Chapter 1: Pest Control
Stretched out on the bed, Diablo let out a deep sigh.
—Today was a friggin’ rough day...
It was always like this whenever there was an accident or trouble of some sort, but today was especially bad. Just remembering it was a pain for him, so he wasn’t going to recount it here. He had, after all, managed to expend a drastic amount of his MP, and had taken the most damage of his party since coming to this world.
In Cross Reverie, Diablo wore the most powerful equipment that could be found in the MMORPG, and had maxed out their stats by reinforcing them. Attacks that would kill a normal person instantly were for him a mere notice he had been hit.
But right now, he had taken on some serious injuries. Though the Demon Lord Krebskulm’s attacks had consisted of irrationally throwing objects at him like a child, the attacks had managed to easily break through the damage-reducing effects of his ultimate equipment.
—I guess I should have expected that from a Demon Lord. If Krebskulm had completely regained her memories, then my equipment might not have been enough to win.
“.........”
“Why the long face, Diablo?”
The left side of the bed creaked; laying by his side was an Elf girl. Her soft, golden hair spread out like a flowing river, touching Diablo’s arm, tickling a little.
Her name was Shera L. Greenwood. Not only was she part of the race considered the closest related to the Celestials of old, but she was also a princess who had left her home in search of freedom. Diablo was pretty used to being around her, but if she were to approach him unawares like this, he would still get a little nervous even now.
But the truth of the matter was that he was nothing more than a socially inept gamer who spent all his time holed-up in his room. He sucked at talking with people, and the only way for him to communicate here was to use the Demon Lord role play he used in Cross Reverie. This went especially so for women as he had almost zero experience talking with them.
Sprawled out only fifteen centimeters away from this solo player with zero resistance to girls was a golden-haired Elf who looked like a CG image had come to life. His heart was almost beating out of his chest, but letting this pathetic side of him show was unbecoming of a Demon Lord.
Throwing himself into Demon Lord-mode, Diablo declared with great self-importance:
“Why the long face, you ask? Heh, it should be quite obvious... That is because I peer into an abysm so unfathomably deep, someone like yourself would never even be able to begin imagining it.”
“Wow, that sounds kind of amazing! But, what does ‘abysm’ mean?”
Perhaps it was because she was so innocent (or simple-minded), but Shera’s level of thinking was roughly on the same level as that of a child. She looked at Diablo, awestruck.
But in reality, the only thing Diablo was peering at was the unusually abundant cleavage of a certain Elf girl...
“...His use of ‘abysm’ is a metaphor for something so profoundly deep, it is impossible to know how far down it goes.”
Sitting opposite Shera on the right side of the bed was another girl—Rem Galleu. If Diablo were to move his hand in the slightest, he would touch her rear where a black, cat-like tail unfurled from a hole in the back of her spats.
Rem sported glossy black ears and a tail similar to a black panther, as well as black hair, all a result of a rare trait among her race. Yet she was in possession of quite the slender figure for a fourteen-year-old: the faint outline of her ribs along her sides, the shapeliness of her arms and legs, and a lean body that all came together to draw one’s gaze to her and keep it there. Her long, black hair spilled over her body like ink.
“...Diablo, a lot has happened today, so why don’t you rest up now?”
Rem would always think a little bit before she spoke; she was a rather intellectual girl.
“Hm, then I guess I’ll do just that.”
“...All right.”
“Sleepytime, sleepytime, time for sleepytime ?
“When nighttime is over, it’s time for breakfast time ?
“We’ll dream of donuts n’ marshmallows n’ cake ?”
While singing one of her strange homemade songs, Shera pulled a small child up on the bed. The child in question had cream-colored hair, and two thick horns growing out of either side of her head. Her ears were larger than an Elf’s, and her eyes, slightly tinged with a sense of trepidation, were a brilliant amethyst purple that would almost never be found in any of the races. This was the youthful body of the Demon Lord Krebskulm, or Klem for short.
“A-Are you sure? Having me here, too...”
“Why not?” Shera asked, head tilted. “Do you not want to sleep together? Is it because the bed’s too small after all?”
Klem screwed up her eyes. “I killed some of the races, you know!? I even tried to kill Diablo... Do you not think I’m dangerous!?”
“Ahaha! The only one really worried about that stuff was Sylvie!” With a laugh, Shera pat Klem on the head.
Sylvie was the leader of the Adventurer’s Guild. Due to the position she held, Sylvie had stated that, even if Klem was just a child, she could not be allowed to remain in town. It was a fact that Klem had turned into the Demon Lord Krebskulm and rampaged about town, and if Diablo hadn’t faced her, it would have been reduced to rubble.
But there were extenuating circumstances surrounding this series of events. For one, the person she had killed was the Paladin, Saddler, a psychotic individual likened to a murderous demon. Both Rem and Klem had narrowly avoided being killed at his hands.
—Allowing a guy like that to stay in town while not doing the same for Klem is just wrong. She’s just a kid right now... Being so uneasy of her despite that makes me feel pretty bad for her.
But offering kind words to a young girl wasn’t exactly what a Demon Lord would do. So, raising himself up, Diablo went to tell her that she didn’t have to worry, while still maintaining his air of dignity.
“Hmph... You claim you tried to kill me? Do not make me laugh. Attacks such as those would never work against someone like myself, for I am a true Demon Lord! If you doubt me, just try and face me again; but be warned: I shall not hold back this time. I will reduce you to nothing but ashes.”
Shera and Rem both wore uneasy expressions on their faces.
“Aww man... I don’t wanna see any more fighting, OK?”
“...Please, calm down, you two.”
Diablo was sweating on the inside. Had he gone a little overboard with his challenge? Was this another display of just how much he sucked at talking with other people? If she were to say, “Then bring it on!” or something similar, it would be a tremendous pain in the ass for him to deal with.
“Uheheh, then I’m glad!” Klem leapt onto him. “You’re pretty tough, huh! I’ll praise you for that!”
She wrapped herself around him; perhaps it had something to do with her being a child, but her body temperature was high. Faltra’s temperate climate was also to blame, but the little girl he was wearing like a muffler was making him feel a little warm.
Crude chains jangled around Klem’s neck. As well, Rem touched the collar that was wrapped around her own. “...Thinking about it, since you cast enslavement magic upon her, Klem wouldn’t be able to fight with you anyway.”
