Hey, you did it, Leme!　First place, first place!

　Mr. Blitz, you'd be glad you did.
　Yeah. Yes, it's a very good story.
　I slowly turned my attention to Mira-san.
　Mira-san was smiling.

''Congratulations. There was someone among the adventurers who understood how wonderful you are, Reme-san. I'm glad, very glad. We had a short but dreamy time together. I will never forget it.

　Mila's voice was trembling.
　She's pushing me back, stifling her own emotions.
　I'm laughing, but it's like I'm crying.
　Oh, you're right, Aerial.
　She's wonderful, and she's a wonderful person.
　But I was sad.

'You think I'm going to take care of this, Mira?'



That dream you showed me, Mira, is not a second choice.

''........So you're going to reject the first place's invitation and remain in the Demon King's Army?　Why?

Because...

　I take Mira-san's hand and stand up.

'What, Reme-san?'

Mr. Blitz, I'll be right back.

Oh, oh.

　I walk out of the store.
　I find Mr. Aerial hiding his face in the hood of his cloak.

'Um!'

　I called out to his back and he immediately stopped and turned around.

'Oh, you've already made up your mind,'

Yes, sir.

Well, I'm glad you did. So....

'I am truly honoured by your invitation. But I have to decline.

　Mr. Aerial is not surprised and says calmly.

'May I ask why?'

I wanted to be number one. It's not like I wanted to be in first place.

　He smiled happily at my response.
　He had a boyish smile.

'....Hmm. I see, you're a man. It's true that the top of the mountain is something to be climbed up, not something to be pulled up. Apparently I made a tactless offer.

'No, it was great to know that some of the adventurers would recognize me.

'Yeah, but you've already found your place. Isn't that right?

　...You noticed that part too?

'Yes.'

　I nodded.
　Mr. Aerial held out his hand to me. I held out my hand and we shook hands.

'I'm looking forward to it. How you will be the best. You'll have to beat us to do that, won't you?

　How much of this do you see through?
　I think he can tell that I'm not giving up on the fight.

When the time comes, I will win.

Great. You can't retire just yet.

　He smiled and went back to the inn this time.

'What, what, what are you doing, Leme?

　Mira, who has been watching our conversation, looks at me with an incomprehensible look on her face.
　I took her hands in mine and squeezed them again.

It's my own decision to join the Demon King's Army. Mira-san saved me and made my dream clearer.

　Mira listens in silence.

'I've decided to be your hero. I won't allow you to try to kick me out in the middle.

　I look into her eyes and smile teasingly.
　I panicked as tear drops fell from Mira-san's eyes as they trickled down.

''Eh, no, that wasn't it, I didn't mean to accuse you or anything--''

　Quickly, Mira-san put strength into her hands.

''You're already....you're already my brave master.

　The look of tears and laughter on her face, her voice bright with tears.
　I was transfixed by her beauty.

　After a few seconds I came back to myself and made a lighthearted remark to change the atmosphere of the place.

''Well we should be enough to give hope to all the sub-humans in the world. I want them to at least think that we can beat the adventurers, too.

''Hmmm.......He's already a complete demon. He's a traitor to humanity.

　Mila gently rested her head on my chest.
　She whispered in a voice so loud that no one but me could hear.

'....I was really, really worried.

Yes.

I thought you'd be happy to take me up on the offer.

I was hoping Mira would stop me.

Your happiness comes first. Those who can't wish for your happiness are not qualified to call themselves fans.

　You came with a guess....

I see. But when I try to get involved with another woman.

I think the bugs have to be exterminated.

Well, that's beside the point.

　Some things are not to be touched.

Keep up the good work, Mira.

Yes....!

　I looked up and met eyes with Mila, who looked up. Smiling.
　She moved away from him with a bang.
　If you look at it, he's biting around the second joint of his bent index finger, gagging on it.

'What's wrong?'

I took one hit and my body tasted it and it gave me an incredible urge to suck blood.

'Uh....'

It's okay, I can put up with it. But if you can't stand it anymore, Reme, please let me know as soon as you can. In fact, I hope that time will come sooner rather than later.

I thought we were supposed to understand each other deeply?

'What more do you want to know about me?　There's nothing you're hiding except under your clothes... yo yo.

　Mila cries a lie.
　I think she's great because even though she knows it, she's almost cheated.

'For now, let's go back for today. I'm leaving you alone, Mr. Blitz.

Hmm. Okay.

　Later on, the Fenix Party broke through the ninth layer.
　Their advance to the tenth layer was decided.
　The night before the next day before the attack, Fenix came to visit me.
　It's called Aerial-san, and the four major spirit owners are a mess.
　They're going to find me in hiding.