Conversation With a Demon

The story of the hero had been passed down to beastkin villages as well. It was the same for every village.

The evil Demon King was vanquished, the cruel demons repelled. That story had been passed down to every village.

That was why Maal's mind had gone blank.

Unlike Serge, she couldn't resist such an absurd truth.

All Maal could do was watch the developments unfold.

"This doesn't make any sense."

Serge muttered quietly, but he still had some composure left.

"So you're telling me Demon King-sama was actually a good person? And that he defeated the previous Demon King, which means…"

It was still within his range of understanding. Searching through his previous life's memories, he had read stories like that… before.

Intelligence was included among his increased ability scores. He could sort information and draw inferences.

"Um, Dark Elf-sama, may I ask you something?"

The one Serge called out to wasn't Valis, but the Dark Elf. He naturally added '-sama'.

The Dark Elf turned toward him with an uninterested look, but still responded.

"What?"

"The Demon King-sama, what sort of person is he?"

He spoke politely. He could be killed if he offended her. Though Valis had raised his level with a wave of her hand, Serge still didn't think he could defeat the woman in front of him.

Serge's question seemed to satisfy the Dark Elf.

"He is a wonderful person."

With enraptured eyes, she began to speak rapidly.

"Kind, yet strict when necessary. Friendly while possessing an undeniable dignity. With his great knowledge, he brought peace and order to all of the demon tribe—"

"Now, hold on."

Valis was the one to stop her.

"Come here and speak. Fortunately, there are seats available."

Right, the Dark Elf had still been kneeling near the entrance.

The distance was considerable. If push came to shove, it was enough distance to launch a preemptive magical strike.

And Valis was trying to close that gap.

For Maal, it was terrifying. It was terrifying for Serge too, but if he used the Skill he'd just obtained moments ago, he might be able to escape.

No, that wouldn't work either. He couldn't leave Ria behind. Even if Valis would probably protect Ria, Maal wouldn't want to be separated from her.

Either way, Serge had no options.

The Dark Elf walked forward slowly but surely.

She then sat at the position farthest from Ria's egg.

"Um, Dark Elf-sama."

"Wait, first of all, stop calling me 'Dark Elf-sama'."

It seemed like an odd thing to fixate on, but it would feel strange to be called 'Human-sama' or 'Beastkin-sama'.

"Then what should I call you?"

"Call me Rei. No need for polite speech either. You're neither my vassal nor my subject."

She was friendly. This might go better than he thought.

Even so, he couldn't help but use polite speech. Since she'd introduced herself as a Demon General, she was probably part of the demon tribe's upper echelons.

"First, tell me your names."

"Ah, Serge."

Come to think of it, he hadn't introduced himself. How impolite.

"Maal."

She gave a small bow.

"You two, human and beastkin together? How old are you?"

It was a rather normal conversation.

"I just turned thirteen."

"Eleven."

"Young, huh. And with that much magical power. Say, how would you like to serve His Majesty?"

It was suddenly a recruitment pitch.

"Um, but I'm from the human tribe…"

"There are humans in the demon tribe's territory too. His Majesty doesn't discriminate based on race. His Majesty himself was originally human, after all."

There are humans there!?

Serge retorted in his mind, but if he was a former hero, having humans serve him would be normal.

Even so, she said he doesn't discriminate based on race. Wasn't that actually a better society than human society?

"There are cat beastkin too. I have many among my subordinates."

Cat beastkin too?

"Ah, but if he's human, how has Demon King-sama lived for a thousand years?"

A human's lifespan, even extended by magic, would max out around three hundred.

Then again, Azelford, the Great Sage of the Sacred Mountain, had apparently exceeded a thousand years of age.

"Ah, that's my doing."

Valis, who'd been listening from the side, chimed in.

"That man wished for it, so I made him immortal."

Even though she said that immortals would eventually come to desire death.

"He was an unusual man. With that strength of will, he should be able to endure a thousand years."

Endure, not live.

As expected, humans weren't creatures that could endure living for so long.

If the state of one's mind was the issue, she could understand that.

"Well… I'm happy about the invitation, and it is attractive… but I still have a lot I want to learn."

"I see. There are plenty of schools in the demon tribe's territory, so come if you ever feel like it. I'll give you this."

Without approaching, she tossed something to him, which he caught. It was a dagger with an official seal attached. Ria had something similar.

"If you show that, most demons won't lay a hand on you. Though there are quite a few hot-blooded tribes, so you should still be careful."

It was too friendly. Too generous an invitation.

