Chapter 1: Sylvie, Once More
The next day, at dusk—
Rem stepped out of Shera’s room.
“...She’s doing better than yesterday. I managed to give her some food.”
“She can’t get up yet?”
She shook her head at Diablo’s question. “...The most I could do was get her to sit up on the bed. She’ll still need some time, I think. But I believe she’s calmed down a bit.”
“That’s good.”
It was time for them to eat too. Diablo had requested the staff to bring dinner to the common room this time.
Rem looked around. “...Is Horn still in her room?”
“Yes. She’s reading a book Lumachina sent her this morning.”
“...Seeing that book brings back memories... I also read it while studying the fundamentals.”
“Hmm.”
Diablo crossed his arms, a pensive expression on his face. He’d become somewhat capable of reading this country’s language by now, to the extent of being able to read labels on commodities. But reading books was still out of reach.
—I’ve thought of this before, but maybe I really should learn how to read and write in this world’s language? But a Demon Lord studying like a kid is all sorts of lame...
He had a room to himself now, but Rem and Shera usually ate and slept in the same room as him. With all that, he couldn’t really find time in the day to study on his own.
A knock came from the door, probably one of the Firebird Inn’s employees with their food. Rose, the Magimatic Maid, approached the door and opened it with a twist of the knob, only for her gaze to be met with a pair of bunny ears. It was a Grasswalker with reddish-pink hair and a friendly smile.
“Yahoo, Diablo! It’s been forever!”
She raised a hand to the air, waving it enthusiastically. Her outfit, if it could be called that, consisted of just a bit of cloth that covered her intimate parts, making her half-naked.
“Sylvie!?” Diablo’s eyes widened.
“Did you only figure out who I am because of my outfit?”
Diablo felt his insides chill with stress as she directed a jeering glare at him.
“H-Hmph... Spare me your nonsense.”
Diablo was terrible at remembering people’s faces, despite being especially good when it came to memorizing game stories and trivia.
“Master, this individual isn’t an enemy, correct?” Rose asked to confirm.
“Yes, she’s no enemy. Though she’s not someone to lower your guard around either.”
“Ahahaha... That’s mean, Diablo. We’re allies, aren’t we? You’re one of Faltra’s Adventurers, and I’m the Adventurer Guild’s Guildmaster, aren’t I?”
Sylvie was a reliable fighter to have on their side, but she did oppose Diablo once before, during the incident with Klem. Sylvie was a warrior fighting for the sake of the mortal races, but she was under no obligation to obey Diablo. This meant that, depending on the circumstances, she may end up opposing him.
—It doesn’t look like she’s got any ill-will toward us for now at least, so what did she come all the way here for?
Diablo didn’t know the reason for her visit, which made panic spring up within him. But he couldn’t let his Demon Lord act crumble even for a second.
“Hmph... Since you’ve come all the way here from Faltra, I assume you must have some important news? Let’s hear it.”
Sylvie walked into the room with an “Excuse me~” and hopped onto the sofa in a childish fashion.
Grasswalkers naturally had childlike appearances, but Sylvie was apparently a veteran who had experienced the ?Fallen War?, the war between the races and the Fallen, 30 years ago, so Diablo had no idea how old she really was.
It was then that there was another knock on the door, and this time it really was their dinner being delivered. Dishes of various sizes were set on the common room’s dining table, appetizing aromas wafting up from them.
“Whoa...” Sylvie’s eyes sparkled. “Is today some kinda celebration or something!?”
Rem shrugged. “...The meals at this inn are always like this.”
“That’s amazing!”
“...You’re welcome to join in if you want. Shera and Rose aren’t eating, so we have more than we need.”
Rose was a Magimatic Maid, so she didn’t eat in the traditional sense of the word, and Horn’s portion was already carried to her room.
“Now that you mention it, where is Shera?” Sylvie tilted her head curiously.
“...She’s feeling unwell.”
“Aww... Is it because she heard about her father?”
“...So you knew.”
“Collecting information’s part of being an Adventurer, after all~” Sylvie moved to the dining table’s chair as she spoke, picking up a fork and knife.
Having traveled with Lumachina, Rem and the others had gotten used to praying before meals. Diablo waited wordlessly for Rem to finish, and they continued their conversation as they dined.
†
“Omnmnmn...”
“Stop eating and state your business already, Sylvie!”
“Hmng, aah... Phew! Don’t rush me, Diablo. I had to hurry all the way to the capital you know.”
Sylvie licked her lips after downing a chicken skewer in one gulp.
“...How did you find out we were in this inn?” Rem asked.
“When you came to Faltra last time, you had the High Priest with you and said you were headed for the capital. So I went to the Grand Cathedral and asked her.”
“...You make it sound so simple. I’m shocked. We hid Lumachina’s face so no one would pick up on her identity. And besides, you can’t just walk into the Church and ask to see the High Priest without making arrangements ahead of time.”
“You shouldn’t doubt my powers of observation. And while arranging a meeting with the High Priest is usually difficult, they let me in easily once I mentioned your names.”
