"As for helping you establish an alliance, we’re more than willing to assist… however," Zilliane paused.

  "We have a request."

  ‘…As expected, huh?’ Misako had already anticipated this.

  She had no real e to the demon race or even the elves and others, so hoping for their unditional help was wishful thinking. She had entered a simir situation with the elves earlier.

  However, uhe elves, where Noelle's terms were pre-defined, Zilliane’s dition was left for her to decide, adding a yer of uainty.

  "…What is the request?" Misako asked.

  "Simple. Alloortion of weaker demons to join this allianot the entire demon race, just a segment of the less powerful oo your existing demons."

  "…That's it?"

  "That's it."

  The demon race was a broad term enpassing many species, such as trolls and succubi then the yokai, with varying levels of power. Some were immensely strong, while others were signifitly weaker.

  As Demon King, Zilliane had to sider the overall welfare of the demon race. Given their current state of development, the weaker groups ofte overlooked.

  "…That’s entirely acceptable. My i from the start was to unite all marginalized groups. Demihumans, magical creatures, demons—they’re just the rgest categories," Misako replied.

  Misako’s vision was t together all disadvantaged races: whether demihumans, magical beings, weaker demons, or ostracized undead. She uood the strength of numbers and the synergy of diverse abilities. Suity could fe araordinary force capable of preventing the tragedies she had long witnessed but been powerless to stop.

  "Then it’s settled. As Demon King, I hereby pledge to assist in f this alliance," Zilliane decred.

  "Thank you, King of Demons," Misako replied.

  pared to her experieh the elves, the iations with the demons were notably smoother. The Demon King’s itment was secured almost immediately.

  "…What’s on yenda?" Zilliane inquired.

  "At the moment, nothing specific. The step depends on a response from my people," Misako expined.

  When she first ceived the alliance, she had already used uniagic to tact Shirone. However, given the Abyss’s unique spatial properties, reag her would take time. Traveling directly to the Abyss wasn’t impossible but would e valuable time, and evehe message would likely arrive before they did.

  "If that’s the case, would you like to tour our facilities?" Lucilliane suddenly suggested, brimming with excitement.

  "I agree," Zilliane added. "The demon race’s development might provide valuable insights for your alliance. Besides, Lucilliane’s iions are quite fasating."

  "Then we’d be hoo accept," Misako replied.

  "Great! Follow me!" Lucilliane excimed.

  ...

  Following Lucilliahrough corridors and the rooms they had first teleported into, the group eventually arrived at a pitch-bck chamber.

  "Ahem! Allow me to introduce the pinnaagitegineering—the Magitech Mech!" Lucilliane announced, pulling a lever that resembled something straight out of a mad stist’s ir. Instantly, the room was flooded with light.

  The space was revealed to be an expansive factory floor. At its ter stood a colossal humanoid mae. Its body was white armor ated with bd blue lines. Mounted on its shoulders were structures resembling both ons and wings. Its wrists blowing blue-white bde-like extensions remi of wrist bdes, albeit reversed in design. Two symmetrical horns jutted backward from its head.

  On closer iion, it became apparent that this mech bore simirities to the armor Lucilliane had been wearing earlier—like a scaled-down, refined version.

  "This is the ‘White Crow.’ Although it’s been upgraded and iterated over the years, I’ve kept its inal name," Lucilliane said, gazing at the mae with a nostalgic expression.

  "…Um, what exactly is a ‘Magitech Mech’?" Farkonia asked, half-raising her hand as she recovered from the initial awe of the mae’s appearance.

  "It’s the pinnaagitegineering. The prototype was initially developed by my mentor using knowledge exged with a nation allegedly founded by self-procimed ‘Remnants of the Age of Glory’—a group of ‘travelers.’ After numerous modifications, we achieved this final version. This is the seagitech Mech ever built in this world," Lucilliane expined.

  "‘Travelers’? Not reinators?" Farkonia mused. In this world, most individuals from other realms arrived after dying in their inal world and being reinated. The term "travelers" was o her.

  "Wow, so cool!" Veridith excimed, her awe pin as she admired the mech.

  "Right? It’s my pride and joy!" Lucilliane beamed.

  "The armor you were wearing earlier was already impressive, but this is on another level! Even if it’s less ‘pure,’ it doesn’t diminish how incredible it looks," Veridith added enthusiastically.

  "‘Pure’? What do you mean by that?" Lucilliane asked, puzzled. Despite losing her past life’s memories, she retaiensive knowledge, but the term "pure" didn’t ring a bell.

  "Puu-puu!"

  "Hm? Even you agree, Pupu?"

  Lucilliauro the small creature, which chimed in agreement, despite g disible eyes.

  "By the way, what exactly is this little guy? My ss couldn’t identify it," Lucilliane asked curiously.

  "Pupu is just Pupu!" Veridith replied with a grin.

  "Puu!"

  "…Fair enough," Lucilliane ceded, realizing she wouldn’t get a clearer answer. However, her curiosity lingered more on the golden-haired girl beside Veridith, whose presence was oddly unreadable to her sers.

  Unlike Pupu, who at least registered as an unknown anism, this girl simply didn’t appear—almost as if she were part of the background. If not for being visible to the naked eye, the instruments would have detected nothing.

  Why didn’t Lucilliane approach her? Her expression siering the factory suggested she was moments away from pung someone. Lucilliane wasn’t about to take that risk.

  "Uh… Anyway! Would you like to test out the White Crow?" Lucilliane quickly diverted.

  "Really? Yes, please!" Veridith eagerly responded.