“Lady Aileen, we’ll need to go on foot from this point on.”

  “All right.”

  She’s already wearing clothing made from thick fabric, designed specifically for regions that get heavy snow. Over that, she puts on a cold-weather cap and thick-soled boots, and on top of everything else, she’s bundled up in a thick fur coat. When she peeks out from under the cart’s canopy, her breath mists white. It seems there really is no autumn in Kilvas. Aileen, Keith, and Vica have come a long way north. They’d made preparations for their flight, then leaped from the train in the dead of night. After resting until morning in a nearby village, they borrowed a cart and continued their journey. It’s been only half a day since their escape, but this is another world. Could some of that be due to the demons’ influence?

  The light snow that’s begun to fall is making the ground muddy.

  “Master Vica is searching for the entrance. You really must not be reckless, Lady Aileen. Even Luc isn’t here.”

  To make it look as though Aileen has returned to Ellmeyer, Rachel and Luc have remained on the train. Rachel is pretending to be Aileen, who is feeling unwell, while Luc is looking after her.

  “They should have reached the port by now. I do hope they manage to set sail without incident.”

  The Valkyries will be guarding Aileen’s group only until they board the ship, but there’s no telling what they’ll do if they discover that Aileen vanished en route. There’s danger there as well.

  Keith, the only one who’s accompanied Aileen, looks around warily. “Worry about yourself first, please. I feel it’s entirely milord’s fault that you’re in this situation, but we can’t have anything happening to you… I wish we could have made contact with the demons, at least. We’ll just have to leave that in Rachel’s hands.”

  “It would be a great help if we could communicate with the local demons, but if they won’t respond to Master Claude…”

  “Then our prospects are slim. If these demons have a king of their own, though, that will change things.”

  “Lady Aileen, Keith, thank you for your patience.” Vica jogs back to them. He changed into shabby clothes on the way, to keep himself from standing out, but Aileen suspects it’s making him stand out more. After all, he has the same face as Claude. The sight of his mud-spattered leather boots makes her squirm a bit. Keith’s lips are pursed in an odd way, so he probably shares her feelings.

  However, they aren’t in any position to scold him for getting dirty.

  “There’s a gate we can use to get through the wall near here. Let’s head inside.”

  “But there must be guards.”

  “Freezing to death outside is much scarier. I managed to teleport the Valkyrie who was guarding the gate, so I’ll deal with them that way. I should be able to put them to sleep, too, if I try. Oh, let me return this cart to the village.”

  Vica snaps his fingers, and the entire cart vanishes, horse and all.

  She’s heard that he used hardly any magic in the capital and that this is all new to him, but just as children learn to breathe without being taught, he’s using magic quite easily. When they leaped from the train, he used magic like an expert and carried them to safety. The only reasons he can’t teleport them to the other side of the wall are his wariness about the spell that’s cast on it and the fact that he isn’t familiar with the world outside the capital.

  If he keeps this up, no doubt they’ll return to the capital in a twinkling as well. How reliable.

  “Where did you teleport the Valkyrie to? We can’t afford to have her raise the alarm.”

  “Oh… Come to think of it, where did I send her? I just thought ‘somewhere far away,’ so… From here, the farthest place I know would be the capital, probably.”

  Aileen takes her earlier assessment back. He’s still quite shaky. He’s made her remember how Elefas is always lamenting that the way Claude uses magic is careless.

  “…Let’s keep our use of magic to a minimum. Even teleportation. It will look suspicious if Valkyries start appearing in the capital one after another. More than anything, you don’t yet have a clear picture of how to distribute or use your magic. If you accidentally run through all of it, we’ll abruptly find ourselves in dire straits,” Keith tells him.

  “All right.” Vica nods obediently, then sets off, taking the lead. They have to press on before the snow covers the muddy ground.

  However, the gate Vica leads them to already has several Valkyries gathered in front of it.

  “She vanished when I went to fetch our cold-weather gear. It’s past time for the shift change, too.”

  “It’s beginning to snow. She wouldn’t have gone on patrol before you came back with the gear.”

