Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 7 Prologue

Status: Incomplete

40% completed (estimated)

   

Respective Nights

This is a goal I must accomplish no matter what it takes.

Even if – these hands had to be stained with foul blood, I still wouldn’t hesitate.

Part 1

The most majestic castle in the Demon Realm, its name was Lundvall.

The Current Demon Lord Faction that the young Demon Lord Leohart led, used it as its base.

Not only was this castle a primary military powerhouse, it also became a political centre after the new Demon Lord had ascended onto the throne.

But however – the Current Demon Lord Faction’s decision-making power, does not consist of just Leohart himself.

That is because of Cardinal – the existence of group of living history of high-class demons.

--In this night where the moon shone light this late into the night,

Alone, Leohart walked through one of Lundvall City’s silent corridors.

With every step he made, chilly sounds echoed over and over again in that spacious area.

His destination, was West Tower.

Other than Leoheart himself and those he had given permission to, no one else was allowed to step inside this place.

After being transferred into the central passage, the wall was replaced by a large window.

“………”

Under the pale moonlight shining through the window, Leohart continued walking forward with a long shadow following him.

Before the entrance to the West Tower, he stretched out his right hand and started the soul recognition, and after that he walked in after the heavy doors opened; after opening the double layer of protection which required the matching of soul and Demonic Power, the automatic elevating equipment began to start up, and a giant magic circle appeared on the ground.

The next moment, the magic circle began to rise upwards while supporting both of Leoheart’s feet. Although its speed was increasing, Leoheart’s long hair did not move even once due to the wind. The reason for that, was that a field to prevent winds was set up when the elevating device started up. Thus, Leohart closed his eyes, and began thinking deeply.

Today Leohart – had received orders from Cardinal to utilise the recently excavated Einherjars and attack the Moderates Faction’s Vereda City, which also happens to be the previous Demon Lord Capital.

Objective? To capture the sole daughter of the previous Demon Lord Wilbert, Naruse Mio.

The one who took command of the attack was Gardo who was once closer to the throne of the Demon Lord than Leohart and the high-class demon Nebula was sent by Cardinal to supervise the attack.

---However, the attack had ended in failure in the end.

As for how it had happened, Leohart had already received a full report on it.

Just like who the Moderates Faction had sent people to monitor the situation, Leohart too just in case had also placed a compatriot he trusted to take care of it – Lars, to keep himself updated on the latest developments of the battlefield.

Once he found out that Gardo had been taken captive, he ordered Lars to rescue him and thus sent out a final proposal.

The contents of it were, to have a decisive battle in this Lundvall City, to settle this once and for all.

Leohart firmly believed, that this was the correct choice.

Naruse Mio who had inherited Wilbert’s power, had already begun to awaken it. Toujou Basara’s fighting potential had exceeded expectations to the point of being able to rival Gardo. As for the rest, they would be enough to deal with the Einherjar army that Luca had prepared. Also, on the first time Ramusas had appeared on the battlefield, he had shown power able to eliminate a high-class Einherjar in a single attack.

Furthermore – Toujou Jin who had crossed swords with Leohart not long ago was rumoured to have also joined them.

Although his own side has the advantage of an overwhelming army, it would take too much to just defeat the Moderates Faction; even if he was able to cross the giant hurdle of defeating them, the enemy that was opposing Leohart wasn’t just the Moderates Faction alone, so there is a need to maintain their military strength. The Current Demon Lord Faction led by Leohart and the Moderates Faction led by Ramusas were simply just the Demon Realm’s two largest forces, so obviously there would be countless other smaller forces in existence that cannot be crushed all at once.

…More importantly,

There were still the annoying toxic roots known as Cardinal. Those old leeches were an even bigger obstacle than the Moderates Faction that needs to be removed as soon as possible to try to reduce sacrifices and losses.

--From Leohart’s point of view, there were two important things in this few-participant decisive battle between the Factions. Firstly, it was completely different from a large-scale fight where he could push the chances for Cardinal’s intervention or a spy mixed into them right to the minimum. Secondly, this method would be more advantageous towards the Moderates Faction – for the Moderates Faction whose troops were inferior, a representative battle between the Factions would be preferred over an all-out war.

In other words, this was just to accommodate the Moderates Faction’s weakness – and in order to not let Cardinal do as they please, it was a necessary sacrifice. In order to create a battle where Cardinal could not interfere, this is the only possible way.

Hence, Leohart had made this choice, and had sent the message while Gardo’s rescue was in progress. Thereafter, he used a video recording crystal to record the proposal for the battle and used demonic energy to mark his official stamp on the crystal’s surface, and then used Wyvern to have it delivered to Vereda City.

