[Will you run away from the Demon Lord Bifrons’ confidant, Setekh?]

Yes ←

No

(Run away!) (Makoto)

It didn’t even take 1 second to decide. 

This is an opponent that we must not fight against.

Even RPG Player-san is asking me ‘will you run away?’! 

“Well then, I remembered I have some unattended business, so I will be taking my leave now.” (Makoto)

I act calm and raise my right hand as I give my farewells.

“Oh, is that so, Human? I wanted to talk with you a bit more. That’s a shame.” 

He didn’t really seem that sad, but he didn’t try to stop me.

That’s a relief.

I pull the hand of Prince Leonard, and slap the shoulder of Janet-san.

The two of them are standing there trembling.

Hmm…would it be better to pull them?

The armor of Janet-san looks heavy, so I don’t think I will be able to move her on my own though.

“Awooooooohn!!” 

At that moment, a big shadow passed over us and attacked the vampire.

(The Magic Wolf King of the Great Forest?) (Makoto)

The boss of the Forest Wolves.

Looks like it came to get its revenge after its pack was wiped out.

This is our chance to run away.

“Ooh, what an energetic dog.” 

Despite the vampire having its throat bitten, he was laughing as if having fun.

And then, it grabbed the neck of the Magic Wolf, and just like that, it bit off an artery.

The Magic Wolf vomits a large amount of blood, and blood showered out from its neck.

It flailed its legs and tried to get away, but it was restrained by the arm of the vampire, and just like that, it lost its life within his arm.

*Gulp…Gulp…Gulp*

Making a chilling sound that made my hairs stand.

The vampire continues drinking the blood of the magic wolf as if it were a sports drink.

(So the way of eating from the Great Sage-sama was elegant, huh…) (Makoto)

If she were to drink in that way, I would instantly turn into a mummy. 

It reminds me of the times in the Sun Country.

The vampire seems to be concentrating in his meal, so I want to run away quickly, but…

“Fuuh, lifeblood really is the way to go. But lately, monsters die immediately. This little dog as well. I thought it would last a bit longer.” 

The corpse of the dried up magic wolf rolls on the floor.

(He already finished drinking…) (Makoto)

All the events took less than a minute. 

The vampire takes his face off the corpse of the magic wolf, and his body was dirtied completely in red.

His eye sockets were hollow as always, but it feels as if its skin was getting younger. 

Is it regaining its strength?

At that moment, the vampire Setekh snorts with a ‘hmph hmph’.

“Oh? I have no eyes, but I can feel you people have untainted blood.” 

“…Untainted blood, huh.” (Makoto) 

This has two meanings.

One is that you don’t have demon blood.

That’s what Lucy told me a long time ago.

But Setekh-san is a vampire.

The other meaning is…

In vampire language, it means that you have no sexual experience with the other gender.

(Meaning, virgins.) (Makoto)

Can you please not disclose the private information of others?! 

Prince Leonard is a child, so that’s natural, but it looks like Janet-san is as well. I glanced at her profile, but she had a pale white face and this wasn’t a situation for teasing.

“Aah, how long has it been since I have had human blood! It must be quite the delicacy!” 

He spread his arms wide, and in the moment it warped its mouth…

The things that looked like cracks around its whole body all opened and showed they were mouths as they laughed.

(Mouths in his whole body?!) (Makoto)

That looks disgusting! 

It reminds me of the Taboo Dragon I saw in Laberintos.

‘Kakakakaka’, the more than a hundred mouths in his whole body were laughing.

A whole lot of laughs overlapped and created an unharmonious chorus.

Hearing those cursed allophones, I…

(Let’s silently leave… I am at my limit.) (Makoto)

Thinking this, I pulled Prince Leonard and Janet-san strongly, but…

“Uwaaaa!!” (Leo)

Prince Leonard rushed the vampire?! 

“Prince Leonard!” “Prince!” 

Janet-san and I hurriedly chased him.

“[Blizzard Sword]!” (Leo)

Prince Leonard rushes the vampire with his sword magic.

“Oya, human, you are coming yourself to be my meal?” 

The magic sword of Prince Leonard was stopped with 2 fingers.

I could see the sharp fangs from the vampire shining with red blood.

(This is bad! Even though Princess Sofia told me to look after him!) (Makoto)

I have to protect Prince Leonard.

Janet-san moved faster than me.

“[Thunder Lance]!” (Janet)

Janet-san covered her whole body with aura and charged at blinding speed.

Fast!

He shouldn’t be able to react with this timing! 

“That tingles. It resembles the technique of the Lightning Hero of 1,000 years ago. Could it be that you are a blood relative of the Hero?” 

The vampire stops the spear with his other hand as he talks casually.

Oi oi, are you serious? 

“Fufu, then, it is my turn now, right?” 

(Makoto! Cover your ears!) (Noah)

The moment I heard Noah-sama…

I hurriedly cover my ears while having a bad feeling.

