Royal Palace of the Borvat Dynasty.

　The center of the nation, built with piles of gold coins. The glittering building had now become an abode of demons, not kings.

　I sniffed a little as I looked at it. There was a strong smell of iron in the air. Evidence of blood spattering everywhere. Humans would try to dissipate this smell, but the demons don't seem to mind.

　As I walked through the courtyard, staring at the palace, I clicked my heels and felt a powerful pull on my arm.

I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure if I'm okay. I'm not sure I'm going to make it.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea. You can't imagine how vulnerable he looks with those two eyes.

　It's a very disproportionate attitude for a man of his stature and dignified appearance. The expression on my face becomes unconsciously stiff. She probably doesn't have any pretensions or appearances.

　However, I could not help but feel for her at this moment.

　After all, this was the center of enemy territory. It was surrounded by demons, their eyes glowing, and they would attack us at any moment if we were even a little careless.

　She and I are the only two people in the room, so it's not surprising that she's timid. She's too weak by nature.

　Even though she was guided by Gear Laboure, Nuto, the director, would never have approved of letting 3,000 soldiers into the palace.

　Considering that he was dealing with a demon, it did not matter how many humans there were, but perhaps it was his pride that he would not allow unnecessary intruders.

　The only people who were allowed to enter were me, who was guided by Lovell, and Shad, who was considered the head of the soldiers. I remember well that Kalia had a terrible look on her face. She was shouting something, but I took it all on my back and came here.

　I don't know what they'll say when I get back. I might as well have never left.

　When Kalia's eyes welled up with emotion, he couldn't find his way to speak. And so he ended up accepting all of her demands.

　I let out an unconscious sigh at the thought, and Shad, who was still being dragged along by my arm, jumps up with a start. I guess his cowardice got the better of him. His teeth clicked together.

It's okay. If it gets dangerous, just run. It would be nice if you could tell Caria and the others, but just run.

　The woman she had transformed into was taller than me. The woman she had transformed into was taller than me, but she looked like a child as she crouched in my arms.

　I put my hand on her head, slightly brushing her hair, just like Mr. Nines used to do to me. She is the only person I know who can take care of a child.

　Shad opened his eyes suspiciously for a moment, but then opened his lips and said.

...... You are a strange man. If you run, you'll be the only one left.

　So how can you tell me to run away? Shad said with genuine wonder in his eyes. His eyes had a quizzical look in them, almost as if he was doubting my words.

　But so be it. It's a little too convenient to ask for help and then just run away when things get dangerous. I wouldn't accept such a proposal if it came to me at work.

　In any case, I don't trust most of the people who say "just run away".

　I chuckle at the words I've been saying to Shad, and take a step forward as if I'm dragging her with me. I searched for the right words to say.

'...... what. You came here desperate for help. And there's nothing worse than not getting help.

　I felt a slight pain in my eyelids. That's what happened to me when I was a kid in the back streets.

　The aristocrats didn't care about the common people, and the adults were too busy living their own lives to care about the orphans. It didn't matter if a young child was dying of hunger or not.

　It doesn't matter if you call for help or plead for help. If you reach out to them, they will probably only grab you.

　There's no point in asking for help. Everyone in the back streets knew that. Most people who don't learn that as kids die.

　I'm sure there were times when I desperately needed help. With tears in my eyes and in my voice. But most of them didn't come true, so I stopped hoping for them.

　But I do remember how miserable and disgusting it was.

"In the end, I'm just being selfish. Don't worry about it.

　You're not happy with my words. Shad tilts his head with a raised eyebrow. It's a strange person, he mutters, and continues to be dragged along by my arm.

　It's a good thing I faked the illusion to get him to take human form. If it had been a giant snake, I wouldn't have been able to pull it off.

　As we passed through the courtyard, we could hear the sound of marble floors tapping. Laboure never looked back at us, but kept on tapping his foot at even intervals.

　From behind, she looks like a mere human being. From behind, she looks like a mere mortal, her hair swinging gracefully like a noblewoman's.

　I honestly don't know what Lovell's intentions are as she moves forward. She took Fialaat away herself, but when I came to her, she wanted me to meet her.



　Normally, it would have been a trap, but I didn't understand why she would want to trap me.

