Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle - Chapter 190 - Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle Chapter 190

190 – Oh…? The State of the Investigation Team is…?

With Milla and me, the introduction of the Original Dungeon Investigation team is over.

Margret gave a signal for the crowd to disperse, but several of the people from the TV company and reporters did not withdraw.

For example, those that tried to get a private interview, or those hanging around to try and get an interesting photo.

Their reaction to me saying that we will Clear the Original Dungeon if it becomes necessary was… lukewarm.

While there were people who were intrigued by such a grand declaration, the general mood of the crowd was basically… “What can a Black Sorcerer do?”

Even if I had won the Tag Tournament, that’s because Berith was there.

They think of me better as an excellent support member that is reasonably good at fighting by myself.

There were some onlookers who outright laughed.

But on the other hand, there were those who yelled out “Well said!” or “Good luck!”, etc, which is already a considerable difference from before.

For every person who honestly accepted Aerial’s high praise of me, there was someone who merely thought that he was just being nice to his younger colleague.

The world isn’t gonna change in a day, but little changes can keep happening, day after day.

「Your words from earlier moved me.」

It was a shockingly beautiful man.

He had the kind of well-featured face that made you think he had been blessed by God. Golden hair and azure eyes.

Clad in silver knight armor with a pure white cape.

He should be in his late thirties but he doesn’t look a day over twenty.

It was the Knight Lord Arthur of the 2nd ranked party.

Along with the Samurai Masamune of the 1st ranked party and the Far-Reaching Swordsman Hamill of the 5th ranked party, he can be counted among one of the five best swordsmen in the world.

The handsome Adventurer who was chosen as the top of the “Top 100 Hottest Adventurers” annual feature of a certain magazine.

…Not like I care, but Fenix and Lark were also in the top 100.

「It has been a long time, Arthur.」

「Indeed, Lem.」

His Job is a Paladin, but a unique thing about him is that he owns a Holy Sword despite not being a Hero.

Weapons that receive the divine protection of a Spirit are called Holy Swords, but once that happens, those who possess it are limited to Spirit contractors.

He cannot use Spirit Magic. But he can use a Holy Sword.

In other words, he somehow received a Spirit’s divine protection.

「I, too, hail from the countryside, so I can understand how you feel about your hometown. I swear to do my very best to save the village you grew up in.」

With a hand on his chest, Arthur says so with a serious expression.

「Thank you very much… By the way, is it just the three of you participating?」

「Ah, yes, a lot has happened.」

Arthur’s smile seemed to fade for a moment.

The 2nd ranked party didn’t take part in the Raid Battle either. Perhaps something happened.

「Lem. I doubted my ears when I heard Miss Margret, but you really are here! Good to see you.」

A man who was just dealing with his fans a little bit away from us approached us.

He had black hair and black eyes. He had a solid physique but he wasn’t intimidating, perhaps due to his gentle demeanor.

Wearing a jet-back outfit, almost in direct opposition to Arthur, that suits him well.

The leader of the 2nd ranked party, The Jet-Black Hero Ex.

All members of the 2nd ranked party are irregular. The leader Ex is the top of the irregulars.

Currently, he is the only Human in the whole world who has formed a contract with a Spirit that doesn’t belong to any of the four major elements.

The Spirits of water, earth, wind, and fire are among several Spirits who favor humanity.

So much so that they still continue to cooperate with Heroes after the war was over.

But of course, there are more than just four elements.

These other Spirits are like something out of a fairy tale.

Out of a whim, they do things that they think will benefit people but is actually cruelty born of innocence.

It is these Spirits outside of the four major elements that create Original Dungeons.

「Ex, I am honored to meet you again.」

「I truly am happy, Lem. I thought it was a genuine shame that you left the Fenix party. Because I always felt a sort of affinity towards you.」

「…Ahaha, could it be because we are both “Black”?」

「You encourage far more people than you believe you do, Lem. I am sure that there are many Black Sorcerers who stand firm by seeing you perform your best in the higher ranks. Even I, worried over my own Spirit Magic, am emboldened when seeing how you do whatever you can with the powers you have.」

From Ex’s face, I could see that he wasn’t simply saying this to be nice. He meant it.

I met him several times when I was in the Fenix party, but I never knew he felt that way.

「…And well, I suppose that, as you said, both of us preferring black is a large factor.」

Drawn in by his smile that could soften the mood, my expression relaxes.

「Anyway, first an Insect-Human partner, and now a beautiful Vampire. Is your fate linked with that of female Demi-Humans?」

「Ahaha, well…」

「The combination you two showed in the Tag Tournament was superb. I wonder if she will come as well.」

Even Arthur said as much.

Milla, who was chatting with another Demi-Human a little ways away, seemed to be listening because I didn’t miss the way that her batwing antennas were twitching.

Even now, she keeps her distance from me when I’m with other people.

