You will pay...
You will pay!
That demon...
I swear you will pay for this!
Come to me.
Come to me! Please!
Is it you who dares to summon me from such a lowly station?
If you'll grant my wish, I don't care if you're a demon!
You can have my soul! So, please...
Make them...
Very well.
Granting your wish will give me something to do, at least.
Thank you... And my payment...
Indeed. Our contract is complete.
Your emotions tasted sublime.
For that reason, I will do you a great service.
That said,
this payment will only last three days, at most.
To make up for the rest... let's see...
I suppose I'll help myself to your prey.
Much time has passed since I came to the living world.
I shall enjoy it to the fullest.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Episode 24: Black and the Mask
The Kingdom of Filtwood.
This nation borders the Great Forest of Jura,
and Shizu paid a visit there, after receiving an urgent request.
The request was to defeat a demon that had been revived.
Welcome to Filtwood Castle.
It's a real honor
to meet the famous Conqueror of Flames!
Right this way.
I'll show you to the reception hall.
Shizue Izawa!
The Conqueror of Flames!
Now, this is reassuring.
Wow... They've gathered up quite a few.
Hey!
If it isn't Shizu!
Good to see you again, Cougar-san.
You took on this request, too, huh?
It was a request from the nation.
Man, you're as serious as ever!
You could've just come up with some random reason to ditch it.
Well, you're here, too, aren't you?
Hey, I'm just here for the pay.
But...
I sorta regret it now.
Apparently, at least ten really skilled adventurers have died already.
I see.
But the arrival of the champion is gonna give hope to everyone!
You're exaggerating.
That's the minister.
Adventurers, I bring unfortunate news.
Our champions, the two Silver Wings, have passed on.
What?!
Those two?!
Are you serious?
It appears their bodies were devoured with no trace left behind.
The request given to you is to defeat the resurrected demon.
This account has been found in a century-old text.
The champion Orthos, huh?
But all this tells us
is that the demon was successfully sealed away by the knight Orthos.
It does not mention how he sealed him.
This is why we wish to rely on all of your strengths.
There's not enough info on the enemy!
Are you telling us to go die?!
The Silver Wings were heroes famous enough to have titles!
If they failed, there aren't enough lives between all of us to survive this!
I agree.
Sorry, but this one's too dangerous. I'm out.
Wait!
We need the help of all of you to defeat this demon!
Shut up!
Oh, man...
Please, calm down!
In truth, the one thing we do know is what the demon is after.
What do you mean?
There are remains laid to rest in the castle's underground reception hall.
Those remains are the very body of that demon,
and his objective is to recover it and complete his resurrection.
The demon's...
...remains?
Ah! That must be the renowned Shizue Izawa!
I will gladly answer any question you ask.
If this demon drove the kingdom to the brink of ruin
and defeated the two Silver Wings,
he may be a superior demon, an Archdemon.
Yes...
That brings me to my question.
Does this demon have a name?
Monsters gain far greater power when they are granted names.
This was common knowledge among all capable adventurers.
No, there are no accounts indicating that the demon had a name.
If he has no name, he can't be an Archdemon.
But it's hard to imagine the Silver Wings losing otherwise.
So your intent was to bring us all here to wait for the demon to arrive?
Indeed.
Now that the Silver Wings have fallen,
this strategy is our only hope.
He says that, but he seems to see us as enemies.
Screw that! I have no obligation to serve this nation!
I'm outta here!
He killed him!
What's the meaning of this?!
Hey! What are you thinking?!
Quiet! Before you curse me, take a good look at this man!
What is this?!
What's going on?
A lesser demon...
You see that? We have isolated all of you in this location
because some of you may have been possessed by demons, like he was.
It would behoove you all to do as we say and cooperate.
Try anything funny, and you can expect to be seen as a demon and cut down.
This has turned ugly.
This looks bad. These guys are panicking.
Makes sense, if it's possible someone could be possessed.
That would include you and me, Shizu.
True.
So he wants us to find out ourselves which among us are the demons?
Who's this guy?
No idea. Never seen him before.
Shizu...
Yes. He's very powerful.
He seems to be a mage, but he shows no weaknesses.
Unbelievable... I didn't even sense his presence before.
By making us believe there was a demon here,
you hoped it wouldn't build cooperation among all of us, didn't you?
What are you saying?
Oh, it just seemed that this request would be completed far more easily than expected.
I couldn't help but laugh.
Captain of the knights...
You said that if we tried anything funny, we'd be seen as demons and cut down, right?
So, what will it be?
I have no intention of obeying you people,
nor do I have any intention of playing along with this charade.
Charade, you say?
Yes.
It was you who summoned the lesser demon.
Are you trying to mock me?!
You may intend to gloss over it,
but I must say, your efforts are pathetic.
You dare defy the principles of this nation?!
Oh, no. It saves me a great deal of work, so I'm all for it.
Huh?
The request was to defeat a revived demon,
but there is no restriction saying the demon is the only one we can kill.
This nation's principle seems to be much the same.
I've simply determined that there's no reason I should be the only one rebuked.
What do you...
Do you intend to slaughter everyone here to find the demon?
Correct.
I am Shizu.
Who... are you?
You can call me... Kuro.
It was an imitation name given to me by an old acquaintance.
Kuro...
I cannot tolerate what you're doing.
In that case, you shall be the first one I kill.
Flames have no effect on me.
I see... A superior spirit...
And it even identifies with you.
That will be a slight hassle, but no real problem.
I shall play with you for a bit.
Don't underestimate me.
W-Wow...
That's the power of the champion who reigns at the top?
Shizu...
Just who are you?
Should one who is about to die be concerned with that?
Knowing will only bring you despair...
If you knew at all, that is!
