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Demon King’s Castle.

More specifically, it was the castle built to meet the Demon King.

As the One-Eyed Knight Geldmier walked through the corridor, a man with a handsome appearance approached him.

“What did the Demon King say?”

“He didn’t say anything.”

“Nothing at all?”

“That’s right.”

The Hell Duke, Derabilice, leaned against the wall, seemingly displeased.

The Demon King, who had been living leisurely outside the world, suddenly descended to the mortal realm.

Of course, his true self did not descend. No, it would be more accurate to say he could not descend.

Thus, the Demon King only infiltrated with his spirit. Although it was merely his spirit, the executives were all shocked and gathered at the Demon King’s Castle.

However, no one knew the detailed reason for his descent.

They only had the primary information that the Demon King’s spirit had wormed its way into the domain of the Possessor dispatched to the Great Forest.

“I think he might be checking on the Hero.”

“That opponent? Ridiculous. What reason would the Demon King have to care about those sorts?”

“Who knows? Maybe the Demon King doesn’t trust us.”

“What did you say?”

Even if they were upper ranks of the Demon King’s Army, their cohesion was weak, and their individual purposes and loyalty differed.

While Geldmier simply served the Demon King out of the pursuit of power, Derabilice followed every aspect of the Demon King.

If one were to speak of testing the loyalty of such a Hell Duke, it would be difficult to preserve one’s life.

Of course, Geldmier did not care.

“History proves it, doesn’t it? The Hero has thwarted your descent several times.”

“This time will be different. The Demon King personally summoned the Outside Spirits to eliminate the Hero’s soul.”

“That’s true. But…”

Geldmier smirked and gripped the sword, Sangwyn, at his waist.

“I’m more excited than ever.”

“About what?”

“I can’t wait for the day I face the new Hero in battle. The Demon King probably thinks the same, worrying more about the Hero than the likes of you.”

“….”

“Daniel, was it? Your Possessor.”

Geldmier recited the news he had just heard.

“I heard he was defeated. The Possessor you sent with such confidence ended up killed by the Hero you underestimated. Isn’t it hilarious? The Demon King might have laughed out loud.”

“Geldmier, if you say one more word, you might see blood.”

“In that case, I’ll hold my tongue. It must not feel good to slay a comrade.”

“….”

Derabilice glared at Geldmier as if to kill him, but Geldmier merely crossed his arms in response.

Ultimately, it was Derabilice who gave up.

“Isn’t it proven? The Hero has thwarted His Descent multiple times.”

“This time won’t be the same. The Demon King brought the Outsider Spirits to get rid of the Hero’s soul.”

“That’s right. But—”

Geldmier chuckled, gripping the sword, Sangwyn, at his waist.

“I’m thrilled more than ever.”

“What for?”

“I can’t wait for the day we clash with the new Hero. I’m sure the Demon King is thinking the same way, worrying more about the Hero than some insignificant person like you.”

“….”

“I think he was called Daniel? Your subordinate?”

Geldmier stated what he had just heard.

“He has been subdued. The Possessor you sent with so much confidence was killed by the Hero you looked down on. Isn’t that funny? The Demon King might have even laughed at it.”

“Geldmier, if you say one more word, you might end up with blood on your hands.”

“If that’s the case, I should refrain from speaking. It wouldn’t feel good to stab one of my comrades.”

“….”

Derabilice glared at Geldmier as if he wanted to kill him, but he simply responded with crossed arms.

In the end, it was Derabilice who gave up.

“Enough. What do you want to say?”

“Do you have any plans?”

“I do. I plan to personally eliminate those so that the Demon King doesn’t have to worry about them.”

“That sounds tough.”

“Not at all. Don’t compare the domain of that Daniel with mine. The Hero will surely perish desperately within my territory.”

As Geldmier passed by the scowling Derabilice, he let out a small sigh.

He could somewhat guess why the Demon King was interested in the Hero.

“…the territory of the Hell Duke.”

It was indeed a substantial level.

However, that does not mean the Hero will be defeated.

Still, Geldmier didn’t feel the urge to help a comrade.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Tapping the hilt of Sangwyn, Geldmier recalled the battle with the former Slave Knight Elliot.

Naturally, a smile appeared on his face.

*

“Not only did we eliminate the Mined Creature threatening the Melt Rune, but we even captured the Dark Mage controlling it. I can’t help but acknowledge my qualifications as a Hero.”

As soon as we returned to Elvendell, we received a summons from the Fairy King Arlon.

Naturally, he flipped his hand faster than Beltrom and praised our achievements.

Around us, the elven elders were all looking at us with pleased smiles, but it was a smile that seemed entirely fabricated.

That said, I couldn’t voice my dissatisfaction. I continued to bow my head and listen to the Fairy King’s long speech.

“Wonderful. The Great Forest will never forget the good deeds performed by the Hero.”

“…then as promised.”

“Indeed. I do not break promises.”

The Fairy King turned to look at Erwin, who stood beside me.

