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I will defeat the Demon King Satan.

To that end, we decided to support the Anari Principality without hesitation.

Of course.

Not as a hero wielding the Holy Wind Sword, but as the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus who made a significant impact in Normans.

“With the Witch around, there’s bound to be a way! If it’s the Witch who protected Normans, surely!”

“You were the one who defeated countless Bug legions alongside Hero Liriez! The Sorceress of Crimson Lotus can surely bring down the Demon King too!”

“What?! There’s even a Saintess here?! Demon King, be prepared! The Sorceress of Crimson Lotus is coming!!”

In this manner, the people of the Anari Principality were fervently praising us.

Originally, they intended to exploit the Hero Party, but before being heroes, the Anari Principality was in urgent need, forcing them to sing our praises.

And since we had revealed our true identities, we couldn’t simply leave this place.

“What? You’re leaving when there’s a Demon King around? How disappointing…”

“When you were busy showing off against weak Demons, did you get cold feet now that you’re up against the Demon King?!!”

“Others might be fine, but the Saintess can’t do that! It diminishes faith in the Moon Goddess! From today, I’m retracting my faith in the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess!”

If we just disappeared, all sorts of chaos would ensue.

Not only the outright blame directed towards the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus and her party, but the stigma would also become a great obstacle on our future journeys.

Therefore.

It’s clear they’re trying to use us, but even if it’s a pain, defeating the Demon King would be far more advantageous for us in the long run.

Even if the Demon King possesses the power of the Holy Sword.

So…

“We need to let the pirate ship loose so we can go all out. Follow me.”

I took only Lucius and headed towards the depths of the sea.

While within the Principality, Saintess Yan was attracting attention, Lucius was deploying a golden barrier and submerging into the Deep Bride ship.

“Should I just deactivate the barrier?”

“Yeah. But first, let’s inform those people.”

I pointed my staff forward.

Mana flowed from the tip of my staff, creating a clone of myself, which then entered the barrier while holding a special sword.

“A, a ghost?!”

“I’m not a ghost.”

Ignoring the astonished pirates—former knights of the Anari Kingdom—I landed lightly before the last princess of the Anari Kingdom, still wearing the captain’s hat.

“Last princess of the Anari Kingdom. Has your perspective changed at all while you’ve been here?”

“…Are you telling us not to plunder people, or to abandon our thoughts of restoring the kingdom? Is that why you locked us up here?”

“That’s part of it. Let me clarify something…”

I clearly explained the dark clouds looming over the principality to the princess and her knights.

“That can’t be! The Demon King appeared in our territory? Even meddling in the Empire’s territory?!”

“Yeah. Apparently, it was just a few days ago. Did you know?”

“…….”

They say silence is agreement, but looking at the state of the princess and her knights, it’s clear they had no idea.

It’s even more infuriating.

While the people of the Principality are fretting over how to deal with the Demon King who suddenly appeared and took the Mercenary King hostage, those who were part of the former kingdom restoration faction are attacking the navy and trying to steal from others without knowing a thing.

“Are you still going to keep pirating in this situation?”

“…….”

“If you’re trying to take advantage of the chaos in the principality to steal from others, I won’t stop you. But if you hinder us, I won’t hold back.”

“Hinder…?”

“Yeah. We’re going to defeat the Demon King. For the peace of the continent.”

Kuh. Wow.

Even I felt my hands and feet cringe at such a hero-like statement, but by saying this, it would also serve as a good educational moment for Lucius.

“So I hope that whatever you do regarding the restoration of the kingdom doesn’t interfere with the defeat of the Demon King. Here.”

I threw them a threat-cum-gift.

“This is… huh?”

“Do you understand what this is? It’s your kingdom’s sword, playfully disguised with a ludicrous name: Anari Stick.”

A replica of the Holy Sword.

Unlike the severely impractical items that princesses or pirate captains could swing around, the replica of the Holy Sword once wielded by Hoot Anari, the founder of the Anari Kingdom, remained remarkably beautiful even after 500 years.

Of course, to me, it was just a sword I had made for my disciple 500 years ago, but over those 500 years, it had become a symbol of royalty for them.

I considered handing it over to the principality, but I felt a bit guilty about them losing so much to us, the outsiders.

“If you really want to restore the kingdom, make your moves after the Demon King is defeated. Otherwise, focus on building your strength rather than creating chaos while pirating.”

I withdrew the magic power I had infused into the clone.

As my clone scattered like mist, the princess holding the replica gasped and reached out.

“Wait! Who are you?!”

Paaahh—!!

A golden barrier shot up instantly.

I waved at the royal people rising to the surface, while Lucius immediately deactivated the barrier as soon as we were in a suitable position.

