Welcome to the Demon King's Castle. You must be the Fiery Warrior, Mr. Fenix and his entourage.　

　The reception desk of the Demon King's Castle was located in the hall as soon as you entered.

''Yes.''

　I nodded one nod and handed the registration card to the receptionist. The woman was a sub-human of a cat and wore a mask that covered the upper half of her face.
　The other four people produced their registration cards in the same way.
　Identity verification is done.

''【Brave man】Fenix, 【Warrior】Alba, 【Holy Knight】Lark, 【Hunters】Lily, ..............................Oh, this one is a different person from the last time, isn't it? Brave] Beulah. These five people are confirmed.

　For a moment, the shape of the receptionist's mouth seemed unnaturally distorted, but I wondered if it was my imagination.

'Thank you.'

　After receiving the registration card to be returned, the woman said.

''What have you done with [Black Mage] Leme?''

Ha, he's a dead man in a ditch, isn't he?　Or you're begging in the streets, or else you're doing something criminal. You can't make a living as a [black mage], you know.

　The receptionist should have asked me, but Alba answered on her own.

''Well Alba, who are you?''

　The scornful look of Lily's eyes is nothing to sneeze at.

You can't make me the bad guy," he said. If you feel sorry for Leme, why don't you cover for him?　She was defending you when I told her to cover her ears. I don't owe her anything, so I said what I wanted to say.　You're the one who didn't do anything about it, and you're the one who's heartless!　Don't look down on me.

　The elven [hunter] Lily frowned with a beautiful eyebrow.
　Indeed, once when we were discussing whether or not to hide the elves' ears in the magical body (avatar), Reme and I said that we didn't have to hide them.

'You want me to use gratitude as an excuse to say things I never thought I'd say?　Of course, if he asks you to help him, as a former colleague, you'll help him as much as you can. But the discussion - or should I say, your bawdy show - was about whether or not Leme is the right man for the party. I can't lie about my job, even if it saved my life.

No, don't be a good boy.

"Vile.

Oh!

Please don't shout, it's too loud.

You are...

We're going to attack the dungeon together now....

　[Ice Brave] Beira intervened modestly.
　She's a petite girl with icy hair and eyes. The fact that she's unsure and hunched over is very unusual for a 【Brave Girl】. It's not often that she joins another party without even trying to make her own party.

''........You showed your embarrassment, Beulah. I'm sorry, it was my fault for pointing human words at the monkey. I was already aware that there was no way a dialogue was possible.

"f*ck you, you f*cking elf.

What are you so frustrated about?

　Even Lark joins in on the conversation.

"I'm not talking to you, you dark-hearted bastard. You should be doing more than that when you're attacking, you're going to make more mistakes if you try to skip work.

You're so proud of your magic sword, but its accuracy is so rattling.　You've been spending too much time playing with women, and your arm must be slowing down.

Shut up, you virgin.

I'm sorry, but I'm pretty sure I've done more than you have. Can't you see that in the mirror?

I'm going to kill you.

　In case you're wondering, there's a camera here as well, but it's not a buy-in.
　It's only after you connect your spirit to the magic body (avatar) and enter the dungeon.
　But that doesn't mean we're going to fight when we're about to prepare now.
　So far, the party's complaint was lemme.
　Not so much the party's, but the three of them, though.
　In a way, the three of them were united by having Leme as a common problem.
　Reme knew that, but he gave a small smile, saying that if the party was going to work, that was fine.
　The three of them naturally didn't know that it was because of that Reme that they were able to be top-notch to superb adventurers.
　Without realizing that they lacked the point, they began to notice each other's shortcomings with his absence. Those flaws were the ones that were infinitely less noticeable with Reme's support.
　They wouldn't even know why they were feeling worse, even themselves.
　It hadn't gotten worse.
　It's just that they've gone from superb to top-notch again.
　The drop they felt was directly attributable to Reme's achievement, but the three of them wouldn't even consider that possibility.

''Um, I said, please don't fight, I said it.　

　Surprisingly, it was Beulah who stopped the three of them.
　The soles of the three men and the floor are fixed.
　They were frozen in place.

'Beulah's right. What about the new guy being the most sane?

　I say, careful not to be too cold, but with a hint of dismay.
　The three of them looked bummed out and turned their faces away from everyone else.

