Logram.
A territory ruled by Marquis Raviton of Marfane.
Raviton was infamous for hosting grand banquets to show off his prestige, constantly inviting notable figures across the continent. Clay had visited this very territory once before, in the past.
A banquet hall in Raviton’s domain?
He hadn’t immediately recognized the place because of the blazing fire, but the banner hanging nearby had made it clear. It bore Raviton’s insignia, and it had already caught flame, crumbling into ash as the wind scattered it.
What in the world is going on…?
Rogram was Marfane’s northernmost province, bordered directly by its blood-allied kingdom, Holy Krata. It was as far from Marfane’s southern edge as one could get—effectively the safest location in the entire empire.
Who could possibly…?
Only a handful of people in the world were powerful enough to leave Rogram in such a state. And with the remaining demons lying low, those few would almost certainly belong to the Holy Alliance.
…!
Just then, part of the banquet hall’s wall collapsed, revealing the scene inside.
Clay’s eyes widened.
Neville von Lagnarich, Crown Prince of Krata. And—
Yuru.
Someone he never thought he’d see again. Someone he never expected to find here of all places.
Clay exhaled sharply.
What the hell are you doing, Yuru…
Yuru, Tower Master of the Blue Tower, should have been in her tower—where magicians, as a rule, remained detached from worldly affairs, focused solely on academic study and the advancement of magic.
The only reason the mages had ever emerged from their towers in the past… was the Demon King’s threat. With that threat gone, they had all returned to their sanctuaries.
Yuru should not be here. And yet, here she was—amidst fire and ruin in the heart of Logram.
I can’t hear anything…
The Watchfire only showed visuals. No sound was transmitted. Clay couldn’t make out the conversation, but it was clear that something abnormal was happening.
Yuru’s body was battered, her face gaunt. She moved slowly toward Neville, who was backing away on the ground, scraping at the dirt to escape.
“Clay!”
A voice behind him jolted Clay from his trance.
“There you are. I was wondering where you’d gone.”
It was Lin Siart—the petite magical scholar who had once introduced herself as the one who would make him into a Demon King. She walked calmly into the Watchtower chamber.
“You really shouldn’t be watching this.”
“…Why not?”
“Because it’s going to show you the faces of the people who betrayed you.”
She wasn’t wrong.
“I was already watching one of my old comrades.”
“What? Seriously?”
Lin darted toward the Watchfire.
“…Yuru?!”
As a fellow scholar, Lin seemed genuinely shocked to see the Blue Tower Master.
“What is she doing here?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.”
Yuru should have been confined to the tower. Yet here she was, not just outside but deep in enemy territory, threatening the Crown Prince of Krata.
Did something happen between Marfane and the Holy Alliance while I was gone?
Clay searched for clues but found none. What he could say for certain was this—Yuru had touched off a diplomatic disaster, and Ezer would not escape unscathed.
After all, the Blue Tower was based in Ezer. The two were deeply intertwined. If Yuru had brought fire to Marfane, then both Ezer and the tower would suffer the Holy Alliance’s wrath.
“That’s… that’s the Crown Prince of Krata! Don’t tell me she’s trying to kill him?!”
Lin looked back at Clay with wide, troubled eyes.
But Clay didn’t answer. He continued to silently watch the Watchfire.
“Ah!”
A sharp gasp escaped Lin’s mouth.
Yuru had seized the Crown Prince.
Then—she soared into the sky and vanished.
“She kidnapped him…”
Even as Lin mumbled the obvious, Clay didn’t speak.
He was too stunned to form words.
…This doesn’t involve me.
The Blue Tower, Ezer—none of it had anything to do with him anymore.
“Lin.”
“Yeah?”
“Can you find out what’s going on?”
Even if he was walking a new path, Clay still needed to know what was happening in the world. That was why the former Demon King had installed these Watchfires in the first place.
“Eh, you’d probably have better luck asking the Gargoyles.”
Lin tilted her head as she answered.
“If you want, I can introduce you to them.”
“Please do.”
He didn’t trust her as much as Beatrice, but she’d do for now.
“…Why do you look like you doubt me?”
Grumbling, Lin turned and walked ahead.
