Guysitel opened and closed his mouth several times as if he was quite shocked, but then slowly kneeled down. There was a solid red line on his neck that wasn't there until a moment ago, and I don't know when it first came about.
Plip. The blood that had formed along the solid line pooled and flowed down.
Only then did I discover the existence of the thread touching Guysitel's neck.
"...I apologize if I offended you in any way. sorry."
Dvelaniaaa!! What are the same Corps Commanders doing now?!
For some reason, Guysitel was even apologizing instead of getting angry! Why are you apologizing?
In the meantime, it was a bit absurd to see that they did not think that the palanquin was the cause, but it was more embarrassing than that.
Dvelania, who had a string around Guysitel's neck, took a stance as if she was about to pull it.
"What should we do, Demon?"
Because she was smiling.
Wasn't he a Corps Commander like you? I was sure that killing one another was considered against the rules, right?
Or maybe...
'I can't believe Guysitel's treatment was strange.'
Was it judged to be unhelpful to power? Would it be better to replace him with another Corps Commander?
The Demon King was like the father of all demons. As long as they were born from the power of the Demon King, they will most likely not do anything that will harm the Demon King.
So, there must be a reason for treating the 'Corps Commander', an important force, this way.
Otherwise, just as not all children listen to their parents and grow up properly, there may simply be some demons who go astray, and one of them was Dvelania.
Regardless of which answer was given, the thought I had at that moment was none other than 'I'm screwed.'
As I got used to it, the tension that had loosened became tighter again.
Still, I thought there was some safety device, but it was shocking to see that it was bare body. Wasn't it literally like I was walking on a tightrope over a cliff? I once again saw Dvelania's smiling face. If I made a mistake, she'll cut his head off with that expression on her face.
I have to get involved before that happens. For a brief moment, my head was spinning.
And Guysitel, whose head looked like it was about to be cut off, came into view.
Ah, I got the answer.
"Let's go out."
When I noticed that Ben's hand that had been adjusting my clothes had come off, I hurriedly walked towards the door.
Dvelania blinked, loosening the strength in her hand that was holding the thread, as if the words were completely unexpected. The usual loose thread was everywhere, and the innocently blinking eyes as if she hadn't heard anything was creepy again.
"...Yes?"
"Would it be okay to kill another Corps Commander? Guysitel did nothing wrong, so let's just pick up the thread and leave."
How to increase Dvelania's favor towards me and how to avoid incurring Geisitel's resentment.
'Going out' under the pretext of 'buying clothes'.
It may be a bit of a struggle, but if it means I can have a better future, why sacrifice my life Everyone paused for a moment at the sudden change of topic. As expected, Guysitel was the first to act.
Using a skill that I don't know where he honed his skills, he took advantage of the slack in Dvelania's strings and rushed over, opened the door, and waited.
Dvelania blinked for a moment and looked at him, then smiled and took the thread.
"If Demon says so."
"..."
"More than that, Demon, you are humble as expected. He knows his position and is the 'same' Corps Commander."
Well, actually, it's a lower position than that. ...Hmm?
'Humble'? Not 'arrogant'?
I am a human being, and the '0th Corps Commander' position I got was created by creating a position that did not exist, so it must be an honorary position, and even so, I do not have a proper role... I said that I was 'the same' as other Corps Commanders on that topic, but was it not arrogance but humility?
"Demon's position is implicitly similar to that of the 1st Corps Commander."
"Since everyone is more nervous when dealing with Demon than with the 1st Corps Commander, shouldn't it be said that Demon is actually higher in rank? The Demon King is also more careful with Demon than with the 1st Corps Commander."
I didn't know. I just thought everyone respected me because I was someone brought by the Demon King himself.
So, no matter how low my current position is...
The Demon King > 1st Corps Commander = me > the rest of the Corps Commanders, right? You're crazy.
The 1st Corps Commander also serves as the Demon King's personal agent.
I'm in a similar position to that guy?
But still, there was nothing I could say.
"...Let's go out."
I have no choice but to repeat what I said.
...
The feeling of being a dress-up doll was terrible, but seeing the city was quite interesting.
As a city of trade, there were a variety of fruits and weapons. Even the types of fish available in the market were diverse.
Somehow, I saw a lot of them from the South, but I just passed them over because they're trendy.
I looked around as I took the sweet fruit Guysitel offered me.
"Demon! Shall we go that way this time?"
"Demon, this fruit here is called mango. It grows in the Southern part of the human world. Would you like to try it?"
Demon, Demon, Demon... Stop calling me! I want to take a look, but the two Corps Commanders won't let me go.
If Ben had done the same, I would have really had a headache, but fortunately, he seemed to have noticed my condition and kept his mouth shut, following me silently as if he was not there.
Oh, and Guysitel's recovery was quick. At least until I left, I thought he would be depressed or burning with anger, but he appeared cheerful, rubbing his palms together as if something had just happened, and claimed to be a guide around the city.
Following his guidance, I circled around until I was near the castle gate, and muttered inadvertently as I watched the people coming and going through the gate.
"The monsters' attacks must have intensified, but the gates are still open."
Although it contained doubts, this was clearly self-talk.
After talking with the gatekeeper guarding the castle gate, the familiar sight of demons leaving outside did not suit the current situation, so I just muttered that.
"Oh, actually, this city originally had its gates closed. But the border with the human world was discovered not far away... Ah!"
"...?!"