“Grand Chief Erwin of Vinheim.”

“Yes.”

Erwin politely bowed his head in response to the Fairy King’s summons.

“Accompany the Hero on his journey and let the Demon King know the greatness of the Elves. Failure will not be tolerated.”

“Yes, I shall remember that.”

In the end, this meant Erwin officially joined our party.

Unlike the others who nodded with apparent satisfaction, Ophelia clicked her tongue as though genuinely displeased.

“Fairy King.”

“What is it?”

“Is that all?”

I decided to comfort Ophelia.

Hadn’t I promised?

That I would give her a gift.

“…is that really all?”

The Fairy King frowned as if he did not understand my words.

However, it seemed he quickly grasped my intention.

“Are you saying the reward is meager?”

“That’s correct. We dealt with not only the Mined Creature but also apprehended its mastermind. This achievement surpasses the task we were assigned.”

Please give us some scraps. That was my point.

The Fairy King rolled a pebble in his hand, seemingly displeased, but I maintained a neutral expression.

In the last six months, I have thoroughly understood.

I am the Hero, and Heroes deserve respect wherever they go.

Even if I was thrown into a substitute role, I needed to ask for what was rightfully mine.

“Hey! What are you doing? Do you want to die?!”

Erwin whispered in complete panic, and even Albrecht furrowed his brows, but I paid no mind.

My gaze connected with Ophelia.

She wore a mischievous smile.

“Right. What do you need? Money? Gold? Or maybe an Elf harem?”

In response to the Fairy King, who looked both surprised and confused, I grinned and dropped a bombshell.

“Please give me a Branch of the World Tree. One, no, two would suffice.”

Upon hearing that, the smiles on the elven elders’ faces changed.

A mix of confusion and anger.

To put it simply.

“How audacious!”

Yeah.

That was indeed an infuriating expression.

The elders shouted something with mottled faces, but I didn’t listen.

I simply stared up at the Fairy King.

The Fairy King, perhaps due to his experience, did not panic.

Instead, he waved his hand to quiet the room and let out a deep sigh.

“I will consider it. The Hero and his party may return to their residence. We will determine your treatment after the meeting with the elders.”

*

Immediately after that, the door to the Fairy Palace was firmly closed.

In response to my request for a Branch of the World Tree, the Fairy King and the elders entered into a closed meeting.

Thanks to that, we spent a leisurely time in the luxurious mansion provided by Elvendell amidst the chaotic atmosphere.

“What the hell….”

Erwin looked at me as if he had seen a ghost.

“Do you even know what the World Tree is?”

“Well, it’s a very large and ancient tree.”

“….”

“I’m kidding. I know that fairies were born from the World Tree, and those fairies evolved into Elves.”

“Is that what someone who knows that would ask for a Branch of the World Tree? If you weren’t a Hero, your head would have been on the chopping block.”

“That’s why I asked for it. It’s not like I asked for a twig from the village back mountain.”

Erwin pounded his chest in disbelief and then sighed heavily.

A Branch of the World Tree. In the game, it was a unique-grade equipment item. It was something you could only receive after completing all the quests related to the Great Forest, and its performance was incredible.

The Branch of the World Tree was both a sword and a staff. It was a weapon usable by both Knights and Mages.

With options providing both physical and magical attacks, the Branch of the World Tree was a perfect weapon on its own.

Of course, physical characters very rarely used magic, just as the reverse was also true. I might not have fully utilized the Branch of the World Tree in the game, but this world was different.

“Ophelia, don’t you want a weapon?”

“Shut up, carrot top.”

“Is that so?”

Looking at Erwin, I noticed her under-eye bags were trembling slightly.

“They’re making a fuss, drumming up trouble.”

“Got a problem?”

“…sigh. No.”

Only after Ophelia glared at him with narrowed eyes did Erwin give up.

As I mentioned earlier, the Branch of the World Tree could be used as both a sword and a staff. In other words, it would be perfect for Ophelia, who wielded swordsmanship and holy magic simultaneously.

If I could get an extra one, I could give it to Emily. Of course, Emily would eventually receive the legendary staff from Archmage Eldarian, so this was merely a backup.

“You’re thinking of using a Branch of the World Tree… for such a trivial purpose?”

“What’s strange about that?”

Of course, the Fairy King could refuse my request.

If that happens, I would think of using my authority as the Hero.

“…that’s kinda frightening.”

I grinned in response to Albrecht’s mumblings.

“Well, if he doesn’t agree, I have other methods. Even if it’s not the World Tree, I believe there are saplings of the World Tree somewhere near the city. I could just take one. They’re plentiful and with few people guarding them, so if one goes missing, no one would notice it. I could grow it and eventually put it to use as a weapon.”

“Elliot, I want to raise it as a bonsai.”

“Not a bad idea. Will you recognize it as a pot when we return to the Empire?”

“…You crazy idiots….”

To our conversation, Erwin fell backward as if he had fainted.

 

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