--Magic Land.

It is the land of a very superior race in the Vanome Continent.
And it is the demon race that rules that land.

So what is the superiority of the demon race?

--It's magical power.

Demons are born with strong magic power.
The details are not even displayed on the status, and its strength is only known to those who have exchanged techniques with the demon race.
The amount of magic power is also enormous, and cannot be compared to that of a human being.

Mage is a human word.
It has permeated the beastmen and dwarves, and it has become a common language throughout the continent.
But it has nothing to do with the demon race.
The demon race skillfully manipulate magic, but they do not call themselves mages.
That is because the magic is more natural to them than the multitude.

They are born of demons, born of demons, live with demons, and return to demons.

--That is the demon race.


　There are three kings in the demon kingdom and three territories that accompany them.

One was aimed at the Toa, the Demon Kingdom of Chastain.
The king's name is Cassandra Rosef Chastain.
He is the only female king in the Demon Kingdom.

The second is the demon kingdom of Lagoparos.
His name is Ignotus Rosefe Ragpallos.

And finally, this country, which is also the home of the Toa.
The Demon Kingdom of Uruzoura.
The name of the king is Lucius Rosef Urszola.
He is the father of the Toa.

The Demon Kingdom is divided into three parts, and each one governs its own territory.
This is the reality of the Demon Kingdom.




　Sufiria has taught me what I know about the Demon Kingdom.

I'm not going to be the only one who knows about it. Above all, the demon kingdom is a closed country, and there are rumors that it is especially inhospitable to humans.

Sufilia told me up front that she didn't know the details and told me with a prediction, but she wouldn't be particularly wrong.
That demon tribe that attacked Toa had an unreasonable dislike for me as a human.
You could call that discrimination.
Is it because the demon race is the strongest species?
It's a common story.
By and large, people are weak. And stupid.
I can feel it in his words and his face now.

"Well?　Why did Toa keep that from me?　I've never heard of you being the princess of a demon kingdom?

That's not...

I'm sure you're not going to be able to find a way to make eye contact with me.

It doesn't matter if you're a princess or a village girl, I don't care which one you are, but I promised I'd take you home anyway, so I'm going to take you home properly, and if you say it's your hometown, then I'm going to the demon country, and if you have something on your mind and can't tell me now, then you can tell me then, but .....

There are things that you can't tell anyone about.
I get tired of being forced to ask.
It makes it even harder to answer.
I'm sure that's what happened to Toa.
That's why you're not answering now, and you're looking down.

Well, I'm sure he just feels bad about it.

"By the way, Toa, were you happy to let that man go?　Well, now that you mention it, there's nothing we can do about it, but maybe he'll come back with his people in tow?　You never know when, though, do you?

What?

Then Toa looked up vigorously and looked surprised at my words.
No, no, no!

"What?!" I'm not?　What did I tell you?　So maybe we should just kill him?

''Oh no... then... if we don't... if we don't do something like this... we're going to get the Academy in trouble again...''

No, I mean, you should be worried about yourself, right?　It's the Toa who are the target of the attack.　We could be attacked by a bunch of people next time.

Bye!　Why didn't you kill him?　So, the Institute again! .....

Huh? .........

'No, it's because Toa told you not to kill him.　And what did I tell you?　What's the danger if I don't kill you?

I'm not listening to you!　No!

I just told you.

I'm not listening to you!

You sure about that?　And I've made a few confirmations.

I didn't say that!

I said it!

I didn't say that!

That's where I stopped talking back, in a quirky way.
It wasn't because I was stunned.
I don't know why, but it's because Toa didn't seem to be lying or being stubborn.
To me, it felt like Toa wasn't really listening to me.
Was it because my voice was so low?　No, but we were able to catch each other's words properly at the time...

I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know, but I feel something strange.

Come to think of it, when I left, he said something strange like 'I'm still recovering'.......
What do you think that means?
Of course it would be the Toa.
The only person in this place that demon tribe knows is the Toa, so there's no doubt about that...

'Toa?　Do you have a disease or something?

Sick?　No, but I'm healthy, okay?　What is it all of a sudden?

Hmm....

Health....

Then, for example....

So, for example, do you have a mental illness or something?　Can you think of anything?

No?　What did you say earlier?

'No it's okay if you don't have any... but were you ever weak when you were little?　You weren't going to see a doctor or anything like that, were you?

I said no!　I'm a demon, okay?　I'm still on the strong side with this one.

Hmmm I don't know.
The more I ask, the more I don't know.
But I have a feeling that something doesn't seem to be meshing.
First and foremost, there's something a little different between the Toa I just saw and the Toa I see now...

...What?

When I stare at her face, Toa's cheeks turn red.

''Hmm........your complexion is the same as usual.......''

What?　Do you still doubt me?!

