And then we arrived on the fifth floor.
The top floor of this building could also be called the castle tower.
It is the room which is literally at the top of the country: the King's chamber.
" .... "
Here at its entrance, the landing of its stairs, in front of the door sat that guy: the Death God, Randolph Marian.
For some reason he had propped a chair up against the door like he was on break, here he was setup on public display with his head bent forward.
His elbow was on his knee, and he was using that crossed posture to hold his head with his neck bent slightly.
He turned his weathered, eye patch wearing, death's head face toward us.
"Why does the king of this country have to put his bedroom in such a high place?"
[Death God], Randolph Marian
After spotting us, he suddenly said that kind of thing.
"It seems like it would be pretty inconvenient to construct a bedroom in a place like this.
Coming down into the office every day would be cumbersome. Even after having a meal made, it would have cooled a little by the time it made it up here.
Once your legs become weakened by old age, you would have a hard time climbing the stairs.
If there's a fire, it would surely delay your escape."
While cocking his gaunt face, he says all those things, and stares at us.
It's the attitude of an ordinary worn out old fart, but when he speaks it causes a chill to run down my spine.
"If it were my castle I'd place my room on the first floor.
Then it's a short distance to my office and I can eat my rice while it is still warm.
It would also be easy to go out...
That's what a regular guy like me would do."
Randolph punctuated his rant with a laugh, 'haha'.
With that laughing skull right in front of us, Roxy swallowed hard, gulp.
"Well there are certainly advantages to having it this way.
If you needed to barricade yourself in the castle then this is the ideal.
After all, this castle has a lot of magic resistant bricks.
This also offers good resistance to long range magic. There is also a defense point on each floor, so it's difficult to reach the top.
This is a pretty good castle for war time."
I wonder what Randolph is actually trying to say.
He's just sitting there.
Couldn't I pass through beside him?
Although, honestly, I don't want to get an inch closer to this guy.
"Randolph-dono."
While I'm confused Zanoba moved forward without hesitation.
Without changing his irreverent attitude, Randolph smiled at Zanoba.
It's a skeleton laughing in the middle of the night.
He's eerie.
"Your Imperial Highness Zanoba, it's a pleasure to see you again."
"May I know the state of the castle?"
"Yes, certainly, certainly, I'll tell you."
Randolph removed his eye patch while saying so.
Behind it lay a glowing red eye.
Inside of his pupil a pattern like a six-pointed star floated.
It's an eye only a devil could possess.
"For His Majesty's life, I used my [Absolute Void Eye] to construct a barrier around the entire castle.
With that power I'm still holding off the enemy's force."
It's a demon eye which I'm not familiar with.
Orsted has not told me about the existence of his magic eye.
That guy, he never tells me the important things.
But does he wear that eye patch because he is unable to control it?
Should I be wary now that he's removed it?
"I see. So were are the others?"
"Everyone who isn't dead has otherwise fled."
"So... where is His Majesty?"
"Behind me."
"So, you are currently protecting His Majesty."