We’re back in this world, and people are busily moving around.
It has to do with Eris not being the demon king anymore.
“Hm, it seems the demon king has lost that qualification.”
According to Ou, her not being the demon king anymore is having an effect on the castle too.
When the castle doesn’t have a demon king, it loses its functions, and is unable to maintain itself.
Eventually, anyone without qualifications, meaning anyone without demon blood, will be unable to see it.
And they won’t be able to move from it either, so if people don’t leave the castle before it disappears, they’ll be trapped in a sort of alternate space.
“Then we have to get out of here!”
Rurika says in a hurry when she hears that, but apparently we still have plenty of time, and there’s something like a secret path.
“First, we need to decide what to do with them.”
Ou is talking about the heroes, and Kotori looks at him with a concerned expression.
“Don’t be worried.”
Ou walks in front, with me, Hikari, and Kotori behind.
Rurika and the others will sort Eris’ things, and the rest are heading to the faraway town with Windsor, to explain to Suiren and the others what happened, and place the magic item I gave Hikari that serves as a mark for Transfer.
Apparently the magic item Ignis and the other demons used doesn’t work when the demon king’s castle isn’t operational. And it worked through the spirits of space that Eris formed a contract with too.
The heroes are being kept, I guess you could say, in a jail underground.
Kotori doesn’t look very happy when she sees it.
“D-damn you!”
Shun gets up and yells when he notices us.
At first his eyes are pointed at Ou and Ignis with hatred, but then he notices Kotori.
“You traitor!”
He yells at her.
That threatening attitude makes Kotori take a step back, but Hikari steps in front of her and glares back at Shun.
Ignis sighs, and takes a step towards Shun.
Shun looks like he’s about to say something, but he falters and crouches on the ground.
I know what happened. I’m behind him, but I can faintly feel the anger.
He’s probably releasing something similar to my Intimidate against Shun.
He’s shaking like a newborn fawn, but Kotori is also trembling. And for some reason, her face is red.
“Quiet.”
Ignis then turns his eyes to Naoto and Kaede.
“What are you planning to do with us?”
Naoto looks pale, like he got caught in the air that was released against Shun.
They already fought anyway, but is he feeling the difference in their power more clearly now that he’s standing in front of Ignis?
At least he looks cool, standing in front of Kaede to protect her.
“Firstly, there is no spell to send you back to your world. Also, no one is coming to save you.”
Ignis plainly states the truth.
It seems unbelievable to someone hearing that all of a sudden, so telling someone to believe it might be harsh.
Shun reacts by yelling that it’s a lie, but Naoto and Kaede accept it.
It seems Kaede in particular has memories from when she had the slave mask put on, and vaguely remembers what she heard.
“So what will happen to us?”
Naoto asks again.
“First, you will form a slave contract. We don’t know what you might do otherwise.”
Says Ignis, and Ou responds.
“That sounds good. Especially considering how severely affected that young man is. As for the master… What about Kotori?”
“Restrictions won’t do?”
I ask, figuring that they could do what Ignis did to me, but since a skill broke it, it can’t be relied on.
In the end, it’s decided that they will form slave contracts with Kotori. Kotori herself seems troubled by that idea, but she knows she can’t refuse, and gives up.
It might also have to do with Ignis whispering that it would be faster to just kill them.
“Young lady, make sure to hold the reins tightly.”
“I-I’ll do my best.”
Kotori says while clenching her fists.
Then her attitude flips, and she’s happy to see Kaede again, although the mood with Shun and Naoto is more lukewarm. It makes sense, because apparently Kaede helped her a lot.
Then Ignis is contacted by Windsor, and we can now go to the faraway town.
Before that, I wonder how we’re going to carry Mia, but she can go inside the Item Box.
Should I take the responsibility of keeping her there from now on, or should we ask people in the faraway town to look after her? We need to discuss it.
I wonder how many people I can use Transfer on at the same time, but it looks like I can use it on my usual party of five, Eris, Kotori, and the three heroes, so apparently I can use it on at least ten.
Ou, Ignis and the other demons are staying behind, to look after the castle for the time being.
“Well then my lord… I mean, Miss Eris. Please spend some time in the faraway town.”
Says Ignis, and after the other demons see her off, we travel to the faraway town.
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Thanks for the treat.