Published: March 21, 2026
Half a day passed, and my squad and the master's squad exchanged guard duty.
We exchanged brief information as we passed—whether there had been any enemy attacks—but it seemed neither the front where the master had been nor the rear where Miss Amelia had been had seen any enemies.
"I was bracing for wyvern or demonic beast attacks, so I feel a little let down, but maybe it's the calm before the storm. If anything happens, don't hesitate to call."
The master's squad was going into sleep rest, but the two of them seemed unsatisfied and, if we didn't insist they properly rest, looked like they might just join our squad. I definitely didn't want that.
"Understood. So, master and Miss Amelia, make sure you get a good rest."
"Yes. If the strongest among us— you two—get too tired to fight, we'd be in trouble."
I reinforced it with Zeal, and the two reluctantly went below deck.
Because they had been on continuous alert and fighting until now, it seemed those two were bad at actually relaxing and resting. We needed to teach them to rest when they could.
"Alright, as we decided, let's split up."
We nodded at Zeal's words.
We divided with me and the hero in the front, and the beast trainer Waki, curse removal specialist Ueno, and knight Zeal in the rear—just as planned during the master's watch.
It might look like too much force up front, but the hero insisted this was the most rational arrangement after discussion. Indeed, if enemies attacked the front we could certainly defeat them, and if they attacked the rear I would transform into a flying demonic beast to provide cover. Zeal alone could hold things for the time it took me to arrive.
"......"
"......"
The only problem was probably that the hero and I didn't get along. The master apparently didn't get along with the hero either; Crow had said masters and servants tend to resemble each other.
Silence stretched on.
"By the way, what kind of place is the Demon Clan territory?"
Perhaps unable to stand the quiet, the hero spoke first.
Unlike the master, the hero had been restricted for information at Reytis Castle, so he apparently only knew Human territory and the short time he'd spent in Beastmen territory. On top of that, he didn't know even the stories children of this world typically knew. Even among non-combatants, if they're just trying to get by, it's one thing, but shouldn't they at least learn things relevant to their chosen professions?
Still, doing nothing but wait for enemies was a waste of time. Talking could help organize thoughts.
"I don't know how much you know, so I'll start with the basics. Demon Clan territory, Volcano—it's not a place suitable for humans. That goes for demons too. With many volcanoes the ambient temperature is high and crops don't grow well. Now that magical tools and useful magic are widespread, demons can live there reasonably well, but in the past even demons starved to death. Humans and Beastmen, who have less magical power, would still die in an instant."
I spoke, picturing my nostalgic Demon Clan territory.
"Currently the landmass is less than half what it used to be, but back then there was a large castle and castle town in the north where the volcanoes were relatively dormant."
The large painting displayed in the current Demon King's Castle—an intricate view of the Demon Clan territory as if cut out from the sky—depicted that past prosperity.
If the first generation hero hadn't blasted it away, it would have continued to flourish and become the most prosperous city among the four races' continents. If not for the first generation hero—no, if there had been no hero—the demon lord wouldn't have been driven to sorrow.
I'm now the master's familiar, potentially an enemy of the demon lord. Although I still honor the demon lord, I must soon consider where my loyalties lie.
"Why is it less than half now?"
"...You, don't you dare tell that to any demons or the demon lord besides me."
He really knew nothing. This is a legend of the hero in every continent; ask a bit and they'd have told you. Shouldn't you at least have researched things related to your profession?