Guysitel gave an unexpected answer. No way...
The hypothesis that had been occupying a corner of my head all along inflated its presence as if it had been waiting.
"The Southern part of the human world?"
"How did you know...! No, no, that's what I mean..."
Was it true?!
Guysitel belatedly denied it, but the sight of him dropping the Southern fruit he was holding and waving his hand didn't seem very believable.
I'm not the only one who didn't know this, right?
I turned to Ben and Dvelania to see if they knew, and saw Dvelania shaking her head and Ben with his eyes wide open.
At least Ben didn't seem to know.
'Thank god. I wasn't the only one who didn't know.'
At that time, Ben, who had been gaping with his mouth open, frowned and asked a sharp question.
"Does the Demon King know about this?"
"Of course, I reported it! ...Well, I meant to..."
"You mean you didn't."
"...When will demons who have to stay in the city have a chance to go to the human world? I happened to find a border line nearby, so I wanted to have a little fun... Since we were going back and forth secretly, we established rules between ourselves and forbade any accidents or fighting there..."
Guysitel's voice gradually became quieter. The head gradually lowered, and the bat wings behind his back were folded tightly against his body.
And at that moment, those who had just left the gate returned again.
Very urgently, with a cloud of dust behind their back.
"Close the door! Close the door quickly!!"
"It's monsters!!"
Wow. If I do well, I'll be trapped in this city, right?
It's hard to see because it's covered in dust, but just looking at the scale of the dust, you can clearly see that the number is no joke.
Unlike me, who was inwardly shocked, the gatekeepers were calm.
Although he was confused for a moment, he skillfully took out the communication stone and sent a message somewhere. Then an alarm sounded and the huge castle gates began to slowly close.
'Wait a minute, I don't think they can come in?'
The gate is almost completely closed, but there was still some distance between the gate and the guys running.
I naturally looked at them wondering if that was okay, but then the two of them kicked the ground. And then! They slid in! They ran that distance and got in in one go!
'But why is the monster suddenly... Ah.'
The thoughts that were flowing through my consciousness reached something and stopped. At the same time, cold sweat ran down my spine.
Now that I thought about it, after going through a lot of trouble on the way here, all the monsters we encountered were driven back inside the border. In fact, w didn't even intentionally try to drive them out. After killing them for a while, there was nothing we could do because those who felt their lives were threatened ran away first.
'But it was too much of a waste to do that again...'
Also, setting up a thread and attracting monsters to deal with them was not efficient because the number of them was insufficient.
It wasn't a huge number like in the beginning, so I thought it wouldn't be a big deal if they ran away... but my thoughts were short-lived. Where will the chased monsters go? The only place nearby that has life was this second city.
'This... it's clearly our fault no matter who sees it.'
But don't these guys get stabbed?
I glanced back at Dvelania, who had the same attitude, and Ben, who was only focused on my condition. Dvelania, who did not miss my gaze, gently nodded her head and called out to Guysitel.
"It would be difficult if we couldn't leave the city. Shouldn't you fulfill your mission, Commander of the 10th Corps?"
"The 10th Corps is always ready to defend the city."
As soon as the preparations were complete, Guysitel appeared, dragging a horse unique to the demon realm with black air currents fluttering about.
Likewise, the members of the 10th Corps were fully prepared and stood behind them, each holding the reins of their horses.
If the 2nd Corps led by Dvelania's specialty was attacks using thread and setting traps, the 10th Corps' was 'horseback riding'.
It's a bit of a strange combination since the Commander has wings and his specialty was horseback riding, but it's none of my business.
I knew that the demon horses they had were meat-eaters, so instead of saying something, I quietly took a step back.
Then Ben stepped forward as if speaking for me.
"Are you avoiding questioning like this?"
"...You are persistent on this topic. I don't think it's up to you to step forward."
"Well, I heard something from the Lieutenant of Commander of the 0th Corps, who is not here. Demon usually talks little, so he told me to keep an eye on him and listen closely to find out in advance what he wants to say."
...Huh? Me?
"In that sense, I will speak on behalf of Demon. As the situation is dire, I will let you go, but no matter how Guysitel comes out, the matter regarding the border will be reported to the Demon King."
Why are you speaking on my behalf? Can't you just say that's what you're saying?
As expected, Guysitel's harsh gaze turned to Ben and then to me. It seemed like the gaze directed at me was closer to observing rather than glaring, but of course I must be mistaken.
He held the reins tightly, bowed to me once, and mounted the horse. Likewise, members of the 10th Corps on horseback followed Guysitel and stood in front of the castle gate.
Then a powerful voice fell.
"Open the door."
The mission of the 10th Corps Commander was to protect the city. The door opened without a word.
The 10th Corps, riding black horses, sortied through the half-open door in preparation for monsters coming in.
Doo doo doo doo doo!!
'Oh... It's pretty cool...?'
I was staring blankly at the scene where the black air flowing out from the horses stretched like a tail and then later dispersed, and then I glanced at the door closing again.
And I couldn't believe my eyes.
It's not because a monster came in. Fortunately, the monster didn't come in. But...
Doo doo doo doo doo!!
'What are they doing...'
The 10th Corps that had just left came back.
Just before the door closed, the last corps member came in, and the sound of the door closing with a thump followed by the screams of monsters echoed from beyond.
Guysitel, who was out of breath with a pale face, suddenly grabbed Dvelania by the collar.
"There are too many!"