After that, we left the icy room, with Norzuri chasing us away.

　We didn't gain much, and we felt we were being rushed, but that doesn't mean we gained nothing.

　After all, the shortcut to finding out the truth about various things is to dare to accept the invitation of the demon king's army and extract information from them.

　I'm sure that's their plan, and the decision is not mine, but the royal capital.

...... Phew, I'm glad to hear that you've managed to do something about it.

　On the way out of the fortress, Mark let out his nervousness with a sigh.

''I knew it was reckless of me to go directly to meet with a demon general. You saw that room," he said. It's a monster that can maintain such a large scale and elaborate magic at all times of the day. If they wanted to, they would have killed you long ago.
I knew you wouldn't do anything like that.
Do you trust the Norsemen?

　Mark shouts loudly and circles around to my path.

　I stopped and looked straight back into Mark's eyes as he stared back at me, his mouth loosening slightly.

'I'm glad you're worried about me, but I don't trust them innocently enough,'
"Nah, ......!　I wouldn't worry about it!　It's just that I'm in a position where I don't want you to die unintentionally!
Whatever the answer is, it doesn't change anything. Now he doesn't want to kill me for anything.

　I'm going to explain my thoughts to Mark while also listening to Garnett, who is right next to me, with a sideways glance.

I'm sure you'll find that Gandalf is looking to use my power. The reason why the Norsemen attacked at the fourth level was to capture me and bring me back to the demon king. And yet, do you think there is any reason to kill him in that place?
'That's ...... true, though. If you can't get it, you could be ordered to kill it .......
"Then I'm sure it would have been a much more violent fight on the fourth level. Besides, there was no way I was going to visit him.

　If the Demon King's Army had intended to kill me when we encountered each other at the fourth level, Suzuri wouldn't have interceded, and instead, the two of us would have tried to kill me by force.

　Besides, if Norzuuri killed me, all this talk of an audience would be lost.

　It's not just a matter of luck that they dare to capture you to kill me, it's not even a matter of making a plan.

''I'm not going to trust the Demon King's army, but I do have the trust that they will make a rational decision that will maximize the benefit to them. If they didn't, they wouldn't be giving me so much trouble. Those guys are tougher because they're rational.

　Mark's mouth quirked up and he shushed her.

　It was a reaction that made sense in theory, if not in emotion.

　Now, it's not too good to spend too much time standing around talking.

　It's time to resume the move ...... Just when I thought that, a female knight belonging to the white wolf (my home) comes rushing in from the entrance of the fortress, out of breath.

''Good, you're still here!
'Sir Sophia?　What's going on, so fast. Don't tell me you have an incident on the ground?
''No, ...... urgent news from the King's Capital ...... haha, haha ...... to us with the Golden Fang. ......

　After stopping and taking a single breath, Sophia handed me a sealed letter.

　It's so urgent that I can't wait for us to return to the Knights' headquarters ...... No, you mean to be precise, it's an errand that I wanted to 'tell you while I was in the Golden Fang Knights' fortress'.

　That means that as soon as I look through this envelope, I'll have to have a meeting with the Golden Fang to discuss it--.

'So you've finally decided whether or not to send a messenger to the Demon King Gandalf: ......










　--The contents of the envelope was, as I imagined, 'I accept the invitation for an audience from Demon King Gandalf'.

　Although it is only a relative assessment, the royal palace considers Agat Ram to be a more imminent threat than the Demon King's army, and for that reason, they have apparently come to the conclusion that gathering information from the A(-)Ga(-)t(-)m(-)m(-)enemy(s) is important.

　Of course, we're not talking about opening up the chest collar, considering the Demon King's Army as an unconditional ally.

　It's just that with the anti-Agat Ram in mind, they will take advantage of each other - a strategy that was very common in the world of warring nations with a strong military presence, and they will apply it to the Demon King's Army as well.

　The envelope not only contained a report announcing the decision, but also an order for the White Wolf Knights and the Golden Fang Knights to prepare a system for receiving the kingdom's delegation and the preparations for receiving them to the site.

　It seems that not only has the delegation been decided to be dispatched, but they have already begun to prepare to send them to Green Hollow.

　Therefore, I immediately changed my plans and set about discussing with the Golden Fang troops in Hollow Bottom Fortress.

　This is where the delegation arrived at Green Hollow, where they were staying.
　The proposed formation of the delegation's escort team on its way to the Demon King's army base.

　There were many things to discuss, and there was no doubt that they would be busy with this matter for the time being--










　--and one morning.

　As part of these preliminary preparations, I was visiting the Spring Wakaba-Tei, Green Hollow's largest inn.

　Of course, today is not as a regular customer of the diner, but as a client who wishes to stay overnight.

''That's why I'm looking for a place to stay for the delegation sent by the Royal Palace. I would be happy to rent a room at the Springtime Wakaba-Tei, but if it seems difficult, could you please introduce me to another place to stay?

　I was in the parlor of the Wakaba-tei, facing the proprietress of the inn - that is, Sylvia's mother - to discuss the request.

'It is a great honour to receive an emissary, but are you sure it's OK with us?　Being the best in town is about scale, and there are other lodges with more upscale services: ......
There are dozens of people, including the soldiers, and we don't think those lodgings will be able to accommodate them. The noblemen leading the delegation would be accommodated in the lodgings over there, even if they had to stay at .......

　When the exchange of ideas continued and the discussion had boiled down, Sylvia came into the parlor with a cup of tea.

'I've heard your story. Are you joining that delegation, Luke-san?
''No, I'm going to accompany you in a separate slot from the delegation. I guess I'll be called ...... as the head of the White Wolf Knights who will oversee the dungeon exploration.

　She received the tea with her left hand, which was not her dominant hand, and sipped it.

　Meanwhile, Sylvia was looking somewhat worriedly at her prosthetic hand, which had supplemented her right arm.

''It's ...... okay. I've gotten used to this guy, and I'll have my real right arm back soon. There's nothing to worry about.
You're right: ...... Good luck with that, Luke!

　Sylvia held the tray in her hand and drew her arms together gingerly in front of her chest.

　The worry must not have gone away yet, but she's pushing it away and supporting me.

　I decided once again not to let her disappoint me - I made that decision again and clenched my artificial right hand.