109 10 Return




 After we mourned Franjulas, we returned to the hideout of the remnants of the Demon Lord's army.

"This is...

 I raised my eyebrows.

 The place was in ruins.
 The entrance to the cave was half collapsed, and there were traces of destruction here and there as I advanced into the cave.

 The hall-like chamber at its deepest point was also full of cracks.
 There was no sign of people or demons.

 I don't think there's anyone left here anymore.
 Some may have escaped, but most must have been killed.

 There were demon corpses everywhere until we came to this hall, and even in this room...

"Terrible. ......

 Yurin muttered.

 I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.
 Shea next to him also looked pale.

"We've returned from the ruins, but it may be difficult to reunite with the Demon Lord's residual thoughts.

 The path leading to his location has been destroyed.
 It is possible that his thoughts themselves have been cleansed by the holy sword and high priestly skills.

 Even though he is an enemy of humanity, he was a valuable source of information about the Darkness, so this is painful.

"No, wait... Master Chrom.

 Yurin stepped forward.

"What is it, Yurin?
I can feel something.

 A pale phosphorescence rises from her maid's body.
 It's the aura of a demon.

I can see it. I can see the Demon Lord's thoughts. I'm not sure what to make of this.

 I guess Juno and the others destroyed this place and noticed the Demon Lord's residual thoughts.
 And they tried to erase it as a matter of course.

 But somehow they managed to avoid complete annihilation.
 That's the Demon Lord Villgarodomus.

Do you know where it is?
Yes.
Then show me the way.

 So, I headed to the Demon Lord's thoughts with Shea and Yurin...



"I'm back, Demon Lord.

 I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to use it.

 A black blur appeared in front of me.
 They condensed and formed a skull-like shape.

 That thing that gives off such an evil vibe is the residual thoughts of the Demon Lord.
 As Ulin sensed, the Demon Lord had not been completely annihilated.

I've been worried that the heroes might have hunted him down.
I'm not a demon in the first place. I'm not a demon. I don't deserve to be attacked by them.

 I was mildly resentful.

'Really? I'm sure it's similar.

 The Demon Lord says.

I don't like what I'm hearing.

 I don't like being called a demon.

You're much closer to the Darkness than even the higher demons. No, you're already much closer to the [Darkness] than I am as a Demon Lord...

 I'm a demon lord.

"Then let's hear it. Crom Walker. Did you get the key to activate the Kuro Altar?

 Yes, that's why I went to the ruins.
 And after undergoing the trials of the ancient monuments and deepening my darkness there... I went to the Kuro Phase again and obtained the key.

 It was a somewhat circuitous route, but I had achieved my original goal.

 The Kuro Altar.
The wisdom of prehistoric civilizations to further draw out the power of darkness.

 The time for its final activation has finally come...