''........Fenix-san, why didn't you stop them?''

　Beulah implies that I, as the leader, should have taken the lead in interceding.
　He usually seems to be frightened, but he seems to say what he feels he should say.

'I just thought it would be a chance to reflect.

You wanna see it?　What?

What we did to ourselves.

Well, I'm not really sure what's going on here.

'No, it's fine. I have high hopes for you.

　I don't answer the question and end the conversation.
　Once the three of us were un-iced, I was about to head to the room to connect my spirit to my magical body (avatar).

'Oh shit. I'm seriously munching. What the hell is going on here? The party's all amped up, and now it's just not working.

'Beulah has done well. She was flustered at first, but she'll be a great [brave] soon.

'Lily's happy to have more girls, isn't she? Well, your aggression and control have increased. And yet, what can I say... my body is the same as it always has been, but the results aren't there.

　Then. Pong, he claps his hands and Alba starts laughing.


'Ah!　Isn't that what you think it is?　It's an unemployed Leme who's got a grudge against us and has cast a nasty black spell on us. I'm sure he's not going to be able to--?


　I was out of patience.
　He grabs Alba by his chest.
　His body floats and his feet struggle to return to the ground.
　Everyone is stunned.

'Alba, Alba, how many times do I have to tell you? How many times do I have to tell you, Alba? "Don't speak ill of him. Don't you dare speak against any of your people. Why can't you do that? It's in your nature, isn't it?

Gasp.

'The only reason I haven't punished you so far is because you and Reme were my friends and Reme allowed you to behave. But think about it. It's like Reme is the one you kicked out. It was out of concern for the party, and I wouldn't have blamed you for that per se. Because I believe that you are thinking of this party. Then why do you think I am indignant?

　His face pales.
　Lily tries to put my arm down and even that lark gets a panicked look on his face.
　Béla is in a state of exasperation.

'I know you guys aren't happy with Leme. It must be refreshing to have him gone. Then why can't that be the end of it?　What reason do we have to disgrace our former comrades even after we kick them out?　Let's make one thing clear. It's okay to point out the flaws in your fellow man. You shouldn't shy away from it. But we shouldn't say it in a bad way. And, Alba, you don't consider Leme to be one of us anymore, do you?

　Alba tries to peel my fingers off, but even with his strength, even with two hands, he can't make it happen.

'If he's not one of us, then he's just my best friend now. Did you think that this Fenix was a man who would laugh at his friend for taunting him?　That's what I don't understand, Alba. You don't get it, Alba. I can't do business with someone who can't respect what they hold dear. So, Alba, you have to promise me right here and now. I would like to think that you are one of us. Don't speak ill of your friends, of Leme, of your people. Do you promise?

　Alba's eyes were nearly vacant, but she still barely nodded.
　He let go of her hand.
　He dropped and coughed as hard as he could.

''........Mr. Fenix. The fourth largest party in the world is such an awkward one.

　Béla is in some kind of despair.
　Lily was rubbing Alba's back. The two of them are usually dogs and monkeys, but the camaraderie is solid.
　-- the unity that has been loosened with Reme gone must be cemented by something else.
　From the beginning, I should have been the one to lead them decisively.
　I'm not the kind of person who can bring people together in the first place. I was just a bully.
　So while I felt bad that Reme was playing a loss-making role, I didn't want to change my attitude as a leader.

''The same goes for the other three. I'm not asking you to play nice. I don't mind casual conversation or petty quarrels. But I will no longer allow you to despise your fellow man with all your heart.

　I look around at the other four.

'I obey, I do. Firstly, you wouldn't be one of us if you looked down on me.'

　Béla didn't object and quickly responded.

'Ah, yes. Fenix is right. But you're lying when you say 'I don't know'. Me, Alba and Lily don't like each other, but we all like you. We want to be in your party, we want to be useful to you, we want to put you first. Leme was clearly not a wizard worthy of this party.

　It's not a lack of ability to begin with, but that's not the point.
　Lark continues.

'Alba's stupid, well, that's actually an exaggeration. I feel sorry for Leme, too. But, you know, when you're the one I love so much and you're so stubbornly defending your under-qualified best friend, it makes me feel bad. I understand why you don't want to say anything bad about him. Because, you know, if your old friends are unconditionally your top priority, how are we going to get you to accept us for who we are?

