"I wonder how Sara-chan and Airi-chan are doing." (Sumire)
"If anything was wrong, Rita-san and the others would let us know. I'm sure they're fine." (Eugene)
Sumire and I walk through the halls of the Lykeion Magic Academy.
We're on an errand Principal Uther asked us to handle.
Sara and Airi have currently left the Dungeon City.
Needless to say, it's to stop the war that's supposed to happen.
Airi plans to directly petition His Majesty the Emperor -her father- and take responsibility for developing the Kryuse Plain herself.
The scattered settlements at the edge of the Kryuse Plain, once the territory of the Great Demonic Beast, Haagenti, are closer to the Holy Union than the Empire, so they've been heavily influenced by the Church of the Goddess.
When the Empire tried to forcibly overwrite that with its own culture, it provoked resistance from the villagers, leading to intervention from the Holy Union.
Airi said she would preserve the culture of the Kryuse settlements and gradually integrate them by sending people from the Empire instead.
"But now I'm worried Airi-chan might get targeted by assassins…" (Sumire)
Sumire looks uneasy.
In the original timeline, poison was slipped into the Emperor's food.
There's a real possibility that Airi, acting in his place, could be targeted.
"Yeah. That's why I actually wanted to go with her…" (Eugene)
With my healing magic, I should've been able to neutralize any poison…or so I thought.
"Eugy-kun, you can't use healing magic anymore, right?" (Sumire)
"I didn't expect becoming a Demon Lord would affect me like this. I can heal myself, but I'll need some practice to heal others." (Eugene)
To overcome the Trial of the Gods against the Red Dragon, I fell from grace and became a Demon Lord.
Because of that, I passed the trial and definitely became stronger…but in exchange, I lost white mana.
"If you learn reversal magic, you can use healing magic again, so it's fine☆"
That's easy for the former Demon Lord Eri to say, but I can't use reversal magic at all…
None of the academy's teachers can teach it either, so I'm studying it on my own.
"Well, Sara is apparently the Holy Union's negotiator, so the chances of assassination should be extremely low." (Eugene)
I'm worried about Airi, but I don't think the danger is that high.
"But wasn't someone called Holy Maiden Matrona originally supposed to negotiate with the Empire? Sara-chan isn't a Holy Maiden right now. Will she be okay?" (Sumire)
"The Holy Union side should be fine. They've got the Destiny Oracle and the Destiny Goddess, Ilia-sama." (Eugene)
Especially the Destiny Goddess. Aside from us who came from the future, she's seen the timeline where the war happened.
She said during her recent descent that she wouldn't hesitate to support us, so Sara should be managing just fine.
"I see… But Airi-chan and Sara-chan probably won't be able to come back to the academy for a while, right…" (Sumire)
"Yeah…it won't be easy for them to return." (Eugene)
Airi and Sara built their trust through the long time they spent together at the Lykeion Magic Academy and training at the Zenith Tower.
But even without the future war, the Empire and the Holy Union have deep-rooted grudges. Negotiations won't be easy.
Many harbor resentment toward the Empire, especially among the Holy Union's older citizens.
And imperial soldiers dislike showing weakness toward other nations.
Sara and Airi will likely struggle with expectations from their own sides more than their negotiating partners.
"Let's go see them sometime, Eugy-kun." (Sumire)
"Yeah. Let's take some time off and visit them." (Eugene)
"Well then, I'll head to the Zenith Tower first. See you later." (Sumire)
With that, Sumire parts ways with me.
My destination is the Seventh Sealed Prison.
I open the blackened door stained with miasma.
Before, I needed to cast a barrier just to enter here.
But now that I've fallen and become a Demon Lord, I don't even need that.
(Still, I end up casting a barrier anyway out of habit…) (Eugene)
I can still use barrier magic just fine unlike healing magic.
Step… step… step…
I descend the dim staircase leading underground.
What once felt like pitch darkness doesn't seem that dark anymore.
After reaching the bottom, I walk down the long corridor.
(I-It's Eugene-sama☆)
(He's young, but he's a current Demon Lord.)
(Amazing… I admire him.)
(I wonder who's stronger, him or the Dragon King.)
(I wish he'd let us out of here.)
The voices of evil apparitions echo clearly.
They seem strangely friendly toward me unlike before.
Maybe that's another effect of becoming a Demon Lord.
— "Hey, Eugene. You came again today?"
"Yeah. I'm here to greet that person." (Eugene)
— "You've caught the interest of someone troublesome. Good luck."