To put Sylvie’s fears to rest, Diablo had cast the magic on Klem to make her completely obedient to him. As proof, an enslavement collar was clamped firmly around her neck. The particulars behind how she had received it were different from Rem and Shera, but the collars were all pretty much identical.
Diablo once again leaned back into the bed. “We’re going to sleep.”
“Okey-Dokey!”
Though Shera had the most adult-like figure among the group, she acted the most childish. She snuggled in closer with her voluptuous body.
Klem was still hanging off him, as per usual. He was a little hot because of that.
“Very well, time to sleep! Well, a Demon Lord like myself doesn’t really need to sleep, though...”
Rem hesitantly laid down at the edge of the bed. “...Then good night, everyone.” Reaching out to the wall-mounted candle, she covered it with something resembling a metal ladle, extinguishing the flame.
As the room darkened, Diablo was immediately assaulted by a sense of drowsiness.
He didn’t notice it, but from a crack in the wall, a terrifying presence was observing him...
†
Scratch, scratch, scratch...
Diablo heard an unfamiliar sound above him. It was like the sound of a tiny devil scraping its claws against something.
The first to jump to their feet was Rem, who smacked the bed.
“Diablo!”
“Wha—!?” After hearing the smack right next to his head, Diablo woke up with a shout.
The room was enveloped in darkness. Back in the game, if you found yourself in the darkest depths of a dungeon, no room was completely pitch-black. Even in particularly dark areas of the game, if you just slid the brightness on your monitor to full-blast, then you would never fail to notice something that could be the deciding factor of you winning or losing. But this was another world, not a game. Darkness was just that: darkness.
—I had a feeling something like this might happen, so I thought up a countermeasure for fighting at night!
Diablo thrust his arm towards the ceiling: “?Light?!”
A ball of light flew up to the ceiling, bursting apart as it made contact and brightened the room. It was a beginner-level spell, one that he had practiced using in his spare time. It looked like his training had yielded good results.
Shera rubbed her eyes against the sudden brightness. “Mmm~? What’s going on?”
“Zzz... Phew...”
Though Klem had said a Demon Lord didn’t need sleep, with all the commotion and how bright it was around her, she was still knocked out.
“Diablo, over there!” Rem pointed toward the wall.
“Hm!?”
A small creature scurried up the wall. It was a shade of ashen-gray so dark it almost appeared black, and had a long, thin tail. It disappeared inside a crack between the ceiling and the wall; it was a little mouse.
Just as Diablo was about to yawn, convinced it was only a mouse, he suddenly realized something.
—Wait, wasn’t there some kind of noise right by my head!?
“W-Was it chewing on my horns!?”
“What!?” Rem and Shera both stared at him intently.
—A Demon Lord who gets his horns chewed on by a mouse would be stupidly lame, wouldn’t it??
He broke out in a cold sweat.
“I don’t see anything different about you,” Rem sighed.
“Yeah, you’re the same Diablo as always~” Shera gave a sleepy smile.
He wanted to collapse he was so relieved, but for now he put on a face that made it seem like this was exactly what he was expecting.
“W-Well, there is no feasible way a mere mouse could cause me any kind of damage. Hm.”
—Oh thank god...!! I was in danger of ending up like Do**emon for a second there!
Rem turned to look at the gap the mouse had disappeared into. “It wouldn’t be strange for it to have caused damage to our provisions or equipment. Let’s go buy some tools for pest extermination tomorrow.”
“Hmph. The next time I see it, I will blow it away with my magic.”
“...It seems like we would lose the ceiling as well if you did that.”
“Then we could see the stars in the skies, too~ Fwahhh~” Shera yawned, a smile on her face. Then she suddenly asked him: “Hey, Diablo? When will this bright light thingy go away?”
“Hm?”
The Light spell he cast earlier was still in effect. Now that he thought about it, though he had practiced for a countermeasure to fight at night, he never thought of a way to get rid of it. Either way, he wore a composed smile on his face as he answered.
“Heh. If you call yourself an Adventurer, then you should be able to sleep in bright places as well.”
To be perfectly honest though, even Diablo thought it would be hard to fall asleep like this.
—Damn you, stupid mouse!
Never before had he wanted to murder a rodent so badly.
Seemingly not troubled in the slightest by all this, Rem was already laying down.
“...Personally, I find that brighter is better. Now I don’t have to worry about being ambushed during the night, which makes it easier for me to sleep.”
“Whaaat~? But it’s so briiiight.” Grumbling to herself, Shera slid off the bed and headed toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Diablo reflexively asked her.
—She’s not just going to up and leave because she’s fed up with this, right...?
Shera’s cheeks turned red. “Bathroom...”
“I-I see. I shall allow it; be on your way.”
“Yeah...”
As Shera walked out into the hallway by herself, she let out a shriek.
†
This time, Klem was the one who leapt out of bed. “What the heck’s going on!?”
With the effect of “Light” still continuing, Shera re-entered the room—along with one other person. Her arm was being twisted behind her back, and she had a dagger pointed toward her chest. Her face was frozen out of shock and fear.
The assailant was someone Diablo and the others knew all too well.
“Alicia!?” Rem shouted.
“Miss Rem...!? Y-You’re still alive!?” It seemed the Imperial Knight was equally shocked.
“...Yes... Because of your lies, I was almost killed by Saddler, but I was saved by Diablo and Shera.”
“I see...”
An expression of relief came across Alicia’s face; however, the tense atmosphere once again returned to the room.
“Do not move a muscle! I am completely serious!” The tip of the dagger touched the part of the clothes that covered Shera’s voluminous chest.
“Eek!?” Shera seemed like she was on the verge of tears.
Standing in the doorway of the room, Alicia was holding Shera hostage. Diablo and the others got out of bed, steeling themselves; they couldn’t afford to make any careless moves in a situation like this.
Klem fixed a blistering glare on Alicia. “You’ve got some nerve showing yourself in front of me. Let Shera go; afterward, I’m going to tear you limb. From. Limb.”
Though she had the appearance of a young girl, the killing intent emanating from Klem was the real deal. It was almost enough to worry about her becoming the Demon Lord Krebskulm again.
“...Once I finish my business here,” Alicia shook her head, “I will release Miss Shera. Please feel free to do whatever you like with me after, tearing me limb from limb or otherwise.”