♧
Gargoyles.
Gatekeepers of Barungenia, and envoys of the Demon King.
Unlike those in the other castles, the gargoyles here had no diplomatic duties. They were protectors of the final refuge.
But when it came to covert recon missions, they were perfect—fast flyers, masters of concealment.
“This one here’s the leader. His name’s Goe.”
Lin led Clay outside the castle and pointed to a winged red gargoyle.
Back when Clay had first arrived, there had been a standoff—he vaguely remembered those red wings.
“My apologies for the late greeting. I am Clay, soon to succeed the title of Demon King.”
『I’ve heard of you.』
Goe stood at the front of his kin, addressing Clay solemnly.
『I and the gargoyles who follow me acknowledge the authority of the Dark One's Agent. If she has chosen to support your ascension, we raise no objection.』
“I appreciate that.”
『However, do not assume the rest of the demon race will feel the same.』
Goe’s tone hardened.
『Demons follow the strongest. Only a few adhere to law and order. Many will challenge you.』
“I expected as much.”
Clay had already dealt with countless demons during his time as a Hero. He knew their nature.
『For now, the Dark One's Agent will shield you. But eventually, you must become strong enough to rule.』
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
But that wasn’t why he had come.
“I’d like intel on the outside world. Can you spare someone?”
『Recon, is it…』
Goe’s deep voice rumbled.
『That depends on the region.』
“…Region?”
『Each area requires different skills—some have shrines, others rough terrain. The agent must be suited to the mission.』
Fair enough.
“I want to know what happened in Logram.”
『Logram, you say… That might be tricky.』
“Why?”
『We gargoyles can fly and scout, but we cannot infiltrate the hearts of men.』
“I’ve heard you can hear things from high above.”
『That’s true. We can use magic to pick up distant conversations. But most of it is gossip. Are you alright with that?』
“Yes.”
He’d already seen part of the truth. Even rumors would help fill in the blanks.
“Do what you can.”
『Understood. I’ll send one with strong camouflage. They’re excellent at information gathering.』
“Then I leave it to you.”
Clay gave the order and turned to walk back.
“…Hey.”
As they walked, Lin glanced up at him.
“You’re not still hung up on your old comrades, are you?”
Clay halted in place.
For a moment, he stared blankly at the sky.
“…Was that a bad question?”
Lin looked awkward.
Clay turned to her.
“Lin.”
“Y-Yeah?”
“I don’t plan to live without regrets.”
There were things he couldn’t let go of. That was the nature of being human.
“But my regrets are in the past. Do I have lingering feelings for my former comrades? Sure. But only for who they used to be.”
“Then…”
“They don’t matter now.”
The scale had already tipped.
Whatever he once felt had been crushed by the weight of hatred.
Clay was no longer the Hero. His old companions were no longer companions.
They no longer walked the same path.
“So don’t get the wrong idea,” Clay’s voice was as cold as stone buried in the snow, “It makes my skin crawl.”
“R-Right…” Lin flailed in panic, “I was just curious! It’s not like I was accusing you of anything…”
“Good.”
Clay turned away and resumed walking. Lin sighed, watching his back.
I thought I was going to suffocate.
Even weakened, he was still the Hero. No wonder the demons had feared him.
But that didn’t dissuade her.
No. I like him even more.
She had flinched at his sharp glare, but only for a moment.
A Demon King couldn’t be forged in kindness. To ascend, one needed to grasp a twisted, merciless cruelty.
Such people never knew peace. Their path was solitude itself.
To become the shadow opposing the light… one had to shoulder that burden alone.
It was not glorious. But it was sacred in its own way.
Don’t worry, Clay.
Lin trailed after him slowly.
I’m not doubting you.
The Demon King was the strength that allowed demonkind to survive.
Their hero.
You have talent.
A conviction she had never seen even in the last Demon King now stirred within Clay. It wasn’t just fury or vengeance.
It was something else entirely.
That must be why you were chosen as the Hero.
Clay had it.
Even when he stumbled, even when he fell into despair—he had the strength to go all the way.
“Clay! Wait for me~!”
Lin recalled the flash of light in his eyes—and ran after him, waving her hand.
(End of Chapter)