After realizing that there was an enemy at the shrine in the center of the island, we proceeded effortlessly without any interference.
　We then used our telescopes to get to where we could see the shrine, so we watched it for a while from inside the bushes.

Hmmm, it looks like they're not out there. Looking at the map app's response, it seems like he's inside that building.

　The shrine in Testa is a rather magnificent building that looks like a smaller version of the Temple of Sevalia.
　I'm looking through the telescope at the point where the response is, but there's not as if the enemy is outside the building.
　It seems that the enemy is lurking inside that building.
　Duh, I wanted to see what kind of guy he was before I approached him.
　We can't even get Freesia to snipe at us in this situation, so it's tricky.

'It looks like something is going on inside the shrine on this island.

'Gigi, I will not allow you to invade this holy place and even more blasphemous acts in the shrine!　Let the Lord judge them now...

Okay, okay, let's relax for a minute.

　Irina-san was trembling with rage when she found out she was inside the shrine, but it quickly subsided as soon as Sisha put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her like she did last time in the temple.
　

''There is something inside the shrine, is there not?''

"There is only an altar at that shrine to pray to Lord Testudo and enshrine his bead. That shrine should have been warded with a ward that only the people of the temple could enter, but...

It looks like the wards have been broken just like the last shrine.

　Hmmm, I wonder if the guy who's here now also broke the wards of the shrine before this one.
　What in the world is he doing in a shrine that only has an altar?
　The fact that Irina-san doesn't mention it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the blessing of Sevalia as a whole, like the shrine before this one.
　What she's doing on this island in the first place is a mystery.

　It's not as if they're responding to us, even though we're doing a one-sided check like this.
　The people inside the shrine haven't shown any signs of moving, and they don't even know we're here?

Freesia, do you feel like there are demons hiding around?

No, there doesn't seem to be anything there. I don't know if there's anything else in there.

　No response to Freesia's search for enemies?
　There are no transparent demons in place like the Diabolus Scouts.
　If they've noticed us coming and are responding to that, are they underestimating us or are they luring us in with a trap?
　It's easy and easy for us to get close to them, but it's also creepy.

'It can't be helped. I don't know what kind of opponent they are, but it looks like we have no choice but to head for the shrine.''

　In the end, we didn't get any information about the other party, but there's no point in sitting here watching them all the time, so let's prepare ourselves, shall we?
　Noll and the others agreed, and we stepped into the shrine grounds despite being wary of our surroundings.
　Even so, there was no sign of anything happening, and we thought we would be able to enter the shrine as is, but just before the entrance, all the red dots inside the shrine start moving outward.

''Stop!　It's coming out!

　In response to my shout, Nolu and the others immediately entered a battle stance.
　The reaction of the enemies coming from inside the shrine was as fast as walking slowly and I didn't feel any impatience.
　Then the sound of footsteps began to be heard, and a demon appeared from inside the darkened shrine.

　There are nine Diabolus around, and in the center of them is a demon I've never seen before.
　The form looked like a man, but it had two black curled horns on either side of its head, large wings on its back, and even a very thick tail.
　Its entire body was glowing black like armor, as if it had been hardened, and combined with its crimson eyes, it looked very vicious.
　He's thin and smart, but he's at least two meters tall and very intimidating.
　Oh no, this guy is pretty bad!　Even I'm a dullard, and even I don't need to look at his status to know he's pretty strong!
　
　He bowed deeply, as if he were a gentleman.

'Welcome. You have arrived quite late, haven't you?

　Oh, you have a very nice voice, despite your vicious appearance.
　It's as if you're talking to someone.
　It sounds like a welcoming thing to say, but of course everyone is wary and no one answers.
　The demon in front of me let out a voice that sounded like it was convinced of something in response to that response, and then spread its hands in a mischievous manner.

''Don't be so wary. It's not that I have any intention of antagonizing you guys, okay?

"How dare you say that after you let the Diabolus attack us on the road?

