A tremor like a ripple emanates from the Demon King's army.

"That's Dariel...?
Dariel, the Four Heavenly Kings' assistant...?
"Dariel, the prodigy who was known as Master Grandfather's bosom buddy...?

　It's been about six years since I was expelled from the Demon King's army....
　A good amount of time has passed, but even so, it's not long enough to completely replace a generation.

　Some of the more experienced old soldiers will still remember my face and my record.

Why is Dariel, who was unknown to me after the Bashvaza fools banished him, here now...?
Huh?　What is it?　Who is that old man with the bad attitude?

　Still, the relatively young ones are fluttering their eyes, feeling like they can't keep up with the groove.

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

　Yeah.....
　I can't resist being called an old man anymore.

'What's the matter, Dariel!　You can't answer me!

　In the midst of all this, Lizet continued to sound even more distressed.

''You're one of the Demon King's army!　Even if the affiliation was changed and the true race was found out, my heart would still be the same, and I knew we could walk together. ........But!

　Rizzet is furious.

"Unless you want to violate my Demon Lord, that is another matter. Protecting our great ruler, the Demon King, is exactly what our Demon King's Army is supposed to do!　And that's exactly what we must not do differently!

　The existence of the Demon King is the ultimate for Lizete, who is approaching 30 years in the Demon King's Army.

　The Demon King's Army must protect the Demon King.

　The Demon King's Army is supposed to protect the Demon King, and this is something that has been told to them over and over again as they rise through the ranks.

　When they reach the rank of high ranking officer, they will defend the Demon King, even if it means risking their own lives.
　There are many people who think like that.

It's not an exaggeration to say that the Demon King's soldiers have lost their souls if they're trying to harm the Demon King. Dariel, are you now a human in body and soul?

　There was a thunderous commotion around them.
　It's a voice that permeates the entire army, but no one can understand what it means.

'Dariel is the human race...?　What do you mean?
'The village chief is the Demon King's Army...?　What do you mean?

　Although he is a human, he was raised in the Demon King's army.
　There is no one else with such a strange background but me.

　That's why I was able to see things I couldn't see just by being in one of them.

''Well what if that's the case?''

　Me exploring back.
　Lizet was determined to no end against me, who was not boiling over.

"Then I will defeat you. As an enemy of the Demon King's army, avenging the Demon King.
....

　Is that still the case?
　The answer was too exemplary for an officer of the Demon King's Army.

　When I was once a member of the Demon King's Army, I would have said the same thing.

''I'm sorry Lizet. I guess I didn't have enough to say to you.

　Even though we were friends who had been through so much together, the playing field had changed, we had responsibilities and families, and we didn't get to see each other as much as we could because we were both too busy with our jobs.

　I couldn't tell you what I was going through in my village of Lax, where I lived.
　And even when I had the chance, things were too big for me to talk about it casually.

'I'll come to a conclusion. As you may have guessed, I was the one who helped Radie the Brave.
!

　Rizzet's expression freezes.

''I prepared a path for you to go to the Demon King.
I knew it...!　I knew it........?

　Lisette's expression was filled with sadness as she accepted the fact.
　I didn't know it hurt that much.

''But Lizete, that does not contradict your loyalty to the Demon King in any way.
What?　What are you talking about?　Do you think killing the Demon King is a way to show your loyalty to the Demon King?

　Rizzet, without a hint of a doubt, comes up with the correct answer.

　That's right, that man is looking forward to the person who defeats him.
　But it is not possible for anyone to understand that.

You will need to have the strength to become a true servant of the Demon King.........no, that's what is required to become his true servant. Strong enough to accept the truth of the world.
No sophistry!　So you were human after all!　So the heart to avenge the demon king was etched in your blood!

　That's not true.
　The demon race and the human race are the same thing.
　In the first place, I think the will to fulfill the Demon King's wishes is engraved in the souls of both sides.

　However, I may still be a disloyal person for refusing to defeat that person, brushing aside such a fundamental directive.

''Then what would you do?''
''It's a regrettable decision, but it can't be helped. As one of the supporters of the Dark General and the Demon King's Army now, I cannot afford to overlook the danger.

　Huh?
　What's the matter, Lysate, you're moving up in the world?

　Speaking of dark generals, isn't that the rank of a military leader anymore?
　''You've done a great job.

''Dariel I will bury you as an enemy of the Demon King's army. But first, let me ask you a question. From now on, will you renounce the brave men of the human race and swear never to defy the Demon King again?　I swear to you, I will save your life...!

　Still, it was only Lizet that he couldn't be ruthlessly dedicated.

　His sweetness is desirable in its own way.
　It's precious.

'I can't do that,'
Dariel!　How far have you fallen?

　I didn't mean that.
　But, but...

"Rizzet. I'm no longer a soldier in the Demon King's Army. Since I left the Demon King's Army, I've learned a lot of things and I've taken on a lot of responsibility.

　I'm a former member of the Demon King's army and a human.
　I'm tied up with my enemies and allies accordingly, and I can't betray either of them, but I can't give back to only one of them anymore.

　And what's more....

I have to contribute to this world in a different way than I did when I was in the Demon King's Army. Not to the world of either the human race or the demon race, but to a world that includes all of them. Apparently, that's my fate.
What do you mean by...?　A world where everything is controlled?　Do you want to play God, Dariel?
No, I don't.

　Instead, I refused to be a god.

　That's why, as a human being, I have to serve the world as a human being.

　As a human being.
　That means as a son, as a father, as a husband, and as a friend to anyone and everyone.

"Dariel...!　So you've already gone to a place I don't understand...!　Then I'll be the Demon King's army, too, until we eliminate the Demon King's enemies!

　Lizet raises one hand. As if raising a beheading axe.

'All troops charge!　We must avenge and destroy the demon king's enemies!

　But the soldiers are slow to move.

　Although they have a large army, they have only one enemy. And since each person is an old friend, it is extremely difficult to do.

　That's why their reactions were so slow.

''Yeah!　d*mn.........!

　Rizzet also understands how the soldiers feel and can't come out strongly.

''I'm sorry.......for the trouble I put you through.

　If it's true, I suppose I should explain it from the ground up to get you to understand, but in order to do that, I'd have to expose you to the truth of the world.
　I feel like I shouldn't swing around in a big way.

''Well let me show you another reason instead. Why you shouldn't fight me...

　I take out the Hermes sword from my pocket and extend it into sword form.

　The tension in the place rose to a crescendo as the murder weapon appeared.

'Nonsense!　You're going to fight........?　There are 2,000 of us over here!

　Two thousand to one.
　Normally, this would be a ridiculous difference in strength.

　There are adventurers brought from Lax village, but they are only about fifty people at most.
　You can't even burn it.

　You can't be sure that the Demon King's Army will have resistance to crushing them with such an overwhelming difference as 'bullying the weak'.
　This is one of the reasons why they can't step forward.

''But that's only an apparent difference in strength...!

　Just the apparent number.

''The Great Imperial Splitting Sky.''

　A huge aura slashing blade from the Hermes Sword was released towards the army of the Demon King's army.

''Waaaaaahhhh!

　In reality, the aura slashing blade didn't hit them directly because it had shifted its aim a bit, and the aura slashing blade slipped towards the sky.
　However, if I had aimed that properly, would there have been only a hundred casualties?

'This is the power of the Demon King........or rather, the power of one who has only stepped into the realm of God.

　Those who have ascended to a new stage of strength have a righteous logic common only to that stage.

　I've learned that by facing that divine one.
　I too am getting closer to that stage.

　I want you to feel that power, and use it as a persuasive force for my words.