“...That’s reckless! If we failed and the Church was still under the Cardinal Authority’s control, who knows what would have happened to you!”
“Of course, and that’s why I did my homework and made sure the coast was clear before I went over. I’m going to have to keep my sources of information confidential though. You know how they say having a few secrets makes a girl more alluring?”
Sylvie gave a childish smile. Diablo motioned for her to continue her story, and Sylvie downed a glass of grape juice.
“Glug, glug... Phew! This bittersweetness hits the spot! Well, anyway... One of my reasons for coming here was to let you know about Shera’s dad, but you already know that.”
“...Just to stay on the side of caution, I’ll ask: Your information is that Shera’s father—that is, King Greenwood—has passed away, correct?”
“Yep. Her mother, the queen, is still alive and well, but she married into the family and isn’t of royal blood, meaning she has no claim to the throne. To be honest with you guys, if Shera doesn’t go back home, the royal bloodline will be cut off.”
Diablo scoffed. “That’s no business of mine.”
“Haha... I figured you’d say that. But doesn’t Shera wanna go back home at least once? Her dad died, so she should probably at least visit his grave and pray for him. You’re not against that, right, Diablo?”
He hadn’t met with Sylvie that frequently when he was in Faltra, but somehow she’d seen through his personality already.
“...If Shera goes back to her kingdom, would she have to become the queen?” Rem asked.
“Well, I don’t know. I’m not that familiar with Greenwood’s customs. I think this is the first time an Elven king died leaving only women and children behind. But if you’re worried, you could just escort her there and keep an eye out yourselves.”
“...That’s what we intend to do.”
“Hehe... You’ve changed, Rem.”
“Huh?”
“You used to say you didn’t need any companions, and never got deeply involved with any party I set you up with.”
“...That’s... Things have changed...since then.”
“Did Diablo influence you?”
“...I suppose that’s part of it, in some ways.”
“And the other part is the Demon Lord that was sealed inside you, right?”
“Wha!?” Rem rose to her feet, knocking down the chair as she did.
—How did she find out about that!?
Diablo was shocked as well, but maintained his cool façade.
“Sylvie... Did Celes tell you?”
“Celes would never tell a secret like that. You couldn’t get a Sorcerer to spill his beans no matter what. But fine, I’ll let you in on my trick... It was Klem. I gave her some world-famous, Rallybell-made almond biscuits and she told me all sorts of stuff for ’em.”
Sylvie knew Klem was a Demon Lord, so Klem probably thought it was okay to tell someone who knew what she was about other things too.
“Ngh...” Rem’s expression sharpened with hostility. “I knew you couldn’t be trusted!”
“That’s cold, Rem. You’d have been better off telling me, that way I’d have been able to help you out better. So why did you keep quiet? I see all of my Guild members as family, you know.”
“...Because I can’t trust anything you say...”
“Well I’ll be damned, Rem. You should really reconsider. The biggest reason I came all the way from Faltra actually has to do with you.”
“...With...me...?”
“I understand you’re wary of me because of what happened with Klem, but this time, you should believe me ?”
Sylvie winked at Rem.
“...I-It’s true...” Rem still seemed hesitant. “The Demon Lord Krebskulm was sealed inside my body. But that’s already a thing of the past.”
“Is it really now...”
“...How much do you know!?”
Rem looked poised to burst out of the room at any moment. Her triangular cat ears flattened against her head, and her tail swayed left and right nervously.
“Hey, hey, no need to stress out.” Sylvie raised her hands apologetically. “I’ll tell you everything I know, don’t you worry. But I can’t do anything if you won’t trust me.”
“...I’m listening.”
Rem took a deep breath and sat back down. Sylvie began speaking, as if relaying some olden tale...
†
In ancient times, God had defeated and sealed the Demon Lord. One of the pieces of the Demon Lord, the Demon Lord Krebskulm, was sealed within Rem’s ancestor. That piece was then passed on from mother to daughter... Thus, the cursed inheritance continued across the generations.
God also left behind a method to remove said seal, for when the time came and a hero capable of definitively defeating the Demon Lord appeared... However, that ritual was lost to the annals of time, leaving only partial methods of resurrecting the Demon Lord. One such method was that the girl who was the vessel of the Demon Lord’s soul was to die. The other was to provide the Demon Lord with a large amount of magical energy. Both methods would result in the seal’s destruction.
Just recently...
Diablo had resurrected said piece of the Demon Lord by pouring his magical energy into it. But the Demon Lord appeared in the form of a young girl, nicknamed Klem. The unsealing was incomplete, and Krebskulm’s power still laid dormant within Rem’s body...
“And that’s about all I know.” Sylvie’s rabbit ears twitched, as if to say, “How about that, huh?”
“...It’s...probably exactly as you say.” Rem nodded. “I’d even say you know more than I do.”
Diablo was once again taken aback.
—The Demon Lord Krebskulm is still inside Rem!?
“What is the meaning of this?”
“...I’m sorry, Diablo. I should have said something sooner... The Large Black Dragon we fought in your dungeon said so as well, but I didn’t know for sure.”
