The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing.

Chapter 569 The Reasons Why High-Level Adventurers Still Remain in Starting Towns

After resolving the dispute, the team members were finally united and willing to go to the capital to participate in the defense battle...?

"Damn it! I didn't bring so many skill point potions with me!"

"Don't worry, I brought it."

"...Oh right, I forgot to tell the lady at the guild counter before I left. What if she can't find us? You see, isn't the Demon King's army organizing an attack on Axel? Without an adventurer as strong as me, how are they going to defend themselves?"

"Don't worry. Kazuma, you may not know this, but that beginner town has many adventurers who are at least level 30 or higher. They can easily hold off the Demon King's army's attack."

"real or fake!?"

Kazuma Sato stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief.

In fact, level 30 is not a high level. In the capital, it can be said to be the average level that can be used in battle. However, such a powerful adventurer will have a big problem in the newbie village.

"Speaking of which, Kazuma, you're not going to chicken out, are you?"

"What...! What are you saying, Venerable One? I... I don't understand what you're saying... Since I've already promised, I won't go back on my word! That's right, this is my ninja way!"

What the hell is Naruto?

Or did he change his profession from an adventurer to a ninja?
That guy, Kazuma Sato, was just boasting that he would personally take down the Demon King's daughter and gain everyone's admiration. What a load of rubbish, he chickened out so quickly.

My mind must have calmed down by now.

When you're caught up in the heat of the moment, you might say some incredibly stupid things without thinking, but once you calm down, you'll regret what you said. Kazuma Sato is currently in that state.

He was already beginning to regret it.

"Pfft, as expected of Kazuma, you're still the same coward." Aqua covered her mouth and chuckled, mercilessly mocking, "Since you're scared, then go home and be a coward. You're useless anyway."

"Shut up, you stupid goddess!"

Kazuma Sato cursed angrily. Aqua probably wanted to provoke him, but her mockery and provocation went too far.

"Don't say that. Kazu is a man who will do what he should do."

"Darkness! That's right, Darkness, say a few more words!"

"It just gets limp immediately before I can do it."

"Darkness!?"

His emotion remained frozen on his face.

Zun Zun wasn't worried that Sato Kazuma would run away. Although the guy was a coward, he wouldn't run away once he came. Besides, he had nowhere else to run, and Zun Zun knew that very well.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency."

"What's wrong, Huihui?"

"You just said that Axel has many high-level adventurers, is that true?"

"it is true."

Axel is a beginner town. According to adventurers' usual practice, once they reach level 20, they will leave there and move their base to an area inhabited by more lucrative monsters.

The final destination is the royal capital, where a defensive line was formed to fight against the Demon King's army.

Actually, after arriving in Axel, Megumin had been clamoring to come to the capital to show off her skills, but since she knew that Kazuma Sato and Aqua would descend to the mortal realm, she stayed here and refused to leave.

After the headless horseman Beldia, the Duke of Hell Barnier, and other demon king's military officers appeared one after another, she began to think that Axel was quite nice.

Youyou also found it a bit strange.

"Why, why are those adventurers still staying in the starting town when their levels are already so high? The monsters around Axel are such a low-leveling area...?"

"Does that even need to be said? Of course, it's because they love that town so deeply."

That's what the Venerable One said.

Youyou was taken aback, but Huihui wasn't interested in that. Instead, she pressed for details about whose level was higher.

Zun Zun mentioned quite a few names.

"Oh, those guys usually seem unassuming, but I didn't expect them to be so strong. Hmm, I've decided! I'll challenge them to one-on-one duels when we get back! With my Explosion Magic!"

"They'll die!"

Huihui seems to have been provoked by the Demon King's army recently, and has become more aggressive, often challenging powerful people to one-on-one duels—unilaterally demanding that her opponents bear the brunt of her explosive magic, which is why no one agrees to it.

"What's wrong, Kazuma? You look complicated."

"...No, it's nothing."

Those guys are just reluctant to leave Axel's succubus shop, that's why they're lingering here!

"But if we're talking about who's the strongest among them, it should be Duster."

"Ha...haa!? Dust!!!?"

Sato Kazuma didn't react at first, but when he heard what Zun Zun said, he immediately cried out in surprise.

"Why is Dust's name here? Isn't that guy the thug called Dust? Besides, his sword skills are mediocre."

"Heh, that was just his disguise."

Zun Zun wanted to say something, but felt it wasn't appropriate to reveal someone else's secret like that, so he vaguely said, "If it's the fully-formed Dust, his strength is enough to rival that of a candidate Demon King's officer."

"A candidate for Demon King's Army officer? You mean... a powerful figure like Dick?"

Kazuma Sato witnessed the duel between Wiz and the mage Dick firsthand, and that magical spectacle remains vivid in his memory to this day. Now, Zun Zun is telling him that Dust's strength is similar to Dick's!
He was wearing ordinary clothes, eating at a street food stall, then turned around, pulled out the keys to a luxury car, and told me he was a rich kid!?
The psychological gap is just too big.

