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Interlude – Part 1

Part 1

Lifelia Kingdom Era, Year 164, Month 6, Day 6──

The location was a waiting room in the depths of the royal castle Grandios that was surrounded by the seven ramparts of the royal capital, Sevenwall.

It was a room where people in line for an audience with the king would wait.

Since it was a location that even the king of a foreign country would use, as if to exemplify the Lifelia Kingdom’s authority, the furniture was exceedingly luxurious and gorgeous.

Gold vases and crystal tables. The floor and pillars were made of marble, the walls were covered in embroidered silk, and a gigantic depiction of the figures of the gods was on the ceiling.

It was greatly decorated with goods related to heroes throughout history that had fought many times with the Demon King and repelled it.

In that room──

The State Knight Alicia Christela was quietly standing stock still.

She herself was reflected in an enormous full-length mirror.

If it were someone having a normal audience, all of their weapons would be confiscated, but seeing as how Alicia was a State Knight, she was approved to be armed with a sword.

She was trusted to be on the side of protecting the king should there be a time where something happened.

Though, since there was the possibility that the person herself might be in possession of magic-like goods without herself noticing, an inspection of her things at hand was done with scrupulous care.

On her way back from Faltra, because she had been stopped on route by bad weather and the Knight troupe’s attacks, she was later than she had planned.

From here on, she was going to have an audience with the Lifelia King. She was waiting for her turn.

In the room, there were two visitors.

They were a Human man and woman in their mid 40s.

Having a clean personal appearance, it could be understood that they had a high social position with one glance.

Alicia had left the royal capital for the sake of the mission, and immediately after she came back, she came to the royal palace. It was half a month since she came to meet with him for that reason.

A father wearing a prominent beard placed a hand on Alicia’s shoulder.

「You have truly done well in fulfilling your lengthy duty.」

Alicia slightly raised the ends of her mouth and formed an elegant smile.

「Thank you very much, Father. As long as I think of working for the sake of the country as an honor, there is no pain or fatigue from it.」

「I see. I don’t think there would be anything to worry about if it were before, but do do your best so as not to be impolite to his Majesty.」

「I have thorough knowledge about that. I will not perform anything that would sully the duke house’s name.」

「Umu……You really have been raised splendidly. There aren’t many that are allowed to have an audience his Majesty as a woman. Everything is all due to the excellence that you have. You are our pride. Be sure to be elegant and excellent for the sake of the nation after this as well.」

「Yes.」

Her mother pointed at her eyes.

「……About those, wouldn’t it be better if you take them off?」

「Ah, this is……」

「To have metal fittings on a woman’s face.」

It seemed that she wasn’t pleased with the fact that her daughter was wearing glasses.

In the past, there wasn’t any problem with her eyesight, but this was the result of studying extra hard every day and night.

「……I shall take them off.」

Without them, she wouldn’t be able to tell the addressee’s face. She would be able to distinguish the place that his Majesty would be standing at, but when it came to the cabinet ministers that lined up beside him, it was doubtful.

However, Alicia took off her glasses, and placed them in the pouch on the back of her waist.

Her mother went and said “Oh, that’s right”.

「About that unpleasant book that was in your room……」

「……Eh?」

Her mother, as if confirming it, turned her eyes towards her father.

Her father nodded, and affectionately smiled.

「There was a book that seemed like it wasn’t good for your education. Although it’s a good thing to have an interest in all things no matter what it is……Things like radical ideologies or folklore concerning Demonic Beings……Even without really knowing about such things, you should be able to work for the sake of his Majesty, right?」

「Thinking that, we disposed of it.」

「…………The book.」

「It was for your sake, you know?」

「It was for your sake, you know that, right?」

Alicia expressed a whole faced smile, and lowered her head.

「Thank you very much, for your concern. I apologize for giving you such worries.」

Her mother nodded looking delighted.

Her father spilled a sigh of relief.

「Umu, you truly are a perfect State Knight, and child of a duke house. Though, if you had a man, I would have even less to say but……No, let us choose a suitable and appropriate partner in the near future. Then our duke house will be secure.」

*Kon kon* The room’s door was knocked on. It seemed that it had become her turn.

Alicia bowed her head to her parents once more.

