First, let me clarify my opinion of his story.

By providing varied entertainment, those who haven't had a chance to play an active role will be put in the spotlight. It will also allow for sub-humans who have had to play villains to shine as players. I thought that was a great idea.

Thank you.

　Lord Fellow smiles.

He said that he can prepare a stage for me and my colleagues to play individually, so we may be able to excite the audience in a different way. It's a project with a lot of potential.

Of course you do.

But I won't be able to meet your expectations.

May I ask why?

　Their smiles don't fade, but their eyes twitch.
　I looked around once at the four of them. All three of them nodded in agreement, except Béla. Béla was the only one who waved her hand in the air, "Go ahead.

'One thing I can't agree with is the goal of not only adding more options, but also erasing the dungeon attack.'

　He could have lied about it. And he could have deceived us without us even knowing it.
　He didn't do that because he wanted us to be on his side.
　If we opposed the abolition of dungeon conquests when the time came, it would have been a problem. He probably wanted the first place in the future to be our friend at this point in time.

''The other reason is that you're mistaken,''

Did I misunderstand you?

"You said that with my help, you'd be closer to a future where Leme could flourish.

Yes, he's your best friend, right?　For his sake--

'I would do anything to help my friend. But this is different. You wouldn't think it would be such an arrogant thing to say that I would set you on the path to success.

　It's not the same as fighting together and helping each other in the process of winning together.
　I can't and won't say to my friends that you'll be able to play more competitions because we've taken a new job.
　At the very least, that is not a reason for me to cooperate with you, Fellow.

"You can't say 'I'm going to give you a job' because you're an equal friend?　Isn't that just a matter of feeling?

If I ignore the feeling (it), I won't be me.

　Ferro-dono, who looked into my eyes, cowered his shoulders after a while.

''........If the invitation had been different, would the result have been different?

'I doubt it. In that case, we would have taken a wrong turn when we found out what we wanted.

''I still see. But in order to create a fair system, dungeon conquest should be abolished. Because if the idea that demons are evil doesn't disappear, my goal won't come true.

　Apparently, he has a strong dislike for the public's perception of demons.
　When Reme and I had spoken in the tavern before, there was an adventurer who had been rude to a sub-human waiter. His cronies didn't blame him for it either.
　It pains me too that some sub-humans are made uncomfortable by the setting that demons are evil.

'Some are trying to change things from within. Some are trying to tell us that adventurers and demons are equal enemies, and it doesn't matter who wins.

...It's a daunting story.

It's not just a matter of getting rid of it.

I want to reach my objective quickly.

"Many of the options you have presented are excellent. But I can't accept this offer.

"Let's take it as a sign that the project is of interest to you, but let me tell you this: you're not the only one who's invited. But I will tell you this, you're not the only one who is asking.

　It will be.
　It has already been decided to hold a tournament in this city. At the very least, we should have all the participants.
　We have been approached as the most influential potential collaborators.

"If you change your mind after the fifth place, contact me.

　It is naturally expected that those who cooperate with him will run up the ranks.

''If you are willing to give up on abolishing the dungeon, I'm sure you'll receive an invitation. We may be first in line by then, though.''

　He smiles at me and I return the smile.

''Huh...''

　His laugh, which overflowed, was not as false as it had been in the past.

'Then we'll take it.'

　This time, I stand up.

'Yes, thank you for your time today.

　The four of us also got out of our seats and walked away. I was about to follow, but a voice called out to me behind my back.

''Speaking of which, Lord Fenix. I'm your best friend, what are you doing now?　I tried to look for it, but for some reason I couldn't find it.

　It was a deliberate way of saying it.

''Well he's finding his way.''

Okay. One more thing. I know the staff of the Demon King's Castle, but I don't have any information except for Remegeton, where you were defeated. If you don't mind, can you tell me how the contractors of the Four Great Spirits lost?

How did you know the staff of the Demon King's Castle?

Don't you understand?

　--You're still getting the idea.

　If I'm right, he's related to Leme's mentor. He's probably related to him by blood. A son or nephew, or someone who is related to him by blood anyway. Considering the hair, eyes, horns and magic power, I'm almost certain of it.

　Reme must have noticed it somewhere in his mind, but his mentor is clearly a [Demon King] holder.
　I've been curious and have looked into it, probably the Demon King's Castle Boss from the previous generation.
　If that's the case, it's not surprising that Lord Ferro knows about the staff of the Demon King's Castle.

　However, it seems that I haven't been able to get the latest information. If he doesn't know who Remegeton is and asks me about the details of the battle, there is probably no connection currently.
　Since the abolition of the dungeon attack would also destroy the Demon King's Castle, it might be natural that there is no connection.

