“The Devil’s Brew?”

“Isn’t it an item that vanished during the era when Archduke Kelek was present?”

It seemed like an item even demons knew about. I had wondered why it was in Yubar of all places, but there seemed to be circumstances.

“Even if one were to look for it, they couldn’t find it. You’re saying you found it?”

In a temple, no less? Naberus seemed incredulous.

Beril nodded.

“Yes.”

To be precise, the Devil’s Brew had only resurfaced due to the drought that struck Yubar recently, exposing the riverbed where it had been buried.

“Just bring it here. From what I know, the Devil’s Brew emits magical power. It should somewhat alleviate the shortage of magic.”

“It will be much better, if it’s the real thing.”

Naberus nodded. He seemed skeptical that it could be genuine.

“I don’t bet on losing matters.”

Beril spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

“I don’t want to lose anything I have.”

Is this also my desire? She pondered momentarily, thinking of Belered.

Naberus revealed his teeth in a grin.

If one could drain the emotions from a human who is certain of winning, becoming stronger would be a matter of moments.

Especially if one has been raised with as much expectation as a saint.

“Very well.”

There were many who resented that the Saint had become the Archduke’s consort.

There were hardly any openly expressing discontent, since it was Belered’s command, but no one welcomed a consort of human origin.

How could one respect a weak and useless human?

However, if the Devil’s Brew was real and could be acquired, nonexistent respect would surge.

Not long ago, Killatia had become a demon due to the lack of magic, and soon it would be the remaining demons’ turn.

She would become the savior of the demons’ lives.

That is, if the Devil’s Brew could truly be acquired.

“Prepare to set out for Yubar.”

Naberus spoke. Beril immediately raised her hand to interrupt him.

“It’s not an expedition, it’s an infiltration. There’s no need for a direct confrontation with Yubar.”

The Yubar of this time was actively ignoring any requests for help from the village near the river where the Devil’s Brew was buried.

Whether monsters prey on the inconsequential, they claimed to have no energy to care.

“…Heard that? Prepare for infiltration.”

Naberus could not take his eyes off Beril, looking intrigued.

A bet with the Saint?

The idea even made a Saint who knew the ways of demons laugh.

Is she really a Saint? A Saint who suggests a bet with a demon?

But a sanctimonious Saint wouldn’t fit in this land.
Humans could not possibly have the eyes to see the future, and even if Naberus and a few of his subordinate forces vacated their posts for a covert mission, it wasn’t as if the temple would collapse under a few priests.

Smiling, Naberus thought about quickly returning to enjoy the “result of the wager.”

Meanwhile, in the Duchy of Orobas.

Duke Talrun von Orobas had been quite uncomfortable lately.

“Why have the usually fine priests at the temple suddenly become so demanding? Have you contacted the temple?”

Originally, the temple that governed Orobas was quite lenient.

They didn’t lose their tempers just because a few monsters slipped through, and although they preached the need to save the commoners, they were more satisfied when money went into their pockets instead.

In short, they got along very well with Orobas.

But recently, they had changed. Specifically, since Saint Beril finished appointing the demon, they started to change.

No, the demon was Vainka, so why!

[Complaints have been made by the subjects in the southwestern region that monsters are not being properly dealt with.] [Monsters in the southeastern region are causing suffering to the subjects.] [In the southern region…]

—Crumple!

Duke Orobas crumpled the endless stream of pointless reports and threw them into the fireplace.

“Did you suddenly receive God’s grace or something, huh?”

The southern part of the territory was a useless place where, strangely enough, farming didn’t flourish despite the presence of rivers. For Duke Orobas, it was not a place that needed attention.

If he simply left the monsters in the south alone, they would migrate elsewhere. That was his strategy.

He had no intention of caring about the ‘small sacrifices’ that would occur in the meantime.

‘Isn’t the inevitable sacrifice of the few for the greater good?’

And that had been the temple’s stance as well. Until just a few weeks ago.

“But why are these guys suddenly…!”

They suddenly started insisting on defeating the monsters they had agreed to ignore, and even demanded back the offering given two months ago.

Knowing that the offerings ultimately went into the priests’ pockets, Duke Orobas was at a loss.

“How much money have I poured into them all this time!”

Was the implication that if he wasn’t designated a demon, he should at least give money?

Duke Orobas was about to slam his desk in his office again when he received an unexpected report.

“What? The priest in charge of Orobas has changed?”