“Oh...?”
“I have heard the Demon Lord has the power to heal other Fallen.”
“Well of course I can.”
“Then, could I have you come this way?”
They moved to the room next door; the room Alicia was renting was still there. They never thought she would actually come back, so they had never bothered to go check it out.
Splatters of purplish-red liquid dotted the floor. There was a girl lying in the bed—
—it was Edelgard.
“A Fallen!?”
Rem was on high-alert, but it was obvious Edelgard’s injuries were serious. Red and violet blood was spreading over the sheets, and the color of her skin was turning deathly pale. If this was one of the races, Diablo would have suspected it to be a corpse. The Fallen turned into particles of light when they died, so she still had to be alive.
It all made sense now to Diablo.
“Now I see... So you two were connected. Back when we met with Edelgard at Starfall Tower, she never once asked who you were, despite the fact we had brought you along on such short notice. I thought it was strange back then, but... So, that means the reason Edelgard never confirmed whether or not I had the ability to transfer magic energy was because you had already relayed the fact I learned the technique from the slave trader.”
Not just Alicia, but Rem and Shera seemed surprised as well.
“As to be expected of you, Sir Diablo.”
“That’s incredible... I never thought you would notice all of those minute details.”
“I never noticed any of that!”
—Am I just the kind of guy who worries about small things too much? Or is it that the girls are just more careless than I thought?
Whatever the case, while he had been concerned about the connection between Alicia and Edelgard, he never said anything about it, and that had almost gotten Rem killed. He couldn’t exactly brag about this.
Klem stood in front of the bed. “So, who was she done in by? I thought her to be a pretty strong Fallen.”
“This was done by the others.”
“What? Why is a Fallen getting beat up by other Fallen?”
“I formulated a plan to bring about your true resurrection, Lord Krebskulm, thinking the barrier surrounding the town would be destroyed when it happened...” Alicia then told of what happened with the rest of the Fallen, keeping her dagger pointed at Shera as she pleaded.
“Please, Demon Lord Krebskulm, please...save Lady Edelgard.”
Arms crossed, Klem turned toward Diablo. “What do you think?”
“Help her.”
—I’d feel kinda bad letting her just die like this...
Thinking that everyone valued life, no matter who they were, was just another side-effect of his peaceful life in Japan. He never thought to forcefully change his way of thinking.
—After coming to another world like this and killing monsters, some people might lose their resistance to other people dying. Some of them may even get used to taking the lives of others, eventually.
Diablo was different, at the very least. If there was someone actually about to die in front of him, he wanted to help them in any way he could. He wasn’t the kind of idiot who would say it was better to be killed rather than kill someone else; but if he had the choice, he thought it best if no one had to die.
“If you say so,” Klem nodded, “then I’m not against healing a Fallen either.”
She placed her small hands against Edelgard, dark blood sticking to them.
“Hahhhhhhh!!”
As Klem began to put some effort into it, Edelgard began to stir.
“Ngh... Mmgh...”
“Heeyahhhhhh!!”
Rem looked toward the door, concerned. “...Will this be all right? It’s already fairly late.”
“It should be fine. After all, it was fine whenever you would shout out loud before.”
“Mmph...”
Diablo attacking her ears, Shera pouring magic energy into her... Rem’s screams had resounded throughout the inn quite a few times already.
Klem’s yells and Edelgard’s moans of anguish continued.
“Hoyaaaaargh!!”
“Agh! Ngh...guh!”
“Yeeargh!!”
“Hah! Mghm, ahhhhhhhh!!”
“Hergahh! Ahh... I’m pooped...so I’m gonna be quiet now,” Klem said, wiping the sweat from her brow.
“If you could do it without yelling, then you should have done it like that from the beginning!” Diablo snapped back with a retort.
“Mmm... I mean, I could do that...”
“Would there be any problems?”
“If I don’t, then it doesn’t seem like I’m doing something all that amazing, right? I am amazing, you know!?”
“Yes, yes, so amazing. But you should do it quietly, or else we’ll get kicked out of the inn.”
When she was angry, Mei, the receptionist for the Peace of Mind Inn, was downright terrifying.
Klem shut her mouth and concentrated. Letting out an especially loud cry, Edelgard arched her back—and then fell back down, exhausted. It seemed like the bleeding had stopped.
Shockingly enough, Edelgard immediately lifted herself up, even though it seemed like she could have died at any moment up until now. Stepping down from the blood-soaked bed, she took a knee and knelt on the floor.
“Demon Lord... Edelgard, is honored! Thankful? Thankful!”
“Of course, of course.”
“Um... Demon Lord, alive? Why, did you, turn back? Like this?”
“Something very sad happened to this Demon Lord...or at least, I thought something sad had happened. The whole world turned red... But I was wrong. Nothing happened, so I turned back.”
“I, see.”
“As long as I can keep on eating biscuits, then that’s all I need. What’s so wrong with that?”
Edelgard deeply bowed her head. But then—
“Do not, understand... Don’t, understand? Don’t, understand! Fallen, kill the races. Destroy them. Why?”
“Who knows?” Klem cocked her head to the side. “I’ve already decided I will live in this town, so just stop doing these sad things. If you won’t listen to this direct order from the Demon Lord, then know you will no longer be my subordinate.”
“I, swear... Will never, go against...Demon Lord’s will, again,” Edelgard gave her assent.
It seemed like there would be no problems on this end. Edelgard had always been the reasonable type; her loyalty to the Demon Lord was much more important than killing the races.
†
Alicia released her grip on Shera, sheathing her dagger. “My humblest gratitude... Now, as agreed, how will you be dealing with me?”
“...Will you tell me your reason for doing all this?” Rem asked.
“The reason I handed you over to Saddler? Why, it was for the sake of reviving the Demon Lord. I am a Demon Lord worshiper who desires to see the Demon Lord be resurrected after all.”
“...So it seems. But what I want to know is how an Imperial Knight, who is also the daughter of an aristocratic family, became a Demon Lord worshiper.”
Alicia grit her teeth. She had an unpleasant look in her eyes, and a vaguely wild expression had taken over her face. This was completely different from the sociable, goody two shoes persona she usually showed. It seemed her current state exemplified her true nature.
