“Of course it’s not. I’m extremely reluctant, and this is humiliating besides. However, I’m sure you’ll be able to use my face with peerless efficiency. Go ahead and ignore both my honor and my pride.”

  “Leave it to me.”

  Claude wishes Isaac hadn’t accepted so enthusiastically.

  “What exactly do you intend to do? I’ll do all I can as well, but…” Ernst still doesn’t seem to get it; he’s the only one in the room who’s bewildered.

  Isaac glances at him. “The demon king yanked up the standard, but you’ll work, too.”

  “Uh, I hear you had a fan club in the Valkyries before you became prime minister. Until Diana came along, it sounds like you and Princess Cattleya split the popularity pretty evenly between you.”

  As Jasper says that while flipping through a notebook, Ernst frowns. “A f-fan club? What is that?”

  “So becoming prime minister made him less popular, huh? That actually works better.”

  “We’ve got a good excuse as well. An imperial visit regarding the Valkyries’ retirement system. We’ll start with the capital. We won’t even need to leave the city. And for some reason, Her Highness’s faction is opposed to the retirement system,” Claude puts in.

  Isaac smirks. “Oh yeah? This’ll really be worth doing.”

  “Won’t it?”

  “U-um, if you don’t tell me what you intend to do, you’ll make me uneasy.”

  Ernst seems worried, so Isaac says, “Don’t worry about it; it’s just a job. We’ll set it all up for you. Plus, if we’ve got the demon king’s face, we’ve basically won already.”

  “No, um, that’s why I’m asking… Why his face?”

  Ignoring Ernst, Claude comes to a decision. “All right. It’s a race: We’ll see who can bring down the Valkyries first, us or Aileen. Don’t worry; no matter what happens, it isn’t our fault.”

  “Right,” Isaac agrees. He also finds Aileen is impressive, but at the same time, her methods have never really sat right with him. For the time being, that makes him and Claude allies.

  “Everything that’s about to happen is my wife’s fault, for leaving my face all by its lonesome,” Claude says firmly.

  Jasper claps his hands together as if he’s praying.

  Ernst is still perplexed, but they’ll just have to make him grow up a bit more.

  Military power isn’t the only weapon in the world.

  It’s quite a long way from the district Aileen and the others have infiltrated to the district that’s related to Hausel. That means it’s safer to travel on the outside, away from the wall, where security will definitely have been tightened. Whether they run into demons is a matter of luck—encountering demons will give them more chances to gather information.

  With that in mind, Aileen’s group presses on until just before sunset, keeping an eye on the wall in the distance. In the end, though, that first demon is the only one they encounter. There’s no sign of pursuit by the Valkyries, either. It’s probably because, while Aileen’s group is on this side of the wall, they might as well be locked in. The Valkyries may also be planning to weaken them before they get rid of them.

  However, with Vica’s magic, it’s easy for them to rest in the hut they find under the wintry sky. They quickly start a fire and camouflage the entire hut with a barrier. Not only that, but the hut has clearly been used by others. They find water and preserved food inside. Keith uses these to make dinner, and Vica magically removes the dirt from their clothes in the blink of an eye.

  At this point in time, the only problem is that there’s only one bed.

  “We’ll sleep on the benches. You take the bed, Lady Aileen,” Keith tells her. He’s spreading out their coats and cloaks and hanging them in front of the bed to form a makeshift privacy screen. “How are you feeling? Any strain or discomfort?”

  “No, none… I’m more concerned about that.” She glances past a hanging fur coat at Vica. Illuminated by the red glow of the fireplace, Vica is gazing absently out the window. It’s true that Aileen and Keith are conversing in low voices, but he doesn’t even seem to have registered that they’re talking.

  “I don’t think we need to worry about him using too much magic, but… Watching him makes me rather nervous.”

  “He’s more levelheaded than Master Claude was during his rebellious phase, though.” When she looks up, Keith smiles at her. “Milord had those things as well: adolescence and a rebellious phase.”

