When I finished the transition, I found myself in a small room with only the moonlight coming in through the window to rely on.
　In front of me was the red-haired Alford, the blonde beauty - Eliza, and Zeke, with his long black hair down as usual.

'Where are we, here?'
It's a town near Greberg.

　It was Zeke who answered that.
　Apparently, this is an inn in a town called Mira.

'Isn't it Greberg?'
'After Albert's death, the guards have been increased. The patrolling guards have also been beefed up, making it extremely difficult to hide in the castle town.
Yeah, I see that's not going so well.
If this was a small country, we would have been on our way to our next destination by now.

　Alford replied with a serious look on his face.

'But not when it comes to Greberg.
Does that mean Greiberg is a great power?
Yeah, there are a lot of guards in this country. To get across the border, you have to get past the guards at the checkpoint. Moreover, to enter the castle town, you need to pass through the city wall. Furthermore, the inside of the wall, including the castle town, was protected by Albert's sensing wards. The same goes for the royal castle.
'But we're outside those walls now. That means we're back to square one, right?
'Don't worry about that,' said Zeke. Then Eliza replied to that.
'Once you've marked it when you get in, all you have to do is fly there in transition. Albert's sensing isn't working either, and we're free to go in now.
"and then we will invade the castle.
You're very good at what you do. Then we'll get to work.
'But first, Nito. This is a confirmation, can you kill Aries and Johannes?
That's why you called me here, isn't it?
''........Graysberg is strong. Especially Aries, as I told you, he was even valued as a terrific assassin in that line of work. He can sneak up on the opponent's neck without a sound and kill them.
'So, you mean, Aries and Johannes are a beat up?　Aren't you royalty in the first place?
'No, she was a princess and an assassin. Only a few people know that.
I don't know what's going on here.
Good. And one more thing, did you know that this country is at war with the demon race?

　The reason we were summoned to this world in the first place was to fight that demon race.

I know, but so what?
''The Greeberg is strong enough to fight a war with the demon race. The demons have equally strong magical powers, and when it comes to war, they will face many opponents. Even so, the country has not been able to win, but it has endured. I heard that they lost many soldiers in the war, including former S-ranked adventurers like Zari the Silent and Laura the Stabbing Sword. You've heard of them too, if only by name.
It's a famous story - who?
But there are still people in this country who can rival them. We're going to have to start dealing with them now.
'You mean it's hard to deal with Aries and Johannes after that?
''First of all, they can't keep their magic power up. You two are probably the most powerful men in the country right now. We'll take care of the rest.
'So it's inevitably up to me to deal with them both. After dealing with the infantry, you're not going to be able to deal with them with your extra strength, are you?
'That's why I called you here. I can take a fight, but I'm outnumbered.
You've made your point. You'll be fine. I'll take care of Aries and Johannes. And when you said, "I'll take a fight to the death," that's the first thing I knew.

　I was curious about how skilled those guys, who were the ones who summoned us, were.
　But even at Sieg's level, it's possible to kill them in single combat.

''I can definitely win,''

　No. But that's not why I'm here.



　Sierra quietly walked up to Toa, who was standing alone in Masamune's room.
　Next to her is Nem, who has an anxious expression on his face.
　I happened to overhear the conversation between Masamune and Toa outside the room.

''It's pathetic, I said I trust you...''

　Toa said, with a thin layer of tears in his eyes.

''Toa........''
'Does your master do what he's not supposed to do? .... won't you be back?

　Nem had that feeling.

'Don't worry, Masamune will be back. But then, if Nem has that look on his face, he will be worried about Masamune. Now it's Nem's turn to save Masamune. She has to help the injured Masamune just as she helped me.
Yes, sir.

　Nem wiped his tears away as he looked down.

*

　When we finished the transition from Mira's inn, we found ourselves in a quiet alleyway.

'This way, let's go.'

　Prompted by Zeke, Masamune followed the three of them.
　He sashayed through the castle town in the middle of the night, passing between buildings and through the city center.
　Then a strikingly unusual gate appeared in front of him.

''Here.''

