Episode 244
Several hours had passed since the building where the inauguration ceremony was held had collapsed, and the sun was beginning to set.
"Lulu? You are Lulu, correct?"
"...Yes."
"I-I see. Well, you're alone at the meeting place, so naturally..."
"Just guide me quickly."
"Ah, understood."
I, who had been looking up at such a sun, quietly began walking alongside a demon who had appeared beside me at some point, sweating cold sweat.
"Haa..."
For some reason, the yellow sun turning into a red sunset as it set looked lonely, so I stared at it blankly for a while before quietly breathing onto my hands.
Then, a tingling sensation was felt in my hands that had been frozen by the cold winter wind.
"Ugh."
At the same time, the wounds I had gotten from frantically digging through the sharp rubble with my hands began to ache.
I should have brought it out sooner. To think a pet would find its Master so late. Disqualified as a pet.
"E-excuse me... is something uncomfortable?"
"Hm?"
"Heek..."
As I was walking with such thoughts, the demon beside me spoke to me, and when I turned my gaze, she shrank back with a startled expression.
Does the Demon King Army only have these kinds of fellows? How lacking in talent must they be to only attach such low-ranking demons to someone like Master?
If I were the Demon King, I would have attached at least executives to the Master's side.
No, no. If I were the Demon King, I would stay by Master's side. If the Demon King were a pet, wouldn't Master like that more?
"W-well... I'm not a low-ranking demon?"
When I expressed such dissatisfaction with a displeased expression, she spoke in a timid voice.
"I'm... the Demon King Army's Chief of Staff... Lemerue..."
"Then what about those weak and unreliable-looking low-ranking demons from earlier?"
"They were the combat executives, the highest-ranking class in the Demon King Army... and Demirkan, the second-in-command..."
"Lies. Why would those fellows tremble when they see me? You're trembling right now too."
As I quietly glared at her making absurd lies typical of demons, Lemerue, who had introduced herself as such, looked at me with a confused expression.
"By any chance... do you know nothing...?"
"Stop spouting nonsense and guide me quickly."
"Yes, yess..."
I have no intention of falling for a low-ranking demon's tricks. From the start, I have no intention of trusting the Demon King Army who gave such absurd orders to Master.
I only look at Master alone.
"...Ah."
Like that, as I continued walking while ignoring the demon who kept glancing at me, something began to appear in the distance.
- Thump, thump.
At the same time, my heart started beating rapidly.
Even if they're low-ranking demons, the Demon King Army is still the Demon King Army. To successfully escape through all those troops and surveillance.
"Greetings."
"...Hm."
As I approached the carriage with a trembling heart, a middle-aged man wearing glasses and a roughly-built man blocked my way.
"Move."
Unable to delay even a moment, I shined my magic eye and gave a command in a low voice, but.
"Kugh..."
At that moment, I felt a needle-like pain from my magic eye. Is it because I overexerted myself too much today? Looking again, a stream of blood was flowing from my eye.
"Ugh."
"This is..."
However, it seems the magic eye's ability hadn't disappeared. The fellows who seemed to be the leaders of the low-ranking demons stepped aside sweating cold sweat.
Would those fellows be mid-ranking demons? Master isn't someone who should receive such treatment. If it's Frey, shouldn't the Demon King personally come to greet?
"D-Demirkan? Combat executive chiefs?"
"........"
Looking at the two men who fell into silence with such thoughts, and the girl with an astonished expression, I entered the carriage and thought.
'This much... the Demon King Army will look at Master again, right?'
Feeling slightly proud, after praying that the Demon King Army would treat Master even better, I saw Master inside.
".....!"
I soon had no choice but to make an expression of astonishment.
"M-Master!!!"
"Hmm..."
Master was lying in the carriage in a miserable state.
"Master, Master..."
Looking at such a Master, I closed the door and headed toward Master, leaving behind the Demon King Army members who were staring blankly into the carriage for some reason.
"You came? Lulu...?"
Then, Master smiled softly and reached out to me.
When I had been searching for a while and found Master, who had been buried under the Saintess with a flushed face for some reason, I hadn't realized it then.
- Swipe...
But now, Master who is stroking my head is clearly in a very serious condition that even a child could see.
The whole body is covered in wounds, blood is flowing from the eyes and mouth, and the breathing is quite faint.
And, the black patterns all over the body.
Something has gone terribly wrong.
"Lick... lick..."
Because of that, I was suddenly afraid Master might die, so I hugged Master and started licking Master's cheek.
I read in books and newspapers. A pet dog that continuously licked its dying master's cheek, helping maintain consciousness and saving them.
Then there's no reason I can't do it either. If Master loses consciousness in this state, Master might never wake up again.
So, I...
"Lulu, I'm fine."
"Lick... what?"
While I was licking Master with tears in my eyes, Frey grabbed my shoulder and said that with a red face.
"I'm recovering right now. In a few days to weeks, I'll completely recover."
"B-but..."
"Check with your magic eye."
As Master ordered, I activated my overworked magic eye, and I could see that Master's body was indeed recovering. Perhaps, is it consideration from the Demon King Army? Anyway, fortunately...
- Swipe...
Master suddenly opened Master's eyes wide and covered my magic eye.
"What will you do if you overwork your eyes like that."
"........."
"That must hurt."
Warmth is felt.
The warmth transmitted from Master's hand that is covering my eyes spreads through my body and warms my chest.
