Iskariel’s reaction was exactly as I had anticipated.

“……You’ve all gone mad.”

Bang.

As the door closed in front of him, Hades’s face turned icy.

I forced a smile.

“As expected. Your Highness, just Altair and I could…”

“It won’t do.”

Hades turned the doorknob, but it was already locked.

‘Dangerous.’

Instinctively sensing something odd, I stepped back. A glance to the side revealed that Altair seemed completely unaware, simply standing still.

And then…

Bang!

With a massive explosion, a hole appeared where the door used to be. Altair, who had not moved, was showered with splinters of shattered wood.

I suppressed a laugh inside me. In fact, Hades could have opened the door elegantly if he wished. Not just that; he could pass through without even touching the door. After all, if you’re a Croitner, you can open a path anyone can use.

Taking Altair along for the ride wouldn’t be too hard; after all, humans have two hands.

“How barbaric as usual.”

Iskariel dusted off the dirt from his shoulder. That’s right. Dirt. He, too, must have stepped back, mostly unaffected by the explosion caused by Hades.

Hades growled.

“Don’t you know that a madman can do anything?”

“Ah, so you admit it? I didn’t think you’d concede so easily.”

My eyes narrowed. This was not Iskariel’s usual sarcastic nature.

‘Why the sudden change?’

I took a step toward Iskariel.

“Minister, please listen to us too. This isn’t bad news for you…”

“The bad news exists because you do!”

Iskariel suddenly shouted but quickly regained his composure.

“Defeating the Demon King, what a frivolous idea! If the Demon King could be defeated by a few swordsmen, it would have been done long ago.”

“Ordinary swordsmen, maybe.”

Hades retorted with a sharp tone.

“But neither I nor this Altair here are ordinary. And neither are Isar’s companions.”

“Ah, such naive Your Highness.”

Iskariel suddenly emitted a chuckling laughter. Laughing as if he really found it amusing, Hades’s face twisted even more.

“Don’t you get it yet? This foreigner is trying to trap you.”

He pointed straight at Altair.

“Ah, should I call him a demon?”

“……!”

Hades’s eyes widened and then hardened. It was rare for the Minister to refer to someone as a ‘demon.’ It meant that the other party was either truly demonic or had a disposition comparable to one.

Obviously, the latter was the case this time.

But Hades was still considering the possibility that Altair could be of demon lineage.

I tugged at Hades’s sleeve.

“Calm down, Hades. Even if the author is malicious, he is not really a demon.”

“You are correct, Holy Lady.”

Iskariel nodded with a satisfied look.

“He is merely an evil soul… Such types are easy to handle. How about it, Duke? Instead of the Demon King, shall we kill a man almost as malicious as him?”

I took a quick glance at Hades.

‘……He’s holding back.’

Hades didn’t enjoy open mockery. And here he was, facing severe provocation and yet remaining calm. It was an act of extreme selfrestraint, especially when there was no need for it.

Altair, growing frustrated, struck the wall with a bang.

‘Huh.’

I blinked. That behavior was pretty much Reto’s trademark. Despite changing his name to ‘Altair’ and showing no regrets about pretending to be Reto, it seemed to be a habit from the real world.

“Didn’t you hear me? The Demon King plans to destroy the Empire!”

“Evidence?”

Iskariel asked coldly.

“None.”

It seemed he had understood everything with that brief silence.

“Even without any proof, you trust these foreigners…”
Iskariel paused briefly.

“My apologies, Your Highness. But you are a foreigner after all.”

…So impertinent.

I fixed a forceful gaze upon Iskariel. Although Donovan’s dukedom and the empire were different nations, the ducal family and the royal family had been connected by marriage a few generations ago, making us some sort of kin.

“You’re saying take me to the heart of the Empire? Maybe if I were an adventurer, but I won’t do such a thing.”

It was then.

Hades grinned, showing his teeth.

“I would be welcomed by the First Princess if I took you.”

“……”

Iskariel also seemed to have nothing more to say. Hades was right, after all. No one would call it an invasion by foreigners if he took me. Unless it was a visit by a future enemy, perhaps.

“Perhaps it’s best if just I, the deputy, and Izar go.”

The ‘Izar’ he referred to was evidently Altair.

“Why can’t I go?”

Even knowing Hades’ rationale, I still asked.

“Angel.”

He summoned up a soft voice. I visibly frowned. Whenever Hades called me ‘Angel,’ it usually followed with something unpleasant.

“You’re my representative to the outside world. Do you think the First Princess would leave you be if she saw you? Your life could be in danger.”

“I don’t care.”

I shook my head.

“And if the First Princess disapproves of me, just reveal that I was a decoy representative from the start. Don’t you have to reveal that I am a fake representative to gain her favor anyway?”

“……”

“And I have a reason to meet the First Princess.”

It was Altair’s turn to widen his eyes.