One thing led to another, and I ended up joining the Demon God Temple.
Lankart was originally a core member of the Demon God Temple, and Shay participated this time intending to move with the Demon God Temple's side. With two familiar faces, I joined in a "following friends" sort of way.
If they were complete strangers, I would have come up with some kind of concept, but being acquaintances caused various problems.
"Hughes? Didn't you say you were going up the path of officialdom? What did you do?"
"Ah, well..."
Behind Shay, who was demanding answers outright, Lankart shook his head.
"Making a fuss worse than that wild boar. Huey's taste is quite peculiar."
"Wild boar? Me?"
"It's a title for calling Historia. Comparing a strong-but-stupid person to a wild boar."
"Really? If it's Historia, whatever."
Does that mean it's fine as long as they didn't call her a wild boar? The solidarity among wild boars is lacking.
Lankart couldn't hold back and added another reproach.
"It means you're even more stupid than that. Not even a handful of intellect can be felt—who said to accept this one into the Demon God Temple?"
"Want to die?"
"By my judgment, you can't with your strength."
"I'll show you your judgment is wrong. By then you'll be dead though."
This is dialogue that selfish villains in an evil organization would have. Shay, it suits you well. No sense of discord.
The two built up their momentum as if they would fight at any moment. Usually at times like this, the boss comes and stops the fight.
Sure enough, sparks rose from the fireplace over there, and the Red Tower Master appeared. Walking in without even brushing off the embers wrapped around their body, the Red Tower Master glanced at the two.
"Going to fight? Then fight while listening! I have something important to say!"
Oh, that's bold. So bold that Shay even lost the will to fight and sat back down.
"...Hmph. Whatever."
The Red Tower Master said "Really?" without any other words and came straight to me. The gathered people's gazes turned toward me and the Red Tower Master.
The Red Tower Master laughed cheerfully and grabbed my shoulder firmly.
"Now. Everyone attention! First, let me introduce our new comrade. The name is Hughes."
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The Red Tower Master, who rubbed my shoulder full of goodwill, must have thought that wasn't enough, as they pulled my head into an embrace. I can feel a soft touch against the back of my head. I, who rarely receive such active approaches, was flustered.
"...Hah?"
While for some reason Shay was sending killing intent toward me this time, the Red Tower Master said with a very joyful laugh.
"His identity is the King of Humans. Everyone, welcome him warmly!"
The rumor must have spread. Well, if I went around advertising that much, there wouldn't be anyone in the world who doesn't know.
Still, it wasn't known to everyone, as some among them showed quite surprised reactions. A wizard holding a staff with a blue crystal attached pushed back their robe and spoke.
"King of Humans? Are you sure? From what I heard, the King of Humans was passing through the Enger Plains with followers."
It was an old acquaintance. The Master of the 10th Floor, Lord Johannes. A great wizard who guarded the Crystal Tower longer than even the Blue Tower Master, but voluntarily stepped down from the frontlines to take on the role of teaching disciples.
To think such a powerful person, who would make even the Empire's court wizards look weak, was also part of the Demon God Temple. There were wizards who made it obvious like Lankart or the Red Tower Master, but most were hiding the fact that they were part of the Demon God Temple. Perhaps because joining a criminal organization would lead to poor evaluation.
"I've seen his abilities before, but they weren't at a particularly special level. In the first place, what about the credibility of that information? Who did you hear it from?"
Lord Johannes raised a question with rational and critical thinking. Then Lankart answered with his face scrunched up.
"Has the old man gone senile? If you haven't heard the information, just shut up. Blabbering when you don't even know."
...The reason the Demon God Temple's image is bad might not necessarily be just because it's a criminal organization.
"Came up from the lower realm and lacks roots. Do you not know common sense? To claim something, one must provide proper grounds. If everything that comes out of one's mouth is true, I would have harvested all those stars in the sky long ago."
Lord Johannes was cold and rational, fitting for a wizard of the Crystal Tower. And he was disregarding Lankart's shallow experience and knowledge.
Perhaps because of that. He didn't particularly get excited or swayed even by Lankart's rude words. He was merely displeased.
The Red Tower Master took Lord Johannes's side.
"Johan is right!"
"It's Lord Johannes."
"It's long. It's better to say it short!"
The Red Tower Master, who casually called an old man more than twice their age, began explaining while still resting their upper body on the back of my head.
"It's not a conclusion drawn from a single clue. A few months ago, the Progenitor returned to the Fog Duchy. There were speculations that she might have entered eternal sleep somewhere, but we knew where she was sleeping."
I heard they sold information somewhere, and that was here. The members of the Demon God Temple nodded at the mention of the Abyss.
"The Abyss... The land cursed by the Earth Mother Goddess."
"It was where the Demon God was. Using the Progenitor as a key to guard the Demon God. They used their heads quite well."
It must have been a secret the Military Nation wanted to hide, but the Demon God Temple had already grasped it. The Military Nation, with the power of the Saintess, doesn't lose in information warfare, but the mystique of the Magical Federation seems to have penetrated even that solid system.
