The Unnameable...?
Ugh... I'm bored...
Acting... whatever-servant! Speak at once of your first love, this instant!
You told me to blow the paper horn!
It's barely even been a minute!
The days of the Journey with Rosaria continued.
Training time had effectively transformed into a talent show, with her as the sole judge.
In an effort to find a way out of this situation, I even sought help from Lisa, but...
Hmm... If you want to change your relationship, perhaps you should start by closing the distance with a gift?
I happen to know the perfect skincare product for the job, and by sheer coincidence, it's currently on sale!
Buy two and you get a ten percent discount. You could gift one to a party member, and give the spare to—
Go away.
Tch.
...Her advice wasn't very helpful.
To complete the Journey, I had to find a way to draw out Rosaria's motivation...
Honestly. There isn't even a single catastrophic surprise here to excite me.
In a proper scandalous morning drama, the abandoned heroine should be preparing for revenge by now...
At last, you've arrived, Julian!
...Who's Julian?
Why, the forsaken child of the first wife, abandoned and raised to despise her stepmother, of course.
It's probably just a package delivery.
Don't tell me you ordered more furniture again.
Hmph. Luxury and indulgence are merely decorations used by the lacking to conceal their vanity.
To one such as I, who enjoys eternal life, such adornments are nothing but affectation.
That's not something you should say after blowing through the Journey funds...
Ahaha! Would you have me assert authority from a wooden chair?
A certain minimum of grandeur is required to set an example for those beneath me, acting whatever.
Now she's not even adding "servant" at the end...
Figuring there was no point in arguing anymore, I turned my back and opened the door.
...Huh?
H-help me, Captain!
At this rate, we're... We're going to get demoted!!
...So, you two are accused of activating the magic circle?
Yes! They said the circle was activated, and since we happened to be there, they're blaming us for it!
They keep asking where the summoned demon is... but I really don't know anything!
S-She's right. I may not be, but Saintess Muriel is innocent!
Even if Saintess Muriel did attempt to offer you as a sacrifice through some crude and despicable plot...
If she had summoned anything, it would have been something not even as good as a slime!
Nothing deserved to be called a demon would ever follow her!!
That part is true.
Why are you agreeing with her?! And I told you, I never tried to offer anyone as a sacrifice!
A-Anyway... You were there too, Captain, right?
Puh-leaase help me! I don't want to get demoted!
According to Alicia, Muriel and Elisa were moved to safety immediately after the magic circle began to glow.
It had to feel unfair, being blamed like this without even knowing Rosaria's true identity.
But... will my testimony alone change anything?
That would be... unlikely, I guess...
So do something about it! You're the Captain, aren't you?!
Is that how you ask someone for a favor?!
As much as I wanted to throw them out for their insolence, it wouldn't help if the Order uncovered the truth.
A way to get Muriel and Elisa off the hook without revealing Rosaria's identity would be...
...Rosaria?
Do you know how to use the magic circle?
Of course. I could do as much with my eyes shut and only my feet.
Eh?
Th-that's... possible?
Uh...
Rosaria's incredibly skilled, actually.
A-as expected of the Journey member Lady Alicia selected herself...!
Incredible!
Thank goodness they're idiots.
In that case... you can summon something harmless, right?
Well, it is possible...
Why do you ask?
If we can stage it so the magic circle appears harmless...
Then the two of them won't get demoted.
Ah...! Since the suspicion stems from the idea that the magic circle summons something special...
If we flip that assumption around, the Order's perception might change!
Then... I won't get demoted?
No. Since this stems from investigating the magic circle's effects...
Wouldn't this actually be the perfect opportunity for promotion instead?
There's no time to hesitate! Let's go to the Monolith Order's NOA branch right now!!
Upon arriving at the Order, Muriel quickly gathered a crowd.
At the center of it all, Rosaria prepared to demonstrate the magic circle.
That's unexpected.
Didn't think you'd be so eager to help out, Rosaria.
Even if it isn't catastrophic, surprise events are always entertaining.
I'll handle things here. You may observe at your leisure.
Ooh! You can do this, Demon Lord!
As Rosaria extended her hand, the magic circle began to glow crimson.
Then...
...Huh?
Hear me, foolish mortals!
This magic circle summons the [Demon Lords of Qliphoth], the ones who govern the fate of the world.
Dreadful beings, called forth directly by opening a gate between dimensions!
What are you even talking about?!
Oh? I merely acted according to your instructions.
Among the Demon Lords there exists one who is an octopus cousin, and an octopus cousin is practically an octopus...
Thus, it more than satisfies the condition of being harmless.
Just because a lion is part of the cat family doesn't make it harmless!!
A Demon Lord? That circle was meant to summon not a demon, but a Demon Lord?!
C-calm yourselves! The almighty [Lord Gaph] will surely protect us!
Rosaria's declaration threw the site into chaos.
So this was what she meant by a "surprise event"...!!
Now then, kneel and offer worship. Prepare yourselves to welcome the master of this world—!!
With a deafening roar, thick white mist spread across the area, plunging it into silence.
As the mist cleared, all eyes turned to the center of the magic circle.
...
Me?
A shiver goes down my spine, as if I've been stabbed in the back.
But there's no need for me to worry. After all, everyone knows I'm the Journey Captain.
Which means no one here's going to fall for such a ridiculous script...!
C-Ca—
That's right. It's me, the Captain!
The Captain was the Demon Lord?!
Don't make things worse!!
B-But... Captain...
Then... what are those black tentacles attached to your back?
...Huh?
At Elisa's words, I turned around.
Unfamiliar black tentacles, each with eyes and mouths, looked at me and smiled as if delighted.
What the—?!
Did I not say as much about the octopus cousin?
Still, both the tentacles and you look rather foolish compared to the original...
Well then, an octopus cousin's cousin should suffice.
ROSARIAAAAA—!!
Th-the tentacles are writhing angrily...?
Everyone, run! The Demon Lord has flown into a rage!!
N-No...
I'm telling you, I'm not a Demon Lord!!
In the end, things only settled down once Lisa arrived after hearing the news...
*Sigh...*
I expected as much when I heard the story, but this Journey doesn't seem like it'll be easy.
...Thanks for helping out back there.
Yes. I've passed Lady Alicia's letter to the Order, so the magic circle issue should be resolved shortly.
Ms. Rosaria does seem... somewhat dissatisfied, though.
Hey! Why would you barge in and ruin a perfectly prepared scene?!
The scene had just reached the heroine refusing to give up on love, even after learning the truth of her lover's birth...
And the hidden schemes of a rival heroine aiming to steal her place were just about to unfold!!
What were you even trying to do?!
Hmph. I'm simply making up for this world's lack of my favorite soap opera, The Bridge of Seduction.
Since my favorite pastime soap opera doesn't exist in this world, I thought I would write my own script and stage a play.
...Is that your hobby? Watching soap operas?
Why did the Demon Lord, usually content to stay holed up, take such an active role this time?
At Rosaria's words, the puzzle pieces began to fall into place.
I thought I might finally witness human relationships spiral into ruin. How dull.
I'm bored... I'm leaving...
Watching her lonely retreat, hardly something one would expect of a Demon Lord, I was certain of one thing.
The key to working with Rosaria was... clearly the script.
Lisa.
Can I ask you for a favor?
Huh?