"Haha…" (Eugene)
The one casually speaking to me is a mythological creature from another world that used to always be asleep.
Apparently they see me as one of them now.
(I always thought Eri was sealed alone in a dark prison, but…) (Eugene)
Now that I come here as a Demon Lord, the Seventh Sealed Prison feels oddly lively.
When your position changes, what you see changes too.
Before I know it, I've reached the deepest part.
There's no name "Erinyes" here anymore.
Instead…
— "Good grief, you're late, aren't you?"
A whisper suddenly comes right next to my ear.
The next moment…
"!?"
I'm yanked into an open cell.
I fell to the ground from the force.
I look up while my cheek is pressed on the floor.
— "Oh dear, sorry. It's hard to control my strength. I meant to gently take your hand."
Speaking playfully is a beautiful woman with long silver hair and emerald-like eyes.
But the pressure she exudes surpasses any Divine Beast I've ever encountered.
"…My apologies for being late, Demon God-sama." (Eugene)
At the deepest part of the Seventh Sealed Prison now rests the Demon God…and the lamp that serves as her seal.
It's by her own request.
Apparently, this place is convenient since it's beyond the gaze of the Divine Realm.
Eri said something similar before.
— "Fufu, good boy. But Claude-kun still hasn't come to see me, has he?" (Loki)
"He's still training barrier magic. He can't enter the Seventh Sealed Prison yet. But he says he'll be able to soon." (Eugene)
— "Then I look forward to it." (Loki)
The Demon God-sama smiles in satisfaction.
I then replace the offerings in the room -fruits, alcohol, and such- with fresh ones.
They haven't been touched.
In the first place, the Demon God-sama doesn't eat earthly food.
What matters is the act of offering itself.
The apples and grapes I placed a week ago still look freshly picked.
Being in the Demon God's presence apparently preserves them.
Principal Uther happily explained that to me before.
After that, I carefully polish the lamp containing the Demon God-sama.
That completes the task Principal Uther assigned me.
Regularly greeting the Demon God.
"Well then, I'll take my leave." (Eugene)
— "Bye-bye☆" (Loki)
The Demon God waves cheerfully.
(Guess I didn't get caught up this time.) (Eugene)
Sometimes when she's bored, she makes me chat with her for an hour.
That time, I was bedridden for half a day afterward.
Honestly, I'm still not used to her overwhelming presence.
Even after becoming a Demon Lord.
(I hope Claude will be okay…) (Eugene)
He'll finally be able to enter the Seventh Seal, and then meet the Demon God-sama.
If he collapses, I'll take care of him.
(Next is the Zenith Tower.) (Eugene)
Sumire and Eri should be there.
I leave the underground and head toward the tower's entrance.
◇◇
(It's crowded again today.) (Eugene)
Now that the Red Dragon incident has settled, the Dungeon City is back to normal.
It's packed with adventurers.
There's a long line at the dungeon elevator. It'll take a while.
(Maybe I'll grab something from a stall as a souvenir.) (Eugene)
As I wander around…
"Eugene!! Why are you slacking off here?!"
A small hand grabs me from the side.
I don't even need to turn around.
"Anemoi?" (Eugene)
"Come with me!" (Anemoi)
My vision distorts.
It's dungeon teleport magic; only a Dungeon Master can use it.
The reason I can be moved too is because I formed a new contract with Anemoi.
Not a Life Contract like before, just a light Word Contract.
When my vision clears, we're standing in a vast grassy field.
"Hey, Anemoi, what floor is thi—" (Eugene)
"That doesn't matter! Your friends are fighting!" (Anemoi)
"What?" (Eugene)
I tense up.
I can certainly hear shouting in the distance.
I ran toward it.
What happened…
"Why won't you understand?!"
"Because you're taking Eugene with you! Leave him behind!"
"No! Airi-chan and Sara-chan both want to see Eugy-kun!"
"Why would you go out of your way to take your own man to another woman?!"
"It can't be helped!"
"It absolutely can be helped!"
I could hear the argument clearly.
It was Sumire and Eri.
And the reason for the argument…was me.
I lost all tension.
"Anemoi, that's not a fight. They're just messing around." (Eugene)
"...Looks like it." (Anemoi)
I figured I should go over and stop them, so I started walking toward them…
But someone grabbed my hand.
"Anemoi?" (Eugene)
"…Are you going somewhere far away?" (Anemoi)
She must've overheard Sumire.
