◆ Demon King Modes

  「I’m sorry, Mona.」


  「It’s alright, Modes-sama. Something of this level is not of consequence.」


  I bowed to Mona, hoping my sincerity would reach her.

  Thankfully, she accepted my wish easily.

  By now, the female demon knight who used to be Mona’s bodyguard should’ve headed toward Lord Diehart’s residence. With this, Lord Diehart should have his subordinates as well.

  My first intention was to give him a subordinate from the Chivalric Order of the Dark Knight, which was composed of males from Demonkind. But that was not possible. There were not enough knights available, because they were still rebuilding their numbers after almost being wiped out by the hero. I could not take more of them from Lord Runfeld.

  I’m also considering some subordinates from lower races or orc races, but when considering Lord Diehart’s strength, I was afraid they would be more of a hindrance than of help. The only option I had left was picking those of Demonkind who could ride a wyvern.

  After that, I started considering how many of Mona’s female knights I should send to Lord Diehart.

  Theoretically, as long as Mona stayed in Nargol, she was in no danger.

  Therefore, she did not need so many subordinates.

  There shouldn’t be a problem in transferring some of her knights, but I needed to discuss that with her first. I fully expected her to hesitate in agreeing due to her dislike of Lord Diehart but, unexpectedly, she easily agreed to my wish. That was a relief.

  「Of course I should grant Modes-sama’s wish.」


  「Nufufufu……」


  Mona was smiling at me so brightly it was enough to melt my heart.

  I did not hesitate to embrace her.

  「Please refrain from doing this…… Modes-sama…… We’re in a public place……」


  「Nufufufufu…… Don’t worry about it, it’s no big deal at all.」


  The moment was ruined a bit by a voice coming from the other side of the door.

  「Your Majesty, may I interrupt you for a moment?」


  「What is it?」


  After I allowed him inside, Rugaas bowed to me.

  「Your Majesty, I have some urgent news. It’s an emergency.」


  「What’s the matter, Lord Rugaas?」


  「Your Majesty…… Nut, who was tasked with monitoring the Hero of Light and his party, was caught by one of his women.」


  「WHAT!!!」


  Nut…… He’s someone who worked well……

  If he was caught, then that means he……

  「Old Man Rugaas, why did you say emergency? That’s just a rat. Do you think you need to report the fate of such an insignificant being to His Majesty? Please stop wasting his time with those trivial matters.」


  Mona admonished Rugaas with a cold tone.

  It seems she was pissed off that he had interrupted our time together.

  「Yes, it is a trivial matter, but……」


  Of course, he agreed with her. Nut did not have a high social standing in Nargol, so neither Mona nor Rugaas were concerned with rescuing him.

  But this Modes wouldn’t abandon those who worked for him.

  「Lord Rugaas. Where is the Hero’s party right now?」


  「That…… They ventured inside the Minon Labyrinth.」


  「WHAT!? Do you mean THAT labyrinth?」


  「Yes, but I am unaware of the exact reason they did so……」


  「.…… This is bad. That labyrinth is troublesome.」


  I was very familiar with the Minon Labyrinth.

  Once before, this Demon King entered that place. It was an extremely troublesome place ruled by THAT fella. Even This One had difficulty there, for others it’ll be a very dangerous place.

  「Your Majesty…… I think you don’t need to concern yourself with this matter. He’s just a rat, you can just abandon him.」


  Despite Mona telling me to abandon Nut, I was unwilling. If possible, I wanted to save him.

  However, my movements were limited due to my covenant with Oudith. Was there someone else who could save Nut other than me?

  My thoughts were unconsciously redirected toward a certain man.

  A certain dark Knight whose power rivaled mine.

  No one but him could save Nut.

  「.…… Looks like I have no choice but to ask for his help.」


  ◆ Sword Maiden, Shirone

  We were heading back to the Holy Republic Lenaria after leaving the Kingdom of Algore. We still had to prepare to welcome Regena and her families.

  I didn’t want to go back, but Kaya-san told me to ask for Chiyuki-san’s opinion. Recently, we had gained more information about the Kuroki situation. Also, there was still a chance to take him back since the brainwashing wasn’t yet completed.

  We needed to create an opportunity to complete it.

  「Kaya. Is there still no contact from my brother and the others?」


  「Milady…… Our contact from Reiji-sama’s side was completely cut off. I fear something has happened.」


  Kaya answered Kyouka-san’s query with a troubled face.

