It was a memory of when I was an apprentice to a Demon King soldier before I became the commander of the Third Corps.

He accompanied his mentor, Nero Argens, and his men on a mission.

It was supposed to be an easy mission.

We traveled to the human realm to capture a powerful demon for the demon lord who would eventually be resurrected, and to create a new monster, now called Barginak.

 

A scene that is still vividly burned into my eyes.

I had been ordered to wait in the rear, but when I arrived at the battlefield feeling something was wrong, it had turned into hell.

Trees torn into a mess.

Falling down, both compatriots and humans.

And the figure of the master who was pierced in the right shoulder with his own sword and crucified by a tree, and the woman who is glaring at the master with hateful eyes.

 

"I'll kill you, I'll kill you."

 

Her right eye had been slashed, blood was oozing from all over her body—a body that a normal human would not even be able to maintain consciousness—and she was crawling on the ground, trying to stop her master, who was already on the verge of losing consciousness.

Even though his body was dying, his eyes were firmly focused on his master.

It was genuinely terrifying.

I didn't think there was such a person.

Desperately moving my body, which was unable to move due to fear, I took my master and fled the place.

Even before I ran away and got on my horse, I felt that woman's gaze all the time, and I didn't feel alive.

 

"Armiller"

「…… What's that?"

"What is your greeting, isn't it your superior officer? Me."

 

Before the battle, he remembered the past, but was interrupted by Koga, the commander of the Second Corps.

As for why this guy is still my superior officer, in addition to the fact that it is easier to move as a soldier...... It was because he became attached to his subordinates who followed him.

At present, the place where our troops are camping at night is in the forest right in front of the great river where the bridge was destroyed by Rose once before, and I, who had experienced firsthand the previous failure of having the bridge destroyed, took several of my men to guard the opposite bank.

 

"What's the use?"

"No, I just went to a meeting, but it's over.

"That's why she's better suited to be a corps commander than me."

 

Hannah Romeir, the new commander of the III Corps, is brilliant.

Compared to me, who is intuitive and only capable of fighting, she has a flexible and cunning mind.

And the magic he has is also suitable for logistical support.

I'm sure it will be troublesome for the opposing soldiers.

 

"So, is there anything else?"

"Mr./Ms. Nero is a shortstop, leaving the command to his lieutenant."

「…… Oh yes."

 

In the master's fight, those who have half-hearted power will be in the way.

There's nothing wrong with that, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have anything to think about.

 

"Oh, if you gossip."

"Hmm?"

 

At the sound of Koga's voice, she looks up and follows his gaze.

Then he saw a blonde demon ——— master, Nero Argeens, standing near the riverbank with a sword at his waist. I can only see his back, so I can't see his expression, but I'm staring at the scenery beyond the river.

 

"Okay, he's your master, isn't he? Shouldn't we talk a little bit?"

「…… yes, I know."

 

Since the return of the master, they have not spoken to each other.

Partly because he was busy just before he marched, but also because he simply didn't know how to talk to his current master.

Since returning to the Demon King Territory, the master has changed.

The wounds inflicted by the magic sword he possessed were severe, and even after the resurrection of the Demon King, he was unable to return to battle and was forced to recuperate.

At that time, the master was extremely remorseful for forcing his subordinates to die, and he was extremely obsessive due to his defeat in the battle with Rose.

Perhaps that will not change even now.

 

"I've left it to you."

"Huh? What? Are you going to let me, the Legion Commander, keep an eye on you? Hey, don't ignore me—"

 

Ignoring Koga's voice, I go to my master.

The closer you get to it, the clearer it becomes.

His dull golden hair, the armor covering his right shoulder, and the magic sword he carried at his waist made him nervous, but he was about to speak to him, but his master pulled out his sword without warning and slashed sideways in the space in front of him with a light movement.

 

"Huh!?"

 

In an instant, a blade of wind shot out of the red blade and headed for the high mountain at the end of the great river.

