Chapter 4: Rem’s Story

Long before the church’s bell rung five times──
It was immediately after getting separated from Diablo and Shera in the Central Plaza.

Rem was in the gap between two buildings, a back alley.
「……What is the meaning of this?」
Chasing after two people, although she lost sight of them several times, she finally caught up to them.
Unlike the bustling Central Plaza, this was a place that was gloomy and had trash scattered about.
Trash was thrown out from homes into the back alley, and it stayed like that.
Because the air had gotten dry, there wasn’t that much of an offensive smell, but it wasn’t a place that one would visit on purpose.
Ahead of Rem in that back alley, Alicia was standing there.
She was pulling Krum’s hand.
As for Krum, she looked like she had absolutely no understanding as to why she was brought to a place like this. Her cheeks were stuffed with a biscuit.
「Nn? You, did something happen?」
「……Erm, I don’t know why you were brought to a place like this. Alicia, why did you do it?」
Alicia expressed a faint smile.
「Truth be told, I hoped that I would take only Krum-sama along, and then I would later call out Shera-sama but……Well, it might be alright if I were to take Rem-sama along. I don’t know what will become the key after all.」
Her presence was different from the usual Alicia.
Rem became vigilant, and extended her hand to the pocket of her leather belt that her crystals were in. She stood at the ready so that she would call out her Summoned Beasts at any time.
「……What are you talking about?」
「Why do you think Krum-sama had lost her memories? According to a Demonic Being Priest, what is required for Demon King-sama’s revival isn’t just magical power……That’s what it means.」
「……Demonic Being Priest?」
Now that she mentioned it, she remembered that was the one that Edelgart borrowed her wisdom from.
The nervous feeling increased.
「Yes, after that……I went outside of the town, and asked this to Edelgart-sama. Just what should be done for Demon King-sama to regain her memories, and fully, awaken.」
「What are you saying, Alicia!?」
「If Demon King-sama hadn’t lost her memories, I could have told you the truth much earlier though……」
「……Alicia, are you saying that you wished for a Demon King that would kill the people of the Races?」
「Did I not mention that?」
Rem voice started to shake.
「……Alicia……you……in that case……It’s as if you’re a Demon King Worshipper, isn’t it!?」
「Yes, that’s how it would turn out to be.」
Alicia delightedly expressed a smile.
Unlike the smile that tended to be restrained that she showed up until now, it was a cheerful expression. Maybe it was because of a sense of liberation from the fact that she could divulge her true feelings.
Krum looked up at Alicia.
「I do not understand what you are saying -noda. Maou is revived. This is my flawless, complete, and perfect form -nanoda.」
「However, you will not kill people of the Races, correct?」
「Umu, I cannot remember the reason to do such a thing. And then, the ones that can make biscuits are only the people of the Races after all!」
「That’s why……I thought I would try to awaken you to become the Demon King-sama……To try and open your eyes……」
「How annoyingly persistent! Do you want me to burn you!?」
「Yes, if that will awaken Demon King-sama, I can handle being the first one you burn, in fact, it would be the highest blessing.」
Krum made a reluctant looking face, and took some distance from Alicia.
However, Alicia didn’t release her hand while still expressing a gentle looking smile.
「Enough! Maou is going back!」
「For that to happen, you will surely have to kill me, and anyone that blocks your way. At that time, Demon King-sama should awaken.」
Rem took out a Summoned Beast crystal.
It seems that Alicia’s knowledge was obtained from the Demonic Being Priest via Edelgart. They weren’t baseless, reckless remarks.
──So in short, the moment that Krum kills someone of the Races, she will awaken as the original Demon King?
She absolutely needed to prevent such a thing!
「Alicia, why are you trying to do something like awakening the Demon King!?」

「It is because destroying the unsightly Races, and making this a beautiful world of Demonic Beings is my desire.」

Her appearance wasn’t any different from usual.
However, as if she were confronting a monster that took the shape of Alicia, it was nothing but ominous.
This was no longer the time to be talking.
「……I will have you return Krum.」
Alicia is a State Knight. She should possess befitting ability.
──Can I win against her?
Rem tightly grasped a Summoned Beast crystal.
It was an enemy that was difficult even in just one-on-one, but even more companions on the opponent’s side were appearing.