“Hmm.”
“...I know you may find it hard to believe when you had to find out like this. But really, I didn’t mean to keep it a secret.”
“We’ve been together so long now, so I understand even without you having to explain it. You put Lumachina’s and Shera’s needs before your own, right?”
“...That might be so, yes.”
After the dungeon, they had to stop the Fallen invasion at Zircon Tower and reform the Church after. As soon as that was dealt with, they had learned of the Elven king’s death. Rem never had the leisure nor opportune moment to ask for help.
He could check the flow of her magical energy to see if the Demon Lord’s soul was still inside her later, but...it most likely was.
“Did Klem tell you that too, Sylvie?”
“Yep.”
“So, Klem’s aware part of her is still inside Rem then.”
“Apparently, she noticed it when she almost awakened. But she prefers things the way they are right now, so she doesn’t really mind.”
“Ngh...” Rem’s expression turned more severe. “What if I died not knowing that? What was that girl thinking...?”
“Her head’s as childish as she looks, you know?”
“...I’ve made a huge mistake. I should have spoken to Klem more before leaving Faltra... I can’t believe she neglected to tell me something so important...”
“Hmm~ I guess the races and a Demon Lord just have different definitions of what’s ‘important.’”
“...I suppose that’s right...”
Klem operated on a different sort of common sense compared to the rest of them. Even though she knew she was the Demon Lord, she had given up on fighting against the races, all in the name of biscuits. In her eyes, anything that didn’t involve biscuits probably didn’t strike her as meaningful in any shape or form.
“Frankly,” Sylvie added, “I make it a point to not get involved with Klem too often. I thought interfering at the wrong moment might awaken her again...but the situation’s become too dire for that now.” Sylvie then shifted her gaze toward the east.
“A new Demon Lord awakened after all...” Diablo whispered.
He could still remember what the Fallen Varakness had said, and judging from how mobilized his army was, it was likely true.
“Yeah... We’ll be going to war with the Demon Lord sooner rather than later, and we’ll need more information and power on our side if we wanna win. If we don’t hurry...then this time, we’ll lose.”
Rem gasped at Sylvie’s words.
“Why are you so sure of that?” Diablo asked, stifling his own unrest.
“Well, we just got lucky last time. The Demon Lord wasn’t as aggressive, and the races had a few powerful heroes on their side too. That time was a golden era for the races. But now, we’re just not strong enough.”
Her carefree tone made her words ring all the more severely. If a veteran of the great war such as herself was saying as such, the warriors of this age were probably no match for those of that long ago time.
“You fought both the races and the Fallen, right, Diablo? And I heard you were at the battle for Zircon Tower too. What do you think?”
Diablo recalled his past battles. Faltra’s governor, Galford, and the Paladin Captain Batutta, who was presumably dead, were both strong. They were cunning and employed great strategy. The races’ true strength laid in that resourcefulness. But when he thought back to the defensive power at Zircon Tower, the Fallen’s army far exceeded the races in terms of individual strength. Varakness was especially menacing. If Diablo hadn’t rushed to the scene, the Fallen would have surely routed the races’ army.
“In all likelihood...the Demon Lord’s army is much stronger.”
“I figured as much.”
There were a few towns that had already been destroyed by the Fallen in Cross Reverie. But there was never an event that involved a town in the process of being destroyed. It was hard implementing a town that was ruined for players who cleared a specific section of the story but was still being kept up for newcomers to an MMORPG.
—But this isn’t a game. This is another world... This is reality.
Diablo was there to see Zircon Tower be abandoned by the races, and he was also present to see the Fallen, Gregore, run wild in the streets of Faltra, so he could understand the feeling of crisis Sylvie felt as the guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild.
“I want to bolster the races’ strength, but it’s just as important to prevent the enemy from getting stronger too. We have to prevent a situation where two Demon Lords awaken, at all costs. I want to prevent Krebskulm from fully awakening.”
Rem nodded. “...I understand your intentions now, Sylvie. I feel the same way. Do you have a specific plan regarding what we should do?”
“You betcha! If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have dragged myself all the way to the capital, now would I?”
Sylvie pulled a letter from her bosom.
—Wait, where did she pull that out of!?
Diablo rubbed his eyes. The envelope was larger than the surface Sylvie’s scant outfit covered. It bothered him for sure, but now wasn’t the time to point that out.
Rem took the envelope. “Is it from Celes?”
“Right on the money.”
Celestine Baudelaire was the head of Faltra’s Mage’s Association, serving not just as its top authority but also as the one who maintained Faltra’s defensive barrier. If she were to die or move too far away from the city, the barrier warding the Fallen and Magical Beasts off from Faltra would be undone. Celes saw Rem as a little sister, and knew the Demon Lord was sealed in Rem’s body.
“...This is...!?”
Reading the letter, Rem’s eyes widened.
“What’s wrong?”
“...A-Ah, pardon... Here you are...” Rem handed him the letter.
“Hmph... I would guess Celes’s letter is pointlessly long-winded.” Diablo shook his head haughtily. “Summarize it for me.”
