Thousands of years ago, when the world was in great danger, humanity was able to survive thanks to the goddess’s blessing.
At that time, the demon race appeared as infinitely terrifying monsters to humans.
The demon race also suffered losses, but it was essentially a world governed by the law of the jungle.
A world where the weak could not survive.
In contrast to humans, those who did not receive the goddess’s blessing had to choose to survive on their own.
“If that’s the truth, then why is it not made known?”
“The Order faithfully follows the goddess’s will.”
A race that does not receive protection does not need to be protected.
It is an excessively anthropocentric way of thinking.
Then what is Epiro, who has divine power, supposed to be?
Perhaps it is the higher-ups of the Order who are distorting the goddess’s intentions.
“However, it’s true that the demon race did not receive the goddess’s blessing at that time.”
“Perhaps they did not need it?”
“That’s impossible. The world was in tremendous danger.”
Epiro had just mentioned that the era was in danger.
“What kind of danger was it?”
“I don’t know. But it is certainly a massively dangerous monster.”
Knock. Knock.
With the sound of someone knocking on the door, a voice came from beyond the door.
“There are two people watching from the alley of the opposite building.”
“Have they been informed in the adjacent room?”
“Yes. Already notified.”
There is absolutely no reason for ordinary people to monitor this lodgings.
While the building belonged to the intelligence department, it was common knowledge that it was owned by the Roran Empire.
For that reason, it is a lodging used only by prejudice-free people from the Latnia Empire and those from Roran.
If those guys are looking for Epiro, it must have been easy to track her.
“No matter how reckless they are, they wouldn’t think of fighting within the city, right?”
“That’s what I think. Especially if there’s a knight, even more so.”
While soldiers might act recklessly, knights are quite noticeable and would not be able to take action easily.
As long as we are here, at least Epiro’s life will not be in danger.
Boom!
With a loud explosion, screams echoed through the air.
The building across was engulfed in flames.
“What’s happening?”
Peering through the window, a figure clad in black armor walked out into the street.
Next to them were soldiers and knights chasing Epiro.
“What’s that?”
“It seems they are nearby. And I can feel an extremely strong presence.”
Epiro seemed to sense the energy of the figure in black armor.
We wouldn’t have to intervene; soldiers and knights protecting Kant would spring into action.
Before long, the soldiers arrived first.
Even when told to surrender, they stood frozen like statues.
The person in black armor, who had been standing still, drew a sword from their waist, revealing their will to resist.
A dark energy gathered around the sword and effortlessly subdued the soldiers.
As the soldiers could not mount any proper response and their comrades fell, they hastily began to attack.
Swish!
With smooth movements, the figure in black armor took down the soldiers and slowly turned their head to meet my gaze.
I was surprised that they had looked directly at me through the gap of the curtain covering the window, and I was startled again when their sword was aimed at me.
This could be seen as a challenge for a duel.
I could ignore it and not go out, but there is much to protect here.
“Go to the adjacent room.”
“Be careful.”
Epiro moved to the adjacent room, and I opened the window and jumped down.
“Do you know me?”
Clank. Clank.
They shook their head in denial.
The atmosphere was too similar to that of Juan I had seen before.
Just when I thought it might be him, he took off his helmet and revealed his face.
With black hair and deep violet eyes, he had an impressive appearance.
It seemed difficult to distinguish his gender based on mere appearance.
“I truly am seeing someone for the first time.”
“I am Maran. I have come to execute these scum.”
“What?”
“I’ve come to execute those who touched the sacred seal. I need permission from the priestess, you see.”
Upon closer inspection, the condition of the soldiers and the knight behind him seemed strange.
They were in a dazed state, their bodies limp as if their souls had been drained.
It was as if they had already visited the realm of the dead once.
“How can I trust you?”
“Hahaha. Are you from Roran? No, I am quite famous even there, right? Where did you come from, some backwater?”
I pondered over his name, but could not recall anything.
“Anyway, I need permission from the priest, so please call her.”
Clank.
“Maran, was it you?”
“It has been a long time, priestess.”
Unlike others, he spoke to Epiro with a respectful demeanor.
“Has the death sentence been issued?”
“Isn’t it a death sentence if one touches the sacred seal?”
“I haven’t received any notice about that yet.”
“Then I shall carry out the execution.”
“Why?”
Maran’s sword crossed through the bodies of the four simultaneously.
They collapsed to the ground like puppets with their strings cut.
“One is pretending to be a knight, and the others are posing as imperial soldiers.”
It felt like he had left them half-dead and finished the job.
It seemed he had been planning to kill them no matter what response he received.
“Then, they are dealt with, so please report back.”
A moment later, soldiers arrived to clean up the criminals that Maran had dealt with.
