I stand in front of the kneeling servants, some of whom appear to be members of the underworld, but then, I open my mouth.
"...The Baskervilles is now dissolved. And so does the underworld. There is no more evil in this Baskervilles. All of you can do as you please."
That's what I decided long ago.
To dismantle the Baskervilles, the feared rulers of the underworld, and to cut the roots of evil.
It was the greatest good I could do. Apart from defeating the Demon King as a hero, it meant eliminating the evil that threatens the Slayers Kingdom.
"...Are you going to abandon us? That's unforgivable."
"I don't care. I'm not going to be the leader of evil. If you want to be evil... do it at your own risk."
"Well... that's a problem."
Zaius looks disappointed... but strangely enough, there is a satisfied smile on his face.
I am about to ask him why, but then a new intruder appears.
"Well, we can't afford to lose the Baskervilles. It would be a loss for our country."
"Huh...!?"
A third voice suddenly interrupts.
I turned my head in the direction of the voice and saw a big middle-aged man emerging from the darkness.
He is dressed in the luxurious clothes of a nobleman, and on either side of him stands a knight in armor. They are knights of the Kingsguard working in the castle.
Even though it's late at night, it's impossible to miss the three figures standing side by side in the training ground where a bonfire was burning. Perhaps they had disappeared by magic or some magic item.
"A knight of the Kingsguard...? Who are you...?"
"You are...!"
It was not me who reacted to the man's appearance, but Aeris, who was standing by my side.
Aeris' blue eyes widened in disbelief, and her shoulders trembled in shock.
"Do you know that man?"
"How come Zenon-sama doesn't know!? That man..."
"It's fine, daughter of Centorea. Make yourself at ease."
"Y-Yes...!"
The middle-aged man says in a confident tone, and Aeris bows her head in awe.
Aeris' attitude and the fact that the middle-aged man is accompanied by a knight of the Kingsguard indicate that he is of a very high rank.
"This is the first time I've met you. The eldest son of Baskerville... no, the new 'Baskerville's Demon Dog'."
"..."
"My name is Julius the Slayers. The 13th King of the Slayers Kingdom!"