Chapter 142: The Worst-Case Scenario

When Aria’s group returned from the altar―

「You’re back just in time. New information has just arrived.」

Mina greeted them with those words.

New information has just arrived.

The atmosphere around Aria’s group tensed the moment they heard those words.

Then, they followed Mina toward the meeting room in the mansion. The other members of their party were already inside the room.

「Mina, what kind of news arrived?」

Ciel asked without beating around the bush.

Mina told everyone about the news while reading the letter that had just arrived.

「It seems that a village under my government has been destroyed. According to the survivors of that incident, their village was raided by the Elebor tribe.」

「Elebor tribe… Aren’t they the followers of the thunder spirit, bolt?」

Aria asked for confirmation since she had heard about that particular spirit and its followers from Ciel just a while ago.

Mina replied with a wry smile on her face. 「You’re right.」

「Mina, is this matter related to Belphegor?」

Ciel set aside her worry upon seeing Mina’s expression and asked that question.

She came straight to the point. The reason was that this incident was related to the destruction of a village by the Elebor tribe.

Since they had requested her to gather information about Belphegor, Mina knew that this report should be related to the one they were looking for.

「Ciel-sama, the Elebor tribesmen used 〝Ominous Purple Sword?, which fired lightning, to attack the said village.」

Mina informed Ciel.

The moment they heard this answer, Aria and co went 「「「!!!!!」」」

The first thing that appeared in everyone’s mind upon hearing “Ominous purple…” was Belphegor.

When they had fought the Demon King in their home world a while ago, Belphegor had used power related to an ominous purple aura.

Even though the “Fired lightning” part made them rather confused, when Mina spoke that the culprits of the raid were the Elebor tribe, everyone guessed that Belphegor must be in cahoots with the Elebor tribe.

「Understood! Let’s check the village at once. There’s something I’m worried about. We might get a clue in there.」

Ciel stood up from her chair as she said so.

「That’s right! If the Elebor tribesmen are using Belphegor’s power, my magic tool might be able to detect it!」

May also stood up next to Ciel.

She meant that they should be able to search for Belphegor’s whereabouts with her compass-like magic tool.

Thus, after finishing their preparations as fast as possible, the group went to the raided village on Ptera’s back.

◆

It took them a while to reach their destination, with a short break interposed between――

They finally arrived at the destroyed village.

Fallen trees, ruined houses, and bloodstains could be seen everywhere in the destroyed village.

That spectacle was enough to tell them just how violent the Elebor tribe’s attack had been.

「THIS IS IT! There’s a faint trace of Belphegor’s presence!」

May delightfully screamed when she looked at the magic tool she had taken out from her pocket.

Thus, the fact that the Elebor tribe was in cahoots with Belphegor was confirmed.

Belphegor was a demon king who specialized in commanding an army. Ciel knew from her experience with Belphegor that the demon king would enhance her subordinate’s power.

At that moment―

「H-HOW CAN IT BE!!」

Ciel let out a shocked voice as she looked into her palm.

The color drained from her face as if she couldn’t believe what she had just seen.

「Is something the matter, Ciel-sama?」

Aria came to ask Ciel while stowing Tama into her cle*vage.

She saw a mechanical-like sphere in Ciel’s hand.

「This is a magic tool called 〝Arc Radar?. It can detect the presence of spirit, but…」

Ciel stopped for a moment. After looking around at everyone in the party, she continued.

「I tried to use Arc radar just in case, and it caught the presence of the thunder spirit, Bolt.」

「B-Bolt… T-that’s the name of sealed thunder spirit, right?」

「That’s right, Vulcan.」

Ciel grimaced as she replied to Vulcan.

「Belphegor’s and Bolt’s reactions can be detected in a place raided by the Elebor tribe.」

「According to the reports, the Elebor tribesmen are using a sword that fires ominous purple lightning.」

Aria and May spoke in turn, trying to rearrange the information they had heard and the fact they had found in the village.

（The conclusion from all this information is…）

Tama, who was stowed in Aria’s cleavage, arrived at a certain conclusion.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The children’s group composed of Stella, Lily, and Faeri made faces as if they didn’t understand the situation. It seemed like there were huge question marks above their heads. However, the other members of the group seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion as Tama did.

The answer was―

「It seems Belphegor resurrected Bolt with some means.」

「Yes, and then she fused the power of the thunder spirit with herself and distributed it with the Elebor tribe.」

「Does that mean, the reason they raided this village is to test how powerful they have become?」

Ciel, Aria, and Cedric spoke in turns as if to check each of their opinions.

May and Vulcan quietly nodded as they heard the conversation.

The normal Belphegor was extremely powerful on her own, and now, she had gained the thunder spirit’s power and subordinates to maximize her full potential.

This development far surpassed the worst-case scenario in Aria and co’s minds.

If they didn’t stop Belphegor as soon as possible…

Thus, Aria and co. returned to the Horo village to report their findings to Mina.