--In the fourth level of the Ark of the Elements, in an unexplored area that has yet to be seen by adventurers, there is the figure of Demon General Suzuri.

　It was a literal throne room.

　There was no sign of the king on the throne that was high enough to look up, and the entire hall was filled with a night-like darkness.

　The only source of light was the light leaking from the corridor, and Suzuri stood in front of the open doorway with that light at her back, looking around the hall.

''...... I see that His Majesty is not at home,''
Kaka. Finally, you're back.

　Suzuri didn't even show any surprise as she responded to the creepy old man's laughter that was thrown at her from behind.

　A dark elf man who was a long-lived species, but who had aged away - Demon General Vestri.

　The fact that the Demon Lord Gandalf, who lived in the last days of the ancient magical civilization, is still as youthful as a young man, yet this one's face and body have aged significantly.

　That means that the years of years that Vestri had accumulated were literally substandard.

''Vestri, where is His Majesty?''
Of course, he is preparing for the day to come. And how is he doing? Will the humans obey you?
"They're going to ask their king for help. "I have given you thirty days' grace, as you instructed, and I've given you a collateral to keep. Let them keep it in a safe place where it will not rot.

　Suzuri turned and threw the cloth-wrapped object in front of Vestri.

'Decomposing stuff?　What a waste of time. Couldn't you have found a more suitable replacement?
It's fitting. It's Luke White Wolf's right hand. It's a unique pawn.
"Ho-ho!

　The deep wrinkles on Vestri's face brought a smile to his face.

"A human being, arms, oh. You have done well.
I guess it's their way of thinking that if they can collect it, they can restore it as much as they want.
At any rate, it's an excellent guarantee to keep them from doing anything unnecessary. Even if he and the others made a mistake in their agreement, we're grateful that the goods we took away from them have at least some use.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information about the company and its products.

It's a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get back to it.
That's not far off. I won't bore you with the details, but he left his arm here for me. It's what we offer as collateral.
"Kaka!

　As Vestri's laughing voice was covered by Vestri's voice, a different laugh echoed through the audience room.

''Fuhahahahahaha!　How ludicrous!　I wish I could have seen it with my own eyes!'

　It was definitely not the voice of Suzuri or Vestri, much less the master of the throne.

　The source of the laughter is further behind the throne set up on the high throne.

　Five plate-shaped pillars that rise deep in the darkness - one of which is tinged with a faint light, flickering in time with the voice.

'I can't believe he would willingly become a hostage!　To put it in perspective with the earlier story, he was motivated by personal feelings to fight and dared to lose and was captured!
I made my move before he could get me. The situation almost went sour when he decided to go off on his own. I'm making my own decision and asking him to take the blame.
'Whatever it is, it's comical!　I've never been so disappointed in the absence of flesh and blood before!'

　The dimly lit audience room is filled with the sound of bold, unrestrained laughter.

　Neither Suzuri nor Vestri wondered about it, but passed it off as a normal occurrence.

　The owner of the voice is called Austri the Storm.

　He is one of the four demon generals, and unlike Norzuri and Suzuri, he has never shown himself in front of humans since he lost his physical form in the Demon King's War.

　The phenomenon of Austri not showing his physical form and instead the huge stone tablet behind the throne emitting sounds was a natural sight for the other demon generals to take no notice of.

...... And there is one more thing I want to tell Your Majesty. I have to go out again from now on, so can you tell your mouth?

　Suzuri ignored Austri's mockery of the Norsuli's abomination and called out to Vestri again.

''Sure enough, His Majesty's wearing sword had fallen into the hands of the humans. Norzuri didn't seem to notice it, but it seems to be in the hands of Luke White Wolf at the moment.
"What?　Humanity's love for your sword!　You're not being irreverent!　Why didn't you get it back!
"His Majesty would have wanted me to leave it at that. That's what disappoints His Majesty, when he despises measures in favor of pointless collections.
"Gunnu, why are you telling that to His Majesty at ......?

　Contrary to Austri, whose voice reflected the ups and downs of emotions in her tone of voice, Suzuri simply continued to speak only the necessary information in a calm, cool and unassuming manner.

''His Majesty's sword was made to be one with Mithril. Furthermore, by using the freezing air of the demonic beast Hattie, it became the tip of an ice spear and a weapon to defeat Norzuri: ...... This is what I want to tell His Majesty.
"Hattie"?　As I recall, it was an ice monster that was paired with Skoll, the divine beast Fenrir. ......
"Kaka-kaka!　By golly, by golly!　So he's come that far!

　Suddenly, Vestri began to laugh high in a volume of voice that didn't suit his old body.

'I must tell you this!　It must be delivered to your ears!　You'll be glad you did!
'Vestri, ...... is this how exciting it is?　'Is there some greater significance in adding mithril to the sword of adamantine?'
''No, no, not at all. It is certainly a powerful armor, but it's nothing more or less than that. What matters is how much it is.
"...... doesn't make sense. I haven't lived as long as you guys have, just like Norzli. Stop with the allusive references.

　The disembodied Austri grew more confused.

　Vestri continued to speak, enjoying his reaction as well.

The adamantine and mithril are extremely difficult to alloy. It's a very difficult task," he said, "and one that even the most advanced technology of ancient magical civilization could never have achieved. There are two exceptions.
...... Alphasul and Ivaldi. The former by magical means and the latter by physical means to achieve that difficult task.
'Right. Furthermore, it's called the Spear of Ice. Luke White Wolf's power should have been 【Restoration】, right? It was only a restoration of the original form, and it would not have been possible to give it a new form.

　A chuckle escaped his skinny throat.

You can't get rid of it. There was never a time when that sword was a spear. The same is true of Hattie's ice. How on earth did he form the spear?

　If Austri had had a biological body, I am sure she would have gasped and her expression would have been strained.

　His Majesty would be pleased - by understanding the meaning of that statement.

"He is getting closer, little by little, but steadily. Little by little, but he is getting closer to the realm of Alfazul. This is something I must tell you.