Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

250 – A Gathering of Monsters (Part 2)

On the other hand, there was another conversation happening.

「Bella.」

「…It’s been a long time, Hero Snow.」

She is the Frost Hero Bella that joined the Fenix Party as my replacement.
The other person who is talking to her is the Snow-White Hero Snow.

It seemed that the two of them knew each other.

「Please stop talking to me as if I’m a stranger. I feel very sad when you do that, you know?」

「Haa, even if you say that…」

「Please say『I like you so much, sister Snow』like you used to.」

Bella frowned.

「Leaving aside how I used to call you, I don’t remember ever saying that.」

「You were very young at that time, so your memory might be fuzzy.」

「Some of them are clear, but I still don’t remember ever saying that.」

Snow looked away for a moment and then smiled.

「Anyway, the details don’t matter. The point is that I felt love from the past ‘you’.」

「Just as I guessed, I never said that, right?」

「Hmph, obstinate children will be disliked, you know? More importantly, quickly say it,『Sister, I like you so much』. I’m thirsty for love right now. Please give me the water that is made up of a sweet and warm whisper.」

「Sister, you said that obstinate people will be disliked, right?」

「Well, there’s also people who say heartless things. Even though it’s important to repeatedly express what you think.」

「Older sister, it seems that you have a problem with your memory ability.」

Considering the age difference, it’s hard to imagine that they are sisters.
But looking at the two of them facing each other, I also don’t think that they are strangers.

The answer soon became apparent.
Because one of Snow’s Party members pointed out,「You’ve grown up, Bella-chan. And Snow, why don’t you stop letting your niece call you older sister?」

It turns out that Bella is actually Snow’s niece.
Maybe Bella didn’t particularly want to spread the word, since there was no such story circulating around.

I pretended that I hadn’t heard it either and looked away.

「Oh yeah, Bella. How about I bring out the snowboy? You loved it, right? Whenever I see your smile, I always feel happy as if I saw a rainbow after the rain.」

「Older sister, I’m 13 already.」

「No matter how old you become, you’ll always be my cute Bella.」

「That’s not what I mean.」

「Even if in society your nickname is『Bella-tan』, to me, you will always be my lovely, adorable niece.」

「Please don’t ever say that word again.」

「Bella-tan?」

「I’ll get mad.」

The relationship between the aunt and niece seemed to be good.
While such harmonious scenes spread around the hall, there was also an area that gave off a dangerous atmosphere.

It was the energy radiating from the forces of the North, South, East, West, and『Impregnable』Demon King Castle
They have never met each other, yet I could clearly see that they were conscious of each other.

The Six-Horned Demon King Asmodeus, who I also mentioned earlier, waved his hand when he noticed me.
When I responded with a nod and tried to look around again, I noticed this scene.

「Hey! You’ve come! Well, after all you are a Party leader, so you have to come. I haven’t seen you in so long, have you been well! Just as you can see, I’ve been doing well! …Hey, heyy, why are you not answering. I know that you’re inside the armor…Don’t tell me…Could it be that you’re sleeping!」

She is the Dragon King Valac who I fought against in the qualifying round.
She is one of the Big Four of the『Western Demon King Castle』and is the world champion of the True・Mixed Martial Arts Competition.

Valac’s family predecessor was a Monster who have worked at the『Impregnable Demon King Castle』, because of that reason, she and the Reaper Knight Furcus are childhood friends.
However, it seems that their relationship is not that good.

Or perhaps I should say that Valac is interested in Furcus, but the other party is…as you can see.

「Y, you! Your childhood friend is here to greet you…! Why are you just sleeping comfortably! You might as well show me your sleeping face!」

The Black Explorer Foras, who is a member of the Furcus Party this time, stopped Valac’s actions as she tried to remove Furcus’s armor.
He is a Minotaurus Black Sorcerer and was originally the direct subordinate of Lemegeton.