  In the patch of shadow where they’ve taken cover, Vica folds his arms. “A shift change, hmm? Luck was against us. This is a problem.”

  Keith sighs. “It isn’t ‘a problem’; this is why I’m constantly telling you to think a little before you act—no, I’m sorry. I gave you the same scolding as I would to milord on reflex.”

  “For now, shall I put them all to sleep?”

  “I think that would leave us in greater trouble later on.”

  One might be fine, but there are three of them. It isn’t likely to end up as a story where the Valkyries laugh about how they all happened to nod off by accident. They’re bound to suspect an enemy attack, and security will get tighter.

  However, Vica smiles lightly. “Oh, it’ll work out somehow.”

  “That carelessness of yours really is just like him! We’ll think of another way. At the very least, I don’t want to be seen before we’re even inside. Our objective isn’t breaking through; it’s investigating the other side.”

  “That’s easy to say, but I can’t make us invisible—or maybe I can?”

  Setting a finger to his chin, Vica looks up, then looks at them. Then suddenly, he’s gone.

  “Can you see me now?”

  Aileen can only hear his voice, although it’s coming from the same spot.

  Keith answers calmly, “We can’t see you. We can hear you, though. Is it a spell to trick the eyes, or a barrier that cuts off the outside world?”

  “I visualized surrounding myself in a transparent membrane, so probably the latter. I’m impressed you knew.”

  “Milord used that one quite often when he stole into the castle town to amuse himself behind my back, long ago.”

  “I see, so that’s how it’s used. That’s informative.”

  “No, you mustn’t learn that.”

  Keith scolds him sharply, but Vica’s probably learned it already. For the sake of their future, Aileen quietly vows not to tell him about any more of the uncalled-for things Claude has done.

  “A barrier might be safer than trying to trick the Valkyries’ eyes. Keith, Lady Aileen, take my hands. I think that will render you invisible. Since you can still hear me, be careful of the sounds you make.”

  Aileen takes his right hand, Keith takes his left, and Vica starts forward. As they do, a guard says, “For now, let’s search inside the wall. Report this to the captain as well.”

  One of the Valkyries is facing their way, but as Aileen and the others approach, step by cautious step, she doesn’t notice them. Holding their breath, the three of them make for the raised portcullis and the wall’s interior, past the guards who are still discussing what to do.

  “I’ll stand guard here, as scheduled. If you find her safe and sound, let me know.”

  “Understood. If she comes back on her own, report it to us as well.”

  “The alarm would have sounded if a demon came through, so it should be all right, but we can’t let our guard dow—”

  Abruptly, a loud, shrill alarm goes off. Both Aileen’s group and the Valkyries stiffen, but the soldiers promptly start scanning the area, looking grim.

  “What is it, a demon?!”

  “I see. If I use magic, that’s how the warning system reacts.”

  Aileen claps a hand over Vica’s mouth, but it’s too late.

  “Who is it?! Who’s there?!”

  “It doesn’t matter. Raise the alarm! We’re under attack!”

  As one of the Valkyries starts to run for it, Keith leaps out from the barrier and strikes her, knocking her out.

  Letting go of Vica’s hand has made Keith appear out of nowhere, and the remaining two Valkyries recoil in shock. Taking advantage of this, Vica knocks them both out.

  The alarm is still sounding, though, and footsteps are rapidly approaching from both sides. Keith scoops Aileen into his arms, then shouts to Vica: “Emperor Vica, run before they can trap us between them!”

  “Oh yes. There should be a gate leading out of the wall over there. I remember the layout.”

  “Lady Aileen, I beg your pardon, but bear with me for a little while!”

  Before she can nod, Keith breaks into a run. Several Valkyries are heading straight toward them from the front. Vica jumps lightly, and Keith rises into the air, still carrying Aileen. Vica leaps over the Valkyries, passing just beneath the ceiling. The group of guards is startled, but they promptly change direction.

  However, an invisible wall springs up to block their way.

  “Now’s our chance,” Vica says.

  “A barrier?! What impudence!”

