A day in the life of Sufilia Artemias is supposed to be monotonous.
　Her day would begin and end with reading in the great stacks managed by the Demon King Lucius.

　In six years, she would have finished reading every book in the stacks.
　But most of them have not been touched.
　It wasn't as if she spent most of her days reading.

　There was a reason why she was holed up in the great stacks, one that even Masamune hadn't noticed.
　It was as far back as six years ago, but the exact date was not certain.

　There is a window on the second floor of the large library.
　There was a round table and a sofa by the window, and she spent much of her time here on that sofa.

　From the window, she could see the garden below, and she could see Nem being practiced by Lisa, a cat person, who was also half of the Rickman clan.
　At the unchanging sight, Sufilia continued to read without changing her expression.

　In the corner of the garden, there was Toa who was talking to the pixies.
　She is completely an adult woman just like Sufilia.
　If Masamune is currently 23 years old, then Toa is the same age.
　Sufilia is an estimated 25 years old.
　Nem is currently estimated to be between 14 and 15 years old, but since beastmen have a shorter childhood than humans, they are more or less mature.
　Her body also showed her attractiveness as a woman.

　When the gate door opened to reveal Masamune, it was Nemu who first noticed him.

''Master, welcome home!

　Her childhood tone has changed and she runs to Masamune, shaking out her long white hair.

'Hey, hey, Nem, get away from me. You're hitting my chest.

　Masamune felt a little embarrassed by Nem, who had become an adult woman.
　But Nem didn't mind and jumped on her and hugged her as she had done before.
　When Masamune was embarrassed, she smiled innocently.

'Welcome home, where have you been?'

　The Toa greeted him.

'The city. Here, I bought some bread and fruit.

　Masamune handed the paper bag he was carrying on his chest to Lisa.
　Lisa took it and carried it inside, "Let's have it carved up," she said.

'Then tell me, I would have gone with you.

Is Sufilia the usual place?

Yeah, maybe.

　Of course, Masamune didn't go out of town.
　Toa does not seem to have noticed.
　But even so, he may have at least a sense of discomfort.

　Masamune's body is separate, and he exists in several places at the same time.
　Masamune, Nito, Amadeus - he had multiple faces.

　Their speaking voices reached the windows on the second floor of the storeroom.
　A gentle breeze that flowed through the great forest carried them.

　Sorrow was visible in Sufilia's expression as she stared at Masamune.
　Her heart was filled with love for Masamune.
　However, her gaze only shifts a little and becomes cold.
　Beyond that is Toa's figure.
　The more Toa smiled at Masamune, the more cold her eyes became.

''........Sufilia-san?''

　The blue ring on her left hand ring finger emitted a small light.
　Noticing the light, Sufilia closed the book on her left hand and placed it on the table.

''What's wrong?''

A scouting party has found a dagger with a black blade.

Where is it?

'I think it's the site of the Rougegelt, the one the Sufiria mentioned,'

''Well if that's the case, I'm sure that's it. You have found me well.

So, what do you want to do?

Where is the sword now?

"Probably a treasure house.

Can you get in?

"I don't know, I don't think the wards are that strong, but...

Well it's no use. All right, I'll come to you.

"Excuse me.

　Light enveloped Sufilia's body as she got up from her seat.
　The blue veil emanating from the ring wrapped around her body and she shifted.

''Sufilia, I'm back! ........Sufilia?

　As soon as Sufilia disappeared, Masamune came into the storeroom.
　But there was no reply, and he tilted his head.

　Noticing her gaze staring at him from the window, Masamune climbed up the simple wooden spiral staircase and approached the second floor window where she would have been.

''.......Where did you go?''

　Suddenly, Masamune picked up a book that was placed on the table.

''The Property of the Old Master Craftsman Gordim........what is this?　That Sufilia guy, you want money?

　Masamune put the book back on the table and left the room.



*



　That night--.

　With Lucius, Electra and others, Masamune and the others were sitting around the dining table as usual.
　The timing coincides with the arrival of a waiter in the room, and Sufilia shows up.

''Ah, Sufilia, where have you been?''

'Welcome back, Master Masamune. I was in Dahms Ardan for a little while.

What, Dames Aldan?

"...just kidding. I just had to go to the library in the nearby town for a few minutes.

　Dames Aldan perished less than a year after Schneizel's disappearance.

　At first, the guards that had been guarding the customs house and the borders disappeared.
　The opposition appeared and merchants' carriages were attacked.
　Some of the merchants ignored taxes when they entered the country.
　When logistics ceased and life was impoverished, the people were forced to leave the country.
　After the people disappeared from the country, the buildings deteriorated so quickly that no one tried to stop them.
　After six years, the name Dames Aldan was forgotten.
　Now it was a roost for the barbarians.

　Masamune said, "What a joke," and invited the Sufiria to take a seat next to him.
　The Sufiria bowed and took the seat that Masamune had drawn for her.

''That's fine, Sufilia can use transference.''

