AN: Can I get some reviews here? I don't really know if you guys are liking my stuff if it's just one guy doing all the reviews and stuff. Ask me questions! Clarifications! Flame me for all I care! I can handle it!

...Probably.

Anyways, thanks PassiveNox. Onto the chapter itself.

[Ludurina Pass – Axel]

I don't think that Bree knows what his actions are going to do. I mean that's probably what he wants everyone to think, but I'm entitled to my own opinion.

Of course, my opinion went out of the window the moment I became the new Demon King, but...eh. Bree doesn't mind my visits.

Most likely because the geezer likes company, and his wife and daughter aren't there with him. Guy likes to dote on those two a lot.

Had me even decorate the castle a month beforehand and everything! Even gave me a blank cheque to do it!

...Isn't that going too far?

Anyway, I think that Bree doesn't have any idea as to what he's doing. That's probably the reason why he's all too willing to become a Guildmaster, of all things.

I'd read my share of light novels, of course. I knew that he just wants to leave the stigma of being branded as the Demon King. Nevertheless, he was anything but.

Heh, I can still remember years ago when I snuck out from my party, wanting to sneak into the Demon King Army and eliminate the root of all the fighting.

All I found instead was a tired and belligerent old man who was just targeting other people for besmirching the name of the country that he led. He only wanted the Axis cult and the Crimson Demons in the first place.

Although, since they were Belzerg's main line of defense against foreign intrusion...

I only pieced this out a while back, during my 'decorating' of the Demon King's castle.

Of course, by decorating, I meant 'eliminating all traces of evidence that a change in leadership happened that other countries could use against us', but it's fairly simple in theory.

Basically, it all came down to heaven power plays. The patron goddess of the Axis cult wanted to spread its roots out to gain equal coverage as the Eris cult, but there's not a lot of people left that are free to worship other religions.

All except for one, of course. The country of Elyria, now known to the world as the country of the Demon King. Even though its leader is a fallen god, he doesn't force them to worship his religion.

Weirdly progressive of this world, but then I remember that the gods have knowledge of other worlds as well. Bree might've applied it to his country.

Anyways, the Axis cult all but had free reign in recruiting the country of Elyria. Of course, given the Axis cultists...Well, Elyria certainly didn't want them in their country any longer.

So, Bree had to close the borders on the Axis cultists.

Of course, the patron goddess of the Axis cult – like the selfish, glory-hogging bitch that she was – took it as a declaration of war on her followers.

So began the disinformation campaign. Belzerg got hit the hardest, since most of its nobles were members of the Axis cult (given that they liked what the Axis cult preached, for obvious reasons), and they began antagonizing Elyria.

...Of course, since Elyria was headed by an actual god – even if Bree fell from grace – they just simply went on their lives with their advanced technology. Upon noticing this, Cold War mentality took over, and Belzerg managed to convince the other countries to unite against Elyria using some shifty logic.

The whole world was basically a powder keg, and a random Axis cultist (or was it really?) lit the match that started a war that spanned several centuries.

...Of course, I figured out half of this story from the forbidden texts in the Capital, but when I read that, it necessitated a trip to the Demon King's Country.

And I hated everything related to the Axis cult ever since.

[Ludurina Pass – Axel]

...So why am I protecting their ilk, really?

"H-huh?"

"Well, that was a close one!" I turn back towards the young man who seems to be the leader of the party. Satou Kazuma...if what I heard from Bree's whining was correct.

Decent guy, but has a perverted streak a mile wide. Bree told me it was the hormones, so I can expect him to mellow out within the next two years or so.

After that... "Master, you did not just think about scoring a younger man."

"Cut me some slack here, Ingvild. Even Bree's telling me to just shack up with someone."

"He did say that you can just do the trial version..."

"I do not do one night stands!" I glare at my sword, the amethyst embedded on its pommel blinking on and off. Oh, if I could just have a mute button on it...

...Damn. I knew I should've taken the archwizard class. That [Silence] spell that Bree likes to spam around was looking very tempting...

"Ah! Behind you!"

"...You heard the boy."

I sighed, quickly whirling around and using [Parry] on the manticore's claws. Its snake tail went for a quick strike, but I warded it off with an [Armor Piece].

The manticore hissed before jumping back a few spaces, eyeing me warily as I took the time to turn back around and wave a hand at Bree's latest in a long line of problems.

"Plus future conquest."

Right, plus future conque–

"Uh, why are you trying to snap your sword in half?"

I laugh. "Oh, it's just, you know? Piercing through scales with a blade this thin is going to cause a few kinks."

"Might want to bend the other way by about three centimeters, Master."

"Actually, I think I need to replace this sword sometime soon..."

"Right..."

"Good job, Master. Now he thinks you're weird."

"Ingvild, I swear I'm taking a level in archwizard when I get back."

"...My apologies, Master."

"Anyway, the Guildmaster sent me here when he saw that you were having a hard time."

"Can you say thanks to him when I get back?"

"After all, he says that you can't pay back those repairs if you're dead!" I laughed, patting the young man on the shoulder even as he grumbled and jolted forward.

"In any case, my name's Matsuri. Call me a part-timer for the Guild. I can solo the manticore no problem, but you guys still need to keep that griffin off my back. You alright with that?"

"Fine! Perfectly fine!" He replies with a salute, even as I chuckle and send him a wink.

"If you get out of this unscathed, how about we go on a drink sometime? It would be better if it's in the Guild."

He seemed to freeze, and I snapped my fingers in front of his face to get him out of whatever he's thinking. "...Is that a yes or no?"

"Yes! Perfectly, totally, excellently yes!"

He screams, all but stomping back towards his party members as they stare at me with flat glares. I give them a wink back, and the stares all but turn venomous.

...Did I?

"Master, is it prudent for me to warn Bree about your womanizing ways?"

"I will use you to strip the scales off that manticore."

"Master, need I remind you that I am first and foremost a rapier–"

"Matsuri-san, that manticore is charging at you!"

I ignored Ingvild and charged at the manticore, all but appearing as a blur to the abomination's eyes as I quickly pierce through its joints and leave it unable to move.

"[Astral Slash]!"

An arc of pure energy severs the manticore's wings off, and I quickly bounce off the ground and meet its eyes in an instant.

"[Iai Strike]!"

Ingvild pierced straight through the manticore's chest, causing it to scream as it died a few seconds later. I sighed in relief as I pulled my partner out of the corpse, landing on the ground with lithe feet a second later.

Seriously. That was too easy. Didn't the Guild files say that it was something along the lines of level ninety-five? Unless...

I glance towards Bree, still reclining in his chair. He yawned, before finally noticing my gaze and blinking at me in confusion, as if asking me what's wrong.

...I'm not even going to go there.

"That's a good warm-up", I said, rolling my shoulders around as I glanced towards my partner. "Say, you think that we should spar with Bree later?"

"I'd rather scrape off each scale on that manticore, thank you very much. Your predecessor would just hit me with a [Sacred Break Spell] and poof. I'm dead."

It was supposed to be a joke, though. Although, since Ingvild was offering...

"Scraping manticore scales it is, then."

"Yaaay..."

I laughed, sheathing my partner as I glanced towards the target of Kazuma's own party. The griffin was – thankfully – unconscious, and I couldn't help but grin as I can already see what I planned for the monster.

Armored griffins...Hell yeah.

Even now I can see Bree smiling at me as if I were a genius. To which I totally am.

Who would be crazy enough to strap armor on a griffin, anyway?