The day of the demon sword tournament.
　When I was about to leave the house, my mom came running in a hurry.

'Anos-chan, wait, wait, wait!　Your mother will come with you.

　Mom is unusually well dressed. I guess it's an outing outfit.

'Are you coming to Delzogade?'

''Yeah. Because the magic sword tournament is open to anyone with a ticket to enter the school. The academy sent me one, so my mom can get in too.

'I don't know if you'll be able to go to the Demon Sword Tournament yet.

　I'm going to meet with Ivis at the academy and hear his report.
　Depending on that, I'll make a final decision on whether or not to attend the tournament.

'You don't know if the sword will make it?'

Well, sort of.

　I can't explain it to Mom and she won't understand, so I tell her that.

But if you might leave, I'll still go, mom. Besides, you see, I want to see what the academy that Anos-chan usually goes to is like.

　I don't know what to make of it, but okay.

Well, let's go.

Yeah.

　I leave the house and lock the door.
　As I walked out, my mom put her arms around me.

'Hmm, it's not often that I get to go out with Anos, so it's going to be fun, mom.

　It's a little hard to walk around when you're so tightly attached.

Hey, Anos.

　Mom is in an unusually good mood and excited.

''Well I guess so.''

　Oh, well, all right. Just because you put your arms around me doesn't mean you can take away my freedom.
　Your mother seems to be enjoying herself. There is no need to interfere.

I haven't seen you around, by the way.

　After he ran off to say he had some wildlife business to attend to, he came back once, but since then, he has often been away from home.
　From the way he looked before, I thought he was trying to do something about the demon sword, but I didn't think he was still trying his best?

The other blacksmiths are short on staff, so he's helping them out.

　I see. So that's the kind of interaction you had at one point?

'I hope they didn't give you any trouble.

　Mom laughs happily.

'Yeah. But you're a decent worker, so I'm sure you'll be fine.

　I've never seen my dad at work, because I've never seen him work.
　To be honest, it's hard to imagine him as if he's in his normal state.

''Come to think of it, I heard that the other person in Anos-chan's class who was chosen for the magic sword competition is Rei-kun?''

　I walked leisurely while answering Mom's questions.
　When we came to the Demon King's Academy of Delzogade, I led Mom to the arena.

'Go straight there and you'll be in the bleachers.

Yeah, thanks. Good luck, Anos.

Yeah. That remains to be seen.

See you later. I'm rooting for you, Mom!

　Mom left as if she hadn't heard a word I said.

　Since I came so slowly, the game should start soon.
　I don't have much time, since it's my turn to play the first game of the first round.

　But instead of heading to the waiting room, I turned on my heel.
　After leaving the arena, I came to the Demon Tree Forest.

　Although it was once turned into a wilderness during the recent inter-team exam, it has completely regained its greenery.
　As I proceeded there for a while, I heard a meow from above my head.

　I looked up and saw a black cat on a tree branch. The cat jumped up and down from the tree with a light gait.
　'It's Ibis.

'Did you find out?'

　Ivis, who has turned into a black cat, opens his mouth.

''It seems that two of the Seven Demon Imperial Elders, Gaius and Idle, are involved in this Demon Sword Tournament behind the scenes.

　Those two.
　Gaius has had his memories erased and his body taken over by Avos Dilhevia's men.
　Most likely, Idle is likely to be one of them.

What do they want?

That can't be anything but Master Anos. I think he's trying to trap me in some kind of trap.

So beating me at the rules won't do you any good.

　Ivis nodded his head.

'I thought you were going to use the rules as a fetters and reduce the power of Lady Anos.

　Hmm. You have a point.
　That's a good point.

"Where are Gaius and Idle?

I don't know. But I did get a tip that he's coming to watch the final tomorrow.

　I don't think this is just a game.
　You think you know something about me winning?

What about the Melhayes case?