　He did not actively reveal his identity, but he seemed to be trying to make me aware of it.
　The reason, perhaps, was to see what my reaction to it would be.
　When I felt his magic, did I have an attitude that it was a known thing?

　In other words, it's like this.
　He showed me the Demon King's magic power and I reacted to it as "known".
　Each person's magic power reaction is different, but if you're a blood relative, it's often similar.
　What if I couldn't reach the eleventh layer, but I knew the magic power of the Demon King's Castle Boss.
　It was either that he had met the previous generation, or he had met someone who had inherited the horns of the previous generation.
　Technically, it could be another blood relative, but how did you determine that?
　When I was silent, he raised his hands in the air as if there was no need to be alarmed.

''I'm not plotting anything. It's just ... well, if you have a relationship with Remeghton that allows you to contact him, you should give him some advice.

　--You're half convinced that Remegeton is Reme.

　He utters a word of advice.

'Don't use your horns. Because like the greatest demon king of all time, Lucifer, you will despair of an unpleasant reality. The world doesn't take kindly to the fact that 'evil' is a powerful force.

　Lucifer, the previous Demon King's Castle boss. Reme's mentor's dungeon name.
　That's where I finally got an idea of what his true purpose was.



I've said too much. I asked you to leave a message.

'I don't even know what he looks like underneath his mask.

'I won't say anything else. In fact, I'm very interested to see what he's going to do.

　I'm not a good liar by nature, but I guess that was before that.

'As far as we're concerned, though, I think he's a good person to shine on the surface.

　Lord Fellow said that and left the inn without waiting for my answer.

　◇

I think it should be here by now.

　Right beside me was an excited Kash with a backpack on her back.
　Even though it's a nearby city, it's the first time she's been away from home for days.
　I know she's nervous, and I know she's excited and anxious.

　Next to her left is a petite girl in her early teens. Her expression is lacking, but her form is beautiful, and her white hair is like snow.
　Her purple-blue eyes are just pointed forward without looking anywhere, and her hands are bringing beans to her mouth in a whisper.
　It was [Kariya Knight] Fulkas-san.

　The demon king is a child girl, his chief of staff is a human youth, the four heavenly kings are a strange old vampire, a demon who considers himself the guardian of the infant heart, a shapeshifting panther who transcends gender, and a girl who is usually dressed in large armor - a girl.
　Three females, two males, and one mystery, isn't that a bad balance? They're also rich in personality.

　When you look at it this way, it's a human girl, but it seems to be of a different race. I can't see any racial characteristics.....

　I had booked a carriage, so transportation was no problem.
　Right now they were near the gate, waiting for the carriage to arrive.

'Kash, have you forgotten anything?'

It's perfect.

　Energetically, Kash replies.

"Good. Would you like me to take your bag?

It's okay.

　I couldn't help but smile at her reply.

'I see. You don't have a lot of baggage, do you, Fulkus-san?'

　I mean, other than the beans in a paper bag, the only other thing I've got is a leather sack at my waist.

'I sent the armor and spears and stuff ahead of time. The only other thing I need is money to buy food.

　His voice is quiet and without inflection.
　Fulkas-san's armor seems to be more of an 'in' than a 'wear'. It doesn't obviously fit her body, but she can actually wear it and move.
　Not only the spear, but the armor is probably a magical tool as well.

　I knew what this looked like as I was being trained on it. So I know this as well, but Fulkus-san is insanely strong even without the armor.
　What she's getting with her armor is her body size and her durability. Combat skills are inherent to her.

''I see. Once again, please take care of me this time.''

　Kash also said, "Please........! It went on.

'Hmm.'

　Fourcas nodded a small nod.
　A little later, he gave Kash the beans.

'The chief of staff, too, are you there?'

　She tells me so, but from the heavy hand movements, I guess she actually wants to eat it herself.

'Your feelings are enough for me,'

Yeah.

　Mr. Fulkus popped more and more beans into his mouth, crunching and crunching and crunching.

Oh, here comes the carriage.

　Now we're headed to rebuild a dungeon.
　As we will learn later, there is an interesting event going on in the city.
　What the hell... "Adventurers and subhumans don't matter!　Team up with me and go to the top!　A tag-team tournament to fight with magical bodies (avatars) on earth!　We're still looking for challengers!' Yeah.

　Well, I'm interested in it.
　I have to work, so I probably won't be able to participate in the tournament, but I'd like to watch it if I can.
　But, could this be a project involving the father of the demon king?
　The fact that it has nothing to do with humans and sub-humans makes me feel like it is.