The final battle with the Demon King Yurisha came to mind.

　Lyle wielded his Miracle Armament, Levatein, and burned the Demon King and Freed in one fell swoop.

　When he returns to the human world, he will be hailed as a hero for killing the Demon King.
　He will be remembered forever as the bravest man in the world.

　But the next moment, he was in the darkness.

　He wandered around for days, with even his consciousness fuzzy, and eventually, little by little, he regained himself.
　Now his memory had returned completely, but he still couldn't get out of here.

''I have to go back.........''

　Lyle muttered half-heartedly.
　He continued to wobble and walk.

'I can't end up in a place like this ... as a brave man ... grabbing the glory ... more ...' ...more...!

　There was something nagging at the back of my chest.

　Ambition.
　A desire for power.
　A desire for control.
　A craving for these things....

"..........?

　Suddenly, a numbness ran through his right hand.
　The next moment when you wondered what it was, a light appeared in front of you.

"An exit...!

　I had a hunch.

　Lyle trudged forward.
　The light grew dazzling, and then...



　He found himself standing in the middle of the main street.



"We're back...?

　I look around.

　The Kingdom of Lemfiel──its royal capital.
　This is the place where Lyle and Fried were based together.

"Lyle...you?

　As I was walking down the main street, I was approached.

　When I turned around, a beautiful girl with a pleasant-looking face was standing there.
　Her blue hair in twin-tails and a yellow ribbon.
　The slender, tall figure was clad in silver light armor and carried a jade-colored long bow on her back.

''Ludmilla──''

　Lyle gulped.

　Ludmilla Deal.
　He was one of the 'Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge)', the strongest among the brave men.

　He is one year older than Lyle and seventeen years old.
　He was once with me on a mission as a brave man.

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm a good friend of yours.

''It's been a while. Haven't we been together since the Ramdo Forest?
Yeah, it's been six months.

　It was a large-scale battle to defeat the demon tribe, in which I participated separately from my master, Fried.

　I recall Ludmira's tremendous fighting style, which is said to have surpassed even the Demon King.
　The scene where she used her seraphic miracle armor, Raphael, to instantly wipe out hundreds of demons was a sight to behold.

　She is strong, dignified, upright, and straightforward at all times - and she is beautiful.

I'm glad to see you again.

　Lyle smiled.

　His spirits naturally lifted.
　His chest heaved sweetly.



　Lyle and Ludmira headed to the royal capital branch of the Guild of the Brave.
　The guild is a world-wide organization that unites the brave men and women of various countries.

　Lyle is going to report about the battle in the demon world and Ludmira is going to receive a new mission from the guild.

''I heard that you were chosen as a member of the Hundred Brave Men's Decisive Ride to the Demon World--I heard that you were chosen as a member of that, but you returned safely.
Yes, I managed to...

　Lyle slurs his words.

　What happened to the Demon King and Freed?
　Could they have killed them with that one blow?

　If Freed had returned to the human world alive...
　As a traitor and a hero, I would not escape severe punishment.
　Extreme punishment is also quite possible.

Um, is Fried the Brave back?
Freed... or is that your teacher? No, he's not back on this side.

　Ludmilla shakes her head.
　I was relieved.

'I thought he wasn't with you?'
Actually, my master is in the hands of the Demon King...

　Lyle slumped.

'It was defending me, and it was mortally wounded. I just couldn't confirm its end... I thought maybe it was coming back this way...

　I gave him an answer with a mixture of facts and lies.
　I trembled my body and bit my lip.

This is about as good an attitude as you can have as an 'apprentice grieving for the loss of a master'.

　If it's too excessive, it's too much of an act, but that doesn't mean that it might seem unsympathetic to be too nonchalant.

''Well ... yes.''

　Ludmilla gave a short nod.

'Some of the other brave men have come back, but most of them have been killed.
I will avenge Master's death. And then, like Master, I'm going to save a lot of people from the demon tribe...
'Yes. Those left behind must carry on the will of those who were scattered.