The ones that turned up at the back alley were some familiar knights.
And then, while making footsteps that were kicking the ground, a single man leisurely came walking up. He had thick armor, and carried several swords.
「Cristela-dono, so you were here. I was doing a bit of searching for you, you know?」
The young man that expressed a refreshing smile to the point that it was suspicious looking was the Holy Knight Sadraa.
In those eyes dwelled a flame that was several times darker than when she had seen them before.
The time she saw them before, there was an irritating composure as if he was scorning them, but now they were like that of a hungry beast.
Alicia cast an icy glance this way.
「I am terribly sorry. Seeing as how you were under house arrest, I was opposing this Adventurer……No, this Demon King Worshipper.」
Rem’s eyes went round.
「Wha!? The Demon King Worshipper is you, isn’t it, Alicia!?」
「As if that would be the case. At the end of my infiltration investigation, I ascertained that you all were Demon King Worshippers, and am now safeguarding this little girl that you took from somewhere.」
「……So it is that kind of plot. You are selling me out to the Holy Knight, aren’t you?」
「No, I am only saving this child.」
「……Kuh.」
Rem started thinking.
It seems that Alicia’s objective is to destroy the Races, and make it a world of Demonic Beings. For the sake of that, she is trying to awaken Krum as the Demon King.
At the moment that Krum kills a person of the Races, she will awaken as the Demon King──is what the Demonic Being Priest told her.
However, while that may be true, what was the reason for her to hand Rem over to the Holy Knight?
To begin with, what was the reason for involving the Holy Knight?
She didn’t understand.
Rem had piled up experience as an Adventurer, and wasn’t ignorant about strategy. Even so, she still couldn’t read Alicia’s true motives.
「……The one thing that I do know, is that I won’t hand Krum over to you guys! That is the only thing!」
Rem threw a crystal.
It called out a Summoned Beast.
「……Come forth! 《Aslau》ッ!!」
It was a bull that possessed three horns. It’s gigantic size far surpassed the size of natural cattle. Excelling in its charging power, its striking power in a single attack was the strongest among the Summoned Beasts that Rem possessed.
In regards to Sadraa, she had taken a blunder at the 《Triangular Ears》, but she couldn’t allow herself to lose here.
She needed to take Krum back!
Winning against a Holy Knight and a State Knight, and furthermore, four Subordinate Knights, it would be considerably difficult.
However, if she were to make showy sounds and fight, people should come.
The possibility that Diablo would notice would also rise.
That is what she calculated.
《Aslau》 charged at the Holy Knight.
Sadraa gave out an order.
「Become a shield.」
With that one sentence, the Subordinate Knights simultaneously came out in front of 《Aslau》.
One of them was stabbed by a horn and sustained a considerably serious wound. However, being held back by the other three, the gigantic Summoned Beast’s charge lost its power.
Rem found it difficult to understand.
「No way!? Why would they abide to an order where they might die!?」
Sadraa smiled.
「It is because God wishes “for this to be” that I am able to live. The thing called dying is namely only an invitation to heaven from God……And then, those that abide by God’s honorable will while they are alive will be approved after death. Those that disobey that honorable will will receive retribution and fall to evil. Above all, protecting me is equivalent to protecting God. Infidels that would refuse my order out of fear cannot enter the Subordinate Knights.」
Sadraa calmly drew a sword.
And then, he thrust it into the nape of 《Aslau》’s neck.
Keeping that sword as is, he drew a second sword and a third sword from his waist, and violently thrusted at it.
「Fuha! Fuhaha! This is quite a sturdy Summoned Beast!」
《Aslau》 struggled, but the Subordinate Knights desperately held it down.
The Summoned Beast that had accumulated damage was finally annihilated and returned to becoming a darkened crystal.
No matter how much of a condition where it couldn’t oppose them it was in, that was way too fast.
Although she was surprised at how the Subordinate Knights became a shield, Sadraa’s true strength that could take down the gigantic Summoned Beast this fast wasn’t common.
Did his true strength as a Warrior type draw near the Feudal Lord Galford’s strength?
When it became this high of a level, Rem was no longer able to make a conjecture.
He had a strength that was completely different from the Adventurers that would normally go around patrolling the town or harvesting medicinal plants.
──Moreover, a Holy Knight can use magic.
「Kuh……Come forth! 《Stoneman》!」
She brought out another Summoned Beast.
By all rights, she should have started running away.
