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1
“We have been awaiting you, Commander Jeanne.”
Schultz Federation, northern district.
Beyond the large river called Tears of Undine was the border. Greeting the party over there were the mercenaries of Urza Resist, or in other words, Jeanne’s subordinates. Seeing more than a hundred people lined up in rows was, without exaggeration, a spectacle to behold.
“Hualin! Everyone else! You guys were all safe!”
“I should be the one saying that. Good grief…do you know just how much I struggled while encouraging the soldiers after you suddenly disappeared, Commander…?”
The female guard Hualin──even someone like her, who was Urza’s strongest fighter and Jeanne’s right arm, was slightly tear-choked, as if overcome with deep emotions.
“…Liasion Officer Gregory, I’m sorry for troubling you.”
“Both of us being in good health is all that matters, Lady Hualin. You have done an outstanding job to have withstood the onslaught with this federation.”
The mercenaries who had remained in Schultz, and the new mercenaries who Jeanne had brought with her; all in all they numbered close to two hundred soldiers. While they were getting motivated by the reunion, a man and woman, whom Kai knew, ran up to him.
“Saki? Ashlan, you too? It’s great to se──”
“Kai! How dare you leave us behind just like that, man!”
“Yeah! I heard you went back to your hometown while we were having a hard time over here!? That’s so mean of you! I’ve been homesick for a while now!”
“…So far as it goes, I’ll apologize for that, but it’s not like I went back because I wanted to.”
Ashlan was a tall, young man with drolly features. The other one was Saki; a girl with quite impressive, orange hair. Both were mercenaries working under Jeanne, but going by the official history known to Kai, both of them were his coworkers.
“Oh, Rinne! Reirin, you look pretty good too, don’t you?”
Ashlan was eying the two girls standing next to Kai.
“Rinne, you’re as cute as ever while you, Reirin, are as small as always.”
“No need to point my height out. Hey! Stop it! Don’t put your hand on my head!”
Reirin pouted with her cheeks puffed out when Ashlan stroked her head.
“Just to point it out, but I’m a sidhe. If you treat me rudely, my elven brethren will flood these lands from the eastern federation.”
“Ah, shit. I forgot. Most recently I’ve seen you as nothing but a human.”
“Don’t forget it, idiot! …Moreover, to make it very clear, the only ones knowing about my true identity are you two as well as the guard over there. Don’t reveal it to any of the other mercenaries.”
“Sure. You can count on me.”
“That carefree, happy-go-lucky reply worries me quite a bit,” Reirin folded her arms. “But, leaving my matters aside…hey, Jeanne, about the one sitting in the back of the car──”
“…I know.”
Jeanne sighed heavily after being called out. She surveyed her gathered men, before sending a meaningful eye signal to her bodyguard Hualin.
“Commander?”
“Hualin and everyone of the Urza Resistance, there is something I must tell you.”
The mercenaries’ expressions changed at once. Being veteran soldiers, they immediately perceived from the tone and expression of Jeanne, the Knight of Spirit Light, that she was about to tell them something unusual.
“…But, where should I begin? I worried about that part all the time while we drove here, and yet…”
Jeanne was pulling a bitter face for a change. It was the same for Liaison Officer Gregory as well.
“I would like all of you to understand, so let me tell you in advance: this is no betrayal towards you, but a desperate measure to deal with the mythical beasts who are our current enemies,” Jeanne started off with a displeased expression. “I would like you to consider this as a last resort. It was a necessary evil while heading to the border here on the shortest route for the sake of arriving within eight days.”
“?”
Many mercenaries were starting to look bewildered. And while even Saki and Ashlan exchanged confused looks, just one person suddenly widened their eyes. The strongest mercenary of Urza Rest, Hualin──
She alone apparently understood the meaning behind Jeanne’s words.
“Commander Jeanne.”
“…Sorry, Hualin. I didn’t have any other choice.”
“…No,” she consented with a hoarse voice while tightening her expression. “I heard about the hardships you experienced. I’m your bodyguard after all. So, it basically means you got the help of a devil while heading this way.”
“Wh-!?”
The other soldiers started to stir. Up until now they had formed proper lines, but now they all began to become restless.
