. You aren’t thinking that you want to leave. In that case, there is no need for you to leave. Am I mistaken somewhere?」

Horun was trembling on Diablo’s back.

*Pota pota* Transparent drops spilled over and fell.

She started sobbing.

「You aren’t……wrong -ssu. I ……I……want to be, together with everyone -ssu……」

Diablo opened the inn’s door.

「In that case, stay together with us for as much as you like. There is no one that would drive you out.」

To be continued