Raising Villains the Right Way

Hidan—

No, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Hidan, Deus, and Radan alike swallowed dryly.

How ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍long had it been since their eyes lost any idea where they should be looking?

[That’s ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍right. I think this is a good opportunity to show her just how vast the gap between herself and the Great Moon truly is.]

[Mm-hm.]

[......Excuse ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍me.]

Just ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as the endless harmony(?) of the two taking turns escalating things continued, a courageous voice rang out.

Rine and Yutia immediately turned toward the speaker.

At the end of their gaze stood Radan, wearing an awkward expression.

[What is it?]

Yutia asked.

Scratching his cheek, Radan spoke.

[Well, I agree that the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Mage Tower committed an act of disrespect, but............]

[But?]

[Honestly, isn’t this a little excessive?]

He voiced his honest opinion.

Naturally, Radan had no intention of protecting the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Mage Tower.

To begin with, he was not close to her.

He had only seen her a few times while accompanying the Great Moon.

Even so, the reason he chose to speak up was simple.

He genuinely felt the discussion between Rine and Yutia was becoming somewhat excessive.

[It’s true that she committed an act of disrespect, but this seems a bit too much. Besides, doesn’t she assist the Great Moon?]

The Vice Tower Master did support the Great Moon.

In other words, while she had done something wrong, her positive contributions should also be considered.

That was the point Radan was trying to make.

However—

[Hah?]

[You’re not seriously saying that, are you?]

The reactions from Yutia and Rine instantly silenced him.

Their expressions were far too terrifying.

[No, what I’m saying is that good deeds and mistakes should both—]

[But she committed blasphemy.]

Rine immediately cut off Radan’s explanation.

[Even so, there should be consideration for both the good and the bad—]

[Blasphemy.]

Radan stubbornly attempted to continue persuading them—

[Even if that’s true, something like this—]

[Blasphemy.]

—and then decided not to.

He realized something.

There was absolutely no way he could defeat those two alone.

Radan subtly shifted his gaze.

He signaled toward Deus, hoping for support from his fellow companion.

But—

[Hm. Naturally, anyone who commits an act of disrespect toward the Great Moon deserves appropriate punishment.]

He was betrayed.

Only moments ago, Deus had been wearing the same Isn’t this a little excessive? expression.

Yet now, as though those seconds had never happened, he had swiftly sided with Yutia and Rine.

Astonished by Deus’s sudden change of position, Radan looked toward Hidan instead.

[······.]

Hidan immediately avoided eye contact.

As though radiating,

”I saw nothing. I am merely a doll.”

he stared only into empty space.

Ultimately, Radan fell silent once more with a vacant expression.

[......Well, yes. She did commit blasphemy, but it still seems slightly excessive.]

[Mm~ only slightly.]

[That’s right. Just a tiny bit.]

For more than an hour afterward, Radan was subjected to concentrated bombardment from Yutia and Rine.

And with that, the official meeting of the Blue Moon concluded.

[Then I’ll be leaving immediately to handle some business.]

[I’ll take my leave as well.]

Afraid that the fire might spread to them, Hidan and Deus fled the instant the meeting ended.

[I should be going as well...............]

[Me too.]

After Radan and Rine finally departed as well, leaving the battlefield at last, only Yutia and Seolrang remained in the meeting room.

[Do you have something to say?]

Since Seolrang was usually the first to leave, Yutia asked when she remained behind.

Seolrang stared at her silently before speaking.

[Yeah. There’s something I want to ask.]

[What is it?]

Yutia asked with a smile.

However, Seolrang remained expressionless throughout.

[That was you, wasn’t it, Yutia?]

She asked the question.

”That.”

A vague word capable of meaning countless things.

Yet Yutia immediately understood exactly what Seolrang meant.

Yutia knew Seolrang’s current state.

And Seolrang also roughly understood Yutia’s.

Within that mutual understanding—

[Master. It was you, wasn’t it, Yutia?]

Seolrang asked again.

Yutia looked at Seolrang with a gentle smile and spoke.

[Why do you think that?]

[Because you’re the only one who could do something like that.]

[Do you truly believe that?]

[Yeah.]

Seeing Seolrang nod firmly without the slightest hesitation,

Yutia spoke with admiration.

[............It seems you’ve recovered quite a lot of your memories.]

[Not a lot. But enough.]

Seolrang answered.

At that, Yutia smiled, looking somewhat pleased.

[I’m proud of you.]

[Answer me.]

Seolrang asked again.

Unlike her usual slightly intimidated demeanor when speaking with Yutia, she calmly demanded the truth.

Seeing that, Yutia replied.

[Of course I did it. It was for My Lord.]

[......Do you really think that makes sense?]

[I’m not lying. You know that too, don’t you? If you’ve inherited it.]

That was her answer.

After hearing it, Seolrang stared silently at Yutia.

Then—

[.........Alright.]

She nodded.

Partly unconvinced.

Yet partly convinced as well.

Yutia looked at her fondly.

