Is this...?
Is this the demon realm?
Yes.
This is Wildart Castle.
It's the castle your father,
His Majesty Wilbert, once ruled.
Presently Lord Ramsus is its ruler.
Well then, I know it's soon,
but could we ask you to show us to Ramsus-san?
"Amidst Entwining Plots"
Wait, what do you mean the man who summoned us is away?!
There's not much we can do if he left to attend to some business.
We'll just have to wait until tomorrow.
So,
these are the rooms prepared for us?
It doesn't seem as though we're very welcome.
I've brought you some tea.
Zest?!
Why are you—
It has been a while,
Toujou Basara.
No, Basara-sama.
Y-You, that outfit?!
I'm now serving as a maid at this castle.
Is Zest that woman?
Yes.
The demon who used to serve Zolgia.
If you please.
Th-Thanks.
But I'm glad to see you're doing well.
Honestly,
I wasted my time worrying that
something terrible might have happened to you.
Huh?
It's good.
It is good, Zest.
Good for you, Zest-chan.
Shella-san?
Huh?!
Mother?!
Surprised?
I can come and go freely using a spatial tunnel.
I see.
But it appears I was right to have Zest-chan serve you all.
She's in my employ as my personal maid.
That
makes things rather convenient here.
I see.
Thank you very much.
I caused you lots of trouble during the incident with Zolgia.
This is just a little repentance.
This was handmade by Zest-chan.
She put lots of effort into it for you all.
Sh-Shella-sama!
You said you wouldn't tell them!
You're so cute when you turn red.
You're all goofing around too much!
Look at you blush!
I see.
I understand what happened with Zolgia.
Ramsus-sama has left your punishment up to me.
I assume you're prepared?
Yes.
Please wait.
Could you forgive her, Rukia-san?
Basara-san?
How did you get here?
Sorry.
I heard from Shella-san.
I see.
Yet, why would you do this?
If you act on your own within this castle,
you have no right to complain about any punishment you face.
P-Please wait, Nee-sama!
I can't help it.
The girl there is
one of my precious little sisters.
Back then...
Maria couldn't be blamed for betraying us.
But that's something we've already forgiven her for.
After all,
Maria is a precious member of our family.
Basara-san...
I understand your sentiments.
What about Maria's feelings, though?
If you say you forgive her,
will Maria's feelings of guilt disappear?
Do you not think
that might drive her to suffer from guilt even more?
I...
Maria must receive her punishment.
If you call her family,
then will you handle her punishment in my stead?
Well...
If you'll allow us to.
Maria,
I'm going to discipline you now.
Yes,
Basara-san.
In accordance with succubus customs,
I've given her the baptism and induced a state of arousal.
Now, go ahead, Basara-sama.
Wh-Why am I feeling so...
Can I Help You...?
You hung in there well,
Maria.
Basara-san...
Kurumi?!
Oh, um,
I was worried since you were both taking your time.
Then...
No!
Rukia-san, what did you do?!
I believe I told you.
You mustn't act on your own.
Kurumi!
This is my private room.
I'm free to do what I will to those who behave suspiciously here.
Wait!
Kurumi is Maria's precious friend!
Then
you should give this girl her punishment in my stead,
just as you did with Maria.
Everyone's late.
I wonder if they're doing all right persuading Rukia-san?
Basara-niichan...
This is a dream.
That's why I'm so...
So she has friends now, too?
Sorry, you two.
Maria and Kurumi are fine.
Basara...
Umm?
This man is...
Claus-sama?
What?
I heard that someone had seen Maria inside the castle,
so I thought I'd see for myself.
So you're Jin Toujou's son,
Toujou Basara-dono, eh?
Well, it's an honor to meet you.
My apologies for not introducing myself sooner.
I'm an old man named Claus.
Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Apparently he used to serve as Wilbert's strategist.
Wilbert's?
However, I can't believe they would show
His Majesty's daughter to a room like this.
Now, allow me to show you to a more seemly room.
Please wait.
This was prepared under Ramsus-sama's orders.
I'll report it to Ramsus-sama later.
There's no problem with that, is there?
I'm sorry for showing you such an embarrassing sight.
Even though it hasn't been many months
since His Majesty Wilbert has passed,
the conflict between our moderate faction
and the current Demon Lord's faction
raised under the new Demon Lord Leohart grows even fiercer.
Then Ramsus-sama, a man declaring himself to be
His Majesty Wilbert's older brother, appeared
and took command of the moderate faction, but...
Most of us...
have yet to waver in our loyalty to His Late Majesty in the slightest.
This is...
My father?
Welcome! Please come in, Mio-sama!
Huh?
Mio-sama!
Princess!
Welcome back!
Praise Wildart!
It's as if His Majesty Wilbert, the Demon Lord, has returned.
So this is what he's after...
And so,
this is Arderbell Plaza,
the center of this city.
Uh,
Noel, was it?
Aren't you being a little loud?