—I, uhh, can’t read...
But that was ridiculously lame. He couldn’t say that out loud.
“Her greetings are a bit long winded, yes.” Rem nodded. “But, in short...it says she’s found a way to remove the remnants of Krebskulm from my body.”
“Oh?”
“...And the ritual to do so is passed down in the Dark Elves’ territory.”
“Dark Elves!?”
Elves were few in number compared to Humans, but Dark Elves were a minority even among them. They were said to be an Elf species that had its blood mixed with the Fallen’s, but it was unknown if that was actually true.
In Cross Reverie, Elves had fair white skin, golden hair, blue eyes, and slender frames. Dark Elves, on the other hand, had dark skin and black hair and eyes. In the game, you could customize your appearance to change your eye and hair color, but...
—Is it the same in this world?
Diablo hadn’t met a Dark Elf so far.
Now, in Cross Reverie, Dark Elves had another physical feature that set them apart from Elves:
They had large, plump breasts.
Not like Shera though, who was a rare example. They all had huge...no, not huge, mega boobs.
In the game, at least. Diablo didn’t know if it was the same in this world.
—Damn, I really wanna find out!
“Are you planning on visiting the Dark Elves’ territory, Rem?”
“Yes, that’s my intent... I should confirm if they really know about the ritual. The only problem is that I don’t know where they are located.”
“Aren’t they near the Kingdom of Greenwood?”
In the game, Dark Elves had lived in the same forest as Elves.
Sylvie nodded. “You’re well-informed, Diablo. That should be right, though I’ve never been there myself.”
“Hmph... I am a Demon Lord. ’Tis only natural I would know.”
—It’s a really good thing I wasn’t wrong...
Rem nodded. “...Yes, I think I’ll go to the Dark Elves’ territory. There’s no telling what things are like there now, but this is the only clue I have.”
“I think that’s a great idea!” Sylvie agreed. “But we should be careful. Dark Elves don’t welcome outsiders.”
“...They’re discriminated against like the Demons. It makes sense they would be cautious of other races.”
“It seems they were treated like the Fallen in the past, and the Kingdom of Lyferia attacked them.”
“I never knew something like that happened...”
“There’s a reason there are so few Dark Elves~”
“Rem, if you’re going to the Dark Elves’ territory, I’ll accompany you,” Diablo said, resting an elbow on the table.
“...I appreciate it, Diablo... But Shera needs to get home as soon as possible. That being the case, I’ll go to the Dark Elves’ territory on my own.”
“What?”
“...Sylvie’s words made me remember: I was always an Adventurer who worked alone. It’s always been the three of us since I summoned you...but if need be, I’m willing to work on my own once more.”
“But the Dark Elves are...”
—I gotta find out if their breasts are really that big... I mean, no, it’s dangerous to go alone!
He was incredibly worried about her. There were no impure motives at work here. Honest.
...Probably.
“I’ll be fine. If it’s just to ask about the ritual magic, the Dark Elves should at least hear me out, even if they’re opposed to strangers.” Rem was oddly obstinate. “Please forget about me in the meantime. You should stay by Shera’s side, Diablo. She’s the one who needs you now.”
“Hmph.”
True enough, there was no telling what was going on in the Kingdom of Greenwood. Because of that, they couldn’t just let Shera go back on her own. Adding on to that, leaving Rem’s problem for later and going to the Elven Kingdom first would be...honestly, quite inefficient.
For Rem, the remnants of the Demon Lord inside her were a matter of life and death, and a source of constant anxiety. Naturally, it wasn’t something she would be willing to put off for much longer. Working separately made sense.
“No, that’s a super bad idea!”
A door flung open, and Shera burst into the room, shouting. She was still in her nightgown, and her disordered, messy hair bounced around as she ran. She wasn’t as pallid as she was a few days ago, but her cheeks still seemed emaciated and thinner than they should be. It was only natural, seeing how she spent all that time sleeping and hardly ever ate.
“You can’t go to Blackwood alone, you just can’t, Rem!” Shera approached her nervously.
“...Calm down, Shera... Are you feeling better?”
“Oh, yeah. I think I’m fine... My tummy’s rumbling though, and I smelled something nice...”
“...I see. Just sit for now, and try not to eat too much. Let’s get you some soup for the time being.”
“Okaaay!”
Shera sat down for dinner with them for the first time in days.
“Hey hey, Shera!” Sylvie raised a hand in a friendly gesture. “It’s been forever.”
“Hey, it’s Sylvie! It really has! What’s up?”
“I have some business with Rem.”
“Ah, that’s right, Rem! Blackwood’s a dangerous place!”
The conversation was all over the place. Rose and Horn weren’t the type to initiate conversations on their own, and with three women chattering like this, things finally felt boisterous again.
“Blackwood... Is that the Dark Elves’ territory?” Rem responded, contracting Shera’s excited spiel.
“Yep, but it’s a pretty small territory... It’s right next to Greenwood.”
“...Like Diablo said. But you’re saying going alone would be dangerous?”