「Father, mother, until next time……」

They expressed proud-looking smiles, and showed their daughter out.

Part 2

──If I were able to let those two’s heads fall, I wonder just how good it would feel?

While walking on the red carpet, Alicia held the pommel of her sword down with her left hand.

This sword was something that she purchased in Faltra City. As expected of the base of the foremost line of the Races. Although its ornamentation was second-rate, its sharpness was first-rate.

Although she cut down about ten people from being attacked by the Faltra Local Knights, the blade didn’t get chipped a single time.

If it were this sword, something like the heads of two simple Humans would be……

She swung her sword in this middle of her daydream.

──It’s still, too early.

Alicia still required her position.

In order to exterminate these rotten smelling and unsightly Races, her own strength alone was not enough.

A Demon King was required.

In order to revived it, her position of being the daughter of a duke house, and her position as a State Knight were both useful, and she couldn’t allow herself to part with them.

For the sake of making the world beautiful……

Alicia needed to be an obedient daughter, and a sincere State Knight.

Pulling out her glasses from the pouch on her waist, she put them back on.

Wearing a mask of a smiling face, she entered the room for the audience.

The ceiling was high, there were a great number of pillars, and the walls were distant.

It was a spacious room that was able to have the many generals of an army that was about to depart line up.

The national flag that had red as its keynote was put up on the wall.

And then, the carpet was also red.

An extravagant chandelier was hanging from the ceiling. Receiving the light of the candles, a great number of gems were sparkling.

The sixth Lifelia king──Dalesh Sandros would become 37 years old this year.

When Alicia approached to come before the platform, at a distance of about eight steps from the throne, she kneeled down and lowered her head.

「……State Knight Alicia Christela, has just now returned.」

Dalesh called out to her.

「Raise your head.」

Having been allowed to, Alicia once again gazed upon the platform.

The throne was magnificent. Cut from marble, the large chair that had gold and jewels arranged on it, if someone with personality were to sit upon it, that majesty would be made known.

The current Lifelia king was, still young.

In regards to domestic affairs diplomacy, Dalesh hasn’t raised any large problems but……

To begin with, this country had a calm climate, the soil was rich, and it was even blessed with marine products.

The problem was in his aptitude in military affairs.

That was an unknown number.

Since he was enthroned 12 years ago, a large-scale battle had not occurred.

Dalesh’s eyes were sharp, but that might only be because his flexibility was lost.

The story of how the large army of Demonic Beings had closed in on Faltra City and of how the Adventurers had repelled them at Fort Bridge Ulg had already been circulated to the royal capital.

It was for this reason that Alicia was dispatched to that land.

──The Demon King.

To the Lifelia Kingdo, those trends were more important than any other problem, and were something dangerous.

In Dalesh’s perimeter, there were about six Humans lined up.

The shogun and the cabinet minister and the like, they were the important people of the country.

Naturally, Alicia properly recognized them.

Their eyes from the platform were turned towards herself. There was probably enough tension to make a normal person feel like fainting.

Dalesh extended both hands.

「It is good to see that you have returned safely, Alicia Christela. Good work on your mission in a distant land.」

「Those words are too good for me.」

「According to the report you sent beforehand, I saw that there was a war with the Greenwood Kingdom but……May I have you inform me of the detailed facts?」

What he sought from Alicia was not her personal opinion, but information as the king’s eyes and ears.

However, it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.

「I shall make my report──The Greenwood Kingdom had sought for the deliverance of Princess Shera who had ran away, and had advanced their army up until the 《Kohigashi Forest》. They seemed to have no intentions of invasion. However, Lord Galford saw their entering the territory as a proclamation of war, attempted to repel them, and had executed Prince Kiira who was their commanding officer. The Elven forces had not reached as far as Faltra City. Though they may have been within the territory, there may have not been a need to kill Prince Kiira. The relationship with the neighboring country hereafter has become opaque.」

「Fumu……」

Dalesh folded his arms.

A report from the Feudal Lord’s side should have arrived as well. She couldn’t make any blatant lies.

However, prudence should be held towards the Faltra Feudal Lord──she had put in that degree of information. With this, it should become harder for Galford to make a move.

For the sake of the Demon King revival, it would be better if there were fewer obstacles. Against the hero of the great war that was strong enough to make one not believe that he was someone of the Races, it was enough to make her want for him to disappear from Faltra City if possible.