As of now, the crystal should already be in the Moderates Faction’s hands and having its contents being looked through. Since his proposal would push the current war situation towards a better direction, they most probably would agree to it.

…With that, I would say we’re now a step closer.

Thinking that, Leohart then opened his eyes, and the elevating device also began to slow down. When it came to a complete stop, a heavy door was there before his eyes.

At around eye level of this door, there was an ornament which seemed out of place with the door’s solemn colours – a wooden board with a red-coloured heart shape. On the wooden board, there was something written in chubby handwriting:

『Be ready for a spanking if you forget to knock, okay? ♥』

Seeing the wooden board, Leohart smiled slightly, and knocked on the door as the sign told him to.

“………?”

However, there was no reaction from behind the door.

It’s already this late, so maybe she’s asleep?

Thus, Leohart tapped on the door a few more times, and after making sure that there was no response, he opened the door slightly and silently, and entered the room.

Part 2

Wilbert, was hailed as the strongest Demon Lord in history.

Ramusas who had continued after his great brother’s work, was currently in his office watching the contents of the recording crystal Leohart had sent over.

“—the recording ended here.”

With the display of the recording on the wall getting smaller and smaller, Lucia reported, and then began to think silently.

After receiving the attacks from those giant Einherjars, the situation between the Current Demon Lord Faction and the Moderates Faction had changed rapidly. Leohart’s proposal need only few representatives from each faction, and the one-on-one battles will take place will become the decisive battles.

…It isn’t actually all that bad.

Although it was a suggestion from the enemy, it was one that was advantageous for the Moderates Faction who had the disadvantage in overwhelming military force, and there was no reason for the conflict to turn into an all-out war; moreover, although they had the assistance of Basara and the others and had successfully withstood the sudden attack with the giant einherjars from the enemy, the number of their troops who had died or sustained injuries aren’t small.

“…So, what do you plan to do, Ram-chan?”

As Lucia was in deep thought, a man addressed the Ramusas she respected and loved in a unimaginable way, breaking the silence in the room. Usually, Lucia would never allow for anyone to show disrespect to her own master. And yet she kept her silence. It was because she understood all too well, that just what kind of man that person was.

Toujou Jin, the scary figure of the one called God of War back in the last Great War. He had once fought with Wilbert who was also similarly known as the strongest Demon Lord, and they had fought neck and neck with each other. As that battle had happened secretly, no records of it were left at all.

…Not only that.

Lucia had heard her mother Sheera say before, that despite their positions as enemies, they were very heroic, bold and loyal, and after going through many different twists and turns, an unbreakable bond of trust and brotherhood had been born between them; reportedly, even Wilbert’s decision to withdraw his troops from the Human Realm and end the Great War, was all because of a secret promise between the two.

And now, Ramusas had inherited the bond Wilbert had with Jin. Thus, if Lucia were to scold Jin on his disrespect, she would be the one not knowing her place.

…Speaking of which,

Jin was currently sitting on the sofa opposite to Ramusas, shaking his legs while smoking as if without a care in the world, and there was a certain strange charm unique to him to it. Lucia who had already pledged her allegiance to Ramusas of course can’t fall for him; but amongst the servants serving Jin, there was already someone head over heels over him.

“—we don’t really have the option of rejecting.”

Just then, Ramusas opened his mouth and let out a low voice.

“For them to suggest a decisive battle tailored to cover up for our problems, I’m afraid that there’s a inside story that’s no trivial matter. Even if it was truly a trap, this suggestion raised is still not bad to us.”

Lucia had no objections towards Ramusas’s view. Rather, she was still expecting for Leohart to change his mind and raise the request for them to decide the results with their military mights.

“Well, I guess that how it is then…”

Jin replied.

“Ah, that right, what about that old man Klaus? Did he say anything about this?”

“The spy he had sent into the Current Demon Lord Faction and saw as a trump card… it seems he had taken a large blow at the news of Lars’s betrayal, and had voluntarily took up the responsibility for the robbing of the captive and its consequences and wanted to let everything be decided by us for this battle.”

“Lars is Basara’s best buddy with the alias Takigawa, right? I had heard that his mind was very sharp… To be bitten by one of his cards, it really does seem the Virtuous Elder has really become old.”

Jin sighed while making a bitter smile.

“However, things would originally not go as one had planned… Like with Wilbert’s death, it was earlier than planned by two years, and now even Mio had returned back to the Demon Realm. Just where had their judgements went wrong?”

“The reason for bringing forward Wilbert’s death, was that the number of people in the Moderates Faction who had had stupid dreams exceeded expectations.”

Ramusas answered Jin without any hesitation.

