Chapter 111
The journey began immediately after simple preparations were made. There were few wounded, so there was no reason to delay, and the signs of her movement suggested something ominous.
Her constantly shouting "Flauros" and moving with a specific purpose made it seem like she was planning something. If things went wrong, a new Demon could appear.
The Destination was the same, but they decided to depart separately, just like last time. Both the Knight Order and Lemegeton were hostile factions, after all.
They were only for a moment refraining from provoking each other because of Andras; if it weren't for the Demon, they might have already clashed.
"Just in case, don't try any tricks. Otherwise, Demon or not, I'll execute you first."
"Hmph, don't worry. We have no such intentions this time. Rather, we're more uneasy about your side. What if you stab us in the back during battle...?"
"What? What do you take Knights for? We're more trustworthy than some prostitute who cowardly sacrificed her own Magic Tower and sold her body to a Demon!"
"...What did you say?"
No, it seemed like they might clash right now...
Stop it and let's go.
It seemed like a real fight would break out if it escalated further, so I quickly sent the Knight Order off. And so, a short journey began.
*
The formation was set up very simply. The Knight Order walked at the front; our Companions were in the center, and Lemegeton took the Rearguard, following behind.
It wasn't to prepare for Monster attacks or anything like that. After all, everyone gathered here was high-level enough to handle most Monsters without any trouble.
The reason was simply that they didn't want to see each other's faces. As we just saw, it seemed as if they might start fighting at any moment.
So, they walked hundreds of meters apart, nominally.
And "nominally" meant that it was okay not to strictly adhere to it.
"How long will it take to reach the destination?" "Well, from what I heard, if we go as fast as possible, it'll take about two days..."
I was walking across the Plains, chatting with my Companions as usual. Suddenly, Sephiroth and Nikki approached from the Rearguard. Surprised for a moment, I asked them.
What, weren't you supposed to walk at the back? Thinking about it, I found it seemed inefficient.
Sephiroth said.
Our destination is the same anyway, and there's no danger, so why do we need to walk separately? It'll only delay our joining up during battle later. That's true, but...
I wore a perplexed expression for a moment. Honestly, it was uncomfortable to travel together, and if the Knight Order saw this, it felt like it would cause unnecessary misunderstandings. What if they thought we were on the same side?
Don't worry. I know what you're concerned about. If the Knight Order comes, we'll just move away for a bit.
But that was only for a moment; I soon thought it would be fine. I had things I wanted to ask them anyway, and Sephiroth also seemed to have something she wanted to say.
Alright.
And so, two new individuals were added temporarily to our Companions.
Although it was only a two-day journey, that didn't mean the path would be easy.
No, rather, because we were pursuing a fleeing opponent, the journey was extremely arduous. To conserve even minimal stamina, all time, except for eating and sleeping, had to be spent walking.
So, we couldn't chat much, but it was enough to at least learn what I was curious about.
And the first thing I noticed was none other than Nikki's changed attitude. The girl who usually growled whenever she saw me had suddenly become very quiet.
...What? Why? What are you looking at?
Even if our eyes met occasionally, she would immediately look away. I couldn't help but be puzzled.
*“What is it...?”*
‘Did something change in her mind the night I gave her the holy water? Well, then she did almost burst into tears while revealing her true feelings, so she's probably embarrassed.'
Unfortunately, my thoughts only went that far and couldn't progress further. Other questions filled my mind more than that. Even as I walked across the cracked ground, I asked Sephiroth the questions I had.
Now that I think about it, Andras mentioned “Lord Amon”...
"..."
"Who is that Amon? Is he the king of the Faction she belongs to, Sephiroth, as you said?"
Contrary to my expectation that he would hide it again, Sephiroth answered frankly.
Yes, you've guessed correctly. He is the king who rules the southern region of the Demon Realm.
Having thus introduced the 7th Rank, *Lord of Fire* Amon, Sephiroth continued.
Among the Demons of the Demon Realm, he is particularly violent and mighty. All the Regions he oversees are so engulfed in flames that he is also a Demon friendly with fire. So that's why you said it wasn't the Faction you wanted.
Suddenly, I wondered where on earth she got such information. But I didn't press her. I figured she wouldn't tell me the source of her information even if I asked.
Anyway, that was one question answered. The other was about her. Odelia had clearly called her “Magic Tower Master”.
‘I thought she'd be strong, but...’
‘I never imagined she was a Magic Tower Master.' A Magic Tower was a major building located in a Magic Nation, not the Empire. It was a place where numerous mages gathered, researched, and grew.
Sephiroth was the leader of that place. Indeed, a powerful individual who was a branch leader wouldn't have stayed only in the Underworld all the time.
It seems you're curious about my story.
“Was she reading my mind?” She spoke first.
