A hero. It is the highest honor for the average adventurer and the knight of a nation.

　From the moment people recognized him as such, he was called a hero, and he was honored with admiration and respect.
　And they will be relieved, and the fear and despair that had dominated them until then will be a lie and a thing of the past.
　The people applauded the peace before them, saying that as long as they had their heroes, they would be protected.

　But in the end, it was nothing more than an imposition on the people.
　Above all, the heroes did not want to be heroes.

　--Nito the hero. He was.

　The word "hero" was a pleasant word to the ears and the feel of it made him nauseous and ultimately disgusting.
　But people don't know about such heroes.
　They only see their own convenience.
　Hence, they are mistaken.

　And there was one person here who had been misled by the virtue of heroism, who had taken it for granted and mistakenly believed it to be common sense.

'No, that can't be true. Because he's a healer. And ... if that's the case ... then he's a hero, right? ........then it can't be.......

　--Kenshiro Sonoda.
　He mumbles words that question his thoughts and searches for facts that he may have missed.
　Sonoda had admitted to himself, despite his suspicions, that Masamune and Nito were the same person.

'Even back then, I said so myself. That because I'm a healer, I can protect you instead of being able to use attack magic...''

　But from his words, I could see the heart of a man who is unable to admit the fact and is conflicted.
　That's because he has the idea that "everyone wants to be a hero" in the symbol "Hero".

''Huh?　You think you can protect them?　What's a healer to protect?　Healing magic isn't even as good as the restorative medicine that's dumped in a back alley. It won't protect anything.

　Ignotus picked up Sonoda's words and humiliated him, but there was no longer any conversation going on.
　Sonoda's mind was occupied with organizing his thoughts.

(Hidaka, who had been banished in the transition with a clear intent to kill, then stopped an imperial assault in Razhuisen and became a heroic Nito. He conquered a dungeon, an achievement that would make him a legend after his death no longer. Despite obtaining such an honor, Hidaka killed Kyogoku in front of our eyes when he appeared in a battle against the school. On the contrary........you don't think Koizumi and the others were also killed? ...why?　(Why would that be?)

　One could naturally think that it's because he has such a grudge. In fact, that's the most natural.
　Of course, there was also the idea that Hidaka would kill me if I didn't do something about it.
　But Sonoda's thoughts were multi-faceted.

In conclusion, Sonoda looked down on Masamune.
In Sonoda's mind, Masamune is still the weak man he was when he was in Japan.

　This is a common sight among students of Sonoda's age in the society of the school, as if the people around them are just getting a little too comfortable with him after he makes a small achievement, when he has spent his days being looked down upon.
　In other words, Sonoda is like that right now.

　Their intentions were terribly inorganic.

　The fear that they might be killed, deliberately relegated to the corner of their thoughts.
　But that day, from the expression of Masamune's expression, the look in his eyes, the content of his conversation, and the temperature of his voice when they met on the training ground, Sonoda made a convenient interpretation and smiled spitefully, ''There's no way he'd kill us.
　Then, in the unlikely event that 'Nito and Masamune could be different people in the first place,' he calms his breathing in the unlikely event of a misunderstanding, and is relieved along with his conscience for not being able to stop Aries' insolence of banishment that day, and the imposition on the hero that he should understand that.

　However, Sonoda's expression of relief is tense because his base is made of "inorganic will".
　It's the consequence of looking down on people.

　Sonoda must be feeling a sense of being knocked off his feet right now. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

'And you can't use attack magic?　Gahhhhhh!　Are you an idiot?　A monster that could easily embrace Cassandra and her demon army!　There's no way you can't use magic.

　Ignotus then turns back to Bishas and Felsen, saying, "I thought we weren't subtly talking to each other from the beginning!

'Brother?　What did you find out, Polon?

Hmmm, you have an all-encompassing look on your face.

'Oh?　Oh. No?　If these guys don't make it, I was thinking about going to the Empire for the worst. Or Greberg....

Graysberg?　But that place is..." - said Felsen.

'Yes, I know,' said Felsen. "Yeah, I know, I know," said Felsen, "but if I cause a scene, Lucius will come. So I've been thinking. One of them might as well be dead. Now, aside from Nito, there are four people missing. But one of them - the one who escaped from Greberg, I think?

Yeah, Polon, I think his name is ichipollon?

Yeah. We've already found him. Well, I don't mind him, but I've got three more people I've got coming up. But...

Pollon?

And how can I help you?

　Ignotus turned his smirk to his students, with Bishas and Felsen's doubts behind him.

'You heard me, right?　Hey, guys?　Where are those three people now?

　But the students still hadn't swallowed the truth, and they were still upset.
But even while they were upset, they should have had plenty of time to think while the three demon brothers continued to talk in vain.

