--I'll never get used to the fact that there is morning and night in the underground space for any length of time.

　White Wizard Bran let out a sigh for the umpteenth time as he looked up at the sky of The Demon King's Castle Realm through the glass-less window that was blocked by a metal grate.

　The sky, no, no. That was a fake, too.
　It's just a mere rock ceiling that flickers on a half-day cycle due to its magical effects.

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

Haha ...... I'm going crazy.

　This is a room in the Demon King's Castle.
　Although it's not as harsh as a prison, it doesn't have the freedom to be called a private room.

　If I had to describe it in words, it would be a house arrest room.

　We have everything we need to spend a day, but nothing more.

　And yet, they were fully prepared against escaping, and were prevented from even attempting to use their magic to escape.

''Really, it's abominable.''

　Bran touched his own neck with a stirring hand, ruffling his long white back hair.

　A hard, scab-like foreign body the same color as the dark elf's skin.

　Hidden by an all-white robe, it could not be seen beyond the neck, but it ran down Bran's spine, traversing his back and reaching down to his waist.

　It was about two or three fingers wide.
　Furthermore, it branched off into several branches along the way, with some of the thin tips extending to his flanks.

　This is a foreign object that was implanted by the Demon King's army's biological modification.
　It was the first modification that was applied right after he swore an oath of reverence to the Demon King.

''Human, get out. His Majesty Gandalf wants to see you.''
...... I'm on my way.

　Suddenly the door was slammed hard and unlocked from outside the room.

　Revealing his resignation, Bran did as he was told and walked out of the room.

'So you're finally going to decide how I'm going to be treated. It took longer than I thought it would.'
Your Majesty is very busy. I don't want to waste any more time deciding what to do with you.

　Led by a dark elf soldier, they headed to the audience chamber.

　Two earlier guests were already waiting in front of that luxurious and grandiose door.

''Suzuri-sama!　Master Austri!　We've brought in the fourth subject!
Thank you. You can go now.

　The dark elf, who is as large as the war-dead Norzli, dismisses the soldiers with a pompous attitude.

　Storm Austri.
　He is a man who lives in the underground space where the climate does not change, but whose two names are the severe weather that only occurs above ground.

　The other is Suzuri the Fireman.
　He is a taciturn demon, slightly taller than Bran, with his face wrapped in cloth.

　The Suzuri doesn't even pay attention to Bran, who remains silent and doesn't make a single move, while Austri is the only one who continues to speak noisily.

''Rejoice, human. The day has come when His Majesty decides to give you alms.
...... I'm more than honored to be a part of this.

　Bran returned a fake smile to Austri as best he could.

　A few days ago, Bran had ended his ground mission with the Mad Golem.
　The time had finally come for his punishment to be decided.

''Even so, what the hell are the others doing? We have to have a full complement of demon generals to talk about it.
What are you talking about?　All the demon generals are already ......

　Since two of the four men had already been killed, they should now be all together.

　Just as Bran was thinking this, an unbelievable voice came from behind him.

''Kaka. Sorry, it took me a little while to move my body.''
'Such ...... ves ...... tri ......?'

　Earthen Vestry.
　The old elf, who should have been defeated by the adventurers in the battle for the stronghold near the mine, and who had surely died out, was there with a natural look on his face.

I am the one who wants to be surprised, human daughter. I have given you my magic, so how could you fail?

　Before his blank mind could regain function, the door to the audience chamber opened and the attendant female elf called out to the demon generals.

''Your Majesty has summoned you. Please come in.''
Yes, we must. We must take care of them ourselves. Come on, Vestry, Suzuri.

　It's as if I can't think straight as I am brought into the audience chamber.

　The brave hall is built one or two steps higher at the back, and behind the throne that sits in it, four huge stone monuments sit.

　The mysterious patterns on the stone monuments were in a style that didn't exist to Bran's knowledge, and he couldn't even discern if they had any magical significance.

　Without hesitation, the three magic generals walked up to the front of the high throne and knelt down on one knee on the floor.

''Earthen Vestry, I am revived by the warmth of Your Majesty.
We are here, AUSTINFUL of the storm!
"The fire lily. Here comes the fire lily.

　Bran felt impatient with the current situation where he was the only one standing, and he fell down deeply flat so that his will to obey could be conveyed.

　With the Demon King Gandalf's brand new scroll spread across his lap, he caught a glimpse of the three dark elves and one human from the top of the throne.

　Even though nothing had been spoken to him yet, Bran's body was shaking with a clatter.

　Clearly, the ranks of existence were different - both from himself and a demon general like Austri.

　It's not a trivial matter of external dignity.
　The quality of the magic power emitted is clearly different.

　It's as if the magic power itself, rather than a psychological intimidation, is a physical pressure that comes to bear on you.

''It's Bran.
Yes, sir. ......!

