[Royal Palace – Belzerg's Capital]

"Isn't this a quaint surprise? The Artificer arriving in person...and here I had thought that you were enjoying your retirement in Axel."

The King looked down with an amused smile on his face, all the while I leaned around my staff and stood in the middle of the chamber.

By the side I could hear some of the King's yes-men begging me to kneel, but I promptly ignored them. Not too important for me to actually give them any more attention.

"When I heard that someone had begun casting Explosion magic, well...there's only a few handful of individuals who have the ability to do that." My staff thumped against the floor, a bubble of [Silence] encompassing me and the King.

I frowned for the first time in a while.

"So, are you here to accuse me of treason?"

The King laughed.

"Ah, that's the Artificer that I always knew. You looked like you've never aged a day ever since I went on the throne. Sadly, as much as I wanted to accuse you for such a thing, we both know that this is not your method at work. Your methods are more of a...knife, rather than a hammer."

"So, you want me as a hunting dog."

"You keep on underestimating me, Artificer. Even I learn from my mistakes. You already know who is responsible."

I shrug. It wasn't really a big secret to keep. Plus, the King's still underestimating me, so it's still fine.

"So I do. I can't just waltz in an encampment and eliminate them in an instant now, can I?"

"You are stalling for time. We both know you have the necessary skills for such an assassination."

"I have classes in Thief, not Assassin. Use your head, old man."

"Thief skills still work unhindered with magic does it not? Your excuses are getting thinner by the moment, Guildmaster. At this rate, I can already expect your head on a guillotine."

"Fine, so I eliminate your little problem for you. Who's to say that another wouldn't replace them?"

"Then strike at the heart. Make sure that no one can ever have the potential to wield such spells against this Kingdom."

I lightly tap my staff once again, the sound being absorbed through the carpet.

"Even that Crimson Demon?"

A pause, before the King's eyes flickered with fire.

"Even the Crimson Demon. Do what you have to do in order to prevent such things from falling into the hands of the enemy. Unlike the Demon King, we cannot keep up a barrier at all times. Do you understand, Artificer?"

"Crystal clear, your Majesty." I replied, sheathing back my staff in one smooth move as I walked back out of the chamber. My eyes slid over to the side, finding the King's yes-men staring at the conversation with confusion, all except for one person.

As much as I didn't want to do this, I had to, kid. Hope you make the right choice.

[Demon King's Castle – Elyria]

I skipped towards the conference table, waving towards the golems who opened the door for me.

With a groan and a creak of the heavy doors, I entered the conference chamber, outfitted with dark red banners hanging from the ceiling and emblazoned in the emblem of the Demon King.

My emblem.

"Who are you?"

In front of me is one of the many different problems that plagued the current state of Elyria, the fallen goddess of destruction – Wolfbach. The main reason that she was even here in the table is because she was one of Elyria's main problems.

Keep your allies close, and enemies closer. An adage in my world that Bree uses well.

"I'm the Demon King." I airily reply, smiling as I watched the fallen goddess frown.

"Are you joking? You know I can kill you where you stand."

"Hoho, sadly moi contract permits moi to stop you if it were to be the case."

As expected, Vanir dropped down and landed in the middle of the table, his mask floating for a few seconds before he gathered up his magical energy to form an actual body to interact with.

"Fallen Goddess, still your tongue lest I be forced to attack you."

Wolfbach clicked her tongue as I seated myself on the only uncomfortable chair, a straight-backed piece of ebony wood inlaid with gold. The bottom felt stiff, but it was a reminder to make sure that I'm always focused during these meetings.

"...When did that backstabbing god give his position? To a summoned outsider, no less?"

Ah, it would seem like Wolfbach didn't like me that much. Well, not that I particularly cared...

"It was a private meeting around a few years ago. Moi friend and mentor who is already tired of country management wanted to hand off his country to a person that knows his vision. Since his ideal form of governance has been close to that of the other world, then it stands to reason that a summoned person from that other world is ideal, no?"

"Then how come I haven't heard about this?"

"Do you have stone for ears, fallen goddess? Moi self said that this was a private ceremony. Moi glorious self was only present there due to being the former Demon King's most trusted aide and confidant."

Wolfbach's eyes turned towards me. "And what do you have to say about this?"

"I have work experience in filing paperwork. Plus, Vanir basically runs the entire country by myself, and Bree stops by from time to time to help me out."

"A puppet King in all but name, I see." Wolfbach scoffed, crossing her arms under her chest. "...So? Why am I here in the first place?"

"Bree told me that you were at the frontlines."

"Oh, it's about that?" The fallen goddess waved a hand. "It was just my duty as a Demon King Army General to lead the Demon King's forces at the front. It couldn't be more simple than that."

"Even though my predecessor ordered you to search for your other half first?"

Silence went through the air of the chamber as I leaned back into my seat, the armor that I wore clinking with each movement. Just in case, my hand slipped over to my partner's handle.

"Ready when you are, Master."

"Thanks, Ingvild."

"It has recently come to my attention that Elyria's regime had recently changed, however."

"Which is why this is your first and final warning." I replied, smiling at the fallen goddess as I stood up and flicked my wrist.

In response to my command, golems smoothly emerged from the walls, their crystalline skin breaking away to reveal menacing amethyst orbs trained on Wolfbach. I can hear her breath still.

Bree-built, and easily capable of killing even the most powerful avatar that the gods could send. I'm sure they'd work nicely on this fallen goddess as well.

"Are we clear, Wolfbach?"

My smile was punctuated with the fallen goddess' scowl, even as she slowly stood up and met my gaze with her own. She nodded, and slowly walked back towards the door, stopping just before she went through.

"You're less of a Demon King than the last one."

Her sentence was cut as a blast of amethyst light carved a thin line of blood from her cheek, and her gaze turned venomous as she stared at me with a glower.

A few moments later, she closed the door and left, but I can still see the hole torn in the doorframe.

When Vanir told me that she was finally gone, I couldn't help but bark out a peal of laughter.

"I don't get it if that's supposed to be an insult. I'm rather flattered by that."