“Be quiet──────also, Kai.” It was none other than Hualin who took command. She roared at the soldiers, and then directed a stabbing look at Kai, “You also agreed to make sure that no danger would befall Lady Jeanne.”
“…Yeah, I always stood watch while she accompanied us. On top of that, she herself also promised that she wouldn’t hurt the humans.”
‘Come out.’
With that implicit instruction, Kai beckoned Hinemarill, who was still inside the military car, over.
“Hinemarill.”
“…Mmh, these clothes are tight after all.”
The door to the passenger seat opened, and a succubus in the Urza Resist uniform stepped out alongside that casual murmur.
──A devilish beauty.
Her blue hair was glittering faintly. Her features were bewitching despite the remnant trace of childishness. And even without any lipstick, her scarlet lips shone glossily.
The most conspicuous part of her was the chest. She wore a combat uniform for women, but because it couldn’t hold back her far too bountiful succubus breasts, she had opened the buttons in the middle, almost resulting in her two ripe fruits spilling out through the opening.
“Pretending to be a human is quite taxing. Don’t you have any better clothes?”
“……Oi, Kai,” Ashlan whispered next to Kai, “…I’m told I can’t read the mood, but is that a succubus?”
“Yeah, it’s the one we took with us.”
“…Will I get punished if I mention just how incredibly sweet she looks? She’s a hundred times prettier than the female soldiers in the resistance.”
“She’s that sort of devil.”
It was only natural for Ashlan to be spellbound by Hinemarill. After all, the mercenaries next to him were also staring at her entranced expression, appearing as if they were going to melt away any second.
Succubi sucked the vitality and spirit out of people. The allure engulfing them possessed a power similar to a drug. It enslaved male and female humans alike. This was the very reason why succubi were regarded as extremely dangerous devils.
“…Hmm,” the succubus lord cast a glance at the mercenaries.
The party she approached with upturned eyes was the female bodyguard standing next to Jeanne.
“You’re a nice one. That hostility. I can feel how much you abhor me.”
“Devil, what are you here for?”
“Of course, the mythical beasts. The territory of those beasts is quite vast. It’s worth stealing. At least it has enough value for me to get involved.”
“With just you alone?”
“If you like, I can hunt some odd mythical beasts around here? How many do you need?”
“……”
Hualin had likely noticed the miasma oozing out of the succubus lord’s entire body.
──Overflowing power. A principal power so dense that even humans could see it with their naked eyes.
Any veteran mercenary could gauge the strength of this devil from just that.
“Commander,” Hualin addressed Jeanne while glaring at Hinemarill, “I know it’s rude, but please allow me to say that we should have this devil act separate from us. Even if we have her wear the uniform of a human resistance, it would be dangerous to bring her to Schultz Resist.”
“…That’s quite upsetting, you know? What do you mean by that?” Hinemarill put on an angry expression, “I won’t attack humans over here. Yet, you plot to ignore me? Having such blatant animosity thrown at you is very unpleasant.”
“Commander Jeanne──”
Taking on the devil’s glare, Hualin’s face was as hard as steel.
“Right now, Mercenary King Archine is staying in the headquarters of Schultz.”
“…So he’s fine as well, huh?”
Archine Sid Collateral──this world’s Sid with its differing history who replaced Prophet Sid.
“During your absence, I also talked with that man as representative of Urza Resist. His ultimate goal is the 『eradication of all other races』.”
Jeanne’s guard stated so in front of a devil, sidhe, and mixed race.
“An extreme belief in human supremacy. Or maybe it won’t be much of an exaggeration to call it a 『Human Deification』 going even beyond that. He intends to erase all other races from this world.”
It was still fresh in Kai’s memory, too. He saw that man only once, but as soon as they met, Archine declared:
“All races other than humans will be eradicated from this world.”
Mercenary King Archine made this declaration with his voice full of confidence and unshakable composure. Less than ten days had passed since then.
“And they will definitely see through the disguise of this devil.”
She looked just like a beautiful human girl. But there were distinct differences too. Of course the miasma thinly billowing from the succubus lord’s entire body was one part of it, but above all, the derisive grin twisting her lips was anything but human.