　Ludmilla nodded with a divine look on her face.

'But don't get too worked up about it. When you're sad, be honestly sad.
Thank you very much.



Welcome back, Lyle the Brave. Good to see you back in one piece. I'm sorry to call Ludmilla of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords as well.

　The head of the guild's branch - a well-dressed, mature man - greeted Lyle and the others with a smile.

　Lyle reported on what happened in the demon world.

　The guild also gave him some information.
　Besides Lyle, several other brave men had returned from the Demon World, and according to them, the Demon King was still alive.

　However, that Demon King is said to be different in appearance from Yurisha.

　Is he wounded in that battle and is he standing in for her?
　Or has he already been replaced by a new Demon King?

　Either way, Lyle's ambition of 'returning as a hero who killed the Demon King' did not come true.

(Oops, missed being a hero.)

　A small cluck of the tongue.

"...What's wrong, Lyle?
No, no, it's nothing.

　Lyle shook his head hurriedly at the quizzical branch chief.

''And then... while you were in the Demon Realm, three kingdoms on this eastern continent were attacked and destroyed by each other.
Three?
Yes, by the Demon King's advisor, the Lord Undead, Regal.

　The branch chief frowned bitterly.

''Currently, Regal's 'demons' are ruling over the three kingdoms. I've heard that the three kingdoms have been turned into a hellscape by the undead army.

　Ludmilla announced with a grim expression.

'That's exactly why I called you here. Ludmilla the Brave.'

　The Branch Chief looks at her.

''Please save the three kingdoms from the hands of the demons.
If you're on a strike down mission, I want it. I will destroy every single demon in the world by my own hand.

　Ludmilla bared her fighting spirit and said.

　─ ─ Dukun.

　Suddenly, something rang in the core of Lyle's chest.
　He didn't know what it was, either.

(I have to go, too.)

　Driven by a strange impulse that suddenly arose, Lyle told him.

''Would you be willing to take me along on that mission to defeat it?　I'm sure it will be useful to you.
'Hmm, I'm glad you're here but are you sure you're okay?　You've just returned from the demon world, haven't you?
"A lot of people are suffering. We can't just let it happen.

　Lyle tells him.

'As I told Ludmilla earlier. In order to carry on my master's will. I will defeat the demon race──this is my, my will and vow as a brave man.
Well said. That's what makes you a hero.
So, let's keep it together. Lyle.
Yes, sir.

　Ludmilla said to me, and my feelings were uplifted.

''...?''

　I suddenly felt a strange sensation in my right hand.
　A strange numbness that I felt even just before I came out of the darkness....

(What.........?)

　He slowly opened his clenched hand.

　In his hand, there was a black piece of metal.

''When did you get this thing...''

　With a click, purple sparks flew from the metal piece.

　　　　*

　As Yulisha raised her hands high, a sword emerged in the hollow.

　The jet-black blade that seemed to reflect the darkness.
　The beautiful gold decorated flange and handle.

This is the Purgatory Demon King's Sword (Radis). It is the symbol of the demon king and the magical tool that subjugates all the demonkind.
Subjugating demons...?
''Looking at your status, your level of 'demon obedience' is low, isn't it?　That's because you haven't inherited the Purgatory Demon King's Sword (Radis).

　In other words, inheriting this sword will increase your ability to obey the demons?
　I looked at the sword floating in the air again.

''...But it's pretty battered. For a symbol of a demon king.

　When I looked at the sword again, there were cracks here and there in the blade.
　Some parts of the blade were ripped off.

I heard it was broken in a battle with the gods in the past.

　Yurisha sighed.

''Hmmm.......one more wound.
What?
This sword is missing a total of six pieces. In the course of your battles, some of your swords have shattered, and the pieces seem to have been scattered throughout the demon world, the human world and the heavens...

　Yulisha arched an eyebrow and growled.

The damage has increased to seven. I hope the new pieces haven't fallen into the hands of your adversaries.