﻿\setgamedatatitle("Gluette_05")

\text
The fate that awaits the loser is either death or
submission―most of the time, it's one of those two.
\endtext

\text
Gluette was no exception after losing the battle; she was
bound with rope, rendered immobile, and brought before Caym.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Kuh!
\endtext

\text
Gluette was shoved from behind and tumbled onto the floor.

\endtext

\text
Even if she tried to get up on her own, with her arms
restrained, it was impossible.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Welcome, Gluette Auric.
\endtext

\text
Caym sat deeply on his throne, looking down at Gluette as
she lay on the floor.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
So... you're the Demon Lord, aren't you?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Indeed, I am the Demon Lord Caym―the leader of the Demon
Lord's army that defeated you.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Does the Demon Lord not know how to treat prisoners? As
expected of a barbarian.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
What do you intend to do with me, bringing me to a place
like this?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Heh heh heh. You're quite the spirited woman. Just as
Risbell said.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Risbell!? So she really is here!

\endtext

\text
Gluette looked around the throne room.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah, she's here. She should be coming soon. That's why I
brought you here.
\endtext

\text
As Caym said that, Risbell appeared from the corridor in the
back.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I've finished cleaning up after the battle. Did I keep you
waiting?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
No, not really. We haven't been waiting long.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Risbell-san!!
\endtext

\text
Gluette's shout echoed through the throne room.
\endtext

\text
Risbell turned around with a calm expression when her name
was called.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It's been a while, Gluette-san. What brings you all the way
to a place like this?

\endtext

\text
She pushed up her glasses and asked coldly.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Isn't it obvious!? I've come to set you straight!!

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Set me straight? What exactly do you mean by that?

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Everything!! I can't just stand by and watch you join the
Demon Lord's army and throw the world into chaos!

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Throw the world into chaos... huh. I suppose, from a noble
like you, we of the Demon Lord's army must seem heretical.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Isn't it obvious...? What are you talking about?

\endtext

\text
Risbell walked over to Gluette.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
W-What on earth are you thinking?

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Did you pursue magic just to start conflict?

\endtext

\text
Unable to understand what her former classmate was thinking,
Gluette was bewildered.
\endtext

\text
Until she met Risbell, a small part of her still hoped that
maybe it was someone else.

\endtext

\text
But now, actually meeting her again, that faint hope was
completely shattered.
\endtext

\text
Gluette couldn't hide her shock at seeing her old friend
actually siding with the Demon Lord's army.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
The world that's normal to you and the world that's normal
to me are different.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Risbell... san?
\endtext

\text
Looking down at Gluette, Risbell continued.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
This is a fight for those who are oppressed, to create a
place where they belong.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
For people like me, Diabolica, and all the races lumped
together as monsters...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No matter where we are in the world, we're feared as demons
or enemies and persecuted.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Before anyone even considers our beliefs or whether our
actions are right, we're denied just for being what we are.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Do you have any idea what that's like?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
―Have you ever been denied like that, just for being
yourself?
\endtext

\text
Risbell asked Gluette that question.
\endtext

\text
But Gluette, born as a noble who is respected by all,
couldn't answer.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Of course... you never could. You're human, and a noble at
that.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Everyone respects you. No one denies you.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Of course, I know you're respected not just because you're a
noble.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
You're a wonderful person. Talented, and very kind. I'm sure
you would have been admired even if you weren't a noble.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
But it's different for Diabolica. It's different for
monsters.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No matter how talented or kind we are, we're denied just for
being what we are.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
T-That's not true!!
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
I... I respect you!

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...
\endtext

\text
Risbell fell silent at Gluette's rebuttal.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
You were diligent, never shied away from hard work, and
always strove to better yourself. I... looked up to you.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
We didn't talk much, but even so, I was always watching you.


\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Before and after, there was never anyone else like you.
You're the one who taught me what jealousy feels like...

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
That's how much I... acknowledge you.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...I understand that you feel that way. Thank you.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
But not everyone in this world is like you.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Sadly, most people judge based on prejudice alone.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
That's why I, we, decided to create a place for ourselves,
by ourselves.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
We will make the world recognize our existence and
independence through battle.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
A-Are you... serious about this...?

\endtext

\text
Hearing Risbell's outrageous wish, Gluette frowned.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
You're causing conflict for a reason like that?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...A reason like that, huh. In the end, those who have will
never understand those who have not...

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Conflict... it's everywhere, isn't it?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
You just can't see it from up high.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
I can see it! Before I came here, a town was attacked by
bandits!