  One of the Valkyries thrusts with her lance. It’s a magic lance, and as it strikes the barrier, the divine stone set in its hilt glows. The barrier bursts with a bang. Still running, Vica glances back and casts the same thing again as more Valkyries cry out.

  “Dammit, who is that?!”

  “Hey, raise the alarm! It’s an intruder. If it comes down to it, we’ll use the—”

  Aileen, who has been watching the Valkyries from Keith’s arms, thinks of the words that might have been drowned out by the noise of the bursting barrier. She frowns.

  “This is it; the gate to the other side of the wall, Vica says. “Let’s slip through here and hide for now.”

  “Wait. I hear footsteps.”

  Just outside the gate, Keith stops suddenly. Vica stops, too, several steps ahead of him. A third figure has just stumbled and fallen.

  It’s a human, barefoot in this cold, clothed in threadbare rags. Vica runs up to the unfortunate person before Aileen can stop him. “Are you all right? A human, here? Why…?”

  “Y-y-you… What’s a m-man doing here?”

  The human who looks up, trembling so hard that his teeth chatter, is also a man. When he sees Aileen in Keith’s arms, he shrieks. “V-Val— Valkyrie…!”

  “No, I am not. I’m an ordinary human.”

  “Liar! Y-you people won’t fool me again! You tr-tricked me!” the man screams, sending spittle flying. Keith is wary; his arms tighten around Aileen.

  Vica offers the man his hand. “We’ll talk later. The Valkyries are pursuing us. For now, you should get away from here, too.”

  “…Wh-what are you? If she’s not a Valkyrie, then why is she here…? Don’t tell me—did you volunteer because you wanted to help the Valkyries, too?!”

  “No, I’m—”

  “There they are!”

  A Valkyrie shouts from the gate they’ve just come through. The Valkyries have caught up.

  “Hey, there’s a fugitive as well!”

  With another shriek, the man scrambles back, scuttling like a crab. Vica catches his hand and pulls him to his feet. “I don’t understand what’s going on, but come with us. I’m pretty strong. I’ll protect you even if we run into any demons.”

  “No, it’s no good. Get away from me!”

  The man shoves Vica hard. In the same moment, one of the Valkyries throws an object of some sort. The sweet, pungent smell makes Aileen’s eyes widen. “…Master Keith, Master Vica, don’t breathe it! It’s demon snuff!” she yells.

  The substance makes demons lose their reason, and it’s nothing but harmful to humans. Vica, who’s picked up the same scent, grimaces. “What’s that?”

  Has demon snuff never made its way to the Kilvas Empire?

  There’s no time to explain it now, though. If Vica has as much magic as Claude, he should be fine, but there’s no guarantee. Aileen knows a cambion who was forcibly changed into a demon by this substance. She doesn’t have the sacred sword, Keith is simply human, and of course the man who’s been called a fugitive is in danger as well.

  As Aileen looks back, though, a large shadow falls over her.

  There’s a series of heavy cracking noises. It’s the sound of a skeleton changing, of an entire body being broken and regenerated. Vica stands in front of it, stunned. “Y-you…”

  “Emperor…Vica…?”

  The voice that slips through the man’s gritted teeth is still his own. However, his whole body is covered in gray scales, and his face is no longer visible. With tense, crackling sounds, his jaw and neck lengthen and thicken. A tail sprouts from his bent body. Four taloned feet trample the ground, and the demon howls. Just for a moment, his eyes flash, and there’s murder in them.

  So this is a demon of Kilvas…!

  Aileen can see what her brother meant when he said they weren’t like Ellmeyer’s. This demon’s form resembles a wingless dragon.

  The demon launches into a sprint. Vica is still standing in his path, and the demon swings his claws at him as if he’s in the way. Still holding Aileen, Keith grabs Vica’s arm and yanks him out of the way. “Pull yourself together, please! I have Lady Aileen to look out for!”

  Vica nods, but he doesn’t take his eyes off the demon. “What…is this? A human just…transformed into a demon…?”

