57-I don't feel bad about it.




So what's the chain of command?
Wasn't it the Demon Lord's intention to attack the humans in the first place?

'The Great Being can give orders without meeting us directly. It speaks to our souls about what to do.'

'It doesn't look like you're ...... fooling around.'

Kerkas's forehead was dripping with sweat.
I'm sure that no matter how strong the demon tribe is, they don't want to have their arms broken, so I don't think they're telling any strange lies.

'The demon race is scattered all over the world. But none of them have ever seen the Demon Lord.

'Does that mean that the Demon Lord doesn't actually exist?

It makes sense if you think of him as a kind of imaginary god created in the common consciousness of the demon race.

'That's not true. The Demon Lord is definitely real. It's just that we don't know where he is and no one has ever seen him!

I had the image that the Demon Lord was waiting for the attack of the heroes at the Demon Lord's castle at the end of the last village, but I guess that's not the case.

Well, if you think about it, that's too convenient for humans.
Humans live everywhere, and if the location of the Demon Lord's castle was known, it would have been settled long ago, and they probably wouldn't be waiting with their fingers crossed.

'High-ranking demons are living among humans. I used to do the same until recently.

'Oh, I see.

As a matter of fact, Kerkass hardly smells like a demon.
It's more human than the 14 demons we fought in Elf Village, the demon guards in Elf Village, or the demons that attacked King's Landing.

If we could only get rid of the demon-like horns and black eyes that are characteristic of the demon race, I think it would be possible.
In a different world where the family registration system is lax, it would not be surprising if there is a magic-like technology that can hide the characteristics of demons.

In other words, the only way to get to the Demon Lord is to pinpoint the demon tribe disguised as humans. That's ...... painstaking.'

I'm sure you're not the only one who can't find the demon lord, but you're the only one who can find him.

Crack.

'Aaahhhh!

'You don't need to say anything else. You only need to answer the questions that are asked of you.'

I twisted it lightly, and it seems I only broke my arm. That's pretty lucky.

'--That's enough for today. There doesn't seem to be any information that can lead us directly to him.

I give the aching Kerkass a little potion of life force and heal him.
Now that he's back, I'll put it in the item slot.

'Oh, hey ......, what are you going to do with me?'

'I won't kill you as promised, and I won't experiment on you. You'll be my bread and butter.'

I left Kerkass strapped to the chair and stowed him away.

'I see. ...... I knew it.'

Keeping the Kerkass in the item slot activates the Demonic Energy Lv1.
On the other hand, taking it out will disable it.
It would be better not to waste it by killing it.

I think it's better not to kill them.

I decided to go back to the inn where Aleria and Aina were waiting for me.
I had asked them to stay back because I had important business to attend to. I'm sure they're both cooking up a storm right now. I think ....... I'd like to think that they're not fighting.

'Da, Grand Duke!

Hmm? I was stopped by an unfamiliar voice.
I slowly turned my head toward the voice.

It was a boy of about twelve or three. I wondered what such a young boy wanted with me.

'Nice to meet you! I've heard so much about you! I'm an aspiring adventurer, but I've always had a crush on the Grand Duke!

'Oh, I see. Good luck with .......''

I wish I could have said something a little more clever, but it was so sudden, and when he said he admired me, all I could say was, 'I see.

'Yes! Thank you very much. I'm so touched! Um, I'd like to ask you a favor: ......'

'What is it?

'Um, if you don't mind, I'd like your autograph!

'Sign ......?

'Oh, no! I mean, it's fine if it's not too much to ask. ......'

'I don't mind if you give me an autograph, it's not like I'm going to lose anything. ...... Are you happy to receive such a thing?

'Yes, it is! He is an adventurer who has been recognized for his achievements and has risen to become a grand duke. ...... Everyone respects him!

'Hmm, something like that.

''There's a piece of paper here, so please take care of it!

'Okay.'

I took a piece of paper and a pen from the boy and started to sign it.
I've never been asked for an autograph before, so I don't know what a good design would look like.

When I thought about it, I thought that if I wrote my name in kanji, it would look like that.
Since the inhabitants of the other world do not know Japanese, I think it would look good. I've heard of foreigners wearing tacky T-shirts with kanji printed on them.

'Okay, I wrote it. Is this okay?'

'Oh! Thank you very much! I'll treasure it for the rest of my life! Oh, um... if you don't mind me asking.

'What's wrong?

'Could you write me two more copies to spare?

This guy is pretty brazen. .......
He's going to be strong.
Well, I'm an adult too. I'll take it with an open mind.

'Sure. I'll lend you a piece of paper.

'Thank you very much!

Well, I don't feel bad about being asked for an autograph.
I'm sure he really respects me, and it's a small price to pay if it helps me train harder every day.

I hope that there will be more people who can manage on their own when the demons attack King's Landing again in the absence of me, Aleria and Aina. That's what I hope for in my signature.