On that day, "Huafu" Zebiantes, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King's Army, entered Lasperda Fortress.
　It was in order to be assigned to the defense.

''It's too late!''

　And when I arrived, I was pissed.

'You!　You said you'd do it seriously this time, and now this is what you look like!　The day you arrived!　That was a day ago!

　Zebiantes had already been hit with a huge delay for a whole day.
　But her bullheadedness would not be broken.

"I followed the theory that heroes arrive late. It's my way of making things better.
Just do it.

　The expressions on the faces of Droyer and Bezelia, the Four Heavenly Kings' colleagues, were completely 'looking at the poor kid'.

''........So what's with Kimi looking more tired than us for skipping out?''
You have dark circles under your eyes, are you okay?

　The reason why Zebiantes is exhausted when he arrives at work is because he stayed up all night after taking a lecture from Dariel until late morning.

　He wanted to skip work one more day and get a good night's rest before he went to work, but Dariel told him, "You'll forget everything you've learned if you go to bed," and he was beaten out of the office.
　And Dariel himself went straight back to work as the village chief.

''Hmph...!　But the hard work has been worth it. From this moment on, your perception of me will change by 360 degrees!
"....

　The two men gave up trying to be tsking anymore.

　And from that moment on, the results of the intense study of hell led by Dariel would be realized.

◆

Dawn here!
''Oh!''

　By turning the head of one of the many statues lined up in the fortress a set number of times, Zebiantes opened the entrance to the secret passage behind it.

''There's this hidden passage in the fortress?
''It's supposed to go out along the roadway on the demon territory side!　When the need arises, we can use this to get out of there!

　Of course, this is also a secret that Dariel taught me, but Zebiantes makes it look as if he has discovered it himself.

'And more!　I've prepared an efficient operational shift for the guards!　We can effectively protect the key areas and lessen the burden on the soldiers!
"Oh? !

　This was also just another copy of the security model that Dariel had implemented when he was in service, but it was so efficient that it took Droyer and the others by surprise.

''Great!　That way we can hold the same level of defense with fewer men than we have now!　That's how many soldiers we can rest and keep them in tip-top shape!
Cuckoo, he's right!

　Zebiantes was ecstatic at the positive reaction.

''Wait a minute, isn't this defense system in trouble?
What does this mean?

　The cynical Bezeria's rigorous examination of the situation strikes.
　Three people's opinions fly around the line of fire shown on the fortification plan.

''Look, there's a security hole here on the right wing. It's also a blind spot for the surrounding soldiers, and if they sneak in from here, they won't be able to notice you at all.
Yeah?　Then put another soldier in here!

　Zebiantes stops Droyer from trying to correct him.

'Tch, tch, tch, tch, tch, that is the shallowness of an amateur.
What did you say?
There's a method of luring the enemy in by creating an opening. The same is true for defending a base. Thus, if you open a hole in the security, the enemy will always try to enter through it.
So we can easily predict the enemy's route of entry!
Perfect security is such a drain on energy. It also means that we can focus our attention on a specific area, which makes this formation more efficient.

　Again, this was only a gift from Dariel, but Zebiantes didn't even bother to mention it; she acted as if it was her own brainchild.
　This is the only part of her life where cunning can turn.

Wonderful, Zeviantes!　I didn't know you had this kind of wisdom in you!
"A beautiful woman hides her claws.
'You don't think ... your arrival at the fortress was delayed so that you could work out these tactics?　You even had dark circles in your eyes, that's what I mean by that until late this morning...?
''It must have been really painful...!

　This area was as close to the facts as possible, so the realization of Zebiantes' hora came along with it.

''I'm sorry Zeviantes...!

　The innocent Droyer was completely fooled and even shed tears of joy.

"I always thought you were an elusive guy who acted on moods alone. I only thought you were like a cursed item that only thought about playing, had no sense of duty or responsibility, and only had the effect of doubling the workload of those you worked with...!
''And it can't be helped...?

　Although he had a faint hunch, Zeviantes' cheeks twitched at the terrible assessment that still far exceeded his expectations.

''However, my eyes were knot holes........!　You are still a proud member of the Four Heavenly Kings. I didn't know you worked so hard and tried to make up for your shortcomings!　With you here, we'll be safe on the tactical side for the time being!
"Hahahahahahahaha!　Leave everything to me!　From now on, you can call me the beautiful military leader of the wind!

