Pandemonium clicked his fingers, which were as thin as spider legs, as he watched the signal flare go up.

It was because he was anxious, not knowing when Wrath would awaken.

["Damn Wrath..."]

Of course, he wasn't weak right now either.

Granted, growing stronger by sacrificing precious things was a common trait among all demons, but in his case, the efficiency was incomparable to others. That was especially true now, having poured in astronomical amounts of wealth.

Right now, he could unleash power several times stronger than usual.

Was that all? The King's seal he had used not only turned this area into a demonic territory but even created a door connecting to their homeland.

That meant the influence of the foreign god was blocked, allowing him to wield his true power to his heart's content. Under normal circumstances, he had no reason to be wary of anyone. Under normal circumstances, that is.

["Even after pouring in astronomical amounts of wealth, the only ones I fear are you and the King."]

However, even with perfect condition and enhanced power, even holding all of that, he still feared Wrath. The Vessel of Wrath was quite something, but the Wrath that would emerge once it stepped down was what he feared the most.

["Damn it."]

He flicked his fingers a few more times, gauging the soon-to-awaken Wrath and the power it would display. He was even more on edge because the guy, who should have woken up at any moment, was uncharacteristically motionless.

He thought Wrath would have regained control by now... was it still not time?

["What a filthy temper!"]

He's an absolute master at making people anxious! He clenched his fists tight but never considered approaching.

If Wrath were to awaken while he approached to check, it would be a massive disaster, and he had no particular desire to make such a gamble.

After all, even Satan wouldn't yield his distance to Wrath, so who was he to do so?

Knowing how many demons had their heads severed in a single strike just for carelessly getting close, and knowing the decisive reason Gluttony was killed, how could he dare give up his distance?

["Lord of Pandemonium, what do we do about that? Shouldn't we do something?"]

Thus, he completely abandoned the thought of approaching, and as the silence stretched on for several minutes, the manager of Pandemonium began to make a fuss.

The sight of him freaking out over a single signal flare was utterly foolish. Even if the humans saw it, there was nothing they could possibly do.

["Shut up."]

["Yep."]

Ah... come to think of it, he seemed to have always been this kind of guy. Smart ones were somewhat bothersome because they coveted Pandemonium the moment he emptied his seat.

So before coming here, he deliberately found a pushover-like guy and made him the manager... but looking at it now, he wondered if it was a good choice.

["And..."]

Well... despite opening Pandemonium for the first time in hundreds of years, he was reasonably satisfied with the fact that the guy hadn't betrayed him and quietly followed orders.

Pandemonium highly praised at least that much as he contemplated his next order.

["You there, lift that up."]

["Understood."]

The target of this order was one of the other petty demons waiting by.

["You could have just asked me..."]

["I believe I told you to shut up."]

["Mmph."]

How rare an obedient yet stupid demon was. Ignorant of his grand intentions, Pandemonium struck the grumbling manager with lava.

The rest of the lava was positioned all around, ready to respond at any moment even if Wrath woke up.

["Where should I move it?"]

Meanwhile, the petty demon quickly grabbed the Vessel of Wrath and stood up.

The still-living body was swaying limply. Without even a hint of resistance, it seemed to have properly fainted.

["Wait."]

However, what was truly surprising was that even though the Vessel had passed out, the Wrath inside it was not stirring.

Losing consciousness was similar to losing control. So no matter how suppressed Wrath had been, it should have been about time for it to wake up since its oppressor was gone...

["Does a soul have to be at least this much to be a vessel capable of containing Wrath?"]

This situation couldn't have unfolded unless the Vessel used its strength to suppress the demon inside its body until the very bitter end.

For the first time, he marveled at a human soul. To the point where he suddenly missed the soul-stuffing jewel he had jokingly mentioned.

["What should I do with this..."]

At the same time, he was conflicted.

Until now, his intention had simply been to kill it if it seemed like Wrath would seize control.

["Leaving something behind only to get stabbed in the back isn't exactly my preference."]

However, if Wrath was unable to use an ounce of strength even when the Vessel was unconscious, the story changed a little. It was a waste to kill.

["Is there some kind of problem...?"]

["Are you only going to shut up if I cut out your tongue?"]

["..."]

After all, if the vessel broke, what would happen to the contents inside? It would be spilled, disappear, or fly away.

That was even more true if it had been suppressed by the vessel. The soul of Wrath inside would escape the vessel the moment the host died.

And just like always, it would leisurely slip from his grasp and wander the world. To find a new vessel capable of handling it this time around.

On the other hand, if he ate the Vessel alive without killing it, he could obtain both the soul of Wrath and all the power it possessed.