However, she didn’t overdo it.

There was something else that she truly needed to keep hidden.

Dalesh made an inquiry.

「……Just what kind of person is this “Diablo”?」

「I believe that person is an Adventurer. Was he mentioned in Lord Galford’s report?」

「Nay, this is from one that had gathered information on the city.」

”I see”, is what Alicia thought.

It appears that──although Galford had tried to eliminate him once, he seems to have evaluated Diablo’s fighting strength as high.

If he were to expressly report to the king that he was “dangerous”, and then if he were to be ordered to “arrest him”, then he would probably have a hard time dealing with him.

He couldn’t possibly report that he was “unable to win” against a single Adventurer.

Galford’s ulterior motive was──quite possibly to skillfully use Diablo to fight against foreign countries and the Demonic Beings.

The point of wanting to keep Diablo a secret, is something that coincided with Alicia’s intentions.

──I certainly do have many masks, if I do say so myself.

Towards her parents, she acted as an obedient and all too serious child.

Towards Diablo’s group, she wore the mask of being a humanitarian. Pretending to go “for me, acts of mercy are my objective”.

Alicia’s true objective was, the annihilation of the Races through the revival of the Demon King.

That is why she was covering up for Diablo. As he is currently, he seems to be on the side of the Races, but he might someday awaken as the Demon King. Also, she had sensed the Demon King inside of Rem. By some chance, could she be the key to the Demon King’s revival……?

Right now, she needed to avert the King’s concern.

「Your Majesty, there is an Adventurer by the name of Diablo but……I do not believe that he is someone that you should worry about.」

「Even though there is a rumor that he had repelled 100 Demonic Beings?」

「I believe that the repulsion of the due to the great efforts of the many Adventurers of Faltra City. After all, the Adventurer known as Diablo is a 《Chemical Element Magician》.」

In the Lifelia Kingdom, when speaking of Magicians, it was about 《Summoners》. 《Chemical Element Magicians》 were made out to be weak and not worth mentioning.

That fact is something that Dalesh also understood.

「……Fuumu……So it was nothing but a rumor.」

「In that town, there are many Demi-humans. The circulated rumors cannot be said to be completely true.」

「Indeed.」

In the royal capital, the contempt towards Demi-humans was firmly rooted.

Dalesh was a personage of nobility and had tried to stay impartial, but he was unable to completely separate himself from the values of those around him.

Speaking of the Demi-humans’ gossip──something like the existence of an unbelievably strong Chemical Element Magician, that was something that couldn’t be trusted.

With this, the audience should end with “no abnormalities in Faltra”. That is what Alicia had thought.

However, Dalesh’s tenacity was unexpectedly strong.

「……But, Vinasion.」[1]

The name of the Royal Court Astrologist had come out, making Alicia click her tongue in her mind. Though that didn’t show on her face a tiny bit.

「Could it be a prophecy of Vinasion-sama’s?」

「Umu. Three days ago, he had prophesied that ”there are signs of the Demon King revival in the town to the west”. When speaking of towns to the west, it should be Faltra City.」

「I see. This is the most specific one up until now……」

Alicia had trouble keeping down her delight. She tried to keep it from showing on her face.


The thing called Astrology was treated as a convenience as it could see into the future. Moreover, if it was an Astrologist that was employed by the King, the accuracy was something quite substantial.

It was a prophecy about the “Demon King’s revival”!

To Alicia, there was nothing more joyous than this.

However, because it was prophesied, the danger of the revival being prevented had also sprung up. Even up until now, that kind of thing had happened many times over. The army and the Adventurers would interfere with the Demonic Beings ceremony, or re-seal the Demon King just before its revival……

Dalesh looked like he was troubled over it.

「Naturally, I intend to have guard on Faltra City to be flawless. I have conferred ten thousand elites and allocated them to hero Galford. There are also many Adventurers. Above all, there was a large-scale barrier. Even if the Demon King were to revive, that should be enough for them to hold out until the main forces of the royal capital to reach them……」

「Yes, that would only seem flawless. Rather, if we were to split our war potential and focus it in the western direction, our protection of the royal capital, and guard against the other direction would become unreliable……In the eastern direction, there is the holy country, Viraal.」

The retainers also spoke out their respective opinions.

