As the Demon King, I have married a slave elf. How should I express my love?

After saying that, Sagan laughed again.

"So-called magicians are all complete scoundrels. They only care about themselves and treat others as tools, thinking that life can be born from somewhere on its own."

"What...what are you saying...?"

"For someone like me to actually care about others seems like I'm insane."

Although it was just a temporary moment of confusion, why could I be so stupid?

Yes, magicians only need to care about their own interests.

There was no need to go through all this trouble in the first place.

Just follow your desires and do what you want.

Just like the foolish thing I did without hesitation when I first met that girl.

Just like how he, in order to prevent the young girl from worrying and being afraid, turned the instruments of torture and the bandits back to dust.

Just like how, when the paladins turned against each other, he reflexively protected her.

Sagan spoke to the winged girl whose face was deathly pale.

"I have to thank you. Thanks to you, I'm finally sober."

The things that needed to be done were decided from the beginning.

So Sagan took the first step.

"Nefi belongs to me. Since some fool dared to steal my things, I have to make an example of him."

Even if it sullies my hands, even if it tarnishes the magician's reputation, so what?

If everything I have has to be sacrificed for the power and magic of the Demon King, then I'll just use it all to protect Neferpitou.

—As it turns out, I'm so useless.

Facing twelve Demon Kings—the overwhelming pressure from them was enough to make him submit to their imposing presence.

That's why he said those pathetic things, which hurt Neferpitou.

Is it too late to salvage the situation?

To be honest, he didn't know.

But now there's only one thing we can do.

Then he remembered the dumbfounded knights standing beside him.

—Let's rescue Shestie while we're at it.

Since she was caught along with Neferpitou, she'll probably be there too.

Sagan turned around, and a large magic circle appeared beneath his feet. It was the teleportation magic circle he had used to send Shesty out of the territory earlier.

But this time, the magic circle led to a magician's lair.

—After all, I've always known who the murderer is.

Then, she turned to the winged girl.

"You've come to lecture me because of Neferpitou, haven't you? Why are you doing this?"

"Is that even a question...? Of course, it's because I'm her friend."

After Manila finished answering with bated breath, Sagan reached out his hand.

"Then, do you want to come with me? To save Neferpitou."

"...Holy crap!"

The knight at his feet, upon hearing this, also sighed.

"Wait, wait a minute, take us to Lady Shestie's place too..."

Even though they were so badly injured that they couldn't even stand, the three knights still clung to Sagan's legs.

"...Okay, okay, I'll take you there. Get your dirty hands off me."

And so, the strange combination of the magician, the paladin, and the clothing store clerk disappeared into the magic circle.

◇

"Nefi, are you alright?"

When I opened my eyes, I was already in a dimly lit prison cell.

This place appears to have been converted from a cave or similar structure; the floor and walls are entirely made of rock, and sharp stones hang from the ceiling. Those were originally stalactites. The absence of stalactites on the floor suggests it was leveled later. There are no iron railings, but there are iron chains hanging from the walls.

Looking towards the light, there seemed to be an even larger void inside. The light emanating from within appeared to be from a magic circle, but its scale was unusually large.

From Nefi's perspective, only a portion of the magic circle can be seen, but judging by the size of the circle, it might be even larger than the main hall of Sagan Castle.

The sound of chains breaking filled the air. Neferpitou now wore a collar around her neck, and her hands and feet were shackled, all of which seemed to have the effect of sealing away magic.

Although Shesty was also being tortured, her sword and armor had been stripped off, and she was handcuffed. The girl, now only wearing a plain shirt and skirt, looked so ordinary that no one would believe she was a paladin.

The ropes binding the two people were fixed to the stone wall, and it was clear that they could not break free by brute force.

If it were the Neferpitou of the past, he would probably have resigned himself to being slaughtered, thinking that everyone will die eventually anyway.

But she's different now.

—I have decided to return to my master's side.

She insisted on escaping from here.

But now, bound by handcuffs and a collar, she cannot use magic, nor can she use 'magic' due to the lack of access to nature. Magic is not as powerful as magicians imagine; it is not an unrestrained force.

After struggling for a while, Neferi looked around.

"here it is……?"

"I don't know, but I guess it's the lair of the enemy that attacked us."

Just then, footsteps drew closer.

Shesty stood up, trying to protect Nefi, but her hands were also handcuffed to the wall, leaving her vulnerable body exposed.

The person who appeared was indeed someone Nefi knew.

"I remember you are not the master's friend, Mr. Barbarossa."

That was the magician who had visited as a friend of Sagan.

Although they weren't exactly best friends at the time, they were still fairly close.

A smile appeared on Barbarossa's gaunt face.

"Friend! Oh my, I never would have thought that anyone would have such a view of magicians."

Barbaros laughed as he placed his claws on Neferpitou's cheek.

"Among the magicians that kid killed, there was a man named Antoine 'Grievance.' He was the first magician he killed. And I, well, I was that man's apprentice."

Neferpitou stared in astonishment.

"Oh, but don't get me wrong. A magician wouldn't do anything like avenging his master. Even if Sagan hadn't killed him, I would have done it sooner or later."

There was no indignation or deception in his words; it must have been his true feelings, not an act of pretense.

"But the castle he moved into so easily, the money he bought from you, and all that wisdom should rightfully belong to me. To just hand it over like that is unacceptable, isn't it?"

Then he looked at Shesty.

"I initially tried to incite those people in the church, but it wasn't easy. My subordinates easily slipped up, and he defeated the group that was dealing with Sagan. I thought the Holy Sword could at least cut off one of his arms."

Nephew suddenly realized.

Shortly after being attacked by the paladins, Barbaros arrived at the castle and inquired about Sagan's injuries.

If it weren't for Nefi's "magic" at the time, he probably would have had to fight the enemy with one hand.

Shestia glared at Barbaros and said.

"So you were the mastermind behind the kidnapping!"

"No way, you're only realizing this now?"

The kidnapper—she remembered Sagan mentioning that the case seemed like it was "deliberately staged for the church's benefit."

—Could it be that the master already knew the murderer's true identity at that time?

Although he didn't mention the other person's name at the time, his expression when discussing the matter already conveyed a sense of despair.

Shestie let out a trembling roar.

"You stirred up such a shocking scandal just to frame Sagan?"

"How is that possible?"

Barbaros chuckled a few times and then continued.

"The issue of human sacrifices actually started with 'Stripping Faces,' but we did need to put on a grand ceremony to show people what it was all about."

"Experience...? Who are you planning to show off?"

"Who else could it be? The twelve Demon Lords, of course!"

Barbarossa spread his arms.

"I need to show the Demon Lords that I am worthy to be the next Demon Lord. This is the only way for me to eliminate the other candidates."

After saying that, Barbaross moved his face close to Nefertari's.

"To be honest, I was really troubled when the sacrificial offering was rescued, but now I have you. As long as I have the white-haired elf's magic, I can open that 'door'."

Neferi stared at Barbaros without expression.

"I'm sorry, but I think it's pointless for you to do this."

"Oh? You're quite blunt. You think I won't kill you? Or what? You think Sagan will come to your rescue?"

"Sagan, come save me"—these words caused her a pang of heartache.

Will my master really come for me?

First of all, he had no idea that Nefi had been captured.