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Objectively speaking, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we lived as far away from people’s gaze as possible.

“We haven’t encountered any civilized beings besides Belselphia.”

It had only taken us about two months to leave Count Odrone’s Territory, head north across the continent, pass through Belselphia, and arrive here at Dragon Lift.

Indeed, we had traversed the snowfields, swum through the sea, and boarded a ship for a full two months, yet in those two months, we hadn’t really engaged with the outside world.

We operated in the shadows of the world’s darkness.

Thus, there was nothing for the world to learn about us, and we lived a life cut off from the world — from existing civilizations — for about two months.

Because of this, we had no clue about how the world was progressing.

The only thing we managed to glean was from previously seizing a pirate ship, which revealed the situation in the Anari Principality.

We hadn’t directly interrogated the pirates, but since we acquired the information through their journals, there was no issue there.

Let’s gather information at Dragon Lift.

While procuring food and finding a ship, let’s also try to figure out how the world is turning.

“Surely nothing could have dramatically changed in two months, right?”

With that thought in mind, we headed toward Dragon Lift.

This was essentially our first contact with human civilization since we left Count Odrone’s Territory.

To think that the moment they saw us, especially me, they would call us the “Hero Party.”

Initially, an array of thoughts flooded my mind.

What’s going on? Has Liriez completely blown it?

Is the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess urgently searching for a hero wielding the Holy Wind Sword?

So they must be scattering our party’s information across the globe to identify my position as the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus and Master of the Hero?

Or has someone grasped something about the awakening of the Holy Sword through some special means and is actively spreading the word about our true identities?

Could another Hero with a Holy Sword be trying to play us — or the Hero wielding the Holy Wind Sword — for a fool?

No, it wasn’t that.

Perhaps I had naively assumed that this world was a peaceful era.

That the term “Hero” would merely carry the weight of rumor.

That the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess, having figured out about the Hero of the Holy Sword, wouldn’t disclose the existence of the Holy Wind Sword.

That since the Saintess is here, they wouldn’t carelessly talk about the Hero’s movements.

That like in Count Odrone’s Territory, with Droniel here, they would merely veil everything in the name of the Water Hero, Liriez, who had defeated the Demon King Beelzebub.

And the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus and the blonde swordsman who performed brilliantly in Normans are simply beings with tremendous magical power, nothing more.

Such careless thoughts.

But there was none of that.

Why did we get exposed?

Why did the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus and her party have the rumor of being the Hero Party?

One thing.

I made an error in judgment.

Holding onto the frame from 500 years ago, I failed to recognize that the meaning of “Hero Party” differs from then and now.

Hero Party.

Those who gather to defeat the Demon King.

But having seen countless misfits, it seemed to me that a true Hero Party must surely include a Hero wielding the “Holy Sword.”

Forgetting that the world doesn’t operate that way.

“The strike that burnt down the giant raven in Normans! I was awed!”

“They say in Count Odrone’s Territory that Hero Liriez assisted in defeating the Demon King? Truly remarkable!!”

Ah, I see.

Though they didn’t see me as the Hero of the Holy Sword, I realized what “Hero” means from their perspective.

The existence of a Holy Sword isn’t crucial.

What matters is whether they possess the power to defeat the Demon King.

As long as they can defeat the Demon King and contribute significantly to mankind, that party can authentically be called a “Hero.”

And if people revere them as the Hero Party, surely they will try to take advantage of us.

“Sage. And to the esteemed Hero Party, would you kindly help us defeat the Demon King’s Army?”

Yeah.

Just for the simple reason of being called a Hero Party, we are compelled to engage in strenuous labor without compensation.

Hero Party.

That means…

“Please save our principality!!”

A valuable workforce they can exploit, as long as we just talk the talk.

Regardless of whether we have a Holy Sword.

Just a bunch of easy marks they can use as pawns.

That is the true nature of how the authorities view the Hero Party.

Given the circumstances.

“They say this; what do you think, Saintess?”

“…Saintess?”

“My apologies.”

You meet power with power.

“For now, we need to discuss the detailed situation, so shall we speak in private?”

Let’s have a taste of the Saintess from the Order of the Crescent Moon’s authority.

Hahaha.

*

The Saintess makes an entrance.

Though I publicly revealed that the Saintess is among the Hero Party, I cannot let myself be used so easily.

“I’m sorry, Yan. I had everything planned to conceal our identities up until we arrived, but then I blurted it out upon entering.”

“It’s fine. I also don’t wish for our party to be used as Heroes. It’s probably for the best. It’ll reveal itself eventually, and being open about it now isn’t such a bad thing.”

“That’s true. Thanks to that, we’ve been invited to a fine establishment.”

Thanks to Yan, we weren’t in any old government office or inn but rather receiving royal treatment at the principality’s castle.

It may have once been a royal castle, but now it has become something akin to a principality’s governmental building.

