The Demon King, Princess, Saintess, and Elf Gather Around Him
'Why didn't I realize the true identity of Nightstream that day?' That was the root cause of her crushing defeat. Because of that, Caladia had lost everything and barely managed to survive by the skin of her teeth. It seemed her followers still existed in the world, but with the collapse of the Demon King's Castle, she had completely lost control over them. Now, they seemed to be operating as independent factions.
'It was such a brilliant disguise that even I, who had acquired [Insight] to see through all things in the world, was completely deceived.' At the time, she hadn't felt a single shred of suspicious energy from the one disguised as Commander Ragush. He truly was Ragush; everything about him was Ragush. To her great frustration, she had been fooled perfectly. A thief skilled in deception. Nightstream. Caladia's mind was filled with thoughts of him all day long.
'He's a more vicious bastard than the Hero.' Nightstream was the only one who had ever deceived her, and that was why she had become obsessed. If she met him again, a delightful game would begin. A very delightful pleasure... would be waiting for him. 'I will drink wine made of blood, using your painful screams as a side dish.'
His whereabouts had already been detected, and she was currently heading toward that location. There was a mark on his neck where Caladia had bitten him with her teeth. From those fang marks, which looked as if he had been bitten by a vampire, a faint trace of demonic energy leaked out, allowing her to estimate his current location. Originally, that bite mark had been left so she could quickly run to her beloved at any time, but now it was being used solely to hunt down the man she resented.
'Catching him is only a matter of time, and subduing him once we meet will be nothing.' She just had to make sure she wasn't fooled by that damn disguise again. 'He's probably living high on the hog right now, thinking he killed the Demon King. I will thoroughly destroy that life and show him hell.'
A border village in the east of the Gigantia Empire. The village was full of life. Caladia walked silently through the streets, passing through the crowded border village.
"Hey, you bitch! Where did a Lurker like you pick up such expensive clothes!"
Suddenly, a fist-sized rock flew and struck her in the back before falling to the ground. Caladia felt a slight sting. She looked around. All the passersby on the street were looking at her with contempt.
"Can't you dress modestly? Where did you even get your hair done like that!"
"Where did you get that expensive black dress!"
"Look at the fur on the collar! That's expensive, no doubt about it!"
"You stole it, you bitch!"
It seemed they found it unsightly that a Lurker, the lowest class in society, was wearing expensive clothes. People pointed fingers and hurled insults at Caladia. 'They mistake me for a Lurker? How annoying.'
Caladia, who had originally intended to quietly pass through the disgusting human village, changed her mind when she unexpectedly became the center of attention. She decided to slaughter the entire village. Just as she was about to cast a wide-range dark magic spell, she felt something was off.
'Hmm? Is it still too much...' Perhaps it was because she hadn't been resurrected for long. She realized her power hadn't fully returned yet.
"You Lurker slut! Do you think you're a noble? Just die!"
"……?"
A knight shouted and rushed at her, trying to pierce her with his spear. A [Barrier] enveloped her body, easily blocking the spear tip that had been trying to dig into her. It wasn't that Caladia couldn't use magic at all. When she placed her index finger on the knight's forehead, his body exploded in the blink of an eye.
Pop! Flesh and entrails were torn apart, and chunks of meat and blood poured out from inside his helmet and armor. The empty helmet and armor, which had floated in the air for a brief moment, fell to the ground with a thud.
"Aaaah!"
People screamed and fled in a panic. Caladia just watched them quietly.
"…Lurker?"
It was a puzzling matter. Calling her a Lurker—what kind of nonsense was that? She had been born and raised in this world, after all. She had never even been to another world once in her life. There was a transparent glass window on a nearby shop. Caladia approached and stared at her reflection.
'Come to think of it, I haven't seen my face since I was resurrected.'
The makeup on her face and her sophisticated hairstyle had all been handled with magic without ever looking in a mirror.
"Ho-ho…?"
Caladia admired her face reflected in the glass. Before she was killed by the Hero, her hair had a slight reddish tint, but now it had turned deep black, and while her face was her own, there was a mixed-blood quality to it, as if she had Lurker blood in her. Her sunken eyes and cheekbones protruded slightly, causing the three-dimensional contours of her original face to disappear somewhat. Overall, she didn't look like someone from this world; she had the distinct feel of a Lurker. It was a beauty that would not be out of place even if called the greatest beauty among the Lurkers.
"Haha, ahahaha! Ahahahahaha!"
