The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
When I turned around, there was an unfamiliar woman.
She looked to be in her mid-to-late twenties, perhaps?
Her hair, the color of the sky itself, was long, stretching all the way down to her feet.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her a peerless beauty.
It was early morning now, so no one else was around, but if it were midday, she surely would have drawn countless stares.
Her eyes were closed.
But it wasn’t as if she were blind—her steps were firm.
And she seemed to see me as well, since her face was turned my way.
“Um… good morning.”
I didn’t know who she was, but for now, I returned the greeting.
At my reaction, the woman gave a small smile.
“It’s such a pleasant morning. On days like this, I can’t help but want to take a walk. Don’t you feel the same?”
“Yes… I do. I understand what you mean.”
I looked up at the blue sky.
…The sky over the demon realm was just as blue as ever.
“With weather this nice, I can’t resist going for a walk.”
“Fufu, I’m glad you agree. When I say the same thing to my subordinates, they rarely understand… sometimes they even say I sound like an old lady.”
“That’s… something.”
Wait—subordinates?
I almost chuckled, then realized what those words implied.
“Um… could it be that you hold a fairly high position?”
“Oh? You mean you don’t know who I am?”
“I’m sorry.”
“…Ah, so you’re the one Cassion spoke of.”
She knew Cassion.
And what’s more, she called him by name, without honorifics.
Which could only mean…
“I apologize for the late introduction. I am Zillor… one of the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings, known as the Water King, Zillor.”
My worst fear had come true.
To think I’d run into one of the Four Heavenly Kings in a place like this…
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—she didn’t seem to recognize my true identity.
…But did she really not notice?
With this person, I couldn’t tell what she was thinking at all.
It was possible she knew everything and was only pretending not to.
That said, there was nothing I could do right now.
All I could do was go along with the conversation and pray she hadn’t realized who I was.
“Is something wrong?”
“Ah, no… I just didn’t expect to be speaking with someone of your stature.”
“There’s no need to be so stiff. This isn’t a formal occasion, and I dislike being too rigid.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I prefer to keep things lighthearted.”
“I see…”
“But if Cassion heard me say that, he’d scold me. So please keep it a secret, all right?”
Zillor pressed a fingertip to her lips and laughed softly.
I couldn’t help but think…
Was this person really one of the Four Heavenly Kings?
The Four Heavenly Kings—
Commanders of the Demon Lord’s army, sworn enemies of humanity.
There was no reconciling with them; the only path was to fight until one side lay dead…
…Or at least, that’s how it should have been.
But she didn’t seem that way at all.
Of course, it could just be that she switched her demeanor depending on whether she was on the battlefield or not, merciless in combat but calm outside of it.
But even so…
She looked like a gentle, kind person.
“I’ve heard from Cassion. Not only did you assist with the defense yesterday, but you also made a great contribution. Thank you.”
“Eh, no, I—”
She suddenly bowed her head, leaving me startled.
“I’d like to give you some kind of reward. Is there anything you desire?”
“…No, nothing. I simply couldn’t stand by and watch the people of this city be attacked.”
“I see… fufu, you truly have a very admirable personality.”
“Uh… thank you?”
“If someone like you were to join us Moderates, it would be a tremendous reassurance…”
“I’m sorry. To be honest, I don’t know much about these factions.”
“That’s understandable. Information like that doesn’t always get passed along. Let me explain simply…”
The Hardliners were demons who, under the pretense of carrying out the Demon Lord’s will, did whatever they pleased.
The Moderates were demons weary of war, longing for peace.
That was the rough outline.
And then, there was one more.
“Lastly, there is the Minority faction.”
“The Minority?”
“As the name suggests, very few demons belong to it, making it a small faction—but one that cannot be ignored due to its power.”
“And what is the Minority’s goal?”
“They repeat actions similar to the Hardliners… but their true intentions are unclear. It feels as if their ambition goes beyond simply destroying humanity—something even more ominous.”
“…I see.”
The Minority, huh…
I had only just learned of their existence and knew little about them.
But judging from Zillor’s reaction, they were clearly a troublesome enemy.
Perhaps Reez and Mona might be part of that Minority faction.
I had no solid proof, but the thought crossed my mind.
“So, what do you think? If you haven’t joined any faction yet, I would be delighted if you could lend your strength to us Moderates.”
“Um… sorry. I have companions, so I can’t decide something like that on my own.”
“I see. That reminds me, there were others who helped as well. It’s a shame I can’t have your answer now… but I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Without pressuring me, Zillor simply withdrew.
Perhaps she had judged from the start that it was impossible, or maybe she was just testing the waters.
Or… maybe she was plotting something so outrageous that I couldn’t even begin to imagine it.
Zillor’s true intentions remained unknown.
“Well then… I should be heading back now. What about you?”
“I think I’ll walk a little longer.”
“I see. We repelled the Hardliners’ attack yesterday, but they may try something again. Please be careful.”
“Yes. And… good luck to you as well, Zillor-sama.”
It felt strange, cheering for a demon…
Yet somehow, I found myself genuinely wishing her well.
“Fufu, thank you.”
Zillor gave a soft smile and left.
I watched her back fade into the distance…
“Haaahhh… s-so exhausting.”
To think I’d end up running into one of the Four Heavenly Kings here of all places.
Apparently, I had been more tense than I realized, for once Zillor was gone, I let out a long, heavy sigh.
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