The woman was staying at a different inn than the one Allen and the others were staying at.

　Moreover, while the inn where Allen and the others were staying was of medium to high rank, the one the woman was staying at was clearly of the highest rank.
　Facing the city's main street, the location is almost in the middle.
　You don't need to look at the outside to know that it was an expensive inn.

　Well, that's one thing.
　Even though it was an expensive inn, it wasn't much different from the ones Leeds and the others were staying at in the frontier.
　Although the inn there is rather unusual, but at any rate, it's just as familiar to you.

　And above all, it was not that important.
　Vigilance comes first and foremost, so I couldn't afford to worry about the exterior or interior.

　After all--

"So what the hell does the ...... devil want with us?

　It was Milene who looked most surprised at the core words as she was led into the room.
　You're going to be able to find out what you're looking for, and you're going to be able to find out what you're looking for, and you're going to be able to find out what you're looking for, and you're going to be able to find out what you're looking for.
　There is no surprise at being discovered, but rather as if she is already going to say it.

　I didn't expect him to hide his demon status at all, but it seems that he was expecting to be discovered.

...... demon?　This guy?
Yeah, definitely. Isn't that right?
I know, I don't mean to deny it, but ...... I was surprised that you would be the first to say that. I was hoping that he would probe a little further. ......
"You don't seem surprised to hear me say that, do you?
No, it's true that I'm surprised?　However, I did anticipate it, and also ...... I simply try not to show my face too much because of my job.

　It's true that it's hard to read the emotions on the face that is smiling all the time.
　You will be able to find a lot of people who have been in a position to help you with your own personal problems.

It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're doing.
I don't want to say that this is not relevant, but it's not directly relevant. Yes, but would you prefer that I say that you are related?
"...... doesn't make sense
I know. Don't be so stupid, but you need to say it more plainly. If you think you're stalling for time, we're leaving.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that ......, but it's part of my job, isn't it?　Well, if it's easy for you to understand, it was I who kidnapped a girl named Leeds and Noel and took them to the cathedral.

　Instantly, the atmosphere changed.
　Or should I say, changed.

　If the story is true, then the two of you are still in the cathedral, but that means--

"Ummmmm ...... That's a comforting murderous atmosphere. I'm tempted to mess with it. But it's no good ...... but now I have other purposes. My body is tingling, but that's just the way it is right now. ......

　The moment the woman turned her head with those words, Allen reflexively put away his killing intent.
　The reason for the ecstasy on the woman's face was ecstasy.

　A smile is a smile, but no matter how you look at it, it's a different kind of smile.
　And she clearly does not have a normal personality when she looks like that when she's being killed.
　It's one thing to be a demon, but it's another thing to be a demon.

　This is a race with a few screws missing from its head that I've seen in previous lives.
　And probably a battle freak.
　Throwing a killing spree at them will only make them happy and have the opposite effect.
　It was precisely because he understood this that he stopped shooting his deadly energy.

Oh, you're going to stop?　I would have liked to have been killed all the time: ...... Oh, but my body would have been so tingly that I might not have been able to speak properly: ......

　The look of ecstasy is gone, but you can see something like frustration on the woman's face.
　You can't help but feel tired and let out a sigh.

　If this is an act to get your mind off of things, that's great. ......
　But that's why it's such a difficult opponent.
　So I let out another sigh.

"Well, if you sigh too much, you'll lose your happiness.
"Don't tell me you think you're sucking the happiness out of people.
"...... sure, seems to suck up?
Oh, no, I don't like it, no matter how much of a devil I am, I can't do that, can I?

　If you just look at the way he smiled at me, he didn't look like a demon.

　It's a very difficult opponent.
　It's a bit elusive, and perhaps Henriette and the others are feeling the same way, or perhaps they are more confused than hostile.

　But the opponent is a demon, and he has confessed to kidnapping Leeds and the others.
　There's no reason to get along.

...... and so?　After all, we haven't even heard of the errand you called us on?
"You're impatient ...... but we certainly don't get along well with each other. No, we are adversaries by nature. And if we could simply do that, we could kill each other to our hearts' content with you. ......
"...... originally?　Is there any reason why we can't be hostile?
"No?　I can't just turn on you right now and start killing each other right now, can I?
"So why don't you do it?　I don't think you guys have any sense, do you?
That's a horrible thing to say: ...... Well, it's true, I've never had such a funny thing in my hands.

　The woman's smile deepened as her gaze prompted her to ask what that was all about.
　Then she turned her gaze to the void and narrowed her eyes as if trying to remember something.



...... I've been bored with it for a long time, actually.
"To what?
"We are the devil's way. Do you know what?　We demons don't have the freedom to move around as much as people say, you know?
Is that because the Church says so much about you?
...... That's true, but I was a little surprised to find out that ...... is indeed ....... As I said, I honestly didn't expect you to know. It's a good thing that you're able to get a better idea of what's going on in the world.
"What does ...... mean?
"Before we talk about it, ...... uh, where were we?　Oh yeah, we are stuck in the middle of a situation where we can't do whatever we want because of the church. Don't you think it's funny?　Don't you think it's ridiculous?　We are the devil, you know?　It is the devil who lays waste to people and the world as he pleases and spreads his vendetta to the world. It's certainly efficient the way it is now. But a controlled demon is no laughing matter. Quite frankly, I don't like it very much.