　Zebiantes is completely on top of things and speaks appropriately.
　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with your friends.
　It was Bezalia, the Four Heavenly Kings "Muddy Water"........

◆

　It had been a few days since the Zebiantes-initiated (or so it was supposed to be) security shift was implemented.
　Guards were patrolling the compartment on the outer edge of the fortress.

　The soldiers patrolling the area were in pairs.
　Each of them were the lowest-ranking dark soldiers in the Demon King's army.

''........It's peaceful.......''
'Well...'

　Of the pair, one was a young recruit and the other was a tired, middle-aged old soldier.

　It had been several months since the brave men's raids ceased abruptly. The tension was running out among the soldiers at the end of the line, and a strange familiarity was beginning to develop.
　In addition, the new shift in security brought by the Zebiantes had increased the number of soldiers who could rest, and an idyllic mood was spreading in the fortress.

''No, but the shift change has helped. Thanks to it, we have more time off.

　The younger of the pair, a soldier, said.

'It's good to have more time off in any form. And even though there are fewer soldiers on guard, our defence system isn't weakened, is it?　It's great. Master Zeviantes must have thought of it, the new shift.
...it seems.

　The older soldier responds.

The rumor is that Zeviantes-sama is just an idiot, but I guess rumors can't be relied upon. He is a powerful mage and has a keen sense of strategy. And a beautiful woman is too perfect!
..........
''Doroye-sama is also a beautiful woman, and if this new Four Heavenly Kings of Fire are appointed, the fortress will be rock solid!　A brave man might run away without even having to fight!

　The young recruits bypassed the optimistic speculation, but in contrast, the old guard's expression was hard.
　The expression on his face was one of doubt.

''Newcomer. How long have you been stationed here?''
Yes?　It's been three months, I guess. I think I'm mostly used to working here, but...?
So you don't know. I'm not proud of it, but I've been a dark soldier for 15 years now. I've been transferred to a different department during the course of my career, but I've been working in the Lasperda Fortress for a total of six years.

　Even for the lowest level, a veteran who had served a single duty for a decade was accompanied by a greatness that was different from the elite.

I've been in this fortress since before the current Four Heavenly Kings took office. So I understand.
What?
This arrangement has been laid out before.

　The veteran soldier said that the security formation proposed by Zebiantes (supposedly) was exactly the same one that he had experienced before.

''Huh.......is that so?''
You don't appreciate the gravity of the situation, do you?
Because it's possible for them to be the same.　I'm told that the current lineup is the most efficient, and if we're that close to the correct answer, we'll have a natural resemblance.
No matter how efficient it is, the lineup for a living being's battlefield naturally reflects the character of the person who came up with it. That's why there's no such thing as the same person with a different idea.
Is that so...?
And yet the lineup you say Master Zeviantes has come up with is too similar in every detail to the one he invented.
Who does he look like?

　When asked, the veteran soldier's stern expression grew harder and harder.

''It's a fated opponent. In a way, I'm a match for the current Four Heavenly Kings.
Karma?
''When I heard that you fired him, I was honestly convinced that the Four Heavenly Kings of our era were no good. Now that it's happening, why is his shadow flickering?

　The air is understandable because he is an old-timer who has been trudging along at the bottom for fifteen years.

It's because that guy's fame is well known to those in the know. The strongest 'karma fire' of all time, Granbaza-sama's bosom sword. He is a miracle man who has attained the key position of Assistant to the Four Heavenly Kings, even though he is a dark soldier at the bottom of the hierarchy. He is a man of perfection and dignity who can faithfully perform any duty behind the scenes...

　That's what it was called, and there was a person in the Demon King's Army once.

''Interesting story, huh?''
''Hee!''

　The recruits, especially the younger ones, jumped up in surprise when they were suddenly called out.
　Because the newly appearing figure was such an important person that the terminal soldiers trembled.

''Bebe Bebe, Master Bezelia!''

　Bezelia, one of the current Four Heavenly Kings, 'Muddy Water'.
　He is one of the top of the Demon King's army.

''Why are you here?　No, I mean this!　It's not like I was slacking off!
'Forget it, I'm not here to blame you for that kind of thing. I didn't come here to accuse you of that. Find out who the longest-serving member of the Guard is. Isn't that just like you?

　Bezelia's gaze turns to the old soldier with a stern face.
It was a sticky, entangling gaze that was worthy of the title of 'muddy water'.

''Will you let me hear it too?　You mean the discomfort you felt?