　Humans can be defeated head-on, devoured and brought to their knees. That's what a demon is, a demon. Hostages and traps were the work of a weak being.

　Then there must be another purpose to this action. And I have to take this as an oddity.

　After all, the demoness that I would normally have to wade through a pack of demons to get to is right in front of me. And he's willing to lead me to my friends. And he hasn't even disarmed me.

　Then let him lead us. Even if it's in the heart of enemy territory, it's a hell of a lot better than the worst I could think of.

　No matter how much I could feel the demonic presence around me, I didn't feel like giving up. The treasured sword roared and tilted at his waist. More and more heat was building up in my chest.

　For a while, I continued to follow Lovell's back. She still didn't look back at us, and Shad was still clinging to my arm.

　I wanted Shad to move away from me, but he couldn't.

　Finally, the sound of Lovell's footsteps stopped.

"Well... May I? Your friends are in the back. But you can turn on your heels and return here. Make your decision immediately.

　What the hell is this guy talking about?

　I repeat Lovell's words in my head as if I'm ruminating on them. Even so, I still don't know what he's talking about.

How can it not be good? Or are you trying to tell me now that it was a trap?

　As I said this, I felt a dull sensation creep up my spine. I felt a heavy weight in my chest.

No, sir. Feel free, human hero Lugis. For now, you may proceed as you see fit. It's your destiny.

　With Shad on his back, he looks at Lovell. He's still looking at me with what looks like a smile on his face. He has no intention of opening the door. He's as reverent as a maid of honor.

　I don't know what he's trying to do. But I had a bad feeling about this. I let out an involuntary squeak.

　In front of me was a plain, rather large door. It's probably one of those vaults you find in every royal palace. It could be a treasure house, a storehouse, or any number of things. It's a very solid thing to be kept in.

"Fear Alert!

　Push open the heavy door. For once, I let out the frustration and worry that I had been forcing down into the depths of my heart.

　How could I not be worried? How could I not be anxious? I've come here, pushing it down desperately.

　I did everything I could to prepare myself for what she would look like. Was she humiliated, mutilated, or on the verge of death? All sorts of unpleasant imaginings flashed before my eyes.

　But sometimes reality easily surpasses imagination.

　Fialat-La-Borgograd was indeed there. At the far end of a large room. He had probably scraped everything out of the room at one point, and for such a large room, there was not much to be found. There were only a few magical tools.

　At first glance, Fialaat seemed to be fine. No torn limbs, no blood spilled. He didn't look like he'd been humiliated.

　His whole body was entangled in chains, and he was just gasping for air, unable to move. She was sobbing as if in a nightmare.

　I tried to get close to her, but it seemed that a magical ward had been set up around her. No one can get close to it.

　Instantly, his eyes widened. I could see Fialaert more clearly.

"So, Lovell--

　A closer look revealed a rugged collar around Fialaat's thin neck. His limbs looked similar. I didn't know anything about the structure, but I knew what it was.

　My eyes felt a surge of excitement.

　The nightmare of the Borvat dynasty itself. A sorcerer's cradle.

　It's from the past, when the sorcerers were greater and the citizens were lower in rank. In order to protect their position, the sorcerers would not tolerate non-magicians who defied them.

　What the powers that be like to use against the rebels is the same now as it ever was. The only thing they want to do is make an example out of them.

　That's why they created those rude restraints. It takes away the magic of the wearer once and for all.



　By nature, we all have magic, whether we possess too much or too little. It's close to organs and blood. And it is closely connected to the soul.

　To be forcibly and violently deprived of it is akin to being skinned alive. First of all, the unimaginable pain will drive you crazy and burn out your mind and all the nerves in your body.

　But even so, it will not kill you. Because after the collar takes away your magic, it pours it back into you.

　And then it takes it away again. The wearer will continue to scream incessantly and eventually faint, still sobbing and suffering. The incessant pain makes it impossible to even sleep.

　But if you try to remove it by force, the pain will devour your flesh and bones. Such a nightmare.

　I turned around and looked at Lovell.

"How do you want to die?　You're good at that. Tell me now.

"Oh, you think I'm bad. You will be corrected immediately.

　Laboure still smiled. But it was not an inorganic smile, but a demonic one.

　It's the kind of smile that says, "This is what it means to be a demon.

I didn't prepare this - it was offered to me by her own people. Understand immediately.