  The demon charges straight at the wall, but the Valkyries have already closed the gate. They must have assumed that if they leave Aileen and the others here, the demon will finish them off.

  The demon’s attention is focused on the wall, but on this side of it, he’s in his element. The cloying scent of demon snuff still hangs in the air. They need to get away from here fast, before the smell attracts other demons.

  “At any rate, we have to find a way back into the wall, or we’ll be in danger—”

  Suddenly there’s a shrill howl. It’s the demon’s scream. He keeps ramming the wall with his head, knocking himself back in the process. It’s probably the spell on the wall that’s responsible. Even so, the demon promptly gets up and flings himself against the wall again—shoulder first this time. When he fails again, he screams.

  Automatically, Aileen and Keith pause in their flight and look at him. They are the demon king’s wife and his adviser, after all.

  “…He just wants to get out.” Vica’s still gazing at the demon. He doesn’t move. “Why are they doing this? It can’t be… My sister and Diana can’t have…”

  “Master Vica?” He’s acting strange. Keith grabs his shoulder. “Calm yourself, Master Vica! You mustn’t lose your composure. You are—”

  “…Me too?” Beneath his bangs, Vica’s wavering eyes are glowing red. “Will I be like that someday, too?”

  Jumping out of Keith’s arms, Aileen steps in front of Vica and raises a hand. “I beg your pardon.” A dry sound echoes as the slap connects with his cheek, and she gives him an elegant smile.

  Vica’s unblinking eyes close, then open again. The red light is gone.

  “Have you regained your senses?”

  “Y…yes.”

  “Very good. Now, while we have the chance, let’s search for a different gate. Then we’ll investigate what that was and what on earth is happening here. You can work toward being the demon king and becoming a demon after that, can’t you?”

  Aileen’s lips are curved in a smile. Vica blinks at her repeatedly, and then his expression turns grave. “You knew about that? About the aberration in Kilvas’s imperial bloodline—the fact that some of us become demons?”

  “What? …Well, er, yes. After all, I am the demon king’s wife.”

  Without thinking, she blurted out something she knew only from the game. Covering for herself with a cough, Aileen turns on her heel. “Now then, lead us to a different gate. Have you forgotten my condition?”

  “No. Oh, I’m sorry. I did, just a little.” Vica looks back at the demon one more time. He’s still hurling himself against the wall. “Stop that. You’ll hurt yourself.” His words are as soft as a prayer. The demon can’t possibly have heard him. He’s too busy growling at the wall.

  “…So it’s no good. Could Big Brother Claude have done it…?” Shoulders slumping, Vica turns to her again. He bites his lip, then smiles as if he’s intentionally shaking it off. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. It’s this way. Let’s hurry.”

  Vica sets off without looking back. Taking Keith’s hand, Aileen follows him, walking on her own two feet this time. However, she does look back just once.

  The demon has stopped flinging himself against the wall and is gazing at them steadily. Then he whirls around, bolting toward the far horizon over ground that’s thinly dusted with snow, until he’s finally out of sight.

  Claude is fairly used to his wife bursting in with the question “What’s going on?”

  “Didn’t you hear me? I said to pass this budget at the council the other day!”

  “Diana, calm down.”

  Diana has stormed into his office, yelling. Behind her, a troubled-looking Cattleya is trying to restrain her. Feigning ignorance, Ernst is making tea, acting like Claude’s adviser even though he’s the prime minister. As Claude waits for tea that’s delicious in a different way from Keith’s, he pauses in his work. “I believe the budget was passed, as you wished.”

  “Then why haven’t the military funds come through? Not only that, but they tell me the budget’s all been used on other things, so there isn’t any to spare!”

  “If you use money, it goes away. That seems logical.”

  He nods, satisfied, and Ernst clears his throat rather unnaturally. He almost burst out laughing and has to cover for himself.

  Veins standing out on her temples, Diana shouts across the desk at him. “Take it back! You can demand it from Ellmeyer, even.”

  “Your tea, Your Majesty. Also, here is the report regarding the undertaking the other day.”

  “Thanks. That’s a big help.”