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The emergence of Demon King Satan. After defeating the Flame Hero Bearnes and seizing the Holy Sword, the Demon King wields it personally, advancing toward the Empire’s territory burning it under the name ‘Magyom Gehenna.’

The emergence of Hero Arthur Lucius.

He appears in the Anari Principality, ready to support the Empire with 300 warriors and his party members.

As the Demon King’s Army advances toward the Empire, the Hero party pursues them, repeatedly defeating the Demon King’s forces within the Empire’s territory, creating a continuous cycle.

The Empire’s territory is becoming increasingly desolate.

The Demon King’s Army has reached the front of the ‘Imperial Guard,’ the final defensive line constructed by the Empire.

For the Empire and humanity, this was undoubtedly the worst situation imaginable.

However, there is hope for humanity.

Thanks to the Hero, humanity was able to muster strength.

And the Hero was able to find that strength thanks to a certain witch.

The witch devoted herself wholeheartedly to the Hero, and the Hero did his utmost while taking the witch as his master.

However.

As is always the case in wars with the Demon King’s Army, the situation began to take a bizarre turn.

“Sorceress of Crimson Lotus Bel. I will arrest you on charges of collusion with the Demon King’s Army.”

“……Death.”

The Empire has arrested the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus, Bel.

*

– Leberced Prison, Arpe Empire.

The coldness is biting.

I thought I wouldn’t feel the chill, being an Undead, but the very nature of a prison brings a coldness that pierces my body.

“They say it’s an imperial prison, but it’s no different from an ordinary one.”

I had imagined that a prison for high-ranking individuals would be somewhat luxurious, yet it’s just a bed made of straw behind iron bars.

There’s even no restroom.

It’s grossly degrading on a personal level, but fortunately, as this body doesn’t have physiological needs, it’s not too bothersome for me.

It’s simply absurd that such a situation was concocted just to embarrass me.

Clang, clang, clang.

I heard the sound of someone striking the iron bars.

When I turned my head slightly, I found a man with stern glasses looking down at me.

“Criminal.”

“Well, my guilt hasn’t been determined yet, right? Isn’t there a principle of presumed innocence?”

“The Empire does not arbitrarily imprison the innocent. We simply assess the gravity of the crime.”

“But what if that crime is wrong in the first place?”

I raised my body.

“I don’t know what the Empire thinks, but all I’ve done is team up with the people of the Anari Principality to defeat the Demon King’s Army. Instead, I was acting on behalf of the incompetent Empire that failed to bring down the Demon King’s Army properly.”

“The Empire is not incompetent. The Empire, His Majesty the Emperor, has been drawing the Demon King’s Army to the Empire with insight. You and those from the Anari Principality messed that up.”

“You were just getting beaten up, and now you want to talk big.”

“…Are you looking to add contempt of court to your charges?”

“Is this place a court?”

“Where I am is the court. I am the judge here to sentence you.”

“Ha.”

He looked strict, and sure enough, he was the kind of man who would be.

“I don’t know how the laws of the Empire have changed over the past 500 years, but I can at least tell you one thing. The Empire hasn’t changed from 500 years ago to now.”

“Don’t judge the history of the Empire recklessly. No matter how much you are that Great Sorcerer from 500 years ago, right now you can’t recklessly act in any way.”

“…….”

At present.

I have a single handcuff on my wrist.

The uniquely crafted handcuff renders me unable to exert any power, as if my tendons have been severed.

“Are you bothered by those handcuffs? His Majesty the Emperor personally created those sacred handcuffs to restrain you. They are made using the power of the Holy Sword. No matter how great a sorcerer you are, you won’t be able to break them.”

Doesn’t the phrase “That’s ridiculous” apply here?

The Emperor himself used the power of the Holy Sword to craft handcuffs to restrain me.

It’s ridiculous indeed, but if this is typical of the Empire, it’s indeed a typical action of theirs.

“They think of the Empire first without considering humanity.”

They believe everything must serve the Empire, so even the slightest damage to the Empire’s interests prompts them to eliminate the source.

That’s why they engage in such madness even in the face of our common enemy, the Demon King’s Army.

The incident happened a week ago—

No need to go back.

A three-line summary.

The imperial army lost the Maginot Line, and our warriors formed a joint front with the imperial army.

We achieved an overwhelming victory, but in the process, as promised, we made most of the Magic Stones our own.

The Empire forcibly detained me, deciding that the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus was the biggest hindrance in our party.

That’s it.

I could summarize the specific process as “CRAAAWNG! With a massive golden Holy Sword, Lucius swept away the Demon King’s Army,” so there’s no need for detailed explanation.

What’s important is this.

“Do you really believe you can defeat Satan’s Demon King’s Army with the power of the Empire alone?”

“Of course! In fact, I want to ask you. Are you seriously considering that the Empire has been pushed back this far because they can’t defeat the Demon King’s Army?”

“…….”

