“Even if that comes to pass, I will not run or hide. I must journey to the town Batutta was dispatched to and gain his assistance.”
“...The one in the former Demon Lord’s Domain?”
“Yes. The remote town of Zircon Tower.”
Diablo had heard of that name before as it was an area from mid-game in Cross Reverie. It was implemented as another town on the front lines in a major update two years ago. At the same time, it had become a base for all the high level players in the game. Of course, it was a town Diablo had used for a while as well.
—That was around the time I got my own personal area.
Diablo’s dungeon should also be found near Zircon Tower. In the game, you could never just walk around and end up wandering into another player’s personal area. What was it like in this world? Could you actually walk there, or did it not exist at all?
Rem sighed. “...Zircon Tower, one of the outposts in the former Demon Lord’s Domain... I know how to get there from Faltra, but it takes a good amount of luck for those who aren’t Adventurers or merchants to even make it there.”
“I am fully prepared for that. I cannot afford to give up now.”
“Couldn’t you just write a letter to this Batutta guy?” Shera asked.
“A letter would not be enough to call him to action,” Lumachina said with a frown. “Helping me would mean facing off with the Cardinal Authority, and I can’t simply ask for something like that with a mere letter.”
“...He would be doubtful if you were actually the one who wrote the letter, too,” Rem said, nodding along.
“I am against the idea of entrusting my destiny to someone I have never met before. It’s not just my life that is at stake, but the future of the Church as well—not to mention the future of the country.”
“...I understand.”
The conversation was getting a bit out of hand, but Lumachina was in a position where she had to think about matters such as this. The power of the Church was said to rival the king’s, after all. Not to mention that originally, her role as High Priest meant she was supposed to control the Church.
“No matter the hardships I will face, I must reach Zircon Tower!” Lumachina declared.
The conversation was getting pretty stretched out here, so Diablo went to organize everything in his head:
Lumachina was the High Priest, the most important person in the entire Church. But it was the Cardinal Authority who were truly in control of the Church. It seemed the Authority was making money through dishonest means, and using their ill-gained capital to maintain their grip on the Church. There was no doubt they were the ones who ordered the Paladins to assassinate Lumachina after she found out about their wrongdoings. Because of that, Lumachina decided to request help from the Paladin Captain Batutta, who had been dispatched to the remote town of Zircon Tower.
—Well, if it’s a problem with the Church, it’s probably best to have someone from the Church solving it.
Rem made a suggestion: “Diablo, what do you think about us taking Lumachina there ourselves?”
“Hm...?”
“Oh, that sounds good! Yeah, let’s do that!” Shera was all aboard for the idea.
Surprised, Lumachina made as if to stand up. “I would be grateful...but wouldn’t that be too dangerous for you...?”
“...We are Adventurers. If we avoid danger, we wouldn’t be able to do anything. Besides, I’m sure you have seen Diablo’s power, haven’t you?”
“Y-Yes... That is true, it would be foolish to worry about God—ah, I mean, Lord Diablo’s well-being. It seems I still lack faith.”
“What do you think, Diablo?”
They all looked at him.
—I do feel Lumachina’s sense of justice is noble, and I can sympathize with her circumstances... But still, I want to avoid a confrontation with the Church. Unlike the game, if you die in this world, that’s it. No matter how much of an Adventurer I am, I don’t want to jump into something I know is gonna be too dangerous.
“...We should also be able to look forward to the reward as well,” Rem continued. “Lumachina is the High Priest, so if we can restore her authority in the Church, she should be able to prepare an amount appropriate to the work we will put forth.”
Lumachina nodded in agreement. “I do not have much on my person at the moment, but if you deem it necessary, Lord Diablo, I will prepare whatever I can.”
Lumachina still thought of Diablo as some kind of god. Not just a reward, but they may be able to count on her support from now on.
The way things were going, their party was going to be brought to bankruptcy due to how much they were spending on biscuits. Though Shera said they only had 500 friths to spend on treats per day, the truth was they needed an amount several times more than that. He didn’t know what would happen if they ran out of biscuits for Klem, and Rem and Shera would surely indulge her whenever she would beg for more.
—If we only have to get Lumachina to Zircon Tower, then maybe I won’t have to end up fighting with the Church.
The Church most likely didn’t have a grasp on the current situation, either. As long as they didn’t figure out how strong Diablo was, they wouldn’t send any sort of significant firepower their way. A Paladin or two would be no problem for him to handle.
Diablo twisted the corner of his lips into a smile. “Heh heh heh... So you desire power. Then I shall lend you mine, as a Demon Lord from another world!”
Lumachina knelt down, clasping her hands together.
And so, in order to earn money for biscuits and avoid marriage, such was how Diablo began impersonating a god.
†
The next morning—
Diablo and the others headed toward the inn’s dining hall. Klem and Edelgard had woken up early, getting there ahead of the group, which was quite rare.
Lumachina’s eyes opened wide. “Wh-What is this sinister black power coming from those two...!?”
“Nwagh!?” Klem stood on top of her chair. “What’s with this girl!? She smells like one of them!”