　Allen doesn't know how the devil is specifically managed by the church, and how the church uses the devil, but as far as Allen knows, the devil's movements in this world and the church's purpose is to enhance the prestige of God, that's something I can imagine.
　However, as far as Allen knows about the demons in this world and the church's purpose is to enhance the prestige of God, I can vaguely imagine it.

　They must be tormenting people in a very mechanical and efficient manner.
　And since the goal is to make people suffer, I can imagine that the devil is very unwilling to do so.

　However, I can only imagine it, and of course I don't have any sympathy for it.

So?
Yes, that's why I had high hopes for this one. Leeds and Noel, those two have successfully defeated the wiles of our demons. I was hoping that if it was going to be those two who would take over, then maybe the church would change too.
"...... alternative?
Oh, that's what those two were taken for, isn't it? I knew it.
"...... Henriette?

　When I asked her with my gaze what she meant, Henriette shrugged.

　We'll explain later.
　Certainly, what we have to talk about now is better than what we can talk about later.

So the way the story goes: ...... was a disappointment?
It's not so much for them, but for the Pope. I'm sure they plan to repeat the same thing they've done in the past. ...... No, I don't think it's wrong to say that they were disappointing in that sense. And with that, I have my doubts.
"...... doubt?　How?
The question is, did the two of them really take the lead in defeating our ruse?

　Allen nodded at that statement.
　I wondered what he meant by those similar words earlier, but I guess that's ...... among the demons, or something like that in the church.

　But I have a question.

'Sure, Leeds is something that the kingdom has been hyping a lot, so I understand, but why Noel too?
"The plan against them was somewhat shared among us. And then there was surveillance. But Leeds wasn't on the move that day when our comrades were on the move. So it's natural to think that Noel would have defeated it, right?

　It's probably the day that the demon Fenrir moved.
　But I don't feel like I was being watched by any other demon that day: ...... No, it's simply possible that it was a member of the church.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

But then it occurred to me. Those two were only there to see it, but wasn't there someone else who actually broke our ruse? No. ...... At least, that's what happened in the royal capital of the kingdom of Ad Astera, isn't it?

　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what's going on.

　Although that day has been hushed up and everything is supposed to be Leeds's fault, there were so many people there to begin with.
　Of course there were church officials, and it's natural to assume that information was flowing from there.

How did you manage to identify them at ......?　I think they knew it wasn't Leeds, but they didn't know who exactly did it.
Yes, that's why it was so hard to identify them. I've been trying to get them to look for it, but they couldn't identify it with just one piece of information. It wasn't until recently that we were able to piece together several pieces of information.
How did you get that far. ...... What's it for?
"There's no need to be alarmed, is there?　I'm not looking for revenge. We're not so much about camaraderie as we are about fellow human beings. But we need to know the information about the person who dismissed our people, don't we?　Otherwise, you can't enjoy ...... and avoid the danger.

　I'm sure it was just my imagination.
　I'm still not sure why you approached me and Allen.

　You went to the trouble of telling me about Leeds and the others.

I approached you because I thought you would be able to help me.
"Cooperation ......?
Yes, ...... I stopped putting up with it when I realized that they were disappointing. The reason why the church and I originally joined forces with the church was because it had more advantages. So it is only natural that we would turn our backs on them if we found that there were more detriments, right?
"Are you going to smash the ...... church?
I'm not going to go that far. I'm just trying to get to the back of the cathedral for a moment.


"...... of the cathedral, back of the cathedral?　There's something in there?
Yes, there is something that they would be very uncomfortable touching. What they do with it is indeed a secret at .......
"What are you going to do with us at ...... to talk about that?
'Oh, you know what I mean, don't you?　I mean, it's no wonder that the girls who were recently brought here have disappeared in the middle of this mess.

　The bottom line is, they want us to cooperate.

　Well, I thought it would be something like that: ...... Now, what's going on?

You can enter the cathedral by yourself, but you can't go deep into the cathedral. But that's really all I want to do. Our goals shouldn't conflict with each other, and I think we can work together ......?

　There are many things to think about, of course.
　But it's also true that if what the woman says is true, it's a good thing.

　Of course I don't think she told you everything, and there is no doubt that she is hiding something.
　But even knowing that, I'm willing to go along with this story.

　Looking at Henriette and the others, both of them shook their heads after hesitation.
　You're going to be able to get a good idea of what you're going to be doing.

No push to enter the ...... cathedral.
If you're going to go in by force, we'll be fine on our own.
If you don't do that, I could just walk into the cathedral. Of course not.
"...... Why put in?　Only a few people should be allowed in there.
I'm part of it, that's all. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to take those two people with me.

　To be honest, I was skeptical, but I had no other choice at the moment.
　Gathering information from the surroundings would have been effective if there was no other option, but it would have taken longer.
　It's not a move you can take now that you've been shown to have other options.

　Besides, if left unchecked, this woman is going to run into the cathedral all by herself.
　I have a vague feeling that this is the case.

　If that happens, there's no telling what will happen, including the two of you: ...... In the end, there is one answer.
　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.