No, nothing...

I'm not doubting you.
I'm just worried because I trust you.

'Come to think of it, why was Toa holed up in the castle?

Now I'm thinking, I don't know anything about Toa, even though we're always together.
And I've just found out about my hometown.

'It's ... your father said it's not safe out there ...'

I see, Toa's father is the type to dote on his daughter.
This is a tricky one to face.

"Do you only have one family?

No, I have your mother and your sister.

Come to think of it, that demon tribe said that Toa is the sister of a demon tribe called Rosalia or something....

I see that Rosalia is the name of Toa's sister.

How do you know your sister's name?

Hmm?　Yeah, I got it out of the demon tribe earlier.

But that's not enough information.
I don't mind if Toa knows something and is just hiding it because he doesn't want to say it, but what is this discomfort?
Am I thinking too much?
I have a particular tendency to brood over things...

Why did you just say "Don't kill me"?

'What?　I mean, how many people do you not kill?　It's wrong to kill anything just because it's strong right away!

It's a good argument.
It's the usual toa.

'So why are you blaming me for not killing him now?

'That's because Nito says he's going to attack us again and it's going to get the Academy in trouble again...'

It's still not working.

I see. That's good. So why did you come out of the store?

Speaking of which....

At that moment, Sufilia interrupted as she remembered.

''Hmm?''

'No, it's not a big deal, but after Nito-sama left with that demon, Toa suddenly got up from his seat without saying a word.

'I was afraid of the Toa earlier...'

Next to me, Nem looks a mixture of concern and anxiety.

'So? .... got up and walked straight out?

'Yes. I thought it was odd that he didn't respond to me when I spoke to him, but...

So I shift my gaze to Toa, who is still looking down.

'Toa, why did you come out earlier?　What's going on?

But Toa wouldn't answer.

'What did you want with me?'

I don't know...

Toa said in a voice so small that he could barely hear it.
There's something wrong with him.
He doesn't seem to be the usual Toa.

'Well then why did you tell me not to kill you when you came out?　I explained it to you then, didn't I?　Because he's too dangerous to let you go?

I don't know...

Toa replies in a small voice again, blurting out.

It's obvious that he's not acting right.
This is the first time I've seen Toa like this.
Sufilia also has a strange look on her face.
I tried to check with that Sufilia by eye contact, but her response is that she doesn't understand.

After a little while, the toa slowly raised its face, but a puzzled look could be seen from its expression.

''Toa?　You don't remember?　What did Toa say?　Let him go?

I don't know...

Eyes that look as if they are pupils dilated.
And his point of view is unfocused.

'Toa?　There's something wrong with him.

Nem worries next to me.

'Toa?　Are you okay?

The quintessential Sufilia is also taking care of herself.

''State Anomaly Healing (Effect Heal)........''　

It's not normal.
It's clearly not normal.
He said there is no such thing as a disease, but this is clearly........

Toa, no more thinking. Just breathe slowly.

Toa's face was bright blue, and his lips were purple.
And hands that trembled in small increments.
His breathing was ragged.

What in the world was happening to Toa?

And what is this?
There are a number of mixed emotions in Toa's mind.
I can't explain it in words.
I suppose it could be that I have a hard time feeling positive emotions.
But this is....

Are you unwell?

Nem, who cares.

On the surface, it's just confusion.
But this ability of mine, this ability to sense any negative emotion, even the smallest one.
What I'm feeling now is a faint sadness.
But it's a very big and strong sadness that should be subtle.
But I don't think Toa himself is aware of it.
Can I say that I'm unconsciously sad?
Toa himself is just confused, and it's not a clear thing that can be called an emotion.
If I had to put it that way, it's like looking at a 'vortex'.
The center of that vortex.

-- and at the back of it, I see sadness.

'Are you okay?'

I rubbed Toa's back.

...sadness.
I don't know what causes this.
But what I don't understand the most is another emotion.

--killing intent.

I can feel an unidentified dark thing deep within the toa.
I don't know if it's just because I can feel the negative emotions more, it's just too much, or if this is the true form of the 'emotion'.
But I can clearly feel the 'killing intent'.

But I know this feeling too.
Above all, it's still inside me.

This is.........

'Toa?　Are you okay?

Then Toa's pale face was back to normal.
The color of his lips was normal.
His hands aren't shaking, and his eyes are natural.
His breathing is still a bit tired, but a lot better than before.

'Toa?'

It's... it's okay...

The Toa reacted as if he didn't know I was next to him until then, and he said so unhurriedly.

And at the same time, the 'sadness' and 'killing intent' had disappeared from Toa's mind.


-- "And yet........I didn't know you hadn't been healed yet, huh?　Kukkuk........"


----.


I remember what he said.
But I don't know what it means.

What is it about Toa that's not healing?

.........