I had a vague sense that she was a being of great power.
Still, there were moments when she wore that expression, as if she had everything figured out. Or the way High-ranking Demons like Ein-san and Sechs-san had sworn absolute loyalty to her. Then there was the fact that she directly asked a Goddess to bless me. Reflecting on all these things, part of me couldn’t help but think that it might be true…but even so, I never imagined Kuro was the Underworld King.
I mean, for argument’s sake, why would one of the pinnacles of the Demon Realm be casually wandering around like that?
[…I’m sorry. You had to act separately just for me…]
[………..]
Pushing aside the skeptical thoughts still lingering in my mind, I bow to the woman walking beside me.
She has short red hair, wearing practical trousers that allow for easy movement, a sleeveless jacket, and a black scarf wrapped around her neck. At my apology, she silently shakes her head.
Her name is “Sieglinde,” and she serves Lilia-san. She’s accompanying me as my guide and escort while I’m in town to shop.
An elf by race, with long ears typical of her kind, she’s strikingly beautiful, her slender form exuding an air of dignity that makes her the perfect example of someone “beautiful in men’s clothing.”
When I think of elves, blonde hair typically comes to mind, but in this world of mixed races, elves are said to have a variety of hair colors.
At the moment, Lilia-san’s mansion is in such a chaotic state that it could easily be called a battlefield.
Under the leadership of the zealot who was snapped out of her absentmindedness (Lunamaria-san), they launched a crusade to eliminate every speck of dust. Meanwhile, Lilia-san has been relentlessly giving instructions to everyone, ensuring that the preparations to receive the guest are completed as quickly as possible.
The Albert Duchy is in turmoil right now, as one of the Six Kings, the pinnacle beings of the Demon Realm, is visiting a noble’s mansion. And, to be honest, Kusunoki-san, Yuzuki-san, and I are nothing more than mere hindrances at this point.
Of course, the kind Lilia-san would never say something like that to us, but it’s not like we can just sit back and relax while everyone else, including the servants, is busy running around. That said, there’s really nothing we can do to help.
So, we decided to head into town for some shopping, so we wouldn’t be in their way. After consulting with Lilia-san, who, as expected, was concerned, she assigned an escort to each of us three.
Well, at first, Kusunoki-san, Yuzuki-san, and I—escaping from the “battlefield” under the guise of sightseeing—were sticking together. But then, they decided to go shopping for clothes and underwear, and I figured it probably wasn’t appropriate for a guy like me to be tagging along for that. So, we agreed on a meeting spot and time, and decided to split up for now.
[There are a lot of food-related shops around here, don’t you think?]
[………]
Sieglinde-san nods in agreement to my words as I glance around at the nearby shops.
By the way, the reason Sieglinde-san hasn’t spoken up until now isn’t that she doesn’t like me. It’s not that she doesn’t want to speak—apparently, she can’t.
I was told that back when she was a member of the Knights Order, her throat was severely injured in a battle with a monster, leaving her unable to speak. There’s still a large scar beneath the black scarf wrapped around her neck.
I sometimes feel like her inability to speak makes her less suited for a guide or escort, but Sieglinde-san’s abilities are regarded as the best among Lilia-san’s private army. And as a former member of the Knights Order, she’s more than capable when it comes to escorting.
What I’m most grateful for is that she doesn’t seem to have any negative feelings towards me as a man. Thanks to Lilia-san’s warning, my position in the mansion has become stable, but there are still some people who give me strange looks.
Well, my situation is kind of like a boy enrolling in an all-girls’ school, so I can’t really blame them. Lilia-san understands this, though, and it seems she’s been careful in selecting people, just like she did with Sieglinde-san this time.
[There seem to be a lot of food shops around here, don’t you think?]
[………]
[Now that we’re here, I’d like to buy some sweets for snacks. I wonder if there are any good places to get them?]
[………]
[That third store?]
[………]
[Ah, the shop before that! Thank you very much.]
[………]
Lilia-san had apologized in advance, saying it might be difficult for someone who can’t speak to be a guide, but for me, it’s not a problem at all.
She’s nodding and using gestures, so honestly, it’s much easier for me to understand than when I was talking with Shiro-san.
Well, Shiro-san has her own charm, and she’s fun to talk to once you get the hang of it, but reaching that point is a bit challenging.
In comparison, though, Sieglinde-san’s emotions are easy to read through her facial expressions and gestures, so communication with her is much easier.
[There sure are a lot of options here. Do you have any recommendations, Sieglinde-san?]
[……]
[This jam? There are various types, but are they local products from around here?]
[……]
[I see. There are also some jams with colors I’ve never seen before. It would be nice to buy them with scones or something like that.]
[……]
[Hmm? Ah, jam cookies, huh! These certainly look good.]
[……]
Sieglinde-san led me to a confectionery to find some snacks. It’s great having a Magic Box, I don’t have to worry about expiration dates.
Now that I think about it, Kuro once brought me baby castellas with jam in them. The jam was so delicious, and I think these jam cookies would go perfectly with the tea Shiro-san gave me. Kuro had also mentioned that she likes sweets, so I’ll buy a little extra for our next meal together.
As I was asking Sieglinde some questions, I was picking out jam cookies when I suddenly remembered something Kuro had said.