Even if she were to have Sadraa alone as an opponent, Rem’s chances of winning with the Summoned Beasts that she possessed were low.
In addition to him, there were four Subordinate Knights──No, there were only three that could fight now. And then, there was also Alicia.
Since Krum looked like she didn’t understand the situation, she was simply making a displeased looking face and gazing this way. To her, was this an unenjoyable side show? She just might have a feeling of that level.
《Stoneman》 swung its gigantic stone fist.
It blew away a Subordinate Knight.
Alicia narrowed her eyes.
「Perhaps, do you require some assistance, Sadraa-sama?」
「No no, that is unnecessary.」
「However, people will gather if you take too much time here. If feel that will be an inconvenience in one way or another, you know?」
「Fufu……How unexpected. Cristela-dono, I thought you felt it was better if I didn’t work.」
「The idea on not leaving Demon King Worshippers is something I approve of.」
「Is that so. I am terribly sorry for being suspicious of you the other day. State Knight Alicia Cristela-dono, it would seem that you truly understand God’s honorable will and are a wonderful personage. God is watching over your deed.」
「Thank you very much.」
「Well, even so, your worry is unnecessary. It is about time to end this……She is a companion of the man that bestowed humiliation upon me. I will show no mercy.」
Sadraa gave an order to the Subordinate Knights.
「Hurry up and capture her! Do it carefully, and without injuring her. That way, the pain that she will taste after this will become vivacious.」
「Yes sir!」
Their answer was good, but with the Subordinate Knights’ ability, they seemed to have difficulty bestowing lethal damage to 《Stoneman》’s tenacious body.
During that time, Rem called out another Summoned Beast.
Consecutively calling out powerful Summoned Beasts, and moreover, using them simultaneously, it consumed a considerable amount of magical power.
However, this is where she needed to fight back!
Krum asked a question.
「What? Could it be, do you want to kill those fellows? In that case, you should rely on Maou. These armored guys are of no relation to biscuits after all. In an instant, they will turn to ashes──」
「Stop it!」
Rem shouted.
Krum jumped with a start and drew her body back.
Rem’s own feelings, which were complexly entangled, were finally settled, and she noticed.
About how she herself felt, and turned those into words.
「……Krum……Please don’t kill anyone……Please eat biscuits, smile with everyone, and sing with Shera……That, is my desire.」
「Are you serious? With just you, you cannot with against these guys, you know?」
「……I, do not want you to kill anyone of the Races. Please, that is the only thing I want you to never forget.」
「I do not really get it, but I got it -noda. I will make that promise -noda.」
Krum breathed a sigh.
Rem smiled.
「……To tell the truth……I, was afraid of you, and I think I probably hated you. But, these past few days, it was as if you were family……And I didn’t hate that. Right now, I believe that I don’t want to lose you. Even at the cost of this life of mine!」
She threw a new crystal.
Summoning 《Shadow Snake》──It hurled itself towards the Holy Knight.
It was a snake that was black like a shadow. It looked to bind him with entwining movements.
And then, Rem equipped claws onto her fist, and made her assault as if chasing after 《Shadow Snake》.
「Haaaaa──ッ!!」
The ends of Sadraa’s lips curved.
「Fufu, as expected of an Adventurer of Faltra City with is the foremost line. You truly are brimming with fighting spirit. Having courage, having such ability, it is extremely magnificent.」
The opponent drew the sword that was on his waist, and swung it.
He cut the 《Shadow Snake》.
Rem struck at him with the iron claw that was attached to her right fist.
However, right before then, she was glared at by Sadraa.
──Shoot, 《Chantless》!?
「Fuguh!!」
「You should prostrate yourself before God, corrupted one that worships the Demon King!」
The freedom of her body was stolen.
She collapsed.
「Aguh……!!」
Rem’s hands were on the ground. She couldn’t put any strength in her body.
As if she were lowering her head towards Sadraa, she became unable to fight.
So it was 《Stun》 again.
He whispered close to her ear.
「You are extremely wonderful. After all, if you didn’t have hope, you wouldn’t despair either. How you embraced that foolish hope that you might win against me, it was truly wonderful. And now, you should fall into deep despair.」
Sadraa’s hand touched Rem’s head.
Magic that could be used only when in contact was powerful. Among them, there existed magic that could snatch away one’s consciousness.
A shock as if she were struck at the back of the head ran through her, and Rem felt her field of vision become darker.
In the middle of her fading conscious, she extended her hand out.
Krum opened her eyes wide.
Alicia whispered close to Rem’s ear.