''........Ho, you know the name of my family. I thought it was only an adventurer's style, but I guess I'll have to change that a bit. Well, my perception of them as adventurers after all doesn't change. If you're going to be beaten with that level of welcome, it's not worth inviting. You can be proud of yourself for coming here.

　What's not to be hostile? We're not trying to antagonize anyone. We've got a map app that tells us all this is about to get ugly.
　But you just let a bunch of Diabolus Scouts storm the place...
　It looks like this guy is the one who is controlling the Diabolus after all.
　And if that's the case........is this guy a demon?　It's a lot different than the GC demons I know.
　The GC's mages were more human looking, but this guy looks like a demon.
　If you make Diabolus bigger and change it up a bit, it's going to look a lot like it.

　He's talking about making fun of the adventurers, but the fact that he doesn't seem to be prepared to intercept them means he's underestimating us?
　Then it's convenient, let's just talk for a while and get some information out of him.

You're not going to walk away from this place and do nothing?

Don't be silly. You think I'm going to back down from a mere adventurer?　Hahahahaha, this is hilarious!　Wouldn't we rather worry about ourselves?　We've already figured out how strong you guys are. Okura Heihachi, I heard that you are the adventurer party that has been rumored in the royal capital recently. It seems they are still at the B-rank, though.

　Nah, you know who we are?　
　Maybe they found out his rank from the plate, but I didn't expect them to even know his name... They're saying rumors in the royal capital, and they're getting information from the town.
　Did you have the Diabolus Scouts who made him invisible gather information?
　It seems like they've been analyzing our strength and that they've grasped our strength in the fight against Diabolus so far.
　That's why you're acting so confidently. This is not a good time to be in a situation where your opponent has more information than us.
　When I groaned unconsciously, he continued talking in a satisfied voice after seeing my reaction.

''If you're an A-ranked adventurer, but a B-ranked one won't be able to handle me. You're foolish to come to this place to feel good about defeating my subordinates. I was expecting an A-ranked adventurer to come over. But even if they are A-ranked, they are still adventurers after all, they are not my opponent.

　...He really looks down on adventurers, doesn't he?
　To be able to come out that strong even against an A-ranked adventurer, is this guy really that strong?
　He's in a strange good mood, gesturing and talking flippantly while getting a reaction.
　Seeing an opening, I checked his status on my phone.

　------
Malignant Race: Ark Demon
　Level: 98
　HP: 438,900
　MP: 385,000
　Attack Power: 4800
　Defensive Power:3600
　Agility: 180
　Magic Resistance:50
　Inherent ability Status Anomaly Resistance Improved Ability (Attendants) Black Demon Moxxing Dominant Demon Eye
　Skills Summoning your family members, regenerating your family members, strengthening your family members, tail edge wing maneuver
　------

　Oh, oh!　He's strong. Seriously, this guy is strong!　Your HP and MP are still an order of magnitude higher than they've ever been!
　He has quite a few unique abilities and skills. From the looks of it, this guy seems to be mainly fighting by controlling demons like Diabolus.
　Normally, speaking of a summoner, one's own status should be low in most cases.
　And yet, this guy is quite strong himself. If it were an average adventurer, this guy alone would be able to wipe me out.
　But this status gives me a glimmer of hope.
　It's strong enough to be strong, but it's still within the range to win. Of course, you can't let your guard down, so I'm going to take advantage of this guy's carelessness.

"May I ask such a foolish adventurer to teach me a thing or two?　Why did you target Sevalia and the shrine of the Patronus?

Huh, a guardian god. It's a pity that the people of this town, or rather the people who serve the temple, are so pathetic. Oh, there was one just there. The fact that they believe a demon is their guardian god and worship it is just ridiculous.

What are you talking about?　Master Testudo is not a monster!　It's the guardian god!

I'm beginning to feel sorry for you because you're so stupid that you can't admit it even if you tell the truth. That one beside you is also a demon. All of your relatives on this island are demons, demons, too!　Huhahahahaha!

