Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

133 – The Morning Before the Raid Battle, the Demon King Army’s Chief of Staff’s Resolution

The Great Saint Panacea is a woman who has an extremely high Aptitude for White Magic. Of course, without her own efforts, she wouldn’t be able to produce such effective White Magic.

So long as the wound is not fatal, her ultimate White Magic can heal it completely. This magic should be called a Miracle or White Sorcery.

She has a cheerful personality, and the nickname Saint, which she herself sarcastically says it doesn’t suit her.

She is a thirty-two-year-old who has children, yet there are still many teenagers who have had their hearts captured by her beauty. Beauty that has never waned and only seems to be getting more polished as the years go by.

Pregnant with her third child, she has decided to retire.

Because of that, I was invited in the past to be her replacement member.

Since I declined, the Aerial party had to invite someone else.

And that member is…

『The Gale Hero Mr. Ewan! He made a contract with a high-ranking Lesser Wind Spirit and turns thirteen-years-old this year! Mr. Aerial was invited to be a guest lecturer at the School and met him there. After joining, his actions are reminiscent of the younger days of the Storm Hero and excite the hearts of the fans who were depressed at the Saint’s departure!』

This Ewan seems to be from the same year that the Frost Hero Bella is from.

I read an article about how this year’s batch of students are the cream of the crop, and the article was thoroughly about Bella and Ewan. In particular, the two of them have both joined high-ranking parties, and it can be said that they have a lead on their peers when it comes to popularity.

And they were judged not as being out of one’s depth, but as excellent.

When judged as members of the 1st and 4th rank party, they are talented enough to stand out from the group.

I have actually talked to him before, but…how should I put this…perhaps due to how I was Aerial’s first choice, he sees me as his rival of sorts, so he wasn’t the friendliest of people to me.

He is a courteous young boy and responded to conversation properly, but I sensed a slight edge to his tone.

From his point of view, I am the man who refused the invitation of the Storm Hero, who he admires. It was thanks to my refusal that he was invited. He probably has complicated feelings, but it can’t be helped.

「Recently, there have been many Adventurers with beautiful faces.」

If Wraith is a cheerful handsome boy, then Ewan is a cool handsome boy.

「Milla, do you pay attention to things like that?」

「I wonder. They say it’s a feast for the eyes, and it certainly does feels good to have something beautiful in your sights.」

Milla answers, casually.

「I see…」

I suppose Fenix is a fair-skinned, handsome young man that is swarmed by female fans, and Lark, despite his sleepy eyes, is quite handsome, so he’s popular with the ladies.

In recent years, it is the truth that the appearance of Adventurers has become more important.

In order to attract casual fans, the easy-to-understand charm of beautiful men or women is effective.

In that sense, I am unpopular.

I understand what Milla is saying, yet for some reason, I feel slightly uneasy.

「However, to me, it is just like admiring works of art. It is akin to appreciation.」

「Ah, I see.」

At her words, I was surprisingly…relieved.

Huh…?

I was confused by my own feelings.

Just now…was that…

「Fufufu, were you jealous?」

Her eyes see right through me.

「Eh? N-no…」

She stands up from her seat and places her hands over mine that were on the tabletop.

Her slender hand, as warm as the sun and as smooth as porcelain.

Her eyes, as red as blood and as beautiful as gemstones.

Her beautiful voice, as sweet as ice-cream and as intoxicating as wine.

「Since two years ago, there is only one man who I am utterly obsessed with.」

Milla said that and smiled.

It was a smile so intense, it felt like someone grabbed a hold of my heart.

「Th-thank…you…?」

While feeling the heat rising in my cheeks, I manage to mutter some words.

「Fufu, your welcome?」

During our conversation, Aerial’s introduction came up on the TV.

『And last but not least! The strongest of all Humans who stands head and shoulders above all Adventurers. The Storm Hero Mr. Aerial! He requires no introductions, everyone knows the valor of the man that is a contractor of one of the Four Great Spirits and can use Wind Spirit Magic! In this Raid Battle, just how will he defeat the Demon King Army’s Chief of Staff, who defeated his fellow Four Great Spirits Contractor, Mr. Fenix! Stay tuned!』

「…By the way, her explanation makes it sound like Lord Lemegeton’s defeat has already been set in stone and it angers me greatly. Let us send a complaint to the sponsor!」

Milla, who seemed to have been listening intently, glared at the screen.

「Now, now…」

「Are you not frustrated, Lem? In the first place, such trivial words and actions exude a sense of「Monsters are meant to be defeated」. To Lem, who is trying to eradicate such thinking, are her words not irredeemable?」

Well, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me.

「If you pay attention to what has changed, I think you’ll see that things are different since back then.」

「That…is true, but-」

Milla still doesn’t seem convinced.

I understand how she feels.

「Then let’s prove it.」

Milla was about to say something but then quietly closed her mouth.

「Prove by winning. Although the current setting doesn’t help, it can be said that society’s perception is due to the innumerable victories that the Adventurers have accumulated. So then, we need to start accumulating too. We start winning the same number of times, defeat strong Adventurers, make them think twice about who will win in a Dungeon Clear.」

We don’t have to get rid of Dungeon Clears quickly as Fellow wants.

It will take time, but this is the way I want to go.

This is our biggest chance yet.

To repel a group of strong, top-ranking Adventurers, including the strongest of them all, in one fell swoop.

「…You really are something, Lem.」

Milla smiles again.

But it was different from the one before. This one was filled with pride.

「Let us show the world that Monsters can win too. Show that even the first rank is no stranger to the taste of defeat. We, the Demon King Army, will prove it.」

「Right you are.」