Restrictions... Like Lumachina being exempt from God’s miracles, and Sasara falling into a deep slumber if she uses up her stamina. That made Diablo wonder if Rem’s aunt, Solami, was also considered one of those. He thought she was just the Fistmaster, but apparently that wasn’t the case.
“You met the Archsage when you broke the level 99 limit, right?” Noah asked him.
“Yes, because sorcerers had to clear that quest to advance. The Archsage, Marine... I think she was in the capital...”
“She got in the way of my plans, actually,” Noah explained. “So I sent her away somewhere else, so she can focus on her research.”
“Hmph... And?”
Diablo already broke the level 99 limit. He had no reason to meet with the Archsage Marine.
“Aren’t you limited by the level 150 limit?” Noah nodded with a nasty smirk.
Diablo immediately realized she was toying with him and held his breath.
“You don’t mean... There’s a way for me to break the level 150 limit?!”
“Do you feel like meeting the Archsage Marine now?” Noah said, beaming at him.
Going over the level 150 limit! This world was different from the game, so it wouldn’t be easy, but if Noah was level 300, he might be able to reach that same limit.
“If you value your life, speak! I’m not known for being patient!” Diablo said menacingly, drawing on her.
Diablo wasn’t sure if threatening a level 300 sorcerer would get him anywhere, but a Demon Lord wasn’t one to make requests.
“I’m the only one who knows where the Archsage is,” Noah said, shrugging. “I haven’t told the Palace Knights, either. I wouldn’t lose my temper if I were you.”
“And you’re not lying to me?!”
“Do I look dumb enough to lie about something this petty?”
Well, I’m a bad judge of character, either way!
But if she was lying, it would be a major problem later down the line. And since she brought it up, it probably meant that this was her bargaining chip...
Breaking the level 150 limit...! Diablo felt his pulse pick up in excitement and his palms grow sweaty.
“...Fine. State your conditions.”
“I think it goes without saying? I want to beat the Gelmed Empire, and I need you on our side to do it.”
“Have me help you?”
“I’ll be honest. I don’t like disobedient pawns. And I don’t like you.”
“Heh, it seems there is something we can agree on, after all. Because I don’t like being treated like a pawn, and I don’t like you, either.”
“Still, the Demon Lord Krebskulm seems to know something, and she insists that we need you to win.”
Klem did seem to know something about this entire situation, and it was the first time he’d seen her treat something that wasn’t related to food this seriously.
“But if you’re a level 300 sorcerer, doesn’t that change things?”
Honestly, if Noah was level 300, Diablo doubted he could beat her. According to the logic he knew, a level 150 sorcerer wouldn’t be able to even visibly damage a level 300 one. And even his martial arts as a warrior were only slightly above level 100. Anything Diablo could do would be child’s play for a level 300 sorcerer.
“I don’t know,” Noah shrugged. “I’ve never fought a powerful enemy.”
“Wh-What?”
“I told you I reincarnated as a baby, right? Well, once I grew older, I tried to see if I could cast level 300 spells. But I’ve avoided combat, so I never really tried to use offensive magic.”
“Why...?” Diablo asked.
Noah looked at him as if he was some kind of idiot.
“You do know that dying in this world means you actually die, right? Why would I put myself in that kind of danger?”
“Ugh...”
Diablo simply went with the flow, and that’s how he became an adventurer. He had no money, Rem was an adventurer, and Shera aspired to become one, so he simply went along with them. And most of all, all of the game’s players counted as adventurers.
But once he paused to think about it, being an adventurer was indeed a dangerous career in this world. And since Noah still had her knowledge from the old world, it only made sense she’d aim for a position of power in this world instead of braving that kind of danger.
“This world has no concept of patent or antitrust law, so building up a fortune was easy. And with money, you can buy status. And once I had the social position I wanted, I never needed to fight.”
“So that was your plan...”
“And I thought it went well, too. But now it turns out I’d made a major miscalculation. I didn’t expect him to be that strong.”
“Emperor Gelmed...” Diablo whispered.