''There's not much I've grabbed. But at least he doesn't seem to be involved in the running of the magic sword tournament. He doesn't even show any signs of drawing his bow to Anos-sama.

　Was it white?
　Well, I can't say for sure, but I wouldn't worry too much about this one.

What about Ray?

Ray Grandsdry's mother, who is in the Log North Magical Clinic, is not in a good condition. She's in danger of death. She is in danger of dying. The effects of her healing magic are not good either. She's managed to lull herself into a state of tranquility through her hospitalization.

　That's why you were looking so unhappy.
　But why didn't you come to me?

What's wrong with him?

The doctor's office records say it's a spirit disease.

　Hmm. I've never heard of that.
　At least it wasn't 2,000 years ago.

"What kind of disease?

I don't know. I've never heard of it. I have looked into it, but it seems to be a very rare disease.

　So you're in the Log North Magical Clinic in Dillhade One.

Other than that?

That's all I'm getting at.

　I need to see her mother's illness in person to find out what it is.
　It's also a mystery if it's related to that mysterious demon tribe.

　Anyway, let's start with today's magic sword tournament, shall we?

"Thank you for your hard work. I'm counting on you.

"As you wish.

　Ivis left into the woods.

　I turned back to the arena.
　I returned to the arena and found myself in the bleachers, not in the players' waiting room.

　I'll be waiting there for a while.

The first round of the Dillhade Magic Sword Tournament will now take place!

　A voice comes from an owl in the sky above.

'First game of the first round!　The first player to appear is Kurt Ludwell, a member of the Log North Magic Sword Society!

　With a loud cheer, the one who appeared in the arena in a dashing manner was a long haired Yuujin man. At his waist, he carried a thin magic sword like a rapier.

''Suddenly, here it comes!　The former champion of the tournament, Dillhade's greatest swordsman, Kurt Ludwell!

I can't tell you how shocked I was when I first saw that guy's game!

''Ah. To see Kurt, who was less than twenty years old at the time, chopping down a bunch of skilled swordsmen with a bang was beyond painful, but it was also downright terrifying.

"Now, thirty-six years later, how many sword skills have I learned? Just thinking about it makes my hair stand on end...

"Who has the misfortune to hit Kurt from the first round?

　Apparently, they were celebrities and the crowd was excited.

''The Lognorth Demon Sword Society is a well-known organization of the Imperialists.

　Mass came up next to me and said.

'I see. By the way, is that Emilia's brother or brother?

He's my brother.

　So the whole family is a royalist. I guess it's not that unusual.

''Our next player is Anos Voldigord from the Demon King's Academy of Delzogade.

　The owl says so, but no one shows up on the arena stage.
　After all, they are here.

Excuse me. I'm sorry you had to do that for us.

What, I just don't like the idea of Avos Dilhevia doing what she wants.

　If I don't participate in the sword tournament, they will certainly lose their plans.
　And if I do, they might not be as bad as I thought.

　Now, how do you think you're going to get out of this?

　The reason he made this plan is probably because he didn't expect me to escape.
　Otherwise, he wouldn't have come up with such a sloppy plan that would not have been possible without my participation.

　It's probably because he thinks I'm too proud to be called the Demon King of Tyranny, but the person I should be fighting is not the participants of the sword tournament, but Avos Dilhevia.

　That's not me being wrong about it.

"...hey, your opponent doesn't show up...?

It's Kurt. He's a heavyweight in the academy. I think he's running.

'But that's Anos Voldigord, isn't it?　Isn't this the guy who goes around these days touting how the Unificationists are the reincarnation of a tyrannical demon king?

Oh, yeah, yeah. What, the rumor mill is down after all.

Haha, you make me laugh. As a matter of fact, half-breeds are half-breeds, and they should be working for the royal family instead of going to school.

You can't become the Demon Lord, even if you try, you're still an idiot.

Totally. I don't know what he's dreaming of with the Unificationists and that little Anos guy.