　Toa said enviously.

　Transmigration magic is not something that everyone can use.
　There is a suitability, and the king of each country will always have one court mage who is good at transference magic by his side.

"Masamune has that bewildering thing.

Mumbo-jumbo...

　The Toa is referring to the dungeon vortex.

'Sarah, can you teach Nem some transition magic next time?'

Okay, if Nem can adapt.

　Perhaps Toa doesn't have the qualities of transference magic.
　That's why I still can't use transference.
　Masamune thought about that from Sarah and Nem's casual conversation.

'Masamune-sama, Latosphilia has moved.

....

Already on the front lines...

It's not my problem. It's time for dinner now.

　Sufilia is talking about the war.

　Six years have passed since the war between Yaki and the Underworld Sigma Deus began.

'A few days ago, I heard that Ixos was dropped by someone. The ringleader is said to be the bloodline of the Jishi.

　Lucius stopped the spoon he was sipping the soup with.
　His gaze was turned from the bowl to Masamune.
　But Masamune didn't meet his eyes.

''Even though it's called the Eight Regions, it was mostly the Tsunaguni that was at war with the Underworld, so if that place is dropped, it will inevitably determine the victory of the Underworld. The king of Latosfilia didn't like it and went to war.

　Sufilia explained to Lucius while looking at Masamune's face.
　Masamune realized the meaning of Sufilia's gaze.

''It's going to take a long time.......I hear that Latosfilia is a martial arts country.

　Lucius was concerned.
　In general, the human world and the demonic realm were isolated from each other and did not have close ties.
　But the demonic communication is a common information gathering tool, and information from the human world was constantly coming in.

　Different content, but essentially the same allegations were directed at Lucius and Sufilia respectively, and Masamune became silent.
　This wasn't the first time this had happened.

　There had been many conversations of this kind in the past six years.
　But Masamune decided to ignore it.

''You can talk about that later.

　Toa said grimly.

　There was no question now, but it was strange to Masamune at first.
　In the first place, only Lucius knew about the Jishi's bloodline in the first place.
　If that was the case, why does Sufilia say it in a prickly way every time?
　Is it because of the fact that the dragon's heart killed his country and his father, which is rooted in the fact that the dragon's heart killed his country and his father, and his dislike of the organization as an organization has grown stronger?
　Masamune had considered all the possibilities, but whenever the subject of the Jishi's bloodline came up, she turned her meaningful gaze to Masamune.
　But Masamune would not ask the Sufiria herself.
　He doesn't want to touch her while she is suspicious.

''But I'm worried about Raz Hausen.

　Nem spoke up, a little uneasily.
　But it was the same for Masamune.
　'There's Sierra and Patrick in the royal capital.

'It won't be all about Yagi, there are countless other countries scattered around. But someday Masamune-kun will leave here, won't he?

... well, I guess so.

Suppose the entire human world was then in the underworld, for example. In that case, it would be difficult to have an adventure, wouldn't it?

Is that the level of war you're talking about?　It's secondary to what my adventures are, isn't it?

But there's nothing more important to you than this, is there?

...well, maybe...

'Masamune, it's not you I'm worried about, it's Toa.

　The atmosphere in the room became more than a little grim.

'Father, don't. It's not like we have to do this now, we're going to be here for a while longer.

I don't know.

　Lucius put aside Toa's words and asked Masamune.

''You're planning to leave the demon country once soon, aren't you?''

Oh, really, Masamune?

What are you going to do with Toa then?

....

You must be getting tired of going out of town.

　I'm going to town - that's Masamune's cliché when he leaves the demon country.
　Naturally, Lucius knows this.
　That Masamune didn't go out to the town - he didn't go out to the town.

'Everything you start will come to an end one day. It's how you end it that's the key.

Do you have any idea how to end the adventure?

Then you'd better think about...

....

I have a feeling that your peril will kill Toa someday--

　Masamune's eyes widen as he stares at the tabletop.

''--Father!

　But the conversation was cut short when Toa got up from his chair.

　The Toa was angry with Lucius.
　But Toa didn't understand what this story was about.
　To her, it was just the difficulty of an overprotective parent.

　Lucius gets up from his seat and leaves the room.
　Feeling a faint suspicion of his condition, Electra also left.

'Masamune? .....

　A short while later, Masamune also sat up.

''I'm going to bed for the night.''

　There was no concept of sleep in Masamune's body right now.
　He turned his back to Toa and left the room in silence.



*



　Masamune sat by the fireplace in the dimly lit room of his own room in the Demon Kingdom, remembering the prophecy that had fascinated Artemias's prophet--the Magi woman.
　Meanwhile, Masamune's detachment - Amadeus - was among the dimly lit thrones in the moonlight.
　He was looking at a book he had acquired in Heilkwaite, called The Folly and Deception of Death and Life.

　Six years ago, there was still a separation of memories between the separatists, and each time it was necessary to break the separation and return to the original in order to unify them.
　But now, the thoughts of the separatists are connected to each other.

