Another side

　Currently, both the Demon King's Army and the company are certainly operating normally without any problems on the surface.
　However, in the background that exists unnoticed, there are various problems that are being handled and solved without your notice.
　Just because the departments are different, the information goes unheard of, and there are few who know it all.
　Like a game of dogfight, when a problem occurs, it is solved, and when another problem occurs, you go to deal with it.
　In the Demon King's Army, they are busy dealing with problems that are increasing day by day.
　Although the Demon King's Army has had many problems from the beginning, I feel that this has been more pronounced recently.
　The company that was started as a new business to create dungeons for the brave is getting back on track, but as you might be tempted to say, there is no end to the damage caused by external influences.

.........

　One wonders if there is an organization that doesn't have problems day in and day out, but one wonders if there are problems that come in here day and night.
　Because of this, here is a demon with a man's fiancée working without the pleasure of celebration.
　With the sound of her footsteps, Evvia walks through a facility that is unique among the facilities possessed by the demon king's army.
　The place is not in a dungeon, but exists on the demon continent.

What's wrong?
"No!

　The building itself is solid, but it is surrounded by a thicker wall, on top of which stands a sentry on high alert.
　At first glance, the structure looks like a castle wall that protects against enemies, but one can understand it when one sees it.
　This structure does not protect you from the enemy from outside, but it also prevents you from escaping from "inside".
　It can only be entered and exited in the proper way.
　You'll have to pass through a series of gates, identify yourself each time and check the security situation to make sure you're okay, even if it takes some time to get through.
　Dark elves, giant tribe soldiers, and other soldiers who are too heavily equipped to be guards stand out.
　Evvia will proceed through such circumstances without an escort.
　The deeper you go, the more ostentatious the equipment becomes.

Master Evvia!
Thanks, how's the guy inside?
".........

　And when they arrived at their destination, Evvia approached the captain of the squad in charge of monitoring the floor and asked him a question, but he could smell in the air that it was not good.

It's the same. I interrogated her several times, but she wouldn't tell me how she came into contact with those angels.
"......... I see.

　This is a prison.
　This is a special prison that houses serious criminals who cannot be shown, but are worthy of being kept alive.
　There are many situations where it's quicker to kill them than to let them live and atone for their crimes, and that's the custom in the Demon King's Army, but there are some who could be disadvantaged by killing them.
　This is the facility that houses such beings.

Can we come in?
"I've been contacted in advance so we are well prepared.

　Evvia asks the captain, turning her gaze toward the entrance.
　It's more of a wall than a door.
　There is no handle, only an iron plate standing there.
　In front of the space that can only be described as a wall, Evvia asks the captain and he says it's all right and instructs a wizard demon at his side to unlock it.
　Aside from the wizard, who channels magic and generates keyholes, the wall unravels as if it were a three-dimensional puzzle.
　And in five minutes or so, the wall becomes an entrance.
　But just because the doorway is open doesn't mean it's bright inside.
　You'll be looking through the darkness.
　To most people, it's an abhorrent space that stretches out before them.
　But without fear or hesitation, Evvia walks into the darkness.
　You should not be able to see anything, but Evvia goes forward as if she knows where she is going.
　And onward for another five minutes.
　You've come to a space.
　It's a space that would be a bit of a misnomer to call it a prison.
　A place where there are no walls around it, only a space in the dark.
　Chains extend from all directions and reach to the center of the space, restraining an object.
　The object is not even humanoid but like a minnow, its whole body is bound by a black leather-like cord.
　The object is furthermore covered by a dull-colored chain as if it were a wild goose chase.
　The face is sealed around the eyes, mouth, and ears, and no part of the face is exposed except for the nose.
　To such an opponent, Evvia quickly waves her right hand to the side.

I know you've noticed. Get up now, Carter Isuperio.

　That gesture alone releases the restraints that had been sealing your mouth and ears.

......... That's quite a violent way of putting it. You have lost all of your senses and your sense of time, and you're telling us to move so quickly.

　The skin that becomes visible from it is rough, the beard is long, and the cheeks are seen to be skinny and hollow.
　Carter Isperio.
　A man who was once considered a candidate for general of the Demon King's army, but in reality he is a descendant of a brave man who plotted to overthrow the Demon King's army.
　His appearance at the time was so graceful and handsome that it was not surprising that he was a handsome man.
　But after he was captured by the demon king, his appearance was gone.
　The demon king's army knows best how dangerous the existence of a brave man is.
　You have been given the minimum amount of nutrition to prevent you from doing anything.
　You no longer look like a descendant of the heroes who once rebelled against the demon king's army and plotted with angels to overthrow him.
　Carter Isperio is still clamming up and being sarcastic even though he knows who's coming.
　But it's only a figure, and her tone shows no sign of weakness, and even though it should be covered by an eye patch, Evvia feels a piercing gaze that pierces her skin.
　It's not a matter of anger, or vindictiveness, or even torture, but it's not broken, despite the many interrogations that she had to endure.
　The strong body of a brave man's bloodline and the mental strength of a grudge of his upbringing are still intact.
　You don't know what he will do if left unattended.
　This anxiety is beyond excessive and has led me to prepare a variety of restraints that I believe are necessary.