　The huge, lattice-like gate, and the fountain beyond it.
　Then there is the grand, unnecessarily wide and long staircase and the royal castle that can be seen beyond.
　The lighting inside the grounds could be seen from here, and the illuminated royal castle is a true symbol of power.

''It's a nostalgic royal castle...''
What did you say?
No, I just thought that's not what rich people do.

　Zeke looked at Masamune, who was smiling thinly in front of the royal castle, with a faint suspicion.
　A hint of madness is leaking from his bloodshot eyes.
　But Zeke was finding an answer there.

''Let's ... go inside.
Yeah, let's get this over with.

　Masamune's spirit wasn't normal enough to see Aries' smiling face against the backdrop of the royal castle now.
　Two guards appeared in front of the four men who leapt high and jumped over the gate, as if they had been ambushed.
　One was holding a spear and the other was holding a sword and shield.

''We knew it from what we heard, but assassination is the first thing that's impossible. It looks like the only way to get through is to force it. Well, that's why you called me, right?
At that point in time, when he killed Albert, not by assassination, but by single combat, the possibility of assassination had been cut off.
I know.

　Not only Zeke, but also Eliza and Alford begin to feel uncomfortable with Masamune's gradual arrogance.

'Oh, you guys!　No way, it's the heart of a dragon!

　Masamune took out the magic tool 《Saint's Wrath》 from the different space storage, and without hesitation, he immediately unleashed multiple 《Holy Light (Saint Shine)》 at the same time.

''Ugh, oooohhhh!

　The holy sphere that was released simultaneously captured the bodies of the two guards.
　Immediately afterwards, the guards flew off as if their upper and lower bodies were torn off.

-- ''Kevin Wahlberg [Lv: 16]'s defeat has activated his unique skill "Goddess Blessing". Please choose your loot.''
-- ''Robert Wilson [Lv: 17]'s defeat has activated his unique skill "Goddess Blessing". Please choose your loot.''

　Masamune didn't look at the corpse lying deficient, he chose an unselected list from his status and chose the skill Purification and the sorcery Protection of Swordsmen (Protemista).

''Nito, is that a magic tool?''

　Feeling uncomfortable with Masamune's lack of hesitation in killing, Alford asked about the white wand Masamune held.

''Yeah, I found it in the dungeon. Apparently it can use intermediate magic, what's wrong with it?
A dungeon? .... no, I just thought you had something unusual.
'Rare?　Well, this was a rare thing......... Anyway, let's hurry onward.

　The three of them followed Masamune with a bitter smile.

*

　There were two men in the fountain plaza under the grand staircase.
　This one too, as if they knew the four of them were coming, both holding their swords at the ready.
　But they were dressed differently than the ones from earlier, not in armor, but in navy blue coats that clearly showed their style.
　He was more like a soldier than a knight. The lack of armor made him look simple in stature.

''Bernardo, pinch me from both sides.
All right. I'll take the left.

　At that moment, the man to his left slashed at Zeke from the front.

'I'll leave that guy to it.'

　Masamune activated the Shin-Speed and as he passed by the man, he approached the other man and instantly beheaded him with the broadsword he took out of the different space storage.
　The man didn't even notice that he had been slashed, let alone react, but--''

-- ''With the defeat of 《Bernard Osman [Lv: 38], the unique skill 《Goddess Blessing》 has been activated. Please choose your loot.''

　Masamune opened the unselected list and selected the magic 《Bombastic Fist [Blanche]》.
　He selected it singlehandedly, as if the selection of the loot was secondary to the selection of the loot.

''Bernardo!''

　The man stopped in his tracks and turned around, shouting to his headless friend, who collapsed to his knees.

'-- You can afford to be a stranger.
Shit!

　As the man was distracted by the death of his companion, Zeke drew his sword and his head flew off the ground as well.
　The timing of the head that flew through the air and fell to the ground, Zeke tucked the large sword into its scabbard.

It's still a long sword for nothing. It's not a matter of that, are these guys really strong?　That guy looked at me like that.
'Perhaps they aren't used to losing their people. Greiberg is a relatively peaceful country that isn't at war with the demon race and has no civil war.
Why would a country like that be at war with a demon race?
'It's Johannes,' says Zeke.

