The Adventure Story of the Devil, the Maid, and the Hero

It is night, the moon and stars are rare.

In an inconspicuous spot in the endless grassland, two thin figures could be vaguely seen sitting around a cluster of bonfires.

The subtle crackling sound of the burning bonfire seemed a bit abrupt in such a quiet night, and the unlit darkness in the distance was also quiet, making it difficult to judge whether there were various turbulent crises hidden under the calm surface.

Giulia, who was drowsy at first, shuddered, and not only stretched out her hands to tighten the cloak around her body.

Raising her head and looking around, there was no untimely sound coming from the surrounding tents, and the people inside seemed to be sleeping soundly, but she still couldn't help but whispered to Shirpasha beside her:

"Boundary, is it okay?"

However, the other party did not respond.

"...Tifa?"

Giulia whispered in surprise.

—Could it be that he fell asleep?

"Hey... ah, I'm sorry, I was a little distracted just now." Shirpasha yawned long after speaking, "What's the matter?"

"I want to ask, is the enchantment okay?"

Giulia repeated.

"Boundary...Of course there is no problem."

After taking a deep breath, Shirpasha said with a confident smile.

However, Giulia did not feel relieved, but asked worriedly:

"are you OK?"

"Well, I was just distracted just now." Shirpasha shook her head and said with no difference on her face, "What's wrong?"

It has been more than ten days since they set off, and she also passed through a town for a day to rest. She always felt that Shirpasha's state was not right, and occasionally she always seemed absent-minded.After the previous conversation, Yulia felt that this was not just her illusion.

But the previous inquiries were always ambiguous like this, because the timing was not right, she chose to give up asking, but today it was finally their turn to stay in the middle of the night. I don't know when to wait.

——It can't go on like this.

Giulia made up her mind in her heart, and spoke in a rare and tough tone:

"Tifa, you...you will always be a little absent-minded during this time, I am very worried."

"That's it," Shirpasha knew that she couldn't be vague, so she had to smile a bit reluctantly, "I'm sorry for making you worry."

"In that case, then..."

Giulia spoke eagerly, but was interrupted by Shirpasha:

"I'm really nothing special, it's just... just a little uncomfortable."

"Not suitable?" Not suitable for what?Tired of a long journey?Changing climate and environment?

Giulia repeated in bewilderment.

"Well," Shirpasha just nodded and assured, "It will be fine when I get used to it."

Seeing that she didn't want to say more, Yulia hesitated for a moment, but finally changed the subject.

"What are you going to do after you find the brave man?"

"Well," Shirpasha smiled, looked up at the last quarter moon hanging in the sky, and narrowed her eyes lazily, "Of course it's going to be a dignified duel."

"Even if you have to risk your life?"

Giulia asked worriedly.

"So what?" Shirpasha still hooked the corner of her mouth, "Originally, it should be like this."

"Then what if," Yulia clenched her fists secretly, "if...the other party doesn't plan to be upright."

"Pfft." Shilpasha laughed suddenly, her voice was very soft, but at such a night and such a distance, Yulia could still hear it very clearly.

"You, you probably haven't heard of the "Covenant of the Brave"."

——"The Covenant of the Brave"?About the promise of the brave?

Giulia muttered unheard terms silently, looking at Shirpasha with undisguised doubts and curiosity in her eyes.

"It's no wonder," Shirpasha said clearly, "after all, most people's understanding of the Brave Demon King comes from the stories and legends in the streets and alleys, and specifically mentioning this treaty should do more harm than good to shape the heroic image of the brave. Li." She smiled lightly indifferently, "Anyway, as long as those who should know know."

"So, that treaty...what is it?"

Giulia moved her fingers that were a little stiff from clutching the cloak all the time, and asked.

"Since the catastrophe, people feared the harm of large-scale wars and established the "Brave Covenant". The main content is: Except for those selected by both parties, no country, race, group, individual, etc. are allowed to interfere excessively All matters between the hero and the devil, and minimize direct interference with both parties."

Shirpasha's voice was soothing and steady, as if she was reading an oracle. Giulia listened and remembered the time when they discussed countermeasures.

At that time, except for Shirpasha, everyone subconsciously put the kingdom, knights, adventurers, etc. on the opposite side or even the enemy.Looking at it now... Although they are still on the opposite side, the situation doesn't seem to be as bad as it was originally thought.

However, there are still some things I don't understand-

"Then why did Tifa know about this agreement?"

For this question, Shilpasha smiled, with a natural tone, but answered the question:

"You haven't forgotten my identity, have you?"

—— Demon King, what?

Giulia hesitated for a moment, but still didn't delve into it, but there was still one question left.

"Then, why does the brave man have to..." After a pause, she subconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes to avoid trembling fingertips, and chose a not-so-blunt word, "Fight the devil?"

It can't be just because the fourth devil caused the catastrophe, right?Although, for more personal and realistic reasons, she can't say that she doesn't know at all, and she can even say that she can guess some of them.However, it would be too much to say that is all there is...

"Wrong."

Shirpasha raised her hand and added a few more pieces of firewood, saying so.

"Huh?" Wrong?What's wrong?

"The order is wrong." Shirpasha explained, "It's not that the brave must defeat the devil, but the person who conquered the devil becomes a hero. Before that, even if he was called a brave, he was actually just a candidate for a brave. That's all." She looked into the depths of the night and sighed softly, "The so-called brave is just an honorary title given to those who defeated the Demon King."

"Then, why are there candidates for the hero?"

Giulia took a small breath as naturally as possible, raised her spirits and kept her face intact, she still couldn't help asking.

"The candidate for the brave is the one who is most likely to kill the Demon King." After Shirpasha finished speaking, she looked at Yulia who was waiting for the next sentence, and said, "That's all I know."

Who is most likely to kill the Demon King?

is that a lie?Absolutely—is it a lie?

Qiu Liya couldn't help sighing in her heart... Obviously, she had never even killed a chicken, and she didn't even dare to look at the slaughtering scene.It was too much to have such unrealistic hopes for someone like her.

I kept saying "I'm just the maid of the Lord Demon King" silently in my heart, and after a while, my emotions finally calmed down.

Speaking of which, she was almost bypassed. In the end, she still didn’t know why the brave man wanted to attack the Demon King. It seems that her way of asking was wrong. If the reason is not the brave man, then——

"Then why is the Demon King being crusaded?"

"Because the Demon Lord is the 'source of evil'."

As a result, this night, Giulia only got such an answer.

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