That's unexpected. I was actually contemplating whether to ask, as it seemed like a sensitive topic. Well... it's a story that everyone who needs to know already knows anyway. And besides, if we go back, that Knight Commander will probably just distort it...
That was true. Stories usually involve a lot of the narrator's perspective. And she was no exception.
It's not a particularly special story.
A new Magic Tower Master of the White Magic Tower, she said she was from Magic Nation. Young in age, she was one of the promising geniuses. Thanks to that, she garnered public attention, but before long, she suddenly vanished, taking numerous Mages from the Magic Tower with her.
Because of that, the White Magic Tower was violently shaken, and for a time, it drew significant public attention. And so, a person who was gradually being forgotten... suddenly reappeared as a key executive of Lemegeton.
That's all there is to it. However, since I suddenly reappeared as a Criminal, I just get some flak from those around me...
It certainly wasn't much of a story, though perhaps that was because I already knew the outcome, that she was with Lemegeton.
However, there was one puzzling point. Why did she abandon such a stable, guaranteed position and join a group like Lemegeton? If she joined, she wouldn't be able to live comfortably, and she could be chased by numerous Soldiers.
When imbued with this curiosity, I asked, she replied.
It's just... this thought suddenly occurred to me one day, after hearing a proposal: the thought that joining Lemegeton would be a bit more advantageous, you know. More advantageous for what?
At my question, she composed herself for a moment. And then she said.
The possibility of survival.
They were rather significant words. Hearing that, I vaguely nodded. For now, I felt like I understood that she was an Apocalypticist.
I wanted to continue the conversation a bit longer, but unfortunately, I couldn't.
*Bang...! Crash...!*
Immediately, a crashing sound came from ahead. There was no need to think long. Andras, who had fled, had finally appeared.
Grasping the situation, we ran forward without delay.
As we arrived at the source of the commotion, the first thing we saw was a burning tree.
Even though the tree itself was already burned pitch black, the fire clinging to its surface was strange, never extinguished.
Andras was frantically digging up the ground near it, desperately, as if he were about to meet a long-lost loved one.
Ah, you're here. My companion! My fiancée!
However, when we looked at the situation, it seemed she hadn't finished digging it all up yet. We had barely caught up to her.
Of course, the Knight Commander wasn't just silently watching. As soon as the Knight Order spotted her, it desperately tried to stop her.
They struck at her sword, which was digging up the ground, and aimed for her body. The problem, however, was that she ignored even those attacks and continued trying to dig up the ground. As a result, wounds gradually accumulated on Andras's beautiful body, but the Pit she was digging also grew deeper.
That wasn't all.
Ugh, what heat!
"Fireballs are rising from the ground!"
Every time she dug the Pit, flames soared up from the nearby ground. Her magic power and the ground reacted as if resonating with the earth itself.
Seeing that, we too immediately tried to rush her.
But it seemed it was already too late. Not long after the Pit was dug, a hidden Space appeared beneath the ground. It was a flat stone floor, engraved with strange patterns. In other words, it was an Altar.
...Arise.
As soon as the Altar appeared, she scattered her own blood on the floor. The blood she had shed from her wounds until now quickly soaked into the floor. As if greedily seeking what would become energy, the Altar, having fully devoured the magic power contained in the blood, emitted light.
Arise and dance with me; let us share our affection once more. My companion, let us burn this World together, as per Lord Amon's will.
"...We have to stop it!"
Sephiroth, feeling a sense of crisis, shouted. But it was already too late. The Altar's Summoning speed was extremely fast. Soon, another Demon popped out through the Altar.
Whoosh! This was Andras's long-sought companion. The Demon Flauros... was a woman resembling a leopard.
A curvaceous figure visible through clothes no different from rags, golden hair resembling Andras's, and uniquely different from Humans... even beast-like claws.
What first came to me was a question before a sense of dismay.
“Wait... she said "companion"?”
“But why is she also female?”
“Andras was clearly a female Demon, and Flauros was also female.”
“For a very brief moment, an assumption arose within me: "Surely not..."”
“And that assumption soon turned into a conviction.”
"Ah, ah! We finally meet, Flauros!"
"It's truly been a long time, Lady Andras...!"
As soon as the two met, they exchanged an emotional embrace. The two Demons' large chests overlapped and pressed together. *'Yes... just a hug. That's perfectly fine.'*
The problem was what came next.
Let's kiss, Andras. Although the situation isn't ideal, shouldn't we share the affection of our reunion? Ah, of course. Let's do it passionately until the entire world melts.
*Slurp, smack...*
The sound of saliva mixing resounded in the urgent situation.
Transparent strands stretched thinly, then reconnected, repeating the action.
Seeing that, the surrounding Companions furrowed their brows for a moment.
"Ugh..."
"Ew..."
Regardless, I watched the scene with a somewhat fascinated expression.
Oh...