“Have you ever thought that humanity should just perish? Have you ever screamed, ‘I’ll fucking murder you, you piece of shit!’ on the inside before?”
“...Putting aside the severity, yes, I have been angered by others before. Probably a lot more than you would think.”
“I was forced to continue abiding by this sense of what is ‘right,’ one that I could never accept...”
“...Considering your standing, are you referring to your time back in the capital?”
“My parents, the other Imperial Knights, the ministers in the royal court...even the king himself. Of course I would begin thinking of the races as unseemly—enough for me to wish for the whole world to go up in flames.”
“...Did something happen?”
“On the contrary; it may have been for the best if nothing special did happen. If it hadn’t, I may have been able to consider it all as some sort of extraordinary ‘accident.’ I believe I have spent too long pretending that all my self-interests were virtuous, and spending time with people who are admirable only in title alone.”
“...I see.”
“Perhaps it would have been better to throw away my country and become an Adventurer instead,” Alicia said as she looked at Shera.
After a moment, Shera finally realized she was the one being referenced here.
“Oh, yeah! I went through some bad things back home, but now I’m having a lot of fun! Being in the forest at night was scary...but thanks to Rem and Diablo, things are fun now!”
“Why did you not destroy the country of the Elves?”
“Huh!? W-Well, I mean, that kind of life just didn’t fit me, that’s all... I may have left everyone behind, but as long as they were still happy, then that was fine with me...”
“Do you not think the thing you hated so much should never be allowed to exist in this world?”
“Nope, not really.” A completely laid-back response from Shera.
“I could never forgive it,” Alicia said through clenched teeth.
“...So you grew to hate the races, becoming an Imperial Knight in order to destroy them all?” Rem asked, a pained look on her face.
“Yes. I thoroughly believed the most efficient way to bring about ruin to this country was to revive the Demon Lord.”
“Good lord...”
They never could have imagined that harbored inside the righteous and respectable Alicia they thought they knew was actually a cesspool of hatred and vitriol.
If Alicia had a more flexible, looser personality, then maybe she could have been saved. Even if something terrible happened, if she had been able to blow off steam by doing something else...
—Maybe I’m kind of like that, too? If I had a better way of releasing all my negative emotions, maybe I could have been a bit more positive about my own life. Maybe I would have tried a bit harder... Maybe I wouldn’t have run away to an online game, playing it to the point I could be called an addict...
Alicia was a serious person, there could be no doubt about that. She would always apply herself fully to what she did, never compromising. As a result, when faced with her hatred of the races, she was completely serious in attempting to erase them all—and that was by making her end goal to resurrect the Demon Lord.
Alicia fixed her eyes on Klem. “Demon Lord, do you truly not wish to destroy the races?”
“You talk too much. I wouldn’t feel despair over what happened with Rem if I hated them as much as you did. Besides, the only people I know are everyone here, and Petre.”
“Petre’s” was the name of a bakery located in the southern district of town that sold mouthwatering biscuits. The shop was run by three Grasswalker brothers, but they all came together under the moniker “Petre.” It was more like a unit name, rather than an individual name.
Alicia nodded. “...I see. Well, then...it appears there is nothing left for me.”
Hanging her head, she once again unsheathed her dagger—and pressed it against her own neck.
“Wh-What do you think you’re doing!?” Rem said, panicked.
“I believe you will never forgive me for betraying you... If that is indeed the case, then I should bring an end to this myself.”
“Don’t do something so stupid!”
“Do you really think so? It’s true that you will not forgive me, correct? I was not threatened, nor was I ordered by anyone to do what I did. I turned you into a sacrifice, Miss Rem, all because I was expecting the resurrection of the Demon Lord to bring about a mass killing of the races.”
“...I am amazed at how sincere you can be about this, even when you are so wrong! You do realize there is no one else like you in this world, right?”
“Of course. It is because of how different I am that I harbor these feelings of ill will for everyone around me.”
“...Then please understand that I do not wish for your death.”
“What!?”
Even Diablo was surprised to hear this. The one who had it the worst in this whole incident was Rem, after all.
“What do you mean?” Alicia asked, a look of disbelief on her face. “Do you consider me a friend because I helped to save Miss Shera? Then you are sorely mistaken. The only reason I assisted then was because the prospect of victory was sufficient enough; not to mention my cooperation would help me earn your trust. I am an enemy to all the races.”
“...If that is the case, then why did you let Shera go unharmed?”
“Huh?” Alicia seemed perplexed by Rem’s question. “Because...that is what I promised...”
“If you truly wanted to kill the races, and you were even prepared to off yourself, then you should have stabbed Shera.”
“Th-That’s scary!” Even if it was only an example, it made Shera break out in shivers. She hid herself behind Diablo.
“There is no need to be concerned. The fact she did not do as such proves Alicia’s claim of wanting to kill the races as false.”
“Hmm... Then, does that mean Alicia doesn’t really hate the races?”
“I’m sure she has someone she loathes more than enough to kill. At the very least, however, it appears you are not one of those she desires to kill no matter what before she meets her own death. Good for you, Shera.”
“Yay!” Shera threw her hands up in the air.
Rem pointed at Alicia with her index finger. “...Alicia, I am sure you feel a great hatred toward someone amongst the races. Even so, you felt relief knowing that I was safe, and even left Shera unharmed. There is a dissonance between what you say and what you actually do.”
“I see... That may be true.”
“...Well, how about it? Do you really want to kill us?”
“It is just as you have said, Miss Rem. Though I am a bit hesitant to do so, we may have our fight here.”
“If you are so hesitant, then please, stop this!”
“But, leaving things unfinished like this is not proper... I-I have to follow through on what I said...”
“...Why are you so needlessly diligent? Do you not find the things coming from your own mouth to be quite strange?”
“I am no normal person, after all. I... I’ve had enough of this! I never expected for anyone else to understand... After all...! I am alone!”
In the end, without any attempt to cut Rem down, Alicia made as if to thrust the blade into her own neck. Rem reached out to stop her, but she would never make it in time.
Shera let out a small scream and shut her eyes.
On a fundamental level, Klem and Edelgard held little regard over general loss of life and looked on, unperturbed.
“?Arms Scrap?!” Diablo chanted.
The tip of Alicia’s dagger made contact with the white skin of her throat. At that instant, the blade crumbled away. As if it had been made of sand, the dagger turned into silver granules of dust and fell to the floor.
