The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing.

Chapter 580 The True Weakness of Human Nature
In the end, Kazuma Sato did not catch up with Hibiki and choose to switch paths with him. Instead, he walked ahead with hunched shoulders, looking as if he had lost his parents, making people wonder if he had actually fulfilled his duties properly.

Although Zun Zun's eyes could detect the enemy's magical power, they were completely helpless against traps and the like. However, they did not encounter any traps or dangers along the way with Sato Kazuma.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that there aren't even any enemies.

Could it be that they actually chose a safer path?

Kazuma Sato quickly realized this as well, and a happy smile returned to his face, making people sigh that he was truly the worst of the worst.

"To be honest, I don't have anything to be afraid of. We have Zun Zun in our team. Even if we really encounter the Demon King, we can easily handle it, right?"

"Hehe, yes."

The elders remained noncommittal.

My goal is to defeat the Demon King, so it doesn't really matter whether I encounter him sooner or later... the Demon King's death is already certain anyway.

"Hmm! Even so, I still hope we don't run into the Demon King. But let's keep a cheerful mood...!"

The smile on Sato Kazuma's face froze instantly when he casually pushed open the door.

There are three people in the room.

One was a knight in jet-black armor, another was a red-skinned demon over two meters tall with two horns, and the last was a semi-transparent ghost wearing a tattered cloak.

"...I'll shut it off."

Kazuma Sato acted as if he had never been there before.

The next second, the door was flung open.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going, you intruders! Get back here right now!"

The knight, clad in jet-black armor, shouted at the crowd.

This should be the next level.

And it seems to have been designed this way on purpose; there's no other way to go besides this door. Or perhaps, like Zun Zun, one will break through with their fists to create a new path?
Just as Kazuma Sato was thinking this, Darkness rushed in first, her cheeks flushed and looking impatient.

"Wait...! Darkness!?"

"Hahaha—, you lot are members of the Demon King's army, right? You look pretty strong! Well then, let's have a showdown! And then... after you capture me, you can play with me to your heart's content... ugh!"

"Um???"

Perhaps due to their overwhelming aura and truly outrageous words, the three demon kings instinctively took a step back, looking terrified.

"You stupid!"

Kazuma Sato cursed Darkness.

The three people in front of them seemed to panic as well.

"They really are intruders! Quick, go get help! ...Wait, why do these guys seem ridiculously weak?"

"Yes, yes, it doesn't look too difficult. Shall we fight? I can handle it if we do."

"Seriously? I just hope I don't have to fight that blue-haired woman. That girl is something else; she can sense the presence of her natural enemies."

The three of them seem pretty timid too.

When faced with intruders, they hesitate about whether or not to take action.

Upon seeing this, Sato Kazuma's eyes darted around, a sinister look flashing across his face as if a plan were forming in his mind, but then vanished as if by illusion. He simply stepped forward, shielding everyone, including Darkness, behind him.

"You guys hurry up and leave, I'll deal with them."

"...Huh? But I...!"

"Don't talk nonsense, Darkness. These guys are dangerous. Don't you still have the desire to defeat the Demon King?!"

"Well!"

No, the perverted female crusader's wish is not to defeat the Demon King, but to be toyed with by him.

Kazuma Sato pointed his sword at the Demon King's subordinates who were holding their own meeting, and then shouted, "Let's start by introducing ourselves! My name is Kazuma Sato, the one who has successively defeated many of the Demon King's military officers! Of course, you lot will also be dead by my sword!"

"Wow, Kazuma-san is so handsome! By the way, Kazuma, do you need some support magic to enhance your acting skills?"

"Give me a set! Those are really good stuff!"

Aqua imbued him with all the support magic she could muster. Ignoring the other factors surrounding the idiot goddess, this support magic alone was already the strongest in the world, and the translucent ghost, judging solely from the leaked aura, became even thinner.

"Ah, I'm going to die! ...!"

He retreated three steps away.

Kazuma Sato rubbed his shoulders and said in a showy manner, "Alright! That's enough! You guys, hurry up and go to the upper levels, carry my will and defeat the Demon King!"

"Kazuma, you're not scared, so you're planning to deliberately find some of the Demon King's subordinates to buy time, are you?"

"...Alright! Demon King's subordinates, let's settle this once and for all!"

"Kazuma!?"

Clearly, that's what his scumbag companion was planning.

Zun Zun looked helplessly at the scumbag and Zhen who had voluntarily left the team. He couldn't understand why he wanted to create such a tragic atmosphere. Most importantly, he didn't feel moved at all; instead, he found it hilarious.

After leaving the room, Zun Zun, Aqua, and Darkness looked at each other and nodded in unison.

They decided to stay and wait for their companions.

Inside the room, Kazuma Sato was already locked in combat with three of the Demon King's henchmen.

It has to be said that his strength has increased a hundredfold compared to before. Of course, this doesn't refer to the sheer power, but rather the enhancement brought about by his new techniques.

Despite being just basic magic and skills, Kazuma Sato managed to make a big difference. He constantly used the room's layout to keep himself in a one-on-one situation, then used the Absorption Touch to completely drain the ghost, used the Sword of Light to electrocute the red-skinned ghost, and finally used teleportation magic to send the Dark Knight away.

