At the Demon King's Castle
The Altsgran Kingdom.
It is a nation of demons where various races reside, the largest and most prosperous among the many demon-ruled countries.
At its heart stands a towering castle, radiating an overwhelming presence.
This is the core of the Altsgran Kingdom, the seat of the Demon King, ruler of all demon territories—the Demon King's Castle.
On the top floor of the castle, in a spacious chamber housing the Demon King's throne, a hole over two meters wide appears.
Beyond it stretches a clear blue sky and a vast forest. The scenery distorts briefly, and a woman emerges from the hole, wearing a mask and a brown hooded robe.
"I'm back. Is the Demon King here?"
Before the masked woman—Aasia Lulu Filmera—sits the Demon King on the throne.
However, a white curtain conceals the Demon King's form, revealing only a black shadow wriggling behind it.
"Oh, Filmera? You're back early today."
A slightly childish female voice echoes from beyond the curtain.
Yet the voice carries an intimidating aura, charged with undeniable "power" that makes the air crackle.
"Yes. I have a report for you, Demon King."
"…Hm, a report?"
"Yes. First, please take a look at this."
Filmera retrieves an item from her pocket.
It's the silky thread Grey used for the bath tub, gleaming faintly under the sunlight despite its white color.
"Is that… silk?"
"No. This is the thread produced by the spider I mentioned before."
"! Hmm… I see."
Filmera cannot see beyond the curtain.
But the Demon King, perhaps able to see through it, lets out a troubled sound at the sight of the spider's thread in Filmera's hand.
"And anything else?"
"Yes. That spider was hunting monsters from the Land of Death. Alone. And unscathed."
"…Hm. Do you remember what monsters were there?"
"Yes. A Dead Roller Boar, a Death-Eating Bird, and a Rising Horn Rabbit, among others."
"…Tch. All designated as A-rank threats, aren't they? To take them down alone, unscathed…"
In this world, monsters are assigned danger ranks.
The lowest is F.
F-rank monsters may threaten people but are weak enough for a child to defeat in a fair fight, lacking special abilities or significant combat power.
A-rank, however, is the second-highest danger level, capable of destroying villages or towns single-handedly, devouring prey, and potentially wiping out entire species.
That a spider—Grey—casually hunts such terrifying A-rank monsters makes it undeniably anomalous.
"…But this confirms it."
"Yes. As you suspected, Demon King, that spider is likely a throwback to the Great Demon Spider, one of the Seven Calamity Beasts said to have once driven the world to the brink of ruin."
The Seven Calamity Beasts. As their name suggests, they are disaster-class entities, seven creatures that nearly brought the vast world to destruction.
The Great Demon Spider is one of them. Ancient texts describe it as a spider roughly 30 centimeters long, with immeasurable agility and combat prowess.
It is said its threads can slice through steel.
It is said its threads can pierce the blue sky.
It is said its threads, once attached, never let go.
It is said touching its threads means certain death.
Such grandiose claims fill the texts about the Seven Calamity Beasts.
"But that spider is already a familiar, isn't it? To a human man, no less."
"Yes. His name is Yukiya Tojo-sama."
"Hm… Does this Tojo understand that the spider is a Great Demon Spider?"
"…I believe he does."
At Filmera's words, the Demon King catches her breath for a moment.
Long ago, demon heroes attempted to tame the Seven Calamity Beasts to halt their rampages.
But all failed to make them familiars, losing their lives in vain.
That the Great Demon Spider became the familiar of a human shocks the Demon King.
"Yukiya-sama named the Great Demon Spider 'Grey.' When I asked why, he said, 'It just felt like a Grey.'"
"Taking 'Great' from Great Demon Spider to make Grey… I see. When I heard a human man was living in the Land of Death—specifically the Pure Magic Forest—I doubted my ears. But if this is true, this Tojo might be quite the figure…"
Unbeknownst to Yukiya, the Demon King's estimation of him rises.
Surviving in a place with magical energy so dense only a grand sorcerer could endure.