  “…I can’t even imagine it.”

  “No doubt. However, even I can only speculate about Master Vica’s relationship with the demons. Not everything about him will be the same as milord… And after what happened earlier, well…”

  Keith also thinks that Vica’s preoccupied because of the demon they saw that afternoon.

  A human transformed into a demon. The demon snuff was probably nothing more than a trigger. Demon snuff can grant humans demon-like powers, but they remain human; they won’t physically turn into a demon. The only ones who do that are those with special constitutions, like Claude and James.

  However, it happened to that human.

  “That’s probably the primary reason they won’t respond to milord. It isn’t about who’s demon king.”

  Since they were originally human, they won’t obey the demon king. That does make sense.

  “Either way, we still know practically nothing. Not even whether we should consider the man who became a demon the rule or an exception.”

  “…True. We mustn’t jump to conclusions.”

  “I’ll go get more kindling. I leave Master Vica to you.” Aileen frowns, and Keith winks at her. “You’re the one who’s best suited to it. You’re particularly good at taking those who are at risk of losing their humanity and drawing them back to the human side of things.”

  “You mean you are. You’re the one who kept Master Claude human.”

  “You overestimate me. I’m a human who falls in with his own kind at the very end.”

  Before she can think up an argument against that, Keith puts his cold-weather clothes back on and leaves the hut.

  Left behind and with no other options, Aileen steps out from behind the screen of fur coats and approaches the table where Vica is sitting. The cup of plain, once-hot water he’s holding has gone completely cold.

  “Are you feeling unwell?”

  “…No. That’s not it. Just… I thought I might be able to hear the demons’ voices.”

  So that’s why he’s been gazing out the window all this time? Aileen seats herself in the chair across from Vica.

  “It hasn’t worked. I’d hoped leaving the capital would do it, or meeting even one demon, but… Apparently Master Claude really is the only reincarnation of the demon king.”

  “You seem disappointed… Do you mean resisting the Valkyries wasn’t your reason for wanting to control the demons? Did you genuinely want to be the demon king?”

  “I…really don’t know. I’ve never had many allies, and to put it bluntly, the Valkyries are my enemies. As a result, I may have gotten the feeling that the demons were my companions.”

  The eyes of one who’s searching for companions. If she thinks of it that way, the loneliness in Vica’s expression makes sense. She can’t have him going to that side, though.

  “Aren’t you concerned about your sister or Ernst, or the empire?”

  “Ernst is brilliant, so I’m not worried about him. My sister… I think she’d prefer to have Claude at her side than me.”

  “Goodness, dropping hints like that right in front of me? How bold of you.”

  “You must have noticed.”

  “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m delighted that Lady Cattleya and Master Claude are such great friends. After all, Master Claude has also had some rotten luck when it comes to his relationships with humans. If he can connect with his relatives, I welcome it.”

  Vica glances at her, moving only his eyes, as if she’s caught his interest. However, he promptly looks out the window again. “…At this point, I think I’ve done my sister a disservice. I did think she’d win against you by a mile, though. Even for Ernst, I may only have reopened an old wound…”

  “You keep speaking of others. What about you? Wasn’t there a woman you were fond of?”

  Vica turns toward her. His reaction is far better than Aileen anticipated, and she blinks. “Gracious. There is, isn’t there.”

  “I’m…not certain. I’m still not very conscious of… I’m not confident in my own feelings.”

  There’s something strangely innocent about the way he broods; it makes him look like a normal young man. This may be the real thing. Intensely curious, Aileen leans forward. “We’re alone here. I won’t give you any boorish lectures about how you’ve just married. Go on.”

  Besides, at this rate, his relationship with Diana is very likely to fail. Vica doesn’t mention this, either. Instead, he laughs as if he’s genuinely entertained. “She doesn’t like me, though.”

  His face is nice, and he’s obviously a man of means. He’s clever, dynamic, and decisive. He’s friendlier and better with people than Claude is. If she were to sum him up carelessly, he’d be “a younger, mischievous Claude who seems kind.” Was there anyone who wouldn’t fall for such an agreeable young man if he put his mind to it? That doesn’t seem possible.