“The instant her true identity gets exposed, Archine will draw his gun without a care of the circumstances, no matter where he might be at the time.”
“Huh? What about it? Are you saying he can kill a succubus lord with that?”
“I’m saying it’s a problem because he can’t.”
“?”
“If Archine and you start to duke it out on the spot, it’ll trouble everyone else around you. Rather, it’d be much better for the sake of limiting the dame, if you could get defeated easily.”
“…Oh really. That’s a good one.”
Hinemarill’s expression was quickly becoming more sullen. The mercenaries became pale when they saw her sharp fangs appear and disappear, but Hualin didn’t show any reaction.
“No choice then. Kai.”
“Hmm?”
“Tell the humans about my dreadfulness.”
“ME!? …Ah, no, you’re right. But, leaving your dreadfulness and so on aside, it might be better if I do the talking this time.”
Considering it calmly, it was definitely difficult for Jeanne to tell her subordinates in her position. There was no other option but him doing the explaining as someone not belonging to the resistance.
“Hualin, I’d like you to listen. It definitely needs some explaining.”
“Give it a try.”
“Your view as Jeanne’s guard is very sound. But, there’s no doubt that a succubus lord will become a trump card in the battle against the mythical beasts.”
Trump card──in short, a combat force which was more reliable than the soldiers of the resistance.
And that was something Jeanne could never say.
“Think back on the battle against Rath=IE. Everyone present here has seen that human guns don’t work on that thing,” Kai said with a firm voice to Hualin, loud enough for it to also reach the mercenaries behind him. “But, if it’s the principal art of the highest-ranking devil, it’ll be impossible for Rath=IE to come out of it unscathed. If we calmly analyze our combat forces, it becomes clear that we need every hand we can get to fight the mythical beasts. …I’d like you to understand. This is Jeanne’s last resort to lower the casualties on the human side.”
The mercenaries fell silent. At the bottom of their hearts they hated the idea of borrowing the power of a detestable devil. But, if they thought about the upcoming battles, Hinemarill would be an essential asset.
“Because of that, I’d love to rely on your knowledge here, Hualin.”
“Bloody hell, that’s one ridiculous question. You want to allow this devil to accompany us while not rubbing our men the wrong way. A method like that…” Her husky voice resounded. Hualin narrowed her eyes slightly. “Then let me offer you a compromise. Since times of old, it’s been said that you keep poison in check with poison.”
While glaring at the succubus lord, Jeanne’s guard proposed, “How about we pair a holy spirit with a devil?”
2
Schultz Federation, Eastern District, Unclaimed Territory 「Prairie of Suzuran」──
There exists a flower called Lily of the Valley 1. It’s known under many fleeting nicknames, but unlike its fickle naming, its poison is anything but fickle. If a human eats it, it’ll turn into a life-threatening matter, and it’s said that its poison even works on mythical beasts, when taken in great quantities.
──For this reason, mythical beasts wouldn’t show up in this area.
Humanity’s Special Ward 『La I’sa』 is a 「Moving Town」 located on this land with its abundant growth of lilies. Its buildings are prefabricated, which makes it possible to disassemble them on a beck’s call. In exchange, this feature allows the humans to escape foreign enemies such as mythical beasts by wandering the prairie like nomads.
Inside one such prefab house, a spirit was just now trying to calmly gulp down an extract of those lilies under the watchful eyes of Balmung, the commander of Yulun Resist
“Hey, you serious…?”
『No problem. Kyok won’t lose to the likes of lily poison』
The cup was filled to the brim with a green liquid. It was a deadly poisonous drink which had the lily poison concentrated to the extreme by grinding countless petals and stalks of blooming lilies. The pale-transparent girl tasted that extract without a shred of hesitation.
“H-Hey!?”
『…Bitter』
The spirit girl grimaced while placing the empty cup on the table.
「Spirit Ruler」 Rikugen Kyok, the hero of the spirit race. For a period of time, she had been small enough to ride Balmung’s palm, but thanks to the regeneration of her cells, she managed to restore her height to that of a human girl.
“Wouldn’t it be better to spit it out right away…?”