“Yeah! They say Dark Elves eat the other races! Elven parents always tell their children ‘If you’re bad, we’ll feed you to the Dark Elves.’”
“...Have they ever actually eaten an Elf?”
“I’ve never seen it happen...but when someone goes missing, everyone says a Dark Elf probably ate them.”
“...Spreading groundless rumors is mere gossip, and arbitrarily assuming things based on someone’s race is discrimination, Shera.”
“But some kids really did go missing!”
“...If someone disappears in the forest, wouldn’t you usually suspect monsters first?”
“Ohhh... Right, come to think of it, my oldest brother got eaten by a magical beast...”
“...Oh... I’m sorry...”
“Mmm? Oh, it’s okay. It all happened before I was born. I never met him, so it’s like ‘Oh, so that’s a thing that happened.’”
“...I understand Elves have a negative view of Dark Elves. It’s only natural Dark Elves would shun Elves and other races after being treated like that.”
“It’s super dangerous!”
“...That’s what it sounds like. And I get the feeling the Elves are at fault here... But whatever the case, I need to learn about that ritual magic.”
“Then let’s go there together!”
“Huh...?” Rem was shocked at Shera’s proposal. “But, your father...”
“I do want to go home as soon as I can... But we can’t let you go to Blackwood alone! I’ll be fine with it if Diablo goes with you.”
“What are you saying!? Are you forgetting how Prince Keera had kidnapped you? We had to fight 200 Elves just to rescue you! We can’t send you back to that country alone! You’re the one who should go with Diablo!”
Until now, they kept bickering about which one of them had summoned Diablo, but now they were fighting over who should take him.
—They never change...
“Can’t you split yourself with magic, Diablo?” Sylvie asked.
“That’s impossible. I could make an illusion of myself, but it would have to stay within 10 meters of me.”
“I was only joking, but that’s pretty amazing on its own! We’ve still got a problem here though.”
“There’s a chance the Kingdom of Greenwood would try to keep Shera there by force. But Blackwood is dangerous too. We can’t let Rem go there alone.”
“Ahaha... You’re pretty overprotective, Diablo.”
Diablo felt himself blush at that teasing remark and grabbed a thick sausage, shoving it into Sylvie’s mouth.
“Cease your nonsense! Rem and Shera are both my belongings! I won’t let anyone lay a hand on them, be they Elves or Dark Elves! That’s all this is!”
Sylvie’s eyes darted around as she struggled to down the sausage.
“Buufufufha... Nng... Phew! Don’t stick thick stuff in my mouth like that, Diablo! It’s mean! My mouth is child-sized, so if you go too far you might break it!”
“I wouldn’t guess with how much you eat. Where does it all go?”
“Ahaha... My tummy might swell if I’m not careful.”
While he was speaking to Sylvie, Rem and Shera both closed in on him.
“...Are you listening, Diablo!?”
“Diablo, you gotta listen to me!”
Diablo bent back reflexively, his well-built chair creaking in protest.
“Mm? What is it?”
“...Shera is saying we should go to Blackwood first. Please talk her out of it.”
“But me hurrying won’t really change anything.”
“...You got a fever from the shock.”
“I can’t let you go to Blackwood alone!”
It seemed Shera and Rem’s conversation had progressed while Sylvie’s childish little mouth struggled to down the long, thick sausage it had been stuffed with.
“Hmph...” Diablo folded his arms. “If Shera’s willing to put off her matters, we should probably do that. The places aren’t too far from each other either way. We can go to Blackwood first then head to the Kingdom of Greenwood from there.”
“But...”
“You truly have a tendency to put other people’s matters ahead of your own, don’t you, Rem?”
Rem’s ears visibly twitched at Diablo’s words. “Th-That’s not... I merely think that’s the natural thing to do!”
“Do you not prioritize yourself because you dread being called selfish for it?”
“...No, that’s not... It’s just, Shera’s problem has to do with her family, and my problem is a personal one.”
He’d heard a bit about Shera’s family during the incident with Prince Keera, but Rem had never spoken about her past. Diablo had no communication skills, and his mind blanked whenever he tried to push a conversation along on his own, but he’d become apt at observing others calmly.
—It’s hard, pitting your own problems against other people’s circumstances...
Rem was apparently an Adventurer who had focused on traveling alone before she summoned Diablo. As good as she was at negotiating, she still wasn’t skilled at making friends. You could explain things all you wanted, but a person with communication problems wouldn’t understand. It was all because the socially inept didn’t operate on logic, but on emotion—on anxiety.
“Won’t I disappoint others?” “Won’t they mock me?” “Won’t they get angry at me?” “I won’t break this relationship if I do this, right?”
There were no correct answers, so, think as one might, the anxiety would never go away, driving them to put their needs last. The more priority they gave to the other person, the more they minimized their own anxiety. As a result, they looked obstinate to everyone else.
—Which is why putting that logic into words won’t achieve anything.
Rem was afraid of disappointing Shera by putting her own needs first, so what Diablo had to do here couldn’t be in effort of persuading her.
