I covered my nostrils with a cloth as I followed the sewage path spewing out from the Royal City of Arche. If I didn't do that, the stench of the sewage would make my nose go crazy.

　However, even with the cloth over my nostrils, the smell was still pungent. It was a disgusting odor, but on the other hand, it was a familiar smell to me.

　In the past, I was often sent out to dredge ditches and clean up sewage systems. After all, I was only given jobs that people didn't want to do. Oh, all the bad memories come to mind.

　It's not a route I'd like to take, but it's the only way I can get to the lap of King's Landing without being noticed by the demons. It's the worst way, but it's the only way. I let out a deep breath.

　Then, walking at the front in the dark sewers, he opened his mouth.

"...... Gerleist, Gazalia... Are you sure you want to do this? There's still plenty of time to turn back now.

　Unknowingly, he calls out to the back. You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.

　When I turned around, I saw several people in the pale black. They had been selected from the various forces that had invaded King's Landing.

　It's not my place to interfere if the soldiers of the other forces have their hearts set on it.

　But... Except for them, of course.

　Richard's grandfather, Elddis. At least as it stands now, they're the ones on top of the Garrisons and Gazalia. They should never be included in such a deadly itinerary. The soldiers surrounding them must have had that thought in their hearts at least a little.

　I followed them with my eyes. Richard's old man answered, cowering at the end of the line. An expression of cunning emerged in the darkness.

You know me. I don't like to waste my time. And this is not the time to be watching over people's feet.

　The old man says, looking as if he's never changed, even though everyone else is probably a little nervous. I'd like to learn from him the way he acts, the way he looks as if he has an iron in his stomach.

　According to him, there is still a small force of Garristo soldiers in the King's Landing, which was trampled by the demons. They can't just stand on their shoulders like they did in the past, and they are probably hiding from the eyes of the monsters and killing their breath.

　If we're going to take on the Majin, it's better to have their help. We don't have all the inside information we need. We don't even know where the demons are camped.

　If we're going to communicate with these internal soldiers and the external garrisons. Naturally, a commander is needed. I'm well aware of that. But is it necessary for the old man to do it in person?

　Does it mean that the situation is so urgent? I don't know if it means that the situation is so urgent, or if it has another intention, but since he is the old man, it might be the latter.

　Another problem was Erdis, the queen of Gazalia.

　She is also accompanied by a few Gazarian soldiers, but she is still insane. After all, Richard's grandfather is still the head of the group, but Erdis is the head of the nation.

　If she were to lose her life here forever, I don't even want to think about what would happen and what would begin.

　He paused for a moment and tried to open his mouth. But before I could, I heard a voice that tickled my ears.

　It was Erdis's voice, and there was no mistaking it. The voice sounded as if it were whispering in my ear, even though I was some distance away. I wondered if she was using necromancy.

What are you saying? What are you talking about? You told me to be a good queen. I'm doing what a queen should do. And I think you need me to go with you.

　The words were ambiguous as to whether they were an answer or not. It's not like he's trying to smoke you out, but I feel like he's blurring the most important thing. And what do you mean you need me too?

　Erdis continued, refusing to allow such a question to be uttered.

Of course, if you want me to stay here and wait like a dog, I'll do that. I will do as I am instructed.

　What are you going to do?" Erdis said. I blinked my eyelashes at the words.

　When she crawled out of the fort, Elddis had acted as if she would not allow anyone to leave her behind, but here she was being so obedient. That's unusual for her.

　I have a bad feeling about this. The chill itself was at the nape of my neck.

　I've been noticing it lately. When Elddis starts twisting words to sound submissive, it's usually because she has another agenda or two in mind. The same goes for Kalia and Fialaat.

　What should I do? The edges of her lips twist as she searches for words. He turned his thoughts, the marrow of his brain flickering slightly. Regardless of Erdis's intentions, he pondered once more whether he should let them leave first or not.

　The enemy is a demon. They kill all kinds of heroes and brave men. My fears are unending, even with an army of ten thousand.

　Honestly, I'd rather have Erdis' help if I can. It could be the difference between life and death, and for that I could see the sunrise tomorrow.



　Things are that tight. I am, but... But still, no.

　She's no longer just an individual like she used to be. She's no longer free to move as she pleases. The lives of all the elves of Gazaria are on her back.

　She cannot be put in danger in a place like this. Even if Elddis herself is in favor of it.

　--Oh, I'm sorry, but you must leave. I'll get you some of my best wine.

　I'll get you the best wine as a souvenir. My eyes widen.

　Suddenly my lungs grow heavy and something cold crawls through my core. My throat spasmed, and sweat ran down my neck as if I had a fever, though it was not noticeable in the dark.

　It's not painful. I guess I should call it a strange sense of weariness. A feeling as if the depths of my soul were entangling my fingertips and binding up my brain. My breathing is inexplicably heavy.

"......, you've done something wrong, Erdis.

　You've done something wrong, Erdis. You'll be able to't see it," he says with a slight flick of his teeth.

　It's probably not even a voice anymore. It was probably just a breath that vibrated the air. I felt strangely exhausted even doing that.

　Erdis scooped up my words and smiled at them. It was as if she knew exactly what I was going to say.

"That's a horrible thing to say, Lugis, and it's disgusting. I've only weakened the blessings on your spirit gear a little. I just weakened the blessings on my spirit gear a bit. I've been helping you get rid of the demons that have been clinging to you.

　I see what Elddis is getting at.

　It's true that the miasma, the miasma that they emit, erodes people's bodies to a greater or lesser degree. A good example is the adventurer's disease, which is a disease that occurs when magical energy enters the body.

　In particular, the closer you get to a demon, the quicker you lose your strength and the more your soul creaks. This was something I had experienced before, and I was prepared to accept it, of course.

　--But in the past, did it produce such a strange weariness? Did I ever feel as if my soul was being tied up?

　Or was it that Erdis had exorcised my demons without my understanding on my previous journey? Her eyes twisted slightly. It was getting harder and harder for me to move forward. There seemed to be no time to think about anything else.

　I nodded my head, bouncing my head.

"All right. All right. Follow me, Your Majesty. I don't think I can move otherwise. I can't even breathe.

　As soon as I said that, the dullness and weariness drained from every part of my body. In fact, I was feeling better than ever. Erdis's satisfied voice was ringing in my ears.

　You've been doing this all along. There's nothing I can do about it now. If you need Erdis's or a spirit's blessing to wield a sword in the lap of a demon, then you don't really have a choice.

　When I came to that point, I suddenly thought.

　Then why did Elddis make me choose? If that's the case, why didn't she just tell me that from the beginning? Many of us would have swallowed Erdis's decision even if it was a bitter pill to swallow if it was necessary to face the demon.

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea. But for the life of me, I can't put it into words.

　After a few turns, when my sense of time had almost faded, I finally saw the exit of the sewage channel just ahead of me. Of the multiple entrances and exits, this is the one that leads to the back streets and is the least conspicuous.

　I carefully shifted the stone lid. I poked my head out, making sure that there was no one beyond. At that moment, I imagined my skull being cracked open, but fortunately, nothing happened.

　I crawled out of my body and looked around, paying attention to the noise. The streets hadn't changed that much. The streets of my hometown, the back streets of King's Landing. The crumbling stone walls and the dirty streets are still the same.

　But... There was one thing that was distinctly different. The smell.

　The smell of blood, so thick you could almost swallow the stench of the sewers. It pervaded the entire city without reservation.

　I remember. It wasn't King's Landing in the past, but as far as I know, there's only one demon who liked to smell blood like this.

　--Drigman the controller.

　The name flashed behind my eyelids.