Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 52

Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~

Chapter 52   Reports and arrangements of the lower demon

“This pace suggests that it’ll take a few more hours to break the barrier…”

Two weeks had passed since Saint-chan departed for the frontier territory.

Anticipating that they would have already arrived at their destination by now, I decided to finally take action to address Ars restless concerns.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Finally, Dad! I’ve been waiting forever!”

“Huh? We’re going now, old man? Don’t tell me we’re using that teleportation magic trick again?”

No, not a trick. It’s genuine teleportation magic, actually.

Well, it would be the same whether it’s magic or a trick if it actually worked.

But that guy, Hades, seems unwilling to acknowledge that I have more power than him. And I understand why he keeps pushing back.

It’s only natural for a demon to fear humans who possess power beyond anything they’ve encountered before, especially when he is the offspring of the Demon Lord, and could potentially pose a threat to the demon realm.

Even if he calls his father names like “shitty old man,” in the end, they’re still blood-related family. The urgency he feels about what might happen if both sides go to war or if I, as an individual, become an enemy of his family, comes through very clearly. Despite his tsundere attitude, it’s actually a pure answer that reflects the deep affection Hades has.

I don’t dislike guys like him. If I were in the same position, I would prioritize Elsa and Ars more than anyone else.

“What are you grinning about, old man?! Don’t get ahead of yourself, seriously…”

“Don’t worry, Hades. For now, I’m not your enemy.”

“Hmph, we’ll see about that…”

Really, really. I just hope you and Ars can continue to get along well in the future.

After that exchange, while being directly teleported to the front of the Zalug Border Margrave’s main residence, I was warmly welcomed by the Margrave himself, Zalug.

“We’ve been expecting you, Lord Kakyu. Our subordinates informed us that you’d be arriving around this time. Considering the current situation with high-ranking demons plotting, we’ve been on standby eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

“I see. I apologize for any inconvenience, Lord Zalug.”

“Nonsense! If it’s for the sake of our benefactor who has supported us, Zalug will move heaven and earth to assist you! Hahaha!”

Although Zalug laughs like that, the truth behind his devilish eyes is colored with “devotion.” Despite hiding it outwardly, it seems this old man still sees me as a god.

That’s probably why he eagerly awaited the visit of a god and was on standby to welcome me himself.

Truly, it’s quite grandiose to deal with a mere lower-level demon like this.

“Then, let us guide the lady of the house, Lord Gaius, and the children to my castle together. Hey, you there! Show them to the top-tier guest rooms. Lord Kakyu and I will hold a meeting in the study. It’s a confidential meeting, so make sure no one approaches.”

“Understood.”

With that, Zalug separated everyone except me, directing them to different rooms with a servant’s guidance. Incidentally, the reason only I remained was to directly hear the results of the covert operations he had requested.

I feel sorry for Elsa and the others who worked with me, but as the Margrave and a prominent noble of the Holy Kingdom, I must maintain appearances. Even though I am seen as the head of a noble family, I couldn’t treat the other members equally in this place where others’ eyes were watching.

After parting ways, I moved to the study of the Margrave’s mansion. Suddenly, Zalug knelt down before me, and I sighed.

“Forgive my presumptuous behavior, my lord. Even though I know that God has His plans, as an incompetent being, I had no choice but to do this when facing high-ranking demon.”

“Sigh… You’ve had it tough, Zalug. But there’s no need for apologies, and on the contrary, I’m grateful. This incident has been beneficial to me as well. Thanks to it, I can encourage the children’s growth, which is a good opportunity. Thank you.”

As I ignored his deeply apologetic loyalty and instead expressed gratitude, Zalug started trembling and shedding tears.

“No, no, no! What are you crying for, Zalug?! Pull yourself together! Come on, calm down! Right?”

“Ugh… I-I’m terribly sorry, my lord. Not only did you resolve the issues of the Holy Kingdom, but you also forgave someone like me who dared to voice opinions based on my own convenience. Moreover, to think that I would be thanked by God… I never imagined…”

No, seriously, that’s not what I meant.

This old man is fundamentally a good guy, but I always think he’s too extreme.

It was the same during the Ars abduction event when we first met; he’s competent but goes overboard.

No, seriously, he’s undoubtedly competent, but… you know…

“Come on, get up. You’re not a kid anymore, so stop making such an embarrassing face. Besides, while we’ve eliminated the high-ranking demons, it doesn’t mean we’ve resolved all the problems, especially since we still need to explain everything to the Saint to ensure she gets credit for it. Let me explain it now.”

“Haha!”

Alright, the old man’s got some spirit.

Well, it’s not a difficult conversation, to be honest.

Basically, it’s just about crediting the Saint for resolving the ongoing issue while also allowing our future heroes to grow by exploring the dungeon with Ars and the usual kids’ team. This achievement will not only benefit the Saint but also youngsters like Ein, who’s already gaining recognition as a sword saint, and Ars, who’s been fighting on par with Ein. It’s the first step for these promising young individuals to make their mark on the world.

More importantly, apart from these reasons, knights and guards around here are just getting in their way. Except for a few, their abilities are vastly different, and it’s easier for the kids’ team to handle the remaining mid-level demons I’ve left behind.

Haha! Indeed, that’s right.

Yes, there are still quite a few mid-level demons left in that dungeon. If lower-level demons are equivalent to upper-level Class B adventurers, then mid-level demons would be at least upper-level Class A to mid-level Class S in terms of strength. Well, the power level varies among individuals, but that’s roughly the range of their abilities.

The Margrave’s army doesn’t seem strong enough to handle a group of adventurers equivalent to the highest-ranked humans. Even if there were capable individuals, new members who can’t be trusted as a team, prioritizing only the Saint, who is crucial to the Holy Kingdom, would be nothing more than a hindrance.

Therefore, it’s best for the exploration to be carried out by the kids alone.

“What’s up, don’t worry, old man Zalug. Just in case, me, Elsa, and that guy Gaius will follow suit. Of course, we’ll make sure not to get caught… Now, is that enough to ease your concerns?”

“Haha! As expected of our god. Your plan is flawless.”

“Yeah. Well then, I’ll leave the preparations to you.”

With that settled, all that’s left is to record my sons’ adventures using the recording magical tool I prepared.

By the way, I haven’t told Zalug about it, but I’ve prepared three formidable opponents for the very end.

However, since the kids aren’t quite ready to face these formidable opponents yet, the purpose of this event is simply to understand how close they’ve come to the enemy that appeared five years ago… that formidable opponent.

“Oh, right. I forgot to mention, but according to my estimates, it’s about time for the Saint to break the barrier of the shrine. Therefore, I’m sorry to say, but I’ll take my leave here. I can see as clear as day that they’ll be in trouble once they break the barrier and let their guard down.”

“I understand completely. Leave everything to me, including arranging the dungeon exploration.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”

With those words, I left the office and headed to the Margrave’s camp, where the troops would undoubtedly be celebrating their achievement of breaking the barrier. I’ll be taking the kids with me for the teleportation.