“————-!!!” 

It didn’t reach my ears, but I could tell that the mouths from the whole body of the vampire let out cries.

I felt like a shock hit me at the pit of my stomach.

The birds of the forest fly away all at once.

Prince Leonard and Janet-san collapsed?! 

From what I see, it is not like they have lost their mana or have died, but…

(Damn it!) (Makoto)

“Spirit-sans, Spirit-sans.” (Makoto)

Please, listen! 

(Makoto, take out your dagger!) (Noah)

I obey the words of Noah-sama and take out my dagger, and clad it with Spirit mana.

*Clink clink clink…*

A sound like that of a chime resonates.

I take a stance with the dagger that has become a temporary magic sword through Spirit mana.

But the one in front of me is the Demon Lord confidant that defeated the Glacial Hero, Prince Leonard, and the little sister of the Lightning Hero, Janet-san, with no difficulty at all.

Moreover, judging from the conversation of Setekh…

(He has fought the Lightning Hero and…the Savior Abel 1,000 years ago?) (Makoto)

Cold sweat runs down my back.

My Spirit Magic can defeat a whole lot of weak monsters at the same time, but it isn’t suitable to fight 1vs1.

I have been avoiding one on ones and concentrating on surprise attacks.

What should I do…?

I put Clear Mind at the highest output, and ready myself with mana.

But the vampire didn’t do anything.

It wasn’t simply standing there.

“…That Spirit mana, the pressure from that god killer blade… Could it be…” 

But the tone of the vampire until now took a turn into that of surprise.

He doesn’t have eyes, so it is hard to pick out his expressions though.

“I will introduce myself first. I am the Vampire, Setekh. An Apostle of the God of Hell, Typhon-sama, and a subordinate in the lowest seat of the great ruler, Iblis-sama.” (Setekh) <Changed Evelisse to Iblis.>

The vampire Setekh lowers his head respectfully.

“…”

It troubles me in how to react.

What’s with this sudden change in attitude?

“Can I please hear the name of the God that you follow?” (Setekh)

The vampire asks.

I had an inkling of what was going on and said…

“The Goddess Noah-sama…” (Makoto)

After answering, the change of attitude in Setekh was drastic.

“Ooh! What a fortuitous meeting! The Apostle-sama that saved me several times 1,000 years ago! Aren’t you a comrade?!” (Setekh)

“…U-Uhm…” (Makoto)

What’s this?

(Makoto, play along. If you try fighting him right now, you have no chance of winning.) (Noah)

(O-Okay…) (Makoto)

“Are you an acquaintance of Noah-sama’s Apostle?” (Makoto)

“Of course! The Champion-sama who slaughtered the ones calling themselves the Heroes of the most frustrating Holy Gods 1,000 years ago! Aah, just remembering that gallant figure makes my soul tremble!” (Setekh)

My predecessor is getting high praise here.

In the eyes of the demons, he must have that image.

“How about you join us and the devilkin Archbishop in preparing for the ritual to resurrect the Demon Lord Bifrons-sama? Do you want to come with us?” (Setekh)

(Woah!) (Makoto)

A bomb! 

The Demon Lord really is going to be resurrected! 

“Uhm, by the way, could it be that the devilkin Archbishop’s name is Isaac-san?” (Makoto)

“That’s right! Comrade! So you really were acquainted!” (Setekh)

“Well, yeah, a bit.” (Makoto)

As enemies though…

But it really is him, huh.

“1,000 years ago, the devilkin had a weak standing, but this time around they woke me up from my long slumber, and are doing a good job.” (Setekh)

Setekh-san is telling me a lot of information happily.

This vampire has a loose mouth.

“By the way, how are you going to revive Bifrons…-sama?” (Makoto)

This is the most important part.

I have to stop it at all costs.

“Fufufu, I want to tell you, but I don’t know the details of it. You should talk about it with the Archbishop Isaac-dono.” (Setekh)

“I-I see…” (Makoto)

Kuh, the important information has been properly kept a secret.

“By the way, it is okay for me to bring back those two collapsed there, right?” (Makoto)

I point at Prince Leonard and Janet-san.

I could tell the two of them were still breathing.

It doesn’t look like they are heavily injured…with a cursory glance, that is.

“Fumu, I can smell the annoying divine protection of the Holy Gods from these two, but…oh? I feel the divine protection of the Holy Gods from your dagger too. What is the meaning of this?” (Setekh)

Geh, am I being suspected?

“Everything is the guidance of Noah-sama.” (Makoto)

For now, I will push the blame to Noah-sama.

(Hey, Makoto!) (Noah)

“I see, I see! She must have a profound plan!” (Setekh)

He accepted that.

He is a decently honest vampire.

If possible, I want to ask him a variety of things, but talking with him for too long carries danger.

I should finish this before it gets dangerous.

