The Hero’s Mentor is a Demon (King) Witch

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Whether it’s Emperor Lucius or the Lucius Kingdom, it doesn’t really matter.

In the end, what matters is that we have to ‘rescue the main body,’ so we decided to move quickly.

“We’ll split up. There are three places we need to go, so we’ll divide our strength into three.”

I gathered Lucius’s party and Liriez, pointing to the map.

“There are three places we need to go. The submerged city in the south. The city center in the east. The underground gorge in the west. So I’ve made the line-up.”

I first pointed to the west, the underground gorge.

“This is where Liriez Cesarcross, the head of the Holy Knight Order, will go. Belerze and Borabel will be her aides.”

It’s strange for anyone to ask if that’s too little strength.

A hero who’s completed the awakening of the Spirit Device.

And with a witch’s clone backing her up, it’s not odd to say that’s overkill no matter what opponent appears.

“If needed, be prepared to use the Spirit Device.”

“Of course, my Witch. I will be ready.”

Fortunately, Liriez accepted my proposal without much pressure.

While the line-up was basically predetermined and now just being announced, Liriez was willing to go west.

– If I send her alone, she’ll definitely refuse, right?

– Let’s send Borabel with her. And don’t send anyone else. Just the two of them.

– But will Liriez really go along with that?

– Absolutely.

“I can leave right now.”

As expected, Liriez’s enthusiasm was sky-high.

I felt a bit sorry for Belerze, who would be solely responsible for Liriez, but that’s the role given to Belerze right now.

“Thank you for your support, my Witch.”

“Yeah. I’m the one who should be grateful.”

At least it’s much better than the rest of us who have to be on guard around Lucius, suffering in silence.

“And for the east, here’s how it will go.”

I pointed directly to each individual heading east.

“Parangbel, Rosmas, Droniel, Yan. That’s five people.”

“…But that’s four people?”

Rosmas raised a hand in panic, feeling uneasy about the numbers.

“Four people, yes. Four women.”

I understand.

It’s concerning if only women go.

To be precise, it’s ‘concerning that it’s a party without Lucius.’

“The fifth member is Lucius.”

I placed Lucius in the center of the continent.

Lucius’s name remains central, but among those heading east, Lucius is included.

“What’s the difference?”

“It’s simple. Lucius is left in reserve to handle situations on either side at any time. We draw these three locations into a triangle, and he waits at the center of this triangle, ready to fly using the Wind Spirit Device.”

In other words, a five-minute standby team.

No matter what threat appears, Lucius will jump on the Spirit Device and respond immediately.

“First, we’ll place priority on the east. Liriez can defeat any enemy using the Spirit Device, and of course…”

I copied Lucius’s name with magic and sent it east.

“It’s not just going with Parangbel and you guys. Lucius will send a clone here, so don’t worry too much. This should be sufficient strength, right?”

“A clone…”

One witch and three heroines from the hero party.

And one clone of Lucius created using the power of the Holy Sword.

“No, that means we should send seven people to the east. Lucius, do you have the capacity to send a few more clones east?”

“Absolutely. Shall I send three more?”

“No, I think two will be enough. Each should have one clone to protect them. By the way, how about making clones using the power of the Holy Sword?”

Just like when he created Marine, Lucius used the Holy Wind Sword as the main and infused the powers of other Holy Swords to create the clones.

One special point is…

“Even if their faces look similar, their hair colors will be different, so they shouldn’t draw too much attention. You three, decide on Lucius’s clones.”

“Wait a minute. Then what about the main body?”

“It’s in the center.”

I pointed to the Bride Ship.

“The main body will continue searching the entire continent from the ship’s command room. The Pope’s information is certainly suspicious, but the real witch could appear from some unexpected place, right?”

For instance, from somewhere in the system.

“There’s also a chance that it could be discarded somewhere with its hair and eye colors changed and without memories. As you all know, when the main body runs out of mana, it’s pretty much just a corpse.”

It’s a well-known secret, but the main body is a bit concerning.

“I thought it was a cold corpse, but perhaps it’s been in a vegetative state with its magic minimized, sealing itself off.”

Since we don’t know where the main body is, we can’t make any reckless judgments.

“If just one of the clones makes contact with the main body, we can restore it right away. As you can see, the clones are filled with mana right now.”

Thanks to Lucius, the mana is actually overflowing.

