When I left the bar after the meeting, a guy with some kind of creepy long hair came close to me.

"Seh, Second-sama?

　What a guy. How does he know my name?

Yeah, but...
'I knew it!　Myself a sorcerer's serum!　I found out about Mr. Second through Miss Sherry's referral!

　Oh. She was introduced by Cherie, right?

"I am Nymphe, the Spirit of the Wind. Lord Second-sama is the Lord of the Great King, and I am here to greet you as one of the spirits of the wind.

　A genie with a slightly strange Japanese language comes over to me. A serious looking female spirit Nymphe with short emerald colored hair, this guy was about 17,000 spirit strength, I believe.

''What do you want?''
I'd really like to see the Great Spiritual Master's one: ......

　Long-haired guy who rubs his hands together to check on me.
　I don't like people like this because they seem to think that they'll have plenty of time if they just flirt.

　--Hmm?

　It's a team-only communication.

　The sender is Yukari. The content is--"Assassination tips, be on the lookout" ......?


　...... Oh, yeah?　This Salem guy or whatever he's called?　How do you know how to assassinate someone?　Are you kidding me?


You don't like it?　Can't I just say no?

　Selam, who rubs his long red hair with a frivolous grin on his face while smoothing out his long red hair, looks like a catch in a tavern. Not very much, but he doesn't look like an assassin. In fact, it's doubtful that he's even a spiritist, but I've learned before that people are not always what they seem. Perhaps this is the technique of assassination, to approach someone like this, pretending to be a small person. I'm sure it is. It's very, very hard to believe, but it must be so.

　Oh well. Okay, let's say Salem is an assassin. What would this guy want?
　When I think about it, I suddenly don't understand.

　What's in it for this guy to watch Angolmore?　I have no idea.

Why do you want to see it so badly?

　If I don't understand, I ask. That's my style. It doesn't matter if there is an assassin there or not.

　Salem stared for a moment and then opened his mouth.

"That great spirit of the soil is the pinnacle of the spirit world, the one who made the great spirit of the soil be called the 'fearful one'!　As a sorcerer, it's only natural that you want to see it at all costs!　You'll never have an opportunity like this in your life!

　Well, that explains it. If you're a true sorcerer.

"............

　Hmm.
　Oh, I got an idea.

"All right, I'll show you.
Well, wait, are you serious?　Azusa!

　I glanced at Yukari, "Are you sure? He had a look on his face like this. It's fine.

　I'll summon Angolmore with 《Spirit Summoning》.

　And quickly.

(Make her kneel)

　I gave him that instruction with a telepathic message.

"(Gyoi).

　Angolmore gushed out a red lightning bolt as soon as it manifested, pinning Selam to the ground.

''Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ......!　What is it?!

　Selam crawled to the ground on his hands and knees and his head on the ground. And for some reason, Nymphe did the same and knelt down.

　...... How does this work? I think it would be the strongest if I could do this crawling technique in battle.

It is my prerogative as the Spirit King to rule by means of the lightning. But since it can only be used by a spirit who is a bewildered spirit and its master, its use is limited.

　I see. You force the scared guy's head down and scare him even more. It's a horrible ...... and it's a very Angolorean characterless technique.

It's a great honor to meet you, my dear sir. It's a pleasure to meet you.

　Nymphe, with her head on the ground, said with a slight shiver.

　I'm starting to feel sorry for him. It's time to make her look up.

''Raise your face.''

　A wonderful sense of unity. At the same time I was thinking, Angolmore made them both look up.

　Selam has a look of bewilderment and fear as well as excitement, while Nymphe has a look of awe on his face.

''Oh.

　Salem's eyes widened and he let out an exclamation of admiration. It was a reaction that was enough to make me think that he really wanted to get a glimpse of Angolmore and approached me.

　But there were two people who didn't miss that clever act.

' (...... This guy is a bit strange. I'll look into it through Nymphe. Wait a moment, my Second.)
Master. That man is looking for a way out.

　Angolmore's telegraphy and Yukari's earworm.
　They're really useful, these two.

---- ugh!

　What a thought.
　With a sudden ballyhoo and a strong electric shock, Nymphe collapsed on the spot.

''What, what?!''
　Salem gets impatient.

'Don't move, little boy.'
Ugh!

　Angolmore forced them down with the thunder of domination. ''You can do whatever you want, Great King.