“Kazuma, you don’t need to underestimate yourself.” Zun Zun patted his shoulder and said with a smile, “Duster can only go toe-to-toe with the candidates for Demon King’s Army, but you defeated Cerestina, a Demon King’s Army officer, with your own strength. You are stronger.”

"Huh?...Y-yes! I'm the man who defeated a Demon King's army executive all by myself! Besides, not only her, but I also made indelible contributions when fighting other Demon King's army executives!" Sato Kazuma laughed boastfully.
The group successfully passed through the city gate and arrived in the capital.

Perhaps because the Demon King's daughter was coming to attack, the streets were not as peaceful and lively as last time; the atmosphere had become somewhat somber.

There were noticeably more adventurers on the streets. They were well-equipped and exuded a powerful aura, clearly indicating that they were all formidable adventurers.

I guess they wanted to make a contribution.

This is of course.

After all, the capital is the heart of a kingdom. If it falls, the entire kingdom will be engulfed in war. Other kingdoms will be hesitant to act, some will certainly defect, while others will have to question whether such a thing could happen.

It is precisely because they understand the key to this that powerful adventurers from various kingdoms have gathered here.

The same applies to the Crimson Demon Clan.

"Oh, you've finally arrived."

"...Are you sure you know how to do that? And there's also soft and mushy mushrooms? And...Funifra?"

"It's Funifra! You still haven't remembered... wait, you actually got it right this time!?"

"Of course, after all, we're classmates."

That's right.

All of Zun Zun's classmates from the same year were present.

"It's a summons from the Crimson Demon Clan, isn't it?" Youyou said with a hint of relief. "The Crimson Demon Clan has always been criticized. If we put in more effort this time, we'll definitely improve their image!"

As the next leader of the Crimson Demon Clan, she shouldered the heavy responsibility of making the Crimson Demon Clan great again!
however--

"No, I'll pass. I'm here to gather material for a scene in my new novel, so I might have to leave the Crimson Demon Clan's forces."

"Me too. I heard that sweet bean sauce is popular in the capital recently, and I came here because I want to introduce it to my own restaurant."

"Me too……"

"And I!"

"Besides, the Crimson Demon Clan are a bunch of guys who are used to being free. There's no way they'd team up. They'd never team up in this lifetime."

Their chatter left Youyou utterly bewildered. Clearly, making the Crimson Demon Clan great again was a long and arduous task.

Huihui and Youyou left the team first and joined up with the main force of the Red Demon Clan, probably to discuss something.

And it's not just the Crimson Demon Clan.

Many acquaintances came over.

"Lady Aqua! Isn't this Lady Aqua? You've finally arrived!"

"Ah! You're that... fake sword!"

"It's a sword."

Even Huihui can remember her classmates' names and grow as a result. I really hope that this silly goddess with a brain full of water can also remember the name of Mikami Hibiki, who admires her.

"Hey, isn't this a fake sword?"

"It's Mitsurugi! Mitsurugi Hibiki! Kazuma Sato, you did this on purpose, didn't you!?"

Unlike Aqua, who was met with a helpless smile, Kazuma Sato was severely scolded by Hibiki Mitsurugi.

Of course, there's also the reason why he deliberately mispronounced his own information even though he had already introduced himself.

"So you really are in the capital. I've been seeing news about you in the newspapers lately. I heard you've been showing off your skills again? That's great. With a cheat weapon like the Demon Sword, life is so comfortable. Unlike me, I can only live in a remote newbie town and can only casually take out a Demon King's army officer when I'm bored."

"...Are you jealous or showing off? Why do you seem to have a bad attitude?"

The first half is about jealousy leading to mispronouncing a name, while the second half is about showing off out of unwillingness to admit defeat.

"Actually, I also returned to Axel, intending to protect Lady Aqua, but I heard that she came to the capital, so I followed her here."

The sound of the sword echoing through the night signifies loyalty.

"...Really? You don't have a mage in your team, do you? Teleportation magic costs 30 Eris per person per cast, and your team has three people. A round trip would cost... 180 Eris?"

"What are you talking about, Kazuma! Even if it means going bankrupt, I will protect Lady Aqua. That's what a hero does—Puha!"

Before Mikami Hibiki could finish speaking, he was slapped away by Aqua. Lying on the ground, he covered his cheek and stared in disbelief at the furious goddess.

"If you have so much money, then give me some homemade liquor as a token of your respect!"

"Huh?...Huh!?"

"My silly goddess would rather drink than protect her."

Kazuma Sato was speechless.

To express his apology, Mikami invited Aqua to drink at the best tavern in the capital... Wait, isn't something wrong? Oh well, as long as he's happy.

Seeing that Mikami Hibiki was in high spirits, Zun Zun did not stop them.

Darkness, who stood out in the group, was immediately entangled by the nobles, and she left the group with a wry smile.

Suddenly, Zun Zun was all alone. He should have stayed with Hui Hui and the others. And just as he was thinking this—

"Your Excellency, you've arrived!"

The lovely Alice has arrived.

(End of this chapter)