Chapter 348

Although succubi don't have the seductive ability that is their trademark, Airi succeeded in running a bar and seducing local influential people as if she didn't need such a thing. So the important thing was that there would be no particular difficulty from now on, according to Airi. It was about deceiving and cheating those who had already won their hearts and taking advantage of them. How will those who receive the malice after all this is over cope? Has a plan already been prepared for that? Like me, who takes risks in my own way, Airi was trying to take risks on her own, even if I didn't want her to. "Wait a minute, Bali." Airi smiled at me. "The day will soon come when I will dedicate the Edina Islands to you." Beyond monopolizing the trading rights, they eventually tried to swallow up the entire Edina Islands. When I first met the succubus prisoners, I just wanted them to live peacefully. When they talked about the empire's domination of the gold reserves, I thought it would be okay to dream of such a purpose if there was such a purpose in life. However, watching Airi's actions, I didn't think it was impossible to achieve that purpose. "I agree with you. Let's refrain from doing anything too dangerous." "Okay. Thank you for worrying about me." Originally, we were enemies, but after I was rescued, Airi changed her attitude towards me. I didn't have any thoughts about what kind of past I had with Airi. In the process of checking how Airi was doing on the Edina Islands, I learned some strange things. If Airi succeeds on the Edina Islands, this side will eventually have its own usefulness. I don't know what that usefulness will be right now. "By the way, I came here because I was curious about something." And now I could finally get to the point. "Curious about what?" "I'll be returning to the Demon King's Castle soon, and I want to know what's there." "...The Demon King's Castle?" "Yeah." "There should still be imperial troops stationed there. No matter how much you're disguised as a human..." "There's no problem with that part because I have permission from the royal family." "Ah, I see. But what are you asking me for... Right, you lost your memory..." Airi seemed to have vaguely noticed what I was looking for when I went back there. "There was a quarantine that only the royal family could enter in the Demon King's Castle. But humans must have searched the place thoroughly. There shouldn't be anything useful left..." Charlotte and Saviole Tana wanted to know something, anything, about the Demon King's Castle. But even if there was something left in the Demon King's Castle that had nothing to do with rescuing Charlotte, I wanted to find out. There may still be people who are left for the purpose of looting or research in the Demon King's Castle, so it's not a place you can just go to anytime, even if I'm in the form of Reinhardt. The opportunity is now. According to Airi, there is a quarantine that only the royal family can enter. However, was there no physical barrier there? If it was judged that it had already been looted, there would be nothing to gain from there. Airi was lost in thought with narrowed eyes.

"I don't really know either. But there are definitely places in the Demon King's Castle that only demons can enter. Of course, it will be thoroughly sealed so that no one can enter... There is also a possibility that humans have not yet found it."

Airi said she didn't know well, but there might be such a place.

"How do you know there is such a place?"

"...The former Demon King used to take you to some place in the Demon King's Castle from time to time."

Airi could only know about Bali's memories that I didn't have, and about what happened in the Demon King's Castle.

"There is a possibility that there is such a secret space, right?"

"Probably. I don't know exactly what kind of place it is."

The secret place in the Demon King's Castle that the former Demon King occasionally took Bali to.

Airi's mother, who was the Four Heavenly Kings, knew something, but didn't tell Airi.

There is a possibility that humans have already found that place, but there is also a possibility that they have not.

The secret space in the Demon King's Castle that the former Demon King took his son to.

There must be something there.

I have to find out.

* * *

The short reunion with Airi ended with that.

"You can come back in a few days."

Airi watched me as if she was sorry, but was about to leave right away.

"Sorry, I don't have time."

"...I see."

Airi lowered her eyes cautiously.

Bali was originally a useless bastard who believed in his father's prestige, and Airi, the daughter of the Succubus Queen, was in a position to educate him.

Now that the Demon World has been destroyed, we are the last remaining royal family of the fallen kingdom.

Airi approached me and quietly held my hands.

"You have to stay safe, Bali."

Because of some strange feeling that I felt when I met her gaze, I felt some discomfort.

Is it because the Succubus Queen race itself is easy to love?

No.

That's not it.

I'm not Bali, but I have a strange conviction that Bali would react the same way.

Bali's strange conviction that he would have liked Airi.

The strange sensation that I could feel just by looking into Airi's eyes gave me that conviction.