　Sonoda's expression still didn't clear, and he was still looking down. Kida, whose expression could not hide his surprise.
　Holly, whose laughter is spilling out for some reason at the fact that she hadn't expected it - she's terrified.
　Some of them may not even realize the meaning of Ignotus' words yet.
　But most of the students noticed and knew that fact.

　--that Hidaka Masamune is a Nito.

Vicious, get me a list of names.

　Bishas pulls a piece of paper out of his black coat pocket.

'Read the three names out loud.

That's all, Polon.

These three.

　Ignotus asked again.

'Does anyone know where these three have gone?'

　Koizumi and the three of them disappeared that day without telling anyone at all.
　And this coincided with the attack by the demons.
　They secretly suspected that they were killed by the demon tribe, but in order to put their fears to rest, they assumed that the three of them had gone on a journey based on wishful thinking and put their thoughts on hold.
　That's why I don't know. How should I answer it........

''It's a simple question, right?　What did those guys say when these three left you guys?

　Then Vicious interrupts Ignotus' question from behind.

'But brother?　That's a bit of a funny question Polon?　Because these three men have disappeared, unnoticed, or so the article said.　I told you that on the road, Polon.

Yes!

　At that moment, it was like "Bingo! As if to say, Ignotus shouted the fact loudly.

'So I noticed. And now that I've noticed it, I have an idea about Nito's relationship with these guys. That's why he doesn't work with them and uses a nonsensical alias like Nito again.

What do you mean, Pollon?

Don't you get it?　Nine times out of ten, those three are no longer with us. Because on the day of Cassandra's attack, Nito already killed those three.

'Wait, wait a minute!　What the hell are you saying...

　Sonoda didn't understand the meaning of Ignotus' words.
　He was confused and couldn't keep up with the organization.

'Because, right?　There were no bodies, so that's what it means. Don't you guys think that we demons are going to eat the people we killed?　Hahahahaha!　Well, there's a part of me that thinks it's appropriate. But I can tell by your reactions. You looked for him anyway, didn't you?　And no one could find it. And you took care of it conveniently, right?　But you know what?　The answer is simple. Why do you think Nito would publicly kill a student in the middle of a play date (...)?　He's a Greberg hero just like you. Right?　Why do you think that is? ...The answer is simple. It's because Nito is the Hydaka Masamune. I don't know what's going on here, but that's what you're going to say.　Then you already have an answer for me, don't you?

'My brother?　What does that mean, Pollon?　Polon with no answers in sight?

Hmmm, I'm on my way out here, but...

It's not that complicated...

　But it's not a simple matter.
　The fact that I was able to see through the relationship between them and Nito so smoothly is the reason why I am the Demon King of Ignotus.

"These people have a vendetta against him!　We didn't have any information, we just assumed that all of you who were in the same situation were connected to each other in some way. Isn't that what humans are supposed to be like?　They'll flock to you for something.

　Ignotus was constantly observing his students as he proceeded with his story.

''When I saw Nito in town, I recognized him at a glance. Even if you don't have the ability to use your emotion-sensing ability, I could at least smell the remnants of one of his emotions, right?　I smell vengeance!　The sweet smell of vengeance honed to the point of lusciousness!　No, part of me was getting a little too emotional to assume that, but I sensed something dark inside him. I don't know what it was. But now I'm thinking, that doesn't make it any better for you guys. It's a monster in the skin of a child. I've seen a lot of people with the same eyes as mine, so I know what I'm talking about.

　Ignotus stared at the students in front of him as he said that.
　Some were frightened by the atmosphere and took a half-step back.

The bottom line is that whoever you take with you will be the bait to catch him. Then I don't care what. We'll save you the trouble. Hey!　You there.

　Kida is now freaked out when Ignotus calls out to him again.

'It's you. You're coming with us. I thought you said you were my friend.　I'll let you meet my friends, okay?

　Then Ignotus looked at the faces of other students, scanned them, and fixed his gaze on one.

'That dark elf looking woman over there and the one with hair as damaged as a unicorn's tail hair!　Come here, I'll take you guys with me. I'm going to take you to see Hidaka Masamune.

　It was Majima and Kihara.
　As Ignotus had said, Majima's tanned skin looked like a dark elf's, and Kihara's blonde hair was aching, though he wasn't sure if it looked like a unicorn's tail.

'Three is enough, right?　Just in case Lucius doesn't notice, we need to take precautions.

　Kida stands there, stunned.
　Majima and Kihara are too frightened to say anything.
　But Ignotus didn't know about the three of them and was already in the middle of making plans for the future.

