Oh no..........

　That was definitely bad.........

　The students of Branch 5 who were there thought.
　Scary......... And yet, they couldn't remove their gaze.
　Their back teeth naturally shook and clattered.

　What the students were looking at was the demon called 17.

　At first glance, he appeared to be a young man of his age, not much different from their older brother and sister.
　However, his presence was different.
　It's neither murderous nor supreme.
　Just the mere fact that he was there was enough to grab your attention.

　It was as if he was staring at a suddenly generated mass of high gravity.

　Probably the demons around them were also quite a high number.
　However, the strength of the 17 seemed to be so extreme that those two could only be seen as complementary.

　I take pride in the fact that I was trained by Lacelle and her crony seniors.
　He should have gained enough strength to be able to cross over on his own if he was a lower level Fiend.
　So there was a part of me that was holding on to high hopes that I would be able to manage, even if a higher-ranked demon appeared.

　However, when he saw 17, he realized that it was a very naive calculation.

　But when I saw 17, I realized that it was a very naive calculation, and the scary thing was that he was only No. 17.
　To think that there are more than sixteen more strong, I want to faint at this point.
　Seventeen was so terrifying that even the students Lacelle had trained would shudder.

　Mattelus and Mucha were facing that 17.
　Sweat was smeared on their foreheads.
　Even though they were the same demons, they were also afraid.

''19........''

　17 finally raised his voice.
　It felt calm and icy cold.

'Ha!'

　The one who moved was a male demon standing beside him.
　From the lead-colored cloak that completely covered him, a thick arm like the trunk of a giant tree could be seen.
　Then he reached out his hand to his back.
　It was a large sword with a wide blade that looked like it could kill a dragon.

　The man swings the great sword like a light tree.
　A moment later, he jumped out of the way.
　In an instant, he invaded the distance between him and Mathels and the others.
　The next thing he knew, he was standing between Mattelus and Mucha with his sword swinging.

　Neither Mattelus nor Mucha could react.

　As it was, they were ruthlessly ripped off.

''Guaaaaaah!
'Kyahhhh!

　The screams of the two demons echoed.
　As it was, they ran into the walls of the houses.
　This area, which is in the opposite direction to the royal palace, is inhabited by the relatively lowly metropolitans in the Sow Trading Country.
　They were all indigenous people who originally lived on this island, who fished at sea and made a living.

　Apparently, they haven't come back from fishing yet.
　It was quiet and the houses that Matels and the others had rammed into were also empty of inhabitants, although there were still traces of people in them.

''Ouch...''

　Mattelus gets up.
　Beside him, Mucha also raised his upper body.
　Both of them at the same time, making sure their necks were attached.
　Instead, his side and shoulder throbbed and ached.
　Apparently they weren't slashed, but struck with the belly of a blade.

'Quite a greeting, 17 yo.

Don't be rude, 83, 17 is a higher number than you.

'Ha!　Since when did you have a hierarchy while I was out of the organization, 19, and your mom wouldn't have allowed it.

Shut up, 83, and if you don't reduce it any further and talk about it, I'll really cut you down.

Okay, okay. Okay, I understand. I'll take care of the koi-san, koi-san.

　Mattelus held up his hands.

'So do you, 47....'

　The one who came out in front of them further was a woman.

　She has curled blonde hair and large eyes.
　Her slender limbs are clad in a dress woven with black gold thread that has anti-magic capabilities.
　Her skin was white, her nose was straight, and her appearance was such that it was a waste of time to leave her as a demon.

''21........ Have you come out too?

　Mucha also raises his hand timidly.
　Still, 21 does not relax his vigilance.
　Its candy-colored eyes were giving off a sharp gaze.

　And the one who appeared between the 19 and 21 was 17.

''Now, let's get your questions answered, 83, 47.''

　17 slit eyes glow.
　That alone makes me feel like I've been beheaded and despair falls on my heart.
　Barely able to remain conscious, Mattelus and Mucha waited for 17 questions.

'Have you guys betrayed us or not?'

　It was a simple and core question indeed.

　Why had Mattelus and Mucha kidnapped the students of Chapter 5?
　Why were they aware that the hiding place of the Numbered Children (Numbers) was the Sow Trading State?
　And what is Lacelle's aim...?

　Kicking all of those questions to the curb, 17 was the first to question Mattelus and Mucha about their allegiance to the organization and Mom.

'I didn't betray you,'

　Mattelus replies.
　Hou, 17 snorted lightly.

　But Mattelus adds there.

'I betrayed you, not exactly, but I didn't--'

What's that?

That's very vague. I wonder if he's taking our top members for granted.

　19 and then 21 the killing spirit swells.
　Once they made a move, it would be easy for them to send Mattelus and Mucha's heads off.
　It would be almost impossible for the two to resist.

　However, 17 admonished 19 and 21.

'Wait, both of you,'

"17,

'It's easy to kill these guys. But I'm interested in what 83 and 47 have seen.

