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Before properly heading off to rest.

“Please come this way. I’ll guide you.”

“There’s only one room?”

“The Sorceress of Crimson Lotus said that a room with five beds is sufficient.”

“…Very well. By the way, Foreign Minister, do you have a moment? I have a question.”

“If it’s a question from the Saintess, I will answer anything.”

Having been shown to a room with five beds by Foreign Minister Borchu, Lucius and his party asked Borchu about the situation in the Anari Principality before they took a break.

“Please tell us why you need our help and about the situation in the Principality.”

“Understood. The Principality is….”

Relations with the Empire.

The situation in the Principality.

And the Demon King’s Army.

“…So the Demon King Satan wields the Holy Flame Sword?”

“That’s correct.”

Lucius and the hero party, except for Sage Bel, were shocked and horrified by the information about the Demon King’s Army from Foreign Minister Borchu Anari.

“No, but it’s the Holy Sword! How can the Demon King use it?”

“It’s a puzzling matter, but it’s the truth.”

Beep.

Borchu took out something resembling a stick and pointed it at the white wall, causing an image to appear.

Rustle, rustle.

As Borchu moved the stick with his hand, a certain scene emerged.

“That’s…!!”

“It’s an image of the summoned demon overlooking the Scouter Territory.”

A red-haired woman bound to a cross.

Just like a sinner, her whole body was tightly wrapped in white cloth, and her mouth was covered with a mask, chained up.

Beside her stood someone in an orange robe, quietly glaring at the sky while holding the Sword of Flames.

Whoosh!

The being that appeared to be the Demon King swung the Holy Sword, and an image burst into flames.

“As you can see, while binding Hero Bearnes with chains, Demon King Satan has seized the Imperial Territory of Scouter by personally wielding the Holy Flame Sword.”

Borchu shook his head in disbelief.

“Count Scouter was burned alive, and the army guarding the Count’s territory was completely swept away by the flames. I don’t know how the Holy Sword Hero was defeated by the Demon King, but it’s not entirely impossible.”

“…It’s true that six heroes were defeated 500 years ago.”

Gulp.

Everyone began to feel their mouths go dry.

While it’s not completely unheard of for the Holy Sword Hero to be defeated by the Demon King, that was a tale from 500 years ago.

Over the last 500 years, there have been those who claimed to be the Demon King.

Yet, they all at times lost to the Holy Sword Hero, or simply to a hero who didn’t even use the Holy Sword.

“I guess this may very well be the Demon King who has defeated the Holy Sword Hero in 500 years.”

In other words.

Just as Great Demon Lord Bel Phegor did, Demon King Satan has defeated a hero.

“Ha, but just because he defeated the Holy Sword Hero doesn’t mean he can wield the Holy Sword.”

“That’s correct. If that were the case, the Great Demon Lord would have been able to freely wield six Holy Swords.”

500 years ago.

Great Demon Lord Bel Phegor had subdued the Holy Sword Hero multiple times but did not specifically use the Holy Sword.

“If the Demon King could wield the Holy Sword, the Great Demon Lord Bel Phegor wouldn’t have died by the hands of the Wind Hero. The Demon King wouldn’t… use the Holy Sword.”

“Who knows? The fact that the Great Demon Lord didn’t use the Holy Sword 500 years ago might have just been due to his strange conviction. There’s no law stating that just because you possess the Holy Sword, you must use it.”

“…So the Holy Sword can also be used by the Demon King or the Demon Race? Like Demon King Satan?”

“I have no idea. But one undeniable fact is that Demon King Satan is currently wielding the Holy Flame Sword.”

At Borchu’s words, Lucius clenched the ring in his hand.

“The hero using the Holy Flame Sword…. What about Mercenary King Bearnes? I heard he was chained up.”

“He isn’t dead. However, he has been subdued by Demon King Satan and is bound by a cross in the plaza of Scouter. He’s likely still bound there. At least he isn’t being humiliated by the demon race….”

“…Maybe this is their way of luring others in.”

Yan turned his gaze to Lucius.

“Having subdued the Holy Sword Hero, they might be declaring war against other Holy Sword Heroes. Boasting to all of humanity: ‘I have defeated the Holy Sword Hero.’ The fact they have left the summoned demons to see the plaza is evidence of that.”

“Are you saying they allowed access on purpose to show off?”

“Exactly, Droniel. It’s a show-off tactic. Or….”

Yan frowned.

“They could bound one Holy Sword Hero and then proceed to bind another to display in the plaza. Like a collection.”

“They’re inviting anyone who wants to rescue the heroes, aren’t they?”

“Yes. They are confident they can handle anyone who comes, even if it isn’t the same hero. Now that they have the power that should be called a Demon Sword rather than a Holy Sword.”

“…Can we win?”

Rosmas shocked herself with her own outburst and waved her hands.

“No, I mean, I’m not saying we’re definitely going to lose! I just wonder if we can win against such a powerful enemy without suffering significant losses!”