Come to think of it, Kuro mentioned that she had something to do today. I wonder what she’s up to? Well, she must be busy as the Underworld King, but from what I’ve seen so far, I get the impression that she’s probably doing whatever she feels like, wherever she is…
Dear Mom, Dad—The visit of the Underworld King is a matter of great importance, so Lilia-san and the others are in a huge hurry, but as for me, the one directly connected to all this—I’m sightseeing for some reason.
A Demon holding a high rank—these rankings are a testament to the power level of such beings. In the Demon Realm’s society, where strength directly correlates with one’s position, possessing such a title is a tremendous asset.
And yet, one such High-ranking Demon, a Viscount, now finds herself in despair.
Her subordinate Demons, who had been so visibly present just moments ago, now lie scattered on the ground like corpses. The wind itself seems to have ceased, and all sound has vanished from the surroundings.
It all happened in the blink of an eye. The castle, adorned with glittering ornaments, the countless treasures she had amassed, the influence and majesty she once commanded as a High-ranking Demon—all of it vanished in an instant.
How could this happen? This question lingers in her mind, but her trembling lips cannot form the words.
It’s not that her ability to speak had disappeared. But along with the trembling of her body from fear, her struggle to hold onto her dwindling consciousness in the face of despair, and the undeniable need to keep her eyes fixed ahead—she wasn’t allowed to look away.
That’s because the person who held complete control in that room had forbidden it.
[…I should have realized from the start that it was you who did this.]
A voice, like the toll of a bell, echoed in the quiet room. Before the gaze of the despairing Demon stood golden eyes, glimmering in the darkness.
[The Recognition Inhibition Magic cast on Kaito-kun. From the feel of the magic power, I suspected a Demon was involved, but I still wasn’t entirely sure who it was.]
The reason behind this was a simple, trivial desire.
It wasn’t that the Demon sought to rule the Demon Realm or anything of that scale.
All she wanted was to rise just a little higher than her current position. She yearned for more wealth and greater authority. To achieve this, she sought after technology that didn’t exist in this world… But because of this small ambition, she brought destruction upon herself.
[A High-ranking Demon from the Demon Realm meddles with the Human Realm… and with people from another world. Quite a troublesome problem, isn’t it? That’s why I wanted to resolve it as quickly as possible… But thanks to Kaito-kun, I’m glad I was able to spot the problem sooner.]
In the Demon Realm, there are beings so powerful that even High-ranking Demons, who hold prestigious positions, cannot oppose them. These beings are of such overwhelming power that opposing them leads directly to destruction… They possess a strength that is incomparably greater than others.
[She usually doesn’t cooperate with me on matters like this, but I suppose it’s because she’s interested in Kaito-kun. The fact that she’s been so cooperative in helping us with this… well, that’s unfortunate for you. As long as Shiro’s “eyes” are searching for you, there’s no room for you to deceive us.]
Step by step, the golden eyes drew closer, clad in magic power that seemed to consume the very space itself.
As if granting the Demon, who had nowhere to run, time to regret her actions, the Underworld King moved slowly and stood before her.
[…Now then, what happens when we do something bad?]
[…Ahh…uwaahh…M-My…]
[Unnn?]
[…Please accept…my apologies…]
The presence of death was overwhelming. The fear was so intense that even despair seemed too faint in comparison.
Having defied the will of the apex being of the Demon Realm, this Demon no longer had any freedom— not even the freedom to die. Imagining the punishment she was about to receive, where even granting her death would be an act of mercy, the Demon forced out an apology and bowed her head to the ground.
[Unnn. Well then, I’ll let you off the hook this time.]
[…Yes… Eh?]
After processing her words in her mind, the Demon stared at her in disbelief.
To put it bluntly, she didn’t immediately grasp the meaning of what she had said. After all, this Demon had gone against one of the Six Kings’ wishes, acting on a petty desire. She had isolated one of the otherworlders by casting Recognition Inhibition Magic, intending to brainwash him and use him as a pawn.
So to speak, it was an act that would have breached the friendly relationship between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm, and she hadn’t thought for a second that such an act could be forgiven.
[In this case, I just happened to be passing by, and you only used Recognition Inhibition Magic. It ended there, without causing any real harm.]
[…Y-Yes.]
Yes, in a way, you could say this Demon was both lucky and unlucky.
It was unlucky for her that, driven by desire, she violated the forbidden—and one of the Six Kings discovered it. But the fact that it was the most benevolent of the Six Kings, the Underworld King, who dealt with her, was a stroke of luck. Even though she tried to manipulate the otherworlder to gain their knowledge, it was still a blessing in disguise that the plan ultimately ended as nothing more than an attempt.
However, when she said “this time”…
[You shouldn’t bother others or do anything bad, alright? There will be no “next time”…]
[Hiihhh!?]
Yes, she forgave her this time. However, there will be no second chance. If you are a Demon, even a child understands the gravity of hearing such words directly from one of the Six Kings.
From this moment onward, this Demon will carry the weight of fear, knowing that one of the Six Kings has fixed her gaze upon her. She will tread her path with utmost caution, living honestly and righteously, for even the smallest misstep will not be forgiven the next time.
In a sense, this is the punishment bestowed upon her. For a Demon, whose lifespan stretches incomparably longer than that of a human, the day when the fear within her heart fades into oblivion is a distant and unreachable horizon.
[Now then, with that out of the way… You collaborated with certain human nobles, didn’t you?]
[ ! ? ]
[Of course… You’ll tell me all about them, won’t you?]
[…Y-Y-Yes. As you wish, I’ll tell you everything…]
Having no will left to resist, the Demon, her face still pale with fear, confessed all the information she had.