Diablo rose from his chair. “You fools seem to have the wrong idea. I’ve never allowed you to advise me on what to do. I am a Demon Lord, your ruler and owner, and I am the one who decides! And I say we are heading to Blackwood first. All those who oppose me will be destroyed!”
“N-No, but that’s...!?”
Shera placed her hand over Rem’s, who was about to spring to her feet. “See! Diablo’s already decided, so we can’t argue, right?”
“...Are you really fine with this?”
“Uh-huh! The thing with Father was just too sudden, and I was shocked... But I’ve been prepared for this ever since I ran away from home. So it’s fine, really. For now, let’s focus on your problem.”
“...I’m sorry...”
“That’s not right!” Shera’s hand squeezed Rem’s encouragingly. “You mean ‘thanks,’ right?”
“...Ah... Yes, you’re right. Thank you, Shera.”
“Teehee~”
“And you too, Diablo.”
“Hmph... I didn’t do this for you. I simply have an interest in the Dark Elves’ territory myself. Do not waste your gratitude on me.”
“Heheh...” Rem’s eyes were moist with tears. “You’re always like this...”
Diablo turned his back to them.
—It really is too early for thank-yous though... We don’t know yet if the Dark Elves really have the ritual magic to remove the Demon Lord’s remnants from Rem...
Sylvie raised a hand. “I’ll come with!”
“Did Celes ask you to escort me as well, along with delivering the letter?”
“As sharp as ever. That’s right!”
Celes probably paid a good amount if the guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild herself was asked to do it.
“As always... Celes is such a busybody...” Rem sighed.
“You can’t blame her. If we fail this, the Demon Lord might awaken, so we have to be cautious.”
Leaving the conversation behind, Diablo left the common room.
†
Lyferian Calendar: Month 9, Day 30, Year 164—
Diablo walked down the Royal Capital’s streets with Rem at his side.
“...I think this is the first time I’ve gone out alone with you.”
“Hmm?”
Come to think of it, he’d gone outside with Shera a few times, but he couldn’t recall ever going out with just Rem. They had shared rooms a few times though.
“...Why did you only go out with me this time?”
“Horn’s studying, and Rose is both too conspicuous and a liability when it comes to negotiations.”
Rose had a tendency to resort to (excessive) force whenever someone made a comment that made light of Diablo. She was as reliable as could be when it came to beating monsters, but the worst possible fit when going about business in town.
Shera was also still recovering in bed.
“And Sylvie has matters to attend to.”
She had to visit the local Adventurer’s Guild. She didn’t have many chances to visit the capital and had people she needed to meet. She also said the other day she had to pay the king a visit to thank him for his monetary support.
“...That’s a shame.” Rem smiled sadly. “I wanted to believe you simply wanted to go on a date with me, just the two of us...”
“Wh-What?”
“Hehe... I’m only joking. Anyway, you mentioned negotiations?”
Her words made him terribly self-aware, and he felt his cheeks heat up. He remembered the countless warnings and horror stories he’d seen on the internet of the type of losers who took a female party member’s jokes seriously only to crash and burn.
Diablo laughed scornfully, trying to mask his discomposure.
“Hmph... You speak such foolishness at times. Listen well! I have brought you to help negotiate...for we are about to buy a carriage.”
He had Shera explain to them how to get to the Kingdom of Greenwood, but it was too far to get there on foot. Blackwood was even further than that.
“...Did you forget I’m bad with vehicles?” Rem frowned.
“I believe you fared better on larger carriages?”
“...I suppose. They do shake less...”
Rem had gone into a panic when they rode a small sandship or a wagon, but was calm when they took a larger sand ship and a stagecoach. She apparently just didn’t like the shaking.
“It will be expensive, but we’re quite a few people strong.” Diablo shrugged. “We’ll buy a large carriage. Having you faint along the way would only make things harder.”
“M-Maybe we could all just run there!? No...forget I said that.”
Rem quickly realized how silly what she just said was. But, clearing her throat, she continued.
“...Normally we would take a stagecoach or join a caravan for such a long journey... But there’s no highway leading to the Kingdom of Greenwood so we don’t have much choice. It’s a bit ironic that going to the former Demon Lord’s Domain was easier than going to a region controlled by the races.”
“If it were just me, I’d make it there no problem.”
“...You would have no reason to go to the Elven Kingdom on your own, Diablo.”
“And it would be boring.”
“...If we’re buying a carriage, won’t it delay the journey by a few days?”
Regardless of this being another world, a carriage wasn’t a simple vehicle you could easily buy and take for a ride right away. The carriage’s frame and the horses required preparation.
“Shera still needs time to recover, so this suits us just fine.”
“...Yes.”
Incidentally, Horn was shut inside her room at the inn, toiling over the homework Lumachina had sent her. In a few days’ time she’d be enrolling at the Sorcerer’s Academy, but since the first years began studying at the start of the ninth month, Horn had a month’s worth of catching up to do.
“...If I had succeeded in summoning you alone back then, at ?Starfall Tower?, would we always be walking together around town like this?” Rem wondered aloud, sneaking a fleeting gaze his way.