"I know, I know. He's an intermediary of the Marvel Empire. He's been snooping around the adventurer's circles of Castal.
Wow!

　I couldn't help but shout out the words I'd missed.

　The Marvel Empire - in Mevion, it was famous as a 'martial nation'. I had the impression that they were a powerful nation that loved wars of aggression, and they would eventually have to go to war with the Castal Kingdom as well.

　I'm not sure if this is just a reconnaissance or not.
　Is it just a scouting mission or is it a recruitment mission? I'm not sure, but it doesn't sound like a very good reason.

What the hell is this, ...... have I done something to distract you? ......?

　Salem looked frightened. When I told Angolmore and made him look up, he was shaking a little with tears in his eyes. If this was an act, it was a big deal. As expected of an empire, even if it's a dog, it's still top-notch.

　I don't hate the Marvel Empire. I'm sure you'll agree with me that it's a very good idea to have a good time with them.

　...... All right.
　I'm going to make sure that the name of the man who will eventually become the world's number one will never be forgotten, and then I'll be on my way.

　I thought about that and opened my mouth with a grin.

'Thank you, Imperial Dog.'


　　* * *



　It was a fortuitous thing to be able to observe Sherry Lumberjack's spirit up close and personal.

　As expected of a genius spiritist, he was known as a genius spiritist. The great spirit of the soil, that was quite troublesome. It's a good candidate for recruitment for the coming war.

　No, but I can't accept that personality. In the course of the survey, statistics have been obtained that many spirit masters are timid and dependent on spirits, but she was almost the exact opposite. If she had spoken to the Great Spirit of the Earth in a situation where the Great Spirit of the Earth wasn't out in the open, her observation would probably have ended in failure.

　Well, rather than that, there was a big thing to prioritize right now.

　It's the Great Spirit King. I never thought he existed or that I could meet him.

　Now that it has been discovered that the one who uses the pinnacle of the spirit world is in a virtual enemy country, this one can't stay like this. We need to investigate the extent of it and return once to consider how to deal with it.

　Fortunately, Sherry Lumberjack led us to the potatoes. This opportunity must not be missed.

''Seh, Second-sama?
　I'll play the part of a joke and approach.

　Second, an emissary of the Great Spirit King, was an immensely beautiful man. He flicked his slit eyes and replied calmly with a single word, "Yes, but. With just that, you could tell that he was a man to be reckoned with. His careful vigilance in not exchanging unnecessary words, even with people he had never met before, was frightening.
　His behavior appears to be full of gaps at first glance, but a man who would use a spirit lord as an emissary would never do such a foolish thing in front of a stranger. Perhaps he is inviting us to join him. But my goal now is not assassination, but investigation.

　Then we exchange a few words. It seemed that they were quite wary of me. However, I must see the great spirit lord. I desperately try to bite down on him.

''Why do you want to see it so badly?''

　Suddenly, such a question came to me.

　Why do you want to see it?　I've already shown you my spirit. There should be no doubt that I am a spiritist now. Nevertheless, the meaning of asking "why". I don't know. Could it be that my identity is exposed?　No, this can't be true. .......

"The pinnacle of the spirit world, the one who made that great spirit of the soil call you a scary person!　As a sorcerer, it's only natural that you want to see it at all costs!　You'll never have an opportunity like this in your life!

　I returned it with a bit of emphasis, as I should have done.

　A moment. The expression quickly disappears from Second's face.

　Did I make a mistake ......!

　I am impatient. I knew that question was being tested!　Then, no way. This man called Second, in the short time since we met just a few seconds ago, had figured out that my main job was not to be a spiritist?　It's impossible. He's not an assassin, and a sorcerer can't possibly have such an eye for detail. But the fact is, I'm in a bit of a pickle: ......

Okay, let me show you.

　What is ......?

　A word too unexpected. I paused my joyful act for a beat. If this was a second "sway", I had foolishly revealed the biggest gap in my life.

　But as a result, I can now see the Spirit King with my own eyes. If I can achieve this goal, I can meditate on a few tears. It's enough to get you some change. If we can make Nymphe remember the rest and bring the information back to the Empire--


Guh......!

　My body moves of its own accord!　What is this?
　Even Nymphe has his hands on the ground. You're bringing the spirits to their knees!　It's not possible!

Heads up.
　A clear, neutral voice. I moved my free head and looked forward.


　............ This, here, is the great genie king.

　I didn't hear it. Ku, this is crazy. This is not good. Such a genie, such a .......