“And who exactly is this ‘them’ you are referring to?”
“God!” Klem shouted in response.
—Damn. They’re both the real deals.
It seemed Lumachina could see the Demon Lord-type magic energy emitting from Klem. If Diablo was actually a Demon Lord, and not just some guy role playing as one, he would’ve never been mistaken as a god.
It also seemed that Klem was able to sniff out that Lumachina, being the High Priest, was the person closest to the gods. Klem held no malice toward any of the races, but she did bear a deep-seated grudge against the gods for sealing her away for so long.
—Oh boy, there’s gonna be a fight at this rate. I have to stop them!
As the two glared at each other, Diablo placed a hand on each of their heads.
“You wouldn’t dare think of fighting in front of me, I would hope. Black magic energy, the stench of the gods... Are those things worth earning my displeasure?”
Lumachina’s shoulders slumped. “M-My deepest apologies for causing a commotion...”
“Hmph, this is making my biscuits taste bad. Sit somewhere far away from me.”
Klem sat back down. Edelgard, who looked ready to pounce at any moment, lowered her fists as well.
The dispute having been settled without incident, Rem and Shera heaved sighs of relief. Diablo mentally wiped off his cold sweat as well.
—These two have the worst compatibility...!
Since Diablo’s group had more people now, they ended up using the table next to Klem and Edelgard. As they had breakfast together, Rem conveyed everything that had been discussed in last night’s conversation to Klem and Edelgard.
“...And so, we have decided to help Lumachina reach the town of Zircon Tower in the former Demon Lord’s Domain.”
“Mm-hm, I see.”
“...We have to prepare for the journey, so we will depart tomorrow morning.”
“Roger dodger.
” Klem nodded as she stuffed her cheeks full of biscuits.
Edelgard sheepishly raised a hand. “Have, to go...no matter, what? Might, be...a problem.”
“...Is there something you need to do?”
“Edelgard, has work.” It was like the excuse you would get from a player with an actual life outside the game after they were invited to an online event.
Rem tilted her head. “...Could you explain that in a little bit more detail?”
“Here.” She presented Rem with a flier; it was a help wanted sign for Petre’s.
“...D-Did you...get a job?” Rem questioned, dumbfounded.
“Edelgard, will fight! For Demon Lord! Will also, make biscuits, for Demon Lord? Will make them!” She puffed out her chest proudly; that was some serious loyalty.
“I admire your ability to take action, but do you understand what kind of position you’re in here?”
“Servant, of Demon Lord?”
“...Never mind. Please just make sure to be careful.”
“Leave, to me.” Edelgard then made a gesture with her hand that could never be shown on television.
Lumachina seemed sufficiently bewildered, unable to keep up with the conversation. There wasn’t any way she would be able to guess, either, that there were actually two people who called themselves Demon Lords, with one of them being this young girl, and the maid who accompanied her being a Fallen. Explaining it all was also a pain in the butt.
Diablo spoke up about what he had been thinking of since last night:
“Klem and Edelgard shall stay here.”
“...Even though Klem is wearing an enslavement collar?” Rem placed a hand on her own neck.
“This will also be an experiment. There’s no condition that states we cannot be separated from each other, correct?”
“...Will that be all right?”
“We will be passing through many towns on our way to Zircon Tower...”
It was dangerous just to bring them along through the gates. Edelgard’s makeup in particular was a problem, since it was applied using Mei’s skills, so it wasn’t something that could be easily imitated. They would be in big trouble if it rained. On top of all that, she was being pursued by the other Fallen.
“Faltra may be protected by a barrier, but once we are outside it, who knows what will happen. Zircon Tower doesn’t have a barrier, either.”
“Is that true!?” Rem raised her voice in surprise.
“The barrier is the thing that keeps out Fallen and the monsters, right?” Shera asked, looking confused. “Are they okay without that?”
—Is it different in this world? The town didn’t have those big castle walls back in the game.
Diablo shrugged. “We’ll know once we are there. At any rate, it would be safest to have Klem and Edelgard remain here. It seems they have even found work, after all.”
As he turned to look at Klem, she gave a firm nod. “Mm-hm. I won’t be going anywhere that doesn’t have biscuits.”
—I thought of it more for her own safety...but since she’s just a kid, I guess she can make it through all this without fighting anyone. I won’t sweat the small stuff.
“Klem, I am going to pass down an order to you, so listen well and take this to heart: First and foremost, protect yourself. Second, protect the people around you. Finally, while staying within the limits I just told you, do the best you can to listen to what people at the inn tell you to do.”
“Very well! Leave it to me!” she said, cheeks full of biscuits.
He worried if she was actually listening or not.
“Hm? I heard you, loud and clear. Don’t die, protect everyone, and follow orders, right? Usually you would leave this kind of stuff to one of the Fallen underlings, but since I am such a generous Demon Lord, I will accept it for you.”
It seemed like she understood...but he didn’t sense any flow of magic energy.