「What is required……is hatred.」

When Rem’s consciousness ceased, the Summoned Beast 《Stoneman》 had its magical power supply cut off and returned to being a crystal.

Her consciousness returned──
She felt that she herself was swaying.
Rem opened her eyes.
It was dim.
There was someone that was peeking over at her.
That small shadow of a person was covered with a robe.
「You, are you alright?」
「Krum!」
Reflexively extending her hand out, and made sure that she was safe.
She looked up and down her.
It seemed that she didn’t have any injuries on her.
「……So you were safe. Ahh……Thank goodness.」
「There is no way anything would happen to Maou, you know? It was strange how you suddenly went to sleep -noda.」
「……It would seem that I was done in by Sadraa’s magic.」
「Ahh, so that weird light from before was magic. To lose against one of that small level of magical power, how deplorable -noda.」
「……That’s true.」
As an Adventurer of this town, Rem was a fairly well-known existence, but recently, she’s had a succession of defeats.
Diablo, Demonic Beings, a Holy Knight……
She spilled out a sigh.
After that, she changed her focus to the surrounding area. It was dim, but she was somehow able to see.
It was the inside of a cage. What surrounded them was an iron bars cage. Both above and below them were covered.
It was low enough that she was unable to stand up.
Even Krum would probably have her head obstructed.
And then, there was a thick cloth hung on the cage. Because of that, the inside was dim.
Her hands and legs weren’t restrained.
There was no need to do so, that is what it meant. Her weapons were taken away.
This swaying was……?
It was probably the load-carrying tray of a carriage, is what she guessed.
「……About how long was I fainted for?」
「About long enough to eat one bag of biscuits.」
*Pori pori* She was eating biscuits. So even in a place like this.
In the same way that they had taken her from Edelgart, it seems that Alicia conciliated Krum.
If it was during the time that Krum was eating biscuits, it wasn’t even 10 minutes.
Even if she were to estimate with the least amount of time to load the cage onto the carriage, they still shouldn’t have left the town.
A slight amount of light from the sun was shining through the cloth that was placed on the cage. At this time, with the sunlight coming from the left side, the carriage was probably headed north.
The Central District?
No, did they continue further into the North District?
In this Human town, compared to the South District where there were a lot of Demi-humans, it was a wealthy place.
Since she didn’t come here all that much, she couldn’t recall what kind of buildings there were.
If she were to let out a loud voice, would the people of the town notice?
For example, what if she were to shout out “kidnapper”?
──With a Holy Knight and a State Knight as the other party, that would probably be pointless.
In terms of social trust, they were overwhelmingly above her.
Rem calmed down and started thinking.
──When I try and think about it, it’s strange, isn’t it?
When she carefully investigated the conversation from before, Alicia seemed like she wasn’t telling the truth.
If Krum were to kill a person of the Races, she would awaken as the Demon King?
In that case, after they made Rem faint, it would have been fine if they attacked Krum. Krum may look like this, but she most likely possesses power as a Demon King.
How she can bestow magical power to Demonic Beings, how she calmly watches the frequent fights, how she appraised Sadraa to be “one of that small level of magical power”. She seemed considerably strong.
If Alicia were to seriously attack Krum, just as she wished, wouldn’t she become the “the first person of the Races that Krebskrum killed”?
Did she start to value her life?
In that case, she could have made use of the Subordinate Knights.
She didn’t have enough information so she couldn’t assert this, but weren’t Alicia’s words that “if Krum kills a person of the Races, she would awaken” a lie? That was the conjecture that she concluded to.
Then, wanting to awaken the Demon King──Were those words as a Demon King Worshipper also a lie?
That is probably nothing but a convenient hope.
In truth, Rem and Krum were handed over to Holy Knight Sadraa due to Alicia.
「……Kuh……If only, I were stronger.」
*Su* Krum held out a biscuit.
「You should eat -noda.」
「Eh? Um, thank you very much.」
Since it was already time for dinner, she certainly was hungry. Rem stared at the biscuit that was in her hand.
「……It seems that you have suffered because of Maou, right? Rem.」
「Eh?」
Rem was surprised by her words, and the fact that Krum called her by name.
Krum dropped her shoulders.
「Alicia said it -noda. Because of Maou, Rem went through many hardships. Not just Rem, Rem’s mother, and then her mother……For so, so long……But, earlier, you fought to protect Maou -noda, is what I heard.」
「……That’s true. I lost though.」
「You fought for Maou’s sake. Even though it would not be strange for you to detest Maou.」
「……I won’t deny that there were hardships though.」
「Even now, because of Maou, you are locked up in a place like this, right? Maou does not really understand much about the Races but……the loyalty that Rem showed for Maou, it is greatly valued.」
「……It isn’t loyalty.」
「Un?」
Rem hugged her knees and looked downward.
Even while she was hesitant, she spoke out her feelings.
「……God sealed the soul of 《Demon King Krebskrum》 in an ancestor of mine from many generations ago. Thanks to that, generations of women in my family, all of them lived while avoiding the public gaze. In order to not release the Demon King, they would treat their bodies with great care, and would definitely leave behind a baby girl……All of them sacrificed their own lives. Many of them accepted this, and without settling down, they would take their distance from the surroundings, and live frightened lives of isolation and dread. Why……only me? Why was I the vessel that sealed the soul of 《Demon King Krebskrum》?」
Krum tilted her head.
「In other words, because of Maou, you did not have freedom -nodana?」
「That is how it turns out to be.」
「I see. Not having freedom is no good. It is something irritating.」
Surprisingly, there was something that got through to her.
「……Now that I think about it, at the same time that we were suffering, you spent that time being sealed.」
「Though, half of it was something like sleep. However, resenting the fact of having freedom stolen, is something Maou understands.」
「……Do you also, resent us?」
「The one that Maou resents is God.」
「Is that, so.」
Rem felt astonishment from how the legend that she heard as if it were a bedtime story was actually the truth.
Moreover, to think that it was the Demon King herself that told her.……
Krum talked looking lonely.
「Nn……You resenting Maou is only natural. Maou being resented is only natural -nanoda……」
Rem breathed a sigh.
She wanted Krum to not make such a sad face.
If Krum were an atrocious king that brought harm to the Races, she wouldn’t have any need to worry.
Surely Diablo would have defeated her. She should have been able to strike her with her hatred that continued for generations.
But on the contrary, the revived Krebskrum was a child that was much too innocent.
Rem cast her eyes downward.
「……I’ve always, thought of it like that. However, you were also only born as the Demon King.」
「U, mu? Certainly, Maou was born as Maou.」
「……It’s not like you yourself chose to derail our lives……I’ve realized that we’re the same. You aren’t any different from me. Just an ordinary person……carrying an abnormal fate on your back.」
「Maou is not of the Races, but Maou understands was Rem wants to say.」
「……That’s why, I want to protect you. Most likely──Alicia didn’t say the truth. Krum, the time that you awaken is when you kill a person of the Races? Or maybe something else will become the key? In any case, what she is scheming is the Demon King’s awakening.」
「So it would seem. Good grief, even though Maou told her that Maou is flawless, complete, and perfect.」
*Pori pori* She said that while biting on a biscuit.
That appearance was neither flawless, complete, nor perfect, but Rem didn’t say that.
Instead, as if she were persuading herself, she muttered.
「……Let’s return, to where everyone else is. We will definitely return.」
「If it is fine for Maou to use her power, Maou could break this iron cage, and those armored guys would be cinders with a single attack -nanoda!」
Rem embraced Krum.
For the first time, she touched Krum on her own accord.
She was warm.
「……You can’t do something like that. Do you understand? You promised, didn’t you?」
After getting puzzled for a bit, Krum nodded.
「Umu, Maou promised -noda.」