While it still retains the form of a castle, the interior has turned into an administrative facility bustling with many people.

Anari Castle.

This fortress holds the history and traditions of the Anari Kingdom, which has now transformed into a principality’s governmental office.

“Witch. But doesn’t this mean we have to heed their requests?”

“Precisely. Since we’ve been caught, we’re in a tight spot. However, this is a low stake situation. They say it’s the Demon King’s army they’re dealing with.”

If they just asked us to dispose of a monster, or to help repel an invasion from a hostile nation, we’d cut that off immediately.

For a monster, we can hire mercenaries, and for a war, the Saintess has the excuse of not being able to engage directly in matters between nations.

But it’s not the Demon King’s army.

“I apologize for the intrusion. I am the Foreign Minister of the Principality, Borchu Anari.”

The man with glasses standing before us in the reception room bowed politely.

With his somewhat light brown hair, he had the sort of appearance typical of a scholar and strongly resembled a civil servant.

Except for his surname.

“Anari…?”

“Once classified as royalty long ago. However, the ceremonial rank is quite low, being the nephew of the current governing Duke, Hurtas Anari.”

Even with the Anari surname, he works for the principality.

Presumably, he sided with the Empire when the kingdom transformed into a principality.

Well, I have no business meddling in their nations, so as long as he’s capable, it’s fine by me.

Just don’t try to take me for a fool, and show me some decency.

But.

“Did you just say Demon King’s army?”

“Yes. The Demon King’s army.”

“That great Demon King from 500 years ago—”

“No, no. It’s a different Demon King.”

At Foreign Minister Borchu’s words, I was left dumbfounded.

“A different Demon King…?”

“Currently, a Demon King has appeared in the territory adjacent to our Anari Principality over the Empire’s land. Just a week ago.”

It was just when we had boarded the Bride Ship.

“I apologize. A week ago, we were conquering a dungeon elsewhere. We just completed our exploration two days ago and teleported here.”

“…I see. I understand that you are startled by the mention of a Demon King, but truthfully, we are also quite taken aback. The one who claims to be a Demon King now isn’t some magical king, but indeed the real king of the Demon Race.”

Beep.

When Foreign Minister Borchu pressed something like a stick, a large white cloth attached to the wall began to illuminate.

It’s likely the magic stone’s record-preserving function, projected onto the screen.

“As you can see, this individual is the Demon King.”

“…Are you referring to this one wearing an orange robe?”

“Yes. This enormous being dressed in an orange robe claims to be the Demon King.”

“………”

How can a Demon King wear an orange robe?

Wait.

Even if we say it’s vermilion or dark red, it still looks—

‘No matter how I look at it, that’s orange.’

There’s no way to deny it.

That is definitely orange.

“Between the Empire and our principality, there is a place called ‘Forest of Death.’ A place that has harbored monsters since long ago, forbidden to ordinary people, regularly purging monsters to prevent them from reaching civilian areas. However….”

Beep.

The screen transitioned.

On the screen, hundreds, no thousands of monsters swarmed forth from the forest, rushing into the plains.

“A week ago, monsters surged forth en masse, seizing Count Scouter’s Territory. Count Scouter fought valiantly against the Demon Race, but within merely a day, his castle was overtaken, and he was killed by the Demon King.”

“…Oh my.”

Are there really Demon Races acting like true Demon Races in this Intermediate Realm?

“The leader of the Demon Race that seized Count Scouter’s Territory, this orange-robed man, captured soldiers coming to scout the area. And he proclaimed himself to be the king of the Demon Races. He came to stain this land with blood and claim the Intermediate Realm for the Demon Race.”

“And yet, not the great Demon King?”

“Yes. It appears to be a different individual than the great Demon King from 500 years ago.”

Foreign Minister Borchu slowly closed his eyes.

“The troubling part is where this Demon King’s army has emerged. They currently rule over Count Scouter’s Territory, but the first place they revealed themselves was within the territory of our Anari Principality. Although technically outside management, it falls under our side when considering the border with the Empire.”

“The Empire must’ve addressed it. Since it emerged from the principality, the principality ought to help,”

“I would hope so, but they insisted that we tackle the issue ourselves…”

“The Demon King’s army and yet…?”

Indeed. Such is the lament of a small nation. Sigh. As if the Demon King’s army isn’t troublesome enough, word is that a Kraken has also appeared at sea…

My heart skipped a beat.

Though I managed to keep my identity hidden, it seems someone in the distance saw the Kraken through the mist.

“So, we desperately need the assistance of the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus, the Saintess, and the esteemed Heroes. Please, will you lend us your help?”

I was about to utter a response with only my voice.

But here, in this environment, it felt inappropriate to say it outright.

“Please, assist us in defeating Demon King Satan.”

“……?”

Did he just say something?

“Demon King Satan has set his sights on this place for his next conquest…”

 

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