They actually overwhelmed their opponent head-on and defeated them fair and square. The contrast was so great that it was quite surprising.

Darkness, on the other hand, seemed quite disappointed that Kazuma Sato had become less eccentric.

"Phew... that's fine then." Sato Kazuma stretched and said, "Alright, we'll just wait in this room from now on. Zun Zun and the others will be able to defeat the Demon King soon, and I'll be their companion on the road to defeating the Demon King. I should be able to get a big share of the money when we get back."

So you really want to escape?
"So strong, so incredibly strong!" Aqua exclaimed in surprise, "I never imagined that Kazuma would become this strong! It's truly astonishing!"

"My humble abode is truly superfluous... By the way, why are you still here? Where is the Demon King?"

"What are you talking about, Kazuma? You're our comrade! How could we abandon you here? Besides, Kazuma's enemy detection and danger perception skills are very important here! Alright, let's go and defeat the Demon King together!"

“How could it be——”

Kazuma Sato was forcibly dragged away.

The group continued walking up to the next floor.

As Sato Kazuma explored ahead, he kept telling them, much like Zhu Bajie (a character from Journey to the West) who kept suggesting they divide the luggage and return to Gao Village, to consider whether they really wanted to go and defeat the Demon King.

It was fine at first, but it became increasingly frustrating.

"Kazuma, you're really something! Didn't that foolish sword tell you not to back down at crucial moments? Why are you so scared? With me, the goddess, here, that mere demon king is a piece of cake!"

"It's precisely because you're here that I'm afraid! Don't you understand, you silly goddess?!"

Kazuma Sato suppressed his anger and roared.

Every single time before, it was Aqua who messed up at crucial moments, and he was the one who suffered. It happened so many times, it really hurt him.

"Besides, is it really necessary to defeat the Demon King? He hasn't really done anything wrong, has he?"

"Huh!? Kazuma, have you forgotten the investigation report I showed you? The Demon King's heinous deeds are too numerous to count!"

"...No, I only saw scum who blamed the Demon King for their own lack of effort and chose to take their anger out on him."

Thinking about that messy investigation report, Kazuma Sato was also in a bad mood.

What do you mean it's the Demon King's fault because I don't have a boyfriend? What do you mean it's the Demon King's fault because I don't have a girlfriend? Don't blame everything on the Demon King!

Looking at Zun Zun, who hadn't spoken since the beginning and was preparing for battle, ready to fight the Demon King; and the perverted female knight who had been panting heavily since the beginning and was planning to kneel down in front of the Demon King to be humiliated and toyed with.

Kazuma Sato covered his cheek in pain.

He knew that this battle was inevitable.

"So, Kazuma, you're worrying too much. Didn't I tell you, with Venerable Venerable here, plus my support magic, there won't be any problems!"

"……hope so."

The group then came to a corner; ahead lay another path, while to the side was a dead end. On the wall of the dead end was a sign that read, "Do Not Press." A magic circle was drawn in front of the sign, and next to it was a button.

If it's a trap, this hook is way too straight.

"As expected, it was a trap."

Kazuma Sato gave this answer.

Now that you know it's a trap, the thing to do isn't to think about how it works, but simply to leave silently and avoid touching it...

"Hey, what do you want?"

He grabbed Aqua, who was about to step forward and touch the button.

The silly goddess, with an adorably foolish expression, said, "Touch it and see."

"Didn't you see it says 'Do Not Touch'?!"

"Kazuma, really, do you think I'm an idiot?... Wait, that's such a rude look! Think about it, normally no fool would fall for this, so maybe this place is a disguise to hide something, like an emergency exit to the Demon King's gate... or something?"

"........."

Kazuma Sato was speechless. Most importantly, upon closer examination, he realized that Aqua's words did make a lot of sense.

Even a demon king is still a king, so it's not surprising that he would prepare an emergency escape route for himself. Even a demon king wouldn't stay holed up in the demon castle every day, and it would be very inconvenient to have to go through a maze-like route back to his room every time.

Furthermore, the Trap Detection skill isn't limited to detecting deadly traps. For example, it can also detect traps that trigger a "Scare Box" after teleporting.

The more I think about it, the more likely it is.

"That……"

He glanced at his companions; Aqua looked like she wanted to press down, while Zunzun seemed indifferent, and Darkness was looking forward to what kind of trap it might be.

Amidst the varied expressions on everyone's faces, he pressed the button.

The group was teleported.

When they came to their senses, they found themselves in a brightly lit room that appeared to be completely empty. There were no traps, no entrance to the Demon King's room, and no emergency exit.

Just as they were wondering what was going on, suddenly—

Bang!
A ball exploded overhead, and a banner that read "We've won!" fell down along with a grand prize confetti. Before anyone could react, something fell out of the ball.

Zun Zun instinctively caught it.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a jet-black, jade-like pearl. The next second, his surroundings began to distort, and he was then sucked into it and disappeared.

"hiss------"

Sato Kazuma stared blankly at everything that had suddenly happened. After taking a deep breath, he calmed down and looked at his two equally dumbfounded companions. Finally, he could say the words he had been longing to say.

"Okay, go back."

(End of this chapter)