“Wha...!?”
Not just Alicia, but almost everyone in the room was shocked as they looked at Diablo.
†
Diablo had saved Alicia out of nowhere. He had to say something; the silence was killing him.
“Ah, that...was a weapon-destroying spell... Though it only affects unenchanted weapons.”
The first thing he had blurted out was an explanation of his magic. He knew this wasn’t what everyone was expecting him to say, but if he could just throw out something suave in a situation like this, he would have been able to live his life a whole lot better off.
Back in the game, “Arms Scrap” had no effect on equipment that was Rare level or higher, so it was basically useless against other players. It was, however, effective against monsters that carried weapons, and would deal a significant blow to their attack power.
“...Um... That was a very impressive spell and all, but...” Rem wore an expression of bewilderment on her face.
Alicia looked at Diablo, an imploring look on her face. “Why did you interfere? What are you thinking, Sir Diablo?”
—I wasn’t thinking about anything! I’m sorry!! I just didn’t want to see someone die in front of me, even more so considering she was our ally for a short period of time...
...But a Demon Lord who valued human life just seemed out of character.
Edelgard, who had stayed silent while kneeling down this whole time, suddenly stood up.
“Pointless, to die.”
The question marks were almost visible on everyone’s faces. No one knew what she was trying to say.
Realizing that her explanation was a little lacking, Edelgard continued: “Even, if you die~ No benefit, for them. That’s why, pointless, probably? Pointless!”
“So you’re saying I should make it up to them,” Alicia spoke, turning to look at Diablo. “But how?”
—Don’t ask me, I never thought about the pros and cons of keeping someone alive or not... Fallen sure are scary.
Even so, Diablo never lost his composure. It would take much courage on his part to reveal that he didn’t really have an answer for her.
“Hmph... You ask what you should do? You are thicker-skulled than I originally thought if you can’t even understand that much.”
—I have no idea myself, though...!
After thinking it over for a bit, Alicia nodded. “So, you’re saying...that I should die after being of some sort of use to you, correct?”
“Y-Yes.”
—Well, die from old age, that is...
“But is there anything I can still do?”
Rem tilted her head. “...You are an Imperial Knight, Alicia. In order to help us, you’ve already stopped troops from being dispatched, haven’t you?”
“I do not know if I will still have my position as an Imperial Knight. I am unsure how the incident of me handing you off to Saddler has been reported back to the capital.”
“...Is there even anyone to make such a report? Saddler and his subordinates are dead, and we were the only ones who saw the fight between Diablo and Krebskulm...in addition to Sylvie and Emile.”
“It seems that His Majesty, Delouche Xandros, has his own personal information network outside of commands like the army and Imperial Knights.”
It was the first time Diablo had heard the name of the king. The only time he had been mentioned in the game was as “the king of Lyferia.” Cross Reverie wasn’t part of the military genre, so it would gloss over information pertaining to the royal family and the country.
If Alicia was reported as having plotted to resurrect the Demon Lord, never mind losing her position as an Imperial Knight, she would most likely be hunted as a traitor to the country.
“That is inconsequential,” Diablo said as he shrugged.
“What...?”
“I am saying that your position is of no importance.”
“But... But if I am not an Imperial Knight, I am completely worthless...”
Diablo wasn’t a fan of status or position, or whether something was useful or not.
—What’s so wrong about being a shut-in and a NEET! It’s society that’s wrong! It’s the world’s fault for being a place where you have to work to live! If the world is going to make me work, then it should just be annihilated altogether!
But it seemed like they hadn’t taken what he said as the venting of a shut-in NEET. Just as he was deliberating over how to explain himself, Rem nodded, apparently satisfied.
“It is just as Diablo has said.”
—Huh...? No, calm down, me. She wasn’t talking about what I just screamed on the inside, but probably what I said about not caring about Alicia’s position. Right...?
“...Your position as an Imperial Knight was something decided upon by the higher-ups of this country, correct?” Rem asked Alicia.
“Naturally.”
“So the ones you hate are not actually us, but those higher-ups, no?”
“Y-Yes... Yes, that would be correct. But, I still don’t know...what it is I should be doing?”
“...I don’t know, either.”
They both looked at Diablo. Asking him all these tough questions like what do about the country or what to do with one’s life... He didn’t have the kind of vast wisdom that would let him just throw out answers on demand. The only thing he had to draw from were his experiences back in the game.
But it was unacceptable for a Demon Lord to just say “I dunno”; it would ruin his image. So Diablo twisted his lips into a bold sneer.
“Then the only option is to destroy it all!”
“What!?”
“Th-That’s...”
Alicia and Rem were flabbergasted, and rightfully so. The look on Shera’s face showed she had no idea what was going on.
Despite all of this, however, Klem had given a profound nod.
“That’s right! It doesn’t matter if it’s a king or a country; if you don’t like it, then you should just destroy it!”
“Ohhh! Demon Lord...finally, motivated? Motivated! Finally!!” Edelgard’s eyes were sparkling.
The conversation may have taken quite the odd turn at some point here.
Alicia clenched her fists tightly. “...Understood. Then I will put all my efforts into bringing down the country, as long as it is useful to you, Sir Diablo!”
—Whazzat...!?
Somewhere along the way, it seemed Alicia thought Diablo had wanted to bring down the kingdom of Lyferia.
Rem and Shera had equally confused looks on their faces.
“...I-Is that true, Diablo?”
“He is a Demon Lord, so maybe he just has to fight against the races, I guess?”
—Wait ,wait, wait, hold on a second, please!! That’s bad, right!?
No matter how dedicated he was to his Demon Lord role play, he certainly wasn’t expecting to be pulled along by Alicia and her grudge against the big-wigs of the kingdom in order to bring down the country.
—I-It’s not exactly what I’m aiming for right now...but wouldn’t it be just like a Demon Lord to do something like destroying an entire country just because he was bored!?
...But at a time like this, Diablo couldn’t just nod and go along with it all.
Diablo’s mouth twisted into a grimace. “W-Well, if they dare defy me, I will show them no mercy. But right now, I do not know much about the Lyferian Kingdom, you see. No matter who it is, I will not hesitate to annihilate someone—but only if they oppose me. Like, only if they are against me.”
