Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

123 – The Elf’s Astonishment and a Favor

The saying busy as a bee means exactly as it sounds.

Securing direct subordinates, training their coordination.

Making a Contract with all the Floor Bosses and rare Monsters, in addition to discussing their best position that suits each of their characteristics.

Coordinating with the helpers from other Dungeons, etc.

There’s also my duties as the Chief of Staff to advise every stratum, gather information about the challengers who are part of the Raid Battle, and investigate them, all at the same time.

Not to mention my own training. I have to resolve my lack of Magical Energy.

Even Cashew, who keeps me connected with every stratum and helper as my secretary, is very busy.

Everyone else is also busy strengthening their own stratum and training the new recruits.

On top of their regular job…dealing with Adventurers.

Although many of them are repelled at the third stratum, recently there have been parties that were able to reach the fourth stratum.

「I’m sorry, did I make you wait?」

One of the causes may be the many Clear videos circulating the world, inspired by the Fenix party. Since the movements of their predecessors can be used as a reference.

As the number increased, it became easier to find a method to break through that suits their party.

Another cause is simply that…the number of highly skilled challengers have increased.

「We ran into an unexpected individual…I’m sorry for being late, despite being the one who called you.」

In the tavern where Fenix and I had a meal before.

Fenix and Lily arrived late and approached the table where I was sitting.

I rounded up my thoughts and looked at them.

「It’s alright. Who was the unexpected individual?」

They both sat down and ordered drinks. Since I knew what they liked to eat, I had already ordered.

「It was the Water Hero.」

「Ah, joint training?」

The raid includes the Aerial party, the Hervor party, the Scathach party, as well as Wraith and Fran.

I heard that they, including the Fenix party, got together to exchange ideas and do some joint training.

「No, we aren’t taking part in that, so we didn’t go there. He…was lost.」

They told me the story of how he got rid of a bully in a slightly extreme fashion.

「Wow…」

Believers of strength…huh?

It’s true that he is rather obsessed with strength.

Coupled with his attitude brimming with confidence, he may come off as cocky.

But it is completely different from a child who is drunk with godlike powers stemming from inexperience.

The way he looked at Fran was one of trust and familiarity, and even though he was chided by Aerial, he changed his attitude towards Scathach and apologized for his impoliteness.

And now this story from Fenix.

Wraith doesn’t act arrogantly, flaunting his strength.

He believes in his allies and holds a conviction to never abandon them.

Even if their beliefs may differ, he responds flexibly if cooperation is necessary.

Also, if there’s someone who oppresses the weak through violence, he drives them back without physically hurting them.

Within him, he holds a clear definition of what a strong person is. Or rather, what a hero is.

「Hey Lem, I’ve been thinking…doesn’t that kid look famili-」

Fenix was interrupted by the waiter who brought the drinks.

「What about Wraith?」

「…Later. That discussion will deviate too much from what we’re trying to do today.」

By the way, I have obstructed their recognition ever since the two of them entered the tavern, so the other customers and workers don’t notice them.

Of course, they do think of them as customers, but that’s all.

「Hmm. Well, alright. So, Lily. You wanted to talk, right?」

「Y-yes…Before that, a moment please.」

Lily takes a sip of her cider, only enough to wet her lips, and places the wooden jug back on the table.

「Hm?」

「Wraith mentioned this earlier…do you two know each other?」

「Oh, yeah, sorta. I met with Aerial for a bit when he first arrived in this town, and Wraith was there.」

「And then he invited you to become his ally?」

Fenix smiles with just his lips.

「What’s with that face…I refused, alright?」

「He said he wasn’t gonna give up so easily, though.」

「Well, there’s nothing I can do about that.」

「…How can you be so calm? Every single Four Great Spirits contractor of this era has requested you.」

The Flame Hero, the Storm Hero, and the Water Hero. Excluding the currently vacant Gaia Hero, that’s all of them.

「Ah, yeah, you’re right. When you put it that way, I guess it is amazing…」

「Amazing doesn’t even begin to describe it…! …No, I suppose catching the eye of the Demon King from the Demon King Castle is even more tremendous.」

A big factor of Lily’s reaction to this is probably because she is an Elf.

The Elf race is also called the children of the Wind Spirit.

They believe that long ago, the Wind Spirit took the form of man and mingled with them, which gave birth to the Elves, but most people don’t believe that in this day and age.

Normal Wizards fundamentally do not specialize in any one element. You could say that they have equal talent for all of them, and you can also say that they don’t have a talent that stands out.

However, many Elves are born with an Aptitude for Wind Magic.

In the same fashion, Insect-Humans are called the children of the Earth Spirit, and water Monsters are called the children of the Water Spirit.

They are called that possibly because they have a high Aptitude for a single element despite not being a Spirit contractor.

The reason Berith’s power in the Tag Tournament wasn’t called into question is that it is not impossible for there to be an Insect-Human with a Hero-level earth element Aptitude.

However, it is a fact that that is extremely rare. The majority of them are no match for a Hero. It’s just that they have an Aptitude that is incomparable to most Normals.

Actually, Lily isn’t very fond of the Wind Spirit. She said so herself.

There are many Elves who use Wind Magic to raise their accuracy and power of the bow, and she, too, can do as much.

But they can’t use large-scale Wind Magic.

This is probably why she is so focused on Godspeed.

Anyway, for the Elves, the Spirit is familiar to them, and they recognize it as a being that gives blessings to their race.

The main Spirit is extremely sacred.

Of the four main Spirits, three of the contractors asked a lone Black Sorcerer to become their ally.

That is an unfathomable shock.

「That’s…true. But I don’t plan on resigning from my job.」

The time that Fenix invited me, and the time that Aerial and Wraith invited me as well.

I was happy. I was honored and fraught with emotion.

I aimed to be the first rank with Fenix, but I had to give up that dream halfway.

But the job I got after that, the myriad of allies, and my new dream are all very important to me.

「N-no…it was our decision to remove you from the party in the first place that set everything in motion…I lost my composure.」

「I already said it’s fine. I’m sure it was hard to drag me around…yeah, we may not be allies anymore, but we’re not strangers either. Can’t we be friends?」

「…F-friends?」

「Guess not, huh?」

Lily looked at me in wonder.

「If…if you’re fine with it…」

She nodded her head.

「Of course. Well, let’s get straight to the point.」

When I smiled, she gave a weak smile in return.

「R-right…I have come to you today to ask of you something only you can do.」

And then Lily revealed the details of the request.

「Only for the Raid Clear, I would like to become your subordinate.」