“One last thing… When will the Demon Lord-sama revive?” (Makoto)

“If I remember correctly, the next full moon will be when the revival ritual will be performed, according to the Archbishop-dono.” (Setekh)

Full moon…that would be in 4-5 days.

If we were to have that meeting 1 week later as it was planned, the Demon Lord would have already been resurrected.

That was close.

“Well then, I will continue hunting to regain my strength. May the Old Gods protect you.” (Setekh)

“Yeah…Thank you for telling me so much.” (Makoto)

Setekh turns into mist and disappears.

(…You saved me there, Noah-sama. Thanks for your advice.) (Makoto)

(That was dangerous.) (Noah)

Encountering a confidant of a Demon Lord out of nowhere. Please spare me from that.

Ah, right! 

This isn’t the time to be relieved! 

“Prince Leonard! Janet-san!” (Makoto)

I run to where the two are and shake them.

I sprinkle a healing potion on them. Though I don’t know if that will have any effect.

“Uuh…Makoto-niisan?” (Leo)

“I am alive…?” (Janet)

The two get up.

That’s a relief. They are okay.

“?! Where is the demon of before?! Could it be that you defeated it?!” (Janet)

Janet-san grabs me.

I have already checked that Setekh is completely gone. 

“It was an opponent out of my league. I somehow managed to have him leave.” (Makoto)

There’s no way I would be able to explain to them that he was buddy buddy with the previous Apostle.

I just said some random stuff like ‘it was the divine protection of Eir-sama’.

Well, that’s not the important information.

When I explained to the two of them about the most important part, the resurrection of the Demon Lord, their complexions changed.

“That Demon was…the confidant of the Demon Lord Bifrons, Setekh…?” (Janet)

“On the next full moon, the Demon Lord will revive…? N-No way…” (Leo)

Yeah, there’s so much going on it really hits hard, right?

“Why are you so calm, Takatsuki Makoto?” (Janet)

Janet-san looks at me as if looking at a strange living being.

“I am not calm. I was super nervous all the time till the vampire left.” (Makoto)

“…It doesn’t look like that at all.” (Janet)

She sighs.

“Let’s return to the elf village first! We need to tell the whole Wood Country about this.” (Leo)

“Yes, Prince Leonard. Not only the Wood Country, we also have to relay this information to the other countries at once. If possible, I would like to request the help of Onii-sama…or other Heroes. Will we be able to make it in the remaining 4 days?” (Janet)

“We have to hurry then.” (Makoto)

The two nod at my words.

After that, we return to the Kanan Village without taking any breaks.

◇◇

After returning to the village.

We had a healer check Prince Leonard and Janet-san, but there weren’t any abnormalities in their bodies.

The second urgent conference in a row was being held right now.

“That’s right! Please gather all the people in the villages who can fight! The Hero obviously, and the representative fighters of each village!” (Wolt)

I could hear the grandfather of Lucy.

The Wood Country has formed an urgent alliance and have been called.

The battle will be in 3 days.

The day before the Demon Lord revival.

How many will be gathering?

Janet-san is also using transmission magic to contact Highland.

It seems she is trying to make it so that the Heroes close by can come assist us.

“Makoto…you met an executive of the Demon Lord? Were you okay?” (Lucy)

Lucy asks me worriedly. 

“I will tell you in detail later. I had no problems.” (Makoto)

Sa-san and Furiae-san were also worried.

(The difficult part will be from here on…) (Makoto)

The revival of the Demon Lord.

There’s no doubt it will affect the neighboring country of Rozes.

This must be what the oracle of Eir-sama meant. 

And so, we were preparing for the decisive battle 3 days from now.

◇◇

“It is frustrating…to have nothing to do but wait.” (Janet)

Janet-san is swinging her spear.

Looks like her being unable to lift a finger against the Demon Lord confidant did a number on her.

“I couldn’t do anything… Because I am so lacking…I put everyone in danger.” (Janet)

“A Demon Lord confidant suddenly appeared. It is normal to be surprised.” (Makoto)

Or more like, that’s cheating.

“By the way, Makoto-niisan, why are you wearing those tattered clothes?” (Leo)

Prince Leonard asks me.

It is true that the clothes I am wearing right now are not the usual travelling clothes, but clothes like those of an undead.

“Hey, Takatsuki-kun, preparations are ready.” (Aya)

“Oh, Sa-san. Got it. Then, let’s depart.” (Makoto)

Sa-san with the same tattered clothes appeared.

“Where are you going, Takatsuki Makoto?” (Janet)

“Makoto-niisan, going to the Great Forest is dangerous.” (Leo)

Prince Leonard and even Janet-san were interested in what’s happening here, she stopped swinging her spear.

“Sa-san and I can use the transformation skill, so we will transform into undead and explore the Demonic Forest.” (Makoto)

““Huh?””

In my eyes, I am doing the basics of RPGs, which is the information gathering playstyle, but the two opened their mouths wide in surprise.

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