We who have gleaned the 'truth' from the mirror of truth.
　None of us escaped the shock.
　None of us joked lightly.
　--No, there was one exception.
　Aegis, my left hand, was the only one who encouraged me, "Don't fall down, Will.

Thank you. But I'm not dwelling on it.

"I know you're not a child of the gods, but don't worry about it. Your father is your father.'

That's the original. No matter what happens, my mom and dad are them.

"Then why are you so stifled?

That's because Anastasia is too stuffy.

　Look at Anastasia. She was understandably bemoaned.
　I wanted to say something to her, but there was no time.
　We walked quickly back to where we had left our horses and rode off.

"Anastasia, don't be discouraged. I don't want you to look like that.

"...... is Mr. Will,

　Encouraging Anastasia to say, "This story is over.

"This is the end of the story. From now on, let's focus only on saving the king.

　Then Anastasia seemed to understand.

"Okay. Then let's head out.

　I put the whip in the horse and run at the front. Behind me comes Luna Maria and Anastasia.
　We gallop across the plain at twice the speed of our start and return to the capital.


　--We arrive at the capital.
　You'll find the palace is noisy.
　What's going on, Anastasia asks. Just then, her men have arrived.

"Are you all right, Anastasia?

"I and Master Will are invincible. What's all the fuss about, by the way?　Halloween will be a long time coming.

But a bandit has broken into the palace where the princess resides. Probably Zodiacs.

"...... bandits

　Anastasia is not surprised. Neither am I. This was expected.
　Lunamaria suggests we come to the rescue, but I disagree.

Why?

　replies Luna Maria who asks, "Maybe it's a diversion.

Maybe it's a diversion. The Zodiac said he was going to assassinate the king. I think it was a decoy that attacked the princess.

　And then more soldiers came. No, they're trying to leave the castle.
　They say the cathedral is under attack by monsters.

It was also the Zodiac cult's idea.

"Perhaps . His Majesty the King. So let's go to the main hall of the palace.
　When I declare this, Lunamaría calls some of her men and tells them to go with me.
　Her plan works.
　As you approach the main hall, men who appear to be knights of the land come toward you with swords drawn.

...... You must be working for Sir Vermilion.

I guess. I wonder if I brought the Zodiacs to you.

"Perhaps. . so feel free to spill your guts.

　And her men would say, "Oh! and shouted at the knight. Apparently, they didn't like it and this battle is where they want to be.

　They were a reliable bunch, both in terms of morale and in terms of ability.

　Whenever a knight appeared, Anastasia's men would head for it, but soon their numbers would dwindle to zero.

　It would be perfect if they could make it to His Majesty's bedchamber, but the enemy doesn't seem to be that lenient.

　A man who seems to be a sorcerer of the cult has come with a golem.
　Seeing this figure, Anastasia lets out a breath.

"What a tactless sorcerer.

　She says and continues.

I know everything there is to know about Master Will. I know that he's the nicest man in the world. And that he's the nicest man in the world.

　I mean--

　And then she grows a bunch of trees from under her feet and makes an improvised golem with them. She seems to oppose the evil wizard.

"I know. I know that Master Will would act proudly as the King's Son!



　Anastasia declares this, and declares to take on the enemy sorcerer.
　I said I'd burn the image into my eyes.
　I nodded deeply and let her have this moment.

Thank you, Anastasia.

"I want to thank you, Your Majesty. Take care of His Majesty.

　And then she began to fight the enemy sorcerer with magic.

　The enemy sorceress also seemed to be quite strong. She was evenly matched with Anastasia, the hero of the tree.

　From what I've seen, the enemy is the better golem and Anastasia is the better fighter. Though seemingly evenly matched, I was confident of Anastasia's victory.

　But time was running out, and I showed no sign of regret as I headed with Lunamaria to the king's bedchamber.

　Behind the main hall. One of the finest and most magnificent rooms. That's where the king lies down.
　On the way, I found the guards and some bodies that I thought were the courtesan's.

　That alone was enough to make the enemy, the Zodiac Order, unforgivable.

　He did not hesitate to sell his own brother, the king of this country.

If Anastasia had seen her brother's face, she would have gutted him!

Maybe. It would have been more fortuitous if she hadn't been here in that sense. ......

　I just didn't know if I should be completely happy about it.

　When I saw the king's brother Vermilion in front of me, I was tempted to cut him down. But I didn't want to kill a man. No matter how much of an outsider I was.

　I thought that, so I offered him my fist instead of my dagger, but Vermillion never showed any pain as he dug his fist into his face at the start of the attack.

Ridiculous. Will's punch would have knocked a bear into a coma. ......

　It was true, but I was calm. I soon realized that the person in front of me was a... No, I realized that the "thing" was not a person.

　Vermillion, unconcerned with the punches that had caused his face to change shape.
　His eyes were bright red and glowing. It was like a demon.
　No!　He was a monster. A voice from the depths of his gut crawled out.

"Hey, kid, I didn't expect you back so soon.

　A low, heavy sound that seems to leak out of the depths of hell. It's as if you have a lion in your belly.
　No, that might be closer to the truth.
　As the king and brother rapidly transformed their bodies, their true nature was revealed.

............

　It's so horrible, Lunamaría is absolutely horrified.
　Let me put my thoughts into words for her.

"It seems that the king's brother has sold his soul to the devil. --He's not human.

　A monster that happily accepts that consideration.
Ha ha!　That's not true, kid. The king's brother didn't sell his soul to the devil. I took his soul.

"You mean that there's not much left in that disgusting body of yours left in the mind of a royal brother?

That's right, my name is the ancient demon. Malmouk, one of the 24 generals in the service of Master Zodiac. I have come back to life in the body of this vulnerable man.

And your first mission is to kill the king?

Yes. And the king's blood will hasten the resurrection, Master Zodiac. And the country will be in turmoil. And chaos begets chaos. Chaos is the only feeling that will please the master.

We don't need that god!

　Then I put all my strength into drawing the dagger and letting it go.

　With a flash of the dagger I cut down my opponent. I pulled out my dagger with the intention of standing up to the old dragon. I let fly with my sword flash as if I meant to blow the head off the bull's head.

　Ronin, the god of the sword, taught me the most powerful sword flash.
　My sword flash, praised by the god of swords as a once-in-a-century genius.

　The blow that had cut down every strong enemy I had ever faced, that blow was ineffective against this demon Malmuke.

　Malmouk took my sword flash with his right hand as if he was caught by a gentle breeze and squeezed it, saying: "Hey, this is my sword flash.

"Oh, so this is the sword god's way of flashing. I thought it was just a kid's water gun.

　--It doesn't seem to have fluttered. His hand wasn't harmed in the least.

"...... no way. So this is the 24 general?

　I've only heard of it from the Vandal, the god of witchcraft, but as expected of him, he had tormented the gods in the Holy Demon War. He seemed to be quite strong.