I'm glad to see you're well.

　In addition to physical restraint, mental restraint by means of witchcraft.
　He was cut off from contact with the outside world by means of magic and wards.
　You're still looking for a period of rebellion against the demon king's army, despite being in an environment where you are cut off from everything except the bare minimum of conversation and food.
　In the face of the man who emits such pressure, Evvia coolly replies with a sarcastic look on her face, but time is running out and she immediately gets down to business.



I have a question for you.
"You think I'm going to answer that? I'd rather have this head chopped off right now than give up information that could benefit you guys.

　But it's no hardship if you can listen to him with one word like this.
　The interrogator didn't speak, he caused a lot of pain and yet he didn't say anything.
　All that comes out is a rant and a quick kill.
　Carter's reticence to speak is predictable.

Torture?
"Joke, waste of time.

　Carter, sensing Evvia's gesture of raising her right hand, asks what it is, as if to say again, but Evvia knows that pain will not get the truth out of Carter's mouth.
　That's why it's not a weapon that Evvia pulls out of space, but a balance.
　A design of a black balance with a golden plate attached to it.
　Yet another is a small hourglass.

Now, Carter Isperio, it's time to make a deal.
"A deal?

　With a thud, Evvia placed a balance and an hourglass between them.

Oh, these are tools created by a demon. They are an item containing a powerful curse because they each have only one effect.

　Carter's mood changes when he brings up the idea of mutual cooperation by trade rather than unilaterally making you talk.

"You sure? You don't even have to bring up the deal.
"No problem. I've told the demon king what we're going to do and asked his permission.
"......... you think I'll take that deal? I don't see how this situation can benefit me. Unless you can get me out of these restraints in good faith.

　Do I see this deal as an opportunity or not?
　As soon as she senses the slightest flicker of it, Evia is sure of victory.
　Evvia tells Carter, who inwardly smiles and sneers at her opponent's imperceptible thin smile and smells a refusal.

I'll comply, that's what this is for.

　Without any change in expression, just pouring magic power into the two grimoires and turning over the hourglass.

I ask Carter Isperio, how did you get those angels to cooperate? How did you get those angels to cooperate?

　Carter's brow wrinkles at the words as soon as he watches the white sand drift down.
　I was going to reply to your uninspired words as if you were an idiot.

I just used a holy artifact from a brave man in my bloodline to contact and negotiate with the heavens.

　But the words that were spun were different words.
　With a gasp, Carter suppresses his emotions without realizing that the balance on Carter's side of the scale has been lifted at his feet and the hourglass has turned over on its own.

I see. I didn't know there was such a thing.
"What did you do?

　I can't hide my confusion at the fact that I have answered a question that should never be answered.
　That's why we need to find out why.

Didn't I tell you? It's a magical tool for that, and with the effect of the balance of lying and silencing, we are now blocked from lying and silence. That's why they say they will answer any question that is asked.

　Evvia answers the question, cheerfully and casually taking care not to pass on the mental advantage.
　After answering Carter's question, Evvia knows that the hourglass next to her has been raised to her side of the scales, and the right to ask a question is now on her side.

Now for the next question. Then the next question is: "Where is the sacred object?
......... that I gave to the angels during the battle. After that, it was not my place to know.

　Carter's mouth twists in frustration at having answered the question again, this time in frustration.
　The jangling sound of the chains also reflects Carter's feelings.
　The balance plate is raised again.
　Evvia waits with crossed arms, watching the returned hourglass spill out again, wondering what questions she will ask this time.
　Earlier Carter said that he had made a deal.
　You will be able to find out what is going to be the most effective way to get the best out of your own personal life.

.........

　While he was thinking about it, Carter chose silence.
　He noticed that they have been taking turns questioning each other, and he seems to have settled on the decision that if he doesn't ask questions, they won't ask him.
　But I have to say, that was a poor decision.
　As soon as the sand of the hourglass has fallen out and been turned over, the plate on the balance is also raised toward Evvia.

"Silence, or I'll ask you again.

　It's not a bluff or a bluff, Evvia is exercising her right when the opportunity arises.
　However, although at first glance Evvia acts like she has the luxury of time, the truth is that she doesn't have much time to spare.
　The magic power consumption of the magic tools that you are currently using, the balance of silence and the hourglass of equality, placed next to the balance of falsehood and silence, is catastrophically bad.
　To be more precise, against a high magic resistance holder such as Carter, their fuel consumption is worse.
　The Balance of Falsehood and Silence is a magical tool with the ability to silence your opponent's falsehoods and silence, forcing the answerer to ask the question to the side where the balance is raised.
　The disadvantage is that you can ask questions alternately, and you must be prepared to be heard as long as you hear the question, which is a little bit difficult to use.
　And the equivalent hourglass is a mage tool that interferes with the mages, a mage tool that simply sets a time limit, and depending on how you use it, can temporarily seal the mages that your opponent is using, but this time you are using it to impose a time limit in addition to turnability.
　This is a measure to limit the amount of time you let your opponent ask you questions.
　Naturally, that restriction is also imposed on Evvia, but that's not a problem since it's prepared in advance.
　However, the fuel consumption of those two magic tools was more taxing on Evvia than she had imagined.
　The amount of magic power that is enough to fire great magic is reduced by 30 percent with just four questions.
　You are a descendant of a heroic person, and if you are in perfect condition, even the demon king would run out of magic power just by asking a few questions.
　There's even a chance that the effects of the magic tools would be negated before that.
　By weakening him, I could finally hear him speak.
　Then this opportunity was not to be missed, and as I was about to ask the question.