That’s the average personality of the Empire.

It hasn’t changed from 500 years ago.

“Is this karma?”

Back when I, the Great Demon King Belphegor, was making a name for myself, I took great pleasure in using the Empire’s malevolence.

“The kingdom has been destroyed? That’s none of our concern. Ha, we might accept an exile though.”

“The dukedom has fallen? That’s just a scratch that means nothing to our Empire. After all, it’s just one of many dukedoms gone.”

“…All kingdoms except for the Empire have fallen or surrendered? Then, let’s form the Human Alliance!!”

The Empire only wakes up when the fire is at its own feet and that flame climbs its legs and singes its torso.

The problem is, these fools also possess a sense of ‘self-satisfaction.’

“Do you really think you can defeat the Demon King’s Army without our help?”

“Of course!”

Behold.

“Without the Anari Principality and the Wind Hero, our Empire can win against the Demon King’s Army!”

That baseless, indeed, pitiful confidence.

“Our Arpe Empire is the greatest in the world! It was the same 500 years ago, and it will be the same 500 years from now.”

“No, you guys were… 500 years ago…”

“It’s all propaganda and fabrication. No matter how you try to deceive our Empire, it won’t work. You have your own history.”

The judge sneered at me with a grim smile.

“You. You betrayed us even 500 years ago, didn’t you?”

“…….”

“Sorceress of Crimson Lotus Bel. In truth… weren’t you the woman of the Great Demon King Belphegor? Hmm? Weren’t you really the spy that led humanity to defeat by the Demon King’s Army?”

“That’s wrong. That….”

Bel genuinely worked hard for humanity.

I just managed to block that and overcame the crisis.

“You publicly swore that the Great Demon King must be killed while stirring the people, yet in truth were you just the Great Demon King’s woman, letting out cries every time you were defeated?”

“What kind of nonsense is that…!!”

“It’s not a lie. It’s on record. His Majesty told me exclusively. See the records left in the Empire, from 500 years ago…!!”

“…….”

Damn it.

Have I been found out?

“Your charges are simple. 500 years ago, you colluded with the Great Demon King Belphegor’s Demon Army to drive humanity to destruction. And now, in modern times, you’re attempting to lead humanity to destruction again using Satan.”

“…It’s slander.”

Bel honestly fought for humanity.

And I can at least say that I am also moving for humanity, sort of.

“Then I will ask you. Your true body, not this one, where is it now?”

“…….”

The judge refers to Bel’s body.

Not mine, Belphegor’s body.

“I… don’t know.”

“Don’t know? Ha ha. Of course, you wouldn’t. You don’t know where your body went. In fact… we don’t know either.”

“…….”

What an amusing expression.

“Playing with people has its limits. I won’t overlook the next time.”

“Like that? Haha. Such words are meaningless. You will be sent to the palace after your execution, and in that place, you will be trapped, hearing the Empire’s news of victory before your execution.”

“…….”

“Humanity will no longer be deceived. Spy of the Demon King’s Army, Witch Bel, Woman of the Great Demon King.”

“…….”

It wasn’t wrong to say she was my woman, but it’s unfair since it’s unfair.

“Right. Even if you truly, sincerely didn’t collude with the Demon King’s Army, and let’s say you acted sincerely for humanity, isn’t that even worse?”

“What do you mean?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to be a competent spy? Rather than a useless piece of trash that leads allies to doom everywhere they go.”

“…….”

“When the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus guided the heroes, what happened to them? They all fell to the Great Demon King, didn’t they? It would be better for you to have been a spy colluding with the Great Demon King. If that was truly an act for humanity… it’s the extreme of incompetence, isn’t it?”

“…….”

That’s.

It was really.

Inevitably so.

“Bel worked hard.”

It was just that the opponent was me.

“…Heh heh. What now? You’ll have to stay trapped here until the end, huh?”

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course. That’s how it goes…”

The judge’s expression turned grim.

“Hero Lucius. The Hero you can trust has left the continent due to the ‘Trial of the Holy Sword,’ hasn’t he?”

“…….”

Currently.

The Wind Hero, Arthur Lucius.

He has departed far away due to the Trial of the Holy Sword.

“High Elf, Knight, Saintess. The Hero party left with them. Now no one can rescue you.”

Heading toward the Sky Island.

“Oh, this is annoying.”

“Why is that, Master?”

“Because that arrogant guy in the Empire just spoke to me while I’m locked up in prison.”

“Shall I eliminate him?”

“What to eliminate? Just keep your eyes on what’s in front of you. We still have three sets left. Breathe. Exhale.”

The reflection of me in the glass of the Bride ship is ‘blue.’

“While the main body is buying time in the imperial prison, the Empire must grow strong enough to not dare to speak arrogantly. Right?”

“…Yes!”

It’s Bel (Leviathan).

That’s right.

Currently.

I have split.

What’s happening is—

…Going back a week.

 

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