Then, as Seolrang turned to leave the meeting room, she added,

[Ah, by the way, Seolrang.]

[Yeah.]

[You shouldn’t bite the Great Moon’s nose whenever you feel like it.]

The words were gentle.

Yet somehow carried a strange pressure.

[......Huh?]

[Of course you shouldn’t. You’re not a child anymore.]

At those words, Seolrang stared directly at Yutia.

Yutia stared directly back.

But only briefly.

[I don’t think that’s fair.]

[What isn’t?]

[Because you did it too.]

For a moment, Yutia wore a puzzled expression at Seolrang’s unexpected reply.

Then she saw it.

The serious expression Seolrang had been wearing until now began changing.

The corners of her eyes lifted slightly.

Her lips pursed into a tiny pout.

And just as Yutia was about to question the sudden transformation, Seolrang suddenly stretched both arms forward.

“Pick me up—!”

And opened her mouth.

Yutia froze blankly.

“Hurry and pick me up! Quickly! Do you know how many days I waited!?”

Yet despite Yutia’s reaction, Seolrang continued.

And Yutia, still stunned—

“Ah—!”

—suddenly widened her eyes as though realizing something.

“You have to hold me for at least three hours! If you don’t, I’ll smash all of Ashtalon or whatever else exists! So just hold me quietly!”

“S-Seolrang, stop—”

Seolrang continued speaking.

Then she wrapped her arms around empty air as though embracing someone’s neck.

Soon afterward, she repeatedly pressed her lips against the empty space.

And Yutia’s face instantly turned bright red.

“Y-You... Seolrang—”

Yutia’s entire body trembled as she spoke.

But Seolrang merely wore a triumphant expression.

“I told you. I recovered the memories I needed.”

She said that.

And then—

“You wish to die, Seolrang?”

At Yutia’s response,

Seolrang simply smiled.

Then immediately left the meeting room.

***

Several days later—

“Lord Alon, I heard the eastern side of Sironia Grand Cathedral was completely destroyed.”

“......”

“Was it attacked by a divine-blood?”

“No. Apparently not. They said it just collapsed.”

“......Poor construction?”

“Mm...... Calling it poor construction seems strange. Apparently an entire section simply disappeared...”

“That’s rather terrifying.”

Alon ended up hearing that piece of news from Evan.

Come to think of it, perhaps that made sense.

Some time later—

“Ahhh, we’ve finally arrived.”

“Indeed.”

Alon nodded at Evan’s words.

They were now close enough that the territory would soon come into view.

“This trip was long again.”

As Evan reminisced about the journey,

Alon nodded.

At the same time, however, he felt somewhat disappointed.

Because he had failed to meet Siyan.

’It would’ve been nice if I’d managed to see her this time.’

In fact, Alon had stopped by Teria on the way.

Naturally, for the purpose of meeting Siyan.

However, Siyan had gone somewhere without revealing her destination.

As a result, he had been forced to leave without meeting her.

That disappointment lasted only briefly.

“Ah, Lord Alon.”

Evan’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

Alon looked toward him.

“What is it?”

“What do you think it’ll be like this time?”

“......This time?”

“Yes. The territory. More specifically, the castle.”

“......Ah. The castle.”

Alon understood why Evan was asking.

Every time he returned from a long journey, the castle somehow transformed into something absurdly different.

“Hm.”

Alon recalled the previous castle.

A structure so enormous and extravagant that he could barely tell whether it was a castle or a Demon King’s fortress.

“Well, I don’t think there’ll be any major changes this time.”

He genuinely meant that.

The castle he had last seen was already far beyond the bounds of common sense.

Imagining something even more ridiculous being added felt impossible.

“Hm, honestly, I think so too.”

Penia nodded in agreement.

Then, in response to both of them—

“Really? I feel like something probably changed anyway.”

Evan replied.

“Do you have anything specific in mind?”

“Not really. Just a vague feeling. But if I had to guess... maybe something like a dragon floating in the sky?”

At Evan’s words, Penia let out a scoffing laugh.

“You don’t mean something ridiculous like a Golden Dragon flying around, do you?”

“No, not that. More like... decoration? You know how those old Demon King Castle picture books always had things like that?”

Penia shook her head in exasperation.

“Excuse me, do you think this is a fairy tale? And besides, those kinds of lesser dragons went extinct ages ago. Honestly, the fact that you keep saying such ridiculous things—”

She never finished the sentence.

“?”

Penia abruptly stopped speaking and stared toward a single point.

Confused, Evan and Alon followed her gaze.

Then they froze.

In the distance, Palantio had come into view.

The castle was even larger than before.

But the reason they froze had nothing to do with its size.

It was because—

“......What is that?”

A dragon—

No.

The Sea God King—was swimming through the sky.

Not in a reduced form.

But at its full, original size.

Watching that sight,

Penia quietly spoke.

“Lord Alon.”

“......Yes.”

“I’m a little scared right now. What should I do......?”

And Alon—

“............So am I.”

—could only nod in agreement.