Noah turned her gaze to the east, where the black Magimatic Castle burned with a red halo from the rising sun at its back.
“Cooperate with us to defeat the Gelmed Empire, Diablo. If you do that, I’ll tell you where the Archsage is.”
Diablo responded with silence.
“Oh, yes, and just so you don’t say I lied to you later, I’ll tell you one condition that might scare you. You might actually think twice before saying yes after you hear this.”
“Mm? What?”
“Heheh... The Archsage, Marine, hates being around large groups of people. If you’re going to visit her island, you’ll have to go alone.”
“How’s that supposed to scare me?” Diablo cocked his head curiously. “Adventures are something you’re supposed to do on your own, anyway.”
Noah, who had been confident the whole time, suddenly winced.
“Wh-What are you saying?” she asked, visibly perturbed. “Questing in Cross Reverie was fundamentally based on six-man parties. Big events had parties form alliances to create teams of eighteen players!”
“That sounds disgusting,” Diablo said, frowning.
“...Maybe it’s not just that you came from a different time. Maybe you were playing a different game. The Cross Reverie I know might not be the same game you played.”
“Who knows?”
So he said, but he knew it was likely the same game after all. Noah was a functional member of society, and had the mind to aim for a position of authority in this world. Her way of life was completely different from Diablo’s.
“So what’s your answer?” Noah asked him. “Sorry if I’m being pushy, but I need to hear it now. I’d rather not wait until sunset if it means this city being blown away.”
That much was obvious. And Diablo knew he was no match for her when it came to negotiations. Noah had the edge in terms of bargaining chips and a way with words. He hated to admit it, but in that field, she really was on a whole other level compared to him.
He didn’t know if cooperating with Noah, the Palace Knights, and Klem would really enable him to defeat the Gelmed Empire... But it would let him meet the Archsage Marine and break the level 150 limit.
The answer was clear. Diablo parted his lips and said...
“But I refuse!”
“Are you a complete and total idiot?!”
“Guh...”
“Isn’t the Girl of the Vessel your wife?! And the Elven queen, too! You have your position as the King of Greenwood to consider! Put your petty obsessions aside for once and focus on dealing with this threat!”
It felt like he hadn’t been scolded like this since he was in elementary school. He was holding back tears inside his heart.
“Shut up!” he lashed back at her, his voice coming out slightly high-pitched. “I am a Demon Lord from another—”
But it was then that someone else came out onto the balcony.
†
Two girls — one with black hair and cat ears, the other with hair like flowing gold — stood there. Rem and Shera.
“Diablo...”
“So this is where you were!”
Did they hear me? They must be disgusted...
So Diablo thought, but the two of them regarded him with a smile.
“...No matter what choice you make, I won’t go against it, Diablo,” Rem said.
“Wh-What are you talking about?” Diablo asked, perplexed.
“I talked it over with Rem,” Shera said, nodding vigorously. “And we both agreed that since we’re your wives, we have to believe in you. Because you’re our husband!”
“...And you’ve saved us so many times already,” Rem appended. “My life is yours, Diablo.”
“We’re only safe now thanks to you!”
“...So no matter what comes, I will trust you. Go down the path you believe in. You don’t need to worry about what we think.”
“Ahaha! I don’t think Diablo would worry about that anyway.”
“...Me and Shera will come with you no matter where you go. In the deepest seas or through the most furious fires. That’s the oath we’ve made.”
“Eternal love... That’s what the three of us promised each other. Right, Diablo?”
“...I-I meant I trust him as an adventurer...” Rem stammered, her cheeks flushing.
“Huh?! You say that now?! Rem, you promised Diablo eternal love too, right?!”
“Ugh... You can’t say that in front of him...” Rem mumbled, her face becoming even more red.
Shera writhed in place, her cheeks rosy, as well.
“Ooh, what are you getting so embarrassed over...?”
“...I-I’m not embarrassed... I’m sure Diablo understands how I feel.”
“You think?”
Their exchange gradually grew quiet, until they were essentially whispering at each other. Diablo, however, stood firm still. Their words were running around in his mind.