“Just as you say, Sir Diablo. If we do not have a clear understanding of our enemy’s fighting strength, then our victory will remain uncertain.”
“Well...”
—I didn’t mean it like that, though!!
But there was no way for what Diablo truly felt on the inside to get through to her.
“I know not of what has become of my own position, but I will do everything in my power to gather information.” Alicia was really getting into the idea of overthrowing the Lyferian government.
Though he wouldn’t be joking if he said it, he couldn’t just say “peace is best” on account of his Demon Lord role play.
“I see. W-Well, do your best to work toward that goal—but do feel free to do so slowly...and carefully...and only if you feel like it.”
Alicia knelt down.
“Thank you, Sir Diablo. I almost pointlessly threw away my own life. I thank you deeply for showing me the path I should continue to walk; I swear my undying loyalty to you.”
“Good.”
To be completely honest, Diablo hadn’t shown her jack squat. Everyone else just went off and interpreted what he had said however they pleased.
—That said, if we managed to postpone the problem for a bit, then I say mission accomplished.
This was a much better result than ending up with a dead Imperial Knight in the room.
Rem offered an outstretched hand to Alicia. “...I cannot simply forgive you for betraying us, but I wouldn’t be happy about you dying over it, either. I also cannot agree with wanting to bring down the kingdom of Lyferia... But if there are those in the upper echelons of the kingdom that need to be punished for their crimes, I will offer my assistance.”
“True. At this point, one would be bound to think this is all nothing but my own one-sided grudge. I will be sure to gather sufficient evidence to the contrary.”
Alicia grasped Rem’s hand. Though they had done so through a rather turbulent conversation, the fact that Alicia and Rem seemed to have made up brought a smile to Shera’s face.
“Isn’t this great, Diablo?”
“I suppose it is.”
—What’s really great is that this didn’t turn into us assaulting the capital right away.
Edelgard was pouting, as if this whole thing bored her. Klem looked sleepy, probably because she had been woken up in the middle of the night.
Suddenly, Diablo became aware of a pair of beady eyes looking at him from the crack between the wall and the ceiling. They belonged to a small, ashen-gray creature; it was the mouse again.
Diablo was getting ticked off. “Tch... Damn mouse, sneaking around like that. Maybe I’ll blow away the ceiling along with it...”
He wasn’t serious about this, of course, but still raised a hand in the direction of the rodent. As if it could understand what he had said, the mouse fled in a panic. Just when Diablo thought that would be the end of it, however, he heard a tiny scream of agony that signaled the mouse’s death.
—What!? Is there something back there!?
The twisted remains of what was once the mouse fell to the floor. A viscous, black fluid poured out of the gap between the wall and the ceiling, oozing toward the mouse’s body.
†
“Ku-ku-ku... To see through my ?Shadow Sneak? like that... It seems you are no mere Sorcerer after all!”
After the tar-colored fluid had gathered on the floor, it raised itself up. This black mass, the size of a child, changed into the form of a person that carried a katana on the back of its black outfit. An iron mask covered its mouth, making its expression indiscernible.
Its very appearance was something almost synonymous with Japan.
—A ninja!? Why is there a ninja here!?
The others in the room seemed shaken up by the sudden appearance of the person wearing a strange outfit. Shera, with her keen senses, was particularly shocked.
“I-I couldn’t sense him at all! You’re amazing, Diablo!”
Diablo was surprised as well, but he maintained his air of composure using the Demon Lord role play that was ingrained into his being.
“Hmph... And who are you supposed to be?”
“I am the eyes and ears of His Majesty...as well as his sword.”
Alicia clenched her teeth upon hearing this. “Impossible! That is the role of the Imperial Knights, and I have never seen such a suspicious Knight as you before!”
“Ku-ku-ku... Well said for someone who was just prattling on about bringing down the kingdom. I bear not the token title of Imperial Knight, but am nonetheless a shinobi, an agent who moves in the shadows at the behest of the king. I am called Kuzukage.”
Cross Reverie’s setting was based on European fantasy, but the game had also implemented ninja outfits as joke costumes. There were also samurais, and gunmen straight out of a spaghetti western as well. Diablo thought those kinds of things were exclusive to the game only, but for it to exist here, too... It was far too out of place in a world like this.
Rem and Shera looked at the shinobi suspiciously.
“Wh-What is with this person!?”
“He dresses like a weirdo!”
—Seems like it is a strange outfit in this world after all.
Diablo readied ?Tenma’s Staff?. The space between them was only five paces wide. Judging by the katana on his back, Diablo’s opponent was most likely a Warrior. He was at a disadvantage in terms of where he was fighting and where he was starting, but Diablo couldn’t afford to retreat now.
“Hmph... So you’re a spy of the king. I can’t so easily let you go back alive.”
“Ku-ku-ku... And the same goes for myself. I cannot allow you to live after seeing me.”
“You fool. Think about your situation before opening your mouth.”
“My situation? One traitor, three Demis, two Fallen... Faced with my ninjutsu, you are all mere numbers.”
“Hmph, who said it was a problem of numbers?”
“Oho?”
“You stand before the Demon Lord Diablo, and you say you cannot let me live? Know your place, foolish whelp.”
“Ku-ku-ku... What an amusing Demi. Allow me to show you who the real whelp is here.”
Kuzukage suddenly disappeared.
—Instant teleportation!?
That’s just how fast the ninja had rushed by him. A gush of blood spurted from Diablo’s right arm; the upper portion of his ?Ebony Abyss? had been slashed. From the opposite side of the room, he heard the sound of a katana being sheathed.
“Nin.”
Kuzukage held two fingers in front of his mouth. Diablo whirled around, glaring at him.
—He’s fast. Really fast.
In terms of speed alone, he was faster than Galford; but even so, Diablo couldn’t show any weakness now.
“What? Is that it?”
“Don’t spout such drivel. There is no feasible way for a Sorcerer such as yourself to keep up with my movements!”
Kuzukage came rushing at him again. A deeper slash this time, made on Diablo’s left arm. He came back again, continuing with another blow. Kicking off the walls, the ceiling—Kuzukage sped about the room as he pleased, swinging his katana. Diablo’s wounds continued to increase, his blood spilling to the floor.
“Fuahahaha! How do you like that, Sorcerer! This is what it means to be a shinobi!”