  “That’s quite hard to believe. You’re certain you simply haven’t told her how you feel?”

  “Well, perhaps I haven’t…”

  “There, you see? It’s that indecisive attitude.” If he isn’t clearly aware of his feelings, he can’t pursue her properly. “It isn’t confidence you lack—it’s courage. Why not make full use of that precious face of yours?”

  “You say that so easily, but there are some things even this face can’t do.”

  “So you do know about your good looks. Listen to me—life isn’t so convenient that she’ll notice you if you only gaze at her… Well, no, it could happen with that face, but relying on that is arrogance, plain and simple. You’re counting on her to do the work for you. If you make a properly sincere appeal to the object of your affections—”

  “Like this?” Resting his chin in his hand, Vica tilts his head, peering into Aileen’s eyes.

  They gaze at each other like that for a little while, faces incredibly close, and then Aileen nods silently.

  “That’s right. See? You can do it if you try.”

  “But you won’t think of me that way, will you?”

  “Whose wife do you think I am?”

  Aileen has to admit the action did make her heart race, but she’s accustomed enough to this sort of thing that she can hide it.

  It isn’t clear whether Vica can tell what she’s really feeling. He chuckles to himself. “Well, that’s all I have. It isn’t as if I’ve used it much, either.”

  “O-of course. That’s for the best.”

  “That’s the opposite of what you said a moment ago. Don’t tell me—are you flustered?”

  “No! I simply remembered that substance is more important than style!” she says emphatically, clenching her hands into fists, and Vica laughs out loud. What an innocent laugh.

  It’s bad enough that he’s physically identical to Claude. These childlike ways of his, which Claude doesn’t possess, are dangerous in the extreme.

  Aileen clears her throat. “And? Who is the object of your affections? Is she someone I know?”

  “I’m not confident yet, so I’ll keep it to myself. I don’t know what these feelings of mine are, you see… They really don’t seem to be kind ones.”

  “My. Does seeing her make you feel irritable, perhaps? That’s a classic manifestation of the fact that she’s constantly occupying your thoughts to the point that—”

  “No, if I had to say, I’d like to make her cry.”

  Aileen breaks off, studying Vica closely. He’s serious.

  “If possible, I’d like to see her face twisted in humiliation.”

  Aileen thumps the table hard with both fists and groans. “Why must it turn out this way? Is it fate…?!”

  “Exactly. I knew it wasn’t love. If I didn’t know better, I might even say I hate her.”

  “No, that’s love! I’ve heard all this before!” Aileen laments, covering her face with her hands. Then she takes Vica’s hand. He looks mystified. “Listen—come to me for advice whenever you wish. If you don’t, I’ll feel far too sorry for this woman!”

  “Th-thank you very much. Unfortunately, though, I make a point of hunting my own prey.”

  “I—I see…”

  Vica’s wearing a bashful smile. Feeling hopeless, Aileen puts some distance between them.

  Claude is an adult. The fact that he consciously uses his charms makes them harder to deal with, but he’s capable of moderation. If Vica puts his mind to it, though, he may attack with everything he has, regardless of the woman’s situation. The thought terrifies Aileen.

  “…That’s a relief. As long as that woman is here, you’ll choose humans, won’t you?”

  Vica tilts his head, giving her a smile with no feeling behind it. “Even though she hates me? My love is unrequited, you know.”

  “Take a look at your face.”

  There’s no mirror, so she points at the surface of the water in his cup. Vica looks down.

  The reflection doesn’t show a melancholy young man unable to choose between demons and humans. His eyes shine vividly, and he wears an irrepressible grin, as if his prey is right in front of him. It’s the face of someone hungry for the future—of a human who’s living in love. To Aileen, he looks exactly like Claude when he’s plotting to punish Aileen, but she decides to write that off as a hallucination.

