The Investigation Begins

We were heading toward the location where the mana signature of the “Divine Gear” had been detected. Judas had provided the general coordinates, so the rest would be up to us to track once we reached the site.

The location was a craggy mountain range in the Western Region, an area reportedly dotted with ancient ruins. Our team was small—around a dozen people—consisting of Feria, Judas, and a few aides from the Third and Fifth Armies.

Taking precautions, I had asked Bel, the Emperor Dragon, to guard the airspace over the castle. Like Judas, she has a fickle personality, and I wasn’t entirely sure how far she’d go in a real fight, but her sheer power as a military asset is reliable.

“Judas, what’s your take on this?” I asked the silver-haired demon boy as we walked.

“Hm?”

“The Divine Gear. Why do you think it appeared in the Demon Realm?”

“Who knows? Right now, I can only say there’s too little information to be sure,” Judas replied. “But if I had to guess—perhaps it slipped into the realm through the hole torn in the barrier when those hundred Heroes attacked recently.”

“I see.”

“However, the stronger the holy power, the more that barrier pushes back. I find it hard to believe a weapon with the level of divinity found in a Divine Gear could pass through it easily.” Judas knit his brows slightly. “In fact, even the Seraph-class Miracle Armament users—the strongest Heroes—didn’t participate in the last battle. Their weapons were likely too holy to pass through the barrier.”

I listened to his explanation in silence. His analytical skills regarding magic were indeed top-tier. His personality is a hurdle, but I’m glad I brought him to our side.

We continued our march. As night fell, we decided to camp in the forest. We set up a watch rotation and let everyone take naps. I was resting alone inside my tent when a voice called out.

“My Lord, may I come in?”

Feria entered the tent. She was strikingly beautiful, with pale pink hair reaching down to her feet and a look reminiscent of a little succubus. The bat-like wings on her back and the tail at her waist twitched rhythmically.

“Has something happened?” I asked, bracing myself for a possible enemy attack.

“I just wanted to see you,” Feria smiled. “Tell me… what do you think of me?”

“Where did this come from all of a sudden?” I looked at her, bewildered. Her mischievous smile made it impossible to tell if she was joking or serious.

“I like strong men, you know.”

“Aren’t there plenty of strong men among the demons?” I replied evasively, unsure of her intent.

“The Demon Lord is special,” Feria said, leaning closer with a deepening smile. “Your fight inside my dream the other day was incredible. I was captivated.”

“That’s because my opponents were past Demon Lords.”

As I answered, Feria brought her face even closer. Her lovely features were right in front of me. I couldn’t help but feel a jolt of nervousness.

“Hey… won’t you take off that mask and show me your real face?” she whispered.

“No, this is—”

“Please, my Lord?”

Her breath brushed against me. Even through the mask, it felt incredibly sweet. …Wait, is she using Charm again? Or is this just how a succubi naturally interacts with people?

“Ever since we met, I’ve been thinking of you… I’m serious.”

Her moist eyes stared directly into mine, refusing to look away.

Meanwhile, Stella was alone in her office, clearing through paperwork. There was a high probability they would end up in a fight with the Divine Gear, so she wanted to finish as much of the daily administrative work as possible beforehand to lighten Fried’s burden.

“Just this much left… let’s finish it quickly.”

She processed everything she had the authority to sign in the Demon Lord’s stead. The mountain of documents shrank at an incredible speed. To an ordinary demon, her processing power would be shocking—a feat only possible for Stella, one of the “Eyes of Chaos” gifted with superior intellect and reaction speed.

“Phew…”

Having reached a good stopping point, Stella took a breath.

“Pardon me. I’ve brought tea, My Lady.”

Right on cue, a female demon in a maid outfit entered. She had wavy, semi-long purple hair and wore glasses over a plain face. This was Irene. She had served as Stella’s handmaid since Stella’s childhood as a Duke’s daughter. When Stella was appointed as a Demon Commander, Irene followed her to work at the castle.

“Oh my, as expected of My Lady. You’ve already cleared that huge pile of documents.”

In a public setting, Irene would call her “Commander,” but here, with just the two of them, the childhood “My Lady” was fine. To Stella, who had been kept at a distance by her mother, Irene was one of the few people she could be close to, like an older sister.

“Here, please.”

“Thank you.”

Stella took the teacup, and the fragrant tea helped soothe her fatigue.

“Please don’t overwork yourself, My Lady.”

“This much is no problem.”

“You’re a bit too serious. You need to learn to relax.”

Laughing softly, Irene suddenly pulled Stella into a hug.

“D-don’t treat me like a child forever, Irene!” Stella’s voice cracked with embarrassment.

“To me, you will always be ‘My Lady,’” Irene whispered. “You’re like a younger sister to me.”

“Honestly…” Despite her words, Stella’s expression softened. Though they looked similar in age, Irene was actually over a hundred years older. For a while, Stella let herself be held by her sister-like maid.

After finishing her paperwork, Stella went on a patrol of the Demon Castle.

“Ah, Stella-sama! Good work today~!”

Running toward her was a female demon with red hair tied in a ponytail. It was Rilim, the captain of the castle guard.

“How are things in the castle?”

“No changes~!” Rilim replied, then let out a sigh. “Sigh… I wish I could have gone with the Demon Lord.”

“The enemy this time possesses immense power. He likely left you here out of concern for your safety,” Stella consoled her.

“I just wanted to be useful to him.”

“I feel the same. But those of us left behind have an important duty. You must put everything into guarding this castle.”

“My… duty…”

“The Demon Lord considered the possibility of another enemy appearing elsewhere. We are here to prepare for that.”

“You’re… right. I’ll do my best!” Rilim squeezed her fists. “Let’s do this! Ohhh!”

“That’s the spirit,” Stella nodded.

“Thank you for cheering me up.”

“I was merely stating a strategic fact.”

“Hehe, you’re so kind, Stella-sama.”

“Wh-what are you saying!? I was, as I said, being strategic—”

Stella was momentarily flustered by Rilim’s smile. In the past, she could have interacted with other demons more resolutely. Lately, she felt her emotions wavering more easily. Specifically, since she met Fried.

“Ehehe, you’re lonely too, aren’t you? Because the Demon Lord isn’t here.”

“Wh-wh-wh-what are you talking about!?”

At Rilim’s mischievous grin, Stella grew even more flustered. She felt as if her heart was being read perfectly. She pictured the face of the Demon Lord under the mask—a middle-aged man who possessed the sternness of a warrior, yet was kind, thoughtful, and carried a touch of melancholy.

(Fried-sama…)

She whispered his name in her heart, and her cheeks flushed with heat. Thump. A sweet pulse beat deep in her chest.

“Ah, you have that dreamy look on your face,” Rilim laughed. “You’re such a maiden, Stella-sama!”

“I-I told you, I’m just, well—”

Just as her voice was pitching higher—

“—!?”

Stella’s face went dead serious as she sensed a strange presence.

“? Is something wrong?”

Without answering the puzzled Rilim, Stella opened the third eye on her forehead, searching for the source.

(This is…!?)

Stella looked at Rilim with a startled expression.

“Come with me.”

“Eh?”

“There is a suspicious presence in the basement of the Demon Castle. Gather whatever squad you can move immediately. We’re heading down now!”