『Source of precious water. You were the one who told Kyok that water was scarce in this human dwelling. Because of that, Kyok absorbs her moisture through plants instead』
“I-I see…”
『Last night, Kyok was scolded when she took a bottle of water from the storage』
“It’s obvious that you’d be scolded for that! Moreover, you were kind enough to thoroughly destroy the storage’s lock, too!”
『Humans immediately get angry. Short temper is bad for health』
“Is that something a thief should spout? Goddamn it…”
After sighing very deeply, Balmung flopped down on his pipe chair so hard that it creaked. Rikugen Kyok was sitting small and quietly on the bed opposite of him. Looking totally fine even after drinking an extract of lethal lily poison was just what you’d expect of a slime.
“…It didn’t spoil your stomach, did it?”
『Worried?』
The girl inclined her head towards Balmung while sitting on the edge of the bed. While looking up as if to peer into his face, she asked, 『You worried about Kyok? A human?』
“D-Don’t be silly!”
The Lion King loudly jumped up from his chair, “Who would be worried about you!? In the first place, you and I are enemies. Right now, we’re simply…working together to defeat the mythical beasts…”
『Okay, so why did you mind me?』
“…I was just checking your condition. It’d be a bother if you became a burden after spoiling your stomach.”
『Hmm?』
She stared at him very closely. To such a degree that Balmung felt uncomfortable about getting scrutinized like this.
“What’s with your suggestive stare?”
『Understanding human emotions is difficult. Humans lie whenever it’s convenient for them. Not honest』
“…What do you mean?”
『Nothing in particular』
“Somehow I feel like you’re making fun of me…mmh?”
Someone had knocked on the door of the cottage. But, it was odd. Balmung’s subordinates would name themselves right after knocking.
“Who is it? A resident of this town?”
『Ah, wait, human』
Balmung hadn’t realized as he was too focused on the door, but Rikugen Kyok had stood up, grabbed his hand, and was now trying to stop him.
『Strange scent on the other side of the door. This is…ah, wait a sec!?』
He opened the door. A girl Balmung didn’t remember having seen before stood beyond.
“What’s the matter?”
“──────Heeeh, so you’re the commander of the humans in this place?”
A matchless beauty. And yet, an abnormal atmosphere was oozing out of the girl. She giggled.
A uniform of Urza Resist? In other words, this girl must be a mercenary, but I feel uncomfortable seeing her dressed in a way that allows a deep peek into her widely open cleavage. Just who is this person?
“You’re overflowing with vitality. You might be my type. Kai hasn’t yet arrived either, so it might be okay to mess around a tiny bit. A wee bit of horsing around to kill some time, yep.”
“Girl, wha────────ugh…!?”
His hand was touched by the girl. And in that very instant,Balmung went down on his knees, his consciousness cloudy as if his head was hit by a hammer.
“Uuh………g-girl……?”
“Oh my? You’re still conscious? That’s amazing. Being able to resist my bewitchment makes me feel like toying with you a lot more.”
His hand continued to be grasped. However, his body felt so feeble that he couldn’t even muster the strength to shake it off.
“It’s alright. It’ll start to feel nice any moment. Leave everything to────”
『Don’t touch him』
At that moment, Balmung’s whole body was covered by a pale cluster of slime.
『Get crushed, Devil』
The cottage’s roof was blasted into smithereens. Barely hanging onto his consciousness, Balmung could see the roof, which had transformed into a myriad of pieces, and Rikugen Kyok’s fist which had blown away the roof.
He didn’t feel an impact, though.
The body of Rikugen Kyok, which had enveloped Balmung, had absorbed all of the impact.
“Ahaha, what an incredible strength. I heard the hero of the spirit race barely survived, but you’ve recovered quite a bit, haven’t you? This almost became dangerous.”
The black-haired girl, who had been blown away through the roof, dropped down as if nothing happened. Jet-black wings, reminiscent of bat wings, could be seen on her back.
『Succubus?』
“Call me Succubus Lord. I serve directly under Vanessa-onee-sama. Right now I’m her proxy, though.”
『Don’t care. Let me warn you』, the slime glared at the succubus.
If Balmung’s head was clear, he might have noticed her voice brimming with a rage which was quite unusual for her, who usually remained calm.