“I don’t know. But the Anari Principality will do its best to oppose the Demon King’s Army under the command of Magic King Endymion. Although you have decided to help us, to be honest, asking you to risk your lives in this situation seems somewhat shameless. However.”

Borchu bowed at a 90-degree angle.

“Please help us. I can’t bring myself to ask you to risk your lives, but if you do your utmost for the Anari Principality, it will provide appropriate—and even greater—rewards in return.”

“I have one question. It’s a rather unexpected question, but.”

“What is it?”

“…In these circumstances, is it possible for a fallen royal family to move to regain their power?”

An unexpected question.

But Lucius’s expression was undeniably serious.

“Lucius?”

“It’s okay. I just wanted to ask.”

Although the others showed some anxiety, Lucius asked Borchu with a firm face.

“Are there such beings? Forces trying to rebuild a kingdom?”

“…Yes. There is the last bloodline of the fallen royal family and the knight order following her.”

Borchu shook his head like someone who had reached enlightenment.

“I understand. If there had been no issues, she might have inherited the Anari Kingdom and become queen. However, Anari has changed over the past ten years. Though it’s a Principality, it has achieved overwhelming technological advancement to the point where it dares to be called the ‘Magic Principality.’ It’s no wonder the Empire is coveting our technology, wanting to seize it.”

“Even after entering the Principality of the Empire…?”

“Yes. When we first entered the Principality, we made an agreement. In exchange for a certain amount of resources each year, we would not interfere with the goods produced by the Anari Principality.”

Borchu pounded his chest confidently and straightened his shoulders.

“The tribute has only reached about 0.3% of the annual production in just ten years. It’s not because I’m from the Principality, but if I return to the kingdom, I will lose all that I’ve gained in these ten years. The previous Anari Kingdom was merely a ‘maritime nation.'”

“…….”

“Perhaps that’s why the Empire is allowing the Demon King’s Army to run free right now. They might be waiting for the Demon King’s Army to destroy the eyesore that is the Anari Principality while they eliminate the Demon King’s Army, claiming the Principality as their own. …I seem to have talked too long. The Duke is calling. Excuse me.”

Borchu left the room.

The party quietly sat on their respective beds, and Lucius fiddled with his ring, casting a barrier in the room.

“…I was worried that it would only lead to a power struggle between the royal family and the Principality, but something even worse has happened.”

“What should we do? Pirate troubles seem trivial now.”

“If I have the chance, I need to return to the Bride Ship and release the pirates.”

Lucius nodded firmly.

“I will let them go, but I hope they won’t resort to piracy even in this situation.”

“Maybe they don’t know? Being at sea?”

“…If they had known, it would have been written in the journal, and someone would have mentioned it.”

Since it hadn’t been long since the Demon King’s Army appeared, they might not have known if they’d been at sea the whole time.

“Then Lucius, about the kingdom….”

“I’m not particularly inclined to side with anyone, but I’d prefer to support the Principality over the royal family. Of course, I’m not saying I’m going to report the pirates….”

“Staying neutral is sufficient. A hero fights for humanity, not for any kingdom.”

“For humanity….”

Lucius grimaced.

“It’s not necessarily that way.”

“…Lucius?”

“…The Holy Sword has fallen into the hands of the Demon King. Does that mean Satan is a hero too?”

“That’s true. I apologize, Lucius.”

“It’s fine, Yan.”

Lucius approached Yan and patted his back.

“Sorry for causing you to misunderstand.”

“No, I misjudged. It’s the thought of the Demon King wielding the Holy Sword that made me….”

“…Exactly.”

Lucius’s eyes lit up.

“The fact that a Demon Race can hold the Holy Sword means… the owner of the Holy Sword is not restricted to humans?”

“Eh?”

“Maybe… the Holy Sword isn’t something only humans can wield. In fact, the Demon Race might also be able to wield it.”

Perhaps even the Undead.

Lucius swallowed that last thought.

“…One thing is certain. We can’t ignore the Demon King wielding the Holy Sword and just head to the Sky Island to save Bearnes.”

Lucius clenched his hands tightly.

“We will defeat Demon King Satan and liberate the Holy Flame Sword.”

Lucius’s eyes blazed with intense determination.

*

“Oh, I see. I once taught you how to conquer the Holy Sword.”

“What did you say?”

“I was asked so often for guidance that I made a deal. I sold a few.”

“No, you said you wouldn’t tell anyone…?”

“No, that Deadlift thing, the technique really intrigued me.”

The strategy to conquer the Holy Flame Sword.

Specifically, how I managed to defeat the Holy Flame Sword.

– You want me to teach you how to Deadlift? Hmm, then I’ll teach you the technique. While you’re at it, why don’t you share some stories about your battles with the heroes? Heh heh.

I exchanged that know-how.

“…But if you don’t learn the proper form, you’ll mess up your back…?”

The deal with Satan was excellent.

I just didn’t expect it to come back around like this.

“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

…Could it be, me?

 

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