As she searched for her next enemy, relying on the sounds of battle, Sakura mumbled something she had been thinking about since the attack happened.

''...... high performance automaton. After all, as Luke-dono said, it is the 'true enemy' of the Demon King's army that is lurking in the depths of the dungeon. ......
That thing in King's Landing where they're killing people all over the place?　If that's the case, then the purpose of the attack is the remnants of the Demon King's army, and the people attacking here are just a diversion or something?

　Although the two people here were not regular members of the White Wolf Knights, the information that they would need was provided in advance.

　The information about the 'true enemy' that could be encountered in the dungeon is the best example of this.

　A high-performance automatic doll that behaves just like a human being - I don't think it's very realistic to think that there are two such substitutes that are completely unrelated.

　However, the possibility that they are commonplace products, which is not uncommon in the depths of this dungeon, could not be discarded, and I could not say that this was definitely the case.

　To be more specific, there is a possibility that there is someone who manufactures and sells automatic dolls in an area that is even deeper than the second level, and both the attackers and the enemies of the demon king's army obtained their dolls from the same seller.

　However, this is also a baseless imagination at present.

''Whatever their identity is, I think it's highly likely that the raids were nothing more than a diversion. The puppets that have been engaged from earlier were all acting alone, and I'm sure they intend to distract us from their 'true mission' by flailing around here and there. ......

　The question is what the 'real mission' is.

'...... I don't think it's the Demon King's Army at least. There is no need for a diversion. If we gather our forces and attack them, even if the two demon generals can't finish them off, it should be easy to destroy the defeated soldiers.
That's true, come to think of it. The whole thing is so strong. But then, what is the real deal: ......
'Let's reverse the thinking. What's worth that much ...... that you want to attack by deploying a massive diversionary tactic?

　The inhabitants of Athropolis are people who have lost their homes for a variety of reasons, and if they were to migrate as a group, they would be placed in residential areas, just as humans and the Demon King's Army are.

　The possibility of targeting either of the resident groups is unlikely for the same reason that the Demon King's Army is not the real target.

　If they aren't residents, then facilities or industry?

　I doubt it, too. The industries in Athropolis are mainly those that support neutrality and self-sufficiency, and I don't see anything that would be worth setting up a diversionary tactic for a raid.

　The residents, facilities, and industries ...... are all 'enough for a normal attack', and I didn't think it was necessary to take such a large-scale measure.

　An existence that is both valuable enough to launch a large-scale diversionary tactic and difficult enough to attack to the extent that it is necessary to do so.

　That should be the 'main mission' of the raiders.

　Sakura and Ezeru continued to run and ponder in silence as they continued to run, and then they both came to the same conclusion.

''...... administrator Fraxinus!

　They stick out their legs and stop abruptly and look at each other.

　As far as they know, the most valuable presence in Athropolis is that tree person (dryad).

　And since the Dryad is integrated with the Grand Council Building, the center of the city's government, the security arranged in the vicinity is remarkably strong within the city of Asropolis.

　Once the idea comes to mind, it is such a strong candidate that I don't understand why I've been bothering to think about it.

''But I heard just now that the Great Capitol building where Fraxinus is located has started a meeting of the councilors, and the elite of the demon tribe have been fortifying the defense, so they haven't been able to keep the puppets at all ......!

　Ezell revealed his surprise and impatience at their statement, and busily mentioned the information he had obtained before joining Sakura.

　Hearing this, Sakura turned pale and let out a voice that resembled a shout.

''Council members meeting ......!　Yeah, right!　What if the hypothesis Lord Luke was right about!
'Hypothesis, he said he wanted to get evidence out of Demon General Norzuri... ...... No way... ......!
The only one in Asropolis!　There is a man who can step inside the security without being suspicious, as long as it's before the assault begins!

　A hypothesis that was prefaced and conveyed as nothing more than an unfounded imagination.

　An imagination that was nothing short of delusional at the time, that a certain man might be in collusion with the true enemy and drawing them into Athropolis.

　Luke, who had gone to confirm it, still hadn't returned, and both the demon race and the Knights were in the midst of turmoil, but they no longer had time to wait for it.

