Volume 8 - CH 5

After that, I visited the village several times.

The village, which I had thought was only a small village, turned out to be the size of a small town.

It is said that the white stone pillars surrounding the village, made with earth-attribute magic, acted as a kind of barrier.

It looks like an ancient magic civilization that once existed in the east of the previous world.

Most of the fields are in the village, but hunting and gathering are the main activities, and nature gods are enshrined in the temple as well.

Rurumu’s father had gone to the biggest village for a meeting and hadn’t come back for days.

I don’t know where that village is, but of course it will take a reasonable amount of time to reach a conclusion and return.

It was what he had expected, but when he started to waste his time… the news arrived.

“In this village, representatives of the demons will gather… just like 16 years ago when the Demon King was born.”

Rurumu told me with a stiff expression.

“Representatives…… Speaking of each race?”

“Yes. Seven races: divine demons, beastmen, giants, demon ogres, three-eyed tria, and black forest dark elves.”

“So, they’ll gather in the village where the demon king is and talk about it.”

“Yes. I don’t know what kind of discussion it will be, but…”

Rurumu’s expression clouded over. Perhaps she remembers a similar discussion sixteen years ago.

On the other hand, I feel heavy.

It’s just like gathering in this village… I guess I have to participate too.

I want to sigh. Ever since my previous life, I’ve been bad at dealing with big people.

But… I can’t say that forever.

I was born into the position of a demon lord. No matter how much I hate it, I can’t avoid it.

Rurumu added.

“Father is coming back tomorrow.”

“What kind of person is the representative of the divine demons?”

When I asked, Rurumu made a confused expression as if she was at a loss for an answer.

“The representative… is the head of the largest village. He’s quite old and a strict person who emphasizes the order of the village. However… I think another one will come.”

“Another one? What kind of position is that demon?”

“Well, he’s a special person. There are a lot of people who oppose the representative, but everyone respects him… I participated in the last discussion. He didn’t say much about my opinion… …”

Rurumu’s story didn’t quite get the point.

Before I could ask back, Rurumu said,

“Anyway, I think you’ll understand when you come.”

***************

Since it’s a big deal, I decided to meet them.

At noon the next day.

As we waited in front of the village gate, which was formed by white stone pillars… before long, they appeared riding on horse-shaped monsters.

“…Seika-dono. You don’t have to go out of your way to meet me at the gate.”

Rurumu’s father Razurum said in surprise.

I answer.

“Sorry, I was bored, so what about those people?”

“Ah, I think I told Rurumu, but this one is…”

“There must have been a demon lord who was quite low-key.”

An elderly god demon with several attendants abruptly said this while dismounting.

His long mustache and hair are so white that it’s hard to believe he’s a divine demon. His face is wrinkled, and his black markings have faded. His appearance is such that you can clearly see that he is old among the demons whose age is difficult to understand.

However, his gaze was so sharp that it didn’t make him feel old. The costume he wore was also superior compared to other divine demons, and it was clear that this person was in the leadership class.

The old man looks at me as if judging me.

“It seems he’s about the same age… but doesn’t he look like an ordinary human? Razurum, you say this is the Demon King? 　What kind of basis do you have to say that?”

“that is……”

“Even if you bring someone who fits the conditions, your village’s blunder won’t be wiped out.”

“… again, another old man with a big attitude. What a representative of divine demons.”

When I muttered so that he could hear it, the old man looked down on me.

“Hmph… I wonder if I won’t be given the same respect that you would pay Razurum. Demon Lord.”

I lift the corners of his mouth and answer.

“Razurum-dono, I owe food. I wonder what kind of debt do I owe you?”

Just as the old man’s eyes were getting sharper, a high-pitched voice suddenly resounded.

“Stop”

Everyone turned to face the voice.

A girl stepped out from behind the old man.

“It’s your fault, Remzenel. No more.”

In human terms, she would be about twelve or thirteen years old.

A young demon girl with long, braided black hair.

I don’t know what status she holds, but at least her quality-looking outfit suggests she’s in high status.

He was an old man who was admonished by a young child, but he bowed his head slightly without hurting his mood.

“I’m sorry, Risolera-sama.”

When the girl takes her eyes off the old man, she walks over to me.

And she stared at me for a while.

An expression as if expecting something.

Her gesture somehow reminded me of Fiona, but… before long, the girl opened her small mouth.

“……remember?”

“Eh, what?”

When he involuntarily asked back, she lowered her eyes slightly as if the girl was disappointed.

And she says it with an expressionless face.

“…I apologize. My compatriot was rude earlier.”

“Ah, no…”

“I’m Risolera. The one in the back is the village chief, Remzenel. I’m from the village of Hishidaichi, which is far east of here. I’m going to speak on behalf of the divine demons in the discussion that decides the treatment of the demon lord. ”

I involuntarily frowned.

Even though I was listening, if I was told face to face that the discussion to decide my treatment would start, I would still get defensive.

At the very least, we’ll have to be careful from here on out.

“…Hello. I’m Seika Lamprog.”

For the time being, the girl asks me a question.

“Are you really a demon lord?”

Although her expression didn’t change…the tone of her voice was serious.

However, I shrug my shoulders and answer.

“I wonder”

“…That’s right. Even though you’re the demon lord, you don’t know that you’re the demon lord. I asked you something stupid.”

The girl let out a small sigh with an expressionless expression.