If things had gone according to history, Airi would have become a slave in the Empire, and Bali would have died wandering in the wilderness.

Of course, I'm not Bali.

I'm not fascinated by the Succubus race.

So.

"Don't push yourself too hard either."

"Yeah."

I only asked Airi about her well-being as a colleague.

* * *

Just as I had gone to the Edina Islands in an instant, returning was also quick.

Lucynil said she could watch nearby if I was going to the Demon King's Castle, but I refused. There is already a strong human presence near the Demon King's Castle, and Savioline Tana is accompanying them. Lucien decides to stay in the Huangduo and help Sarkagar with his mission. There is a secret space in the Demon King's Castle, but Airi and Bali don't know where it is. If they discover the location, they will have to enter it without being seen by others, but they don't have a proper plan yet. Charlotte is very negative about Bali going with them because it is dangerous. Savioline Tana warns Bali about the danger of the mission and the political implications of going with Charlotte to the Demon King's Castle. The fact that Ellen and I received the royal insignia is not information that Vertus can overlook. It is clear that I have sided with Charlotte, and the importance of the country has risen. This means that just going to the Demon King's Castle will inevitably make me a definite enemy of Vertus. Savioline Tana is not ignorant of politics, although she is not involved in political affairs. Therefore, she seemed to be warning me because she thought I didn't know the real danger of this mission. Charlotte no longer seems to want to put me in danger. If I go to the Demon King's Castle with Charlotte, I will become an enemy of Vertus. But what will change if I just stay still? Anyway, it is already known that I am the champion of Tu'an. I need to know not only Charlotte's treatment but also what remains in the Demon King's Castle. And I know that Savioline Tana and Charlotte's concerns can only be ignored. The royal insignia given to me already says everything. "I don't think Vertus is stupid enough to mess with Tu'an's champion." "...." Treatment equivalent to that of the royal family? No, it's more than that. Ellen and I are more important to humanity than the prince, princess, or even the emperor himself at this point. If someone tries to kill me just because I'm on Charlotte's side or tries to harm me, I will face the wrath of the angry emperor. Ellen and I are consumables for opposing the Demon King, but until we become consumables, we can only be treated as the most important people on the continent. Lagun Arthurius may not have used any political advantages, but I will not do the same. Vertus will not be able to touch me. Unless it's to the extent that my identity is revealed, he will never touch me. "So I'll go." But can my identity not be revealed the moment Vertus becomes an enemy? That's unknown. "....Okay, I'll pass it on to His Majesty." I know that my predetermined fate is approaching, and I cannot hide my identity forever. * * * Tu'an's champion. It will protect me in all circumstances and situations. I heightened the sense of crisis for humanity by revealing the remaining forces of the demon realm, and through being Tu'an's champion, I secured a political basis to protect myself. It is a very wicked act to take advantage of the crisis I created and act as a savior. Elellys's words that Tiamata's political purpose will be even greater have finally come true. The day we depart for the Demon King's Castle. "It's really okay. I won't be there for long, and you don't have to be there...." Charlotte's voice trailed off with a sad expression. I was grateful, but Charlotte always felt sorry for me because she only received help and never gave any. Even if the political position is strong, this time it is a very risky business. "So I couldn't help but hope that you wouldn't go on the day of departure. When it actually happens, I really believe in the guy who came to me crying and hanging on to me in his pajamas."

"What, what did you say?!"

Charlotte's expression became frozen at my sudden words. Savioline Tana, who had finished preparing for departure next to her, also had a bewildered expression.

"When something actually happens, it's useless to cry and call out. So just quietly come with me."

"What are you talking about?!"

Charlotte's face turned red and she started poking me with her finger.

"Yeah, it's better to get angry like this."

"What?"

I feel even more sorry seeing Charlotte's expression of wanting to apologize.

"That makes me feel more comfortable."

Charlotte stared at me blankly and then finally shouted back.

"...You're really weird. You're the kind of guy who makes people grateful and then ungrateful and then grateful again!"

Charlotte marched forward with determination, and Savioline Tana sighed as she looked at me.

"You're also strange for being so nonchalant about being caught for a crime, but I'm even stranger for getting used to your behavior." Normally, she would say that it's too dangerous and she has to take the lead, but now she just seemed surprised and didn't step forward. Savioline Tana felt strange for getting used to my behavior.