Curtis stood up and looked around at everyone.
"I will explain details about the demon." (Curtis)
As everyone stared at Curtis in silence, he spoke in a calm voice.
"First of all, regarding the two companions...As Cyril explained, we knew in advance that Lady Fi's true purpose for going to Gazard Margrave Territory was the Black Dragon. I decided to have adventurer friends of Lady Fi, who I met by chance before our departure, to accompany us." (Curtis)
In reality, Curtis thought he could safely visit Blackpeak with Fia alone and was initially reluctant to have Green and Blue accompanied them.
However, there was not enough time to explain everything, and it would also provide information that did not need to be disclosed, so he rearranged the story in a way that was easier for everyone to understand.
"Oh, are you talking about the two men I met in the royal capital?" (Clarissa)
Clarissa asked, having something in mind, and Curtis nodded his head.
"That's right. The two companions are adventurers from the Arteaga Empire. They are friends that Lady Fi once went on a monster subjugation near the Ruud territory, but they seem to be traveling around various places. Their skills were reliable. That's why I asked them to accompany me as a cooperating knight." (Curtis)
Desmond crossed his arms and makes a suspicious sound.
"Are they acquaintances of Fia? Did they work as adventurers before becoming a knight? …I can’t imagine it at all. It would be a good idea to have a beginner’s party, but Curtis would agree to accompany him. Fia won't be as strong as that." (Desmond)
Curtis was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth, looking like he didn't want to say anything.
"...At that time, it seems that Lady Fi had medicinal herbs that she wanted to collect. Although they were strong, they tended to be reckless, so by having Lady Fi accompany them, she acted as a control to stop their rampage. It seems like they wanted to. Of course, in the end, the medicinal herbs she collected were distributed among everyone, so it was an adventure as equal collaborators!" (Curtis)
Curtis was insisting on the usefulness of Fia, but the Knight Captains calmly analyzed the story.
Desmond then voiced the results of the analysis.
"In other words, when Fia joined, she automatically plays the role of a party stopper. Fia is a member who created a tendency not to hunt monsters recklessly, thinking that Fia who was not strong should not be involved. So, in a way, it's amazing. Fia's roles always exceed my expectations." (Desmond)
Desmond's impressions matched what everyone was thinking in their hearts, so all the captains nodded in agreement.
At first glance, Fia's actions were difficult to understand.
However, if you listened to the explanation properly, you could understand it.
One thing they could say was that Fia was terribly lucky.
It's a rare occurrence for a first-class adventurer to accompany Fia, even though they knew she's useless.
Seeing the satisfied expressions on the knight captains' faces, Curtis continued to explain, although he looked dissatisfied.
"The circumstances of our encounter with the demon are exactly as Cyril described. When I and two of my fellow knights were exploring the mountain, a small girl suddenly appeared. It would be impossible for a girl to set foot alone in a mountain ruled by a black dragon and inhabited by ferocious monsters. Therefore, when I was cautious and kept my distance, she revealed her true identity and took on the form of a demon." (Curtis)
"Wait, wait, wait!" (Desmond)
Desmond waved his hand and interrupted Curtis.
Then, he put my other hand on his forehead, as if I had a headache.
"Due to my job, I have looked through all the materials about demons, but there was no mention of them mimicking humans! They have a strange appearance with horns and speak their own language. A demon is a being who speaks and lives in forests and lakes where humans cannot tread!" (Desmond)
Curtis nods slowly, affirming Desmond's words.
"That's right. What's noteworthy here is that the demon was disguised as a human. She hid her horns and distinctive eyes, wore human clothes, and spoke human language." (Curtis)
"Heh!" (Desmond)
Desmond, fully aware of the horror of that fact, let out a scream deep in his throat.
"Oh, wait! Where did the demon learn to speak human words and behave like a human? Oh, no, my clear mind came up with the answer." (Desmond)
"It's not that difficult. My brain isn't as clear as yours, but I figured out the answer after all." (Zachary)
Zachary quietly apologizes to Desmond, who looks pale.
Beside him, Quentin was also nodding in agreement.
"I originally didn't think that demons and humans would change much. Monsters are ferocious and ferocious, and as beings that cause harm to humans, they are subject to unconditional subjugation. However, if you make a contract, they will obey you. And if you take the time, a relationship of trust will be born. It would be interesting to see what would happen if a demon lived in human society and human rules." (Quentin)
Quentin said it out of pure curiosity, but Curtis' face changed and he dismissed the idea.
"That's ridiculous, Quentin! After all, a demon is just a demon! No matter where they live or what they're taught, their cruel and vicious nature remains the same!! I think we can talk to a demon! That’s the only person you should cut off and throw away!" (Curtis)
Looking up at Curtis, who was instantly excited, Quentin quickly backed down.
"...I see. You, who actually faced the demon, must have felt various things with your whole body. If you say so, then it must be so." (Quentin)
As soon as Quentin cleared his throat, silence fell, and Cyril opened his mouth.
