"Master ......

"Papa ......

　A few days later.
　We were still inside this old castle brought here by Dahaka.

"It's all right. Locke, Dora. Lily and Felid and the others will be here to help us in no time.

　I smiled brightly, but I wasn't sure if they would be able to locate this place.
　At first, we went to the castle entrance to try to get out, but it was so tightly sealed off that it didn't budge no matter how hard we tried.
　I tried to use Locke's transference ability to get out, but it seems that there are wards around the castle that prevent him from doing so, and he tried several times, but failed to do so.

　When Dahaka moved here, a sort of magic circle was floating on the ground, a little different from Locke's and Tsurugi's. It's probably a special way of doing things.
　It's probably a special way to get in and out of the castle only with magical power.

(That's annoying. ....... (That's a bit of a dead end, isn't it? ......)

　There are too few hints as to where I was taken to this time, unlike the last time I was taken by a manticore, so there are too few hints as to where I was taken to.
　This is why it's quite difficult for Lily, Felid, Phytis and others to find this place: .......
　As I was thinking this, I heard someone's voice coming from behind me.

Don't be so pessimistic. Mr. Kyou. Like I said, I'm not going to kill you. I just want you to do something to turn a demon into a human being, to grow it.

　I turned around and there was Dahaka, smiling the same creepy smile I'd seen before.

"...... and you think I'm going to nod my head and say 'yes, I do'?

"This can't be a bad story. This can't be a bad thing for your fellow demons either.

　It's a very good thing that you're able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who want to become a human being among the ...... demons, and there are a lot of people who would be happy if I could make that happen.

"Ho-ho

　In response to my reply, Dora-chan, who has been hiding in her breast pocket, looks at me expectantly.
　In the past, I've met many demons who longed to be with people.
　Behemoth in the form of Rostam.
　Squall in the form of Lily.
　I'm sure Dora-chan and others have wondered if they could become human.
　And then there's Azi Dahaka right in front of me.

　If I can find a way to make demons human, there will be more demons that want to be human.
　Even the manticore that raised Shin might want to become human and live beside him, if that becomes possible.
　Or even Mime, who raised Ferid, if he was human from the start: .......

　As Aji Dahaka said, if I could do it, I might just be able to prove to this world that it's unprecedented and unprecedented in evolution.
　But, however--

Even if I did, it wouldn't be for you. After I'm safely out of here, it's only going to be for the monster who wants it. I can't listen to someone who would lock us up and make Luna sad like this.

"Master ......

"Papa ......

　That was my conclusion.
　I can't do that for this guy here and now.
　I'd rather do it against the monster that deserves it.
　As soon as he heard my answer, Dahaka looked somewhat disappointed and sighed.

I see ...... that's a shame. Then it doesn't matter how much I keep you here,

!

　I can't help but tense up at those words.
　Even though I'm valuable, I knew he wouldn't listen to my wishes, so what he's going to do is to eliminate me!
　I thought so, but the next moment the line that came out of the Dahaka was unexpected.

"Then I'm going to ask you to get out of here.

"Exit ......?

Yes. . you are free to leave as you see fit.

What?

　I let out a silly voice at an unexpected word.
　However, the Dahaka in front of you is not joking, but rather very serious.
　To my dubious face, Dahaka continues.

"What's the use of leaving someone here who doesn't want to grow. And I can't kill you. Even though you won't be growing things for me, you will continue to grow things for me. Sometimes it's for my benefit.

...... So, can I go home, then? ......?

"Yeah. I won't do anything to you.

　I make eye contact with Rock next to me at Dahaka's line.
　Can we go home?　As it is?
　So do we just take him at his word and leave?

　No, wait. We're not getting out of here alone.
　If we're going to leave, then of course she's going to leave with us.

Then Luna's coming home with us.

　I clearly pointed at the Dahaka in front of me and declared that, but

I can't do that.

　Dahaka turned it down.

"What do you mean?　Why is it that we are good and Luna isn't?



"Luna lady is going home with you!

　Ole and Locke protested, but the answer was unexpected.

Luna is not going home. I'm not going back because Luna herself wants to.

"What, to ......?

　The answer I got from Dahaka made me freeze.
　Luna doesn't want to?
　Don't want to go home?　With us?

"No way!

　I was shouting at the top of my lungs, but Dahaka told us with icy eyes, "You should ask him.

You should ask him.

"What?

　With Dahaka's words, someone appears from behind him.
　It's the unmistakable figure of Luna, and I, Locke, and Dora-chan call out to her with relief as soon as they see her.

Luna!

"Girlie!

"Mr. Luna!　You're safe!

"............

　We ran to her, but Luna didn't respond, and for some reason she kept her head down and wouldn't look at us.

Luna?

　When I called out to her in disbelief, she muttered with her face down.

...... sorry, no ...... kyoto ......

"Huh?

　Quicker than you can ask, Luna tells us.

I'm not ...... different from you guys. I'm not with you anymore. ....... I am ...... a demon king born to destroy the humans who live in this world ...... a Freeswerg.