After a few seconds, a tree in one corner of the mountain is cut down, raising a cloud of dust.

Confused by the sudden action, the master with the red magic sword in its sheath said as he stared at the mountain.

 

"Five"

"What?"

"He's a scout, and he killed me before I could get the information. I don't know if it makes sense."

 

For a few seconds, I couldn't understand the meaning of my master's words, but the moment I understood, I got goosebumps.

The master had eliminated a man who was scouting from the mountains. And that's despite the fact that you can't see it properly in the dark.

Once again, I was made to understand how non-standard the master was.

 

"It's been a while, Armira."

 

I was simply amazed at the ability of my master, whom I had long forgotten, when suddenly he called my name.

He stopped a little behind him, and his face shifted slightly to his master's face, smiling.

 

"It's been a long time, master."

"Master, do you still call me that?"

 

I am surprised by the self-mocking words.

The master's appearance is completely different from before.

At least, before the fight with Rose, his master had never uttered a self-deprecating word.

 

"You're the master who taught me how to fight, no matter what."

「…… You've gotten stronger."

 

He muttered with emotion, and the master shut his mouth again.

I can't fathom the master's state of mind.

But there was something I wanted to ask for a long time.

 

"Master, is there any intention to kill Rose?"

 

Am I trying to get the revenge on Rose like I used to be?

Unlike me, who was burning with anger just because I wanted to clear my master's regrets, my master must have a reason to do so.

After all, my master has lost all of his subordinates except me in the battle with Rose.

At my question, the master shook his head slightly.

 

「…… No, I don't deserve to be an enemy. I'd rather be on the side of atonement."

"What do you mean by atonement?"

"To them...... I'm the one who forced my men to die."

 

He had Rose's men go astray, and they both fell.

Considering the strength of Rose and his men at the time, it would have been obvious that she would be a threat later on.

I'm not saying that the master was right, but if Rose's men had lived like that, they might have been untouchable.

 

"My time stops on the day of that battle."

 

There was a strong emotion in his murmur.

 

"I used to think that I would be willing to sacrifice anything for the prosperity of the Demon Tribe, but after my defeat at Rose, that enthusiasm and ideals disappeared, and all that was left was the urge to fight."

"Nothing else?"

"Yes, I have only one goal: to fight Rose. That's it."

 

The master was trapped in the past.

He was hungry for a fight against Rose, who had never faced him before, and who was of equal power.

Everyone here is supposed to be fighting for the Demon Lord—for the survival of the entire Demon Race, but this person is not fighting for the present, but for the past.

 

"Isn't Rose fighting now?"

 

Answer unexpected questions with surprise.

 

「…… Yes. As a healing wizard, you will run across the battlefield and heal wounded enemy soldiers."

"Did she choose to save rather than kill?"

 

I couldn't see the expression on my master's face as he muttered this, but I knew he had something on his mind.

He was silent for about ten seconds, but finally spoke.

 

"If that's the case, it must be quite a nuisance."

"Yes, not at all, even his apprentices came out of nowhere in the last battle, and they were already struggling with the presence of the two heroes......

 

He remembers the healing wizard called Usato and the two heroes, and complains in front of his master.

 

"Disciple? Are you a healing wizard ......?"

"Yes, he is indeed a healing wizard of the same kind as Rose."

"How good are you?"

"At least to the point of a draw with Koga."

 

Technically, Koga had a lot of power, but there was no way he was a decent healing wizard when he was stunned, even temporarily.

When I saw him locked in a cage in Hinomoto, he looked like an ordinary boy—but there was a strong will in his eyes.

 

「…… I see."

 

The master, who listened to me and nodded silently, fell silent.

Did you have any thoughts when you heard Rose's apprentice? In any case, for the master, this march is also a battle against the past.

For me...... It is also a battle for the Demon King, and by extension, the Demon Tribe.

_________________________________________

Nero's position is the exact opposite of Rose's.