It was a bit of a catchy phrase.

“Then tell me instead. Are you strong?”

Putting the question aside for the time being, when I opened my mouth to answer――――,

“――――Oh?”

Suddenly, a voice echoed from behind her.

“Fumufumu… No matter how good I am at metastasis, it seems that I wasn’t the first one.”

Looking back at the hint of her power.

Standing in the place where there should have been no one until just now was――――a single demon with two giant demons behind him.

“Even so, to think that the barrier of divine demons is of this level. Even though it’s a small village on the frontier, if it’s possible to transfer inside so easily… it’s really questionable whether it can be said that it’s a race worthy of treating Demon King-sama. ”

The demon mutters while looking around.

Golden fur.

He wears a luxurious costume that seems to be the national costume of the devil tribe.

His power wasn’t that great, but there was a strange stagnant flow, as if he was carrying a powerful magic tool.

Remzenel, the representative of the divine demons, muttered bitterly.

“Edentrada… you use teleportation magic directly into the village of another race…”

The devil replied to Remzenel as if he were laughing.

“It’s been a long time, Remzenel.

“At that moment, the devil suddenly turned towards me.”

He narrows his goat-like eyes, as if he’s aware of my presence for the first time.

Then he begins to speak with a theatrical gesture.

“In a place like this――――It seems that there are humans.”

“…”

“It’s a problem, Remzenel. To think that a human could slip into the land where Demon King-sama is staying… No, could it be this person? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, why…”

Two gigantic demons, who were standing by like bodyguards, slowly stepped out from either side of the demon, who began to pretend to be troubled.

The devil suddenly raises his face and speaks brightly.

“Well, it’s good—because you can understand it this way.”

Right after that — two of the demon’s clubs were swung at me at the same time.

Remzenel and his followers gasp.

As for me… I just calmly put my head down.

《Gold Phase――――Golden Cage Reclamation Technique》

Several streaks of silver metal rose from the surrounding ground.

In the blink of an eye, they are woven together like a bamboo basket to form a hemispherical cage that covers me.

In the next moment, the demon’s club was swung down on the surface of the cage.

A roaring sound resounded… but the club bounced loudly.

The woven metal does not even have dents. The two demons backed away in confusion.

Of course.

A half-hearted attack wouldn’t even hurt the heavy, hard metal tungsten cage.

Before the club could be swung up again, the hitogata flew away. In the blink of an eye, a pentagram formed and stopped the movement of the two demons.

And—-,

“Suddenly breaking into a village and causing a ruckus……is he a bandit or something?”

I held the floating hitogata right in front of the devil.

As the dispelled 《Taganeori》 returned to nothingness around me, I told the devil.

“Before finishing you, if there is an excuse, I can’t help but hear it.”

The devil was silent for a while as I glared at him, but then he said, feeling deeply moved.

“Fufu――――Amazing! It was a wonderful technique, Maou-sama!”

As soon as I shouted, the demon reverently kneels in front of me.

“Earth-attribute magic that ignores the attacks of my kin, the High Demon. I was just overwhelmed.”

“…Huh?”

“Please forgive my rudeness in coming up late. I am the ‘Gold’ El Edentrada. I am a loyal retainer of the Demon King who has been granted the rank of Great Rage by the Demon King.”

I squinted my eyes as I guessed various things from the humble devil’s words and deeds.

“… where you trying my strength?”

“No way, there’s no such terrible thing. To test the great power I’ve heard about, such a terrible thing would be very, very difficult for me. However… my high demons are monsters, so I can’t help but take hostile action against humans. It’s my fault for not stopping it in time. There is no excuse.”

“Deterrence?”

“That is also because I wish for the prosperity of the demons.”

I stared at the golden devil for a while, but eventually I grabbed the hitogata that was floating in front of him and put it back in my pocket.

I tell him with a sigh.

“For now, I will believe and forgive that nonsense. But there will be no next time.”

“Thank you for your generosity.”

Saying so, the great lord of ‘gold’, El Edentrada, stripped his teeth.

After a moment, I realized that it was the smile of the devil race.

“Demon King-sama, please guide us demons.”

I involuntarily frowned.

He looks troublesome.

The thought of having to deal with so many people in the future makes me depressed.

At that time, I was at a loss as to what to say.

“Your Excellency! Are you here!? Your Excellency!”

“He’s  not here!”

“No way, did he go directly into the village!?”

A large number of voices could be heard from the forest outside the stone pillar.

“Oh, it seems my followers have finally arrived.”

Edentrada stood up as if nothing had happened, and he muttered lightheartedly.

Remzenel said in a voice that was half angry and half flabbergasted.

“You must be crazy to leave your attendants behind and teleporting alone.”

“Remzenel, stop it. Leave this alone.”

“Oh? It’s been a while, Risolera-dono. When it comes to the Demon King, you can come too?”

“――――Hey, I heard His Excellency!”

“Your Excellency! Where are you?!”

“It’s getting noisy in front of the gate.”

Already tired of it, I turned on my heels, and Razurum’s voice sounded to settle things down.

“Everyone, please come to my mansion first. After that, I will show you where you are staying.”

※Kanekage no Jutsu

A technique to form a cage with tungsten. It is very heavy and hard among metals. It was actually discovered in modern times, but in the world of work, alchemists from Northern Europe were separated, and in Japan, the ore was mined under the name of Taigane.