Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 5 Epilogue (section)

===Part 2===

The captured Gardo is a high class demon.

He wasn’t only a good bargaining chip in negotiations, the chances of him knowing the current situation of the current demon lord faction are high. If any useful information could be extracted, not only could they reduce losses of the soldiers in the Current Demon Lord Faction’s offensive, they might even get the key to defeating the powerful enemy.

And so because of that, Toujou Basara had ran through the mess, entering the chaotic atrium.

He continued down the stairs, towards the city’s lowest level.

The dungeon.

Arriving at the bottom of the stairs and passing through the stone tunnel, he then saw it.

The guards guarding the prisoners were lying on the floor motionlessly. Behind them, the door leading to the lowest level of the dungeon has been destroyed. The door was protected by a powerful magical seal, capable of suppressing a high class demon within a confined space. Gardo was originally supposed to be behind the door, but--

“That is--…”

Within the room beyond the door, there was a man standing beside Gardo.

Though his back was facing Basara, making him difficult to recognise, Basara could immediately tell who that person was. Although the clothing was a little different from usual, his aura hadn’t changed at all.

And so, he called out his name.

“------Takigawa!”

Towards Basara’s shout, Takigawa didn’t turn back towards him, instead--

“I’m sorry. I’ll be bringing this person back. The number of subordinates that Leohart can trust is very small, so if I leave this person here behind, his close buddy would most likely bring an entire army to attack just to rescue this person.”

After saying that, Takigawa then silent raised his right hand – to create a giant black sphere.

Basara knew that it was to aid in Gardo’s escape, so--

“! ……….—Don’t run!”

He immediately materialised Brynhildr and rushed into the room to attack. However--

'''Clang------------!'''

“Huh…?”

Brynhildr rebounded, as if it had hit a solid surface that it cannot cut, and the force caused Basara to jump back. Without even turning his head to him, Takigawa had managed to repel his attack.

''…Just how…?''

Although Takigawa had repelled his attacks quite a number of times when they fought in the past, the master-servant contract he had made with both Mio and Yuki had already raised his battle potential quite a number of time already. Additionally, the same thing also happened with Zest. With that, he had thought that the difference between his power and Takigawa’s wasn’t that big already. So why was his attack repelled easily just now?  In the moment where Basara was stunned, Takigawa’s large black sphere suddenly swallowed Gardo’s body, making him disappear.

And only then, did Takigawa turn back to look at him.

Not only his clothing, his hairstyle was also different from usual.

“Oh please, Basacchii… Why are you that surprised?”

He then put on his more familiar bitter smile, and said:

“This place is within the demon realm… My demonic power now will of course be more powerful than the times when I had fought you in the Human realm, isn’t that a given?”

“!...........”

Basara’s face then visibly tightened. The demon realm was chock full of demonic concentraion, so the current the situation is in Takigawa’s favour. But still--

''……..To think that just a change in the location would bring about such a big change.''

The pressure released by Takigawa now, didn’t lose to that of Zolgear’s or Gardo’s. Basara suddenly realised, Takigawa Yahiro, who had accepted the mission of monitoring Mio who had Wilbert’s power after Zolgear; his power is really a force to be reckoned with.

And also, it’s likely that when he had fought with Basara in the past, he wasn't serious at all and was only playing around with him.

“Takigawa… Could it be that you’re not part of the Moderate Faction?”

“Well, what do you think? ….I am not a very decisive and clear-cut person.”

He said so carefreely, towards Basara who didn’t dare to act rashly.

“Speaking of which, Basacchii…. Even after advising you so many times, you’re still using that eliminating ability of yours. What are you going to do now? Nebula’s sight is linked with his master’s, and now those old guys who has had their sights linked with him know of your ability…”

“If I hadn’t used it back then, we would’ve also been eliminated together with Wildart in that explosion. It’s better the way it is now, I would say. Let me ask you--"

He suddenly lowered his voice and continued:

“The ones giving orders behind the curtains to Nebula are the high class demons from the Council, right? ...It seems like they have lost hope in obtaining Wilbert’s power, and are instead trying to kill Mio instead…”

“That right… They believe that letting Leohart obtain that power would make his battle potential and appeal to the masses so strong that they can't control him. Whether if it was to let Leohart continue to be their puppet, or to not let the moderate rely on Wilbert’s power by creating disturbances, they seem to see eliminating Mio as the most effective way. What are you going to do now?”

To Takigawa who was smiling, Basara replied:

“Mio has already laid the foundations for going against the Moderate Faction, and we support her decision. Since the ones who want her dead are actually the Council, we can’t run forever, can we?”

Declaring his intention to kill--

“…..Is that so?”

He only laughed. Just then, the reinforcement soldiers arrived at the scene, much later than he expected.

Takigawa’s line of sight immediately deviated from Basara, towards a maid – Noel.

“---Lars!”

When their eyes met, Noel became stunned. It was most likely that Noel was thinking that the intruder couldn't possibly be Takigawa.

“W-Why… Why would Lars…?”

He remained silent towards everyone present.

What he instead did do, was to suddenly disappear into the void.

“! –Takigawa!”   “Lars!”

They shouted out at the same time, but were instead too late. Just then--

『……Let’s end everything here.』

Takigawa’s voice sounded out from an unknown place.

『Think about your current position, and come to our Lord’s capital. Bring as many soldiers as you want. As to where the location would be, the higher-ups of the Moderates Faction and your dad knows of it. The ones behind this attack, and the the Council who had also made attempts at Mio’s life, is over there. Those old ones, who can be said to be the ones dominating over the Demon Realm until now, and will also do so for the future. Basacchii, do show me how long you can last before them… Okay?』

And after that, left his last line.

As to the main purpose of his trip this time, it might be to just say these words.

There’s the the Council, and other than that, the one who just said those words to him was an enemy who he must cut all ties with.

Since the demon realm can’t have two Demon Lords, war is inevitable.

That is their destiny.

『The current demon lord -- Leohart, is expecting you.』

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==Translator's Notes and References==
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