Walpurgis.
A grand banquet held among the monsters who bore the title of Demon Lord.
According to a certain human scholar, it was a council where the most fearsome monsters ruling this world gathered together to discuss the future of the world.
In reality, it had originally been nothing more than the three primordial Demon Lords—Guy, Ramiris, and Milim—meeting from time to time to report on how they had been doing while enjoying tea and snacks.
Now that the number of Demon Lords had grown, it was true that it had become more of a place for meetings than a regular tea party, but honestly, it was closer to a reunion gathering people attended whenever they were bored.
'How are they supposed to discuss the future of the world when not a single one of them is serious? They'd be better off just deciding their own national policies.'
...That was a bit of a tangent, but anyway, the reason I suddenly ended up participating in Walpurgis was simple: I was finally going out into the world.
For the first time in five whole years.
.......
Five years ago, after fulfilling my promise to travel with Chronoa, I had finally stepped out into the world so I could make use of what I knew from the original story.
It might sound unrelated at first, but Walpurgis and my becoming part of humanity's fighting strength were actually deeply connected.
Because the other Demon Lords needed to know my true identity as one of Guy's subordinates. That way, I wouldn't end up clashing with them, it would be easier to rig the board in advance, and having connections would make traveling across the various continents much more convenient.
To put it simply, Guy was trying to make things easier for me.
Apparently, my abilities had finally reached a level he found satisfactory.
That was also why he was willing to go this far to smooth the way and send me outside.
Well, for me, it was an extremely favorable situation.
'Guy said he'd hide my [Hero's Egg] for me, so I can probably just relax and go.'
I had no idea how exactly he planned to hide it, but if it was Guy, it wouldn't be strange no matter what he pulled off.
He wasn't called the [Arbiter], God's proxy, for nothing.
......
While I was waiting for Guy in the audience chamber before heading to Walpurgis—
"Adelio! What are you standing around spacing out for? Hurry up and get ready!"
Rain came over to me.
Soon, with her cheeks puffed out, she planted her hands on her hips and gave off a very obvious "I'm upset" sort of mood.
Seeing that, I thought, 'Here we go again.'
"...I'm already ready. I'm just waiting for Lord Guy right now."
Over the past five years, Rain and I had grown much closer, and now we were comfortable enough to talk like friends.
Aside from the fact that we still didn't quite drop into casual speech, it really felt a lot like when I used to spend time with Ria.
"...Ready? What do you mean, ready? Your clothes are all crooked. Lower your head a little."
Her cheeks faintly reddening, Rain stepped closer and began straightening my clothes.
She didn't seem to realize she was unconsciously speaking much more casually than usual.
...But... was this really something... friends did...?
'...'
Maybe because it felt more like something you'd do for a lover, I got a little awkward too.
Apparently, being hopelessly shy was one of those things that didn't get fixed even after reincarnation.
"..."
"...What exactly are the two of you doing?"
Just as a strange tension began to form between us, Misery entered the audience chamber with a slight frown.
"...Oh, you're here?"
Misery, too, had recently become a close and comfortable friend, much like Rain.
Though maybe because I was already used to speaking politely with her, I still hadn't managed to switch to casual speech.
"...Rain. Move aside for a moment."
Anyway, Misery—no, just Misery, who had started giving off an aura as cold as Velzard's magicules, spoke to Rain in a sharp voice.
"Excuse me? Why should I?"
But Rain frowned right back and answered coldly.
Misery didn't back down either...
"You're not very good at fixing someone's appearance in the first place, are you? I'll do it instead, so move."
"Ha, no thanks. I'm pretty good at it now too!"
I mean, my clothes being a little messy was hardly worth all this...
"Um... maybe both of you should stop there—"
"Be quiet."
"Adelio, please be quiet for a moment."
"......Yes."
Was this what it felt like whenever Guy got scolded by Velzard? I really hadn't wanted to understand it through something like this...
Still, I wasn't oblivious enough to complain right now.
The sparks flying in their eyes looked exactly like when I had met Viole and Jonne before.
In other words, it was a very dangerous state—one wrong move and things might spiral out of control.
'Please... somebody get here already...'
And just as I was desperately praying for anyone at all to come save me—
"...Hey. What exactly are you all doing in my audience chamber?"
Guy appeared like a savior. A Demon Lord-shaped savior, anyway.
Though he did look a little dumbfounded.
A moment later, Guy's usual sharp smile spread across his face, and he said with a laugh,
"Ha... If you're going to have a lovers' quarrel, take it outside. Milim and Ramiris are coming too, and this isn't good for children."
"L-Lovers' quarrel?!" "W-We are... not in that kind of relationship yet..."
At Guy's trademark bombshell comment, the two demons immediately stopped glaring at each other and started panicking instead.
It seemed they still hadn't learned that if you reacted to something like that, Guy would only tease you harder.
"Oh? You're not? Then maybe I should turn into a woman and take him with me—"
"N-No!!" "Absolutely not...!!"
Just like that.
'...Lovers, my ass. Like I'd ever want to die at a demon's hands...'
...And whenever things like this happened, I always ended up in the role of the one trying to stop it.
"...Lord Guy, that's enough too. Shouldn't we be going soon?"
This wasn't the time for jokes. Now that Guy was here too, it was time to head for the banquet hall where Walpurgis would be held.
"Yeah, I know."
Guy only answered after laughing for a few more minutes, then turned his gaze to Rain and Misery.
"Rain, Misery. Wait here, then bring Milim and Ramiris a little later. The others too."
"Yes, understood..."
The two of them were still blushing red from being teased, but even so, they straightened up into proper curtseys like the professionals they were.
Watching them, I gave a small, wry smile and silently nodded to say I'd be back.
A little while later—
"There. I've opened the gate. Adelio, get in."
When I turned toward Guy's voice again, I found a door that looked extremely hellish.
Its rough, uneven surface looked as though it had been carved from the black rocks of hell itself, and it was decorated with demonic wings and horns, making it look downright ominous.
It was that exact door I had seen in the manga.
'So if I cross this, I'll get to meet those Demon Lords.'
The feeling was strangely new.
The fact that I had grown this strong before I even realized it, and the fact that I was about to see with my own eyes the Demon Lords who ruled this world—not in a manga, but in reality—made my heart pound.
'What will the me they see look like?'
'And what will they look like through my eyes?'
'Can my current strength reach them?'
'How much value will my power have to them?'
Questions like those only made me more excited.
'...This is going to be fun.'
The thrill came from the primal battle instinct I possessed as a demon.
And then, surrendering myself to that excitement, I threw myself through the door.
To meet the rulers of the world.
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