Published: September 10, 2025
※Correction of typos made on 2017/5/29.
※The timeline of this interlude is after Satou and hero Hayato defeated the Demon King on Dejima Island (but before the divine oracle of divine punishment).
◇ Duke Bistal’s Territory ◇
“Your Grace! His Grace the Duke!!”
“What’s all this commotion?”
In a study piled high with mountains of documents, Duke Bistal voiced his displeasure.
The one who burst into the room was the duke’s grandson, who was being groomed as a regent to learn state affairs.
Among his relatives, he was considered quite capable, but because of his youth, he still displayed restless behavior like this, which Duke Bistal thought was lacking in composure.
“There’s a wyvern courier from the Royal Capital! And, it bears the royal family’s seal of wax (……).”
Without stopping his reading, the duke only tilted his ear toward the news. Upon hearing the words “royal family’s seal,” he finally raised his face.
Most letters from the Royal Capital come sealed with the Shiga Kingdom’s wax seal.
The use of the “royal family’s seal” like now usually indicates announcements regarding direct royal family births or funerals, or major incidents shaking the kingdom.
However, urgent notifications such as the appearance of the demon race are delivered via the City Core, so Duke Bistal still had some leeway.
“Don’t panic—it’s unbecoming.”
Scolding the regent, Duke Bistal took the letter.
With his other hand, he drew out a magical artifact—not a paper knife for cutting the seal, but one to peel it off.
Since the era of King Ancestor Yamato, the custom has been to heat and peel off the royal wax seal without cutting it. History books say this began because people devoted to King Ancestor Yamato disliked cutting the wax seal he used.
“—What?!”
A frown formed on Duke Bistal’s forehead as he read the letter.
The regent standing nearby endured a sharp pain in his abdomen, watching the duke’s reaction closely.
“Impossible—”
In a fit of rage, the duke tried to crumple the letter, but stopped when his eyes caught the royal family’s seal on the envelope lying on the desk.
“Your Grace, what does the letter say?”
With a face strained as if the veins might burst, the duke glared at the letter. The regent summoned courage to ask.
“Pendragon.”
Duke Bistal forced out the name of his archrival.
“The letter says that that brat defeated the Demon King alongside the hero.”
“Sir Pendragon has become the hero’s retainer? I’ve never heard such a rumor.”
The regent inadvertently voiced his doubt, only to be glared down by Duke Bistal.
“Not a retainer, but he apparently fought alongside the hero.”
“—Fought alongside?”
Duke Bistal tossed the letter onto the desk and jerked his chin toward the regent, implying he should read it.
“Then, with your leave.”
As the regent read on, Duke Bistal took a swig of brandy brought by a maid.
The transparent cubes clinking in the glass weren’t ice, but rock sugar from the great sugar-producing Lalagi Kingdom.
“Th-the Demon King Slayer—”
Watching the regent’s stunned expression with a grim look, Duke Bistal poured a second glass of brandy.
“If this continues, those aligned with Ouyugok and Duks will expand their influence.”
“Isn’t Sir Pendragon serving Count Muno?”
“Muno was originally tethered to Ouyugok. Probably, Ouyugok dispatched him to improve the situation in Muno’s territory.”
Hearing Duke Bistal’s words, an old steward quietly working in the office responded.
“The Demon King Slayer, you say—”
The old steward nodded, narrowing his eyes further.
“—Master is indeed lucky.”
“Lucky, you say?”
Duke Bistal’s anger simmered, but the old steward spoke without fear.
Meanwhile, the regent, holding the letter, became ghostlike—nearly paralyzed with fear.
“Yes, lucky. Although there were initial conflicts, they never escalated into outright hostility. Furthermore, Sir Pendragon’s lawful wife is Lady Sistina. Being the grandfather of the lawful wife is a significant advantage.”