She burst into loud laughter. The reason was obvious. It was true that Lurker blood flowed through her veins.
"Being reborn as a Lurker has its own unique charm. I like that I can trample humans with a fresh feeling. I'll even become the Queen of the Lurkers."
Caladia disappeared leisurely, looking satisfied.
As the sun began to set, Esmeralda was focused on completing a painting in her studio. It was a painting for Haeru, depicting his heroic figure after he had subjugated the Demon King.
Click. The door opened, and Duchess Diana entered.
"You're working hard."
"I have a temperament where I have to finish what I start quickly. It's a waste to leave it unfinished."
Duchess Diana approached her side. She crossed her arms and stared at the large painting. More color had been added to the painting she had seen before. The two had a conversation about the painting. Esmeralda grew talkative, brightening up every time Haeru's name was mentioned.
"I want to give this as a gift to him, as he was disappointed in the world. To tell him to please cheer up. That there is someone like me cheering for him."
"Please forgive me."
Whack!
"Sob! I was wrong…"
Whack!
"Eek…!"
Saintess Elihart was repenting again today in the prayer room set up in a corner of the room. Naked, she continued to strike her own back with a whip.
"You are gone now, but I will always look up at the sky and apologize… until my life ends…"
Whack!
"Ugh! Nightstream. Please hold me warmly. I want to feel your love…"
Whack!
"Hnnng…! I want to be at ease… I want to feel that you have forgiven me…!"
Whack! Whack!
Every time the whip made a sound, a clear red line was drawn on Elihart's slender back. Striking herself, being struck, every day. Now that she was used to it, moans that she couldn't distinguish as pain or ecstasy flowed out of her own accord.
"Haa, haa…! I will always live with you… serving you with this body…"
Whack!
"Aah! Hold me…!"
The Saintess who received revelations from God. On her bruised back, a map that told her someone's location was being drawn every time she lashed herself with the whip. And after the time of repentance ended, Elihart, who was about to cast healing magic on her back while looking in the mirror, saw her pupils tremble violently.
"Wh-what is this map…? The capital of the Taron Principality…?"
At that moment, a dazzling radiance shone from her back, and letters were engraved.
NIGHT STREAM
I was wandering with no place to stay
When I felt the world had abandoned me, we met by chance
You smiled by my side and loved the color of my hair
And together, we forget the past.
"Have you heard the rumors lately?"
"What rumors?"
"Over there, at Harail Hill, a red-haired elf appears every day and sings a song as if she's missing someone. They say she's so incredibly beautiful that you'd fall in love at first sight."
"Really? How pretty could she be? But wait, can't you see the prison island from that direction?"
The port city of Paral. The loading dock. Two workers decided to go to Harail Hill after finishing their work. To see the rumored beautiful elf. A few hours later, the two ran to the hill with the sunset at their backs.
"Did she come today?"
"She must have!"
"Let's hurry!"
Fortunately, the female elf was there. Facing the sea breeze, she stood alone on the hill, looking at the prison island across the sea, singing her song again today.
One of the workers muttered, lost in a trance.
"She's beautiful…"
"Right? Her appearance is truly beautiful."
"No, the song."
"The song?"
"It sounds like she's missing someone who left. Elves are like that when they fall in love. They're very different from us humans. Like a waiting puppy. They lean on the wind, sing songs, and wish endlessly. They are beings who know how to create songs without even learning them. They especially love lyrical and beautiful melodies. It's an instinct of those who live in the forest, I suppose. Damn. It would have been even more amazing if she were holding a harp. Anyway, that elf must have a lover. Probably a lover trapped in Barantraz Prison. I don't know who it is, but I'm envious…"
The high notes rang out in a clear, pure, and limpid tone, and the song ended. The two workers smiled broadly and gave a standing ovation.
"Excellent!"
"That was wonderful!"
Clap clap clap! Clap clap clap! Clap clap clap! Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
"Wooooo!"
It turned out they weren't the only ones peeking. Men who had been hiding behind tree trunks and bushes popped out here and there. Everyone stood up and sent a round of emotional applause. Some were even moved to tears.
"……"
Elenore, who had been standing alone on the hill, looked back at them with an expressionless face for a moment. Then, she turned her head again to stare at the prison island, Barantraz, in the distance. She remembered what Haeru had said before he left.
'When the time comes, I will send someone, so enter the prison island. That will be the perfect opportunity to help Berzena escape.'
Trusting his words, she was faithfully waiting again today.