Inside the castle.
"So you're adventurers from Axel? Sorry, sorry, I scared you just now! Hahahaha—"
The Dullahan laughed heartily.
Expecting a fight to the death?
No!
Instead of a battle, the Dullahan welcomed them in with surprising hospitality.
They were now in a kind of audience hall inside the castle. At the back of the room were chairs resembling thrones, but the Dullahan didn't sit there. Instead, he'd arranged a table and two sofas, and now sat across from the three of them.
Though the castle appeared shabby from the outside, the interior was spotless. There was no sign of decay—only a dignified air of age and history.
Even—
"Sorry, it's a bit plain here. We only have simple tea. Please don't mind."
He even offered them tea.
His head rested on the table while his body served the drinks. This "separate operation" was unsettling in its own way.
"Thank you, thank you..."
Yunyun replied nervously.
After all, in the Crimson Demon Clan's upbringing—or rather, in the world's general knowledge—Demon King's army officers were cruel and violent. Meeting one usually meant certain death.
Who would have guessed this Dullahan was so kind and courteous, even serving tea?
Such a gentleman!
Megumin had been quiet since entering the hall. She nervously drank her water, clutching Zunzun's sleeve like a frightened child.
She was only thirteen years old. Although she often bragged about her Explosion Magic and looked down on others, in the presence of a truly powerful figure, she couldn't help but shrink back. Maybe this would help her change that habit. But then—
She whispered into Zunzun's ear, "Um... Zunzun, I drank too much water. I need to use the bathroom. What should I do?"
Forget that. She was more relaxed than anyone else!
Did she not understand that this man before her was an officer of the Demon King's army, second only to the Demon King himself?
"For the restroom, please exit and head left," said the Dullahan. "Also, please don't use the flowerbeds. The tulips don't like young girls—they prefer mature ones..."
"I won't go in the flowerbeds!"
"Wait—wait, Megumin!"
Megumin shouted and rushed out of the castle. Yunyun quickly followed, leaving Zunzun alone with the Dullahan.
They'd left me behind?!
Zunzun started to panic. He'd rather be stuck with Cecily than left alone with a Demon King's officer.
"You..."
The Dullahan stared at him and said, "Red eyes, black hair... Are you from the Crimson Demon Clan?"
"Yes! I am Zunzun, one of the Crimson Demon Clan's most powerful mages!"
Zunzun introduced himself instinctively.
Not that it made much difference—his red eyes and black hair were unique to the Crimson Demons. There was no point in hiding it.
The Dullahan muttered to himself, "Just as the Demon King said... you're the one he wanted to treat well..."
"What?"
"No, nothing."
He shook his head—literally, in his hands. "It's just... your Crimson Demon Clan has caused a lot of trouble lately. Blowing up the Demon King's barrier, spying on his daughter while she's changing, dumping trash in front of the castle... and so on."
The list of crimes was so absurd, even Zunzun felt ashamed.
"Sorry."
"It's fine, I don't blame you."
So gracious!
Then he added, "After all, I wasn't the one fixing the barrier. Didn't affect me."
It doesn't concern him, so he doesn't care? So even the Demon King's army has internal divisions...
Just then, Megumin and Yunyun returned hand in hand, their expressions now relaxed.
"All right, let's get to the main point."
The Dullahan placed his head on the table. Despite being physically lower than the rest, his tone still carried authority.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Beldia, an officer of the Demon King's army. I have no interest in bullying the weak. I won't harm rookie adventurers like you. You came here on a courage test, and simply standing before a Demon King officer proves your bravery. I acknowledge that. Finish your tea and go home."
So generous... I'm about to cry.
Any other Demon King officer would've flown into a rage the moment they saw intruders in their base, but this man welcomed them with such class.
However—
"I refuse."
Megumin suddenly shouted. "We're not leaving until we complete our mission!"
"Megumin, Megumin!"
Yunyun tugged at her, flustered.
The Dullahan blinked in surprise. "You aren't planning to challenge me with your meager strength, are you?"
"No. If the guild put up such a quest, I might consider it. But we have another goal."
Megumin continued boldly, "The guild asked us to find out which Demon King's army officer had taken over the castle. We also want to know what you're doing here."
"Why would I tell you that?"
