“...It can’t be...But that means... he really might... might be the same... But the way he talks... Why?”
“Mm?” Klem furrowed her brows. “Come to think of it, you too have an odd scent about you.”
“A scent...?” Noah raised her arm, sniffing her sleeve. “I’ll admit I’m a bit sweaty, but that’s because I haven’t had a chance to bathe over the last few days... Though I’ve been using magic to purify myself.”
“Not that kind of scent!” Klem exclaimed.
“That’s what I assumed.”
Klem then rose to her feet.
“I want you to serve this Demon Lord!” she said. “We must go and pummel Emperor Gelmed!”
“I refuse,” Noah said composedly.
“What?!”
“King Lyferia is dead, which means this is a war to avenge him... And whoever leads this war will be made the next ruler of this country. If a Demon Lord were to become king, the people of this land will be beyond saving.”
“Nng...” Klem furrowed her brows. “I don’t understand what you’re saying. We defeat the enemy — is that not enough?”
“No, it isn’t. Selecting the next king is crucial. If you want us to cooperate, you will have to serve under me.”
As she spoke, Noah felt her heartbeat quicken. As brazen as she may have acted, she was nervous. A cold sweat ran down her back. An air of tension hung around them, and she could hear Maximum swallow nervously.
“Lady Noah... That may have been a bit too...”
“Demon Lord... serve under you?!” Edelgard growled angrily. “Races tell... Demon Lord to serve...?!”
Seeing her aggression, Alan and Thanatos drew their weapons.
“Guess we gotta fight them after all!” Alan said defiantly, holding up his weapon.
“When all is said and done, they are but the Fallen... Beasts in the shape of man. Such is the will of Gaia,” Thanatos remarked, glaring at Edelgard and Klem with his longsword drawn.
Klem, however, kept her gaze fixed on Noah.
“You... Do you like biscuits?” she asked, eyeing Noah fixedly.
“...Biscuits...? You mean that common confection?” Noah furrowed her brow suspiciously. “It’s a bit of a sudden question, but... I don’t mind biscuits, though I prefer apple tarts.”
“Mm?! A-pple t-arts?! What is that?!” Klem asked, her eyes wide.
“A sweet from my hometown. I would have the castle’s cooks bake an exquisite one, had it not been for this state of affairs... I can only pray they’re all alive and well...”
“Very well!” Klem decided. “This Demon Lord shall serve under you!”
“...Huh?” Noah doubted what she’d just heard.
“That way, we can defeat the Emperor! And you can have your cooks make an apple tart for me!”
It took Noah a few seconds of stupefied silence to process what had just happened.
“...You, a Demon Lord, are saying you’ll serve under me?”
“What’s the matter? It was your idea. I should hope you’re not going to run with your tail between your legs now.”
“O-Of course not!”
The Gelmed Empire was in pursuit of the Girl of the Vessel. Noah doubted Diablo would hand her over, but... if they succeeded in their ploy, there was the risk of that anomalous Magimatic mage rejuvenating. There was no telling how powerful he would be if he were to regain his full strength and vitality. If nothing else, he certainly wouldn’t be weaker than he was now. And he would have another century to live, with all that power intact.
They had to fight.
According to Gewalt’s reconnaissance, the Empire had lost its commander and the invasion army had all but collapsed. Most of the enemy’s Magimatic Sols were lost in battle, as well. If they had any chance of pulling this off, it was now.
“If we let this opportunity pass us by, we’ll likely never have a chance at winning again.”
“Then let’s go, now!” Klem got to her feet and started walking.
“W-Wait! I’ll be the one to make that decision!” Noah reflexively placed a hand on her shoulder.
She’d reached out and touched her, fooled by her child-like conduct. But upon realizing who she had just reached out to, she stopped, a shiver running down her spine. She just touched a Demon Lord.
“Yes, right...” Klem said, scratching her head as if bothered. “This Demon Lord is your subordinate now. Very well, give your orders.”
Klem, however, accepted her words. Relief washed over Noah.
“...Keep our agreement in mind.”
“Mm, I will! Go on, give the order! We must find Diablo first! Without him, we cannot beat the Emperor!”
Rejected.
The word instinctively rose in Noah’s throat, but she forced herself to swallow it. Diablo had transcendent strength, that much was clear. He would be a great asset to have on their side... Assuming he cooperated.
“I have my qualms about Diablo... He doesn’t strike me as someone who can be reasoned with. I can never tell what he’s thinking.”
“Mm!” Klem nodded in agreement, holding up her index finger. “He’s an odd one!”
“He is!” Noah affirmed vigorously.
“Despite being neither a king nor a hero, he fought the Demon Lord to protect the races. What else can you call that one if not odd?”
Noah considered Klem’s words. Her spies have kept her apprised of Diablo’s actions. Between that and the unreliable rumors she had heard, it would seem that Diablo was working to save the races. If the rumors were to be believed... It wouldn’t be wrong to praise Diablo as a hero.
But she couldn’t bring herself to trust Diablo. After all, how could she believe in someone that wouldn’t admit to their own heroics?
“But why does he make such a show of his powers yet hide his achievements? I can’t understand him.”
“Who knows?” Klem shrugged. “Perhaps you should ask him that question.”
“Mm...” Noah was still undecided.
“Now then, the first problem is Diablo’s whereabouts. I can sense his presence on this land, but the city is too big. Couldn’t you have made it smaller...?”
Noah calculated the situation.