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TL Note: So Suzuki, you were talking to Serphiano, and she didn't mention anything of this attack; yet you believe the undead's supposed orders from Serphiano? That's beyond being naive.
ED Note: He even experienced the dangers of Duma on the way to the capital. LOL.
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"Suzuki? What's wrong?"
"Uhm… an undead is summoning me. Eh… From Duma's—— is it?"
For a moment, she thought it was Suzuki's way of cutting off their crystal ball communication, but then she heard an undead roar behind Suzuki's back.
(What in the hell, would Duma want with Suzuki? I believe I ordered her fleet to anchor in the Imperial City's harbor for the duration of the demon training program, but…)
"Sorry! Well then, see you later!"
"Ah– Suzuki. Please wait…"
The crystal ball became dark. It seemed that Suzuki had put the crystal ball back in his pocket.
"A-ah. I've got cut off. I would have liked to talk more… I —— don't understand!"
Serphiano's mouth twisted into a smile.
(Fu–fufu! It is not good to UNDERESTIMATE the chief strategist of the Demon Lord's army! From the bloodshed, you'd think Suzuki would have already cut off the communication! However, the communication has not been cut off yet! The image is pitch-black, and you can't see anything, but the sound CAN still be HEARD!)
"This is 'Plan Wiretapping'! Fufufu… Gobyubobobobobo!"
Serphiano laughed while vomiting blood.
(With this, you can even listen to the sounds that Suzuki makes in the toi—let! Gobyubo! Oh no, I'm so excited, that I might lose all the blood in my body—!)
Serphiano put her ear close to the crystal ball to hear the lovely Suzuki's voice. And then—
"OoOGghhH! S-SUZuKIiiII! This is an emergency notice from Lady Duma! OoOgGHhH!"
(Wai… I DON'T want to listen to the voices of filthy undead! Shad'up undead, idiot! Gobyu!)
"I-it is LeiruneEHheH! It's apparently being attacked by a big horde of demons! OoOgGhhH!"
"Unbelievable!? Because in Leirune, Kiru, Meru, and even Uhouguru are there!!"
"It's said to be a group of stray demons that AREN'T part of the Demon Lord's army! OoOgGHhH! iT'S tRue! OoOgGHhH! If we don't get back soon, they might get wiped out! OoOgGHhH!? This is absolutely the truth! OoOgGHhH!"
(No, it's all lies! You keep saying, "It's true! It's true!" You persistent liar!)
However, from the crystal ball, she could also hear the anxious voice of Excella.
"L-Lord Hero! If it's true, it's a serious emergency!"
"A-AH! I'm worried about Suzukiland, too! …Hey, where's Nephira!?"
"She embarked beforehand and is waiting for you on Duma's ship! OoOgGHhH! Because Lady Serphiano said, we should hurry back! OoOgGHhH!"
(I don't remember saying such a thing, nor do I remember hearing about any of this! Geez, I'm certain of it now…)
Serphiano vomits blood violently, her three eyes flaring.
(You have conspired against us, haven't you? DUMA!! Gobyubyu and byu!!)
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Nephira received an urgent summons from Serphiano.
Nephira rushed, gasping for breath, to the director's office of the training center and opened the door with all her strength with a bang. There, alone in a leather chair, Serphiano was sitting.
"Dame Serphiano! Suzuki is missing! I knew he would become a lost child!"
"It seems he is in a more troublesome situation than becoming a lost child! Please look at this."
Letting out a sigh, Serphiano showed Nephira the crystal ball. Unsure of what to expect, Nephira did a double take, looking back and forth between the crystal ball and Serphiano's face.
"This is the counterpart crystal ball, for the ball I made Suzuki holds for the sake of my peace of mind. I will now play back the audio captured by the recording function, alright?"
"Uhm… I'm not sure I understand what you mean…?"
"You'll understand soon enough."
As Serphiano manipulated the crystal ball, she heard the voices of Suzuki and the undead talking to each other.
(I-It's Suzuki's voice!… Eehh–? Leirune being attacked by a horde of demons…!? And, I'm waiting for him on Duma's ship!?)
"Suzuki! That's not true! He's lying!"
"Like I said, it's from the recording function. This is a conversation that happened a few minutes ago."
"A conversation that happened a few minutes ago…?"
After repeating the line, Nephira finally understood what Serphiano meant and became pale.
"I-In other words, does this mean that Suzuki has been abducted by Duma!?"
"Yes. That's what it means."
"T-That, DUMA!! My Suzuki–!!"
Nephira's fist slammed into the desk in the director's office, causing it to cave in, and Nephira asked Serphiano as if she was begging for help.
"And right now, where's Suzuki!?"
"The sound was cut off just as he was about to board Duma's ship. I believe the powerful magic of Duma has cut off the communication ——— or, I infer that Duma, suspecting something amiss, has destroyed Suzuki's crystal ball."
"Guh–! Then, how do we track Suzuki's trail before it disappears, a-and then, he will be together with Duma somewhere in the vastness of the sea…!"
As if she couldn't bear to watch Nephira restlessly chewing her nails, Serphiano fetched a ceramic pot. Then, with graceful movements, she brewed a cup of tea.
"Let's just calm down a little bit."