「Ah? Who the hell are you? D-d-don’t tell me, you, are you Fuu’s boy ― 」

「That’s enough!」

Said the Beast-Controlling Thief Barbatos. I’m not sure what would have happened if he hadn’t come along.
Barbatos is a leader who manages the members, including Valac, and is also the one of the Big Four.

「Don’t get in my way!」

「Don’t you understand that the relationship between the Demon King Castles is delicate and sensitive, this stupid champion.」

「Like hell I care about that. Do I need to get someone else’s permission just to talk to my old friend!」

「I’m telling you to do it somewhere other than here.」

「Shut up! I would’ve already done that if I could!」

Valac’s sorrowful cry echoed through the air.
If I’m not mistaken, Valac has failed multiple times when she tried to meet Furcus.

Lemegeton’s leader, the Demon King Luci, slightly laughed from a place located a little further.

Standing beside her is the Time Demon Agares, who is also restraining himself, and my eyes met his, but officially we are strangers. As we both understood that fact, we looked away from each other as if nothing had happened.

For a moment, I thought I saw the Demon King of the West holding his forehead.
It’s hard being at the top position.

「I’m sorry for interrupting you when you are observing the opponent candidates as if you are licking all over them? ― Mr. Greatest Black Sorcerer.」

The one who used Wind Magic to gently come down in front of me is ― the Wizard of Foresight Merlin.
She is a member of the Ex Party that is led by the Jet-Black Hero, who is ranked 2nd in the world.
She is also a friend who fought together alongside me when we captured the Original Dungeon.

「Merlin.」

「Ahh, Lem. I’m glad to see you having a Party again.」

It was only recently that I realized that there were more people who cared about me leaving the Fenix Party than I thought.

「I’m proud of my comrades.」

「I’m sure you are. It’s nice to see you again, young boy Josh.」

「Y, yes…!」

「Thanks to Lem, our foolish Hero is feeling much better. He said,『This time in reality』.」

Ex and I fought inside a dream created by Dark.
It was a one-on-one battle.
But Adventurers are supposed to fight in Parties.

I nodded with a smile.

「Okay.」

After smiling cheerfully, Merlin turned her gaze toward Wraith.

「But… I didn’t know there was actually another Hero that would gather such interesting members besides our fool.」

「They’re not only interesting, but also strong.」

「Fufu, I see. Then I guess we’re the same.」

「Maybe. We’ll find out who’s stronger once we fight.」

「I’m looking forward to that.」

The Knight Lord Arthur and the Transcendent Mordred are absent from the Ex Party.
It’s okay as long as the leader is present, so there are quite a lot of people absent in other Parties as well.

I looked around again.

The 99th ranked Silver Hero Nicola is talking with the 95th ranked Undefeated Hero Ellie, the 3rd ranked Hero of the Cursed Sword Hervor is looking around to find people who seemed to be strong and is talking to them, and many of the strong people he had been involved with before were gathered here.

「So, the leader that you said is doing well, what is he doing now?」

Wraith said.

「There is only one reason for that guy to be so focused that he doesn’t even notice Lem.」

Ex had a hard-to-approach atmosphere around him.
It’s to the point that it’s hard to imagine that he’s the same person as the usual mild-mannered him. He was staring at a single point with a serious expression.

― Ahh, I see.

They appeared.
Through the transfer recording stone, that Party came here after crossing space.

I could see that the atmosphere in the hall had changed once again.

The Flame Hero Fenix, the Water Hero Wraith. Like these two people, he has made a Contract with one of the Four Great Spirits.
He is also the strongest man. He debuted before those two and continues to reign at the highest rank for a long time.

Led by the Storm Hero that is ranked 1st in the world ― the Aerial Party.

He looked around at the people gathered here and then ― laughed like a child.

「Ahh… this is really wonderful. It’s filled with serious people, it’s so breathtaking ― a truly excellent place.」

Maybe just at that moment.
All of the people gathered in the hall turned their attention to Aerial.

And I’m sure they all agreed with his words.

No matter which Party they have to go against, an intense battle is inevitable.
What could be more delightful than that?