A certain shogun claimed that if there were signs of the Demon King, then the main forces should be put into action.

However, an enormous budget would be required to move a large army. A conservative theory was raised by the cabinet minister that looked after the national treasury.

The budget was limited. Wasting it on inactivity would cause a budget deficiency at a crucial time.

If they were to compel a taxation because of an emergency, the people would become impoverished.

The people were the foundation of the country. There was no country that would lose with their people still affluent. If the people were to become poor, then the day that country is ruined is probably getting closer.

Dalesh was not feebleminded.

He would not raise an army that was spurred on by fear of suspicions.

However, he looked like he wanted to hit his hand on something.

Alicia took one step forward.

「Your Majesty, in that case, please send me to Faltra City once more. This time, there was the matter with the Greenwood Kingdom and I had returned to make a quick report but……if there is an omen of the Demon King’s revival, then I shall find it, and definitely see to obstructing it.」

A sense of justice and a sense of duty was spread out in her voice.

Dalesh dignifiedly nodded.

「Mu……This is immediately following your mission to a distant land. You should be given some time to rest, is what I had thought but……」

「Thank you very much, for giving me your consideration. However, if it is work for the sake of the country, then there is no fatigue in this body. By all means, please give me your order, Your Majesty.」

「Magnificent. I am blessed to have a subordinate like yourself, and I am the luckiest amongst the successive kings. Very well, this matter shall be left to you. Proceed to Faltra City once again, and sniff out any signs of the Demon King’s revival.」

「Most definitely!」

She bowed down.

Although there was some unexpected things, in the end, it went just as planned. Hiding the exaltation in her heart was what was difficult.

Alicia raised her head, and opened her mouth to convey that she would immediately depart.

From her back, solid footsteps could be heard.

Translator’s Notes:

[1] Original: ビナシェン. Looking for better spellings for this.

Part 3

Not only footsteps, there was also the sound of something like metal rubbing against metal together with it.

Was this the sound of metal armor?

An armored figure coming in during an audience, even though it wasn’t war time……?

She reflexively looked over her shoulder.

It was a man with a sharp impression similar to that of a bladed tool.

He wore a deep scarlet platemail on his body.

And then, he had several swords in his possession. There were two swords on each of his left and right sides of his waist, and two more on his back, for a total of six long swords. Also, there was a fixed dagger on his belt.

There were chains extending from the pommels of his swords, and that was what made the unpleasant metallic rubbing sound that was resounding.

When he came near──

There was the smell of blood.

It looked like he had washed it off, but the stained blood was making the smell.

In contrast to that appearance that looked like he was in war time, the man expressed a smile that looked like he was a good person, and kneeled down next to Alicia.

「Holy Knight Sadraa, has come carrying a letter from the High Chief Priest.」

An attendant that came at a quick pace received the held out letter, and delivered it to the King.

While unrolling the parchment letter, Dalesh nodded.

「Umu……I see, good work.」

To not even protect the order of audiences, how rude──is what Alicia thought, but she didn’t speak it out loud.

The High Chief Priest was the highest rank of the church.

The Lifelia Kingdom had its faith in the “God of ancient times and the Divine Beings”. That power clearly supported the lifestyles of the Races. The miracle of healing was not something rare. The blessing of good harvest had certainly displayed an effect.

Once, it was said that, in this world, there were Divine Beings and Demonic Beings.

The God worthy of being head of the Divine Beings, and the Demon King that was worthy of being king of the Demonic Beings had continued to fight for a long, long time. At the end of that, the God defeated the Demon King, smashed it to pieces, and sealed its fragments away in different directions.

And then, on the earth that had fallen to ruin due to the war, God brought about plentiful blessings. Furthermore, the Races were born from the blood of the Divine Beings.

In other words, Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Grasswalkers, and Pantherians are descendants of the Divine Beings.

Among the Demi-humans, there were also those known as Demons, but these were said to be people where the blood of Demonic Beings had mixed together with Humans.

Gifting the blessed earth to the Races, the Divine Beings returned to the heavens.

Giving praise to the gods that are probably watching over us from the heavens, we revere them, and seek salvation in life and after death and pray.

This was the most popular religion in the Lifelia Kingdom.