Anemoi looked straight at me as she asked.
"I'll come back." (Eugene)
"Really? Your hometown is the Empire, right? If that princess pushes you, won't you just give in?" (Anemoi)
By "princess," she probably meant Airi.
She gets mad if you call her that, though.
"I've got things to do at the Lykeion Magic Academy, so I'll be back." (Eugene)
"Hmm… Is that so?" (Anemoi)
Anemoi floated lightly into the air.
From looking down at me, she adjusted to meet my gaze directly.
Her small hands wrapped around the back of my neck.
"Anemoi?" (Eugene)
"Hey, Eugene. About our contract…want to make it a bit stronger?" (Anemoi)
"Really? I don't have any complaints as it is…" (Eugene)
Even just having access to dungeon movement magic helps a lot.
Like today.
"Just do it! Anyway, with me…" (Anemoi)
Her face drew closer as she spoke.
"Huh?"
I wasn't sure how to respond…
"Eugy-kun! What are you doing?!"
"Eugene! Don't tell me you're making a move on a little girl!"
Sumire and Eri noticed us.
"Tch."
A small click of the tongue.
"You've got it wrong. It's not like that between me and Anemoi." (Eugene)
When I said that, Sumire, Eri, and Anemoi all gave me a strange look.
…What?
"Anemoi-chan? You should be more honest about your feelings, you know~?" (Sumire)
"Wha!? W-What are you talking about?!" (Anemoi)
"Tsunderes aren't really in style these days, you know?" (Sumire)
"Don't talk down to me like you're superior. You're just some brat who's barely even lived ten or so years!" (Anemoi)
"But you've never had a boyfriend, right~?" (Sumire)
"You…!" (Anemoi)
Now Sumire and Anemoi started arguing.
Well, "arguing" might be too strong. Sumire was mostly just provoking her.
Despite her gentle appearance, Sumire really does stir up trouble when she opens her mouth.
Maybe it's because she's an Ifrit -always sparking conflict.
…Probably unrelated, though.
"Oh? Eugene, did you go see Loki-sama?" (Eri)
Eri had come up beside me.
"Yeah, just swapping out the usual offerings." (Eugene)
"You're as diligent as ever." (Eri)
She gave a wry smile.
On her back were pure white wings.
Even now, seeing Eri with white wings still feels strange.
"What? Enchanted by me?" (Eri)
She flashed a provocative smile.
And yeah…she really is beautiful enough to stare at.
"Yeah. I was staring." (Eugene)
I said it honestly.
"Huh?"
Eri blinked in surprise.
Then she looked slightly dissatisfied.
"You're getting used to handling women, aren't you?" (Eri)
Why is that a bad thing?
"You were cuter when you were all innocent. Show me that 'end-of-the-world' face again from when your childhood friend dumped you." (Eri)
"Stop it." (Eugene)
Eri keeps bringing that up no matter how many years pass.
It's true, though… I really did have that kind of face back then.
"Come on, over here. Time for a 'break.'" (Eri)
Eri grabbed my hand.
"Ah! Eri-san, don't just take him like that!!" (Sumire)
Sumire ran over too.
Anemoi stood there, looking a bit left out.
Maybe I should take her dungeon exploring later.
That usually cheers her up.
"Anemoi-chan, wanna come too~?" (Sumire)
Sumire called out.
"No, I won't!!" (Anemoi)
She refused immediately.
"You're so not honest~" (Eri)
"Seriously~" (Sumire)
Eri and Sumire sighed.
"Hey, Eri, Sumire. About Anemoi—" (Eugene)
Just as I was about to ask something…
"Alright, boom☆" (Eri)
Eri shoved me.
A movement with absolutely no warning.
Even as a Demon Lord, I couldn't react to it at all.
I landed on a soft bed instead of hitting hard ground.
Before I knew it, we were no longer in the grasslands, but inside a dimly lit room.
Eri's magic, most likely.
She can manipulate the dungeon freely as the administrator of the Zenith Tower.
"Eugene, your duties… Oh wait, not that." (Eri)
"Eugy-kun♡" (Sumire)
Eri and Sumire looked down at me on the bed.
"Go easy on me." (Eugene)
That was all I could say to the two of them, staring at me like carnivores.
By the way, I wasn't released until morning.
The Dungeon Master was in an awfully terrible mood the next day, and it took quite a bit of effort to calm her down.
In other words…
The world was peaceful today too.
~End~