Boralbel is currently being taken care of by Liriez, and the other Bels are similar.

“Alright. So, any objections?”

“…What about Lucius?”

Droniel cautiously opened her mouth.

“Are you satisfied?”

“Are you curious whether Lucius’s opinion has been considered?”

The three maintained an awkward silence.

I understand.

Just as Lucius values the will of the witch’s main body, they also wish for a chance to spend more intimate time with the main body rather than the clone.

‘The person who’s really urgent surely is the one in a hurry, right?’

I need to find the main body.

But those three don’t necessarily need to.

After all, talking about romantic relations is something even a clone like me can handle without much issue.

Perhaps they even secretly hope that the main body never shows up.

Still.

‘Sorry, but Lucius has decision-making issues.’

“I suggested we do it that way.”

“Lucius?”

“Who knows? A strange Demon King might suddenly pop up somewhere else. If the Master were to be discovered there, I would want to dash over immediately.”

As always, a guide is needed for the hero party.

“…Is that not alright?”

Lucius made a request towards the three.

With eyes that looked as pitiful as a neglected puppy, he lowered his head, and the three women exchanged uncomfortable glances at Lucius.

“…I guess we have no choice. Understood. Then we’ll also prepare.”

As Yan seemed unable to hold back whatever she had to say, she stepped outside, followed promptly by Rosmas and Droniel.

Clunk.

The door closed, and Lucius slowly sat down, closing his eyes.

“…Hoo.”

Lucius let out a deep sigh for a moment.

“Master.”

And then.

“I’ll take three with me and go for a breeze on the Bride Ship for about three hours, so please be ready.”

“…Okay.”

As expected of Lucius.

As the party leader, he knows better than anyone the best way to manage the ‘hate’ of the party members.

“Three hours? What are you planning to do, Lucius?”

“Liriez should be just fine in three hours. No, if we move using the Spirit Device, we can do it while riding on it.”

“What are you saying! To do it on the sacred Spirit Device, I’ve never had such shameless thoughts!”

“…Well, if that’s the case.”

Rustle.

Lucius vanished in an instant.

Before the traces of the Golden Wind had fully dissipated, the screams of women rang out outside: ‘Kyaaaa!’

“Liriez. We’ll launch sharp at the three-hour mark, so let’s head out right away. You can set out early if you want.”

“Then.”

Liriez grabbed my hand along with Borabel’s.

“Excuse me.”

“Huh? Wait a minute! Shouldn’t we hold a meeting first?”

Belerze’s eyes started to waver.

We leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear.

“Lucius said he didn’t need you.”

“What? What did you just say!!”

“Just kidding.”

“Ugh, ugh…!”

Belerze’s eyes began to brim with tears.

“Don’t say such malicious jokes…! Especially between us!”

“Sorry. Your reaction was just too funny.”

“We’re starting to joke around like this, huh?”

Maybe it’s because of the Holy Water Sword filling me up with mana, but I feel like I’m tearing up a lot today.

“Just you wait! I will find the main body and smash your hearts flat!”

Belerze left with Liriez.

Surely while riding the Spirit Device, they would be autonomously piloting it, while chatting excitedly about flower-viewing and lily-viewing.

“Then….”

“Shall we prepare?”

The beginning of the grand operation to search for the main body.

To be specific.

“Hey, Orange. The command room is mine. You take care of Lucius.”

“Excuse me? Shouldn’t the command room naturally be mine since I’m closer to red? You should be the one taking care of Lucius.”

“My heart flows with her knowledge. Therefore, of course, I should be the captain, right?”

“…Alright. I guess there’s no other way. It’s all about magic now.”

“Alright! I’ll make you regret it!”

Three hours.

The time to decide who among the Bels will sit in the captain’s seat and whether Lucius will be assigned exclusively.

“”DUEL!!””

With the shout of a sacred duel, we entered the mock magic battle.

*

At that moment.

“Magnificent.”

The Pope, with legs apart, gazed at the shimmering golden Spirit Device with a glimmer of desire.

“Using this Spirit Device, or rather the power of the Spirit Device, can we reach the sky, that place?”

The Pope’s gaze met the night sky.

Where the Blue Moon sparkled.

“…Moon Goddess, please wait a moment. I shall either ascend there.”

Flash.

“…Or you shall descend here.”

The Pope’s eyes sparkled with a divine power more intense than anyone else’s.