'Councilor, Algernon!　The most suspicious person in the room is that man!　Let's hurry up to the Capitol, Ezell!










　-- Time goes back a bit.

　A meeting of about half of the council members was being held in the Great Council Building when the urgent news of a simultaneous attack by unknown assailants arrived.

　The targets of the attack were the entire Athropolis.
　It is said that the attackers are also attacking the Daiki, which the Capitol building is held in, and that security forces and the White Wolf Knights are working together to intercept the attackers.

''Unidentified attackers!　Get the word out!
Go check on him!　...... What?　I know it's dangerous!
'Yeah, what about our living quarters!　What the hell does the enemy want?!

　In the blink of an eye, the Capitol turns into a crucible of confusion.

　Shouts of rage fly and orders are thrown in all directions to make sure their own race is safe.

　However, the security forces guarding the Great Capitol did not allow the council members and their men to go outside, and repeatedly told them to wait for word from the outside.

　As the confusion and anxiety worsened, the doors of the Great Capitol were opened and the security forces' demons and hooded groundlings entered.

''Hild Armiefield of the White Wolf Knights, on behalf of the group, I am here to report to you!　The marauders attacking the town are a bunch of automatons with advanced selves!

　Several council members immediately shouted in anger at the statement of the knight who called himself Hild.

''What?　Oh, right, an army that says it has driven off Gandalf's army!
"So the marauders are targeting the remnants of Gandalf's army!　Pestilence!　Not only have you taken my people away, but you are inviting disaster into the city!

　It was the dark elf councillor who was particularly furious.

　He is the leader of some Dark Elves who were spared from being conscripted into the war effort when Gandalf's army moved to the first level, and he is also someone who holds a strong grudge against Gandalf.

　Just as the atmosphere in the Great Council Hall was about to be united in the form of 'Gandalf's army is the source of the problem' due to his agitation, Knight Hild interrupted with a sharp voice.

''Please wait!　There's more to the report!
"Explain this to me, Lord Hild. "And I urge you all to listen carefully.

　With a word from Administrator Fraxinus, the Great Capitol fell silent as if it had been hit by water.

　Knight Hild stepped forward at a fast pace and turned towards the councillors, with Administrator Fraxinus against the integrated wall.

''Councilor Algernon. There are suspicions on the ground that 'you are in league with the true enemies of the Demon King's army'.

　A thud filled the Great Capitol building.

　The only people who kept their composure were the speaker, Knight Hild, the spearhead, Algernon himself, and the administrator, Fraxinus, who must have been approached beforehand.

''There was once an incident in which adventurers hired by you to explore the first level of this dungeon ...... 'Ark of the Elements' were murdered in rapid succession,''

　The knight Hild looks straight at Algernon alone, taking the appearance of speaking to all the council members.

'The perpetrator is an automatic doll of the same lineage as this attacker ...... and the only person who could give the information about the victims to the 'true enemy' is ...... Algernon Councilor, you are the only one who could give it to the 'true enemy'.
"Councilor Algernon. I was given this information by Sir Luke in advance. I didn't expect this to happen before we began to take concrete action, but I had hoped to hear it from you eventually.

　The gaze in the Great Capitol gathers to a point - to Councilor Algernon.

　Their astonishment and suspicion quickly swelled, and the fury that was being directed at Gandalf's forces was about to switch to one individual, Algernon.

''Oh, it's true!　If so, no way: ......!
'I've been suspicious for a long time!　Now, these people who say they were in the living quarters must be fakes!
Guard!　What are you doing? Get that man!　You can ask me for an excuse later!

　But still, Algernon did not lose his spare attitude.

　With a calm pretense, he brought his hand to his pocket and grabbed something and slowly pulled it out.

''Hah ...... no matter how much it's too soon. You'll ruin your schedule. Hey, White Wolf Knights. It's not the Demon King's army that's a plague, it's you guys. As far as we're concerned.

　In his hand was a flat metal chunk that looked like a palm-sized medallion, much like the one he found when he defeated the Demonic Beast Skoll.

''It's a bit early, but it's time to go. Wake up, Muspel.