Looking toward the alley opposite, two people were watching and quietly disappeared upon making eye contact with me.
Returning to the room, I asked Epiro who that person was.
“He is Maran, a demon swordsman from Latnia. He is a bit extreme, but he is not a bad person.”
Indeed, he showed a respectful demeanor toward Epiro, but his entrance was quite flashy.
“He said he was quite famous?”
“He is famous. As a wandering demon swordsman.”
Demon swordsmen from Latnia are quite rare.
In the expansive territory of the empire, the number of demon swordsmen is less than that of the minuscule Tolris.
That a demon swordsman from Latnia would wander around was somewhat puzzling.
“Wandering around?”
“Yes. He sometimes returns to Latnia, but usually, he’s traveling.”
“Not doing the Order’s work like just now?”
“Well, he seems to go where help is needed. He probably likes helping others.”
A demon swordsman who roams without being affiliated with any group, seeking places that need help.
I found him to be quite a unique person.
With the matter resolved, Epiro was able to return to the Order’s building.
Those who had attempted to use Epiro were not soldiers or knights to begin with.
They had likely intended to take advantage of the fact that Epiro could not see.
I brought Epiro to the room where everyone was.
“Can you take a look at this wound for now?”
Epiro removed Isabel’s clothing while she lay on the bed and placed her hand over the wound.
“Ah!”
Epiro hastily pulled her hand off Isabel’s abdomen.
“The wound will heal over time. But what on earth did she get hit by?”
“I don’t know the details. Only that it was something with an unknown power.”
“This is the energy of a demon sword.”
With the mention of a demon sword, I was the only one startled in this room.
“Why a demon sword? They’re everywhere.”
“It’s not that kind of demon sword.”
I elaborately explained the details from the side, but the Demon King’s expression did not change.
“I’ve never heard of such a demon sword.”
“It’s not known in Roran.”
“No, there’s no way such a demon sword could exist for hundreds of years without a master.”
The Demon King’s thoughts differed slightly from Epiro’s.
While they shared the notion that demon swords choose masters, the Demon King believed that if necessary, they would initially take anyone as a host.
“At least, it should show up every fifty years or so, right?”
“Then, has it never appeared?”
“It appeared occasionally, one at a time.”
Every time that happened, a bloody battle broke out in Roran for the sake of seizing the demon sword.
“Indeed, the demon race seems less affected by the demon swords.”
“Demon swords were originally living beings.”
Demon swords are said to be the spirits that were unable to forget their longing for the sword after their past masters died.
Although they are called demon swords, there are cases where they are referred to by other names.
“In Roran, they are generally called Egosod.”
If a spirit within a sword was someone who mastered swordsmanship in the past, it would remain as a familiar.
Unlike Roran, it seemed that such swords were classified as demon swords in Latnia.
“You haven’t tried unsealing those swords, have you?”
“That’s a dangerous thing we wouldn’t do.”
“Unseal them and destroy the evil ones.”
Epiro looked quite surprised at the Demon King’s words.
“How can you destroy a demon sword?”
“No matter how amazing they are, they’re still objects. Why do you think they can’t be destroyed?”
From the Demon King’s statements, it seemed he indeed had experience in destroying them.
Putting the talk of demon swords aside for now, it was Aila’s turn next.
“Then, excuse me for a moment.”
Epiro placed her hands on Aila’s head and chest and closed her eyes.
A white light erupted, and Epiro’s expression became oddly distorted.
“Is one of your parents a priest?”
“I wouldn’t know about my biological parents.”
After a moment, Epiro shared her perspective.
“Please don’t be too shocked; you are a mixed race.”
“I know. Mixed races are common in Roran.”
“Is that so?”
While mixed races are common in Roran, Aila’s case seemed a little different.
“Then, one of your ancestors must have been a priest. If she had grown up in a proper household, she might have become a priest herself.”
“There aren’t any beastman priests, though?”
“I cannot testify to other priests, as I cannot see.”
Then Isabel, who was lying next to her, spoke up.
“Half-blood priests are driven to the outskirts.”
There are more people other than Epiro who, despite being of a different race, have received divine power from the goddess Diana.
The Diana Order has too many suspicious points to be solely a religion for humans.
“Can I handle divine power?”
“You won’t be able to use it since you haven’t received teachings. Additionally, if it stems from your ancestors, the situation changes.”
“So what’s the conclusion?”
“You cannot use it. Practice magic diligently.”
Upon hearing Epiro’s result, the Demon King’s expression brightened.
Although there was no longer danger outside, out of courtesy, I decided to take Epiro back to the Order’s building.
“Then, I’ll be off.”
“Thank you for the short time we shared.”
With a polite bow, Epiro grabbed my arm and followed me out of the lodging.