“As for… calling Mio back to the Demon Realm, it was because the youth Cardinal had brought out as the new Demon Lord had gained much more influence than we had expected.”

“I see… Nn, well that young man called Leohart, did indeed look very much like his role.”

Jin then said with a hand on his chin, as if completely understanding:

“Before coming here, I had first dropped by over at their capital to see how he looked like, and while we had fought for a while, judging from his looks, he is definitely qualified enough to get the title of the Demon Lord.”

“In any case, he is indeed the one chosen by Cardinal to succeed the throne of the Demon Lord. Tch, I was expecting for them to choose someone who would listen to them obediently while toeing the line, someone easily manipulated.”

Those guys in Cardinal probably saw that the influence of Wilbert hadn’t died down, and had done something like this out of fear. If they didn’t have the power to counter-balance it, the whole chain of power would collapse……. Really, how ironic.”

“………………..”

Hearing Jin say that, Ramusas, remained quiet.

“However, since things are going to be settled like that now, it just shows that no matter how much their plans are going to change now, it still wouldn’t have much impact on the whole script at all.”

Jin then continued:

“Let’s change the topic. Speaking of which, I had went to the meeting spot we had agreed on if something happened, but there was not even 『Her』 shadow there… Is there anything on your side?”

“…None, I don’t even know of her whereabouts.”

Towards Jin whose tone became slightly serious, Ramusas shook his head and said:

“If she really wanted to hide, not even Cardinal cill be able to find her… But as the situation already turned like this, I don’t understand just why won’t she come and look for us.”

Just then—

“Actually… I feel that Safia-chan isn’t even in the Demon Realm at all.”

An innocent immature voice cut into Jin and Ramusas’s conversation. Turning to look, sitting beside Jin on the sofa, was a very small succubus who had appear since some time ago – Sheera.

“Okaa-sama… Haven’t I advised you multiple times to go through the door properly when entering Ramusas-sama’s room?”

Although Sheera was like Jin, having a close relationship with Ramusas, Lucia was unable to be accommodating to that extent to her own family. [Stop being so strict~].Sheera shook her hand while trying to appease her. While Lucia sent an accusing glare at her, she thought—

Speaking of which, why are they bringing up Safia-sama’s name now?

Lucia knew clearly who that person Sheera had mention was. Other than her, it seems practically no one else in the Moderates Faction knows about her existence.

However, she was unable to comprehend why Jin and Ramusas’s conversation had brought up Safia.

Most probably – it had contained something that couldn’t be leaked to Lucia.

“—what are your thoughts, Sheera?”

“I can’t make any guarantees… I can only say that it’s a woman’s intuition.”

“Your intuition has always been accurate…”

Jin said while casually scratching his head:

“Shucks, nothing over here too… Never mind, in any case we have to deal with the problem before us first, or things will turn bad. So, regarding the battle – what are you plans for that?”

“At the very least, it mustn’t be completely left to those kids.”

Seeing Ramusas say so with a heavy expression, Jin sighed.

“Oi Oi, Ram-chan… I held myself back despite wanting to make a move badly and came to look for you, you know? At least try to help me in that department, okay?”

Well—

“Well it is correct that Leohart was much stronger than expected, the situation now has to be left to those runts. If we were to stupidly run out into the open, the situation might turn into one much worse than we expected, making it impossible for us to advance to our goal; Besides, the you right now can’t really fight, right?”

“I’m fine either way. If those kids were to lose, all of our efforts made in the past would just go to waste.”

“I too know that. Going by the current situation, they will indeed have much difficulty in defeating Leohart and his subordinates, but… isn’t there still a few days before the decided battle? Though short, before they go over to their territory, we can use our way to teach them a little – on a way for them to achieve, one that they can possibly do. It still wouldn’t be too late if we were to defer making our conclusions to until then, right?”

Jin gave a crooked smile to Ramusas, and then sighed a few times going: [Uuahh].

“Alright, that’s all for today, I guess. I want to go and take a rest now. After doing such a long trek, I am slightly tired now. How’s Fio doing?”

“The boy Jin-dono brought along? He’s probably resting in one of the guest rooms.”

Hearing Lucia say that, Jin stood up from the sofa.

“While we do have an empty bed… however, wouldn’t it be better to use the same room as Basara-dono? I’ve heard that you two haven’t seen each other in a long time, don’t you two have a lot you want to say to each other?”

The God of War of the Heroes – Toujou jin, smiled at Lucia’s caring vision, and said:

“Forget it… For today, it’ll be better for me to sleep in a different from.”

Translator Notes and References

Back to Illustrations

Return to Main Page

Forward to Chapter 1