Meaning that outside of the times when I cast Confusion on my surroundings, when we are at the Demon King Castle, or when we’re alone in the apartment, she is concerned about me being seen standing side-by-side with a Vampire.

…She really doesn’t have to.

「Berith isn’t coming. However, Milla here is also a skilled fighter.」

「Is that so… Oh, my apologies. I am not doubting you or Miss Vampire’s prowess in battle.」

「It’s fine, I understand.」

Milla’s batwing antennas flap rapidly out of happiness.

「Milla.」　

Her antennas freeze in surprise.

Her shoulders were shaking and, after bidding farewell to the Demi-Human she was talking to, turns and walks towards me.

「Wh-whatever is it, Lem?」

「This is Ex and Arthur. Ex, Arthur, this is Milla. We are actually…quite intimate.」

Milla looked at me in surprise.

Honestly, my face is red hot out of embarrassment right now, but I thought that this was the fastest way to let her know that she doesn’t have to worry about such things anymore.

That it’s OK for everyone to know that you play an active part in my life.

The two from the 2nd ranked party smiled and laughed, exchanging greetings with her.

「It’s a long journey. You can bet that I shall ask about how this romance began.」

Ex said, jokingly. At least… I hope he was joking.

「Hm?! Ain’t this way too light? This is the box with food in it, right?」

That voice caught our attention.

Perhaps to keep them as fresh as possible, a portion of the provisions is being loaded.

It seems that the box filled with foodstuffs is somehow lighter than expected.

「Huh? No way. It was filled to the brim… This one’s light too.」

…For some reason, Milla and I looked at each other, having the same premonition.

「It’s…empty… It’s empty!」「This one too!」「What the hell is going on?!」「Hey, this one feels like it’s still full.」「Whoa!! Did that box just move?!」

「Milla.」

「Lem, let’s keep quiet. It has nothing to do with us.」

Certainly, this has nothing to do with Lem and Milla.

But this probably has a lot to do with Lemegeton and Carmilla.

「L-let’s open it on three. One…two…thr-WAAAGH?!」

A silver light ran past.

It was the same speed I witnessed in the Tag Tournament finals.

All the combat personnel in the area, except Milla and I, were on their guard.

But that wasn’t necessary.

That’s because…

「Oh, Lord Le-…Sir Lem. What a surprise. Ever since the Tournament.」

The gushing silver flash that cut through the winds stops right in front of me.

The person raising a hand while munching on radishes was a white-haired, bluish-purple-eyed, petite young girl.

A person who eats a lot, and it is obvious by looking at her voluptuous chest and healthy, plump thighs where all those nutrients go.

Perhaps feeling that it is easier to move dressed as such, both her arms and legs are boldly exposed.

Her spear that is her pride and joy is carried on her back, it’s…

「Indeed… It’s been a while, Miss Furcus.」

One of the Demon King Army’s Big Four, one who works as the Floor Boss of the eighth stratum, the Reaper Knight Furcus.

To the public, the only time that Lem and Furcus ever met is at the Tag Tournament, so her greeting took that into consideration.

「What? Furcus?!」「One of the Demon King Army’s Big Four?!」「…Wait, so where did all the food go…?」

…In her stomach.

「I didn’t hear any word of you taking part in this.」

「Emergency participation.」

「…I see.」

I suppose even her Highness couldn’t back down by allowing only two of her subordinates to take part in her father’s plan on the surface.

If Furcus is here, her activities can promote the name of the Demon King Castle.

This appears to be a counter-measure to her father’s plan to abolish Dungeon Clears.

The ring has been temporarily returned to her, so if there is a Defense, she can just be summoned.

「And the food…」

「I was told that there was a buffet.」

「Ah… I see.」

All expenses were paid by them, and I certainly hadn’t heard of any food restrictions. I…suppose it can be interpreted as a buffet…

「I do not mind. Compared to the service that Miss Furcus shall provide us, the cost of food is nothing. Please, eat to your heart’s content.」

Bowing gracefully, Margret says so.

…I’m not sure about this. Furcus’s stomach is bottomless…

I decide to swallow those words and not mention it.

Well, considering that we will pass through many other towns and villages on the way, I believe…we won’t be low on provisions while traveling…for long.

「Mm. Later, load this on as well.」

Before anyone realized it, Furcus’s giant set of armor appeared nearby.

…Did Agares use his Spatial Mobility to teleport it here?

「R-right away. In the Raid Battle, we were enemies, but right now, we are allies. I look forward to working with you.」

「Same here.」

Furcus glanced at her surrounding.

「What are you doing, Sitri?」

「Aw, I was trying to surprise them…」

Said the Demi-Human that Milla was talking with moments ago.

In an instant, her form changes to that of Sitri.

One of the Demon King Castle’s Big Four, the Floor Boss of the fifth stratum, the Demon of Love Sitri.

「I’m here too~! Teehee~!」