✦ ✦ ✦
Klem raised her hands.
“Do not emit so much bloodlust, fool. The Emperor will notice us.”
“Be quiet, Fallen!”
“Hmph... A dunce, I see. Did you not hear me? I am the Demon Lord Krebskulm!”
But that only made Noah’s group feel all the more menaced.
“Krebskulm, the strongest Demon Lord...?! It can’t be!” Noah shouted in shock.
“No way... But a Fallen would never assume a Demon Lord’s name,” Utata said. “So you’re either one of the races pretending to be a Demon Lord... Or you’re the real thing!”
“This Demon Lord is the real thing. I could demonstrate my power, but... Hm. If I do, we’ll certainly draw his attention.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Maximum shook his head.
“Really?” Noah asked.
“Just by facing her, I can sense her power. If nothing else, she’s much stronger than a Fallen in disguise.”
“Mmhmm. Finally someone who understands,” Klem nodded sagely.
“But to think the Demon Lord would be revived, and now of all times...”
“This Demon Lord was not revived recently,” Klem shrugged. “But it matters not. Listen to what I have to say.”
“A Demon Lord’s... trying to negotiate...?”
For the races, a Demon Lord was destruction and massacre incarnate. Their role in nature was to kill the races, and they existed for nothing else. For all Noah and her group knew, the very conversation they were having right now was an unprecedented event, never before seen in the history of this world.
“What’s the big idea?” Alan asked, held back by Maximum’s raised hand. “She’s super strong, but... I don’t feel any bloodlust from her. Are you really a Demon Lord?”
Maximum had to be cautious while keeping his own allies in check. It was challenging.
“Contain yourself, Alan. You call her ‘super strong,’ but her power is beyond measure. I cannot perceive the limits of what she’s capable of.”
“But, c’moooon...” Alan whined.
“I understand what you’re trying to say. But I think there can be no doubting that we’re the first people in history to have been invited to a dialogue with the Fallen.”
“Mm?” Edelgard cocked her head at his comment.
She had conversations with the people of Faltra, after all...
†
From Klem’s perspective, the Palace Knights were a gathering of people with considerable skill. They were promising, which meant that she needed to speak to them, at all costs, even if it did mean braving some degree of danger.
Klem took a few steps forward and sat down not far from Noah and the others. Edelgard stood behind her. She put her spear down on the ground, as if to show she meant them no harm.
“What, aren’t you going to sit?” Klem asked them.
The first to move was Noah.
“...This is fascinating. A Demon Lord inviting the races to conversation... I never imagined I’d live to see the day.”
Truthfully, Noah felt pressured. She was in a deadlock, and needed a way to break through this situation.
“Mm...” Maximum stood next to Noah with a grim, sour expression.
He was still visibly cautious. The rest of the group looked primed to attack Klem. She didn’t seem to mind, though; she was used to having the races direct animosity toward her.
“There’s something I’d like to ask you first, if you don’t mind,” Noah said. “How did you know we were hiding here?”
“You may have hidden your presence, but your earth dragon is still a magical beast,” Klem replied. “I can sense it as if it were a part of this Demon Lord’s body. If you seek to hide yourselves from a Demon Lord, you would be better off not bringing it along.”
“...Unbelievable. To think I’d overlook that... Thank you for your advice.”
The Palace Knights exchanged gazes, as if asking if that really made sense. Utata alone had her eyes wide with surprise.
“This is... this is incredible!” she exclaimed. “It’s a huge discovery! One could be granted the Magia Rainbow award for discovering this!”
“Be quiet!” Chobi grabbed her and covered her mouth, just like Daisy did with Alan.
“Mgmgmgmg...!” Muffled moans escaped Utata’s lips as she thrashed in Chobi’s grasp. The height difference made them look like an adult grappling a child.
“It’s our time to answer your questions then,” Noah said, moving the conversation along. “Though, honestly speaking, it depends on the question.”
“I’ve heard your conversation,” Klem gazed at Noah. “You seek to defeat Emperor Gelmed, yes?”
“Of course. I love the people of Lyferia and want to create a peaceful country.”
“Mmhmm. Good,” Klem nodded in satisfaction.
“Then allow me to ask the next question. Why does the Demon Lord want to stop the Emperor? Demon Lords are those who slay the races... I don’t see why you’d be interested in a war we fight amongst ourselves.”
Edelgard nodded a few times at Noah’s words. From the Fallen’s perspective, this war held no meaning.
“Mm...” Klem scratched her cheek, as if conflicted. “Well, this Demon Lord doesn’t so much care about the war itself... But the Emperor won’t make towns that produce tasty biscuits.”
“...Biscuits?”
“And most importantly, I promised Diablo I would defend that city.”
“Diablo?!” All the color drained from Noah’s face. “You mean... that horned Demon?!”
“Mm,” Klem nodded. “He is this Demon Lord’s master.”
Klem grabbed the iron collar around her neck, as if to present it. Her words struck the Palace Knights into silence.
“I-Is that an 《Enslavement Collar》?!” Noah half-rose to her feet. “He enslaved a Demon Lord?! Are you saying he actually was a real Demon Lord?!”
“No,” Klem shook her head. “When did I say that? He is of the races. At least in body. I know not of what lies within him.”
Those words made Noah fall into contemplative silence.