『This human belongs to Kyok. I won’t forgive you if you steal him』
“Oh? You’re saying something funny there. For the likes of a spirit.”
A cut ran through the devil’s cheek. As soon as Hinemarill touched the spot with her finger, the wound closed up right away.
“Are you saying you have enslaved that human? It’s a first for me to hear that spirits have such a hobby.”
『Target of control』, Rikugen Kyok released Balmung from her full-body cover and held him up with one hand. 『This human belongs to Kyok. This absurdly dumb creature cannot survive without being managed by Kyok as a pet. That’s why Kyok will stop you』
The slime girl stood in Hinemarill’s way.
『Kyok will erase you if you try to steal. Even a devil cannot reincarnate if they are dissolved down to their very soul』
“You’re quite well-informed to know about the reincarnation of devils, aren’t you? I’m going to test whether you can really do that…is something I’d like to say, but unfortunately it has to wait for later, I guess.”
Her wings vanished. The miasma, which had been billowing from her whole body, instantly thinned out as well.
“Hinemarill, what was that explosion just now!? …….huh?”
The door opened once more. The one rushing inside the cottage while out of breath was a human who was still fresh in Rikugen Kyok’s memory.
『Kai? Ah, come to think of it, you were alive, weren’t you?』
“Of course. But…umm…there’s a lot of things I want to ask.”
Kai knitted his eyebrows for a rare change. His finger was pointing at Balmung whom Rikugen Kyok didn’t want to let go.
“Why, umm…are you hugging a human commander?”
『──────gh!? Y-You got it wrong! This is…!』
At once she let go of him. And because she removed her hand with too much force, Balmung ended up falling down, the back of his head slamming against the floor, but she didn’t seem to mind that.
『This is a misunderstanding. Kyok has no ulterior motives. Umm…it’s not like Kyok was worried about this human…Kyok was simply checking his condition』
“It’s okay. It’s not that I questioned your actions.”
『…Kyok has no interest in such a dim-witted creature』
“Why are you looking the other way?”
With Rikugen Kyok, who was rattling down her words oddly quickly, in front of him, Kai looked back at the devil.
“What’s wrong, Hinemarill? Did you do something?”
“Hehe, I’m sorry to tell you, but if you had come a bit earlier, you’d have been able to see something fun.”
“Like what?”
Kai tilted his head while stuck between a flustered spirit and a strangely cheerful devil.
3
“T-H-A-T’s W-H-Y I told you that it was just a light greeting, didn’t I? I didn’t plan to seriously attack you.”
“…You bitch, the next time you pull such a shit, consider yourself dead.”
The Succubus Lord was sitting on the floor cross-legged. In contrast to that, Balmung stood properly on his own two feet as he had apparently already recovered from the bewitchment thanks to his astounding resilience.
“Also, Kai, make sure to keep a tight leash on this dangerous woman.”
“…I’m sorry. It was my oversight,” Kay meekly bowed his head next to Hinemarill.
“Hey, Hinemarill.”
“I T-O-L-D Y-O-U, it was just a little joke, okay? I’ve been crammed into that car all the time, so I wanted to go on a little stroll.”
“The problem lies with you not having ended it at a stroll.”
…You seriously cannot take your eyes off this devil. I looked away for a moment and immediately this happened. It feels almost as if I’m a beast tamer who’s training a lion.
While Kai and the others had been welcomed by the residents after entering this district, Hinemarill had immediately found out the location of the commander.
“It surprised me that this girl is traveling with you, but──” Balmung cleared his throat while scowling at the Succubus Lord warily, “Anyway, Lady Jeanne, above all it is a great relief to see you safe and sound.”
“I thank you, Sir Balmung. I heard that you inspired my men in my stead while I was away.”
“That was all Lady Hualin’s work. I didn’t do anything.”
『Agreed. This human hasn’t done anything』, with those words the hero of the spirit race slowly got up from the bed. 『Rather, Kyoko worked much harder than him. If you’re going to praise someone, you should praise Kyoko』
“You’ve done nothing but napped all day long, haven’t you?”
『Kyoko stored nutritions』
The slime revealed an indifferent expression in response to Balmung glaring at it. Several days had passed since Kai left this place. In that time, Rikugen Kyoko had grown back to a height equal to Reirin. This came with the issue that she’d be discovered by the mercenaries, if she became too big, though.
