Welcome to Remeghton.

　This is the conference room where I met the Demon King for the first time.
　It was dimly lit, but the view was clear, and although it was spacious, there was only a long stone table and chairs. The only thing left is a narrow private room with a recording stone that has a transfer function.

　There were five chairs for the Demon King and the Four Heavenly Kings, but one had recently been added.
　If you're a staff member, it might be better to be reserved by the Demon King-sama's side, but my chair is set up in a position where I'm facing her and the table.
　Today, Lucy had her crimson hair in a voluminous twin-tail.
　She looks only about the same age or slightly older than Kash, but she's my authentic boss.

'At your service, whenever you want.

　She chuckles at my reply.

'You're doing really well,'

Thank you.

"That Pheonix party was great. They all regenerated their magical bodies (avatars) here. Especially from the two [brave] guys, we got a lot of money out of them.

　The Demon King-sama nodded with satisfaction.
　In order to create a magical body (avatar), a technology that reproduces the entire body with magical power is used.
　Since it's very expensive to use, adventurers don't want to have their magic body (avatar) destroyed if possible.

　The price is even higher if the magic organ is excellent, if the body has a special skill - such as Lily's "divine speed" - or if the body has magical tools. This is why they ask for money for the effort it takes to reproduce them.
　If you went to the shop under the Adventurers' Union, you would be charged the full price, but if you asked them to re-generate and repair your body immediately after attacking a dungeon, they would give you a discount.
　Since everyone in the Fenix Party applied for regeneration on the spot, the amount of money that would be earned by the Demon King's Castle.

''The tenth layer's repair costs were also paid for in a lump sum by [Fire Brave]. Is your best friend a wealthy man?''

　For destroying the entire hierarchy, not just the camera, Fenix had been charged for repairs.
　This was a dungeon strategy rule, and he agreed with it.

'Our method was that we only split the distribution, and the personal income belonged to the person in question.

''Ah, I see. Unlike the [Hero of Flame] who is so prolific at interviews and events on the video board (TV) and in magazines, that kind of work doesn't come to the [Black Mage]?

'Yeah ... even though we were from the same town, same age, same party, me and him made an inordinate amount of money...'

　It was definitely well above average, but I didn't have the positive earnings that other famous adventurers make.
　I've been in a lot of TV commercials, like Fenix and various other TV commercials, and I think Lilly got a commercial request for shampoo. Alba's in comfortable shoes and Lark's from a company that deals in armor.

　None for me!
　Zero cases.

　Interviews are only listed a little bit as an extra, even when the whole party is on the list, and not once or twice have I been there and not been asked anything.
　The other four of us were in a rest period... or rather, on days when we didn't have dungeons to attack, other work was piling up, but I had no time to waste.

　Thanks to that, I was able to focus on my training....
　No, I was featured in a minor magazine once, I think. The hope of the [Black Mage] world!　Or something like that. I remember being asked about how to get into a competent person and leaving the room in the middle of the interview.
　That's not an interview with 【Black Mage】. How can I flirt and stay at the 【Flame Hero】's party?　I felt sad when I was told that.
　That's how badly the world treats [Black Mage].

''Umm. I'm sorry, don't be so downhearted. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

No, not at all.

Really?　I've heard that's enough to energize Agares and others to work tirelessly for a month on its own.

　Agares-san.........
　No, if it's filled with just being stroked on the head, then it's not so much to worry about.
　What do you think, I wonder. What do you think?　I don't know.

I'm fine. But thank you.

Hmm. Well, you have Kash and Carmilla, so why should I give you any more comfort?

　The demon king pulled his chin back as if he was convinced, and then returned to his story.

''Even so, when you think it took so much time and effort to generate your magic body (avatar), I didn't know you had inherited the horns.

Haha.....

Don't bother, Lemegeton. I rather admire you. It wasn't like any man could bear it, was it?

Well, I managed to keep my master from dying in that area.

Your grandfather was a genius, but he wasn't very good at delicate manipulation. He could have adapted it, but I don't think he would have been able to distract you from the pain?

Well, yes, it was very painful.... But it's what I wanted.

"You didn't think your grandfather would let a human inherit his horns just because he wanted to.... Remeghton, you--do you have a weakness?

'Is there such a thing as a master?'

　The demon lord laughs with a careless smile as I blurt out a word as I say it, "I can't imagine it.

I can't imagine that. --I'd like to talk more, but let's get down to business.

　This is small talk so far. I knew there was another reason why I was called out.

'Yes.'

"You know the two [demon kings] personally, don't you?　Your grandfather and I.

...Yes.

　There's no point in denying or misrepresenting it anymore.
　In fact, there are other people who have [Demon King] themselves and have fought them, but if I know them personally, they are two.

