We proceed towards the royal capital.
　The vehicle we are using is a carriage with a rhino demon. This is even more amazing than I imagined.
　The power and stamina are completely different.
　Normally I think running is faster than using a carriage, but this is a different story.

''How did you manage to master such a powerful demon?

I ask the Marquis of Grandvallen, who is sitting next to me.
　Since he's older and in a higher position than me, I use respectful language.

''It's been hard work. My territory has been researching the training of demons for generations, and it finally took shape in my generation.''

There shouldn't be much information on the street.
　Demons increase in number as soon as the demon race or demon king appears, but they are not entirely absent at other times.

Because of their magical powers, they are stronger and more durable than other animals, and they also have special abilities. Because of this, there were many that wanted to use it effectively, but they were frustrated due to its rabid nature.
　The Marquis of Glanvaren, the only one who was able to train demons, finally succeeded after several generations of projects. It's now a realm of obsession.

"Training more than just rhino demons?
No, just this demon. It's completely different from one demon to another. I don't feel free to train another species as well. But this one is enough. This way it can be used for transporting, and it's also very useful on the battlefield.
Well, I certainly don't want to fight this guy on the battlefield.

Their hardened skin wouldn't let arrows and spears get into their teeth.
　Just a few of these rhino demons rushing in would break the battle lines.
　Of course, a magician would be able to deal with them, but their value on the battlefield is very high, even if they just block the movements of the magician.

''I am proud to say that my Grandvallen's magic manipulation techniques are as valuable as the Touahade's medical techniques.
It's true.

I knew you knew about Touahade.
　You don't seem to know who he is behind the scenes.
　Well, that's enough small talk.
　We may need to make some preparations before we go to the castle. But first, I'm going to need some information.

''Earlier, Marquis Grandvallen said that he was preparing to honor me for defeating the demon race at the royal castle, but do you have any plans for when you arrive at the royal castle?

A light jab to change the flow of the conversation.

'Yes, the party has been arranged on short notice. It is scheduled for four days' time. Therefore, this is how my help was sought. Before that, you also mentioned that Lord Aram Kalra wanted to invite me to the sanctuary.

It's doubtful that a normal carriage would get there in four days, and that's exactly what he needs to do.
　And a party, huh?
　Throwing a party is proof that he believes that he has defeated the demon tribe, which is more than just a talking point.
　If he threw a party and gathered the most influential people, but then said that the demon tribe was actually alive, it would be a great shame.

Then there's Aram Carla in the sanctuary.
　One hell of a big one.

'Why did Central believe my report?　I wouldn't normally believe that anything other than a brave man killed a demon race unless I actually saw it with my own eyes.
'Not that much. I was just told to pick up the holy knight.

It's easy to give me the information.

'I see, so do you personally believe my report?
Of course I believe in that.

I look into his eyes.
　There's no lie in them.
　He closes the distance.

"After all, you and I are friends.

Partners?
　Does that mean that the nobles are protecting this country from each other?
　The Marquis of Grandvallen laughs meaningfully. He whispers in his ear.

'I agree with Neusch.

Neusch.
　A classmate of mine, born to the four great dukes of this country.
　He's trying to change this country.
　........I knew he was gathering friends in the school, but I didn't know he was even bringing in someone like the Marquis of Grandvallen.

I have a pending reply to Neusch, but there's no need to say that here.
　If he considers me one of his friends, he might be able to accommodate me.
　Then I got in the carriage and did some exploring.
　I couldn't be sure, but I got a lot of information.

◇

It took us only a day and a half to get to Wangdu, which would have taken us four or five days in an ordinary carriage.
　On the way, we passed through a school on the outskirts of King's Landing, the restoration of the school was progressing at a rapid pace and it looked like it would be finished in another month or so.

The carriage entered the royal capital and headed straight to the royal castle.
　Then, they were given ceremonial clothes and told to change.
　The clothes are an even more prestigious version of the school's clothes, with the image of a knight.
　It's different from mine, but Dia and Tart were also given ceremonial clothes.
　I've earned my status as a holy knight, and Dia and Tart are recognized as his squires.

'It's cool, Master Roug,'
Yes, it's a perfect fit but I'm not sure I look good in it. This kind of crisp and cool thing doesn't look cool if you're not tall enough.
I'm not sure either. Besides, it's still a bit on the chest. It would be so much easier if the material was a bit more fluffy.

Tart is struggling to breathe.
　Let's not ask him why he's struggling. Dia looks at him resentfully, but he pretends not to know that, too. I'll be a bush snake for sure.

'I think we both look good together.

It's refreshing to see these two wear such masculine clothing.
　I just wonder if Maha would look better in it.
　That girl is tall and sleek.

'I don't feel bad about it if Lug says so.
Yes, I can stand it, too.
Well, good. Let's get going.

The servant assigned to guide us was fidgeting.
　We had to take him away quickly, but we were VIPs now.
　He was probably wondering if he should interrupt the conversation.

◇

The Marquis of Grandvallen said that Aram Carla would wait in the sanctuary.
　Alam Carla. It is not a personal name, but a term that denotes the bishop of the land, its highest priestess.
　As soon as she became the Supreme Priestess, she abandoned her name and took on the name of Aram Karla.