—This makes me worried whether or not this stuff actually has the power to compel her to do anything. She has the slave collar on, but it’s still possible its power doesn’t work on a Demon Lord.
Rem raised a hand and Mei came over from the counter.
“Need something? If this wasn’t enough, I’ll bring you more. ☆”
Rem gave a simple explanation of what was happening: “...Diablo, Shera, and I have received a request that is going to take us away from Faltra for a long period of time. Klem and Edelgard will be remaining here, so I was hoping to ask if you could watch over them for us.”
“That’s A-OK by me. ☆”
“Bye Klem!” Shera hugged her. “We’re going off on a job!”
“I see. Rest assured, for even on my own, I’ll be all right! I’ll be practicing my singing in the meantime. I’ve already learned up to the 32nd verse of the biscuit song!”
“That’s great!”
“Teach me the chocolate song when you get back, OK?”
“I’ll be sure to make it up!”
“I’m a bit worried about you, though, since you’re always so unsteady on your feet. I shall grant you a small gift of my power.”
“What...? I’m not a Fallen, so I can’t get power from you, Klem.”
“Not you, this—”
Klem reached out, touching Shera’s bow. The magic energy of the Demon Lord flowed into it—Diablo was able to pick up on it this time. Rem went to stand up, while Lumachina held her holy symbol tight; it was even making Diablo secretly reach toward his pouch. That was how immense the amount of magic energy was that Klem had just released.
The wooden bow, which was once a color close to white, had now changed into a jet-back weapon wrapped in an ominous magic energy. Shera’s eyes were open dazzlingly wide.
“Whoa!? It changed into something that just looks strong on its own!”
“Hm-hm-hm! You should be fine with this!”
“Yeah! It kinda seems like it’s been cursed or something...but thanks, Klem!” Shera hugged her again.
From the beginning, Shera’s bow had been slightly endowed with magic energy. It seemed to be quite the treasure in this world; but back in the game, it was something Diablo would sell to the weapons shop without a second thought. On a scale of N (Normal), R (Rare), and SR (Super Rare), it was probably an R... But the black magic energy coming out of the newly enhanced bow was by no means normal. It wasn’t as powerful as Diablo’s equipment...but maybe an SR? No, SSR (Super Super Rare) seemed more appropriate.
—If the people who went crazy with joy after managing to snipe an SSR with a less than 1% drop rate could see this, they would be crying right about now.
It was one hell of a cheat on her part. Now more than ever, he was truly grateful that Klem had never wanted to start a war with the races.
Chapter 3: Heading to a New Town
Two weeks later...
Lyferian Kingdom, year 164, on the afternoon of the twentieth day of the seventh month—
Catching a breeze in its sails, the sand boat sped along. It was a small yacht made of wood that could carry about ten people. But instead of running along ocean waves, it swam through the desert. The hull of the ship was reinforced using magic, allowing it to cut through the waves of sand.
Shera was over the moon, this being her first time riding on a boat like this. Rem was terrified, while Lumachina kept praying to God the entire time. Diablo already experienced this back in Cross Reverie, but...
—This feels amazing!
He was sitting down, arms crossed just like a Demon Lord would, but it was an ordeal trying to keep himself from smiling.
Their head wrapped in a black cloth, the ship’s captain pointed forward. “Zircon Tower, dead ahead!”
“Good!”
On the horizon of the endless brown sand, he could see a twisted, distorted tower with numerous tents surrounding it.
There was a lake in the middle of a desert (or, in other words, an oasis). And in the center of that lake stood a tower the same color as the sand. Upon closer inspection, it appe
ared to be more like stone than sand, and a precious kind of stone of that. It was slightly transparent, reflecting light within itself in some complex manner and dispersing it. This tower wasn’t a structure made by any of the races, but was said to have been built by the Fallen.
This was the former Demon Lord’s Domain...
It was merely thirty years ago when the Demon Lord reigned over this land that other Fallen made their homes here, and all sorts of monsters crept about.
The boat began slowing down, which finally allowed Rem to regain her composure.
“...I thought we were going to die.”
“Heh... You’re more of a scaredy-cat than I thought.”
Her cheeks flushed red. “...It might be hard to imagine for someone like you who has flown in the sky before, but I am not a fan of moving without using my own legs. Things like wagons, and boats...”
“You just have to get used to it.”
“...Sure. That aside, we arrived fairly easily.”
“Should it have been harder?”
“No, absolutely not... You spoke like you were quite knowledgeable of the Demon Lord’s Domain, but is this not the first time you’ve gone there?”
“Mhm...”
Diablo called himself a Demon Lord “from another world,” so it would be a bit strange for him to know about the Demon Lord’s Domain in this world. To be blunt, that made zero sense for his character.
“That is...because... Wh-While I have never been, I still know about it. Because I am a Demon Lord.”
Oh, the agony... It was the sort of response that would warrant people making fun of him online.
Rem nodded. “...So Demon Lords have those kinds of abilities as well. I see.”
Good girl! Diablo was filled with the almost irresistible urge to pat her on the head.
How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord: Volume 4 Page 8