　While I'm letting loose, Nymphe is knocked unconscious. It was just a single blow. I can't even resist.

''Don't move, little boy.''
Ugh!

　I struggled to get out of it, but it wouldn't budge. It was no use.

　The Great Spirit King was such an overwhelming presence.

　I must definitely let him know this. Even a single existence of this great king could be a threat to the empire.

　For that reason, we must do whatever it takes to get through this situation.

''What is this? ...... Have I done something to offend you? ......?

　It's a compelling performance. I've been honing my skills every day since I came into this world as an agent of the Marvel Empire. It's a meritocratic empire, and it's top-notch. In a place like this, in a place like this--!


Thank you, Imperial Dog.


　Second laughed at that.

　My mind went blank, and then my eyes went dark in front of me.

　This man, you knew it all along: ......!

　Why!　How!　It's not possible!

　What did the Great Spirit King do?　No, but he didn't exchange a word with the Second. Is it that dark elf, then?　But there's nothing to indicate that I'm an imperial interloper. You don't think you can read minds: ......?　d*mn it, I don't know!


　...... Yeah. No, I know one thing.

　I lost. On my own field. The second was one or two better than the second. That's all.

　So much for my fate. It's the last stand - I'm making a plea.

"Well, I've got to write a letter to my family, if possible, before I die ......

　I will report this fact to the Empire at any cost. I found it to be the last mission left for me.

'Hmm?　I think you're mistaken about something, so I'm telling you, I'm not going to kill you.

　............?
　What are you talking about?

"You're not going to kill me ......?
Yeah, you can do whatever you want. You can come with us if you want.　We're going to hit the Prolin dungeon after this.
----

　I'm raptured.

　This man is crazy: ......!

　Knowing from the beginning that I am an Imperial spies, I dare to face you, swim, test, roll and play with you!
　He's so godd*mn comfortable because this is a game to him!

　I'm an agent of the Marvel Empire!　You're playing for your life!　How do you know that we can play with it?　How can you afford to be so generous!

　Horrible, horrible, horrible ......!

Oh, no, I'd love to.

　My voice, my body trembles. I can no longer act.

'Right. Then you can go home.

　When I was released from my restraints, I stood up on my strengthless legs and repatriated Nymphe, who had fallen unconscious and slowly backed away. Turning my back on this man was nothing but fear. "I'm going to wickedly guess that he might gouge my back for playing around.

'Tell your boss. "Tell your bosses that the world's most powerful man, the Second, prefers the way things are in the Marvel Empire.

　Our boss - namely, the Emperor.
　What it means.

"...... Yes, sir. I'll be sure to pass it on.

　The world's greatest man, Second.
　I left the Kingdom of Castal with a vow to never forget this monster.



　　* * * *



Are you sure you want to do that?
　After Seram left, Yukari quickly asked me if I was happy to let him go. I guess she meant that it was a good idea to let him go.

'Of course,'
But you're well aware that you were an Imperial spouse: ......
Yeah. Angolmore did some research for me.

　He later learned that he could extract memories from spirits that were completely subjugated. Furthermore, I heard that he could also control low-level spirits. The ruler of the spirit world is amazing, I thought again.

''But, well, you made a pretty good impression, didn't you?''

What?
...... hmm?

　The moment I say that, not only Yukari but also Sylvia looks at me like "Is this guy for real?". Huh?

Oh, you didn't know?　I like the Empire a lot, you know.
My second. I like it too.
Right. It's good, isn't it, Empire?
Hmm. Good.

　As Angolmore and I both sympathized, Yukari and Sylvia's eyes turned to 'No, this guy.

''Master. I don't know if you have noticed, but that was too "over the top".
'You claim to love the Empire, but you mentally beat up and drive away the Imperial spies and then fight with the Emperor, that's the devil's work.

　I was scolded. Well, I guess you're right.

"I see. Anyway, let's go proline.

　I'm not going to be able to get a good look at it.

"You're switching so fast. ......
Well, it seems to be your master, sir.

　I could hear Sylvia's dismay and Yukari's resignation from behind me. But whatever it is, I like the two of them following me.

　For about two months from now, we, the Firth Test, will be collecting mithril while gobbling up experience in the Prolin dungeon. This is not the time to talk about the empire or anything else.


　It's .......
　The not so distant future. I had no way of knowing at that time that this one incident in Salem would cause such a situation.