It was an emotion and feeling I wanted so much in the past, but could never feel. Now, I can feel it any number of times just by being by Master's side.
"Lulu?"
With such thoughts, as I held Master's hand that was covering my eyes and cheek and quietly felt the warmth, Frey whispered with a tilted head.
"Are you crying?"
"Wuu... uu..."
Hot tears mixed with blood flowed from my magic eye and wet Master's hand. To dare dirty Master's hand is a great rudeness, but this time I couldn't help it.
Looking at the foolish Master who was genuinely worried about me who was merely bleeding from my eyes, while Master was in such a mess, tears poured out uncontrollably.
- Squeeze...
Like that, I, who had been shedding hot tears while holding Master's hand with both eyes closed for a while.
"You're hurt..."
"Hm?"
"Master is more... hurt..."
I said that with a trembling voice.
"...It doesn't hurt at all."
Then, Master suddenly made a dark expression and answered like that.
"I wonder why... why I don't feel pain..."
"........"
"No matter how I think about it, these black patterns seem to be the cause... black... could it be..."
I could no longer say anything.
Because Master, who was given shabby treatment by the Demon King Army and assigned a mission close to a suicide attack due to the time-limited characteristic, was so pitiful.
And because the one who instigated such things was ultimately me.
"Master... I have something... to say..."
So, looking at Master who was acting to reassure me, I began to put into words what I couldn't say until now.
"M-Master needs to know... something..."
If I say this, Master might chase me away, might not stroke me anymore, might not call my name anymore.
But what I fear most is that Master might no longer love me. Even worse, Master might come to hate me.
Just imagining it is terrible. I feel like my breath is blocked. I feel like my vision is going dark.
However, I don't think I can deceive Master anymore.
I don't want to be a shameless bad pet anymore.
"Actually, I have..."
Like that, to hide my trembling gaze, I tightly closed both eyes.
"A curse called... the Brand of Misfortune..."
I was trying to expose myself who had brought forward Master's time-limited state, who had brought all this misfortune, who had pushed misfortune onto Master to survive myself...
"Ah, that?"
"What?"
What came from Master's mouth was a completely unexpected word.
"I knew."
"Yes? What do you mean? Huh?"
I couldn't understand. No matter how much I thought, my head wasn't working. Why? How?
"I knew from the time I took you as a pet."
".......!"
Thanks to that, Master's clear voice pierced my ears as I fell into panic.
"T-then? Uh, I am? Uh..."
Master, who was looking at me who was flustered after hearing those words.
"I'll explain the details later but..."
"......."
"You were toyed with by my plan from the beginning."
"Ah..."
"Even if you know, you can't escape anymore. You've already come in too deep."
Master smiled a devilish smile and stroked my hair.
"You're already as corrupted as I am."
I was so shocked that I couldn't understand Master's words well, but Master's last words carved clearly into my mind again.
"Alright, sit next to me. We need to move around hideouts from now on."
Looking at Master who gave me a command with a gentle voice.
".....Woof."
I laid my back on Master's lap, exposed my belly, and showed a sign of submission.
"Good."
Then Master began to gently stroke my belly.
"Woof woof."
Just now, my love for Master, my loyalty, everything, has broken through the limit.
I don't think I can explain my affection for Master who is looking down at me now with any words or characters anymore.
"My goodness... the Demon King candidate is like that..."
"As expected... Frey is... the one our Demon King Army has been waiting for..."
Therefore, I can only show it through actions.
"Grrr..."
Under the moon that had risen at some point, inside the carriage running while avoiding people's eyes. In Master's arms warmer than anything, I resolve.
While participating as a spy in the Hero's party, I will also enter the Demon King Army like Master.
I will strive desperately and definitely seize high positions in both groups.
If it's for Master. If it helps Master.
The desire for domination and lust for power that I had suppressed all my life thinking they didn't fit my status, I will bring them all out.
Like that, reaching the summit.
I will offer the world, everything, to Master.
"...Grr?"
But the moment I made up my mind like that, the top of my head suddenly started to itch.
What is it?
.
The lingering sunset completely disappeared, and when faint moonlight spread over the empire.
"Who is the ringleader of this incident!"
"What do you mean the Imperial Family has fallen!"
"What about Frey's whereabouts?"
"What happened to the Hero? Is it true that the Hero was violated by Frey..."
Reporters holding recording magic tools and high-ranking officials from various fields began enthusiastically throwing questions at the two girls standing on top of the rubble.
"The Imperial Family... has fallen."
The noisy atmosphere began to quiet down when Clana, who was in tatters, opened her mouth.
"Frey Raon Starlight is currently missing. However, according to witness accounts... it is highly likely that Master was torn apart by the explosion without a trace."
When the next statement came out, it became completely frigid.
"And, the ringleader of this incident is..."
"...It is Frey Raon Starlight."
When Ruby, who appeared from somewhere staggering with serious injuries, interrupted Clana's last statement.
"..........."
Even that frigidity disappeared, and everyone started making blank expressions.
"No!!"
And.
"H-huh? This little one..."
"Frey is innocent!"
When Glare, who revealed herself to the world for the first time as the Magic Tower Lord's disciple, shouted like that, the atmosphere fell into uncontrollable chaos.
"Hmm..."
"........"
Amidst that chaos, Ruby's ruby-colored eyes and Glare's sky-blue eyes sharply crossed.