  I wanted to talk to Chiyuki-san, and yet……

  What in the world happened to them?

  「Hey, Kaya-san. Reiji and the others were in the Ariadina Republic, right? Let’s go there.」


  「That’s right. If we are to welcome Regena and the others, we need to go to the Ariadina Republic first.」


  It seemed obvious to me.

  Since we couldn’t contact them using communication magic, we should just go there ourselves.

  Thankfully, Kyouka-san agreed with me.

  「You’re right…… We have no choice but to follow them there.」


  As we spoke, someone suddenly knocked on our room’s door.

  「What is it? You may enter.」


  After Kaya-san said so, one of Rena Temple’s female priests entered the room and bowed to us.

  「Kyouka-sama, Shirone-sama, Kaya-sama. The Supreme Great Priest has summoned you」


  「The Head Priest is calling us? Why?」


  The one named Supreme Great Priest was the Head Priest of the temple. His status was the greatest in the faith, second only to the Goddess. The temple had a hierarchy system: Supreme Great Priest, Great Priest, Priest, and Deacon.

  The Supreme Great Priest was the foremost leader of all the Temples of Rena in the entire world. That’s why he was named “Head Priest”.

  This influential person had summoned us. I can only wonder…… Why?

  「I do not know. My orders were only to bring you to him……」


  It seemed like the priestess was truly troubled by this task.

  Come to think of it, the priestess should be a Deacon. The Head Priest had no reason to speak to someone with the lowest societal position in the temple.

  「What could he want with us?」


  「Dunno?」


  「Let’s go, then.」


  We were led by the priestess to a restricted room.

  Only carefully selected people were allowed in here. It was the room where Chiyuki-san met the Goddess Rena.

  I was unable to restrain myself in time and gawked in awe.

  「This…… This place is……」


  「We have arrived.」


  The priestess opened the door for us, bowing as she indicated that we should enter.

  Once we did, the door was closed from the outside.

  The one waiting for us was not who we expected to see.

  「Took you long enough.」


  「G-Goddess Rena!?」


  Just the fact that the Goddess herself came here meant that, whatever she had to tell us, it was not a trivial matter. What could be so grave that she had to descend in person?

  Kaya bowed in greeting and took the lead.

  「What happened, Rena-sama?」


  「Shirone, Kyouka, and Kaya. Please listen carefully. Reiji’s life, along with the others, might be in danger.」


  「Goddess Rena…… What do you mean?」


  All three of us were surprised to hear that.

  But Goddess Rena’s voice was very grave.

  「Reiji and the others are trapped in a certain Evil God’s labyrinth in Minon Plains. We’re currently racing against time.」


  ◆ Prince of Algore, Omiros

  「It’s still amazing, no matter how many times I look at it……」


  McGyusis stared at the scenery outside of the rampart. Before us was the resting place of the Hundred Arms Giant. Originally, it had been a hill, but it had been erased during the battle and replaced by a scorched, gargantuan hole.

  The hole was so big, the entire Algore Kingdom could fit it in it.

  「So this was made by the Dark Knight, huh? …… Such terrifying power……」


  Despite the goblin and ogre raids, the Kingdom of Algore came out of such a calamity almost completely unscathed. All thanks to the preparations the Dark Knight made in advance. The Spartois that had been summoned to protect this kingdom from the goblins had disappeared.

  Although I had an idea of his strength from how he defeated that Hero of Light, I did not expect that man to be so impossibly powerful. Just how powerful was he?

  「Yeah, after seeing that I’m sure you couldn’t win against him. So cheer up, Omiros.」


  「What are you talking about, McGyusis?」


  「What I mean is: your rival is just too powerful. You need to find another wonderful woman to woo.」


  McGyusis started laughing heartily.

  「Those don’t sound like comforting words at all…… But thank you for cheering me up, anyway.」


  There was no way I could defeat an opponent as powerful as the Dark Knight. I couldn’t even protect Regena. If that man hadn’t saved her in the nick of time back then……

  I’m no match for him at all.

  I’m aware that he also truly cares about Regena. It’s why I’m okay with how things turned out. She wasn’t the type of woman to hide in fear, but I know he’ll protect her anyway.

  Regena was in good hands, I could let her go with a light heart.