After finishing the early morning training, I was summoned by the Demon King.

Predicting that there would probably be a story about this expedition, I headed to the mansion where the Demon King worked with Mr./Ms. Nagi, who said that he would come with me.

 

"You've been making a lot of noise again in the morning, and you're still a man who has no shortage of things to talk about."

 

Mr./Ms. and I, who were passed through our usual study, talk to the Demon King while sitting in front of the tea that Ciel Mr./Ms. had brewed.

 

"Was it noisy after all?"

"I don't mean noise, but I think it's a rarity that's been accepted here."

 

It's a rarity.

Then, Mr./Ms. Nagi, who was drinking a cup next to her, spoke quietly to me.

 

"Usato, do you do that every morning?"

"No, Nero Mr./Ms. accompanies me to training quite a bit, and Mr./Ms. Amira also comes here from time to time."

 

Mr./Ms. Nero seems to be busy with work during the day and has no time to train, so he seems to be able to move his body in the form of early morning training.

 

"Mr./Ms. Usato is also quite accepted here."

 

Mr./Ms. Ciel standing beside the Demon King smiles wryly.

 

"Certainly not as a human being, but the people's impression of you is something different from a human being."

"Huh, so what's the general definition of a human being?"

"Someone who acts in a common sense way that you don't do."

 

　……。

 

"It looks like we have no choice but to admit defeat here."

"It's scary to think you have a chance to win."

"Usato...... Even Hisago has never let the Demon King say that he is terrifying......

 

I was drawn to the Demon King by my bare hands.

I'm also drawn to Mr./Ms. Nagi, and I wonder what this sense of defeat is.

 

"Kannagi was also very fast."

"I can't be indifferent to what he's doing, so let me hear your thoughts on Sia Garmio."

 

Mr./Ms. Nagi sighs and asks the Demon Lord.

I told him about Shea, but I guess he also wants to hear what the Demon King thinks.

 

"I can't say anything at the moment. It's annoying to say this, but I don't understand what he's doing. …… It's the same as this guy."

「……?」

 

The Demon King points a finger at him and turns his back, but there is no one.

 

"What's wrong with pointing at someone you can't see?" Did you blurt it out?"

"Don't you see that you're blurred when you're not aware of it?"

「……」

「……」

"Ladies and gentlemen, please calm down because the story is going to be complicated."

 

I was trapped by Mr./Ms. Ciel.

Mr./Ms. Nagi opens her mouth while pulling slightly back at me and the Demon King, who are silently glaring at each other.

 

"It's hard to understand what he's doing."

"There's too much contradiction in his thoughts and actions to begin with, at least the guy I and you know isn't a man who acts in such a way as to implant his memories and magic into people who have nothing to do with him."

 

…… This is all I don't know if I ask Shea.

All she has is Mr./Ms.'s memories of Hisago, and it is highly likely that she does not know why his power also resided in her.

 

"It would be useless to think about that idiot's thoughts any more, let's get down to business...... As for the purpose of this expedition."

 

Well, that's right.

If it was imminent a few days before departure, the reason for the call would be to confirm the search.

 

"The general purpose is to develop the Demon Realm, right?"

"That's a big part of it, but there's other work to be done."

 

At this point, the Demon King holds up three fingers.

 

"One is to retrieve the fragments of my power that would be in the Demon Realm, and the second is to protect Sia Garmio. The third is to check for the existence of intelligent life forms living in the realm of demons."

"...... intelligent life?"

"To put it simply, it's a subhuman, or a demon with a will just like your familiar."

 

I don't know if it's because it's unexplored territory.

 

"Is there such a thing?"

"I'm pretty sure he was there before he was sealed, even though he seemed to have been on the sidelines in the conflict between humans and demons."

"Oh, were you there?"

 

Mr./Ms. Nagi seems surprised that she didn't know either.

An intelligent life form that lives in the realm of demons?

I know I'm not going there for fun, but there's something about that kind of thing that makes me a little excited.

It's like Bigfoot or something like that.

 

"By the way, were you there at that time?"

"Elves," he said, "and they were not interested in human strife as they used to be, so they retreated into the deep forest."

"Elven ......"

 

Speaking of elves, is it the same as Mr./Ms. Frana?

Perhaps, but I think it's better to think that they're different from the elves I know.

That's just if you have one.

 

"As for the third one, you can consider it as a bonus, just focus on exploring and retrieving the fragments of my power."

"What about the devil's intervention?"

"It's inevitable, but if you're careful, they're not much of a threat, you and Kannagi are just a threat to the devil, and the demon who is supposed to be your fellow human beings is lying on you."

 

If anything, it's Owl Mr./Ms. and the dark wizard twins who are more threatening.

As it stands, the demons on the enemy side don't seem that bad to me.

Rather, Owl Mr./Ms., who is supposed to be an ally, is more troublesome to me in another way.

 

"So, it's about the members of the expedition."

"Hannah, who is responsible for understanding the terrain for me and my six subordinates, led by Koga, the captain, Mr./Ms. Nagi, and Amako to Nagi Mr./Ms. who arrived yesterday...... I tried to limit the number of people because we were exploring dangerous places, but it turned out to be quite large."

"Considering that there are clairvoyant magic holders, it shouldn't be a problem if the number of people increases a little...... Hmm."

 

The demon king put his hand on his chin and seemed to be thinking about something.

The demon king, who seemed to be confused by the situation and gathered his thoughts, looked at me again.

 

"There was a dark wizard girl named Keira."

"What? yes, yes."

"You should take the girl with you."

 

What is this person talking about?

There's no way you're going to take Keira to a dangerous place.

Amako, who is stepping on the field, is still .......