 

Before long, the carriage’s movements stopped.
It seemed that they had reached their destination.
Making noisy sounds, the cloth that was hung over the cage was taken off.
Very soon, the setting sun would be hidden by the rampant walls of Faltra City.
The cage was opened.
Sadraa beckoned them over.
「Please come here. We have arrived at the place where I shall give you girls salvation.」
「…………」
The Subordinate Knights extended their hands out, grabbed Rem’s arms, and dragged her out.
It was a cemetery.
The surroundings were a graveyard, and there were no signs of people.
Even though it hadn’t gotten dark yet, she couldn’t hear the hustle and bustle of the town. And also, the rampart walls were close.
So it was the northern extremity of Faltra City.
Come to think of it, there was a cemetery that the people of the upper echelons of society had used, is what she remembered. The cemetery that commoners used was outside of the rampart. It was enclosed with a fence, but it seemed that it would occasionally get water damage or animal damage.
Krum was the same as usual. With the biscuits that Alicia prepared, she completely did as she was told.
Earlier, Rem properly made her promise but……
She became anxious.
──She won’t kill people of the Races in exchange for biscuits, right?
The building right before her eyes rang its bell.
It was exactly six times. It was the bell that informed everyone that it was six o’clock in the afternoon.
It’s the church.
It was considerably old, but it was properly maintained. There were marks that the stone walls were repaired many times, and the stained glass was newly fitted in.
On the roof of the belfry, the holy symbol of the Church was put up. It had a shape where the center was a circle and had a line extending out on three sides. A large wooden door was opened, and Rem and Krum had their backs pushed, telling them to go inside.

Just like the exterior, the interior of the church was old but was well maintained.
However, there was a strange smell that reached their noses. Kind of sticky, kind of sweet, it was a mysterious stench. Kind of like iron that had rusted……
The origin of that smell, was the utensils that were placed at the inner part of the church.
A part of the chair was removed, and for some reason, various utensils were placed on it.
She had no idea what they were used for.
However, she remembered the rumors related to Sadraa.
It was said that he would torture people that appeared to be Demon King Worshippers, force them to confess, and then execute them.
Rem opened her eyes wide.

──These objects with so much rust on them, are they all torture utensils!?

