“Ac-according to those who live nearby…there were horrifying sounds in the mountains for half a day…and then it got worse the day after that…horrible fighting…and then silence.”
“And you did not go to confirm this?”
“It was when the Seer’s advance had begun…besides, goblins and imps are limited when it comes to gathering information…”
“I see.”
As if satisfied, the Demon King returned to the throne.
And then he smiled.
“So, there is a monster who killed one hundred Heroes… That is the assumption?”
“Bu-but…no…I have no such monster amongst my ranks.”
“And I would not have sent out a monster without warning you.”
The Demon King’s voice rang hollow.
Berganda had a faint hope that this was all a joke that the Demon King had prepared to mock him.
“So…what could it be then? Eh?”
“I-I do not know!”
“Open your eyes, Berganda.”
The Demon King said as he looked down gleefully at the Minotaur.
He knew.
“Do not not close your eyes to the unknown. Look and confirm. You know, don’t you? Tell me.”
“If that is you will…I shall tell you…”
It was impossible. Such a thing should not be able to happen.
“Zephalis’s Hero, the one with invincible armor. The person who defeated him, as well as the other one hundred Heroes…in the Elefas mountains…”
“Who is it?”
“A single…kobold…so it is said!”
His voice echoed through the hall.
Outside of him and the Demon King, there were only a few close officers.
It was so quiet that he could hear himself breathing…
“Heh…”
He heard the sounds escape a few throats.
“Hehe…heh…”
The Minotaur felt a chill run down his spine.
“Hehehehehehe…”
The laughs echoed in the dim hall.
And then…
“Hah… Ahahahahaha! Ah! Ahaahahahahaha!!”
It exploded from the throne.
The Demon King’s beautiful face was contorted as he roared with laughter.
“Ahahahaaha! A kobold! A kobold!”
“Your…Your Majesty! It must be some mistake! It is only a rumor…”
“Hahahahahahaahaaa! A kobold was able to kill the Heroes!? Hahahahaha! Ahahaha!”
He continued to laugh madly.
The one who had taken on the position that no one else wanted.
The one who had raised a castle to shine above the clouds.
The one who had a fallen vampire as his subject.
The one who commanded the bull-headed monsters.
Disheveled, unguarded, and with emotions running wild, he laughed.
“I see! A kobold! Indeed! Hahahaa!”
“Demon King! Please stop this! It is only a rumor!”
“In that case…”
The laughter suddenly stopped.
“Confirm it.”
“Huh…?”
“If it really is a baseless rumor, that is fine. Perhaps it started from some Hero or a monster you do not know about. However…”
He had an evil grin now.
“If it is true…”
“If it is?”
“Bring it to me. This kobold!”
The Demon King stood up and thrust both arms upwards.
“Yes! And it must be alive! Bring it before me! I want to see this kobold for myself! Hahaha!”
“Ah…”
“Listen, I want it done immediately! Now! Bring it! Hurry! Hahahaha!”
After that, Berganda left the hall without saying a word.
As the thick doors closed silently, he felt the sweat dripping from all over his body. He was finally removed from the Demon King’s madness.
“…What happened?”
The hobgoblin who had been waiting for him by the door looked up at his vacant expression.
“I received an order from the Demon King.”
“What order?”
“Find the kobold.”
“…What?”
Berganda could barely believe it himself.
“We are to find the kobold who killed the Heroes.”