He could plunder the guy's strength.

["The problem is, there's no guarantee it won't wake up..."]

The problem was time.

He planned to postpone the absorption at least until he caught the Hero—even if it wasn't an opposing power, eating someone else's power for free couldn't possibly be easy. Eating it now would make the fight against the Hero difficult—and frankly, the probability of Wrath not waking up until then was...

No, perhaps it was already awake.

Pandemonium recalled Wrath's other alias.

The name that once called it was Deception and Trickery.

It was a title praising the fact that a being at the very bottom of the food chain, worse than even a goblin, had killed Lust purely through scams.

Furthermore, that event had also been the starting point of 'Wrath'.

If one couldn't remain vigilant even with the most famous incident in Hell, then that person was simply an idiot.

SPLASH.

And Pandemonium absolutely hated to be such a being.

After sweeping the petty demon aside with a gesture, he poured lava over the Vessel of Wrath.

The flowing magma melted its clothes and skin, soon turning into thorns that pierced even its muscles and bones.

If Wrath was awake and waiting for an opportunity, this was something it would absolutely never tolerate.

Because he hadn't simply pierced its limbs, but skewered them in the form of a sealing formula. And exactly in the same form as when the King had sealed Wrath's flesh.

["Is it really not awake?"]

If it could endure this, it wouldn't be 'Wrath'.

He gently brushed the hem of its clothes, thinking of the demon that had drawn closer to its essence of Wrath rather than Deception and Trickery as it gained power.

["... Well, fine."]

And he came to a conclusion.

Whether this was truly a situation brought about by the Vessel's soul, or Wrath's deception, it wouldn't matter if he kept it alive as long as he could handle both.

["As a merchant, I can't resist a gamble like this."]

All the power prepared to kill Wrath changed its form.

The goal was just one: sealing.

A seal to lock it away until the moment came to absorb Wrath after killing the Hero!

["Let's see who wins!"]

* * *

「I'm really, really sorry... I was truly sorry all this time... So, so I'll let you go now. Thank you for holding on until now.」

* * *

"Go. Even if the turtle is slow, that Great Demon over there is fast. That side will be more urgent."

"...!"

She couldn't go to help the Demon Knight. Just as the Inquisitor was about to feel miserable at that fact, the Berserker spoke up.

It lessened the Inquisitor's guilt, and assuming it was possible, it was the best solution.

"Will you be able to do it alone?"

"I don't know."

Right, assuming it was possible, it was.

But could the Berserker truly stop that thing alone? How could she stop that massive monster without even possessing immense mana like the Demon Knight...

"Conserve your strength."

"...!"

The Inquisitor reflexively tried to block an incoming attack, but she was lifted by the Berserker's hand and set down outside the castle wall.

The Meister was held under her other arm.

"...!"

The Inquisitor wasn't experiencing this for the first time. Thus, she easily accepted the Berserker's favor.

THUD.

With a heavy impact, they landed on the ground a slight distance away from the castle wall.

"What is this...!"

However, it was different for a certain someone experiencing this for the first time. The sensitive Great Master Craftsman stiffened his body tightly at the sudden contact, expressing his displeasure.

CRASH, RUMBLE.

But when a portion of the castle wall shattered next, he had no choice but to relax his body.

Because, if the Berserker hadn't grabbed them and jumped down, they would have suffered heavy damage from the turtle's attack. Or perhaps they would have been crushed between the turtle's neck and the castle wall, leaving nothing but blood and flesh behind.

"But I'm going to hunt it."

"... Your theory of possibilities is quite cool."

Thus, the Meister conveyed his own form of gratitude in a seemingly sarcastic tone. It was only his tone that was like that; as it was a sincere compliment, it was thanks nonetheless.

The man, who viewed others' reckless challenges positively due to his own research, hurriedly ran forward.

"Enough, go. I'll take care of this place."

"... I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. You'll be the one having the hardest time."

Meanwhile, the conflicted Inquisitor finally made a decision.

Whether the Berserker could handle that thing was the only issue, but since the other side had to be dealt with as well, there was no other choice.

Someone had to go and buy time.

... Even though she had absolutely no idea if this was the right thing to do.

"Over here!"

The Mage and the knight who had fled earlier stood nearby and shouted toward them. Five horses were waiting next to them.

SCREECH!

A Siren that flew all the way there was struck by the knight's spearhead and crashed to the ground.

"May God's blessing be with you."

"Go."

Now that a method to leave was prepared, her worries could solely be directed at the Berserker who would be left behind.

The Inquisitor subtly turned her body as she ran after the Meister. The Berserker, having set them down, had already turned back toward the castle wall.