And taming a Great Demon Spider, one of the Seven Calamity Beasts. Even the Demon King has to acknowledge Yukiya's prowess.
"So, how is the Great Demon Spider behaving? Should we eliminate it now?"
"No… Based on its behavior, we can observe it for now. It's attached to Yukiya-sama and obediently follows his every word. Exposure to Yukiya-sama's kindness before any evil could sprout may have sparked a small change."
"I see… Very well. Thank you for the report."
"Yes. And one more thing to report, Demon King…"
"…? What is it? Speak."
Though the Demon King grants permission, Filmera hesitates, faltering slightly.
Puzzled, the Demon King tilts her head. But Filmera, still seemingly conflicted, hesitates to speak.
The Demon King, unused to seeing Filmera so fidgety, braces for something unusual.
But before the Demon King can prepare, Filmera steels herself and slowly raises her face.
"W-Well… I, um, I've fallen in love with Yukiya-sama, or rather… something like that…!"
"Hm, love—Wait, what did you say?"
"I-I mean! I've… fallen for Yukiya-sama…!"
The moment she admits her feelings for Yukiya, Filmera's face flushes red, and she covers it with her hands, looking down.
"We've only known each other for two days, but Yukiya-sama is a mysterious person who treats even someone like me kindly. He called my body lovely, beautiful, and charming…!"
"W-What!? Is that true!?"
"Yes…! Yukiya-sama didn't feel nauseous or ill when he saw or touched me. On the contrary, he reached out to help when I nearly fell, and when I broke down crying, he touched my shoulder to encourage me…! Even now, I can feel his warmth on my shoulder…!"
"N-No way…!? A human… a human man, unfazed before a demon…!"
The Demon King rises unconsciously, listening intently to Filmera's words.
A human remaining calm before a demon. Moreover, actively touching a demon's body.
That alone is more than enough to shake the Demon King.
"…I secretly used [Truth-Seeking Eye] on Yukiya-sama. But there was no falsehood in his words…! This is the first time in my life. In 321 years, I've fallen in love for the first time…!"
Panting heavily, Filmera's face is flushed, her body trembling, as she dreamily recalls her time with Yukiya.
"W-Wait a moment! Filmera, have you ever removed your mask and hood in front of this Tojo!?"
"N-No, not yet…"
"Then don't let your guard down! If he sees your true form without the mask and hood, he might react like other humans!"
"! Th-That's… true, but…"
Filmera's expression darkens, her voice lowering.
Her face reflects despair.
The fear of Yukiya rejecting her grips her heart, and she clutches her chest, on the verge of tears.
Normally, Filmera would have crumbled here.
But this time, she's different. Usually, imagining rejection or denial would break her spirit, leaving her to soak her pillow with tears.
Yet now, her swelling emotions refuse to be contained.
"…He might reject me. He might despise me. Even so… I want to keep loving Yukiya-sama…!"
"! Filmera…"
"I'll try my hardest. I'll make Yukiya-sama turn to me, no matter what…!"
A firm resolve shines in Filmera's raised eyes.
For Filmera, scorned and denied by humans for centuries, this is a first.
Hiding her face with a mask, concealing her ears—two to three times longer than a human's—with a hood, living while suppressing every demonic trait. Her unwavering determination borders on obsession.
The Demon King, struck by her fervor, lets out a small chuckle.
"…Filmera, you're serious, aren't you?"
"Yes. No matter the outcome… I'll strive to have no regrets. Now, Demon King, I'd like to study something in the library, so I'll take my leave for today."
Kneeling and bowing to the Demon King, Filmera swiftly opens a teleportation gate and disappears.
Seeing her off, the Demon King, seated on the throne, gazes at the blue sky through the glass wall behind.
"…Heh. To make the earnest, rigid Filmera this emotional… This Tojo is quite something."
A red moon in the blue sky reflects in the Demon King's eyes.
The meeting of Filmera and Yukiya might bridge the vast divide between humans and demons. With that premonition, the Demon King's heart stirs with excitement.