…Rikugen Kyoko was seen by Resist during the battle against Rath=IE. A spirit arbitrarily tagging along means her form calmed our subordinates? This is the room of a human, though.
Rikugen Kyoko, who was occupying the bed, boldly acted like it was her own.
“But, there’s a total of eight people, no, eight forms in this room, huh? I’ll omit the details, but I’ve never expected that’d be able to see something like this with my own two eyes,” Balmung commented while surveying the room.
The genuine humans here were Commander Jeanne of Urza Resist, Hualin, and Kai. In addition to that, a sidhe, a devil, and a spirit were present. And although she hadn’t disclosed her identity, Rinne didn’t even belong to the five races.
“It’s gotta be a pain to just keep all of them in check and that’s why you came to consult with me, right? You’re certainly right. It’s quite necessary to put a collar on that devil.”
“Hey, wait a sec? I don’t want anything as constricting as a collar, you know?”
“I meant it in the sense of a guard.”
The succubus lord was sitting at the edge of the bed with Rikugen Kyoko. Probably deliberately so. Brazenly staying right next to a spirit could be taken as implicit provocation, telling everyone else, 「A devil doesn’t fear a spirit」. As far as Kai was concerned, he worried when the devil and spirit would start a huge fight.
“I believe you understand very well, Commander Balmung,” Hualin said next to Jeanne, “but if you lead this many big shots of other races, you won’t be able to escape your subordinates feeling uncertain and shaken. Accordingly, I would like to put the succubus and slime in one place and guard both of them until right before the decisive battle against the mythical beasts.”
“……”
The lion king remained silent.
“Lady Hualin, let me ask you straightforward: Is this a measure based on the anxiety what might happen if they draw the attention of the Mercenary King?”
“It is just as you say.”
“…As a mercenary, that guy is quite reliable. Without his help, the Schultz Resist’s headquarters would have fallen when it was attacked by mythical beasts, that Steel, and those monsters. …On the other hand, every power also has its flip side, I suppose. But, the height of that guy’s pride is out of control.”
“Human over there, speak so that I understand it as well, okay?”
The succubus lord interjected.
Kai and his friends had already met the Mercenary King Archine, but the devil didn’t know 「this world’s Sid」.
“Just what is that human called Archine anyway? Or rather, it feels unpleasant that I have to sneak around because of the likes of such a human.”
『──Their goals differ. Those of the humans here and the man called Archine』, the girl, who had turned her body white as a sheet, pointed at the devil girl who was sitting on the same bed, 『Devil, you have a cease-fire with the humans. And you plan to defeat the mythical beasts』
“Yes, that’s right. But, what about it?”
『The sidhe are the same』, she next pointed at the elven priestess Reirin. 『The Eastern Federation sees a cease-fire between humans and sidhe. This stems from the demise of Lord Deva Alfreya and it’s a stalling for time to achieve revenge against the mythical beasts』
“…That’s correct.”
『The spirits are no different either. Kyoko suggested to defeat the mythical beasts to the humans』
“Mmh, to me,” Balmung nodded.
However, Rikugen Kyoko didn’t respond to that in any way.
『In short, Kyoko thinks the following』
“Hey, you’re going to ignore me just like that!?”
『Many of the humans have no will to win in the Great War of the Five Races. That’s because their ultimate goal is the 「survival of the human race」. The humans, who are the weakest race, will be fine as long as they can form cease-fires. They’re eager to guarantee their own survival』
Her tone didn’t demand an answer from anyone. It’s because she was convinced that there wouldn’t be an objection from Kay or Jeanne.
『But, as far as Kyoko has heard, the Mercenary King is different』
“Yeah, yeah, so how is he different?”
『His objectives and means are opposite to those of the other humans』
The sage of this world──that was the name Rath=IE assigned to her, the oldest slime.
She continued, 『His goal isn’t the protection of mankind. He wants to destroy the other four races and as means to achieve that, he brandishes the great cause of liberation for the humans』
A temporary joint effort to defeat the mythical beasts was impossible for him. That’s why Hualin had stopped Hinemarill. If the Mercenary King had spotted the succubus lord, it’d have undoubtedly led to battle. And once that happened, a decisive battle against the mythical beasts would be the least of their worries.
