Barrier Investigation.

──When Juda first became a Demon Army Commander, I had consulted with him regarding the barrier of the Demon Realm. I asked him if we could reinforce it into a much more powerful barrier.

However, Juda simply gave me a blunt reply.

“It’s impossible. The barrier is constantly undergoing erosion from the Power of God, and it’s weakening bit by bit.”

“From the Power of God…?”

“Of course, if you pour in magical energy from the outside, you can reinforce it. But you see…” Juda smiled at my question, “No matter how much you pour in, that magical energy spreads out across the vast barrier covering the entire Demon Realm, and ultimately thins out. It can’t keep up with the erosion from the Power of God. That’s why permanent reinforcement is impossible.”

“What if we reinforce it by pouring in magical energy at regular intervals?”

“Covering the entirety of the Demon Realm requires a gargantuan amount of mana. It’s true that your magical energy is absolute—you could even say you’re the strongest in history. Even so…” Juda shook his head side to side with a bitter smile. “Even with your magical energy, it’s impossible to cover the entire Demon Realm and keep reinforcing it indefinitely. Your overall mana capacity critically can’t keep up.”

“…I see.”

──That had been our previous conversation. Furthermore, according to Juda’s current words, that “erosion by the Power of God” was intensifying.

“What would it take for a fundamental solution?” I asked him straight out.

Juda smiled brightly and said, “Defeating God, I suppose?”

“…If we could do that, we wouldn’t be struggling.” Naturally, I was displeased.

“Well, it means it’s impossible.”

“Good grief…” I let out a sigh. Because when I had consulted him before, I had received the exact same reply.

I had painfully realized a fraction of how vast and alien the Power of God truly was during the recent battle against Rearvelt. It wasn’t a matter of simple offensive or defensive capabilities. Before the Power of God, the power of demons was simply “Rejected.” Against an opponent whom your attacks can’t even reach, any amount of firepower is meaningless. As things stood, there was no visible method to defeat God.

“Practically speaking, our only option is ‘reinforcing the barrier,’” Juda explained, his smile remaining intact. “While making a barrier that can withstand divine erosion is impossible, developing a barrier that is more resilient against erosion than our current one isn’t out of the question.”

“Can you do it?” I asked with anticipation.

“…I’ve been researching it. Ever since that day when Welfer died.” The smile vanished from Juda’s face. It was a serious expression, one he rarely ever showed. “As of right now, I haven’t produced any results. Or rather, the current barrier happens to be the one that yielded the best results. Modifying it further will take time.”

“Understood. I leave the barrier research to you. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

“For starters, maybe an increase in research funds?”

“…Come to think of it, you did submit a request for a budget increase.” Stella must have been racking her brains over how difficult it would be to adjust the allocations with the others.

Just then—

“Can we wrap up the serious talk already? There’s nothing we can immediately do about it anyway, right?” Feria clung to my arm. She pressed her breasts firmly against me with a soft squeeze.

“Fufu, am I in the way?” Juda smiled.

“Exactly. From here on out, it’s lovey-dovey time between me and Demon King-sama. We’d appreciate it if you’d excuse yourself.”

“Roger that. Well then, I’ll be going now.”

“N-No, wait, we’re still talking—”

“Sorry, but it’s about time for my nap.” Juda stated aloofly.

It was difficult to keep this whimsical guy tied down for long.

“As for the barrier, I’ve already patched up the areas with significant damage, so that should be fine, right?”

“Ah, yeah…” Whimsical as always, but he was a man who got his work done fast.

“Well then, take your time.”

Juda departed, and—

“Now, Demon King-sama… you can do whatever you like with me, you know?” Feria’s seduction time began.

…In a different sense from Juda, she was a formidable opponent.

Effectively fleeing from Feria’s provocative advances, I made my way through the castle. My next destination was the underground. I wanted to thoroughly investigate the area where Rearvelt had infiltrated—the site where the “Power of God” had slumbered.

Just then, a silver knight standing about a meter tall approached from ahead. It was Demon Army Commander Tsukuyomi, who had changed into a new form after his previous body was destroyed.

“Ah, Demon King-sama.” Tsukuyomi offered a bow.

“How is the condition of your new body?”

“There are no problems, for that matter,” Tsukuyomi replied in his usual monotone voice.

“The ‘Power of God’ sleeping beneath the Demon King Castle—did you know about it?”

“I was aware that ‘a massive power was sleeping down here,’ for that matter. I knew it was something we had to protect at all costs, using any means necessary.” Tsukuyomi stated. “However, I wasn’t informed that it was the ‘Power of God.’ I was surprised myself, for that matter.”

“…I see.”

“Or rather, it’s not like I know absolutely everything, for that matter. Besides, my previous body was destroyed in the recent battle, and I’ve been in a complete hectic mess trying to repair it. Ahh, I want to rest for a while… work is such a drag.”

“Hmm, did you say something?”

“I was talking to myself, for that matter.”

He was explicitly complaining with everything he had, though. Well, his complaining seemed to be a way of venting steam, so I decided to let it slide to some extent. I moved on to the next question.

“You mentioned before that there are other defense mechanisms beneath the Demon King Castle. Among them—for instance, are there devices that seal the ‘Power of God’ or something similar?”

“I am currently investigating that as well, for that matter. Ever since I was appointed as the new Alchemist General, I’ve been progressively exploring the underground of the Demon King Castle, but the underground mechanisms are incredibly complex, and we are far from fully uncovering them… the previous commander left behind nothing but fragmented records, for that matter.” Tsukuyomi noted.

It seemed there were still many mysteries left beneath the Demon King Castle.

“If you find out anything, let me know as well.”

“I promise to do so as part of my duties as a Demon Army Commander, for that matter.” Tsukuyomi nodded. “But before that, I’d like a little more vacation time, for that matter. Ahh, what a drag.”

…I decided to let his complaints slide.