kscans

Chapter 64 - Interlude: The Seven Demon Lords, Part Two

A certain place, somewhere.

...There was a round table, and around it were candles with blue flames, placed in a circle. This was the meeting place of the Seven Demon Lords.

There, Rumby the Fateweaver was explaining the recent commotion.

"...And so, that was the incident involving the use of humans. That is all, the end!"

Rumby concluded with a hint of desperation.

Redorza the Sage, who had been listening, commented.

"...A rather interesting way of fighting. It should be difficult to defeat a human blessed with good fortune, but... I suppose this is also knowledge from another world."

Redorza said, nodding repeatedly.

Rumby said.

"...I thought it would be quite a struggle too, but to be defeated so easily, honestly, I think I chose the wrong person."

Rumby said with an innocent smile.

Bamhal asked.

"...Rumby. Do you have anything else to say about your selfish actions this time?"

He asked with a hint of anger in his voice.

Rumby said.

"...I am very sorry."

She repented.

Bamhal, after a breath, said.

"As long as you understand, it is fine. ...You will be on probation for a while."

He handed down the punishment.

Harynair, as if she had been waiting, asked.

"Hey, Dragon King. It's okay to lift my probation now, right?"

She asked with a serious face.

Bamhal replied.

"...Very well. I have confirmed that you did nothing during your probation. Therefore, Harynair, I shall lift your probation."

Harynair expressed her gratitude and bowed her head.

Inside, she was overjoyed.

Now she could lay a hand on the human who had humiliated her. ...However, she wouldn't act immediately. She didn't know what kind of punishment she would receive if she acted selfishly again.

...It would likely be worse than probation.

So, she would volunteer when the next person failed.

...During the past month of sulking, she had been thinking about how to move. ...She had used her enchanting gas to strip the humans she had captured of their will to resist, and had them tell her about the state of affairs in each country, something she had never cared to know before.

Among them, she learned of a country that could be used and was in an interesting situation.

...Bamhal continued the meeting.

"...Well then, is there anyone who will go next?"

At those words, Redorza raised his hand.

"...Please leave it to me. My new experiment has just been completed. I would like to test it."

At those words, Lates the Thousand Poisons said.

"Wait a moment, Sage-dono. ...I would like to be allowed to go this time."

Lates said, raising his hand.

Redorza replied.

"Lord Thousand Poisons, I hate to say this, but the Otherworlder is a human with no knowledge of medicine. If you make a move, that will be the end of it. ...Our observation will be over."

At those words, everyone except Lates fell silent.

But the atmosphere was one of agreement with Redorza.

Lates said.

"...I am aware of that. For that reason, the new poison I have developed is one that can be easily detoxified even without knowledge. ...Of course, whether it can be detoxified depends on the strength of the human. ...Shisshisshisshi."

Lates said with a laugh.

They were curious about what kind of poison he had developed, but at least they didn't think he was lying.

Bamhal said.

"...Very well. Lates, you may go next."

At this decision, Redorza said.

"...Lord Dragon King. In that case, please give me an opportunity to test my subject. ...Its mind is on the verge of breaking, so I would like to let it rampage somewhere to relieve some stress. ...Would that be alright?"

At those words, Bamhal said.

"...Very well. However, do not do it near the Otherworlder. As long as it is far away, there is no problem."

Redorza expressed his gratitude at those words.

Rumby complained.

"Eeeh. Isn't that unfair? ...It's the same thing I did at the Church. ...Don't show favoritism."

To the complaining Rumby, Bamhal said.

"...In your case, it's because you acted on your own. If you had made a suggestion, I would have given it some consideration. ...Learn to behave a little more sociably."

Bamhal stated a social norm.

Rumby sulked with a dissatisfied look on her face.

Sidoor the Sword Demon, who had been listening, asked.

"...May I have a word, Lord Dragon King?"

At that question, Bamhal said.

"? How unusual. For you to voice an opinion? ...Speak."

At those words, Sidoor said.

"...Actually, one of my clan has been demanding to 'let me fight the Otherworlder.' ...I am holding him back for now, but I cannot predict when he might act on his own. ...So, like Sage-dono, may I let him rampage somewhere?"

At that suggestion, Bamhal said.

"...More and more unusual. The Minotaur tribe should not be one to seek out fights on their own. Why is that?"

To this question, Sidoor replied.

"...It seems he doesn't like that Otherworlder."

It was a simple answer.

Bamhal said.

"...In that case, how about letting him rampage around the border between the monster horde and the Empire? He can go wild there without any problems. ...Whether the Otherworlder will go there is uncertain, though."

At this proposal, Sidoor said.

"I am grateful. I will tell him at once."

Sidoor expressed his gratitude.

Bamhal turned his face to Redorza.

"So that's how it is, Redorza. Let your subject rampage somewhere other than there. ...Though I suspect you were planning to let it rampage in that town, weren't you?"

At that, Redorza said.

"...You noticed. I am no match for you."

Redorza said with a laugh.

Bamhal said.

"Are there any other opinions? ...If not, this meeting is adjourned."

With those words, everyone's figures vanished at once.

Just before disappearing, Harynair watched this exchange and smiled for a moment.

A certain village.

There lived the Minotaur tribe.

...A Minotaur approached the returned Sidoor.

"Welcome back, Sidoor-sama. ...How was the meeting this time?"

At those words, Sidoor said.

"Just in time. I have something to tell you. ...The fight with the Otherworlder was not approved, but a fight in a different location was. The border between the Empire and the monster horde. ...Whether the Otherworlder will go there depends on luck."

The Minotaur who heard the details of the meeting said.

"Really?! Thank you!! I, Danmes, will not fight in a way that would tarnish Sidoor-sama's name!!"

Danmes shouted with excitement.

Sidoor said.

"Calm down. You're being a little too hasty. ...We don't know if the Otherworlder will really go there, you know?"

At those words, Danmes said.

"It's fine!! He will definitely come!! I have a feeling!! Well then, I'm off!!"

He ran towards the location with an iron club in one hand.

...Sidoor watched his back and thought.

(I don't think Danmes can defeat Shinsuke, but it will be a very tough fight. ...If Shinsuke were to lose, then he is only a man of that caliber.)

Thinking that, he looked up at the sky.

Redorza's mansion.

It had the appearance and size befitting a nobleman's residence. However, its atmosphere was dark and gloomy, not a place people would willingly live.

In one room of the mansion.

In the laboratory.

"...And so, I would like you to rampage in a different location. ...If you're lucky, that human might hear rumors and rush over."

The one speaking was a being with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. He was speaking to a Centaur.

The Centaur asked.

"...Where should I rampage?"

He asked with words filled with resentment. ...For him, it was a rage with no outlet.

Redorza replied.

"...The port town of the Kingdom."

The Centaur's expression changed completely upon hearing those words.

Seeing that, Redorza gave a faint smile and said.

"...That's right. The town where your life changed so drastically. Don't you think it's a fitting place to test your new body? ...Rodel?"

The Centaur was swayed by the sweet words.

...The former A-rank adventurer, Rodel, said.

"...Very well. I will rampage. I will use this new body and power I have acquired, and the demonic blade Dainsleif, to destroy that town!!"

He let out a cry of resentment.