--I remember my days with my friends like it was yesterday.

　Thor, who was easy to get on with, but was wise.
　Abel and Fay, who were quarrelsome, but very companionable.
　Musubel, who didn't have the brawn, but was the best at healing magic in the group.
　Gracia, who respected me and followed me around.
　Berdia, her pet, who was very fond of her.
　Gregoria, who had a rough tongue and never wanted to join the circle of friends, but was stronger than any of his men.

　Besides them, who were the officers, many others followed him.
　I will never forget all of their faces and names and the days I spent with them.
　The only reason I was able to be the Demon King was because of them.
　Even when I let Gregoria die through my own fault, they were the ones who supported me.

　They were truly the most important friends.

　--So I'll never forget their wreckage that was cruelly torn apart.

　You can find a lot of people who have been in the same situation.
　The skewered Thor, the slashed Abel and Fay, the slashed Abel and Fay, and Musbel with only his head.
　Their empty eyes still float in the darkness.

　Some of them were not seen in the pile of wreckage.
　Sensing that I had noticed, the half-elf woman said.

''Oh, don't worry. I'll make sure to kill all your men who aren't here, too.''

　The demon tribe and the half-elf are playing with the corpse.

　The demon tribe and half-elf playing with the corpse.
　Ortegia's eyes as if looking at a piece of insecticide, telling us that this is a natural result.

　The death of his friends, his helplessness, his mocking voice, Ortegia's eyes.
　It's always, always chasing me.
　No matter how far I say, I can't escape. You can't run away.

　You can't run away from your position, your friends, and the Demon King's crest, even if it's all taken from you.
　"As the Demon King, I have a duty to fulfill.
　I have to do what I have to do.

　As the Demon King, and as a mere Elfiszak, I will be able to take my revenge before I can move on.

　So I've decided to do whatever it takes.
　Because I knew that with him, I could do anything I wanted.
　Because I knew that with him, I could walk beyond vengeance together.

"So, I--


You're not going to be able to do that.

'Thank you for your hard work, Mr Volk and Ms Lucifina.

　The center of the Latesia continent.
　A crystal-clear voice resounded in the conference room that only the executives were allowed to enter.
　The one who spoke words of thanks while sitting on a chair was a woman with blue-silver hair and indigo eyes - Lefise Gregoria.

''Yes, thank you.''
...... Oh.

　The reflection in Lefise's nervous eyes is that of the two Four Heavenly Kings.
　Lucifina Emilior and Volk Granveria return their respective reactions to her exertions.

　A few days ago, the Demon King's army marched into the Holy City of the Faithful Country.
　Its purpose was to take out the former Demon King and the current generation's heroes who would be working to defeat the Abominable Light Labyrinth.
　Consuming the magic power they had stored up from decades ago, the Demon King's army surrounded the Holy City.
　After clashing with the Seido Knights, they succeeded in capturing the former Demon King and defeating the heroes.

''It's a great blow to have the Thunder Demon General killed and the Abominable Light Labyrinth dropped, but to be able to neutralize ...... the two most troublesome people is a great achievement. You have done well.

　So far, the former Demon Kings had only been able to drop the labyrinth.
　The demon general was also killed, and the damage was not small.
　However, if you were able to defeat two people in this battle, you can still recover.

　From his position as the Deputy Demon King, Lefise worked on the two of them again.
　Lucifina takes it with a smile on her face, but Volk's expression is not excellent.

'...... So...'

　The reason is obvious.

''Where did you say that you captured the former Demon King, Gracia-san: ......?

　There are three Four Heavenly Kings in this place - because there is one person missing who should be there.

　With a sigh, Volk explained.
　That as soon as he returned from the Teaching Country, Gracia had retreated with the former Demon King to his own fortress.
　He ordered her to return to the Demon King's castle with the former Demon King several times, but she replied, "Wait a minute," and never responded.

''What is it, it's .......''

　Gracia is a serious enough person to rank high in our strong Demon King's army.
　He thought that he would rarely act out because of his solid work ethic.
　That's why he suddenly became a recluse.

'Ugh. ......'

　Her face is pale and Lefise rubs her belly.
　He's also sweating at the tattle and sweat.

'...... No way, she betrayed you?'

　The worst possibility, Lefise says fearfully.
　He knew Gracia's background before she entered the Four Heavenly Kings.
　Naturally, Lefise was wary.
　But she had been serving the Demon King's Army for thirty years.

　Besides, Lefise asked, ''Doesn't Gracia hate Elfiszak?'' She thought.
　That's what anyone would think if they knew how she joined the Demon King's Army.

'I think it's too soon to assume that, don't you?

　With a gentle smile on her face, Lucifina opened her mouth.

''You know about that, don't you?''
'...... Yeah. I've heard her thoughts on the subject from the person herself on several occasions.
That's why she is incompatible with the former Demon King Elfiszak.

　Ah, but something interesting could come out of that discrepancy, couldn't it?
　Amused, Lucifina added.

'...... Whatever it is, I can't face Ortegia-sama in case something happens. Lucifina, could you go directly to her, please?　Bring her and the former Demon King to the Demon King's Castle.

