“After all, I am Your Highness’s subject.”

“…….”

“Now, shall we go defeat the demons?”

“…You really are insane. I’ve never seen someone as crazy as me.”

“I’ve heard that a lot.”

Hades didn’t say anything more, but Moore mumbled curses under his breath.

Listening sneakily while moving, he seemed captivated by my charm, continuously muttering things like, ‘A crazy woman,’ ‘Where did this crazy person come from?’
After a while, in the vast plains we arrived at, demons continued to swarm incessantly. Hades drew his sword and raised it high. I sneakily glanced at him from the side. Despite the dignified posture, his appearance was a bit sloppy and unimpressive. Nevertheless, it seemed he could easily subdue the demons with that stance.

And then, I…

“Will you stay quiet?”

I finally spoke to Denesor.

“I thought you were deaf, annoying master!”

“Oh, am I your master?”

I smirked.

“I believe you lost your master status a long time ago.”

Denesor’s response came a moment later.

“…Well, I did. But I acknowledged you again. So, you’re my master here for now.”

“Oh, was that so?”

I grinned.

“But this is Hades’s dream. How do you even know me here?”

Denesor scolded me.

“Are you an idiot? Don’t you know that? It’s the Demon King’s dream. Naturally, even I, who was annihilated in the Demon King’s land, exist here.”

“……”

I had a hunch.

It wasn’t just meddling in something quite troublesome.

But now that I couldn’t retreat, I did my best to grasp the situation.

“…Then, what happens to you once this dream ends?”

“I don’t know.”

The answer was more lackluster than I expected.

“But this much I know, master. If you’re not careful, you might end up trapped in this dream forever.”

I bit my lip. I was already prepared for that. I knew it without him saying it.

But getting a bit of information wouldn’t hurt now.

“If you die in here, do you get trapped?”

“It’s similar, but a bit different.”

Denesor’s voice became strange.

“Even if you die from those demons rushing in, you won’t be trapped. Your body will be slightly damaged, but you can go back. However, if you inflict wounds on that brat.”

If Denesor had eyes, he would probably be glaring at Hades.

“That brat will permanently trap you, preventing you from leaving.”

“…I see.”

I swallowed dryly. Denesor didn’t seem to be lying. In the end, in this dream, Hades was my biggest enemy.

At that moment, Hades muttered beside me.

“If you’re scared, you can leave now.”

“Like that would happen.”

I chuckled and brandished Denesor.

“I have the Holy Sword with me.”

Despite Denesor’s voice yelling, ‘What does that have to do with it?,’ I didn’t care and swung the sword.

The changed skills due to diligently honing my sacred power now created a considerable synergy when wielding the Holy Sword.

Thanks to that, every time I swung Denesor, the demons fell like dominoes.

Hades, who had mechanically mowed down demons, looked at me with astonished eyes.

“…Incredible.”

“What is?”

“It’s not the first time someone has mowed down demons, but it’s not the usual sight of someone doing it for the first time.”
“Isn’t this your first time mowing them down?”

“Well, it seems so. Why did you think I’m mowing down demons for the first time?”

Denesor chuckled beside me. It sounded like, ‘Still the same, kid. Because of your overprotection, someday you’re going to get into big trouble.’ or something along those lines.

I paid no attention to Denesor’s mockery and continued slashing through the demons. I felt more in sync with Hades as time passed.

Finally, when all the demons were dead, forming a mountain of corpses, Hades looked straight at me.

“…Thank you. On behalf of Donovan, I sincerely express my gratitude.”

If the Hades I knew, my Hades, had said those words, I would have been overwhelmed by their weight. However, the current Hades, who had just become a duke, was merely uttering words of light obeisance, imitating the decorated words known to be from the previous duke, his father. It was like wearing slightly uncomfortable clothes. So, it made my heart heavy instead.

He seemed too informed for a boy yet too young for an adult, and I couldn’t fathom the process through which this young duke became the Hades I knew. Swallowing my dry throat, I responded,

“Earlier, you granted me the Holy Sword and bestowed upon me the position of Donovan’s guardian. I must act accordingly.”

A glint appeared in Hades’ eyes.

“Then… going forward, you’ll continue like this…?”

“Fighting demons together? Of course! Why do you think I wield the Holy Sword? To groom my hair and cut carrots?”

At that moment, Hades hugged me. I froze in place at the unexpected embrace.

“My lord…?”

“Thank you.”

Surprisingly, I felt a moist touch on my cheek.

“Thank you for saying you’ll continue to be with me…”