“Perhaps. Don’t tell me you and Shera are still arguing over which one of you summoned me?”
“...Of course not... I understand now, that it only worked because it was the two of us. At the time, I thought Shera was just a novice...but she’s truly a genius.”
“So it seems.”
Shera could see the flow of magic in people and other things. She had mastered a skill that took those with considerable talent years to master, and did so when she was only a child. Rem was training to learn how to do it as well, but it would still take her some time it seemed.
“...If Shera were to study seriously, she could become a truly powerful Summoner. Well, if she were to polish her skills with a bow further, she’d probably be a legendary markswoman... It’s a shame.”
“It does feel like she’s made a mistake there.”
Shera was a skilled archer. She never had her level as an archer measured by the Adventurer’s Guild, but she was probably over level 80. And since Elves lived for quite some time, if she were to put her mind to mastering the bow she would no doubt reach the level of a hero.
“...Diablo, do you remember when the Fallen attacked Faltra?” Rem suddenly asked.
“Yes, I remember that happening.”
“...I almost died fighting Gregore. And if Celes were to die then as well, the barrier protecting the town from the Fallen would have been destroyed.”
It was thanks to Emile running to the scene and holding out against Gregore that Diablo had made it in time.
“What about it?”
“...Do you think Shera might be stronger than Gregore was?”
“Hmph. It depends on their fighting styles, but she might have won.”
Now that her bow had been strengthened by Klem, she could win with ease.
“...Then it’s as I thought...”
Rem hung her head. Even if they were companions, seeing the gap in their natural talents saddened Rem. No...it was exactly because they were companions that it had gotten to her.
“You’re a high level Summoner yourself.” Diablo placed a hand on Rem’s shoulder. “And you have the equipment I gave you. The way you are now, Gregore would be no match for you.”
Rem looked up at him. “...You can be shockingly kind sometimes.”
She was right. Cheering up a depressed girl wasn’t very Demon Lord-y.
“Ha!” Diablo averted his gaze. “I merely stated facts. Do not misunderstand, fool.”
“...Ah, pardon me.” Rem smiled happily, contrary to her words.
They hastened their pace, heading to the carriage house the inn’s employees had recommended.
†
They found the place on a side street just off the main road, at the end of the sixth district. It was within the city walls, but there was almost no one around, and they could see a few warehouses here and there. The place had a fence roughly their height, and beyond it was a lawn where horses were grazing. Their fur was brown and olive-colored, and their legs were short and thick. They were probably carriage horses. They weren’t very quick, but were capable of carrying heavy loads and were durable enough to last long journeys.
At the edge of the premises they found a building made of bricks. This was probably the carriage house. It had a set of large doors, reminiscent of castle gates. They were likely used for the carriages to leave from.
Next to them was a small steel door. The two knocked, and, after a short pause, they could hear the sound of the door being unlocked from the inside.
Then the door opened. A long-bearded Dwarf stood on the other side, with a pair of drooping dog ears and a tufty tail.
“Bah, Adventurers! This here’s a carriage house,” he said after looking at Diablo. “The stagecoach and gharry are off the main street.”
“...P-Please, wait! We’re here to buy a carriage.”
“Ah, ya be customers! Please please, come in.”
His attitude suddenly became much more friendly.
The interior of the carriage house was reminiscent of a pub. It had a wooden counter and chairs as high as their waists. Wheels, whips and other carriage-related items were propped up in the background as ornaments.
The Dwarf clerk went behind the counter.
“By the by, who’s recommendation brought ya here?”
“...The Firebird Inn’s employees said we should come to you.”
“What!? Ya be stayin’ there?”
“...For the last ten days or so, yes.”
“Well, by jolly! Ya must be skilled Adventurers. Did ya find a mountain of treasure or somethin’? Oh, can I pour ya a drink? Ale? Wine? I’ve got some nice whiskey.”
“...No, alcohol is a bit... Just coffee would be nice.”
While Rem was handling the clerk, Diablo looked around the shop. He was no good when it came to small talk, and when it wasn’t strictly necessary, his communication skills plummeted. Whenever he entered a shop, he’d hoped dearly that whatever he looked for would immediately be on display. But, unfortunately for him, shopping in this world wasn’t an entirely business-like affair. It required interaction and conversation.
“Do you have any carriages in stock?” Rem asked. “Preferably ones that don’t shake.”
“By the dozens, lass! We’ve got an extensive selection, from military wagons to carriages intended for nobility. By the way, are ya sure ya don’t want a drink? I’ve got some brandy in the back.”
“...Coffee, please.”
“So how many people is the carriage ya want intended for, and how far do ya wanna take it?”
They finally went into negotiations. Rem turned her gaze to Diablo, who opened his mouth to speak.
“The Elven forest. We’ll also be stopping at Blackwood—the Dark Elves’ territory. We’ll need a carriage for five people that can also carry heavy luggage.”