"...The demons who disappeared 300 years ago were thought to have hidden themselves in deeper forests, but due to this incident, it has become possible that some of the demons have blended in with humans." (Cyril)
Desmond clenched his fist and banged on the round table.
"Hah, it’s a werewolf game! They live near humans so they can easily get food, but if their true identity is revealed we will attack in groups, so they disguise themselves as humans? …No, it’s impossible. Huh! This doesn't make any sense! Demons are overwhelmingly strong. They can't be defeated even if a bunch of humans attack them, and they don't even eat humans in the first place. If that's the case...what's the point of mixing with humans??" (Desmond)
The atmosphere was somber, but no one had an answer to Desmond's question.
So Curtis continued.
"It seems like there's no conclusion, so I'll continue to explain. The demon we encountered was called the 'Bird Imitator of Two Crests.'" (Curtis)
Curtis casually disclosed the information about the demon without changing his expression.
All the knight captains were surprised.
"Two crests!?"
"Huh? That's because the enemy is too bad! Isn't it in the Black Dragon class!!"
"There’s no way you can escape!!"
All the knight captains looked at Curtis with astonished expressions upon hearing this unexpected report.
This was because everyone thought that the demon they encountered was without a crest, since Curtis and Fia had returned to the capital safely.
Curtis nodded obediently as everyone looked at him.
"That's right. I didn't think I could escape, so I decided to fight." (Curtis)
However, Curtis accepted everyone's opinion, and ended up being even more despised by the knight captains.
"Huh!?"
"Oh...that's the worst move!"
"I thought he was starting to break down recently, but is he no longer able to make such simple decisions?!"
He silently looked at all the knight captains who were spouting out negative opinions one after another, and Curtis shook his head as if they didn't understand and relaxed his cheeks.
"Lady Fi also joined the race midway through." (Curtis)
"Fia won't be of any use!?" (Everyone)
When Curtis heard the words of the knight captains, he frowned in disgust, but continued speaking.
"As a result...because the demon had been weakened (by Lady Fi's magic) and because the two cooperating knights were skilled, we were able to defeat the demon. I took a healing potion and the wound healed. Since I went down the mountain after recovering, the knights there were not aware of the existence of the demon. I thought it was a matter of first reporting to Commander Savis and asking him to decide on the scope of information that should be disclosed. After that, I stayed there for several weeks to see what was going on, but there were no other demons to appear." (Curtis)
Desmond hurriedly stopped Curtis as he tried to explain further.
"Well, wait, wait, wait! Don't let the most important part slip away!! Even if you defeat the demon with two crests!? That's impossible!" (Desmond)
Desmond stood up, kicking his chair in surprise, and Zachary did the same.
"Curtis, you probably don’t have a Saint in your party in the first place! It was the Great Saint who sealed the demons one after another 300 years ago! In other words, the Saint must be indispensable in the battle against demons. There's no way you could defeat the demon without the Saint! Or was the 'Weakening of the demon' you were talking about so great that the opponent was completely weakened!?" (Zachary)
Desmond heard Zachary's words and approached him as if he's trying to get his way.
"Look, Curtis! Zachary has the same opinion! It’s more believable that Fia was still a princess!! No, that’s impossible!! In other words, it’s impossible to defeat the demon." (Desmond)
The conference room instantly became a commotion as everyone began to make a fuss.
But then Quentin opened his mouth as if to reprimand everyone.
"You guys, think about what Curtis said a little more!" (Quentin)
"…What?"
Quentin continued to Desmond who asked incredulously.
"What was Lady Fia offered in Sutherland?" (Quentin)
"Oh, what..."
"It is a supreme holy stone that exerts the same power as the ancient Saint's recovery magic, which has now been lost. If you carry multiple of these and use them at a critical moment, it is the same as the former Great Saint's. Isn't it a function reminiscent of that?" (Quentin)
"!!!" (Everyone)
"In addition, Lady Fia can use the Black Dragon King freely. If Lady Fia dies, the Black Dragon King whose life is connected will also die, so the Black Dragon King will fight with all his might." (Quentin)
"!!!" (Everyone)
All the knight Captains were horrified when they heard Quentin's words.
...That's certainly true.
The fact that Fia received the rights to the holy stone from Sutherland might be even more amazing than they thought.
It was because the holy stone contained the condensed magical power that the outstanding saints of Sutherland had accumulated over many years.
As a result, they could get many times more amazing effects with just one small stone than if they had a saint to accompany them.
And the first topic discussed was that Fia's familiar was the Black Dragon.
Although it could not be confirmed, judging from what has been said so far, it seemed to be a gray color that was almost black.
In other words, in accordance with Fia's will, Black Dragon would do everything in its power to crush its opponent.
If so...
All the knight captains swallowed thickly and stared at Curtis in silence.
Seeing that Quentin didn't deny a single word of his words, they had a belated feeling that Fia's story was true.
As silence fell, Desmond spoke for everyone.
"Haha, ha... She's relying too much on various things, not on her own ability, but... maybe Fia is the strongest?" (Desmond)