THUD!

As if intending to break through the wall, the giant turtle continuously rubbed its body against the castle wall.

"Y-You mustn't overdo it...! If you think it's dangerous, you must retreat!"

"..."

Was this right? The Inquisitor hesitated her steps as she looked at the wall that cracked wide open with every collision, and the back of the Berserker who raised her spear without a reply.

It was a feeling similar to when she sent the Demon Knight off alone.

"You have to promise me!"

"Go."

Or perhaps it was even worse. Even the Demon Knight she trusted had ultimately fired off a rescue signal flare, hadn't he?

There was no rule saying the Berserker wouldn't end up the same way.

"Berserker!"

At that point, she began to question the conclusion she had reached once again.

If it came to that, if that was going to happen. Wouldn't it be better to help the Berserker completely take care of that monster rather than splitting their manpower like this?

No, they had to save the Demon Knight, so rather than that monster... rather than that monster...

"Promise me...!"

The Inquisitor suddenly reached a fundamental question of whether she herself could handle a demon that even the Demon Knight couldn't deal with.

Could she truly overcome that overwhelming demonic energy? It was perhaps the most important question. If even she was defeated, this place, this city, would be hopeless.

"... Promise me."

Because there was no longer that person who would execute the enemy as long as she held out, there would be no 'next time'.

It was the first time this happened since she set out on this journey. The Inquisitor's body suddenly stopped.

"What are you doing!"

In that moment, the Great Master Craftsman, whom she thought was even more detestable than the slacker, grabbed her.

Thin as expected of a Slender, yet packed with muscles as expected of an artisan, his arm was truly strong. Her foot slipped slightly. His strength was greater than she thought.

"I know you're worried, but know when to stop?! Stop dawdling around and annoying me!"

In addition, his scolding voice was sharp and low.

"You're not the only one with people to worry about! I'm holding it in because I know more people will just die if we dawdle! Is this your first time on a battlefield!? Get a grip!"

He was right. Yes, this was a battlefield. A battlefield where people would die no matter what she chose, with only the difference being whether fewer or more died.

"If you really want to save people, just focus on finishing this quickly!"

In the end, the Inquisitor shut her mouth. Perhaps because he was a Mage, his skill at pinpointing the facts was no ordinary feat.

STOMP, STOMP.

Her half-forcibly dragged legs regained their strength and moved forward again.

"Go on ahead!"

"... I'm sorry!"

It wasn't long before they had practically arrived in front of the knights. The knights and Mages, divided among three horses, departed first.

The Deathbringer had already mounted the skinnier of the two remaining horses.

"You, get on! The softie takes that one!"

The Deathbringer, who was already on the horse, reached out her hand toward the Meister.

At that, the Meister glanced at the remaining horse—a horse that clearly felt like a fine steed just by looking at it—and soon accepted the Deathbringer's hand.

"Will it be alright?"

"You riding alone weighs the same as the two of us riding together, you know?"

Was it okay for two adult men to ride side by side on one horse? Just as the Inquisitor harbored that doubt, the slacker spoke with a sharp snap.

It was true. The combined weight of those two was about the same as the Inquisitor equipped with her armor and shield.

SNORT.

"... What about you?"

Naturally, the Inquisitor took the remaining horse. But looking at it now, it seemed to resemble the horse the Demon Knight rode.

No, it was the exact same horse.

BRRRR.

Was it because someone who wasn't its master was trying to ride it? The guy expressed a bit of dissatisfaction before offering its back with the feeling of letting it slide just this once.

The horse, which was one weight class larger than a normal horse, supported her solidly.

"Let's go!"

The conversation felt long, but they had mounted in less than ten seconds, and lightly kicked the horses' bellies.

RUMBLE!

Just then, a massive sound of collapse rang out. Atop the accelerating horses, their heads naturally turned.

CRASH!

The second castle wall crumbling down entered their sight. It was the result of the giant turtle's body attempting several headbutts.

"The wall..."

Also pouring out from between the gaps were a massive amount of saltwater and the corpses of Mermen that hadn't managed to float away to the sea.

The knights sighed in lamentation that the proud walls of Bemurhen had fallen.

"Berserker!"

On the other hand, the Inquisitor and the Deathbringer worried for the Berserker's safety. "Crazy, look ahead!" The Deathbringer could only worry due to the Meister's shout.

The only one who actually turned her head to peek at the Berserker's situation was the Inquisitor.

CRASH!

As if entirely disregarding her own life, the Berserker's body stepped on the debris of the collapsing castle wall and lunged at the monster.

Her platinum hair reflecting the light of an unbroken lantern made it look as though the sun was rising.