The Dullahan paused, then sighed. "Well... just think of it as me asking for your help. I came to investigate a divine light that recently descended on Axel. Do you know what it was?"
"The divine light?"
"What's that?"
Megumin and Yunyun exchanged confused glances. Only Zunzun understood what the Dullahan meant.
Of course—
He was talking about that idiotic goddess, Aqua!
The Dullahan sighed. "So you don't know either... I had hoped to gather some information, but I suppose that was naive."
"S-Sorry, Mr. Dullahan. We just arrived in town, so we don't know anything about the divine light."
Yunyun bowed slightly, as if apologizing.
"It's fine. I wasn't expecting much."
The Dullahan waved dismissively. "But please don't fear me, townspeople. I'm only here to investigate. I won't harm rookie adventurers. Let everyone in Axel know that."
So kind!
As expected of a former knight.
Zunzun was honestly starting to like him.
"But..."
Zunzun hesitated. "Because you occupied the castle, your presence scared away the monsters in the forest. Now, they don't return to their territory, disrupting the ecosystem. Many new adventurers have been injured."
"Really?"
The Dullahan was taken aback. Clearly, he hadn't realized his aura was affecting the surroundings. Then again, as a general of the Demon King's army, he probably never cared about such minor issues.
"So... could you please move somewhere else, Mr. Dullahan?"
"I refuse."
The Dullahan answered flatly.
Placing his head back on the table, he folded his arms. "The Demon King sent me here to investigate that divine light. My subordinates and I love this suburban castle. I can't just pack up and leave."
Difficult?
Then forget it!
Zunzun wanted to flip the table in frustration. But the Dullahan was too gracious, making it hard to argue.
"I see..."
Zunzun scratched his head.
The Dullahan said, "There's a solution. If you find the identity of the divine light and tell me, I'll leave."
"...Huh?" x3
"Originally, I was going to search alone, but with your help, I can find it faster! Yes, this is the best path. Disrupting the ecosystem to force your assistance would be bad form."
He had begun to act like a real Demon King officer now.
"What did you say!?"
An enraged Megumin tried to flip the table, but it was too heavy. Her face turned red with effort, but the table didn't budge.
"Oh, right," said the Dullahan. "You can tell the people in town: if they want me gone, help me find out what that divine light was."
"Understood. I'll inform the guild. Thank you for your hospitality."
Zunzun pulled back Megumin, who was still fuming, and the three of them walked out together.
They exited through the corridor.
Though the castle exterior looked rundown and unimpressive, it was grand and solid on the inside. Its furnishings were well preserved.
"Let's get our own castle someday," Zunzun said casually.
"No thanks!" Megumin immediately rejected. "A castle is too far from town. Just walking back and forth would kill me. I want no part of it!"
"But if we learn teleportation..."
"Doesn't matter! I'll only use my precious skill points on Explosion Magic. Nothing else!"
Even Yunyun's suggestions were dismissed.
Sure, Zunzun and Yunyun could learn teleportation, but they couldn't stay with Megumin all the time. Living in a castle would be too inconvenient.
"Besides," Megumin added, "a castle's way too big. Cleaning it would be a nightmare. We're adventurers out to defeat the Demon King, not janitors!"
"Ugh!"
From behind came a low groan.
The Dullahan, following them from a distance, was unintentionally hit by her words.
He, a high-ranking officer, had been scrubbing this castle with his subordinates every day. How humiliating!
"Oh my!"
A rolling sound came from behind. Looking down, Zunzun saw a helmeted head rolling across the ground.
The Dullahan, some distance away, had thrown his own head like a bowling ball.
"Oops! Sorry, my hand slipped! Could you hand me my head?"
I take it back.
This guy had no knightly grace at all. He'd even tried to peek under Megumin and Yunyun's skirts...
Zunzun stepped on his head.
"Ohhh..."
The Dullahan moaned in pleasure, cheeks faintly flushed.
Red gleamed in Zunzun's eyes. He kicked the head straight out the window.
"Go!"
"Aaah! My head! My heaaaaaad!"
The Dullahan's body scrambled after it in a panic.
Are all Demon King's army officers this weird?
Megumin and Yunyun began to have doubts.
I'm tired. Let's go home.
-End Chapter-
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