kscans

Chapter 78 - Demon Lord's Castle

Hayato returned to the base.

The empty base was too large. He felt a sense of loneliness there, but this was no time to be sentimental. To make this a fun place again, he needed to make various preparations. First, he organized the situation.

He had asked Ney to take care of his real body, asked the members of Kokuryu to gather materials, and requested an event at the Demon Lord’s Castle from the Maid Guild.

But it still wasn’t enough. Hayato had no means to fight.

Hayato intended to persuade Diite. In his current state, he wouldn’t be able to persuade her of anything. This was a world managed by Diite. She had no need to acknowledge anything she didn’t want.

Hayato had refused Diite’s wish for him to stay here. So there was no reason for Diite to grant Hayato’s wish. There was no merit for her.

That’s where the weapon manufacturing method he received from Esha became important. "AI Killer: H-Custom." He knew it was a weapon with the ability to destroy the AI of this world.

It would be a powerful weapon against Diite. If Hayato had that, then Diite would have a reason to grant his wish.

In exchange for not using the weapon to delete Diite, he would have her help Esha and the others.

That was the scenario Hayato had in mind.

However, there was one problem.

Even if he had a powerful weapon, it would be meaningless if he couldn’t handle it properly. Just having the weapon wasn’t enough to use it as a threat. He didn't actually intend to delete Diite, but it was meaningless if Diite didn't see it as a threat.

He had thought about having someone else use it, but it was a Hayato-exclusive weapon. The H in H-Custom was probably for "Hayato."

Hayato looked down at his own feet.

It wasn't that they wouldn’t move. It was that when he tried to do any strenuous exercise, his body would stiffen up from the pain and fear of his injury. In other words, it was a mental problem.

But there was hope. It was when he had protected Esha in the battle against the "Demon Summoning Research Association." It had been meaningless in the end, but Hayato had been able to move. So this time, he should be able to move as well, Hayato told himself as if in a self-suggestion.

(I have no choice but to do it. She promised not to do anything to Esha until I get there. Diite seems to be the type to keep such promises... I think. I asked Ney to take care of the forced logout due to weakness, so that should be fine. Still, I need to be able to move my body even a little.)

With that thought, Hayato headed for the multi-purpose hall on the third floor.

Hayato completed all his preparations in three days.

He created items that seemed useful with his production skills and prepared the "AI Killer: H-Custom."

"Hayato, are you ready?"

"Yeah, let’s go."

Hayato replied to Ney’s words.

From now on, Hayato would storm the Demon Lord’s Castle with the former members of Kokuryu. After teleporting using the transfer device in the Royal Capital that led to the Demon Country, it was about a thirty-minute walk.

Today was the last day of the event hosted by the Maid Guild. Players and NPCs were likely collecting the last of the Demon Horns.

He had heard that the Demon Lord’s Castle had been in a state of chaos for these three days. Moreover, the Demon Lord was absent. He had also heard that those who served the Demon Lord were resisting.

(Lunaria-san and the others are nowhere to be found. They're probably with Diite. I have to save not just Esha, but everyone.)

He didn't know what Diite intended to do with everyone. Maybe nothing would happen. But he thought it was unwise to expect that, and he couldn’t just log out and not get involved.

Hayato had relied on many players and NPCs until now. Even now, he couldn’t do anything alone. The things he had prepared with his production skills, the chaos in the Demon Lord’s Castle, it was all thanks to someone. And it would probably be the same from now on.

(But this is something only I can do. I will definitely persuade Diite.)

Hayato resolved himself and headed for the Demon Lord’s Castle.

In the Demon Lord’s Castle, many players and NPCs were defeating demon-type monsters. Watching them from the side, he and Ney's group advanced deeper into the castle.

"You guys have been here before, right?"

"Of course. But the items that drop aren’t very good, and at a certain time, a powerful monster... no, not a monster, a powerful NPC appears and we have no choice but to run. So we hardly ever come here."

"Is that so. By the way, who is this powerful NPC?"

"She looks like a woman in a gothic lolita style. She attacks with a big scythe, and she’s really strong. Even we probably couldn’t beat her now."

"Gothic lolita...?"

(Could it be the gothic lolita member of the Ten Black Rose Saints?)

Just as Hayato thought that, a scream came from the large hall in front of them. And he faintly heard panicked voices saying, "The gothic lolita is here!" and "Run!"

