''What?!''

　The unexpected answer left me speechless and stunned.
　I didn't expect to be refused.

　The one who adamantly refuses is Estelica-san, an apostle of Valhalla and former hero.

''What do you mean by that?''

　It was Ida who interrupted him in protest.

'If you're talking about the cooperation of this worldly people, then he is the one we should expect to see. In fact, I thought that was why you came here?

　I think so.

No.

　Still, Estelica was stubborn.

'The reason why we came here is firstly to apologize to Ida-sama for the series of things she did. Secondly, to gain your cooperation to move quickly through our human territory. We will not ask for any further help.
But...?

　Why are you so reluctant to cooperate with me directly?

'What?　Huh?　What?

　Watching the series of exchanges, Droyer was puzzled.

　He has yet to see me in direct combat, so he probably still thinks I'm a logistical specialist who can't use magic.

''Estelica-san, I want you to explain it to me.

　I lean in myself.

"We now know that the inferno is a threat to the entire world, not just the individual level or the village level. You want me to leave that guy alone and turn a blind eye to it?

　I can't do that.

　This is still me, under the guidance of Granberza-sama, and I'm the one who has inherited Aranziel-san's bloodline.
　If I don't deal with the spreading crisis, I'll lose my humanity.

''That's not good enough. You have more important things to protect. Something that only you can protect...

　The faces of Marika and Gran flashed through my mind when I was told that.
　But..........

''There are many fathers in this world who are trying to protect their wives and children in the same way. They have their strengths and weaknesses, and I don't know if they will be able to protect them when the inferno appears in front of them.

　So don't I have to protect you instead?
　I'm the one with the power.

My power.
''Huh?''

　Estelica-san's hand touched my cheek.
　It was so abrupt that I felt a jolt.

''Who did you inherit that sense of justice from?''

　Huh?
　That being said........?

　Alanziel-san looks like that and only fights for personal reasons, and if I had to name a strong one, I'd have to say Master Granberza.
　But if you think about it in depth, is he also motivated by a sense of duty?

I'm proud of the fact that you're someone who sees the world and can think about how to make it better. But you can't move on from this. You have to protect your family.
But...?
Remember what we made you hear. The Inferno's leader, Drismegian, used his own enmity.

　.........
　The Drismegian of "Sahu" plays the central role of the monster who calls himself Inferno.

　In his lifetime, he was the Four Heavenly Kings of Fire, and after mastering fire magic, he arrived at the secret treasure that converts a person's soul into flame heat through magic.

''Why do you think Inferno and the others didn't challenge that person immediately after escaping from hell?　How many incidents do you think we've caused in human territory that have nothing to do with a single case?
.........huh?

　Indeed.

　Brainwashing the Three Brave Men to rob Mithril, sending large numbers of unknown thugs to the village of Lux, attacking the Rasperda Fortress....

　Why did he do that?
　Seemingly nothing to do with the ultimate goal of defeating the demon king.......?

　.........no?

"They want the souls of those who should be the fuel for their fire magic. They know they can't win against that man at this stage.
Are you saying that all the incidents they caused so far were in preparation for fighting the Demon Lord?

　The inferno's central Doris Megian can convert a person's soul itself into flame heat.
　So if you simply gather a large number of people and use their souls as fuel.......

　

''I see you've come up with an idea, your head spins well.......''

　'Well,' says Estelica, somewhat satisfied.

''But it seems that for the Drismegians, not just any soul is good enough. The emotions emitted by the soul have a great influence on the flame heat conversion.''
"Feelings...?

　The mind and the soul are inseparable.
　The emotions expressed by the mind have a profound effect on the soul?

"The emotions most suited to creating chaos and vicious flames are anger, hatred. Such negative passions are exactly what they love.

　Because it produces a strong fire.

"It seems that for them, the best nourishment is a person whose heart is controlled by hatred. "It seems that the best nourishment for them is a person whose heart is dominated by hatred, even better if their original aura and magical energy is high.

　So what about the series of incidents the inferno has caused so far...?
　In order to capture the souls of people as such prime fuel........?

　At the time of the Mithril robbery by the three brave men, the brave men whose emotions had run amok with brainwashing magic had eaten Mithril and their basic aura amount had jumped dramatically.

　The brainwashing magic had turned the brave men into hostile beasts, and considering the amount of aura they had boosted through the intake of mithril, it was really a delicious treat, wasn't it?
　For the infernos.

''Not only did they eat it, but they also remade it to become more suitable nourishment for themselves...?

　The Center Guild Director, Roselwy, also had a small amount of aura, but he was a mass of meritorious selfishness and would have been quite an excellent nutrient.

　All of Inferno's dark moves are for that reason........?

　Desiring the power to oppose the Demon Lord, he was devouring the souls of others?　A soul stained with hate...?

Huh?

　Then what was your intention in attacking Lax village?
　He wanted to use Loeselwy's ambition to send more thugs into the village of Laxx to wreck it.
　In my absence.

　What good would he get out of doing that...?
　What does he get out of it, a hate-filled, strongman's soul...?

He's on to himself, apparently. Excellent.
"The target of the inferno in that case was me...?

　I have an ample amount of aura that comes from Alanziel-san.
　It's a good thing that my heart is ruled by hatred.

That's why you attacked Lax village........?　If you destroy the village and kill Marika and Gran, then...!

　That's exactly what I would be angry about, everything in my heart would be painted with a single color of hatred.
　That was the aim and purpose of the inferno.

"If you had hatred in your heart, you would be a very good comrade of ours.

　That's what Siegfriedgel, who was in charge of the inferno at the time, said.
　I finally understood the meaning of the words.

　And that alone made me angry.

'Keep your emotions in check,'

　Estelica said to me.

'You seem to have inherited not only an unparalleled aura ability from your father, but also a rage. The swell of emotions can sometimes make a person strong, but it can also create a dangerous vulnerability. It's important to control them.

　She was right.
　I took a deep breath and adjusted my emotions.

'Well Inferno is trapped. It's also weak. That's why it's looking for more souls than before to regain its power. There's a good chance that you'll be targeted again.

　If my heart is ruled by hatred, it will be the perfect treat for Inferno.
　To push me down to hatred........

'That's why you must not move from the village. You must protect your family with your own hands. That's the path you've chosen, isn't it?

　For some reason, Estelica's sermon penetrated my heart more than others.
　It was accompanied by more convincing power than words.

'We who have received the mission to defeat the inferno will definitely carry it through. Therefore, you must fulfill your mission. Protect what you must protect.
You're right...

　The inferno could be here.
　If he does, I will have to intercept him.

　To protect my most precious home and family, I will do it.