Chapter 652 - Third Story: The Demon Lord's Temple ④
Once again, we were thrown into pitch darkness. The bowl seemed to have been forcibly dismantled, and we fell to the floor while still crouching. However, the height wasn't much. At most, about the thickness of the bowl's bottom. Since I fell from a crouching position, I landed on my buttocks, but Lyudmila behind me caught me, so I didn't end up flipping over.
The floor is hard. When I reached out and touched it, it was a little cold. From the feel, it's stone. I realized while touching it. This is a place made by the Demon Race. The feel is similar to the floor of the house made by the female demon in Engrio. This one feels a bit rougher, probably because the female demon finished hers more delicately.
"You lot. To think you've actually made it this far."
A voice echoes in the darkness. I have no idea who is speaking, but from the words, they don't seem like a friendly bunch. Of course, since this is undoubtedly a Demon Race-related building, we are clearly trespassers. We couldn't complain even if we were killed without question.
However, judging from the opponent's line, this is indeed a facility for movement. If so, it wouldn't be strange for there to be visitors from the outside. Of course, I know full well that's naive thinking.
Since no one says anything, everyone must be on guard. The sound of a sword being drawn was heard; from the direction, was it Will? Lyudmila, who should have been diagonally behind me, clung to me. Since she's taller than me, something soft hit my face. Until just a little while ago, we were the same size.
Fiona gasped.
"Fiona, can you see?"
I whispered. If this was the case, I should have cast [Thought Communication] on everyone.
"Hey, Jeanne. If my memory is correct, it's the Demon Lord."
Eh? Even though it was a whisper, it was in the silence. I didn't mishear.
"D-Demon Lord?"
I accidentally shouted in a loud voice. I failed. Thinking about it, we came from the Demon Lord's Temple. Naturally, we should have expected it.
"Hoh, you realized it well. Indeed, I am the Demon Lord."
When the owner of the voice that seemed to be the Demon Lord muttered something, there were sounds of "bo, bo, bo," and flames surrounded us. There are seven. One for each person. Does he intend to burn us to death one by one?
Because we were illuminated by the flames, it became brighter. Before my eyes, the familiar Demon Lord was indeed standing. The distance was about five or six steps.
Looking around, everyone except Lyudmila, who was clinging to me, was in a combat stance. Henry-sama and Harold-sama had drawn their swords before I knew it and were on one knee in front of me. I didn't notice because there was no sound at all. Will was to my left, Bonnie was to my right, and Eleanor-sama was diagonally behind me to the right.
"Sheathe your swords. You can't even put out half your power here. Resistance is futile."
"Is that so?"
Eleanor-sama replied to the Demon Lord's words and at the same time began the incantation for [Prominence]. Looking at her eyes, she's nodding. Is it an immediate [Megiddo Fire]?
"[Prominence]!"
When she activated it with both hands raised, a single puff of smoke came out. It wasn't [Prominence]. Is this the opposite side?
"It certainly seems so."
Eleanor-sama lowered her hands, perhaps having given up.
"Then, how about this?"
This time it was Harold-sama. He must have moved his right hand as if the sound of a throwing knife flying "hyun" would be heard, but it clearly lacked speed. The knife he should have thrown drew a sluggish parabola and hit the floor with a clatter. It hadn't even flown half the distance.
"W-What? My body won't move as I want."
Harold-sama is looking at his own hand.
"Jeanne, a magic circle is drawn on the floor. It's quite large."
Fiona whispered to me. Since the flames are at a high position, the feet are not clearly visible. Besides, if it's written by adding magic stone powder to the same material as the floor, it wouldn't be visible to human eyes.
"A barrier?"
"Probably."
Does it lower physical ability? I don't feel sluggish, and the weight of the staff hasn't changed, so it's not strength. Is it speed?
When I looked at Eleanor-sama and directed only my gaze downward, she nodded only with her eyes. Eleanor-sama also seems to have noticed.
"Kuh, I-I can't move..."
Looking at the Demon Lord, he is thrusting his right hand toward us.
Body movement stops? Is it [Doll]?
"It seems I must teach you your place."
The Demon Lord drew the knife at his waist. It's a black blade used by the Demon Race. He slowly approaches Harold-sama. His right hand remains pointed at Harold-sama.
"Kuh... my hand, on its own..."