　They must be the royalists. They went out of their way to raise their voices so that the white-clad students in the vicinity could hear them.
　Being of mixed blood, they clenched their fists tightly and endured with a frustrated look on their faces. The only people around them were the royal family. Hence, I can only drink in the words.

　I guess I'm the hope for the students in white clothes.
　If I don't leave here, they won't be able to get rid of their frustration.

　But what about it?
　Did Avos Dilhevia also expect me to show up with such a provocation?

How do you know you won't become the Demon Emperor?

　A familiar voice tapped my earlobe.
　I looked over there as quickly as I could.

　'It's my mom.

'Huh?　What's up, sis?　You know.　The Demon Emperor is something that the royal family is supposed to do. That's the way it's supposed to be.

　Mom resolutely brushed aside the man as he reached for her face.

''Anos-chan, you're going to be the Demon Emperor for sure!

　Mom doesn't know that I'm the Demon King of Tyranny.

　If she had researched the Demon Emperor, she would have known that the first requirement to become the Demon Emperor in Dillhade was to be an imperial family.

　Nevertheless, my mother assured me that without hesitation.
　It's not like she knew I was here.

　She insulted my dreams and I couldn't keep quiet.

''........Anosk.

　He tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around to see my dad there, out of breath.

''Huh ... ha ... ha ... ha ... ha ... I've been looking for ... this ... .....

　My father presented me with a swing of his sword.

"This is the magic sword that my father forged with vajra iron. Now you can join us.

　If I used my demon eyes, I could see that Dad was wearing a large amount of bandages under his clothes.

''Father........that injury.......?''

"Oh, how do you know? Haha, I had to climb a considerable cliff to go hunting for the Vajra Iron....... I messed up once and fell off, but oh well, what can I do?　It's just a scratch.

　It must have been a struggle to even raise his arms.
　Every time he wielded a large hammer to forge his sword, he would be in extreme pain.

　You have perfected this sword with your body like that?

　You did it for me.

"Anyway, here, go ahead. If you win this tournament, maybe even a half-blood can become the Demon Emperor.

　I thought they were just saying things at random.
　But dad and mom weren't just brainiacs.

　They knew that the half-breed Demon Emperor was unprecedented, but they still tried to support their son's dream.

''Misa. Tell Melhayes that he doesn't need to root around.

"...Okay....

　Not participating in the magic sword tournament is a good indication of how Avos Dilhevia will turn out.
　That would certainly be true.

　But--

　My God, what were you doing with me, being so cautious of a little guy who was never going to show his face in public?
　Well, you have more important things to worry about than that.

"Anos Voldigord!　Are you there?　If you are not on stage within ten seconds, you will be disqualified. Anos Voldigord?

　An owl circling above me calls out.

'I'd be right here if I were you.

　I leaned out of the audience and jumped down to the arena stage.

　Regardless of the misunderstanding, I lied as a result.

　I want to become the Demon Emperor, I said. That I would never get the sword.
　But I couldn't tell Mom and Dad the truth.

　So I'm going to change this lie.

　You can't tell them anything, but that doesn't mean you can't tell them the truth.

　And Avos Dilhevia's schemes are nothing compared to that.
　It doesn't matter how many tricks you try to play, he will crush it head-on and without hesitation.

"I thought you'd fled. Hero of the Unificationists.

　Kurt gives me a cold stare.

"Hmm. I'm a little lost. Did I keep you waiting?

'I don't mind. I will forgive you for your courage in coming before me instead of running away.

'That's very generous of you, isn't it?　

　With a guarded gaze, Kurt is looking at me.
　There is no doubt that he is a considerable user.

　In terms of sword skills alone, he's probably better than Gaius, the Seven Demon Emperors.

''To say I'm sorry for wasting your time is an understatement,''

　I loosely hold the Vajra Iron Sword my dad gave me at the lower level.

'Let's finish this in a minute.