  “I pity any woman who falls prey to that face,” she mutters, turning away.

  Vica laughs, finally taking a sip of his water.

  A chill shoots through Claude from his feet to his head. Beside him, Ernst considerately offers hot tea from a travel flask. The flask’s lid can be used as a cup, and the tea he pours into it steams gently. It’s a metal thermos with demon stones worked into it. Technology in Kilvas really is more advanced.

  If we go to war, I get the feeling we’ll have a hard time winning. If I mobilize all the demons, we may manage a draw…

  If he drags Ashmael into it, they might win, but the holy king is sure to be furious. I know what to do. Next time we meet, I’ll propose a military alliance. It’ll be easier to get Ashmael involved that way.

  He drinks the hot tea, then sighs in relief. The chill recedes.

  “Thank you. Don’t worry; I only shivered just now because someone is speaking ill of me.”

  “Don’t be modest. You mean ‘everybody.’ There’s no way it’s just one person,” Isaac says, mouthing off.

  “……”

  “The Valkyries’ outpost is over there.” Not the least bit flustered by Claude’s withering gaze, Isaac checks the map, then points ahead.

  The building stands on the outskirts of the capital, in a district that’s nearly been deserted. It’s one of the four Valkyrie outposts that are located on the capital’s four sides. Of those four, this is the most desolate location. It’s notorious as a place Valkyries get demoted to.

  A guard is properly stationed at the gate, though. Ernst frowns. “That article was just published. They’re bound to be wary. I don’t have any acquaintances in that unit… As a rule, Valkyrie outposts are off-limits to everyone who doesn’t have permission to enter, and the Valkyries are particularly wary of men. I suspect they’ll turn us away at the gate.”

  “I showed you how to keep that from happening. Just follow the process,” Isaac says reassuringly.

  “You say ‘process,’ but I don’t think much of strategies that take advantage of others’ goodwill. We really should follow proper protocol and visit as the emperor and the prime minister.”

  “Like I said, that would take time, and they’d suspect you even more. This works because we’ll catch them off guard. Quit griping and go. Come on, Demon King, you too.”

  “Wait, please. I need to steel myself for this. I’m not magically immune to the nerve-racking idea of dealing with multiple women at once.”

  “No one needs to hear any of your false modesty. You’re at the top of your game, and you’re obviously not really nervous. Go on. Just get over there ASAP.” Isaac gives Claude a good, solid kick in the rear.

  It’s so unexpected that Claude can’t even brace for it. He tumbles out of the building’s shadow and sprawls on the flagstones. He manages to avoid landing on his face, but that isn’t his most immediate concern.

  The demon king has been bowled over by a mere human. Inconceivable. This can’t be real.

  Am I really weaker than Elefas right now?!

  That can’t be. That was— Yes, he’d only gotten careless. However, it’s undeniably true that he fell. He planted his hands on the flagstones to catch himself, and he squeezes them into fists. As he’s trembling from shock and humiliation, Ernst hastily runs up to him, asking, “A-are you all right?!”

  “What’s the matter? Are you hurt? Or are you feeling unwell?”

  The Valkyrie guard seems concerned about Claude, who hasn’t yet managed to get up. She comes over to them. This is exactly what Isaac was aiming for.

  When the Valkyrie’s hand is right in front of him, Claude raises his head. “I’m sorry… It’s really nothing…”

  The kind Valkyrie freezes. As does Ernst, for some reason.

  Slowly getting to his knees, Claude gives her a fragile smile. “It was just a little vertigo. I’m sorry, I must seem pathetic.”

  “I—I see… C-can you stand? Are you hurt?”

  “Thank you, you’re very kind. I mustn’t cause you trouble, though.”

  “I am a Valkyrie. Protecting others is my job. You’re— Oh!”

  She finally seems to have matched Claude’s face with her memories of the emperor. Gently, Claude puts a finger to her lips. “I’m sorry. I don’t want people to make a fuss.”

  “—O-of…course you don’t!” Her voice cracks.