The influence of the church was strong, and if it were the High Chief Priest, they were high enough to rival even the King.

The chief vassals unanimously gave words of thanks to the Holy Knight. Among those voices, voices of fear were mixed in.

The ones known as Holy Knights were selected as ”people who act as the will of God through the use of armed might”.

The ones that they subjugate are Demonic Beings and their believers──the ones that desire the Demon King’s revival, the 《Demon King Worshippers》.

On that point, they were no different from the army and the State Knights.

However, the one that used them was different.

The Holy Knights served God, and moved in accordance with the church’s intentions. They abided not by the law, but by their creed.

And then, while saying that “it depends on God’s honorable will as to who is a Demon King Worshipper”, in the end, the Holy Knight would pass judgment based upon their own dogma and prejudice.

Even if they were a noble or a wealthy person, if they were arbitrarily seen as a Demon King Worshipper, a gruesome torture would be inflicted.

In other words, a Holy Knight was a sword that protects the authority of the church.

And so, not even the chief vassals of the King did not want to be concerned with them. They did not want their eyes to be put on them.

Fortunately, there were not many Holy Knights. Even though there were more than 1000 State Knights nation-wide, in contrast, there were only thirteen Holy Knights.

Alicia muttered.

「Just a few days ago, I had heard that you had just departed for the south but……you have made quite a quick return, haven’t you, Sadraa-sama?」

「Yes, after all, smoothly and soundly bringing Demon King Worshippers to salvation is the mission of us Holy Knights. In the beginning, the questionable one in the southern village wouldn’t quite show their figure and had given me some trouble. However, my humble self only abided by God’s will……And in the end, I had all of the villagers gladly cooperate with me.」

「……And what happened to the people of the village?」

「They were brought to salvation, all of them.」

Alicia reflexively bore a sensation that was similar to her spine freezing up.

Although he didn’t answer it outright, the methods of the Holy Knights was always the same. It was torture and mass killing.

That southern village was made out to “have a Demon King Worshipper”, and in the end, surely all of the villagers were killed with brutal methods.

──I don’t care about the fact that people of the Races had died.

From such a thing, Alicia’s heart wasn’t hurt even a single bit.

However, the Holy Knights were a threat.

For example, if the King and chief vassals were to suspect her with “couldn’t she actually be desiring the Demon King’s revival”, she could make as many excuses as she would like. She had also made many achievements meant to make them not suspect her.

That would probably not apply to the Holy Knights.

If she were to be suspected even just a little bit, torture with no mercy would be waiting for her. She had confidence that she would not talk, but that did not wipe away the anxiety of her body and mind being broken.

If possible, she didn’t want to be concerned with them. Alicia wanted to quickly excuse herself from the audience room.

Even so, Sadraa spoke out something unexpected.

「Although this may have been a bit rude……in regards to the mission given to State Knight Christela-dono, I had overheard it.」

「……And, what of it?」

「Having heard that there was a prophecy of the Demon King’s revival, and then saying that you would personally go, that devotion! It is magnificent!」

「……Thank you very much.」

「However, if there is a suspicion such as that in that town, I believe that we Holy Knights for sure are the appropriate ones. Please, I would like to have the matter of Faltra City left to my humble self!」

「That is……」

Troubling.

However, she was unable to instantly think of what she should say to refuse him.

If she were to carelessly refute him, and be suspected of being a Demon King Worshipper, she herself would be exposed to danger.

Even if it were a false accusation, it was difficult to prove. Not to mention that since Alicia actually was a Demon King Worshipper that desired the Demon King’s revival, she had no idea how much she would be able to successfully hide.

Dalesh also couldn’t just accept it without dissent. He made a difficult face.

If the Holy Knight were to do the same to Faltra City as he did to the small southern village, he couldn’t shut his eyes to it.

Above all, Feudal Lord Galford probably wouldn’t stay silent about it.

The situation of the national armed forces and the church having conflict is something that he absolutely needed to avoid as King.

A young cabinet minister that was in the lowest seat of the chief vassals, respectfully lowered his head.

「Your Majesty, if I may……」

「Oh, ohh, so it’s you, Noa. Do you have some kind of ingenious plan?」

In this case, if possible, he sought a way to keep the Holy Knight silent, or at the very least, a plan that would protect Faltra City.

