"Gulp.

The protruding arm was pulled out and blood spilled out with great force.
　Something hot loomed up in my throat, and a gobbler of blood poured out of my mouth.
　He pushed me hard on my back and I rolled to the ground unceremoniously, splattering blood.

　When I looked up, Elfie was looking down at me with cold eyes, waving his blood-stained hands.

'You look as if you're seeing something unbelievable, Iori. Did you have that expression on your face when you were betrayed by those sorcerers?　If that's the case, then Iori must have looked quite ridiculous at that time.

　With a mocking twist of his mouth, Elfi spat out.

'El-fi,'

　The expression on his face was so far removed from his familiar appearance that he couldn't help but call out his name in a trembling voice.

'Are you really ...... Elfi?'

　In response to the question, Elfie put his hand to his chin.
　Then he clapped his hand as if Gainsome had said it, and said dismissively.

'Hmm. Did you think that I was possessed by someone like that Lucifina woman?　Unfortunately, no, Iori. There is no being that can possess me when I am back in my full body.

　It's cold.
　The blood flowing down the ground was turning the ground red and black.
　Every time the blood fell, it felt like the temperature was slipping away from my body.

'Do you understand, Iori? I came here, I sent Ortegia down, and I pierced you with my own hands. -- all of which I did of my own volition.

　Didn't we have all the measures in place to deal with possession after what happened in the first place?
　Elfie lays out the words as he taps his fingers on his head with a thump to hunt them down.

　That's right.
　I've taken measures against possession magic so that I don't make the same mistake as I did with Lucifina ever again.
　I have the approval of the idlers.
　There is not one chance in a million that Elfi is possessed.

　Elfie lets out a small sigh.
　Then he gave her a pitying look.

'Iori, it's true that I'm grateful to you. If it wasn't for you, I would never have made it this far. It was only because of you that I was able to get here.

----

'The person called Iori Amatsuki was a desirable person to me. I enjoyed traveling with you to many countries, and the food we ate together was delicious. More than once I wished that the time I spent with you would last forever. But now that I have put down Ortegia, your presence is useless. The journey, the vengeance, the contract with you is over.

----

I'm sure that if I continue to join forces with you, I'll be able to achieve my public purpose. However, my real goal is to get in the way of the existence of the 'hero'. So, Iori. You're going to disappear here. I'll make sure that no one interferes with you, right now, right here, right now, and I'll make sure that I stop you from breathing with my own hands.

　After saying that, Elfie drops his eyes once.

'And you didn't think for once?

　Her eyes were open, and a hint of hatred flashed across her eyes.

''The possibility that among the demons you've slaughtered as a brave man, there's a being I care about.

----

''Your ideals are precious things. Even so, it doesn't change the fact that you have killed many demons in the past. Among those you have killed with your hands are my men who were unavoidably following Ortegia. They were trying to gain Ortegia's trust in order to help me one day, my people. Iori Amatsuki Iori ...... No, "Hero Amatsu". It's not just Ortegia. You, too, have my friends in your hands.

----

Do you understand, Iori? --This is the Demon King's revenge on the brave men.

　Elfie turned his gaze to the bottom of the Demon King's Castle.
　On the perimeter of the castle, the Alliance and the Demon King's army were still fighting each other.
　The expression on his face was twisted as if he was looking at something tragic, and Elfie turned his gaze to me again.

I'm going to kill you and I will reign as the Demon King again. "I'm sure the demons following Ortega will recognize me when I raise the corpse of the brave man. The Alliance's morale will be greatly diminished when they learn of your death.

----

With the death of the Warrior and the second coming of the Demon King, I will end this war.

　As if to end the conversation, Elfie stepped out this way.

'Don't worry. I'm not like some of the people I've seen, I'm not going to do anything nasty to enjoy tormenting you. In an instant, I will stop you from taking a breath of air.

　Magic power gathers in those eyes.
　The "Devil's Eye" and the "Ashburst" that we had seen many times in our battles together.
　The Red Lotus Inferno that melts and erases even the earth is spreading before our eyes.

　Look at it.

"Ku.

　I have to.
　I am...

"....... Haha. Hahahaha.

　He laughed unbearably.

'...... what's funny,'

　I can't stop laughing when I hear a question that makes me wonder.

''Hahahahahahahahahaha!

''What's so funny, I'm asking!