Of course, who I am is no business of yours.
True, it isn't.
But letting you run free would be far too dangerous.
So I'm sorry, but I'm about to get serious!
Interesting.
That lax attitude will be what kills you.
I'm ending this now!
Inferno Flame!
Seriously?!
Excellent.
How remarkable that a mere human is capable of using Ifrit's power at this level.
It has been some time since I truly felt that I was fighting, as I do now.
So you're a demon... It's hard to believe.
He's unharmed after taking those flames head-on?
No, I must correct you.
I am not unharmed. I did feel a bit of pain.
That is exactly what makes this fight so fun.
Now, let's put an end to this.
What?!
Impossible... That mask...
That time compression... Is it... infinity?
Infinity?!
I can only assume that your mask surpasses time.
To think there's a human who can use such an item...
How intriguing!
Very well. That will be enough for today.
Awesome!
That's our Conqueror of Flames!
Way to go!
We have no intention whatsoever of neglecting you adventurers.
We only need to know the demon's identity.
Thank goodness he withdrew.
His strength... He was holding back against me.
And...
Oh, it just seemed that my request would be completed far more easily than expected.
Request? Who could employ such a powerful demon?
Unbelievable.
Demon Lord Leon told me once
of demons who were known as the progenitors.
These demons are quite heretical, making them rather troublesome.
In place of names, each of them is referred to by their signature color.
The Red Progenitor, Rouge...
The White Progenitor, Blanc...
And the Black Progenitor, Noir.
Black... Noir...
It couldn't be.
Such a being wouldn't come here.
Come in.
Pardon the intrusion. His Majesty wishes to speak with you.
Would you accompany me?
All right.
You were brilliant in that fight earlier.
That demon was so frightened of you that he—
I was lucky to survive.
That demon was stronger than me.
Please, there's no need to be modest.
It is regrettable that he managed to escape,
but with you here, we have nothing to fear!
Underground? Is this where the demon's remains are?
This knight...
I didn't see him in the reception hall.
So how did he know about my fight with the demon?
The minister and...
the king?
Thank you for coming, Shizu.
As king, I am grateful that you have offered your life for this nation.
What's the meaning of this?
You are rather slow to catch on, aren't you?
You must be exhausted after your battle earlier.
This is why we need to sacrifice you while we still can.
I see... You were in collusion from the start.
Precisely. My name is Orthos.
The Imperial Knight hailed as a champion, Orthos...
So that's it.
You were never sealed away at all.
You were a demon, an enemy of mankind.
I am the ruler of this land, as well.
You meant to gather all the best adventurers, eliminate them,
and pass them off as demons...
Then you, the true demon, would gain even more power.
The Kingdom of Filtwood is ruled by demons,
and the king is merely their puppet.
I watched through the minister's eyes.
That demon was powerful, but he disappointed me, in the end.
What intrigues me more is your mask.
It seems to have significant value.
That makes it suitable for me to own.
I will suck out your blood, devour your flesh,
and make your power my own.
Aren't you glad?
Be serious.
Don't be a fool! Your magic hasn't even recovered.
And you think you can defeat me?
I have to face him without any chance to prepare...
But I have no choice!
Ah, you still have that much strength left?
If you could injure me, you must be stronger than the Silver Wings.
So it was you!
Indeed, though a lapse in my attention allowed them to escape.
But you will not get away.
Did you know that there are ranks among demons?
I am of the legendary class, a Greater Demon General...
that is, an Archdemon!
Understand now? As a man-made hero,
the voices of this nation's people give me power.
That power gave me a name,
allowing me to become a named being on my own.
Just like that supreme being who reigns at the top...
The top?
There is no need for you to know.
Even one hailed as a champion has no more power than this?!
What's the matter? Not going to unify with Ifrit?
That would make you a little stronger.
I'm out of magic, but Ifrit still has strength.
If I let it rampage, it should be enough to defeat even an Archdemon!
Now, we can't have that.
How can one who caused me pain die at the hands of this weakling?
You're...
It is my policy to keep my promises.
Wh-What is...
Impossible! Our knights are renowned for their unrivaled strength!
You call it "unrivaled strength" just because they can kill a mere lesser demon?
Your standards for strength are far too low.
You are indeed strong, but you are no match for us!
After the Conqueror of Flames, you'll be next!
Just wait there—
I-It can't be! We have the protection of a greater demon!
Stop squealing, trash.
I never really thought he'd just escaped,
but I had no idea he was hunting down demons disguised as humans...
Just because you defeated our puppets,
do you think you can defeat me, an Archdemon?
A lower demon like you can't—
Who are you calling "lower"?
For a dependent of Red, you are overconfident.
That's why you can't judge how powerful your opponents are.
I-Impossible!
You... You are...
You have disgraced yourself by aligning with these demons.
You don't deserve to live.
I will destroy your very soul so that you can never be revived!
No... No!
All the demons dwelling in the Kingdom of Filtwood were purged.
The deaths of the king and minister were proclaimed the work of the demon named Black,
and the records indicated that Shizu defeated Black.
Well, if we can keep our stories straight,
I will refrain from targeting you.
Who the heck was that "Black" guy, anyway?
I think we're better off not knowing.
I guess. Sometimes ignorance is bliss in this world.
Well, I'm heading out. Take care of yourself.
I will. Until we meet again.
Well, then...
I'm sure someone will do something about that demon someday.
And so, time passed...
That mask showed up again... So it's true.
That slime is...
That being truly is...
Thus, silent and one-sided though it was,
Rimuru and Black had their fateful first encounter.
Black would later be summoned by Rimuru
and receive a name:
"Diablo."
Next time, "Tales: Veldora's Journal."
Tales: Veldora's Journal