"According to Lankart's information, the Abyss can only be escaped twice a year, only on the days when the sun illuminates the bottom of the Abyss. Lankart proved the fact that one can escape on that day. If nothing else had happened, we would have moved on the next day the sun shone. But things went awry because Jiseon preempted us."
Questioning gazes focused on Lankart. Lankart answered sullenly.
"What are you looking at? You guys didn't know either."
"Shameless, when you almost messed things up with wrong information."
"At least I wasn't sitting idle like you guys. I cleaned up Tartarus and left the rest to Huey. And as you can see, Huey produced results. Unlike you guys."
Now the gazes turned toward me. Among them, Shay's expression was particularly striking, looking as if asking whether Lankart's words were true.
Ah, should I answer this or not. Let's go with answering here.
"That's right. After Lankart took the prisoners of Tartarus and escaped, I was planning to go inside, examine the structure of Tartarus, and uncover the Earth Mother Goddess's secret. And the plan succeeded beautifully."
I slightly pressed my chin and gave a faint smile as if I had planned everything. Showing an inscrutability that seemed to mock the world.
Although the Demon God Temple gathered renowned wizards, at this moment, I was the most arrogant and dangerous existence. In front of the flinching wizards, I lightly shrugged as if it were nothing.
"There were variables, but ultimately it succeeded. Thanks to Jiseon who arrived a step ahead, I obtained the Earth Mother Goddess's relic, Jizan. However, there was a big conflict with Jiseon who aimed for the Earth Mother Goddess's relic beneath the Abyss, and to escape, I entrusted it to Mr. Shay."
This is a hastily constructed script based on some truth. Though it wasn't agreed upon, Shay accepted it surprisingly well.
"You said the Demon God was the target from the beginning, and you were still friends with Lankart... So that's how it was. From the moment Lankart escaped, everything must have gone according to your plan. You planned it much earlier."
Shay had a relieved expression as if their questions were finally resolved. The way other members of the Demon God Temple looked at me also changed a bit.
Only one person. Lankart, who at least knew the inside story, had a slightly different expression.
'The plan went quite off track. What can you do, it's not like we're a Saintess. But even in the midst of that, Huey brought out the best result. That's what's really amazing!'
...Right. Actually, it didn't succeed beautifully.
Originally, Tartarus was supposed to be empty, and I was planning to go to Tartarus in a more certain way.
However, Shay preempted me and infiltrated Tartarus, and I received that news a bit late.
If there was already someone there, they might not send me to Tartarus. The uncertainty increases significantly. Even if they do send me, it's a problem. Shay, a mysterious existence thrown into Tartarus by deliberately provoking Jeolchang. It was an obvious fact that like me, they were aiming for the Demon God. They were quite a frightening opponent to cohabit with in isolated Tartarus.
Should I go or not? After deliberating, I eventually decided not to go. But I was a bit late. As is the case with sudden stops, the plan to advance and the intention to stop became misaligned. The one in charge of pushing me just强行 carried out the plan despite the signal to stop.
Damnably, the plan I made worked well. Even with variables overflowing, getting trapped in Tartarus should be considered a fortune in misfortune.
The Red Tower Master said cheerfully.
"Hughes was independently investigating the Demon God even before he had any relation with the Demon God Temple! And actually, Hughes and Shay succeeded in obtaining the Earth Mother Goddess's relic! Unlike us who were late because we only engaged in empty talk even though we grasped the location!"
While the wizards, unable to distinguish whether it was self-deprecation or criticism, cleared their throats, the Red Tower Master continued speaking while laughing without hesitation.
"After that, Hughes and Shay crossed to the Duchy through the nations. Around the same time, the Golden Mirror disappeared and the Progenitor returned as a Demon God! And after that, they were found at the Tree of Origins guarded by the Ancient Druid! If you dismiss all these events related to the Demon God as coincidence, I'll light a fire in the fireplace, so go wash your face there!"
When the Red Tower Master pointed with a finger, a large fire ignited in a fireplace. If I wash my face there, I'll never need to wipe my face again for the rest of my life.
Quite some time has passed since stirring up the Demon God. If it's an organization active in collecting information, it's about time to focus on me and Shay. Actually, if they don't pay attention after doing this much, it would be slacking off. Anyway, it would be difficult to pretend not to know now.
Lord Johannes nodded after hearing the explanation.
"Those who escaped from Tartarus. And the Golden Mirror and the Progenitor... His connection with the Demon God is clear. I'll acknowledge that. However."
Cutting off his words as if to emphasize, he asked back with genuine doubt.
"That doesn't serve as proof that he's the King of Humans. He could just be a wizard enthusiastic about the Demon God. In the first place, what relation is there between the King of Humans and the Demon God? And what effect does the fact of being the King of Humans have on the Demon God Temple's policy?"
"Good question!"
That I'm related to the Demon God is clear. But that doesn't serve as proof of being the King of Humans. In the first place, we don't even know why the King of Humans disappeared.
As if they had been waiting only for this question, the Red Tower Master bared their teeth and laughed.
"The King of Humans can use all Demon Gods!"
Oh, my cover's blown.