Published: September 10, 2025
Satou here. The protagonist of a genius-level story once said, "Incidents and conspiracies happen in chains." It’s fine when reading a story, but when you’re actually caught up in them, you want to put a wedge in that chain.
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—A new Demon King, huh.
I jotted down the information I just heard—that Pope Zazalis of the Parion Divine Kingdom is the Demon King—in my notepad.
“Viscount, may I continue with the story?”
While pondering over my notes, the female informant hesitantly spoke up.
It’s rare for this easygoing person to check in with me like this.
“—Continue?”
“Yes. The matters in the continent's west ended with the previous topic, but I have two more pieces of information.”
Huh? I thought she was only responsible for information about the western continent.
Still, I urged her to continue, and she went on.
“One is a report of demon race sightings inside the labyrinth of Yowalk Kingdom, a small country in the buffer zone with the Saga Empire. It seems the government-run adventurers' guild suppressed the information, and even the king and his close associates aren't aware of it.”
—Hey.
If even the king of that country doesn’t know, how do you?
Sensing my inner thought, the female informant smirked and continued.
“Lady Rethel is quite skilled at spending money.”
I see, so the Marquis Ashinen’s wife infiltrated or tamed someone in Yowalk Kingdom who actually witnessed the demon race.
“I'm sure you already understand, Viscount, that the appearance of demons inside a labyrinth strongly suggests the Demon King is the dungeon master. Please, I implore you not to approach Yowalk Kingdom under any circumstances.”
There was a subtle accent in her tone.
Somehow, I feel she’s probing my relationship with Nameless.
“Ah, of course.”
“You really don’t show your feelings on your face, Viscount.”
Thanks to my expressionless skill.
◇
“And the other. This is a rumor from the small countries in the buffer zone between the eastern continent’s weaselfolk tribe empire and the Shiga Kingdom.”
Hmm, this time it’s the east.
The marquise’s eyes and ears really are far-reaching.
She’s no mere noble.
“Did the weasels start something again?”
“No, nothing as significant as when they began using rideable golems in the war ten years ago.”
That’s a twist I didn’t expect.
Golem tanks or golem horses, maybe?
I hope it’s not some mech-like manned robot.
I must see it for myself.
I scribbled a note in red on the margin of my itinerary.
“Are you aware that the weaselfolk empire destroyed the kingdoms of the tigermen and lizardman tribes and expanded their territory?”
“Oh, yes.”
“It seems the remnants of those fallen kingdoms have settled as refugees in the buffer zone’s small countries, but lately, some even started occupying towns and cities.”
Is this a “lend the roof, take the house” scenario or outright invasion?
I’d rather avoid a bloodbath in the first planned visit area after stopping by the Duke’s Capital.
“So far, this is nothing unusual outside ‘the season of the demon king,’ but in one such town, a priest who refused to treat the invaders was brutally murdered.”
To kill a priest in a world where gods exist—that’s reckless.
“This happens sometimes in occupied areas, but the day after, most of the invaders were turned into pillars of salt.”
Pillars of salt... sounds like divine punishment straight out of some Bible from my original world.
“It’s said a handsome man in white appeared before the townsfolk who stared fearfully at the salt pillars and declared, ‘This is divine punishment.’ When asked who he was, the man—”
The female informant paused to gauge my reaction.
With a look urging her to hurry up, she sighed and continued with a shrug.
“—claimed to be the apostle of God Zaikuon.”
A god’s apostle...
I’ve heard the name before, but it seems the true "Apostle of God" or an impostor posing as one has finally appeared.
“Well, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it’s a fake.”