No, no, no!　After all, I have no choice but to inflict divine punishment on you!

　Malignant laughed like a fool and pointed at Irina-san, and she was red-faced and angry when she got that.
　Sisha said before that Testudo-sama is a demon, but maybe he really is.
　And this guy knows that, he said.
　Malignant raised his hand to say, "Oh dear," and shook his head in disgust, but then he looked at Irina and made an interesting sound.

'Oh?　You have a good one. If you give me that jewel, I'll only spare your life.

Wow, you can't just give them away!　How punishing!

　Irina hid the green jewel, the bead, from the Marignant, hugging it to her chest.
　'You want the bead?　It looks like you've taken Master Testudo's deity as well, and you're collecting related items?

'I don't know that you would refuse my mercy in hindsight. Well, it doesn't matter either way. Was that why I was aiming for it? It was part of the experiment, but I thought I'd finally let that town be destroyed.

Huh?　What do you intend to do?!

'That's why I'm saying it's part of an experiment. It's in my nature to want to test out my acquired powers as soon as I get them. I have no personal vendetta against the town, but I thought I'd like to avenge some of my fellow countrymen while I'm at it. It's a grudge that goes back almost five hundred years.

Bad guys!　He's a bad guy!　I don't know about you, but I feel like a bad guy!　We have to take it down!

'Kukku, you are rude to call me a bad person. Well, you can call me that if you want.

　
　Is this guy trying to get revenge for that time?　You were attacked by demons.
　But since there are no personal grudges, it's not like he's a survivor of the attack, is it?
　I'm sure this guy knows a lot of things, and I want to find out everything about him.

The fact is, it's a good idea for you guys to watch Sevalia's end until the end. It would be boring not to have an audience to watch the culmination of my years of experimentation.

'Years of experimentation?　I wonder if it's safe to say that you're the one who's been working all the way from Queles.

Yes, you're welcome to think so.

　Malignant laughs with amusement as he answers that.
　The culmination?　What the hell are you going to do now? You mean to tell me that it's going to be the end of Sevalia?
　I've had a good feeling about this, but it's time for us to do something about it.

'I see, I know what you're thinking, Malignant.

What?　You, where is my name?

　As soon as he said his name, Malignant, who had seemed to be able to afford it, became impatient.
　You're impatient, you're impatient if the other person knows your name when you thought they didn't know it.
　Even I got a kick out of being told my name just now.
　Seeing Malignant's reaction as expected, I laughed through my helmet.

''Hmph, did you think I didn't know anything about it?　I already know your cards too.

Ggh.....

　I don't actually know anything about it. I only know the information I just saw on the status app.
　With someone I can talk to, this is the kind of use the status app can be useful for.
　He shakes it up even more.

'You don't seem to have brought any of your friends with you other than Diabolus, is that correct?　I don't think you're going to take on us with just you and Dibolus.

I'm the only one who can take care of you guys!　I don't need their help!

'Oh, so there are no other arc-demons here other than you? I see you have the magic eye, but that's a relief.

"How did you know I was an arc-demon!　And what do you know about the magical eye?　I thought you were just a B-ranked adventurer!

As you said, I'm just an adventurer, Heihachi Okura.

　Done, I feel like I could have said some cool lines.
　More importantly, it looks like this guy still has friends. But I don't have any friends on the island right now.
　Well, let's take this guy out here. No, he's gotta be finished.

Come on. Come on!　Let's fight fair and square!

　He held up the lid of the pot and challenged it with an Excalibur, thumping the lid with the Excalibur.
　It looked like he was joking, and with a dunk, he stomped the ground and Malignant was furious.
　And then, with one hand raised, as if intending to attack, the guy yelled,

Hey, don't push it, human.

　Malignant reacted and tried to turn around behind him, but before he could do so, a spear with a red aura pierced the guy's chest from his back.
　Behind Marignant, who had a startled expression on his face, was the figure of Luna holding a crimson spear.