I'm sure you're right. You want to come along for the ride?　You talk a lot and you still seem to have some information to share.

'Brother, I've been wondering for a while now if you're not a little too obsessed with humans.　The problem is Lucius, not Nito. Of course, the weakness would be Toatrica. So I suppose you are thinking of breaking it down from Nito, but...

What are you confused about?　This is my plan to beat Lucius.

"...What do you mean by that?　I don't understand.

Wait!

　In the midst of all this, someone's voice could be heard interrupting their conversation.

'Where are you taking the students!

　--Sabrina Kidman.
　She is the current temporary headmistress of Fischanatica.

　Sabrina was looking down at the three demons from the entrance of the training ground.

'What?　Are they human?

'Hmmm ... that's a slightly different Polon than a human?　What's in the mix, Poron?

　At that moment, Sabrina's figure moved to the front of Ignotus, interrupting their daily conversation.

''Ah?''

　The guardian's sword - a weapon imbued with magical power, created by Sabrina through magic.
　The blade was swung down in front of Ignotus. But it stopped just before it did, as if the momentum had been killed.

'She's a spirited woman.

　Ignotus stopped Sabrina's blade with one hand.
　Sabrina's forehead was covered in sweat.
　At that point, no, even before she had already appeared at the training grounds, Sabrina was aware of their presence and knew the difference in power between them at the same time.

　Then, with the blade stopped as if he was picking at his fingertips, Ignotus smelled Sabrina's hair.

''........Hmm?　Oh, I see.

Brother?

Brother?

Maybe. That's an ancient species.

　Sabrina is an ancient species. Bishas and Felsen laughed excitedly at those words.

'But this won't do us any good. He may have a longer life expectancy in his own right, but he's not as good as we are. You're a failure.

"Yikes!

　Shortly thereafter, a crushing pressure hit Sabrina in that split second and sent her flying backwards.
　Unable to even react, Sabrina was unprotected and unseen by the attack, and as she vomited blood, she was slammed into the audience and knocked unconscious.

'The superhuman race is precious, Polon?　An extinct creature, Poron?　Polon to add to Mee's collection.

That's not a meta-human. That's a subhuman. I'm a subhuman, and I'm a half-human. More than half of him is human.

　The three demons turned around to see that Sabrina wasn't getting up.

'You guys, walk forward. Let's get the hell out of here.

'My brother?　You don't have to kill her, do you, Poron?　I'm sure it's a polon that will be in the demonic newsletter, right?

'I don't care. They'll just think we're the rest of Cassandra's people.

　With their useless chatter by their side, Majima, Kihara, Kida and Sonoda walked past them and headed for the entrance of the training ground as they were guided.

You are all cold-hearted and cold-hearted, even though you've been summoned to this world, aren't you?　You think it's okay to take these guys with you if no one tries to stop you?

　But the students who remained in the exercise area did not respond.

"Keke, you've got a mask on your face. How about trying to look a little sad?　This is why I hate people.

Come on, brother, let's get out of here. You have no business being here.

Felsen. Always question your instincts.

....

We're smart enough to notice. Lucius has noticed. He knew I'd be interested in Nito.

Yes, sir. I understand. That's why Lucius put Nito next to his daughter...

Yes, he is. And he's a coward and he's careful. He talks about being non-species-oriented, but that's not his nature. He's got a lot of weaknesses. He has an opening, just as he didn't know I was there that day, and it shows from time to time.

What do you mean by that?　I don't know what your brother wants to say...

These guys aren't just people. They're not just people, they're aliens. That's why Lucius took Nito to be with his daughter. He doesn't even consider her human. I mean, he is that kind of a man. I mean, he's done the research. So I need to know what he knows, but it doesn't mean I have to know the same things he does. You're gonna have to go above and beyond. So, if it seems irrelevant or unimportant, it has to be there. There has to be something that leads to the gap in order to trap him. Felsen. We have to find it. The weakness of the emotion detector is ignorance and you must find an opening he doesn't see. What good is it if we can't be sure we're being suspected? Then we can crush Lucius.

　With that, Ignotus looked once more at the remaining students as he left.

''There's an opening where there's no certainty...''

I understand.

　As Ignotus left the place, Felsen disappeared as well.

　The remaining students just stared at the entrance, stunned.
　From the moment they saw the sight of Sabrina being sent away by a momentary flash of light and losing consciousness... no, since that moment when they were faced with the three of them.
　There, they felt the overwhelming difference in power and acknowledged it.
　They were so terrified that they couldn't even think of helping them.

　Later this one was published in the Demonic Communication, just as Bishas had expected, with information from Sabrina and the remaining students who had regained consciousness.
　But all it said was that three demons had appeared there.