 

"It's just that you have to protect her, the usefulness of that girl's dark magic is immeasurable. The ability to fly and store and possess supplies in other spaces is perfect for this exploration."

「…… I think you appreciate it quite a bit."

"You're not even paying attention to it, let alone evaluating it, aren't you? There are very few dark wizards who are not for combat purposes in the long history of the city. Kannagi, you know what I mean?"

"Well, yes."

 

Mr./Ms. Nagi, who was spoken to by the Demon King, nodded in confusion.

 

"Even a small number of them have the ability to defend themselves, and it is not uncommon for them to develop a sense of longing for others to the point of flying, and to develop the ability to do so."

 

To be honest, I was surprised that the Demon King said so much.

And that Kira and her magic are that important to him.

 

「…… I don't feel like it, but I'll check with Kira and her guardian. This is non-negotiable."

"Oh, that's fine."

 

…… Do you ask Mr./Ms. Gref at night?

The Demon King says I should protect him, but that doesn't mean I won't have anything.

 

Do you have any questions?"

 

I am a little troubled by the words of the Demon King.

I don't have anything to ask about the current situation.

All I have to do is explain to my subordinates what the search is about...... A.

 

"Speaking of which, there was something I wanted to ask you about magic manipulation, can I ask you now?"

"What?"

"If you combine the deterioration of the system with the strengthening of the system, it will rebound and explode......

「…… Huh?"

 

What are you talking about...... I was stared at like that.

Is this it?

Did I get too ahead of the curve when it came to magic?

 

●

 

It didn't take much effort to explain the search to his subordinates.

They were originally soldiers who belonged to the Demon Lord's army, so they had a quick understanding of the expeditionary mission and it was quite easy for me to explain.

In doing so, he revealed about the demons that we would be hostile to and the fragments of the Demon Lord's power that we had been asked to retrieve.

 

"The one who preys on fear, the captain who inflicts fear"

"If you ask me which one is more frightening, the answer is obvious."

"You're more of a devil than I am."

 

For some reason, I don't agree with the fact that I'm being called a symbol of fear in a roundabout way, but with their minds, I don't think they will be so easily influenced by the devil.

Here's the problem.

You have to ask her and her guardian, Mr./Ms. Gref, whether or not Kira will accompany her to the Demon Realm.

Kira might say she'll follow, but Mr./Ms. Gref will disagree, as she's well aware of the dangers of the demon realm.

 

"Exploring the Demon Realm, let's go!"

"Well, if Keira goes, I won't object."

"What......?"

 

Déjà vu?

Keira's response, which is reminiscent of her interaction with Ferm on her way to the Demon Lord's Realm, makes a strange voice.

Eh, well, maybe I'm the only one who was worried, or ...... this?

 

"I trust you."

「…… Keira, are you sure you're okay? The Demon King recommended it, but it's okay to refuse, right?"

"If it helps, I'll go, because it's going to be a good experience for me."

 

Maybe I'm the one treating them too much as a child?

 

"Before I came here, I traveled around the Demon Lord's Domain, so I'm used to dealing with demons to some extent."

"When Mr./Ms. Usato rescued me, it was usually dangerous......"

"That's because I messed up and got hurt."

 

…… Certainly, Kira traveled around the Demon Realm with Mr./Ms. Gref.

In that sense, he is more than the average adult...... Maybe he's more used to traveling than I am.

 

"And I don't get out of my cloak except in case of emergency."

"Do you keep your magic?"

"If you don't deform a lot, you won't consume much magic."

 

It's similar to Ferm's dark magic.

Or rather, dark magic is very fuel-efficient.

 

"What about sleep?"

"I sleep in my cloak."

"Is that okay ......?"

"I think it's okay because I couldn't solve it even if I was sleeping normally."

 

Is this what it is? Are you under the influence of Ferm's dark magic......?

That's right, there are only two dark wizards for this kid to refer to, Koga and Ferm...... Is it that similar?

 

"Usato, have you finished dinner?"

"Oh, no......

"Then you can eat at home, don't hold back, okay? Your presence makes Lamb and Rose happy."

"Then I'll be glad to indulge you."

 

Mr./Ms. Gref smiled and got up from his chair and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Koga would be eating what Senri-sama made, and it would be fine.

 

「…… I still think it's a bit of a dream."

"What's wrong?"

"That I'm able to live a normal life...... It is."

 

I immediately understood what Keira was trying to say.

A dark wizard child who was exposed to the malice of his biological parents is now able to live a normal life.

Considering Keira's past situation, I can understand the feeling of dreaming.

 

"If I hadn't met Usato's Mr./Ms. at that time, I think I would have fallen into darkness, I hated myself even more, and before I knew it, I would have been swallowed by dark magic...... I could have made Mr./Ms. unhappy."

"It wouldn't have happened, would it? It's all about you here and now."

 

I know that there is such a thing as a "what if" world.

Just as there is a world where I became desperate after losing my senpai and Kazuki, there may also be a world where Kira, who let Mr./Ms. Gref die in front of her, falls into darkness as she says.

But that's just a hypothetical story, and it has nothing to do with Kira, who is in front of me right now.

 

"That's why I want to help someone just like you."

「…… Do you mean Shea?"

「…… Yes."

 

She nodded.

Besides me, Kira is the only other person who has actually met Shea.

I had heard about her situation with her, so I understand her concern.

 

"He's just like me."

 

I guess the reason why Keira wants to accompany us on our quest is because she's worried about Shea.

…… You're about to leave for the Demon Realm.

Exploration is important, but more than that, I'm worried about what kind of situation Shea is in in the demon realm right now.

________________________________________________________________

It was a new technology of Usato, which made even the Demon King look incomprehensible.