Rem glared at Sadraa.
「……I am not a Demon King Worshipper. No matter how much pain you inflict on me, I absolutely will not make a false confession.」
「Ahh, thank goodness.」
「……What is it?」
「The people that know of the rumors about me, the moment they see these utensils, they would say “I was a Demon King Worshipper, but I’ve already reformed. Please point me to the faith towards God” and start weeping. Who would believe in such shallow words? You are, without a doubt, a Demon King Worshipper that would deceive us clergymen.」
「Kuh……You intend on torturing me no matter what.」
「No, no. It is something often misunderstood, but I am not doing anything like torture.」
「……Then what are these utensils? They don’t look like cookware, you know?」
「They are misunderstood to be for torture to normal people but……The act I am going to do is “bring salvation”. Something like worshipping the Demon King, that is a mistake as a person of the Races. This is an act meant for the sake of saving those people whose souls have been corrupted. I simply wish to save all people of the Races.」
It was a voice filled with conviction.
She didn’t understand the meaning of it.
On the various things like the utensils with tightly packed metal thorns, the iron table and saw, all of them had dark red dirt clinging onto them, and had traces of being used.
Moreover, that which he called bringing salvation, wasn’t that rumored to be about him executing the ones that he tortured.
「……So you call murdering people “bringing them salvation”?」
Sadraa shook his head.
「I am not killing people. It’s just, as a result of saving them, they obtain God’s forgiveness, and are simply invited to heaven.」
「What are you……!?」
「Always, I cannot help but shed tears for that appearance. That moment, when a corrupted soul, is cleansed by my bringing of salvation, and is forgiven by God.」
「……That’s……the result of torture, didn’t they simply just die!?」
「No, because I have forgiven them, it must mean that God has forgiven them. In that case, it means that death is a happy result of being invited to heaven.」
Because he himself had forgiven them, that means that God has forgiven them?
That was ridiculous reasoning.
「……Do you think that you’ve become God or something!?」
Claiming to be God should be something heavily prohibited in the Church.
However, Sadraa didn’t change his facial expression.
He was expressing a virtuous looking smile.
「That’s right. Since this is something that I don’t really want spreading about, I keep this as secret as possible but──actually, it would seem that I am God.」
「Ha?」
「Like I said, I am God himself that has made his advent into this world. Do you not understand?」
「……I’m so disgusted, I can’t say a thing.」
「Born in a blessed house, possessing a blessed body, boasting a blessed intellect──I, who has received all of heaven’s favor, can only be God that has made his advent in order to save this world.」
He probably completely believed that. His words were filled with self-confidence.
Rem was dumbfounded.
「……No matter what I say with my words, it would seem that it is pointless.」
Sadraa pointed at Rem’s ears.
「That isn’t true at all. There is no way your conversation with me would be meaningless. By exchanging words with me like this, I can understand the depth of your sins.」
「……How stupid. I am not a Demon King Worshipper.」
「You……It’s those ears that are bad.」
「Wha!?」
Rem drew back, and covered the triangular ears that were on top of her own head with her hands.
The muscles along her spine shivered.
「That tail also isn’t good.」
「……These, are the characteristics of a Pantherian. There are few whose color is black, but it isn’t strange.」
「No, no, I know. You cannot deceive the eyes and ears of God. Now then, let us cut them off without delay.」
「Wha!? Didn’t you say that you wouldn’t do any torturing!?」
「Correct, it isn’t torture. I am cutting of the parts that are the origin of your corrupted soul. The parts that haven’t gone bad are the important parts. It is the flesh that was bestowed upon you by God after all. That is why, as finely as possible, they will be removed from the start.」
「……N, no way.」
Guessing the other party’s intentions, Rem’s knees started to tremble in terror.
This guy, he insisted that they were the corruption’s origin, and had intended to mangle her from the start.
From top to bottom, she was gazed at by Sadraa, as if he were licking her.
「Fumu, those hands that threw a Summoned Beast at me, they are also no good.」
「……You will fall into hell.」
「That mouth is also bad. How about we take out her teeth.」
When Sadraa made a signal, the three subordinate knights approached her.
「Oh, that’s right. Because of your Summoned Beast, one of my faithful Subordinate Knights was seriously injured, given the miracle of healing, and put to bed. Good grief, you’ve done something quite outrageous, haven’t you?」
「Despite you making him a shield……」
Both of her arms were grabbed by the Subordinate Knights.
Having neither her Summoned Beasts nor her weapons, she had no means to oppose Sadraa.
She was vexed.
Rem turned her gaze towards Alicia’s direction.
「……I don’t understand. Why did you think to cooperate with something like this? To go as far as betraying us.」
Alicia shrugged her shoulders.
「For me, it is because I have my own objectives after all. If you do not want pain, how about seeking help?」
With a *pon*, she placed a hand on Krum’s shoulder, who was right beside her.
Maybe because Rem’s terror was transmitted, Krum was making a stern facial expression. Surprisingly, the hand that she ate biscuits with had also stopped.
「Perhaps, do you not require some assistance?」
「……Th, that is……unneeded! Please protect your promise.」
「U, umu.」
Krum had been given detailed instructions so that she wouldn’t interfere.
However, what should she do in this situation?
Alicia made a wry smile.
「Rem-sama, do you not understand what exactly is going to happen to your body from this point on?」
「……I do understand. What I don’t understand, is what your objective is. Is it to revive the Demon King and bring the Races to their downfall? If that is the case, is there a need for any of this?」
Sadraa looked over at Alicia’s direction.
She didn’t exterminate her smile.
「Oh my, me, revive the Demon King? As I thought, Demon King Worshippers say some strange things.」
「……Alicia……The understanding that you showed me, and how you went to together with us to save Shera, was it all a lie?」
「Truly……She does say some strange things.」
Alicia turned her back.
「Sadraa-sama, I am bad with seeing things that look painful. Would it be alright if I left the rest to you?」
「Yes, please leave the rest to me. Also, the purity of Cristela-dono’s body, I guarantee it.」
「Thank you very much. Well then, I will return after I have eaten.」
「I understand. By that time, I am sure that this Demon King Worshipper will have been forgiven by God.」
It was as if the rest of her life had been sentenced.
Alicia placed her hand on Krum’s shoulder.
「Oh, that’s right……This child, she is just a victim that was captured by the Demon King Worshippers. Please don’t injure her, okay? If she runs out of biscuits, please give her some more.」
「Yes, of course. She is a pitiable child that we saved after all.」
Rem was made to sit in a wooden chair with armrests by two Subordinate Knights.
Both of her hands were held down by the men.
Krum, from the corner of the room, gazed this way.
──Is she really not going to seek help? Her facial expression is asking that.
If she were to seek assistance from Krum in her own cuteness, what if that made her awaken as the Demon King?
She absolutely didn’t want that.
In order to not revive Demon King Krebskrum, her own mother and grandmother went through many hardships. Moreover, if the current Krum were to disappear, Shera would surely become sad. She did say that Krum was like a little sister after all.
Sadraa took out a gigantic pair of scissors.
「Fufu, if it’s screams, it is fine for you to make as many of them as you like. This place is a church on the inner part of a cemetery. A cemetery after the sun has gone down, I’m sure that there is no one that would visit it.」
「……How crafty……Do you not have pangs of conscience!?」
「I do, you know? If I do not bring salvation to Demon King Worshippers, my chest hurts. And with that, let’s bring you salvation right away. By lopping off those ghastly ears……」
The edged tool approached her Pantherian ears.
「Uuu……」
「With this, you will be brought only a small bit closer to normalcy. To a proper Human.」
「……To say that being Human is normal, that’s just Demi-human discrimination!」
「Calling the impure impure, what is wrong with that?」
When Rem twisted her body to escape, her choker was grabbed by a Subordinate Knight and brought back.
「Don’t move!」
The Subordinate Knight shouted.
Sadraa closed the scissors.

