"How did it go?"
After lunch, Yasaka Airi met with the former Demon King at their usual spot.
"Completely useless."
Airi shook her head. "The trap monsters couldn't do anything to him. He clearly knew we were behind it, but seemed to be playing along. He didn't even retaliate against me."
"The composure of the strong!"
The former Demon King sighed nostalgically. "When I was young, I was just as arrogant. Sadly, those days are long gone."
"About that..."
Airi started to say something but abruptly stopped.
"What is it?"
"...Never mind."
In the end, she didn't mention Eiji's orichalcum armor.
Why had she acted so impulsively back then?
She recalled how she had deliberately bumped into Eiji in the Treasure Vault.
Had she been trying to push him toward the monsters?
She didn't know. Even she couldn't understand her own thoughts at that moment.
Why had she felt that sudden impulse?
If she'd wanted to push him into a trap, shouldn't she have acted more calmly and rationally?
"Airi, you seem distracted."
The former Demon King looked at her with concern. "Are you alright? Did that brat do something to you?"
"Don't worry, Father. I'm fine."
Airi shook her head.
She suppressed the faint unease in her heart and steeled her expression.
"I'll keep trying to deal with him, though I don't hold much hope."
After all, his strength was ridiculously overpowered, and he was extremely vigilant.
Honestly, she wasn't even sure what purpose their current scheming served.
"We have to keep trying, or we'll die sooner or later!"
The former Demon King's expression turned resolute. "We must reclaim the Demon King's throne. Our Yasaka clan cannot—and must not—escape this destiny! Otherwise, not just me, but even you will be dragged down!"
That was right. If they didn't reclaim the Demon King's position, the Yasaka clan was finished.
Airi took a deep breath and renewed her determination.
"Lady Yasaka! His Majesty the Demon King requests your presence!"
Just then, the voice of a messenger demon reached her ears.
"Just one day, and these monsters have already changed their tune!"
The former Demon King slumped in defeat.
Had they been too focused on strength requirements during the Demon King's Castle security recruitment and completely neglected character evaluations? Was that why so many disloyal monsters had slipped in?
When they reclaimed the throne, they'd have to thoroughly overhaul human resources!
...
When Airi arrived at the castle gates, Eiji was leaning against the brick wall, looking utterly bored. The surrounding monsters didn't dare even breathe loudly.
He seemed to have been waiting there for some time.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting, Your Majesty."
Airi bowed apologetically, her tone respectful.
She appeared to have returned to her initial demeanor, with no trace of her earlier wavering.
Eiji glanced at her, his expression unreadable.
"Let's go. I want to see outside the castle."
With those words, he headed toward the main gates.
The massive steel gates were then pulled open with great effort by the castle's guardian monsters, revealing the wilderness outside the castle walls.
It seemed to be autumn, with the wild grass in the fields slightly yellowed. The weather was pleasant, with a clear, cloudless sky stretching endlessly. However, there wasn't a trace of human or monster presence for kilometers around.
"His Majesty is leaving the castle—open the barrier!" Eiji shouted toward the top of the city walls.
On the nearly twenty-meter-high walls, a figure stood up. Clad in white robes and wearing a white mask that obscured their features, they seemed to be the leader of the defensive forces, as the other monsters obediently awaited their command.
"So that's the new Demon King..." they muttered under their breath before waving a hand.
Under their control, the enormous translucent barrier enveloping the Demon King's Castle opened a gap solely at the exit of the city gates.
"Who is that?" Eiji's gaze lingered on the white-robed mage.
From them, Eiji didn't sense the rough, brutish aura typical of monsters. Instead, there was an almost sacred, untouchable presence—though he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.
"That's the Castle Guardian."
"Just a guardian?"
"...They're the world's strongest mage, surpassing even the Crimson Demons. Their power far exceeds Father's."
Under Eiji's questioning, Airi had no choice but to reveal the white-robed mage's true identity.
Hah, the Demon King's Castle really was a place where you could stumble upon someone stronger than the Demon King at any moment!
Counting carefully, there was the Archduke of Hell Barnier, the Goddess Wolbach, the Lich Wiz, and now this Castle Guardian—plus Airi herself, who had inherited most of the old Demon King's power.
In just one day, Eiji had already discovered five figures within the Demon King Army who surpassed the old Demon King in strength!
The old Demon King really had no dignity left.
"Is this Castle Guardian not planning to avenge the old Demon King?" Eiji glanced at the white-robed mage, pondering.
From them, he sensed not a shred of hostility—it seemed they had no intention of fighting him at all.
"After you." Airi led the way ahead.
Eiji followed behind her, stepping out of the colossal barrier that enveloped the entire Demon King's Castle.
"So this is the 'world's strongest barrier' the old Demon King mentioned?"
"Correct."
"How strong is it?"
"...No one can break it."
Airi rubbed her temples in frustration.
She truly hadn't expected Eiji to insist on interrogating every little detail.
With strength like his, dealing with him was already difficult enough—but coupled with such a cautious personality, this was far more troublesome than she'd imagined!
Couldn't he be a bit more reckless, like a Saiyan?
Airi grumbled inwardly while dutifully explaining in detail.
"This barrier was set up by the Castle Guardian, drawing power from the eight officers of the Demon King's Castle. Moreover, the Castle Guardian established a magic circle connected to the underworld, providing an endless supply of mana. Even if destroyed, it regenerates instantly. Unless all eight officers are defeated, this barrier will never disappear."
Impressive!
By linking to the underworld for infinite mana, the barrier's existence is sustained indefinitely, making it exponentially harder to break.
The only way to shatter it is to defeat all eight officers serving as its anchors.
Otherwise, the Demon King's Castle would never be invaded—this level of defense was no small feat!
"Boom!"
After stepping out of the barrier, Eiji turned and threw a punch at it.
Even with the terrifying power of Level 7, the strike merely caused ripples across the barrier's surface, not a single crack appearing.
"Truly sturdy."
Eiji muttered in admiration before turning to walk toward the open fields.
Airi glanced back at the now-closed barrier, a thoughtful gleam flashing in her eyes, then hurried after Eiji in the direction he had gone.