Serge became worried instead.

"Um, is it really okay to give me this?"

If anything, this could get him branded as a demon tribe collaborator if discovered in human society.

"Setting aside that beastkin, I don't sense any hatred or negative feelings toward me from you."

Though she was definitely feeling fear, Rei continued.

Indeed, while Serge thought of Rei as a threat, he didn't hate or dislike her or anything like that.

In fact, since he'd been thinking 'Busty Dark Elf has arrived—!' the whole time, she might have even sensed goodwill from him.

"Humans like you are likely to become our comrades. It's what we call 'aotagai'."

Serge couldn't help but smile wryly at Rei using Japanese.

He couldn't bring himself to dislike this Dark Elf-san.

"So then, continuing on."

"Ah, right. Let's see… to begin with, will the demon tribe actually invade during the Millennium?"

At that question, Rei's eyes narrowed.

The friendly Onee-san atmosphere vanished. What remained was a demon who possessed terrifying power.

"What will you do with that knowledge?"

Though intimidated, Serge decided he should just say what he honestly felt.

"Um, from what I've heard so far… with a Demon King-sama like that, I feel like humans and the demon tribe could get along without fighting."

Yes, that was exactly it.

To begin with, during the Millennium, it was the demon tribe who invaded.

But listening to Rei's story, the Demon King seemed to be the exact opposite of an evil being who delighted in slaughter.

If that were the case, there would be no need to prepare for the Millennium. One of Ria's worries would disappear.

Rei's expression softened once more.

But she shook her head.

"We will invade human territory. This has been decided."

"May I ask why?"

"No. However, it will be revealed eventually."

"It's because the Millennium is necessary."

Valis supplemented from the side again, but what did she mean by 'necessary'?

Serge understood that wars weren't waged solely out of malice.

Speaking from his previous life's memories, just how many wars had been carried out in the name of holy war?

"Is that what you wanted to ask?"

"Well, yes. I have other questions too, but…"

"We'll meet again before long. We can talk then."

Saying that, Rei stood up. The conversation was over.

Her gaze turned to the egg enveloping Ria.

Maal reflexively moved to block her line of sight. Rei smiled wryly.

"I have no intention of harming you. At least, not right now."

There were no lies in her words. She was someone trustworthy, someone who fundamentally shattered their concept of the demon tribe. Not just Serge, but even Maal felt the same way.

For Rei as well, it had been a fruitful encounter. She'd broken the order not to make contact, but she felt what she'd gained was significant.

"Wait."

The one who stopped her was Valis.

Called out to by someone with godlike power, Rei's body stiffened. If she'd committed some taboo here, her life would be forfeit in an instant.

But Valis' words were the complete opposite of what she expected.

"I'll give you a blessing as well."

Valis waved her hand, and in that moment, Rei's magical power increased.

"A reward for conquering the labyrinth."

Speechless, Rei embraced herself for a short while.

Eventually, she bowed deeply, put on her cloak and pulled up the hood, then began walking toward the entrance.

"Shall I send you outside?"

Valis called out again.

"… Then, to the town at the foot of the mountain."

"Very well. Farewell then."

And with that, Rei's figure vanished.

"Um, was that alright?"

After a while, Serge spoke up.

"Was what alright?"

"Earlier, you mentioned that the Golden Dragon Clarice-sama's disappearance was probably related to the Demon King, but you just let his subordinate go normally?"

According to Valis' story, that person should have been the enemy of her mate.

But Valis didn't understand his question.

"It's already in the past."

Just those few words.

"Is it really impossible to resurrect Divine Dragon-sama?"

That was what Maal was wondering. Valis had said she could resurrect the dead.

"It's possible, but the price would be too great."

So she could.

And what was this price that was too great?

Too afraid, neither of them asked.

A week passed.

During that time, Serge had been working hard to master his new Skill.

This Skill was powerful, compensating for a mage's weaknesses, but was difficult to control in exchange.

Unexpectedly, Valis would sometimes demonstrate how to control it.

Maal was playing with the infant dragon.

You could say she was letting it play with her.

This dragon, having been born not long ago, was still mentally a child and was delighted to have someone pay attention to it.

It told Maal that this was far more enjoyable than all the time it had spent mostly sleeping before.

Then, while the two of them and the dragon were each absorbed in their own activities—.

"It's about time."

At Valis' voice, everyone gathered around the egg.

Cracks formed in the black shell, spreading across its surface—.

"Uu…"

"Ria-chan!"

Her black hair rippling, Ria emerged.