Harold-sama groans as he picks up the fallen knife with his right hand. He then pressed the blade against his own neck.
"I'd like to praise you for actually making it here, but I must interrogate suspicious persons. Killing comes after that."
Harold-sama slowly stood up and turned toward us. The knife in his hand remained pressed against his neck. The knife was slowly pulled, and a red line appeared on his neck. A single vertical streak of blood dripped down.
"What did you come for? Answer."
When I looked at Eleanor-sama, she looked back at me. For some reason, Henry-sama also looked up at me. Seeing that, the others also started looking at my face, following the three.
"Please."
"Ha?"
For some reason, I was asked by Eleanor-sama.
"Anyone is fine. Hurry up!"
Since the Demon Lord was looking at me and urging me irritably, I had no choice but to explain. To show that I wouldn't resist, I placed my staff on the floor and lowered both hands.
"Umm, you see. I have something I want to talk about regarding a mutual acquaintance of ours."
"What? There's no way a human like you and I have a mutual acquaintance. To think you'd tell such a transparent lie. You, if you want to die, shall I kill you right now?"
This guy...
"[Light]!"
I released it from my mouth.
"Kuh, you!"
Demon Lord... no, he's not the Demon Lord. He's something pretending to be the Demon Lord. I was able to catch him off guard and blind him. He jumped back while turning his face away. I couldn't manage to completely blind him.
"I-I can move."
Harold-sama, whose [Doll] was broken, turned the knife away from his neck and looked back at the fake Demon Lord. However, his movements were sluggish. It must be the influence of the magic circle.
"[Magic Reflection]."
I cast [Magic Reflection] on the vanguard as a countermeasure against the fake Demon Lord's magic. Lightning was released from the fake Demon Lord's right hand, but I was just in time to reflect it. It must be the effect of the Cat's Stone.
"[Light]!"
I released eight rapid-fire shots from the tip of my staff.
"Guu."
It must be dazzling. The fake Demon Lord, who was about to come toward us, stopped and shielded his eyes with his right arm.
"Eleanor-sama, let's withdraw for now."
"That's right. Everyone, gather in one place."
I pulled Lyudmila, who was nearby, and made her crouch.
"Release [Dark] toward the ceiling at full power!"
"Eh?"
"Hurry! It's [Dark]!"
"U-Umu. [D-Dark]!"
At the same time she raised both hands and released it, my vision blurred.
We were thrown into pitch darkness. Suddenly we fell. Just as I thought it was chilly, this time we were jumped to a bright place. I see the forest in the direction we're falling. We've returned to the original position. We're falling faster and faster, cutting through the wind.
Fiona put her spirit into it, and pale blue flames came out of her body. The momentum of the fall decreased a little.
"[Wind Barrier]!"
Lyudmila, who clung to me, released a [Wind Barrier] for me. Thanks to that, I was able to tumble into the bowl. I was saved.
"Are you okay?"
Eleanor-sama's voice comes from below. Looking down, she had picked everyone up in a medium-sized bowl. As expected.
"Let's return to the monitoring post as is. Lyudmila, please look after Jeanne."
"Yes!"
We managed to escape. Even though three former heroes were there, we couldn't do anything, although there were various restrictions. It might have been the first time Eleanor-sama agreed to withdraw so easily. Looking back, it might have been really dangerous.
After returning to the monitoring post, the monitoring of the Demon Lord's Temple was left to the Paratroop Jaegers. If you hit a monster, it'll hit back. A counterattack is expected. Eleanor-sama gave an unusual instruction to the monitoring Paratroop Jaegers to withdraw immediately if any abnormality occurred, without needing to grasp the details. At the same time, the sky above the monitoring post was monitored from the ground by someone with [Sight] cast, and an urgent warning for high alert was sent toward the Royal Capital. It must be a recognition that we've gotten that much closer to the Demon Lord.
Those involved in the investigation gathered in the monitoring post's dining-cum-meeting room to rest. Will and Bonnie prepared wine. Fiona and I also helped. As a result, a barrel was prepared at Fiona's seat, but Harold-sama was just dumbfounded.
"In the end, what kind of place... was it... that we went to?"
Seeing that each person at the table had taken a sip of the wine served to steady their nerves, Harold-sama spoke up. He was at a loss for words when he saw Fiona holding the barrel with both hands and drinking directly, but he'll just have to get used to it.
