While I was bewildered, the black clad soldiers hurriedly raise their swords in salute.
All, except one adjacent to the throne.
The old soldier from before.
"Atofe-sama! Why did you come from over there? How many times do I need to remind you? When you arrive at the throne, come from the back."
"I have decided that the front is better."
"Don't be so reckless!"
"Do you know? After an arduous journey to challenge the Demon King, the moment when the hero comes face to face with the Demon King at the throne, that feeling is exhilarating."
"So what! Think of how disappointed your father, one of the five Great Demon Kings, would be! Not only that, think of your husband Raibaku-sama!"
"Shut it!"
Atofe raises her sword, faster than the eye can see, swings at the old soldier.
The old soldier instantly tries to parry, but it was too late. His helmet flew off, and collapsed.
The black clad soldiers around him hurry over to help.
"Don't be so angry in front of guests! Your dead father will roll in his grave!"
The helmet rolls in front of me.
In the dead center it has split in two.
What terrifying power.
Nonchalantly I take a look at it, the interior is covered in blood.
"Ugh!"
Eh?
Ah?
Did she cut his head...
Don't tell me, that guy, he's...
Dead?
"I get it. Be more considerate next time."
While I was thinking, the old soldier stands up like nothing happened.
Smoke coming from his head as he bows to Atofe.
Don't tell me, he's also from the immortal clan?
Or rather, they are all?
"That's fine. Alright, let's start from the beginning."
"Okay!"
Atofe sheathes her sword and takes the Highlander pose.
The old soldier takes a helmet offered by another, and stands at the head of the troops.
Then, once more, the soldiers straighten up and raise their swords in salute.
"It is I, Immortal Demon King Atoferatofe Raibaku."
Zanoba kneels down on the floor, his head in a bow, I follow suit.
I'll be fine as long as I copy Zanoba, probably.
"First, allow me to thank you. Thanks to your assistance, we were finally able to catch that idiot Kishirika."
Atofe said while looking at Kishirika.
Rolled up like a sausage, she stares at the ground, resigned to her fate.
I feel a bit sorry for her.
Throwing her under the bus after helping us out, but it can't be helped.
We have our own problems.
"I don't have a portrait of this one when she's younger, so the search was a waste of time, but we finally found her!"
Ah, so that really was the case.
How careless.
"Well then..."
Still in that pose, Atofe stares off somewhere.
Then, nothing happens.
5 minutes passed.
Still in that pose, unmoving.
Like her breaker has tripped.
"Moore, now what?"
"Reward."
Looks like she forgot her lines.
Also, that old soldier is apparently Moore.
Like he's about to make a "muhaha muhaha" laugh at any moment. [1]
"Ah, right. They deserve a reward."
Atofe suddenly said.
"No, reward is unnecessary."
I said the refusal I have prepared.
Everything said so far are merely ceremonial.
That's why Moore told me to not go for a reward earlier.
Despite what I thought, Atofe instead stamps her feet.
"You mean a reward from me isn't good enough?"
Atofe glares at me with killing intent.
My legs begin to quiver.
That killing intent is the real deal.
Not like Rinia's or Pursena's.
More like Orsted's.
"No, no, it would be an honor."
I better not get on her wrong side.
If she wants to give us something, I better just shut up and accept it.
Like that I start looking for excuses.
"What will be our rewards?"
Hearing this, satisfied Atofe squints her eyes.
"Strength."