“Master, what do you think they will do?”

“They’ll likely return to their base to restock supplies. If they start pirating again, the Anari Principality’s navy will surely mobilize to capture them.”

Regardless of whether they have the replica or not, anyone continuing to pirate in these waters after the Demon King has shown up deserves to be defeated.

“The battle of the Principality and the Kingdom is not our concern. We just need to focus on the Demon King’s defeat.”

“…So we move right away.”

“Yeah.”

Although only our party will be moving.

“Before we go back, Lucius, since it’s just the two of us, there’s something I just have to say.”

“…Yes?”

Before surfacing, Lucius blinked several times, visibly tense.

“W-What is it?”

“If anything happens during the fight, don’t be surprised.”

If, during the battle against Satan, he were to unmask my identity…

What if Lucius finds out that the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus Bel is actually the Demon Lord Belphegor in disguise?

“That’s the most dangerous scenario.”

At that point, I wouldn’t be able to handle Lucius.

If that happens, I’ll have to side with Satan to deal with Lucius, who is currently presumed to be in cahoots with Zephar who is lurking nearby.

-I’m giving you this female.

-I’m not a female!

-Thank you, Satan. From now on, I will turn the Demon Lord into a complete female. Transshow by Zephar!!

…If I stick with Satan, he might betray me.

Considering how Satan might come at me, I just need to be careful around Lucius.

“Lucius, have I ever lied to you until now?”

“No, Master.”

“Right. But you know, there’s a lot I’m keeping secret, right?”

“…Yes, but I’m not curious. If you feel it’s something I should know, then you’ll tell me without me having to ask.”

“Exactly. But this is something I really want you to hear.”

I faced Lucius directly and pointed at my chest.

“If a situation arises where you have to kill me, stab me without hesitation.”

“……Huh?”

“I’m just saying just in case.”

I might really stab him, but by saying this now, perhaps Lucius will hesitate later.

When that time comes, I’ll escape from the Holy Sword and make sure to survive.

The preparations are already complete.

“I can’t quite ask you to promise, but just in case. Got it?”

“…Who has a master that they would kill?”

“I don’t know. That’s truly a mystery.”

Having had experienced betrayal from a disciple before, I’m wary.

For instance.

“Very far back, 500 years ago, there was such a person. He was even a hero.”

“…What?”

“There was once a hero who tried to kill his master. Of course, I believe you won’t do that, Lucius, but if the situation turns strange later, who knows?”

I extended my fist toward Lucius.

“If I die in this world, I feel like it would be the least unjust way to die by your hand than anyone else’s.”

If I were killed by the Holy Sword.

Everyone would surely accept it.

“Got it?”

“…I understand. If such a situation occurs, I will be the one to stab you, not anyone else.”

Lucius smiled awkwardly as we bumped fists.

“But, Master. What kind of person is Satan that you are so worried about?”

“I’m just relaying what I’ve heard, but first of all, you already know he’s a hulking muscular guy, right?”

“Yes.”

I wonder if Lucius thinks I’m acting serious because of Satan.

Lucius seems to have developed a curiosity about Satan.

“Satan is a very dangerous being. Cunning, cold-blooded, and known to have lived the longest among demons in the Demon World. Among the seven Demon Lords, he probably has lived the longest.”

It’s certain.

Since Lucifer and Satan are of the same generation, they must both be at least a few thousand—if not tens of thousands—of years old.

Has he weakened over that time?

Not at all.

Satan’s strength has only increased over the years, and thus he has held the title of the strongest Demon Lord in the Demon World for a long time.

Up until 500 years ago when I began my serious activities.

In other words.

While he may be weaker than me, at the same standing as where I am now, that would be Satan.

“Satan, you see. I’ve heard he’ll do anything to win.”

He can ally with those far weaker than him or those who wish to use him.

“If I were Satan, I would have made a deal.”

“A deal?”

“Yeah.”

For guaranteed victory.

“…With the Empire.”

He would destroy the principality, in exchange for the Empire not interfering with the Demon King’s army for the time being.

“We don’t just have Satan as our enemy.”

“…Did you not mention the Emperor of the Empire? The Hero of the Holy Sword?”

“Exactly, Lucius. Bell Point 15.”

Clap!!

Lucius suddenly clapped his hands.

“…Why?”

“Nothing at all.”

For some reason, Lucius was grinning, but I straightened my clothing and pointed outside the water.

“The hero wielding the Holy Sword of the Earth… the Emperor of the Empire could become an enemy.”

The descendant of the betrayer who tried to kill me.

“…But Master.”

“Yeah.”

“The Emperor of the Empire… is it not the Empress?”

……

Ah.

 

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