As Kuzukage came rushing toward him again, Diablo thrust Tenma’s Staff forward, slamming it into his assailant’s face.
“Gobeblegh!?”
He was sent flying backward. Just as his back was about to crash into the wall, Kuzukage changed his position at the last second, planting his feet on it instead. He descended to the floor.
The mask fell off his face, crushed to pieces. Blood the color of tar poured out of his nose, dripping onto the floor.
Diablo shrugged.
“And? Weren’t you going to show me who the real whelp was, you whelp?”
Kuzukage ground his teeth together. “How could a Sorcerer see through my ?Shadow Running? technique!?”
“It seems you are gravely mistaken about something. I have said it before, but I am no mere Sorcerer: I am a Demon Lord from another world!”
—Sure, you’re fast, but the usual counter to a Sorcerer is a bow and arrow. The rain of arrows I usually have to deal with are way faster than you.
No matter how fast they were, Diablo could always see through a Warrior’s rushdown techniques. If he didn’t have those kinds of reflexes, he would never have been able to face off against Archer-mains.
—If your movement was a bit more complex, it would’ve been harder to get my counterattack in, though.
He really wanted to use magic, but it was too dangerous to keep himself fixed in place to cast a spell against an agile opponent like this. He would at least want to take this fight outside first.
“?Flying Kunai?!!” Kuzukage swung his arm.
Klem was the aim of his sudden attack, of all people. A diamond-shaped blade similar to multiple tips of spears flew through the air, striking her in the forehead. With a high-pitched clang, the kunai was bounced away.
“What the...!?” Kuzukage’s eyes widened.
Klem glared at him. “You’ve got some nerve throwing something at a Demon Lord. Very well... I will teach you the true meaning of fear.”
Flashes of black lightning coiled around Klem’s hand. Was it part of a spell? Some kind of special skill?
Before Klem could unleash her attack, Edelgard rushed forward, burning with rage.
“Dare, do that, to Demon Lord! Will, kill you! Sacrificial Charge!!”
It was the name of a Martial Art unleashed by using a spear. Edelgard was unarmed at the moment, however, so she had thrust forth her fist instead. Kuzukage twisted his body to avoid the attack as it grazed across his cheek.
“Gaaahahh!?”
“Charge, Asulau!”
Rem had called forth her Summon, an enormous steer with three horns growing out of its head. At almost the same time, three arrows had been fired in the direction Kuzukage was fleeing. It was ?Triangle Shot?, a technique unique to Archers; it was Shera. Diablo knew she was proficient with a bow, but he had no idea she could even use Martial Arts as well.
“Hurting Diablo, aiming for Klem... I won’t forgive you for that!”
Although Kuzukage managed to avoid every attack thrown at him, as far as Diablo was concerned, it had bought enough time.
—I’m not used to fighting as a team with friends, but it’s true having them on the front lines makes things easier for me.
His spell was complete; he pointed Tenma’s Staff.
“I am not so softhearted as to be careful with the life of an enemy who attacked me with the intent to kill. Regret your decision to oppose a Demon Lord from the depths of hell! ?Burst Rain?!!”
There were times a speedy enemy could dodge spells that had a limited range. This, however, was an AoE spell that hurled countless balls of fire.
Kuzukage spread out some kind of scroll. “?Concealed Water?...!”
A wall of water appeared in front of him, but it was meaningless. An infinite hail of fireballs pelted against the wall, boiling the water and turning it into steam. They easily penetrated through. On the other side of the water wall, the balls of fire found their way directly to Kuzukage. It was one direct hit after another.
“OOOOARGH!?”
He was smashed to pieces, changing back into a thick, tar-like substance. Burst Rain pulverized Kuzukage, even going so far as to vaporize the wall behind him.
“Hmph...”
Slamming his staff into the ground, Diablo glared at where the enemy once stood. The wall had disappeared, with specks of black fluid scattered over the scorched wood. The cold sweat returned to his back.
—Oh crap, did I screw up!?
There was a knock on the door behind him—
“Oh dearest customers~? You’re being a bit of a nuisance. ?”
It was the voice of the inn’s receptionist.
Before anyone could answer, the door opened. With a sparkling smile, a Pantherian girl wearing a maid outfit entered the room and saw that the wall had been blasted away.
A demon had descended upon them—
—the demon of extremely expensive bills.
†
Mei, the receptionist, was all smiles.
“Oh, Mr. Customer? It’s quite a problem for me to not have a wall there. ?” She may have been smiling, but you could almost see the sound effects for “rumbling” appearing behind her.
There was no doubt about it: She was pissed. He had blown away part of the inn’s wall, so of course she’d be angry.
Rem bowed her head. “...I’m terribly sorry... But there is a reason for this.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. Totally fine. Little ol’ me is used to this by now. I mean, this is the third time it’s happened, right?”
“...Please allow us to reimburse you.”
The first time this happened was when a Fallen demolished the first Peace of Mind Inn, the cost of which was apparently taken care of by the country. The second time, the wall had been destroyed by other Adventurers. Since they were the ones that broke it, Diablo and the others made them foot the bill, of course.
But this time the incident was caused by one of the king’s spies. Not only that, but Diablo had completely demolished him using magic. They were going to have to pay for this one out of their own pockets.
Alicia stepped forward. “I am incredibly sorry for the trouble we have caused here. I don’t think this alone will be enough, but...”
She pulled a small pendant with a crimson jewel set in it from the pocket of her clothes. Taking it, Mei checked it using the candle stand she held.
“Hmm... It looks real, but I don’t think just this will be enough to cover it all~?”
“I-I see.”
As one might expect from Alicia, she possessed quite a hefty amount of savings, her being the daughter of an aristocrat and all; but it still seemed like the price for repairing a partially destroyed building was in a whole league of its own. Diablo and the others were seriously lacking in financial power. They were already in the red with just the amount they spent on Klem’s biscuits.
“...This is a problem. If we cannot pay this, we’ll probably be chased out of the inn. For the sake of public order, it is forbidden to make camp inside the town, which means we would have to leave the city...” Rem whispered.
“What!?”
“...Not only that, but she might even call the guards. If that were to happen—ah!”
Realizing their blunder, Rem’s eyes opened wide. Diablo noticed it as well, but it was too late. At almost the same time, Mei let out a scream of shock.