*Batsun!* (Snip!)

Rem momentarily swung her body. The base of her ear became hot. She was cut!?
However, the pain was only small.
For as much as she ran away, not all of it was cut off.
Sadraa raised his voice.
「Don’t you understand that, you were to not to move!?」
While he was shouting, he pulled out a sword from his waist.
As she was was being held down, he thrust it into Rem’s right arm from above.
*Zun* (Pierce) The blade when through her.
She was stabbed.
Sadraa’s sword went through Rem’s right arm, and reached as far as the chair’s armrest.
「──────────ッ!?」
She couldn’t even voice out a scream from the pain that made the inside of her head a sloppy mess.
*Doku, doku* (Drip, drip) Blood was dripping onto the chair.

Krum rushed over to her.
「Rem──!? Rem! Rem! Does it hurt!? It hurts, doesn’t it! Why, why are you getting beat up by them -noda! I will kill them! I will kill these guys! You do not mind, right!?」
「Uuu……You can’t……」
「You! At this rate, you will die, you know -nodazo!?」
Death was dreadful.
However, she couldn’t let Krum become the Demon King……
Sadraa pulled out another sword from his waist, and pushed it out towards Krum.
「Don’t get in my way!」
The very tip of the swung sword cut and tore the robe that was covering Krum. *Basari* (Drop) It fell to the floor.
Her horns became exposed.
And then, her lizard-like tail as well.
Sadraa and the others have learned that Krum is abnormal!
Rem even forgot about the pain of her right arm.
「ッ! Run away!」
However, Krum showed no signs of running away.
Sadraa, as well as the Subordinate Knights, for a moment, stared at Krum and solidified.
After that, he raised his voice as if he were boiling.
「This girl! She’s a Demonic Being!」
Krem’s eyes were full with the color of anger.
「Damned fools! Maou is Maou -nanoda! I will turn you all into ashes, you know!?」
「Those horns……They remind me of the Demon. That’s right……There’s no doubt that he’s also a Demonic Being. I’ll get the Feudal Lord to bring out the army and subjugate him tonight!」
That Demon──So it was about Diablo.
Making eyes with no determined focus, Sadraa held his sword and went forward.
He approached Krum.
「Such a hateful existence……Giving me such disgrace……Those horns are corrupted!」
「What was that?」
「Cristela-dono as well, if she saw those horns and tail as well, it would be recognised as me being in the right……You damned Demonic Being. To be pretending to be a person’s child, how repulsive!」
Sadraa raise his sword overhead.
Krum glared at him.
「So you intend on harming Maou? Very well! With how you had injured Rem, you should compensate with your death -noda!」
「A Demonic Being brat shouldn’t talk so high and mighty to me. My ears will be violated! Those horns, I’ll crush them to pieces!」
He slashed at her with his sword.
At that time, Rem kicked a chair.
Shaking off the hands of the Subordinate Knights who had turned their eyes towards Sadraa’s and Krum’s exchange and had slackened their grip, she brought her body forward.
A sharp pain ran through her right arm.
Having pierced through to the armrest, it were as if she were struck with a stake. It was a sharp pain that reached her bones.
However, Rem’s thoughts weren’t on her own pain.
In a daze, she kicked a chair.
Even though he flesh of her arm tore, and the bone was disconnected, none of that mattered.
「Krum!!」
Rem threw her body out.
Right now, Sadraa’s sword was just about to swing down upon Krum’s head.
That was where Rem broke in between them.
She protected Krum from the incoming sword by becoming her shield.
She held Krum close to her chest.
Heat ran through her right shoulder.
It felt as if burning iron was being pressed up against it.
She was cut.
A cold blade was entering her body.
A large amount of blood was spilling out.
It was soaking Krum.
「……Hyu」
Nothing but air that didn’t become words came out from Rem’s mouth.
Krum raised a yell that was like a scream.
「Rem────!?」
She collapsed.
On the floor, collapsed, in the area around Rem, blood spread out like a puddle.
Squatting down beside her, Krum shouted her name over and over.
「Rem! Rem! Rem!」
「……Run……away.」
「Rem too! I’ll bring Rem too! I will kill these guys, and you will live!」
「……Your, promise.」
「Th-that is……I did promise but!」
「You’ve gotten in my way, didn’t you!? By the likes of a Demi-human!」
Sadraa’s sword, to make the finishing blow, went from Rem’s back, and went through her right to the floor.
「────ッ!!」
A large amount of blood flew about.
It was Rem’s blood.
That bright red blood.
Krum opened her eyes wide and trembled.
A person of the Races would die. If they were to shed this much blood, they would die. That was what Krum knew.
If she sheds this much blood, Rem would die.
Blood. Blood. Blood.
Her life, would vanish.

