One afternoon, in a general store located off the main street of the Symphonia Kingdom, there was an alter ego of the owner, Alice, and her best friend, Iris.

''I have something that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
What... what is it?　From the bushes to the sticks.

　Nodding her head at the seriousness with which Iris, who was now under Isis's command and spent most of her time at her castle during the day, asked, Alice brewed a cup of tea and placed it on the wooden counter.

''It's about Isis-sama's subordinates. Ideally, I would like to have five more of them, but I understand that this is difficult to do.
Huh, so?
But we have to get one of them as soon as possible. You got any leads?
'Oh, so you're with me... no, I mean, why is there another one?　You don't currently have a subordinate role in this, do you?

　Although ISIS is improving, it is still feared around the world due to the influence of death magic, and as the Sixth King, he doesn't do much of anything.
　It's also a good idea to have a good time with your friends and family.
　And at the same time, Iris, who is under my command, doesn't have much work to do either. In fact, Iris is also basically only doing things like training or being a talker for Isis.
　So there shouldn't be any shortage of manpower, but....


"...Yeah?　Um, what?
That's why it doesn't look good. I'm now under the command of Master Isis. That means I'll be there with Master Isis at the Festival of the Brave and other occasions.
Yes.
'In that case, Master Isis, who walks in front of me, I won't look good if I follow behind!　We want at least two of us to follow in line slightly behind Isis-sama.
''........I wonder what it is?　This sudden unimportance of being dumped into an alternate universe...

　Hearing Iris' powerfully stated reason for seeking another subordinate, Alice let out a sigh with a heartfelt expression of dismay.

''Come to think of it, Iris has always been concerned about that kind of appearance.
'It's important to look good, right?　It's also linked to Isis-sama's rank.......Furthermore, according to the information you have obtained, 'a festival will soon be held in the divine realm', isn't it? If that's the case, I'd like to make preparations before then.
'I grabbed it, or rather, Black told me about it... haha, I don't care about it personally...'
"Please, Great Phantom King No Face.
'Stop!　All right, all right I'll help you.
Well, thank God I could use the help.
Would you really stop?　I've got goosebumps, I seriously feel like throwing up...

　Seeing Alice's heartfelt disapproval, Iris nodded with satisfaction. Alice let out a deep sigh once more, and then took a sip of her tea.

''So if you want me to help you, that means it's information, right?''
That's right. You once said that free Count-level high-ranking demon clans are 'scarce'... that doesn't mean they're not there, right?
It's true that in the vast world of magic, there are certainly lone wolf high ranking demons who are not under the control of the six kings and don't have their own subordinates in the vast world of magic, but the lone wolf has its own reasons. However, the lone wolf has its own reasons for being a lone wolf... They simply don't like the idea of being in a group, they are only interested in self-discipline, they have been reclusive for thousands of years, and so on... In general, it's hard to bring them under control.
''Well, I suppose so. Otherwise, the other Six Kings camp would have recruited them long ago.

　The difficulty of bringing in a free baronet-level high-ranking demon clan was something that Iris had expected, so she didn't feel surprised.
　The problem is........

''........So how many of them.......have the ability to be 'competent enough to be under the control of Isis-sama'?''
If you think about it based on the premise of living in Isis-san's castle, I'd still like to have an executive under the Sixth King's command.........................after all, I'd like to have the highest level of power under the Count class. If we're talking about the present, not in the future or anything, then there's one candidate.

　After announcing that, Alice took out a map of the demon world out of nowhere and continued to speak while spreading it out on the canter.

''........The demon race has lived for 18,000 years on a small island located in the northernmost part of the demon world, close to the land of death. To the best of my knowledge, she has never left that island for 18,000 years.
...Polaris the Stargazing Witch.
''Incidentally, Megide-san, Liliwood-san, and my subordinates recruited you in the past, but you refused all of them. However, as a test of strength, you fought one of the five Warlord generals, Epsilon-san, to a 'draw', so there is no doubt that you have the strength of a six-king executive level.
Hmm. Do you have any other information?
When my men visited her, they heard her looking at the stars and muttering, 'The time is not yet full.'
...and you're looking for an opportunity, is that it?
Yes, it's just my guess, but it's possible that she can have 'limited future vision'. That future vision may allow her to wait for the right moment to take some kind of action... well, that's about it.

　After listening to Alice, Iris crossed her arms as if she was thinking about something. After a few moments of silence as it was, Iris turned her back to Alice and headed for the exit of the grocery store.

''Well that was helpful. I thank you.
Are you going to go?
Yeah, well, I don't know what we're going to do until we talk to him.
'Oh, well, there's a chance of a battle, is that okay?　If you want, Alice-chan can follow you around.
''Hmph, you know it's obvious and yet you're so white. If that were to happen, it would be a good opportunity to test my 'magical armor'.

　With a light smile on her face, she put her hand on the door, where once Iris turned around and asked Alice.

''........Oh, I forgot to ask you. What level of ability do you think I have now?
It's really an interesting spell to come up with. The reason for the jump in ability in a short period of time is probably because of Isis-san's spirited guidance, though.
Well, to repay my king's kindness, I'll go recruit some good men.

　After nodding in satisfaction at Alice's assessment, Iris left the grocery store with a light wave of her hand. The magic power she wore in her small body seemed heavier and sharper than just a few moments ago.










　The small island at the northernmost tip of the demon world, the only resident there, Polaris, a starry-eyed witch, muttered to herself as she gazed at the stars in the night sky.

The time is not yet full. Then......

　While muttering to herself, there were tears in Polaris' eyes. And when they ran down her cheeks and fell to the ground in a single drop......she muttered as if she was putting all her thoughts into it.

''........It's been a long time. Fourteen thousand years........finally.......finally......I can serve you. The only king to whom I owe my allegiance...

　There, Polaris stopped speaking and slowly turned her gaze to the dead land beyond the sea.