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
I heard that ever since your Demon Lord Army appeared, cases
like that have increased.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Everyone's so busy dealing with the Demon Lord Army, they
can't even keep the peace at home...
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Are you really going to keep fighting, even if it means
creating situations like that!?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Yes. In the end, it's just a matter of whose ego wins
out. Yours, mine, or someone else's.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
...So you're saying it's fine if someone else becomes a
sacrifice for your ego?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Say whatever you want.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
There are only so many people I can be kind to.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
If you want to save everyone, go ahead and do it yourself.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I will turn Hados and Nilt into countries where we can live
in peace.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
...I'm disappointed in you, Risbell-san.
\endtext

\text
With tears in her eyes, Gluette glared at Risbell.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...That's fine. Do as you please.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
It seems the conversation is over.
\endtext

\text
Sitting on the throne, Caym, who had been silently
listening, suddenly spoke up.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes. The rest is up to you, Caym-sama.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Heh heh heh, indeed. Then I'll do just that.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Ugh... What are you planning to do with me...?
\endtext

\text
Even as she said that, Gluette had already steeled herself.

\endtext

\text
She figured that, having lost to the Demon Lord's army and
been captured, her body would be toyed with...
\endtext

\text
But in the next moment, Gluette's eyes widened at Caym's
words.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Send this woman back to the surface.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
...Huh?
\endtext

\text
A monster, following orders, approached Gluette.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
W-wait!! What is the meaning of this!?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hm? What about it?
\endtext

\text
Caym leaned on his elbow, raising an eyebrow in annoyance.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
I-I heard the Demon Lord rapes captured women and then kills
them.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
So why are you sending me back to the surface... What is the
meaning of this!?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What? Do you want to die? If you're suicidal, go die
somewhere else on your own.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
That's not it! I'm asking why, with a woman right in front
of you, you won't lay a hand on her!

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Ah... so that's what you mean. I don't know what kind of
rumors you've heard, but I have a policy against killing
women.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
And besides, I already have Risbell. She's more than enough
for me.
\endtext

\text
Caym wrapped his arm around Risbell's waist and pulled her
close.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Wha...!?
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
W-what did you say...!?
\endtext

\text
Gluette, too, was shocked and confused by Caym's behavior,
so different from the rumors.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
So you can go home. Hey, hurry up and take her away.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
And while you're at it, it's a good opportunity. Go see
Hados with your own eyes.
\endtext

\text
Just like that, Gluette was taken away by the monster.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...More than enough, huh... Why did you tell such an obvious
lie?
\endtext

\text
In the now-empty throne room, Risbell said coldly.

\endtext

\text
Then she slapped Caym's hand away and slipped out of his
grasp.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
You see, a proud woman like that won't fall just from being
raped.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
There's a way to do it. A special method just for women like
her.
\endtext

\text
Caym said this with an amused smile.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Honestly, that's such a lecherous grin.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
She's a fine woman. No wonder you acknowledged her.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Seems like I'm the one who's been cast aside now.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Really? It looked to me like you two were getting along
pretty well.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
We are not.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Actually, as she herself said... we've barely even spoken to
each other.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Well, you can start now. She'll definitely be back here
again.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...I don't care.
\endtext

\text
Muttering that, Risbell left the throne room.

\endtext

\text
Caym watched her go, grinning to himself.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
...How very kind of you to even untie me. I do appreciate
it.
\endtext

\text
Gluette said this with heavy sarcasm to the monster that had
carried her here.
\endtext

\text
But the monsters ignored her and simply returned into the
labyrinth.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
...Monsters... Aren't they supposed to be more savage than
this...?
\endtext

\text
Until now, Gluette had always thought monsters were violent,
mindless creatures.
\endtext

\text
But the monsters that had brought her here hadn't done
anything bad to her along the way.

\endtext

\text
They just silently and dutifully followed Caym's orders.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
See the world, he says...?
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
I am seeing it. What does he think I am?

\endtext

\text
Caym's words made Gluette angry.
\endtext

\text
She had graduated from the magic academy and traveled to
hone her magic.
\endtext

\text
She'd listened to stories in many towns and saved many
villages.
\endtext

\text
And yet, was there still something she was missing?

\endtext

\text
Gluette scowled bitterly at the thought.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
(But... it's true. I know nothing about monsters. No, I
never even tried to learn.)

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
(The same goes for Diabolica. I've never liked rough people,
so maybe I unconsciously avoided looking at them.)

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
If that's how it is, then I'll see for myself.
Risbell-san... I'll find out just what kind of ideals you
believe in.
\endtext

\text
After saying that, Gluette ground her teeth in frustration.

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
Even so... this is infuriating!
\endtext

\text
Contrary to the rumors, Caym hadn't raped Gluette and had
simply sent her back to the surface.
\endtext

\text
The implication that she wasn't attractive enough to be
raped made Gluette furious.
\endtext

\text("Gluette")
So... you're saying Risbell-san is a better woman than me?

\endtext

\text("Gluette")
I won't forgive you for this, Demon Lord Caym! Next time we
meet, I'll definitely defeat you with my own hands!!

\endtext

\text
Gluette, her pride wounded in more ways than one, swore
revenge.
\endtext