Alicia still did not know much about the man called Noa.

It seems that he is a young man that has recently been steadily raising his value in the royal court. He held deep knowledge in not only politics and military affairs, but also in agriculture and medicine, and there have been rumors that those propositions of his were bringing about reforms on the national scale.

P 054

It’s said that he is the adopted son of the Marquis Givun House, but his lineage before that hasn’t been investigated.

Although his appearance was blond hair, blue eyes and had beauty without a single defect, he did not give a cold impression, and instead expressed a gentle smile. He even seemed like a young girl that kept her hair short.

「……Both State Knight Alicia-dono, and Holy Knight Sadraa-dono are persons worthy of trust. How about entrusting this task to the both of them?」

「Fumu. Are you saying, to have them travel together?」

「Their objective of finding omens of the Demon King’s revival is the same……I believe that it would be best for them to put their hands together to safely resolve this.」

「……That isn’t bad.」

It seemed that Dalesh was pleased with Noa’s proposal.

It did not reject Sadraa’s opinion, and it made it possible to keep surveillance on his running wildly.

Though, Alicia who was forced to do the surveillance was cursing in her mind.

──That man called Noa, is he trying to eliminate me? Or could it be that he seriously thinks that I can hold the Holy Knight back?

Dalesh gave his order anew.

「State Knight Alicia Christela is one of the people that I trust the most. Entrusting her with the important duty of searching for signs of the Demon King’s revival together with the Holy Knight, I see no problems with this but……how about it?」

At the very least, it seemed that the King didn’t intend on making Alicia a sacrificial stone. If she was appraised this much, even if their opinions conflicted at their destination, Sadraa should not be able to arbitrarily decide that Alicia was a Demon King Worshipper.

Though, it would be a different story if the church was planning on confronting the King……

Sadraa respectfully gave his thanks.

「If I am together with such a capable and gallant State Knight, it will be quite reassuring. We shall most certainly smoke out the omen of the Demon King’s revival, and, in the name of God, I believe that we shall obstruct it.」

Alicia also lowered her head.

「In order to meet your Majesty’s expectations, I shall give my all.」

Lined up together with Sadraa, she exited the audience room.

The door was closed behind them.

As usual, he expressed a smile that made him look like a good person.

「Christela-dono, let us immediately prepare for our journey. Are you alright with departing tomorrow morning?」

「Yes, I believe that would be appropriate.」

「This will be my first time going to Faltra City. Being close to the former Demon King territory, just how many Demon King Worshippers will there be……It seems like a town that will need much salvation.」

「Salvation is……yes, that might be true……Sadraa-sama, do you……」

「What is it?」

「Do you hate the Races?」

「Of course not! I like people very much. I love them. They have been blessed by the gods and are their descendants after all. It’s because of that that the ones known as Demon King Worshippers are unforgivable.」

「……I see. I understand that very well.」

So it’s because this man loves people that he kills people……She didn’t understand the meaning of that at all.

What was certain was that “the number of troublesome things increased”. She had no choice but to admit that a large seam had appeared in the plan that had been progressing so well.

She stifled a deep sigh.

The good person smile that looked like it was pasted on disappeared from Sadraa’s face.

「By the way, Christela-dono, your facial expression really is constant, isn’t it?」

「Eh?」

「See, even now. You’re being conscious of it and hiding your facial expression. Just what exactly is the reason for that? Is it some ulterior motive that absolutely needs to be hidden?」

Inside of her chest, Alicia could even feel nausea from the delusion that was like an edged tool being grafted into her.

However, the mask that she had long played out created the facial expression of a wry smile.

「For me, since I would look immature if I were to be surprised or to laugh……In places like the royal palace, I become conscious of it and make a diligent-looking face. This might be a trouble that does not exist for a gentleman that looks gallant no matter what facial expression he makes.」

「Ahh, please excuse me for that! But, please don’t worry about that when in front of me. I wouldn’t do something as foolish as make judgements of a person based on the expressions of their face after all.」

「Thank you very much.」

「As I thought, the value of a person, is determined by the color of their internal organs.」

「…………Eh?」

She no longer had any idea as to what kind of face she should make. However, all she thought was that it was creepy.



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