You may be wondering.

　The demon race fights by magic.
　That's why they don't need weapons like the human race.

　So why did they take the mines from the human race in search of mithril?　And.

　Of course, mithril is also important to the demon race.

　Mithril is a mineral that has a very high absorption rate of magic power.

　Using that characteristic, the magic tools used to aid in magic are usually made of mithril.
　It is a tool that helps inexperienced wizards to stabilize their magic power. It is a tool that stores magic power beforehand and releases it when needed.
　There are many different types of mages, but most of them are made of mithril.
　If it's a high-grade one, it's even better.

　That's why the mithril mine has been heavily guarded as one of the important bases of the demon race.

　I had no idea that it was located near Lax Village.
　But if I know it's there, I'll have to pay a visit.　I felt like I was going to be able to do this.

　I have no intention of visiting and what I'm going to do.

　I'm just wondering how the Demon King's Army is doing after I left?
　I also wondered if it would be good for the village if they diverted even a small amount of the mithril that they mined, and that's what I was thinking.

　As expected, I couldn't tell them about my past, so I told Marika and the others that I was going to go on forest patrol.

　Since I had heard of the directions, I was able to arrive at my destination without hesitation.



It really happened.

　The mining area I looked over was indeed familiar.

　Just from what I heard, 'Is it another place where the situation is very similar?' I couldn't get rid of my suspicion that this was the place to be, but now that I saw it with my own eyes, I was sure of it.

　When I was an assistant to the Four Heavenly Kings, this place was an important base for the demon race.

''Well, it's a small world, isn't it?''

　Or rather, Lux Village was located on the borderline between the demon territory and human territory.

　This mine is also right on the border.
　That's why there was a fierce battle between the human and demon tribes.

　After I was fired from the Demon King's army, I continued to wander around in despair, but after all, I'd only gotten a little further than the demon territory, right?
　That's about it, isn't it?

　That's how the geography around Lax Village was vividly built up in my brain.
　Just being able to do that, it was worth it to come here.

　Well.

　Now, let's take a look at the mine in earnest.
　I'm no longer a member of the Demon Lord's Army, so be careful not to get spotted.

◆.

..........

　We've been able to break into the mine city area.
　What's this monkey business?
　It was surprisingly easy to get in.

'Security's getting loose...?

　At least it's not as loose as it was when I was in and out of the mine.
　If it was this sloppy when I was there, my head would be on fire. My.

What's the matter with...?

　The feeling of discomfort soon turned into a darker suspicion.
　It didn't take long to become even more convinced of the anomaly.

　It's too desolate.
　Desolate.

　Shouldn't this place be a great mine that digs out mithril ore that rivals gold?
　It should have been hotter and more crowded, but I hadn't rubbed up against anyone since earlier.

　It was like a ghost town.

　As we continued on our way, we finally reached the entrance to the tunnel.
　This is the most important area of the mine, a hole dug for mining ore.
　The most important part of the mine. It is the heart of the mine.

How did you manage to get into this place so easily?

　This is all very strange.
　Something must have happened.

　I shout into the deep hole of the tunnels, forgetting all about hiding and such considerations.

'Oi!　Is anyone here?

　Anybody out there?
　You there?
　Yes?
　Yes?

　The voice echoing through the tunnels.
　This should be able to reach quite far back.

'................

　It wasn't long before he thought he saw a flickering light in the dark depths of the mine.
　No, I'm not imagining it.
　There was a light.
　The lights, which appeared to be Kantera, were getting closer and closer, until the faces of the light bearers were clearly visible.

"It's the knockers...!

　A dwarf came out of the tunnels.
　Small in stature, with hands and feet as thin as sticks, hollow eyes, and an oddly pointed nose instead....
　There were not one, but many people with such clear-cut features.
　All of them look exactly the same.

　They are a sub-race called knockers. They have been subjugated to the demon race since ancient times.
　They are not very good at light and prefer to live in caves.
　They are often entrusted with mining operations in the tunnels because of this trait.

　Here at the Mithril Mine, the Demon King's army sent large numbers of knockers to work in the mining industry.
　That's them.

''........Dariel-sama?''
It's Dariel!
It's real?　It ain't a dream!
This isn't a dream or a trick!　Lady Dariel!　Urieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

　When the knockers saw my appearance, they rushed underneath me in an avalanche.
　I'm sure you're familiar with them, as I used to help run the mine as a member of the Demon King's Army.

It's been a long time, guys...!

　I hadn't seen them since I left my post, when they took over.
　I was relieved to see that they hadn't changed at all, but...

Hey, what happened in this mine?　On the way here, there was no one in sight and it looked abandoned?

　There must have been something unusual about this devastation.
　I had finally found someone who could give me the answers. I hurried to ask the question.

　However, the knockers' expressions distorted as they looked at me...

''Aaaaahhhh!
Hee hee!　Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
"....the old baby...!

　Everyone started to cry together.
　A chorus of crying.

'What?　What!　What's going on?

　I'm confused from the start, and I'm even more confused.
　In the end, I had to patiently console and wait until the knockers got tired of crying.

　I had to wait patiently until they got tired of crying.

◆

"Quadruple?

　When I heard from the knockers, I was astonished.

　What is quadruple?

　The amount of mithril paid by a set date has quadrupled since the time I was in charge.
　Violent profit.

"How the hell did it happen?　Who gave you such a stupid order!

　I was indignant as if it were my own business, and the knockers were happy with their sympathy and started to wail again.

'The best time was when Master Dariel was around!　I won't ask you to do anything, and they'll take care of you...!
Even though I was in charge, I was able to get along normally for a while. But recently, all of a sudden...!

　He says that his demands have become reckless.

'They made it difficult for me to dig out more, or that you guys would be slacking off...!
''My regular quota is going up and up and up...!　Before you know it, double it, double it...!
"There was no end to the number of people running away in the night, and there was nothing we could do!

　The knockers must have felt like crying.

　The cause of the devastation of the Mithril mine was understood.
　But more and more, it is difficult to understand who gave such an absurd order.

　This is one of the most important strongholds for the demon tribe.
　What kind of idiot would give such a foolish order to destroy it when it has to be handled with the utmost care?

I heard that was an order from a very high ranking person. .........what was it called?
All wusses?　Are you stupid?
No, that sounds even more unusual. You have a problem with that?

　The result of my interpretation of the knockers' incomprehensible pronunciation.
　I've come up with a name....

　Bashburza.

　The new Four Heavenly Kings, Bashbursa-sama of "Ayanmu".