　If it were true, Lefise would like to go out in person, but there's a large amount of post-processing left to do from this march.　
　She also needs to deal with the humans who are gaining momentum now that the labyrinth has fallen.
　There is too much anxiety for her to vacate the Demon King's Castle right now.

''--Even though you are the Four Heavenly Kings, we can't tolerate any more selfishness, so...''

　Lefise's eyes glowed blue and narrowed sharply.
　The temperature dropped rapidly in the room and Volk, who had been listening in silence, involuntarily cleared his throat.

'Yes, I understand. Now that I'm in a good mood, I'll do whatever it takes.'

　Lucifina replies with a smile, despite the spirit of the situation.
'And I think we'll see some interesting things,' she adds.

'Yes, please. But are you in a good mood?　What's the good news?
'Yes. I could have killed a disgusting man in a soggy mess.
...... haha.

　Refise's face twitched as Lucifina spoke in a good mood.　
　Noticing her condition, she spoke in a good mood about the Lucifina man's death.

'...... Is that that brave man you're talking about?'

　Volk opened his mouth to speak instead of Lefise, who replied vaguely and fell silent.
　He sat back in his chair and stared at Lucifina.

'Yes. Did you see his last face?　Oh ...... I'm drooling just thinking about it. That hapless and pathetic face.
...... tch.

　With a click of his tongue, Volk vigorously propped his elbows on the desk.
　When Volk revealed his annoyance, Lefise's expression tightened.

''Oh dear, did I touch something in your gut?　Come to think of it, it was the same when Dionis-san died, wasn't it? What's wrong with you?

　There is no change in Lucifina's expression.
　The smile that clung to her face was calm and the tone of her voice remained the same.
　However, it was clear that the words were coated with malice.

'...... That, I don't like the way you desecrate your fellow man and the dead. Dionis was a scumbag, but he was still a friend. Friends are supposed to help each other. And when you laugh at the death of one of them, you're disgusting.

　Obviously, Dionis was the same kind of Lucifina.
　A vulgarian who looked down on everything but himself and trampled on them for good.
　If he wasn't one of us, he would have been the first man I would have beaten to death.

　But he's still one of us.
　We're all part of the same organization, we work together.
　Whatever that man was, it doesn't feel good to scoff at the death of a fellow human being.

'Besides, the brave man was a respected warrior. Stomping on that and smirking - you're crazy, aren't you?
----

　At Volk's words, Lucifina looked down.
　Volk frowned quizzically at her usually unthinkable attitude.
　It took a moment for Volk to think that she understood our words a bit.

''--Huh.''

　With her head down, Lucifina's thin body trembles.
　At the same time, a muffled voice echoes in the room.

''Fufu, fufufufu. Fufufu, fufu, fufu, fufu, fufu.''

　It's far from remorse or repentance - it's ridicule.

''Hahahahahahahaha!　Mr. Volk, you're so kind, aren't you!　Hmmmmm, mate!
............
'No. Hmmm, I think it's good, don't you?　Friends!　That's a good word!　Indeed, Mr. Dionis was one of them!　He was an interesting person whose vessel and ability were not at all balanced against his extreme attitude, but yeah, he was definitely one of us!　Hahaha!

　It's as if he doesn't understand.
　She doesn't understand her own words at all.
　No, she understands, and then this woman scoffs.

"--but,

　Lucifina, who was laughing with her stomach, raises her head with a grin.

''I hope you can protect your ...... friends (...) with such a sweet attitude, huh?

　Silver eyes twisted into a gnarled smile.

'...... What do you mean by that?'
No, no. There's no point in that, is there?

　As soon as she did so, Lucifina got up from her chair.

'I hope your kindness doesn't get you killed, right?

　After telling her that, Lucifina left the conference room with a humming sound.
　All that was left was Volk with a pained expression on his face and Lefise with her head in her hands.

'...... shit,'

　He muttered as he spat, and Volk sat up roughly.

'What are you going to do?'

　To Lefise, who asks.

I'm going back to the village now. Call me if you need me.
...... Okay.
Don't forget the contract.

　He told her that without looking at her, and Volk left the conference room as well.
　The only one left in the room was Lefise, who was still sitting in her chair.

'...... Huh.'

　One big sigh of relief in the room.

'...... Why is it that all these problems happen in succession? At this time of year, of all times.

　It's a problem that the relationship between the upper echelons of the organization is this bad.
　Somehow, we have to resolve this discord.

Should we hold some kind of ...... social gathering or something like that?

　I muttered and tried to imagine the scene.

　Gracia, who is supposed to be serious, but has come here to cause problems.
　Lucifina, who has a very gentle and kind appearance, but her malice is hidden.
　Volk, who has a lot of problems because he is a mixed-up person.

I don't feel like the fellowship is deepening at all. ......

　I heard that the previous demon king was warmly friendly with some of his subordinates.
　That caused a lot of problems, but it would be a problem for ...... them to be this close.

''...... haha.''

　A sigh and a sizzle and her stomach rumbles at the same time.
　She rubs her abdomen.

...... I want to be hungry.

　Lefise muttered with tears in her eyes.