"Like I’d let you get away!"

There was a gothic lolita woman chasing and defeating NPCs and players at super speed. She had a huge smile on her face, but it could be called insane.

"This is bad! She’s already in berserker mode! We’re pulling back!"

He didn't know what Ney meant by berserker mode, but he understood that it was dangerous. They tried to leave the area, protected by Ney and the others. If they were defeated here and returned to the base, it would be a huge waste of time.

But as they tried to escape, the gothic lolita woman spotted them.

"I said I wouldn’t let you get away!"

"Everyone, protect Hayato!"

Ney said this as she drew the Excalibur Replica from her waist. She then blocked the attack from the scythe of the gothic lolita woman who had approached at high speed.

The high-pitched sound of metal clashing echoed around them.

"Everyone, leave this to me and go on ahead! Get Hayato to the back quickly!"

"...Hayato?"

The gothic lolita woman reacted to Ney’s words. And her eyes met Hayato’s.

There was a momentary pause, and then the gothic lolita woman immediately rushed over to Hayato.

"Aaaah, you! What did you do with Lunaria-sama! She hasn’t come back for three days! Did she run away from home! Is that it!?"

"Wait! Calm down! Um, right! I’m about to go save Lunaria-san, no, everyone! The clue is in the deepest part of this Demon Lord’s Castle! So please let me pass!"

The gothic lolita woman looked at Hayato with suspicion, but then took a deep breath. Then the red and black aura that had enveloped her disappeared.

"I can’t believe you, but I owe you... very well. Then I’ll guide you. But people only say there might be a god in the back of the Demon Lord’s Castle, you know? No one has actually seen one."

"...I’ve met her many times."

"...It’s hard to believe, but Lunaria-sama held you in high regard. So maybe it’s true. Alright, come. You all, come with us."

The gothic lolita woman said this and went deeper into the castle without even checking on them. Hayato and the others hurriedly followed.

On the way, Ney came up to Hayato.

"Hey, Hayato, do you know that woman? She said she owed you."

"It was a little while ago. But I don’t even know her name. I just know she’s one of the Ten Black Rose Saints."

"Really!? I thought they were nowhere to be found, but they were in the Demon Lord’s Castle. And you can actually talk to her... since she only appears as an enemy, I never even thought about talking to her."

That would be the normal player's course of action. In the first place, Hayato only thought he could talk to her because they had met before. If it had been their first meeting, he would have judged that he had no choice but to fight.

It’s thanks to that incident, Hayato thought, feeling a little nostalgic for that time.

"I don’t know why you’re smiling, but we’ve arrived."

When the gothic lolita woman said that, Hayato finally noticed. In front of him was a very large door.

This was the dead end of a passage even deeper than the Demon Lord’s Castle’s throne room. And there was a double door made of metal. The heavy-looking door gave off an atmosphere of never intending to open.

"This is called the unopened room, and no one has ever opened it. Is there really a god in there?"

"Yeah, there is. And she should be welcoming me."

Hayato said this as he touched the door.

Then, the door that looked like it would never move began to open without a sound.

"It really opened..."

Ignoring the surprised gothic lolita woman, Hayato turned to Ney and the others.

"From here on, I’m going alone. You all can go back now."

"Hayato, shouldn’t we go with you? It looks like a final boss is about to come out, you know?"

"No, I’m going alone. This is something I have to do."

Ney stared at Hayato. After a few seconds, she sighed.

"Hayato is stubborn... alright. This is as far as we go. We’re going back now, is that okay?"

"Yeah, thanks for everything up to now."

"We’re friends, so don’t worry about it... but we’re having an offline meetup next time, and you’re treating, you hear?"

"Of course. I’ll treat you to as much as you want."

Ney nodded in satisfaction and slapped Hayato’s left arm with her right hand. And all the members of Kokuryu also lightly hit Hayato. It was probably a sign of encouragement.

And the gothic lolita woman said that if Lunaria was ahead, she would go too, but Ney and the others started to interfere, saying that they wouldn’t let her.

"More importantly, tell us about the Ten Black Rose Saints!"

"Hey! Stop pulling on my skirt!"

For some reason, the two of them seemed to be getting along a little better. Hayato laughed a little at that, then passed through the door and went inside.