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One week ago. One hour before the incident.

“Woooh!!!”

The muscular warriors of the Anari Principality celebrated another victory.

After defeating the Orc army stationed in Count Scouter’s Territory, we stopped the Mobile Fortress in Count Scouter’s Territory and set up a temporary base.

Of course, the Demon King’s Army sent soldiers to intercept us.

Despite facing an overwhelming number of soldiers, we managed to hold our ground well enough, and the warriors became accustomed to combat with shields able to control magic stones.

No casualties.

With a continuous streak of battles without even a minor injury, the morale of the warriors soared, and it felt like taking down the Demon King’s Army would be as easy as pie.

“Nice to meet you. I am Trolian, the Empire’s Foreign Affairs Minister.”

If it hadn’t been for this sudden appearance of a man from the Empire, we would have likely continued our victory celebration.

“What brings an Empire official here? I thought political matters were to be discussed with the people of the Principality.”

“This is not a political matter. We are here… to arrest you, Witch.”

The Foreign Affairs Minister came accompanied by Empire knights.

I couldn’t help but wonder how he managed to send those knights here without being detected by the Demon King’s Army, but the fact that they were here to arrest me was puzzling enough.

“What’s your basis for arresting me?”

“Because this land falls under the Empire. According to Empire law, I hereby arrest you.”

“…….”

Well, he wasn’t entirely wrong.

If I pointed out that we were occupied by the Demon King’s Army, the response would be: “Are you advocating for dominion by the Demon King’s Army?”

If I stated that it was land reclaimed by the Anari Principality, I would be told, “So the Anari Principality initiated a conflict by sending the Demon King’s Army out to reclaim the land?”

“Honestly, let’s be real. You have plans to take me hostage to restrain Lucius, don’t you?”

“…….”

He fell silent when I struck at the heart of the matter.

“If I don’t follow the Empire’s laws, there’s no choice left but to forcibly exile you.”

“Do you think you have that much power?”

“If we don’t exile you, anyone who enters here will be deemed an illegal entrant beyond the Empire’s borders. If that happens… it will lead directly to war with the Anari Principality.”

This is the Empire.

Whether 500 years ago or now, when situations arise that counter their interests, the Empire will do all they can to gain the upper hand.

“What’s the basis for the arrest?”

“I haven’t been informed about that. However, since we’re acting on the Emperor’s orders, disobeying this command would be considered treason against the Emperor.”

“But I’m not a citizen of the Empire?”

“Once you step into the Empire, you must abide by its laws. The Empire’s laws follow territoriality, not nationality. Foreigners must also observe Empire law on Empire grounds.”

“And you want me to come along without informing me of the charges?”

“Yes. Well, if you don’t want to be captured, you’re free to leave. In that case, the Empire will have no choice but to declare you wanted or label everyone here as anti-Empire rebels.”

“…….”

At that moment.

The Empire didn’t specify my crimes.

Perhaps they thought the claims of collusion with the Demon King’s Army were too thin to justify bringing me in, or maybe they were worried I’d expose the Empire’s flaws.

“…Where do you get off trying to arrest my Master?”

But they knew too little about Lucius.

“Is this how the Empire operates?”

“Hero, this is—”

“Such ridiculous nonsense. After all that effort to defeat the Demon King’s Army, you think you can intimidate me like this?”

Well done, Lucius!

When the enemy tries to catch you off guard, stepping boldly forward is the true mark of a man who stands against injustice!

“Master. Shall we just let the Demon King’s Army destroy the Empire?”

“W-what…! Is that what a hero should say?!”

“I am your disciple before being a hero. The title of hero is merely a name you’ve bestowed. I am just the user of the Holy Sword.”

Lucius brandished the Holy Sword, aiming it at the Foreign Affairs Minister’s neck.

“Who gets to define me as a hero? I am just a swordsman, thanks to my Master. You cannot manipulate me with the yoke of being a hero. Empire.”

Here’s a belated point for earning 100 points.

Though the situation was serious and he didn’t say it directly, Lucius had finally shown he had grown into a ‘hero who won’t be taken for a fool.’

However.

“The Empire always puts heroes in unfavorable situations.”

The hero himself was fine.

Lucius and I didn’t care.

But our comrades fighting alongside us were a different matter.

“Lucius. Calm down. Let’s just go inside and talk things over.”

“Master.”

“…We can’t let our comrades be put in danger. We could just turn our backs on the Empire and go live in some countryside, but our comrades have different stakes.”

“……Ugh.”

At my persuasion, Lucius lowered his Holy Sword.

It seemed Lucius had developed camaraderie through the repeat battles and considered the men—formed bonds of brotherhood through shared sweat—with them in mind.

“Your comrades are agitated, Hero. If you press on like this, those comrades over there could have their livelihoods jeopardized. They would be in trouble if the Empire became the enemy.”

“…It comes down to one of two choices. Follow the Empire’s orders or eliminate the Empire as a threat once and for all.”