　Then Alford explains to Masamune, who is questioning him.

'Johannes lost his first wife to illness. And his second wife was assassinated. From then on, Johannes began to break down. He told the knights and mages to be proud to die for him, like it was normal to do so. And then he waged war against the demons.
'Did his anger at his wife's murder turn to the demons?　That's annoying from a demon race's point of view.
I don't understand. The mind of a mentally ill person is so complex that others cannot understand it.

　Masamune stepped forward to the grand staircase, leaving a crisp expression on his face.

　Once the staircase broke off and they were approaching the plaza located in the middle of this area when a crowd of countless guards emerged from the corridors visible on either side of the stairs.
　The ones behind them followed the ones in front, one after another, and the four of them found themselves surrounded by them.
　Then, after a few seconds of silence, the group of guards on the left - the man at the head of the group - opened his mouth.

''Dragon heart!　You are completely surrounded by us!　There's nowhere to run now!

　Immediately after the warning, the man is speechless and stunned when he realizes something.

'When I saw you in town, I was wondering if you were...'

　The man's expression was filled with sadness.

''It was Alford-sama, after all........''
....
It's a shame. I had to take revenge on a man who might have been a prince...
"The Prince? Masamune couldn't believe his ears.

　After a somewhat sad look, Eliza spoke.

'Alford Grayberg that's Alford's name.
So, Alford is....
Yes, he is the former prince of the land. Johannes is his father and Aries is his sister. Alford is the child born to Johannes' second wife.
'Eliza, don't talk about anything else. It's the past we've thrown away.

　As he said this, Alford stepped in front of the three men.

'It's a shame, you guys. I remember your face. I didn't know you were still in this country.... It's not the first time they've been outcasts. There was a time when they were aware of it. I mean, you all turned a blind eye to what he was doing. For your own protection, right?
"You have no right to condemn us for abandoning your country. We have chosen to endure. We have chosen to endure for our friends who have fallen into battle, in the hope of the peace that will one day come.
'Is that patriotic?　No, no. Peace doesn't come by wishing for it. You are walking in the dog's way. Even if Johannes and Aries are dead, there will be no peace in this country. They'll just bring more of them in. You ordinary soldiers don't know this, so I can tell you that this Grayberg bloodline is rotten to the core. He is a man who thinks only of himself, and is willing to do anything to make others sip his sweet juice. The same blood is flowing inside of me as those guys.
And now! ...we have a family!　I have a family!　We can't run away from this country!
You can. They threw me in a cell and didn't feed me for a month. The only reason I was able to survive was that I had to survive by eating the rats that happened to pass by my feet. But that didn't fill my stomach. On the contrary, it makes me even hungrier because I put half of it in. But if you don't eat, you'll die.

　Alford looked at the castle pensively.

'I could barely even stand up, but I unlocked the door with a rat bone and escaped my prison. I left the country, and then I kept walking through the open fields and wandering through the woods. But it was better than the dungeons. There's something to eat, though, and it's better than no grass or anything else. But it can't be helped, I didn't have time to prepare for it. I didn't even have a sword, and I just kept walking through the forest where darkness reigned. But you guys were different, you could have prepared. There was time, it's just that you guys didn't do it.

　Each of them noticed the nine archers aiming to shoot the four men from the top of the grand staircase.
　Masamune informed Eliza in a whisper, "I'll take care of the guys up there.
　He informed Zeke by eye contact.
　But the guards around them were also aware of the disturbing movement, and there was tension in the squad.

'It's not like you and us!　You're a brave man after all and the fact that you're alive today is proof of that. As you say, we are merely ordinary soldiers. If we encounter a monster outside, we form a partnership and fight with many men. Even if it is just one monster. Unlike you, who can take on several by yourself!　It's not like that now either!　You are surrounded in this way and all you care about is buying time. It's not!　Everything is fundamentally different!

　Alford shifted his gaze from the royal castle and looked at the man.

''Well I'm not a prince now. I don't know what you want from me, but that's the way it is. From the day you realized the stench of this country, until now, you've never tried to change anything. The consequences of that, and the reality that comes with it, are now.

　Alford stared with ruthless eyes.