Krebskrum shouted.

Rem, still collapsed, heard a voice that seemed like it shook the entire church.
Something was happening.
There was no mistake that her own life was coming to an end.
However, what was more important than that was, that she felt that something was happening.
She remembered the words that Alicia muttered in the back alleyway.
“What is needed……is hatred.”
That’s what she said.
──What was it necessary for? Was that, for Krebskrum’s awakening?
Until things turned into this situation, Rem didn’t know. She didn’t know the method of making the emotion called hatred.
And then, after all this time, she knew.

Hatred is born when someone important is snatched away.

 

Holy Knight Sadraa looked up close to the ceiling.
It should have been a small child.
Growing weird horns and a lizard-like tail……She was most likely a Demi-human crossbreed.
He arbitrarily decided that she was a Demonic Being.
And then, he should have executed her as usual.
She should have been a powerless child that could only be executed, but she changed her appearance into something bigger than himself.
Was she really a Demonic Being?
The blood covered Pantherian that stayed collapsed groaned.
「……Krebskrum.」
That was the name of the Demon King.
Sadraa once again glared at the gigantic monster.
That child, what did she say? That she was “Maou”?
「It couldn’t be……For her to be the Demon King……No way……Impossible……」
Krebskrum swung her hand out horizontally.
A shock wave spread out.
The Subordinate Knights raised small shrieks and covered their heads.
The church’s walls and roof were blown away. The fragments burned, and turned to ashes before they could fall to the ground.
They couldn’t even tell if what she did was magic.
The classical church was annihilated to the point that its belfry, its holy symbol, its stone walls, its roof, its stained glass, not even fragments of any of that had remained.
Only the floor and walls with barely the height of a person remained.
And then, gigantic wings of light that almost reached the sky stretched out from Krebskrum’s back.
The dazzling light wings stabbed the heavens.
From there, as if it were being drawn on the sky, a magic formation was developed.
What was being magnified were lines and symbols that they had never seen before. As it collided with the barrier that covered Faltra City, sparks scattered.
An ear piercing sound resounded.
──Is it really Demon King Krebskrum?
Sadraa pierced three swords into the floor, and made an order to the Subordinate Knights.
「I am going to use a maximum magic! Become my shield!」
「Y, yes, sir!」
The three Subordinate Knights stood in front of Sadraa.
「Fufu……Even if she is the real Demon King……She will surely disappear without leaving even dust behind by my maximum magic.」
Sadraa was full of confidence.
Even if he was in front of the Demon King, he didn’t lose his calm and composure.
His unshakable faith, was also became his unshakable confidence, and absolute belief in his victory.
Sadraa considered himself to be God.
That he was God himself.
Because of that, he believed that his confronting the Demon King was nothing but a verse that would make up his own legend.
Krebskrum glared at Sadraa’s group.
In her violet eyes, flames of hatred swayed.
「oOOOOOOOO──ッ!!」
It was a scream that made the air shake.
Despite that, Sadraa expressed a composed smile.
「Fufu……So you’ve noticed my magical power, you damned Demon King……However, it’s already too late.」
His magical power took form and his magic was complete.
His ultimate magic.

「You should just get scattered away, 《Flare Burst》ッ!!」

An explosion enwrapped Krebskrum’s body.
And then──
There was no effect.
There was no sign of visible damage being bestowed on the Demon King.
Sadraa solidified with his hand still thrust out towards the Demon King.
「Eh?」
Krebskrum raised a fist overhead.
She struck at them.
──It’s still, alright.
Sadraa still had his beliefs.
That he himself was God, and that even if he were to encounter a crisis where it seemed like he would die, he would survive without fail. As for why, it was because he was God.
The upper halves of the Subordinate Knights that had become his shield had evaporated.
His face was scorched by a hot wind.
Nevertheless, Sadraa believed his victory.
──Just watch, it will come soon. The power of God will defeat the Demon King.
──I will absolutely not die. Why, it’s because I’m God.
──Look, it’s will come soon. The Demon King’s fist is already drawing near. Now is the time that God’s power will awaken!
──Ahh, quickly, quickly, come on, come on, come one, come on! Power of God, do it now!

「……Huh? Am I not God?」

Krebskrum’s gigantic fist reached Sadraa’s head.
The bulky armor that had defensive magic cast on it resisted, and his tenacious body tried to fasten down his life.
It was pointless.
Sadraa’s body, which only had the level of strength of being able to stop anything in the range of the people of the Races, was easily smashed up by the Demon King’s blow.
The defensive magic failed, his body scattered blood, and even that flying blood evaporated.
He scattered away.
Sadraa, in the same way as the Subordinate Knights that became his shield and died, had only his lower half remaining.

Still fallen down on the floor, the young Pantherian girl looked up.
Her body slowly became cold.
Looking at her appearance, Demon King Krebskrum raised a scream of hatred.

However, she could no longer remember the reason for that hatred.
Only her intent to kill expanded.
She had awakened.

Demon King Krebskrum’s first cry, resounded in the cemetery.