“Ngyah!? Wh-Who are those girls...!?” She was staring straight at Edelgard.
—We screwed up!
Because of all the troubles they had just been through, they were late in thinking of how to deal with Edelgard. There was no way Mei would just overlook there being a Fallen in town. And since Klem was wearing pajamas, her tail was completely exposed as well.
Mei backed away. “A-Are they... Fallen!? And they’re going to eat me because I’m so cute I look delicious!?”
“......”
Edelgard stepped forward, reaching out with her hand.
—Wait, you’re not planning on killing her, right!?
He thought back to how she had cleaved the five bandits in half when they had seen her. Panicking, he went to stop her...but it wasn’t necessary. What Edelgard held in her hand was not a weapon this time, but a large gem about the size of a coin.
“Need...this? Have, lots.”
“Nya!?”
“Sparkly, and pretty. Fallen, trade this...for food. And weapons.”
—So the Fallen have their own currency, too... No, I guess it would be more like bartering for goods with jewels.
Even Rem and Shera’s eyes were glittering.
“...It... It’s amazing... Such a large, sparkling diamond...”
“It’s so pretty! Like, super pretty!”
“Just as I would expect from Lady Edelgard,” Alicia said, smiling.
Though Mei’s face had been contorted with fear up until now, it was now replaced with seriousness as she took the jewel and stared at it.
“Th-This is incredible, nya... I can’t be sure without taking this to a specialist...but I’m certain this thing is worth enough to rebuild this busted-up inn and still get change back, nya...”
Letting her true colors show, she muttered under her breath. With a short gasp, she returned to her usual business smile.
“Aha. ? Please, enjoy your stay here, everyone! Oh, and that’s right, I’ll make sure to get another room ready for you until this wall is fixed. ?”
It was a wonderfully abrupt about-face from Mei.
“A-Are you sure!? These people are Fallen, you know...!?” Rem asked, astounded.
“As long as they’re paying, they’re customers to me~”
“...Are you not afraid? The town just came under attack by the Fallen not too long ago!”
“Rem...being in a business means risking your life, got it? Wink. ?”
—It looks like the Peace of Mind Inn’s management was in more dire straits than I thought. Guess that means it’s tough for everyone trying to make a living here.
Mei turned her sparkling business smile toward Edelgard. “Ehehe. ? I’ll serve you breakfast, too, so make sure you come to the dining hall in the morning. ?”
“Got...it.”
“Oh, but what do Fallen eat, anyway? Frogs and stuff?”
“Edelgard...likes, fish.”
Thinking about it, Klem’s favorite food was biscuits, so maybe a Fallen’s palate wasn’t all that different from the rest of the races.
“That’s A-OK by me! ? I’ll fry that fishy right up for you!”
“Also, boar...and, deer...and...”
“Whatever you want!”
“Cat.”
“Eeeeeek!?”
Both Mei and Rem shrank back. It really gave the feeling she was a wild animal from the forest who would eat just about anything.
“But Edelgard, wouldn’t it be bad if other people saw you?” Shera spoke, worried.
With a flick, Mei raised her index finger. “It’s all good. ? Just leave it to Mei, nya!”
Several minutes later—
“Y-You! You were actually a Sorcerer all this time!?”
Diablo was dumbfounded. That’s just how good Mei’s makeup techniques were.
Mei stuck out her chest with a smug look on her face. “How do ya like that! Girls transform, you know! ?”
“Ohh...?”
Edelgard’s skin, usually covered in small scales, was now completely smooth. She wore black tights on her legs, with white gloves covering her hands. Her reptilian eyes were hidden behind thick glasses and by how her bangs now hung down in front of her face.
She awkwardly tried saying the line she was taught: “W-Welcome, back...Master?”
Klem, on the other hand, was wearing an outfit that made her look like a pop idol. Her almost transparent skin required no makeup, but she wore eyeshadow on her eyelids, with eyeliner underneath. She also wore a hat to hide her horns, which almost looked like a decoration, and a skirt shaped like a parasol in order to hide her tail.
Klem made a sideways peace sign. “I’m all sparkly! ?”
“Ehe! ? Very sparkly, nya!”
†
The next day—
Alicia was heading back to the Royal Capital. Though Diablo had disintegrated Kuzukage, the king’s spy, they didn’t know what kind of information had already been relayed back to the king. It was too dangerous to risk.
Even so, her resolution was firm.
“I will certainly find evidence of the king’s misgoverning for you, Sir Diablo, as well as gather information on the capital’s military might and how they are dispersed.”
“G-Good...but your own life takes priority; I am in no rush, after all. In fact, I was just thinking how it might be better to take things slow from here on out...”
“By bringing down the Lyferian Kingdom, right!”
—Like hell that’s what it means to take it slow!
Firing off a retort in his mind, he put on a bold smile fitting of a Demon Lord and saw Alicia off.
After, the group took Edelgard to Petre’s, where she became addicted to the fish sandwiches there. They were made by frying up some freshwater fish, which were then stuck between two slices of bread. To be honest, it wasn’t a very popular item... Perhaps a Fallen’s tastes were unique after all.
“Amazing... Just like, magic energy...Demon Lord, gave, to me! Sweet? Sweet!”
Though she was complimenting it, these weren’t exactly words that he could let the guys at Petre’s hear. Otherwise, developing a deep appreciation for other dishes as well, Edelgard was completely engrossed by the cuisine of the races.
As for Klem, it seemed she finally realized that you could get biscuits and other treats like them at places other than bakeries. Trying out food at different places became a hobby for the two.
“Listen well, for I have discovered a whole new truth! A new path to the most supreme dark powers has opened!”
Shera nodded as she listened to Klem’s little speech. “Yeah, chocolate biscuits are pretty good, too, right?”
“They’re the best! Buy more of them! Buy them all!”
“We’re only spending 500 friths a day on sweets, OK?”
“Mmngh... Chocolate is amazing, but the fact it’s so expensive is not!”
It was a truth that reeked of common knowledge. After all, cacao was a rare commodity in Faltra, with chocolate being a product that commanded an extravagant price.
But Diablo considered cheese bread to be the ultimate food here. The surface of the bread was crispy, and it contained melty cheese and tomato in the middle.
Their peaceful lifestyles continued like this for half a month...
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