“Hmm? I guess he holds quite a grudge towards the other race. But, are you telling me to obediently go into house arrest because of that? With this spirit, and on top of that, a sidhe?”
“Don’t rush the conclusion,” the Lion King cast a scowl at the succubus lord due to her provocative tone, “Devil, if you’re that bored, I’ll provide a battle of your liking.”
“Oh?”
“But, before that I have information for Lady Jeanne. It’s related to our current discussion.”
The Lion King held up the map which had been spread out on the table.
“Early in the morning the Mercenary King headed out to investigate the nesting place of Rath=IE. Lady Hualin, it happened right after you guys went out to welcome Lady Jeanne.”
“…What’s this about?” Hualin furrowed her eyebrows quizzically.
Behind her, Jeanne pulled a similar expression.
“Sir Balmung, that’s not what you promised. We had agreed that we’d first wait for Lady Jeanne to arrive and after joining up we would prepare our forces in a Tri-Alliance of North, South, and West.”
“Yes, that’s true. But, it’s that guy’s bad habit at work. At times, his guiding principles change as if he received a revelation from some invisible god. No one can predict when he does this either.”
A god’s revelation──the comparison Balmung used might have been coincidence, but Jeanne and Kai silently looked at each other.
“Right now, humans are just barely coping with anything and everything. They have their hands full with just resisting the other races and I cannot think of any aspect where they exceed their opponents.”
“He’s a God of Prophecy for that reason. Did you think there is just one?”
…Mercenary King Archine said 「it exists」. A method to destroy the other races. And that he’s a God of Prophecy for that sake. And then there’s also his unique behavior where he’d suddenly start to act as if he received a divine revelation, just like Balmung confirmed moments ago.
…A God of Prophecy attached to the Mercenary King? Is that Sid moving in accordance with that…!?
“Once he goes missing, you can’t contact him anymore. But, right now his destination is pretty much set.”
The spot on the map of the Schultz Federation──
The Lion King’s finger pointed at the northwestern part of the federation.
“It’s this place. The old royal capital Rakh’Galsha has become a nest of mythical beasts. I heard so from Commander Ming, but this place qualifies as the most dangerous area, avoided even by expert researchers. It’s way too dangerous to approach, even for Archine’s mercenary band. Accordingly…”
“We’re going to go after them?”
“I intend to do so with my subordinates. But, there exists another place we must rescue in a hurry. The Scrap Iron Town over here.”
The eastern part of the federation──was a special human ward in the mountains which Kai and his friends also remembered.
“This place was attacked by the Steel Devices. The town was occupied with some people having been too late in running away. Going by our plans up until yesterday, we were supposed to head over to rescue this place, but based on this course of events, our combat forces will be split in three.”
He drew three circles on the map.
Western part ── Old Capital Rakh’Galsha 「Nest of Mythical Beasts」
Eastern part ── Scrap Iron Town Agito 「Human City attacked by Steel Devices」
Southern part ── Radio Tower Kulenmodel 「Schultz Resist Headquarters」
“I’m told this radio tower will be defended by Ming of the West. Therefore, the northern and southern allied forces will be in charge of the remaining two towers. Though, the question is how we split up the forces.”
“Isn’t that just lovely?”
The devil’s fingertip gently brushed across the map. With her body leaned over so much that she was actually lying sprawled on the table, the succubus lord was intently staring down at the circle around Agito. Her gaze was terribly cold.
“Right now I’m pissed off a lot more by this place here than the mythical beast, so I’ll go along with your idea. I just need to eradicate the steel devices in this area, right?”
“Correct. In that case, Lady Jeanne, should I leave this town to your Resist?”
“No need.”
“…What?”
“They’d just get in the way. Humans being present would just make things complicated. I mean, that’s how it is, right?”
Hinemarill turned her face sideways. She was staring at Jeanne, the northern commander, with a smile that revealed her sharp fangs.
“If I get serious, I don’t make any distinctions between enemy and friend. You wouldn’t want to get your men mixed up in that, would you?”