Centering on Harold-sama, for whom it was a first-time experience in many ways, we all analyzed what on earth had happened. The conclusion was that it's not a place where humans can easily go, and fundamentally, it's better not to go.
"In the end, did we find out where that place where the last Demon Lord was is?"
"I don't know."
Even when Harold-sama asked, Eleanor-sama's answer was as simple as could be.
"What does Jeanne think?"
For some reason, she turned to me. There's no way I would know, but unless each person talks about what they thought, even if it's within the range of imagination, it won't take shape.
"Umm, first of all. I think that Demon Lord was a fake."
"A fake? Why do you think he was a fake?"
"Umm, his character was different from the start. When I met him before, he called me 'sonata,' but that guy just now called me 'kisama.'" (T/N: 'Sonata' is an archaic/polite way to say 'you', while 'kisama' is very rude.)
From my experience so far, the Demon Race members who called me 'sonata' were the Demon Lord and the Vice Demon Lord. Incidentally, King Seldic and Harold-sama also called me 'sonata.' They must both be kins of darkness.
Also, he didn't remember Henry-sama and the others. Last time, he remembered them immediately.
Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama are nodding greatly. Actually, I thought I might be remembered too. I wanted to tell him that I'm living with Violet, and if possible, I also wanted to talk about having a banquet with the Vice Demon Lord and the female demon. It might just be my own assumption, but I think if I talked about such things, the Demon Lord would laugh again.
"The decisive factor is that the Demon Lord and I have a mutual acquaintance. But that fake Demon Lord denied it."
"Hmm. That's why he said such a thing."
"Yes."
Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama, who were there, must have noticed too. They nodded "un-un" for me.
Violet was originally in the Demon Lord's army and said she even participated in meetings of the executives. She joined the Demon Lord's army after being directly invited by the Demon Lord. There's no way the Demon Lord wouldn't know. He even confirmed that there would be no problem with her living with me after the battle. We have a mutual acquaintance. He denied it head-on. Probably, he's a Demon Race subordinate who believes there's no way such a person exists. Since he released quite powerful lightning, he must be a high-level demon. It's a bluff using [Transform].
That fake Demon Lord is probably just a guard. It's the same as a bandit shouting when you jump to the Paratroop Jaeger fortress with [Teleport]. Comparing the two, in terms of strength and sense, the other side clearly wins.
"And also. I think that place is the opposite side after all."
"Why?"
"Attribute magic couldn't be used. But [Dark] and [Light] could be used. It's very similar to the characteristics of the opposite side."
This part probably wouldn't be understood by Harold-sama, who is experiencing the opposite side for the first time.
The barrier Dune made allowed the use of water magic and holy magic. Water magic could be used because Dune is the water spirit. If so, the barrier the Demon Lord made should allow the use of both holy and dark, or either one. In the end, both could be used.
"Then, how do we get out of there?"
"Umm, I think if you just walk, you'll eventually come out."
The opposite sides so far were surrounded by white mist. If you went into that mist, you could come out as you were. Probably, it's the same. However, what's scary is that the white mist wasn't visible. If the mist were black... there's no guarantee that a human would be safe inside it.
"Hmm. As long as safety cannot be confirmed, we cannot move, then."
"Yes. And even if we could get out of the mist, that place isn't necessarily safe either, right?"
Even if only for a moment, a palace-like building was seen. If that were the Demon Lord's headquarters, I don't think we could come back alive if we went there.
If the mana outside the mist were too dense, there's a possibility of going crazy on the spot.
"However, we've found out how the Demon Lord is resurrected in the temple within the cave. We'll research it from now on and hopefully connect it to preventing the resurrection somehow."
Eleanor-sama summarized, and the review meeting ended.
The next day, we sent Lyudmila back first since she was busy with agriculture. The rest of us were on standby, but fortunately, there was no counterattack from the Demon Race. We dispersed after waiting for three days.
"They probably thought we were waiting for them."
This time, Eleanor-sama took a passive stance, which is rare for her. I think it's because the opponent's strength cannot be grasped at all. They could probably manage if it were just the fake Demon Lord, but if multiple high-level demons were sent in, they couldn't easily counter them.
"However, since we can't exactly go on the offensive right now either, in a sense, it's a draw."
It's scary that she added the words "right now," though. Harold-sama is nodding quite a bit.