What have you seen...?

　21 gave him a dubious look.
　19, on the other hand, tied his mouth to a straight line.

'Speak, both of you.... What did you two see in Villa Amst - or rather, what did you see in Lacel Gilell Stark?

　Mattelus made eye contact with Mucha once.
　Immediately after, it was Mattelus who opened his mouth.

　Starting with the humanity of Lacelle Girell Stark, whose strength was still fragmented and unknown.
　That Lacelle had caught him, and after being asked only the location of his hiding place, he had been made to swim the whole time.
　And that Lacelle had set up a plan for a school trip and a raid on the base of The Numbered Children (Numbers) at the same time, in order to keep the students within his sight.

　There was no exaggeration or falsehood in what Mattelus spoke, it was just a fact.
　It would have been refreshing to hear it if Lacelle had heard it.
　Without a lie, Mattelus spouted only the truth.

　After hearing everything, 17 asked 19.

'What do you think?'

It doesn't sound like you're lying.

　19 stroked his chin.
　Somewhat indignantly, it was Mattelus.

'Ha!　I'm sure you'll be able to spot a falsehood in a heartbeat. Don't even think about it.

It's a sad day when it's true. To betray the "Numbered Children"...

　21 wrinkled her brow.
　It was Musha of the same gender who replied to her, full of anger.

'Our mission was supposed to be to watch over Lacelle in the first place.

Yeah. If we defy Lacelle, that's where the surveillance work ends.

''Ho......... It was only to continue the surveillance that you turned in?

　17 growls a small snort.
　The emotions of the two men beside him are obvious.
　They are clearly aiming at the traitor, with the intent to kill him.
　On the other hand, 17's emotions are unknowable.
　He remained expressionless, as if he was wearing a mask.

　At that 17's question, Mattelus and Mucha nodded at the same time.

　This is not a lie either.
　Except that it was approved by Lacelle........

　Then Mattelus lined up his words as if to fold them up.

I knew before I came here that you would look at me with suspicion. That's why I brought you a gift.

　He points to a frightened Chapter 5 student behind him.

'You want me to forgive your betrayal with that?　How dare you to be so cocky when you've blown up our hideout...

　Immediately afterwards, 21 becomes enraged.
　He rages with his entire body.
　Each time they do, their curly blonde hair shakes.

I'm not going to tell you the exact location of the hideout. That's why Russel decided to lure you out like this. It's a risk to the students that they might get hurt. If I knew the details of the location of the hiding place, I would have gone in alone.

''This situation is not in Lacelle's favor by any means. On the contrary, if you use it to your advantage, you'll get a lot of elements that will make you a demon.

You sound as if we're the ones who created this situation, 47.

　It was 19 that paid off Mucha's pursuit.
　Still, neither Mattels nor Mucha was intimidated.
　On the contrary, they continued to proudly make their case to the three top members.

''To put it bluntly, that's what I mean. ....but do you still want to purge us of the traitors?

　Neither 19 nor 21 refrained from giving an immediate answer.
　I leave it to 17 to decide.
　What Mattelus and Mucha did was an unforgivable mortal sin in that they endangered the Numbered Children.

　However, they certainly created a situation that resulted in luring Lacelle in, as well as gaining a lot of elements.

'Okay,'

　17 spits out.

　A bit of tension loosens from Mattelus and Mucha.
　As if to tighten it up, 17's cold voice echoes.

'I'll leave this decision up to my mum.

Well, it's for you, Mom. 17.

　21 looked dubious again.
　19 was silent.

'In the first place, quarrels between demons are not allowed. Remember, both of you.

'Ta, that's true, but......... But--

21, refrain from doing this, it's 17's decision.

Okay.

　Finally, 21 breaks too.

　While looking at 21, who is dropping his shoulders, Mattelus grins.

''So quarrels between demons are illegal........ I see. Just in case, you'll recognize me as one of them, right?

Don't get cocky, 83, and let your mom decide. That's all.

Heh.... I understand.


　I have no idea........


　A voice suddenly sounded.
　It wasn't Mattelus, nor was it Mucha.
　It wasn't 17 and the other demons.

　But a cheerful girl's voice echoed through the back streets of the Sow Trading Country.

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

''No way--''

　By the time I thought about it, I had run out of the house with Mucha.

　There was a girl there, swinging her flaming twin-tails.
　Beside her, there was also a boy with a sword.

　Behind the two of them was a student from Chapter 5, whose face was glowing with the students he had captured.

''You guys!''

Shit!

　Mucha and Matelus contorted their faces grimly.

''I've listened to you, both seniors. No, it's strange to call them seniors. Or should I say traitor?''

　Even in front of the five demons, his high-handedness did not change.
　Rather, he looked more imposing than usual.

''I'm sorry, but........ Now that I've found them, I'll have to stop them.''


　A descendant of the brave--Lelivia Dee Dillivan, that is!