?

　Evvia perceives a slight shaking of the building.
　It's not an earth-shaking shock like an earthquake.
　It's a shock that knocks the building to the side.

!

　I look at Carter, who gasped and fell silent.
　Why has this guy endured so much?


　The answer is simple.
　Help was supposed to come.
　So who's going to help?
　The answer is also obvious.
　As Carter said earlier.

......... that I gave it to the angels during the battle. After that, it's not my place to know.

　You gave the means of communication to the preparedness angels.
　That is, he gave them time to be ready to send out a rescue.
　Why didn't you consider that?
　It wasn't just that dungeon that we had a backup force.
　After a moment's thought, Evvia came to that conclusion and immediately called forth her magic sword to cut Carter's head off.
　The demon sword is summoned from the void and in the blink of an eye, it settles into Evvia's right hand.
　It's a step from the moment she raises it to the moment she brings it down.
　You don't need a second to kill the captive Carter.
　A blow that was guaranteed to kill, and it was supposed to.

Up!

　A sensation similar to fear ran down Evvia's back, and she corrected the point of her blade upward.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

......... I've seen you're more connected to the cutthroat angels lately.

　The light is a pure-white three-winged angel dressed in full-body armor of white and silver, holding a divine spear in his hand.

Comrade Carter, we've come to your rescue ahead of schedule. Are you safe?

　Carter, sheltered by the angel's back, is being released from his restraints by a pair of winged angels who landed late.

Yeah, it was faster than I expected, so I was able to save more energy than I thought.

　The spellbook is removed, the chains are cut.
　Free, Carter says it's to be expected, and checks on his body.
　His body is thin and frail, but the way he stands on the ground is steady.
　It's the worst, Evvia thinks.
　Through no fault of my own, I feel I must report this fact to the demon king now.

"Comrade Carter. Should I get rid of him in front of me?
You should if you can. After all, she is the Demon King's advisor, the famed right hand woman, Evvia Nodis. Killing her would make the battle a lot easier later on.

　But that's not possible at the moment.
　There's no reason to miss the enemy in front of you, and in a flash, Evvia puts on her armor.
　She also grasps her magic sword in her spare hand.

Yes, sir. Comrade Carter, you help me escape. I'll catch up with you after I've dealt with this demon.

　It's as if he doesn't see Evvia as a threat, but a fierce angel holding a spear.

Yeah, please.

　Then, propped up and held by an angel, Carter escapes through a hole in the ground.

Wait!

　Even though she knew she couldn't wait, she couldn't let him go, and after saying that she couldn't let him go, Evia cut to the cutthroat angel.

I will not let you pass. I'm not going to be able to get through, but if you want to pass, you'll have to cut off my spear, which has been given the third place in the hierarchy by my father, with your sword.

　But of course the silvery white spear blocks Evvia's attack.
　You're neither careless nor haughty, and you don't falter even under the full force of Evvia's blow.
　You're no stranger to third place on the pecking order.
　To close the distance between them, Evvia jumps backward to close the gap.

I won't let you go!

　The spear is held in a hollowed out position and thrust out.
　The spear of light, which is filled with magical power, emits a flash of light that threatens to pierce everything.

I'll be able to see it.

　Judging that it was impossible to avoid it, Evvia crossed her magic sword and caught its light with a barrier.
　However, the momentum is too much for Evvia to contain as she floats in midair.
　She is surrounded by the light as the momentum continues and is pushed outdoors.

What was this?

　It's not damaged to your body, and you're still in a position to fight, but after being blown off to the outdoors, Evvia, who had grasped the current situation by being blown off to the outdoors, was astonished to see an unbelievable scene, in contrast to her usual relaxed expression, and spat out her words with astonishment.
　The garrison staked out the city walls and intercepted the demonic beasts that tried to stick to the walls.
　In the sky, flying species such as harpies and demons are fighting hard against the numerous angels, while a garrison of the demon king's army, which can handle magic and bows, is desperately attacking the sky from below.
　Angels and magical beasts are forming a joint front.
　Evvia can't help but be astonished by this fact.

"We've caught up. We've got him!

　But there is no time to think slowly.
　You have to get out of this predicament now, and Evvia holds her magic sword toward the spear-bearing cutthroat angel.


　Word of the Day
　The fire on the other side will eventually ignite on this side.