''Then, you must be curious, right?　I wondered what my master's son, my boss's father, and the previous demon king were doing.

　I'd thought to ask him about it eventually, but I didn't expect him to bring it up.

I was curious.

That's okay. "I'm not interested" would hurt my feelings.

　The Demon King-sama smiles slightly, then his expression disappears.

''Father.......that man abandoned the Demon King. I don't say that just following [job] is life, but that man did something unforgivable.

　I straighten my back and listen intently.

'He ... well he declared that 'dungeon strategy is old'. ' 'I'm going to build a new form of business and end the dungeon conquest,' and left here.

It's not...

Of course he has his own beliefs and logic. I'm sure he has his own beliefs and logic, of course. This is evident from the fact that it's called a dungeon 'capture'.

　It's not called defensive footage, although that's not surprising since the adventurers are delivering it.

'He's going to change the system against the demons. It's a massive ambition. It would be great if it came true. But, but, Lemegeton. Wouldn't it be too sad to say that 'dungeon-catching' will disappear from the world for that?

　I was in agreement with Demon King-sama.
　It's true that some people do and say discriminatory things to sub-humans in their daily lives, perhaps because their role in dungeon-catching is a villain. That's very sad.

　But not all of the causes are dungeons, and I'm not sure how you can just turn off the dungeon strategy.
　For me, the dungeon strategy was the reason I had a dream.
　I don't agree with the idea that we should just get rid of it.

　Besides, we're trying to change things from within.
　By proving that it's okay for demons to win.
　It's violent to say no to even that path and just eliminate it anyway.

''It seems that since your grandfather disappeared, he's been making preparations. We managed to protect the Demon King's Castle, but most of your grandfather's men either changed jobs or followed him.

　........So the Four Heavenly Kings and the other demons are all young people?
　Although they all had the strength to match the Demon King's Castle's demons, but it bothered them that there were so many young people.
　It's not uncommon for demons to change hands, and I thought that since the demon king is young, he might be giving priority to hiring young people, but I guess I was wrong.

''I've been trying to find out what he's up to, but that man is going to make a big move soon. As part of that, we've learned that he's planning to take over a certain dungeon.

A bribe, I guess...

It's not easy to run a dungeon. If the deficit continues, he'll have to think about letting it go. I don't know what he will do with the dungeons he buys, but it's clear that no one will ever be able to capture or defend them again. I can't allow that to happen.

　The Demon Lord seemed to be really angry. However, I don't feel any resentment.

''I think I understand what you're saying. But I don't think I have any control over it...

Remegaton, my chief of staff. You will make this dungeon profitable by using your power. We will make it a dungeon that will bring in all adventurers and destroy them all.

What ... no, what ...?　Let's see, do you mean business trip?

　That in itself is not, well, unusual.
　The dungeons are hierarchical, but there aren't always customers, and the customers proceed to attack the dungeons in order from the first level.
　Inevitably, there are days when you have free time, and during those days, there are some people who do other jobs that are suitable for their [position (job)], while others are sent out to other dungeons.
　If you think of it as part of that, the business trip itself isn't a strange order.

　My tenth tier is being rebuilt, so even if the adventurers come, the attack will not be until the ninth tier.
　Top-ranking parties should want to capture it with a bang, just like Fenix and the others. Until the tenth layer is newly created, they will wait for other adventurers' challenges.

　On the other hand, the mid-ranking adventurers and lower-ranking adventurers would like to take on the challenge while they are still reeling from the failure of the Phoenix Party attack.
　The faces of the Demon King's Castle were not so weak that they would fall behind those people.
　Even if they were to break through, they wouldn't be able to get past the ninth layer.

''You can do it. After all, you're my chief of staff. And you are your grandfather's son and daughter. You're not unrelated to that man.

　I took over the corner that he was supposed to take over.
　A part of my master's body is inside me.
　I can't say that I'm not related to the Demon King or her father. There is a connection. It's a strange connection, but it's a connection.

''I'll allow you to use the ring, but I want you to listen to my schedule.　And you know what else, don't use the corners, okay?　If you use it, it's just one (...)

　I've also talked to the Demon King about releasing the horns.
　A change in one arm and that it's forbidden to grow wings.
　It would be accepted as staged, if only to grow a right horn.

''What shall we do?　It's just until the tenth layer is complete, will you take it on?

　There are many more questions I want to ask, but for now my answers are already in place.
　She's the boss and I'm the subordinate. And this is my job.

''If it's ordered by the Demon King.

Mm, that's an order then.

　The Demon King happily ordered.

''Crush that man's ambitions, my chief of staff.