　Not far from the Beast Country, there was a large town not far from the Beast Country.
　One that hadn't existed six years ago.
　Amadeus - the other Masamune - had taken up residence within the palace of that town.

　A village was born, and from the village it became a town, and now the palace towered over it.
　William Vector, the great merchant, Roberts, the owner of the liquor store, and Francesca, the reporter of the Magical Communications.
　This is the environment that has been steadily built on their cooperation to make Masamune a king.

'I'm sorry to have gotten you involved,'

　Noticing the signs, Masamune told William Vector, who appeared in the throne room.

'I hear you've dropped Ixos. I hear it's related, or that the warlord of Latosphilia has moved on.'

'....it seems. But he can't beat Adolf with him.

''Then I guess the Detritus is next. Even if the trigger is the merger of the Empire and the Underworld, this is a war started by the King of the Eightfold, so eventually they're going to send their troops to Grayberg. If that happens, the towns and villages along the way will be damaged, and no small amount of peace will be lost from Bannome. Already, the logistics to this place are beginning to be affected.

What do you want me to do? --

　Meanwhile, the door to his room in the Demon Kingdom opened and Lucius appeared.

　And Masamune directed the same question to him as Amadeus.

''What do you want me to do? --

　Lucius--
'Do something about the war. You've got the power to do that.

　William--
The Underworld could be a threat to all of Vanome.

　Lucius--.
"There have been many wars before. But this one is a little different.

　William--.
'There are more than a few things I don't like to admit, but I suppose Yaki was a deterrent to war. Like the heart of a dragon, for example.

　The moonlight of the Devil's Land and the moonlight of a town with no name yet.
　Masamune and Masamune stared at the moonlit night simultaneously from different places.

　There was a reason why Masamune had avoided Adolf for the past six years.
　It started around the time when Adolf killed many of the beastmen who agreed with the Jishi's bloodline.
　In addition, Ignotus was also killed.
　Masamune had no intention of killing him in the first place, and he had planned to return both of his brothers to Laguparus eventually.

　Each time, he regretted his decision to change his mind that he shouldn't stop.
　As far as the lineage of the Jishi is concerned, as long as we can achieve the salvation of the beastmen and others and deter the oppressors, it's fine.
　But there was a part of him that had stuck his neck out in vain, and as a result, he had lost his friends.

　Masamune was tired.
　His daily vendetta against his classmates also affected him.
　The act of touching him was mental but physical.
　It wasn't that he wanted to kill from the beginning, but there was always some kind of death on the way to his goal, and each time he did, he killed someone.
　In the beginning, I didn't care about it because of the exhilaration, partly because of the rarity of magic and partly because of the self-expression that was being fulfilled.
　The deaths of others also felt light, especially those with the Shadow of Disgust in the air.

　But what followed was exhaustion.
　He couldn't manage everything.
　The more he tried to do things well, the more casualties would occur within the organization.

　The person Masamune was most concerned about was Toa - and he was most concerned about Toa.
　He considers the possibility that the sacrifices could fall on Toa.
　Because the battle between the abysses is also an inner exploration.
　He also believes that his involvement with Adolf will eventually kill Toa.

　In his own way, Masamune somehow looks forward and only carries out his revenge.
　But he wants to return to being an adventurer.
　Daily reminders of his time in Razhuisen and his daily life in Heilkwaite.

'Do you think it would be safe to take Toa out if we ended the war?

　Masamune asked Lucius for his thoughts.
　Lucius was also told about the prophecy that Masamune had seen.

''I don't know...''

....

'I don't know, but it's probably in jeopardy as it is anyway. If you won't do it, then I'll do it.

　Masamune was surprised.
　That's because the demon race is involved in the human world.
　It was also directly from the demon king.

　Coexistence between humans and demons is often difficult due to their power relationships.
　That's why most of them end their lives in the demon territory and never have any contact with people.
　The fact that the demon tribe does not get involved with people is also a kind of trust.

''If you do that, you will invite extra danger. Besides, you are no match for Adolf. He's an abyssal user too.''

Then we'll have to think of something else to do...

I'll go in.

'I'm not going to force you. Your reluctance to go must be due to some deeper thought. Your emotions in recent years have been difficult to read and understand. But I understand that they are.

I have my reasons.

I know.

But I can't help it, at least not at this point.

If it's your call.

I already know it's for the best, sir.

　There was a conflict within Masamune.
　But the conflict created an opening and the possibility of being swallowed by the abyss.
　It was a situation that could not be postponed any longer.

'The sooner the better, I'll leave here tomorrow. The Toa is in charge.

　At the same time, Masamune, who is in the palace, tells William.

'I'll take care of it.'

I see........we are depending on Masamune for everything, aren't we? Well then, let's call the meeting.

No, please don't tell anyone.

What do you mean by that?

'I'll take care of it personally. We can't afford to create any more casualties in our organization.

　Masamune's lazy gaze was still looking at the night sky.