Our footsteps clattered as we made our way down the stone corridor.
　We were on our way to the deepest part of the castle, guided by the Demon Lord, Virgalodomus - or more accurately, his residual thoughts.

　We passed through a number of hidden doors, and proceeded through secret passageways that were probably only known to Franjulas and Ragios.

　It's hard for my weak legs to walk long distances.
　Shea was walking with me, supporting me from the side.

"Are you worried, Shea?

　I call out to the girl next to me.

Of course. I can't believe I'm taking the Demon Lord's offer.

　Shea's expression is grim.

"Don't you worry, ......, Master Chrom?

　In the opposite direction, Yurin was looking at me with a dark expression.

I'm sure you're right.

　I nodded with a wry smile.

　The other party is the Demon Lord.
　Even though he is not the main body, but merely a residual thought, he is the king of the demon army that has plunged the world into fear and confusion.

　He was trying to talk to such a person and negotiate to gain power.

　But strangely enough, I don't feel repelled.
　Nor do I feel guilty.

　For some reason, I even felt a sense of familiarity.
　It was strange even for me.

　Of course, if the Demon Lord's demands were to cause suffering to innocent people, I would firmly reject them.
　I would do everything in my power to fight the Demon Lord, no matter who he was.

　But if it ends up being a mere deal...

　No, since he's the Demon Lord in the first place, should I just wipe him out, even if he's a residual thought?
　It was not possible to capture him with a chain, but if you activate the [fixed damage], it might work.

What am I confused about?

　I thought I had made a decision, but I was frustrated with myself for still feeling lost.

　It's a long way to the Rufus Empire where Juno is.

　By the time I get there, he may have gained even more power.
　So I need to be ready.

　I'll make sure Juno is defeated.
　I want to minimize the risk of defeat the next time I face him.

　That's our first priority.

　Don't think about anything else.
　Just think about revenge.

　I tell myself.
　I keep telling myself over and over again...

"What do you think, Rakshasa?

　I call out to the once-disappeared Rakshasa.
　But there was no answer.

"Rakshasa?
"You don't need a terminal. I'll give you the information you need.

　The Demon Lord.

　From the exchange we had just had, it seems that Virgalodomus is also a terminal of the Darkness.
　In addition, it seems that he's a special kind of existence...

　I don't know exactly what that means.
　It would have been nice to ask Rakshasa about that too, but she didn't even show up, let alone answer.

"We're here.

　A black skull announced.

　Ahead of me was a door with four crests engraved on it.
　Each crest looked like a design of a heart, a spade, a clover, and a diamond.

"Open!

　The Demon King announced, and the door slowly opened.
　A pale light flooded out from beyond.

"Welcome to the deepest part of this castle.

　The Demon Lord smiles.

　The place was like a vast hall.

　Cylindrical water tanks were lined up along the walls at even intervals.
　Inside, filled with a light green culture fluid, I could see the silhouette of an odd shape.

"Each one of them contains the corpse of a demon you defeated.

　And the Demon Lord.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
Darkness. ......?

　If you look closely, you can see long tubes extending from each of the tanks.
　All of the tubes were connected to one in the middle of the room.

　I turned my gaze in that direction.

"What the hell is this...

　Towering in the middle of the room is a huge altar that looks to be about ten meters tall.

　It was a jet-black altar, reminiscent of obsidian.

　Come on ...... come on ......!

　The altar pulsed erratically, as if it were alive.

This is what the technology of the ancient civilization (Lemcelia) is all about: the Kuro Altar.

　The demon king, Virgalodomus, announced.

"The Kuro ...... Altar.

　I mumble in return.

I have only one thing to ask of thee. I only ask that you use the power of darkness to activate the altar.

　The black skull turned its sticky eyes on me.

"Then you will gain even more power...