　The laughter finally subsided when I heard the shouting in my ears.
　I exhale and regain my composure.

'Yeah, sorry. I just thought what a dumbass I was.

...... What does that mean?

　Elfie asks in a low voice, with his twin eyes glowing red.

'Yeah. Since that day, I've thought about it over and over again. The possibility of being betrayed by Elfie, by Elfiszak Guildegard.

　These words were a half monologue.
　I've been thinking about it ever since that day when Elfie and I joined forces.
　We've fought together many times, you've saved me many times, and we've been together all this time.
　And through it all, I've been thinking about it.
　So this isn't something I need to worry about right now.

I'm an idiot.

　Smiling, I repeat.
　I should have known before that I was a dumbass.
　I didn't think I'd have to come here to reaffirm it.

　Slowly, I stand up.

'...... That's enough. It's over, Iori.

　As if refusing my words to continue, Elfie released his magic eye.
　The red lotus light loomed in front of me.
　Still unconcerned, I continued to speak.

I'm sure they've figured that out a long time ago.

　Yes, I do.
　I already have the answers.

"You saved my life. What's the difference between a human and a demon in there?

"...... Put me down, Iori.

"He who believes, let him reckon for himself.

"Get out of here, Iori.

"Demon King Kiiq!

"You've been mumbling to yourself all this time: ......!　It's giving me a bad smell and a bit of a scare!　It's gonna ruin your apple pie!

"You're not a bad person.

"I don't want you to die, .......

　No need to worry about it, it's an obvious answer.

'Help me, and I will help you. 'I'll help you if you help me get my revenge.
I'll help you get your revenge.

"As long as you're on my side, I won't betray you.

"Come with me, ex-vampire."

　The blurred vision becomes clearer and more defined.
　The temperature of my body, which had been cooling off, returns to normal.
　It's like a fire was lit in the hole in my chest.

　That's right.
　You are.

"Elfie.

　Right before the ash bombs engulfed me.



"-Elphiszak would never betray me.



　-- With those words, the world shattered.

　The flash of light looming in front of my eyes, the sky I could see, and Ortegia, which had fallen, all collapsed.
　Everything collapsed in the blink of an eye.

　The landscape I could see changed.
　I was standing in a large room surrounded by black walls.
　The figure of Elfie, who had been standing in front of me a moment ago, has disappeared.

　Zupri,
　I felt the sword (・・・・・・・・・・) that was held behind me pierce my flesh.

'Horses, deer na ....... Why, you can move.

　The blade had pierced the chest of the demon tribe that was about to slash at me from behind.
　I draw my sword.
　Spitting out a trembling voice, the demon tribe falls to the ground with a cheat.

　All of the things I had seen so far were illusions.
　I was only under the illusion that I had come up to the rooftop, and I had been in this room the whole time.
　It was probably a ward aimed at gutting the trauma based on the subject's memories, that information that only me and Elfie could know had come up in the conversation.

　A disgusting trap.
　The idea was around Hilde Garde.

　A number of demons in the room are staring at me with bitter expressions on their faces.
　They must have been planning to kill me when I stopped moving, trapping me in an illusion.

'We can't let you go under Ortegia-sama!　We must stop this man here!

　With a roar, the demon tribe in the room rushes to me.

　I'm sorry.
　I can't just stand here and stand still.

''--[Heroic Reproduction (The Wraith)]

　A man with gray hair, reflected in my vision.
　Reaching out to its back, I regain my former strength.
　Under a single sword, I cut down all of the incoming demons.

''The only person who could come up with a trap like this would be that woman.

　I put all my strength into my legs and leapt with vigor.
　Shattering the ceiling, I climbed to the top of the Demon King's Castle.

''But there's only one person in the Demon King's army who has the magical power to cast a spell on me.

　This time, I landed on the roof of the Demon King's Castle.

''It's you--Ortegia.

　There were two Demon Kings facing each other.
　Both of them were wounded and bleeding from all over.

''You're late, Iori.
Sorry about that. Sorry to keep you waiting, Elfie.

　I laugh at Elfie, who gives me a zit-eyed look, and I turn my attention to the front.

'...... Amatsu.'

　With a bitter look on his face, Ortegia glares at me.
　Walking forward, I lined up next to Elfi and I said.


''-- Let's get our revenge, let's get it over with. Ortegia.