The room we were led to had a somewhat mystical air to it.
　Stained glass windows, rare in this world, are scattered around the room and lit by antique candlesticks.
　What was curious was the power that flowed around the walls, a black light that blocked vision.
　If you put power into Touahade's eyes, you will be able to see what is hidden in the black light, but if you do so carelessly, you may be accused of doing so.

This is the sanctuary.
　Where we came through the castle's hidden passageway, just before entering the hidden passage, we were blindfolded. .........but I didn't lose my equilibrium when I was blindfolded, and I understand the general structure from the echoes of footsteps.
　Therefore, I understand how to get here from inside the castle.
　If I really wanted to hide it, I should have blocked off all my senses other than sight.

''It's kind of an amazingly beautiful place, isn't it?''
Yes, I'm sobered up.

Dia and Tart look around, their eyes black and white.

The girls are still unaware of the abnormality of this sanctuary, so they are honestly admiring the national treasures and other furnishings.
　Just then, a visitor appears.

''Noish, Epona, and Rachel-dono,''
'It's fine, Rachel. You're a holy knight and you're higher in rank than me.

Rachel is a young knight, Hope, who graduated at the top of her class from the Knight Academy.　The clothes she wears are the same as those of Tart and Dia.
　She has a ponytail and a tall and sleek figure, and she wears her clothes beautifully.

''What kind of a gathering are the three of you, on earth?''
"Respectfully, too. You said you're above me. It's a party for the brave. They take into account Epona's needs and choose people who are close in age and good at what they do. Noish there may have a family background in mind.
"...is that an insult to me?
'I'm just telling you the truth. As far as I'm concerned, you were the better choice. You became a holy knight of the same rank as a brave man, not a squire of a brave man. That alone is amazing, and you're accomplishing it so quickly. Maybe it's an excellent property.

Then he twined his arms around her and pressed her to his chest.
　Dia glared grimly and Tart got teary-eyed.
　Then Rachel said she was just kidding and pulled away, while Neusch chuckled and said he was still leaning back.

'Epona, have you heard anything?　Actually, we were brought in without asking.

I asked Epona, who was trying to hide behind Rachel, even though she was the center of the brave party, a question.

'Well, all we've heard is that you have something important to talk about, and we haven't heard it either.

As usual, Epona is frightened.
　She's a boyish girl like Rachel, but she doesn't have a dignified image, so she feels clothed.
''Well, I guess it's similar. What have you guys been up to since then?
I don't have a case or anything.

They start exchanging information while reporting on their recent situation.
　The brave group seems to be training only to protect the center of the capital and its surroundings.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　She is in her early twenties.
　Aram Karla. The highest ranking priestess.
　This is the first time I've seen the real thing in person, but I recognized it at first glance. This priestess is an imitation of the goddess who sent me to this world.
　Her white hair is dyed and not innate.
　...This is not a coincidence.
　For some reason, the goddess meddled in this country and probably created a religion that was convenient for her.

Thank you for coming together. You are the protectors of humanity.

Aram Carla speaks to me in a voice that passes well.

This is a voice that has been trained and deliberately worked out and resonates with people.
　Religion is an extremely spiritual thing, but the means of spreading it, or making people follow it, is really reasonable and has its own techniques.
　The behavior of this alam kalla, the way he behaves, the way he speaks, the way he pauses, it's all very calculated.
　It's really a modern religion.

And she calls us humanity's shield, which is a strange thing to say.
　Protecting humanity from demon kings and demonkind.
　But I'm not just a tool. I'm not fighting with the vague intention of protecting humanity, I'm fighting because there are people and places I want to protect, and I demand something in return.

'I have asked you to come here so that I can tell you a secret. Let us reveal the truth about this world that only the chosen ones know.

With her words, all the flames in the candelabra were extinguished.
　And then darkness came.
　Something glowed faintly by the wall, and the black light that had hidden them disappeared.
　Light flooded from the stone statues that were evenly spaced by the wall.

A total of eight oddly shaped stone statues that seemed to be a mixture of snakes, pigs, helmet bugs, and people with them.
　........And only the stone statues of the pig and the helmet pollies have different colors of light. The others are faintly green, but red.

''It can't be a coincidence, can it?''

The motifs of the three demon tribe members I've encountered so far - a snake, a pig, and a helmet polyps - are present in the eight statues, and if it's a coincidence that only the pig Epona killed and the helmet polyps I killed have a red light, the opposite is surprising.

''There are eight demons in total, and two of them have already been defeated. Your job is to defeat the remaining six demons. And stop the Demon King's resurrection that the demon tribe is trying to carry out.

The miko continued to speak.
　With those words, one mystery was solved.
　She believed my report because the statue here and the demon race's life were linked to each other.
　No, he knew about the demon tribe's death without needing to report it.

But still, the demon tribe is trying to do this to prevent the resurrection of the demon king?　The Demon King doesn't spontaneously arise, but instead, he needs the demon race to move to revive him?

Why are you coming up with that information now?
　There are other things to be concerned about as well.
　Thus, if I knew that there were eight statues, I could guess the characteristics of the enemy demon race from the motifs and fight to my advantage.
　I must question this absurdity.

The light comes on again.
　Aram Karla only smiled.

Are you going to tell me that this is all you have to say?
　As expected, I'm not convinced.
　I looked up at her, then slowly opened my mouth.