　The mere act of being called by name made my blood boil to the point that I almost fainted.

''This mission, it was truly a great cause. Destroying the corpse of the Norzuri, scouting out the Knights' ranks, and killing or bringing in deserters...... I will acknowledge that I have accomplished up to two of the three.
Oh ...... thank you ......!
"Therefore, you are reduced from the tenth step of improvement that you were to receive to the fourth step of improvement.

　The sentence that was released as if it was a reward was nothing but despair for Brann.

　The tenth step is to alter the entire body except for the brain, and the ratio is reduced by 10% for every step that is reduced.

　In other words, the modification up to the fourth stage meant that forty percent of his entire body would be remade into something else.

''Why?　We were up to two!　What's wrong with ...... guggs!

　Suddenly the back of my head was caught by a powerful force and I was pressed face down on the floor as it was.

"You are in the presence of His Majesty. I'll take it as a disturbance and have your head chopped off.

　An almost unfamiliar voice - Demon General Suzuri had moved behind Bran before he knew it, and assembled Bran who was about to protest.

'It's fine. Let him go.
"As you wish.

　Free from the monstrous power that was not commensurate with Suzuri's size, Bran looked up at the throne as he crawled to the cold floor.

　The Demon King Gandalf didn't move a single eyebrow, and with an expression on his face as if he didn't even feel contempt, he said more words to Bran.

''First, the improvements you have made to your spine will give you ten percent. This was essential for this mission.
Yes, I know, ....... ......
You have three tasks to complete. I've decided to allocate three levels of improvement for each of them. Therefore, if you have achieved two of them, you will be exempted from the six levels of improvement. That is all.
"Oh, wait, Your Majesty!　What's up, what's up, what's up ......!

　Austri's rough foot stomped on Bran's back as he tried desperately to squirm.

''Gehoho ......!''
You're not very nice, human!　Are you saying that you are dissatisfied with the warmth of His Majesty!

　At that moment, the door to the audience chamber was thrown open with great force.

　All of them, except the Demon King, turned their heads towards it at once.

　Austri laughed in amusement and took her feet off of Bran's back.

''So now the four demon generals are finally together!　But what the hell is going on in here?　You're going to make me die laughing?
'Kaka. I told you. Don't be too proud, but be prepared for anything.

　Standing at the entrance of the audience room was a dark elf woman - or rather, a girl - wearing brand new armor.

　Could it be that was the fourth demon general, the replacement for the ice norseli who had died in battle?

　The dark elf girl overheard Austri and the others' teasing words and came to the front of the throne at a fast pace, and knelt down on one knee as the other three did.

'Ice Norzli, we have just struck out.

　--The Ice Norzuri.
　Bran forgot to stand up and shuddered in astonishment.

　Norzuri must be dead for sure. The corpse should have been thoroughly destroyed by the Demon King's orders.

　It would have made sense if he was just a successor who had taken over the name, but the words uttered by the Demon King Gandalf completely dismissed the only realistic possibility.

''This is another strange vessel you've chosen. Have you not found a vessel that fits you?
As you say, sir. There were no ideal individuals in our generation, and we were forced to make compromises based solely on attribute matching.

　Bran finally understood the reality in front of him.

　The Norzli who was supposed to be dead had literally come back to life in a new body.

'Then, Norzli, I have a report to make. According to the scouts, you have been defeated by the Eastern swordsmen who control the flame...
'...... Your Majesty. "Your Majesty, I am sorry to inform you of this. It was not a swordsman from the East who put me to death.
"Huh?

　For the first time since coming here, an expression-like expression appeared on Demon King Gandalf's face.

　It appeared in Bran's eyes as a reaction that was more like an outpouring of curiosity than surprise.

''The man who used his unparalleled [Restoration] skills and continued to neutralize the attacks on the base by our Demon King's army ...... is the man who defeated me, and he is the one who could be the greatest threat to us.

　Storm Austri startled with a thunderous shout, drowning out the wriggling voice of the earthen vestri.

''What?!''
Is that true?

　The fire lily remained silent, unable to imagine his face completely covered by the cloth.

　And Gandalf, the Demon King, folded the scroll in his lap, a thin smile on his face.

''Then I shall have to make another investigation.
"Your Majesty!　Listen to me, King Gandalf!

　Bran's voice was almost reflexive, and he fell flat with a shrug.

'I have known the man for a long time!　During our ground reconnaissance, we have learned of the man's current condition as well as his personal history!
Hmm, I've only been able to get the outline of the results of the investigations outside of the Order. Depending on the content, I'll reduce the level of improvement as you wish. First of all, tell me the name of the person.
'Thank you ......!　I am a human named Luke of the White Wolf Forest!

　Not a trace of guilt. Not even towards his own sister who had decided to fight with him, let alone the person himself.

　Right now, the only thing that filled Bran's thoughts was the wish to avoid being remade into a monster.