“Of course not.”
“In that case, stay out of it. Human weapons don’t work against steel devices either way. Their skins are much tougher than bullets.”
Her words were quite rude, but her claim made sense. If a hero-class devil went on a rampage, it’d be extremely dangerous for humans to be anywhere close to her.
…Looking at it from another perspective, Hinemarill has just admitted that she must get serious to defeat them. At a glance, she’s showing a blank expression, but she’s very likely carefully simulating the entire rundown of the fight behind that mask.
“It’ll be fine if the humans examine the nest of the mythical beasts. I’ll blow away the volcano──at least that’s what I assume it to be──over here alongside all the steel devices.”
“I told you to not hurry so much. There are still humans who failed to escape in that place. Remember?”
“…Oh, you mentioned something like that.”
“I don’t mind having you go berserk, but rescuing the town’s residents is the first priority. …Can a succubus like you accomplish that?”
“If it’s fine for me to seduce them after I save them, I’ll do it.”
“Out of the question!”
Balmung hit the table with all his might.
“As I thought, I cannot leave this area to you alone. A rescue team will accompany you.”
“You really don’t learn, do you? Even if there are any humans who would agree to accompany me──”
The succubus lord surveyed the room and then her eyes stopped.
In front of Kai.
Before he could say anything, Jeanne and Hualin were looking his way as well, powerfully nodding as if appealing to him for something.
“…Don’t tell me…”
“Yeah, you’re just perfect. I wanted to watch your strength with my eyes anyway, you see? Will you go with me?”
The devil girl casually drew close with a whoosh. Even though Kai retreated, she simply approached even further with a broad grin while trying to glue herself to him by wrapping her arm around his in a very natural manner.
“Right, let us go there together. Just the two of us. I’m sure it’ll become an enjoyable trip.”
“──No, no, and no! That’s definitely not an option!”
“I obviously cannot let this pass!”
Rinne and Reirin blocked Hinemarill’s way. Either tightly grabbed a hand of the succubus lord and didn’t let go.
“Ah, wait a sec!?”
“Kai is mine. I won’t give him to the likes of you!”
“I-I don’t particularly mind either way, but…anyway, it’s out of the question. I cannot stomach for everything to go the way you like it!”
『…Ah, damn it! Shut up!』
While the voices of the three girls filled the room, Rikugen Kyoko sat up on the bed with sleepy eyes.
『In that case, Kyoko will decide. Kai and you girls just need to go together. The rest will go to the nest of the mythical beasts. Done』
“No, as might be expected, that’d would be way too much…”
『No good?』
“Or rather, I’m lacking confidence here. Rinne and Reirin are one thing, but even I will be quite hard pressed to look after a devil on top of that by myself.”
The three girls were all from different races with different objectives. Kai didn’t know when those three would start to quarrel and whether he’d be able to fully rein them in.
“Besides, the goal is to rescue the residents, right? It wouldn’t be an issue if it was just about fighting the steel devices, but rescuing the residents requires a detailed plan, doesn’t it…?”
『That’s where you should properly use the carrot and stick policy. You just need to prepare an appropriate reward』
Rikugen Kyoko pointed in turn at the three girls in the room. Rinne, Reirin and Hinemarill.
『This is a competition. The one among you following Kai’s orders in the most obedient way will be allowed to do with him for a whole night as she likes. Kai won’t resist』
“Eh!?”
The three girls widened their eyes in shock.
“That’s a great reward. I’m in.”
“It’ll be fine to do what I want to him? In that case, I’ll become a very, very good girl!”
“Ugh…I have no choice but to agree to that.”
“Wait a sec!?”
At the time when Kai tried to stop all of this, the girls in question had already agreed to this deal. Behind them, Jeanne and Hualin looked as if all their tension had faded away.
“It looks like it’s decided. Let us withdraw, Commander Jeanne.”
“Y-You’re right, I guess, Hualin. …Kai, make absolutely sure to abstain from doing anything indecent with other races.”
“Hualin!? Or rather, even you, Jeanne!? Hey! What’s the meaning of this!?”
For some reason, the commander of Urza left with her face bright red. Being left behind in this place, Kay decided to hold his head for the time being.
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