　That's the point, after all.
　My attitude is the problem.
　Or if it's Reme, I might say it's my fault.
　Maybe it's both. Both me and Reme hid Reme's power. For whatever reason, there was no way for the other three of us to know that.
　But at the same time, the fact that I'm not happy doesn't justify Alba's statement.

'I saw all of my friends from the beginning, and on top of that, I thought I needed Reme. I don't think I'm going to get any sympathy from you guys. So let's talk about the future, not the past.

　I held out my hand, and Alba stood up to take it, her face contorted.

'I thought I was going to die,'

You want me to apologize?

"Phew, forget it. I'm being punished. I get it. I really don't like that Leme guy. Oh, don't say I despise him. It's a matter of compatibility. You can't blame them for that, can you?

　For some reason, Alba laughed happily.

''Yeah........laughing at being choked......this party seems very dark.......''

You're new here. This is a guy who, after all these years, seems to have kept his distance from his friends. Except for his best friend, Leme, he somehow drew the line at them.

　........I didn't know you thought that way.
　I'm simply still not very good at talking to people.
　Maybe my attitude was part of the reason for making Reme hate me.
　........I've always been a pain in the ass.
　I was supposed to return the favor by partying together, but I couldn't.

"So, my dear, my feelings are out in the open. Oh, shit, I'm sorry, I can't believe it. I'm just saying, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

Obviously it doesn't matter.

"Shut up and don't worry about me, you f*cking magical elf. You're giving me goosebumps.

'How rude of you. Or is he just embarrassed out of character?

Huh?

You haven't learned your lesson, have you?

　Alba, Lily, and Lark returned to normal operation.

　Only Béla said, "What ... this is a roundabout way to go? I am puzzled.

'Alba, Lark, Lily, and Beulah. You and I, the five of us, will completely capture the Demon King's Castle. If we take down the impregnable Demon King's Castle, our path to the top of the world rankings will be much closer.

　I look around at all of you.

'I've recognized your powers. So don't ever think about that nonsense again.

　Alba sniffed, Lark cowered his shoulders, Lily nodded, and Beulah looked at me in silence.

'There is no defeat before us. Because--'

　I am reminded of the words of my best friend.


'You are brave because you will always win in the end.'


　Words that are deeply engraved in my heart.
　The only brave man he had ever admired, showed him many battles and victories when he was a child.
　That's why Fenix had never doubted it. No, he thought that he could never lie about it.
　It's a brave man who will always win. That's why I mustn't let myself be defeated.

''If you guys are going to make me the best [brave], then I'll make you guys the best adventurers in the world.''

　I start walking.

'Come on, let's get to the dungeon.'

　◇

Welcome back, Master.

"..............

　For a moment I suspected I was hallucinating.
　It was obvious that a strange scene was unfolding in front of me.
　We transferred our spirits to our magical bodies (avatars) and were transported by the recording stone to the safe room beyond the fourth level we had attacked last time.
　There was little information on the hierarchy of the Demon King's Castle.
　Humans are supposed to have broken into the seventh level, but the hierarchy information is reset when the floor boss changes.
　The current Demon King's Castle has been revealed up to the fourth layer. Humans other than us have only been able to reach the third layer.
　The modern fourth layer was only known to the world for the first time because of our attack.
　Perhaps something happened in the past, the current generation of the Demon King's men are mainly young.
　Their strength is appropriate for the Demon King's Castle, but they don't feel like fierce warriors of all time.
　And the fifth layer. This is also a level where there is no information.
　This is the moment I opened the door of the safe room and stepped out.
　For some reason, it led to a place that looked like a coffee shop, and there were many beautiful women inside.
　And all of them were dressed like maids.

''Come on, sir, miss, you must be tired, right?　I will heal you, body and soul, won't I?

...What is this?


　◇

This is going to be hard to do.

　Leme was in the video room.
　The huge screen was divided into several parts, each one showing images from the cameras set up in the dungeon.
　The screen now unfolded to show the location just after entering the fifth level.
　Women in maid outfits fill the coffee shop.
　By the way, I'm not involved in the defense of the fifth layer.

'Come on, show me the power of the new Fenix Party.

　The Demon King's Army Chief of Staff, Remegeton, seemed to be already convinced of who would win, even as he cheered for his current colleague on the screen.