Not long after the ash-gray magicules wrapped around my confidant and secretary, even greater surges of power rose from the battlefield.
Then Odin's voice followed.
<Report. The individual Moss has evolved into a [Demon Lord].>
[Demon Lord] and [Arch Demon].
Moss, who had been a duke-class [Arch Demon], reached [Demon Lord] in a single leap the moment he received a name, just like Ria had.
And Cien, a baron-class [Arch Demon], had not evolved, but he still succeeded in gaining magic power that did not fall behind even a count-class demon.
'With just these two alone, most nations wouldn't even be worth talking about.'
Moss and Cien, the two demons who had received names, were in no way inferior even compared to the attendants of that true Demon Lord, the [Vampire Queen].
'But...'
This wasn't the end of it.
'The more forces I have, the more [preparations] I can make in advance. And around two hundred sounds just right.'
There were still roughly two hundred bodies left.
I intended to give all of those to Ria's subordinates as well.
'If I leave out the troops needed to guard this place in hell and a few of the residents, it should line up perfectly.'
There were about two hundred combat personnel, excluding the guard forces and the ordinary residents. So there was no shortage of bodies.
And even if there was, I still had the option of using my Contract with Ermesia.
That was why, if it was possible to prepare forces in advance that could operate in the material world, I thought it would be best to do so now, and I immediately spoke.
"Moss, Cien. I know this is sudden right after your evolution, but I have an order for you."
The first command I gave the two demons, who were still kneeling even after evolving.
"We do not mind. Please, command us as you will."
"Just say the word!"
Still caught up in the intense exhilaration of having gained their first bodies and names, the two demons nodded at once.
Just from the feel of it, their loyalty had grown as much as their magic power. It really did seem that giving a name had an enormous effect.
In any case—
"While Ria and I are away in the material world for a while, gather all the combat personnel among our retainers here."
Mobilizing the troops and moving them to the material world.
More precisely, we would be returning to [Eldorado].
I still had things left to discuss with Leon Cromwell, and I also needed to let him know that things with Jonne had been resolved fairly well.
On top of that, I had to return to Chronoa within a month.
I'd even warned her before leaving that I wouldn't be staying in [Eldorado] for very long.
"It's time to head out into the material world, Ria."
Turning toward Ria, I took her hand and slowly spread my wings.
**
A section of the [Underworld Gate] connected to [Eldorado], the place where the gate had been erected.
This was also where I had dueled Agera, and since it lay within Jonne's territory, there should have been yellow-aligned demons here...
'...Why is no one here?'
The gate standing alone in the desolate plain showed that this was Jonne's domain, yet there was not a trace of her magic power or that of her subordinates anywhere nearby.
Considering this gate was part of the [Underworld Gate], it would have been normal for at least dozens of troops to be stationed here. But there wasn't a single one.
"...Something's wrong."
Ria, who had heard on the way here how I had managed to return to hell, must have sensed it too, because her voice turned cold.
Uuuuuung...!!
Just as Ria and I were about to release our magicules at the same time—
"There's no need to be so wary."
Black magicules.
Magic power so dark it felt like an abyss without a single point of light burst out from one spot.
"I merely placed Jonne and her subordinates inside [Despair Time] for a while. They will be released in a few hours. Kuhuhuhuhu..."
It came with laughter that sounded thoroughly wicked.
"...Noir..."
The owner of that laugh was the demon said to be the strongest in hell at present.
The [Primordial Demons] Noir.
The most fearsome demon, one with a history of fighting Guy Crimson on equal footing. A [Disaster] closest to [Catastrophe].
'...Why is Noir here? He would never show himself unless something genuinely interested him...'
He was a demon as abnormal as I was.
When every other demon longed for a body and a chance to ascend to the material world, he alone enjoyed his research and kept the Phantoms at bay. That alone was enough to prove what an oddball he was.
So why had a demon like that appeared here?
Seeing the meaning in my gaze, Noir curled his lips and laughed again.
"Kuhuhuhu, don't worry. I did not come here to fight you. If anything, you should welcome me. I merely came to offer my thanks for stopping yesterday's invasion."
"...Thanks?"
Ria's voice was full of doubt.
Noir pointed at me and answered her question.
"Yes. The reason the Phantoms invaded hell this time was because of the soul of your subordinate standing over there. But thanks to that same subordinate, I was able to land a blow on the [Phantom King]."
In other words, he added, he had no intention of killing me.
...It didn't seem to be a lie.
If he had truly meant to kill me, I would probably already be dead.
'Even with two [Ultimate Skill]s, if my opponent is Noir, there's no way I can handle him yet.'
If he had no intention of fighting, then the best option was to resolve this as peacefully as possible. Thinking that, I lowered my guard and spoke.
"In that case, why did you go out of your way to imprison Lady Jonne and her subordinates?"
"Kuhuhuhu... because stopping Jonne is the "thanks" I am giving you."
"...?"
Stopping her was his gift of thanks...? Don't tell me...
"Now that Jonne and Viole have noticed that Blanc has obtained a body, they are all but certain to become hostile to Blanc, if not to you."
"..."
...So my worst suspicion had come true.
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