“The Elven forest!?” The Dwarf’s brows furrowed. “And Blackwood too!? I wouldn’t if I were you, they be wicked folk!”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
The Dwarf shrunk in fear of Diablo’s glare. “Fine, so be it. Our horses can traverse forests too, and they’re smart enough to not run off if monsters attack. But let’s talk about the frame now. So, ya need seating for five. And ya said you’ll have heavy luggage?”
“...There’s one who’s a bit on the heavy side...” Rem said. “If you can’t make a seat to support that kind of weight, a tray would do.”
“What kinda weight we talkin’ here?”
“About as heavy as a knight in full plate armor.”
“Too heavy to get on a horse,” Diablo added.
He had to support Rose with one hand once, and even his level 150 muscles couldn’t support her weight. There was no mistaking how heavy she was.
“Gahaha, that’s heavy, all right!” The Dwarf laughed. “Heavier than a cow! That’s one heavy friend ya got!”
“...Yes, I suppose.”
Rem sighed in relief. It was a good thing they didn’t bring Rose along... She seemed to hate being called “heavy,” and would probably beat the poor Dwarf to a pulp with her dual-bladed sword if she heard him.
There was no horse that could support Rose’s weight, which was why they needed a large carriage.
After choking a bit on his laughter, the Dwarf brought the discussion back on track. “Well, if ya want a carriage that can carry someone that heavy, you’ll be needin’ a coach-and-four. Any less than four, and the horses won’t be able to take it. And Blackwood’s pretty far from here, so they might hurt their legs.”
“...How much would it cost?”
“First, the interior. Nobles tend to pay more for the interior than the carriage itself. Ya want laces on your curtains?”
“...The bare minimum will do.”
“Eh? I thought ya had money to afford it.”
“...I don’t like squandering money away.”
“It ain’t squanderin’. A worthy interior does good for the heart.”
“...Our hearts aren’t so lacking that fancy interiors will do us good, thank you very much.”
“Gahaha! Well said! Understood, so we’ll do with the bare minimum for your journey. I do recommend a canopy to ward off the wind and the rain though. And I’ll put some lap blankets on the bench, yeah?”
“...That sounds good, yes.”
“And I’ll put the ale barrel below your seats.”
“...No, we won’t be needing that.”
“What!? Ya don’t wanna drink along the way!? What’re ya even going on a journey for!?”
“...To reach a destination?”
Rem cradled her head. Was this place really a good idea...?
The Dwarf employee pulled a blueprint out from under the counter. It was for a medium size, four-horse-pulled carriage with room for six passengers, and he began scribbling addendums on it with a feather pen.
“So, we’ll put the heavy stuff on things on the back wheel’s axis. They’ll shake a fair bit, but it’ll ease the burden on the horses. And for the steps when you get on and off, a floor, bearings, wheels... All of these’ll have to be reinforced since you’re carrying heavy weights.”
“...Reinforced?”
“Large carriages usually are. They gotta be, they carry lots of people. The army uses ’em to ferry troops, so they hafta be sturdy.”
“...I see. And how much will it all cost us?”
“Ah, let’s see... Well, including all the modifications, I’d say somewhere around 20 million friths? It might end up being a touch pricier once we get down to the details.”
Rem stiffened like a board.
“We’ll take it.” Diablo nodded.
“A great thank ya for your patronage!” The Dwarf clerk grinned.
“...W-W-Wait just a second!” Rem jumped to her feet. “You could buy a house at Faltra with that kind of money!”
“True.”
Diablo had assumed it would be expensive. You could buy a carriage in Cross Reverie too, and they were a bit cheaper, but there were the modifications to consider. Diablo had prioritized teleporting to save time back then, and didn’t have a party, so he never bought one.
“...Are you serious!? That’s almost all the reward money we received from Lumachina!”
“There’s no telling how long it would take to reach there by foot.”
“...I don’t mind walking...”
“We’re short on time. Their actions concern me, so the faster we’re done with this and I get back to Faltra, the better.”
Rem gasped as she realized the meaning behind Diablo’s words. The “they” he was concerned about meant the Demon Lord that had awakened in the east.
“...Y-You’re right... Yes, you’re right, Diablo... We need to hurry.”
The Demon Lord’s army attacked Zircon Tower, and might attack Faltra next. If Diablo were to be absent when that happened, it could have disastrous repercussions. Right now they were focusing on Rem and the ritual magic as well as Shera’s homecoming, but they were also preparing in between for the coming hostilities.
Rem requested the Dwarf to give her a detailed estimate.
“I’ll go draw one up immediately. Remodelin’ the carriage’ll take me around ten days though. The horses need to be prepared for the long trip too.”
“...Very well. That said, I will compare your estimate to other coaches around the city.”
“Gahaha! Ya really are a first-rate Adventurer, ain’t ya? No pullin’ tricks on ya! I’ll warn ya though, I’m the best in terms of quality!”
“...Heh... I will take that into account.”
Rem really was priceless when it came to negotiations.
Having finished their business, Rem and Diablo prepared to leave the shop. As he opened the metal door for them to leave, the Dwarf asked one last time, as if to make sure:
“By the by, ya sure ya don’t want the ale barrel?”
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