“That’s true.”

If we brought down the Empire, the Empire would no longer be a threat.

But we couldn’t actually bring down the Empire for real, so I decided to comply and be captured by the Empire.

“Master. Then I will be captured as well. I cannot allow you to be sent away alone.”

“In that case, I have a plan.”

“…What?”

“I can’t let the hero Lucius be manipulated at will. I’ll inform the Magic King separately, so let’s do this. Can you lend me your ear?”

I leaned in to whisper in Lucius’s ear.

“…Go to the Sky Island with the kids.”

“Master?”

“I will follow you.”

“……What about the capture?”

“I’ll be captured too.”

I shall split myself.

To exist simultaneously in one world, ‘I shall divide my soul.’

Demon Lord Belphegor’s trait: Possession.

That other ability.

‘Dividing my form.’

“Take this with you when you go to the Bride Ship, and beneath my bed, there should be another Marine aside from the one you know. Insert this into that Marine’s heart.”

I handed Lucius a brilliant blue gemstone.

“I trust you, Lucius.”

And with that, I embraced my capture by the Empire willingly.

“Then, Hero, we’ll discuss future matters with our Empire….”

“…Ah! The Holy Sword…!”

With a whirring sound, the Holy Sword glittered and pointed towards the northern sky.

“This is the Goddess’s… revelation!”

“Saintess…?”

“Ah! I see now! The Goddess is speaking through the Holy Sword! It’s telling us the direction in which the Holy Sword should go!!”

“No, what does that even mean?”

“Well, this is quite the coincidence.”

I reached out toward the Foreign Affairs Minister.

“The Hero Party is now off to overcome the Trial of the Holy Sword.”

“……But I must apprehend you.”

“That’s fine.”

And so, I was captured.

The ‘Belviathan (Blue)’ I handed over to Lucius.

And….

“Can I take three minutes to wave goodbye to the Magic King first?”

The ‘Belerze (Purple)’ I handed over to Mammon.

And Demon Lord Belphegor (Red) who was captured by the Empire.

At present.

I am thus divided into these three forms.

*

Bride Ship.

“Although it’s a clone, it’s still me. Other than the disadvantage that I can’t communicate with other clones and the fact that my hair color has changed, it’s genuinely still me.”

I gathered my party members and clarified my identity.

“If you don’t believe me, why not ask? How did you fare with Lucius in Belselphia?”

“No doubt about it. It’s definitely the Witch.”

The party members, including Droniel, quickly accepted me as I am.

“It would have been nice to communicate with something like a communicator, but unfortunately, that’s impossible right now, so we have to make do. Since we’ve stirred up trouble in the Empire, we’ll have to take our own actions just as we originally planned.”

We had intended to head to the Sky Island once the battle with the Demon King of Satan started dragging on.

“It suits us now that the Empire is creating a fuss. Though my magic is diminished to a quarter, I still trust you all, right?”

I reached out to my party members.

“Your lives depend on the lifespan of my clone.”

“Being a clone feels kind of off. It feels like she’s the Witch but not quite, you know?”

“Since my appearance has changed like this. Well, it’s not odd. After all, I was purple at one point too.”

“Witch. So what about that purple Witch now…?”

“She is with the Magic King Endymion.”

While aboard the Bride Ship, I had inserted Leviathan’s magic core into the Homunculus Marine.

To Mammon, I handed over Beelzebub’s magic core.

She would probably find a suitable material to insert it into.

…The green-haired beast maid is also there, so surely she won’t insert it into something odd. Probably.

“Don’t worry about the others. I’ll be right there beside you, so you’ll manage fine.”

Both of them, neither more nor less, are ‘me.’

Having divided my soul to act like this is nothing new for me. Mistakes aren’t on my agenda.

After all.

500 years ago, how was it possible for so many Hero Parties to fail?

If it takes at least a month to lead one Hero Party to a destruction of relationships, including the instructions I issued as the Demon Lord, it’s clear that physically feasible time was utterly insufficient.

So I split my soul.

Inserting fragments of my soul into lifeless corpses to annihilate Hero Parties, then recollected those divided forms back into myself.

So there are absolutely no problems.

I believe in me, so I expect Red Belphegor trapped in the Empire and Purple Belphegor continuing to roam the Empire front lines with Endymion will align with my goals.

My revenge against Zephar, who stole my ‘Black Dragon Body’ and tried to mess with me.

For that purpose, I, Belviathan-Blue Belphegor, will move forward as the captain of the Bride Ship towards my destination.

“Let’s go. To the Sky Island. To awaken Lucius’s Spirit Device.”

And.

“…Ah, so pretty…!”

“…Hey, you damn—”

Purple Belphegor spat out curses as soon as she woke up.

“What have you done to a perfectly fine beast girl, Endymion!”

“Because she’s cute.”

“…….”

In the mirror.

I, Purple Belphegor, had turned into a girl.

A girl with purple hair, about ten years old.

 

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