Even if we're in disguise, there's no point if we stand out.
Really?!
But Claus-sama instructed me to take care of you, Mio-sama,
so I'm excited to show you around!
I thought the demon realm would be a creepier place, but...
It's surprisingly similar to our world.
No,
it's completely different.
Huh?
You might not be able to tell, Mio,
but it's filled with incredible demon particles.
"Demon particles"?
Compared to the human world,
our power as heroes is halved here.
I see.
Is it rough on you, Yuki?
I've trained well, so there's no pro—
Ahh, oh, no!
Ahh, the demon particles!
You...
There's no letting our guard down around you at all.
Tch.
Guards from the moderate faction, huh?
It looks like a clash with the present Demon Lord is nigh.
That's good.
When it comes to tea, you can't forget about this place!
Now, now, drink up!
What's wrong, Zest?
Nothing.
I'll wait outside.
Everyone, please enjoy your tea.
So I said to him,
if you want me to save you, hand over your money.
You're cruel, man.
If a former servant of Zolgia like me remains at their side,
it will only cause trouble.
Besides, I...
There really is no place for me...
But...
I...
Oh, sorry.
I'm sorry.
It's fine.
Still...
If it were allowed...
Hmm?
Wait, you're from the castle.
Yeah, you're that woman who served Zolgia, right?
What's a person like you doing by yourself?
She's a lone animal, not a person.
Perfect timing.
Come hang out with us.
You don't mind, right?
You mean "relieve," not "hang out", right?
Yes.
That's a rude thing to say to a lady.
I'm just...
Well, sorry..
You're an idiot, aren't you?
Wh-What?!
Run!
Basara-sama?!
I-I'm sorry.
Are you all right?
Y-Yes.
Good.
I'm sorry,
for making you go through that.
It's fine.
More importantly, I wish you'd remember to value yourself more,
Zest.
Huh?
You're a woman, too, you know.
Ah, there you are!
Basara!
Where did you go?!
Sorry I'm late.
Zest-san, is something the matter?
I just stumbled a little.
Let me see.
His Excellency returns!
We've come to welcome you on your return, Your Excellency!
That's...?
Zest?
Yes.
That man is Ramsus-sama.
It's all right.
You've returned?
Now, this way, young ladies.
Come, Mio-sama. You too, Yuki-sama.
R-Right...
It appears he's finished up his business.
Good grief. It's hard to tell what that man is thinking.
Just the other day he was in a hurry to
extract the Demon Lord's power that Mio-sama inherited from His Majesty Wilbert.
Extract the Demon Lord's power?!
Unlike us, it seems Ramsus-sama has practically
no interest in Mio-sama herself.
He seems to desire the extraction of the Demon Lord's power that Mio-sama possesses.
Extract the demon lord's power?
If he could do that,
then Mio could live as a normal girl.
However, the way Ramsus-sama thinks is cruel.
Huh?
There's no precedent of anyone besides the person who possesses it
extracting the Demon Lord's power.
If he tried to do that, who knows
what threat it might pose to Mio-sama's life.
This is vastly different from our last room.
We certainly hope it suits your tastes.
I'm in a separate room from Basara, huh?
Yes, you are, but...
Oh! No, it's nothing!
The darkness element?
You're giving this to me?
Yes.
The protection...
of the demon realm's highest spirit resides in this element.
Please take care of Maria.
If I use this well,
it should prove a powerful weapon even here.
Then, I won't have to be a detriment to them any longer.
Huh?
Was that really a dream?
Kurumi-san!
I heard from Nee-sama!
You came because you were worried about me?!
I'm so touched!
In order to respond to your feelings,
H-Hey!
I must lick your underarms!
Wh-What are you saying?!
Now, now, show me your underarms!
Cut it out!
Huh?
It seems like I heard something just now.
Was I imagining it?
Please don't move, Mio-sama!
No!
Oh, you like it here?
Understood, Mio-sama!
Leave it to me!
Wh-What are you?!
I-I said
I can wash myself.
Mio-sama, you're so cute!
Um, Mio-sama,
was Lars doing well over in your world?
Lars? You mean Takigawa?
You know him, Noel?
Yes.
Lars and I grew up in the same orphanage.
I heard he had been tasked with a mission in the human world.
But he's always been reckless,
and he never listens to me.
But once he decides on something, he's diligent about it.
Honestly, I can never stop worrying about him.
I see.
You're the same as me, then.
Basara.
I have to talk to you, Ramsus-san.
Please hurry!
The time to deploy is drawing near!
How's it going, Luka?
Will it make it in time?
Huh?!
I asked if it will be ready in time!
Oh?
So this is...
Yes.
The ultimate biological weapon from the era of the war between demons and gods.
Raise the output!
It's at its max!
Demon energy output, stable!
Couplers functioning normally!
Yes.
A heroic spirit.
Next Episode Amidst the Wind Blowing Through the Battlefield