Sumire Makino was an Otherworlder.
She had been summoned alongside her father to the nation of Angelus. Or, as its people preferred to call it, the Heavenly Nation of Angels.
If she was being honest, the name still sounded strange to her.
Apparently, angels were real in this world. Not merely figures from scripture or mythology, but actual beings that existed somewhere beyond the mortal realm.
The people of Angelus revered them completely.
They worshipped angels with an almost overwhelming devotion, offering prayers to them daily and treating them as divine beings worthy of absolute faith.
Sumire was fairly religious herself, largely because of her father. Even so, she was reasonably certain that angels were supposed to be servants of God rather than gods themselves.
Then again, this was another world. Perhaps things worked differently here.
Her father certainly seemed to think so. In fact, he could not have asked for a more accommodating place to arrive.
The moment he learned how deeply the people revered heavenly beings, he simply continued doing what he had been doing back on Earth.
Proclaiming himself a god.
To this day, Sumire still wasn't entirely sure when he had first convinced himself of that idea.
Somehow, over the years, he had managed to gather followers back on Earth who genuinely believed him.
Now, in another world entirely, he had somehow convinced an entire nation as well.
The citizens of Angelus had embraced him wholeheartedly.
They crowned him king.
And shortly afterward, he abandoned his old name altogether and adopted the name of the nation itself.
King Angelus. It was exactly the sort of thing her father would do.
One would assume that made Sumire a princess.
It did not.
She was Angelus's daughter. She was not the Princess of Angelus. The distinction was important.
Sumire adjusted the straps of her armor before fastening the final buckle across her chest.
Beneath the armor she still wore her old high school uniform, and over both she pulled on her familiar jacket.
A sword rested against the wall beside her. Her shield leaned next to it.
The equipment looked strangely out of place in the room.
Then again, so did she.
A year ago, she had been an ordinary high school student.
Now she carried a sword, wore armor, and lived in a kingdom that worshipped angels while her father claimed to be one.
Her newest mission, as ordained by her father, the king and god of Angelus, was to deliver official correspondence to one of the smaller settlements scattered throughout the valley.
She had just sheathed her sword when she heard the sound of bells.
The alarm bells.
Usually they were only rung when some kind of emergency required the attention of the city guards.
Sumire paused. Then another bell rang. And another. "...That's probably not good."
Most people would have started running immediately.
Sumire instead walked over to the window. The city stretched out below. People were already spilling into the streets. Guards were moving toward their assigned posts. Several citizens were pointing toward the sky.
Toward the sky?
Sumire frowned. That was new.
Most emergencies came from the mountains surrounding Angelus.
Monsters. Bandits. Occasionally a magical beast that wandered too close to one of the settlements.
Very few problems came from above.
Curious, Sumire opened the window and leaned out.
The first thing she noticed was the crowd. The second thing she noticed was that almost everyone was staring in the same direction.
The third thing she noticed nearly made her fall out the window.
"Oh."
Two figures were descending from the heavens.
At least, that was the only reasonable description.
One possessed enormous white wings and a glowing halo floating above her head. The other had elegant wings of her own and seemed to command the air itself.
Even from this distance they were impossible to miss.
Sumire felt her strength surge a moment later, her eyes widening in shock as her unique skill [Overcomer] activated.
"Eh? But how? Are they really that powerful?"
Sumire had the unique skill [Overcomer], which permanently Increased the user's power the closer they are to death. It also granted her a high level form of regeneration.
Right now, looking at the two beings descending upon Angelus, her unique skill had considered her death nearby.
But why? Who were these two? Did they come to invade? Were they attacking? But weren't they angels? If so then what was going on?
A moment later, someone pounded on her door.
"Lady Sumire!"
The door swung open before she could answer. One of the palace attendants rushed inside.
"Lady Sumire, His Majesty requests your immediate presence."
Sumire couldn't stop the panic in her heart, now sincerely worried for her father.
If mysterious winged women were descending from the heavens, then her father was probably already halfway through preparing a welcoming ceremony.
Or declaring that they had come to worship him.
Possibly both.
"Right." She grabbed her shield from beside the wall. "I'm coming."
The palace was already in chaos by the time Sumire arrived.
Messengers hurried through the corridors carrying reports. Guards rushed past one another with unusual urgency. Priests and officials clustered together in small groups, speaking in hushed voices that somehow felt louder than shouting.
Everyone looked nervous. Which only made Sumire more nervous. She tightened her grip on her shield and continued forward.
The palace itself reflected the rest of Angelus. White stone walls. White pillars. White banners embroidered with silver wings.
Normally the sight was comforting. Today it felt strangely oppressive.
As she approached the throne hall, she could already hear her father's voice.
"...a revelation of the heavens!"
Sumire closed her eyes. Too late. The doors opened before she could prepare herself.
The throne room beyond was packed.
Ministers stood along the sides of the chamber. Knights lined the walls. Priests occupied nearly every available space.
At the far end sat King Angelus himself.
His golden robes practically shimmered beneath the sunlight pouring through the stained-glass windows.
A large pair of artificial wings had been attached to the back of his throne.
"Ah!" The king immediately pointed toward her. "My daughter arrives."
Several dozen pairs of eyes turned toward Sumire and she resisted the urge to hide behind her shield.
"Lady Sumire."
"Lady Sumire has arrived."
"His Majesty's daughter."
The whispers spread throughout the hall.
Sumire wished they wouldn't.
"Come, child!" Angelus spread his arms dramatically. "You arrive at a most historic moment."
Sumire slowly approached the throne. "What happened?" she asked quietly.
"What happened?" Her father repeated. "The heavens have answered our devotion."
That was not an answer.
"The alarm bells," Sumire clarified. "Why were they rung?"
"Because two heavenly beings have descended upon our nation."
That was also not particularly helpful. She already knew that part.
One of the ministers stepped forward. "Your Majesty." The elderly man bowed. "The latest reports have arrived."
Angelus nodded grandly. "Proceed."
The minister looked noticeably less enthusiastic than the king. "The two individuals have entered the valley."
Murmurs immediately spread throughout the chamber. "The scouts estimate they will arrive within the city shortly."
Another wave of whispers followed.
"Have they identified themselves?" Angelus asked.
"No, Your Majesty."
"Any demands?"
"None."
"Hostile actions?"
"None."
The minister hesitated.
"Then why does everyone look as though the world is ending?" Angelus asked.
The man looked genuinely pained. "Because one of them appears to be a Demon Lord."
Silence.
Even Sumire froze. A Demon Lord? That explained a great deal. Including why Overcomer had nearly jumped out of her skin.
Angelus blinked. Then he leaned back in his throne.
"Hm."
That was all. Just "Hm."
The entire court stared at him. "A Demon Lord, Your Majesty," the minister repeated carefully.
"Yes. I heard you."
The minister looked as though he wanted to say more. Instead he wisely chose not to.
Angelus rested his chin on one hand. "Do we know which one?"
The minister swallowed. "Our scouts believe she may be Queen Frey of Fulbrosia. No, it's definitely her."
This time the reaction was immediate. Several nobles paled. One priest nearly dropped a stack of documents.
Sumire suddenly wished she had left on her delivery mission before any of this happened.
Unfortunately, fate rarely cared about what people wished. Angelus slowly stood from his throne. The room immediately fell silent once more. Then the king smiled.
Sumire immediately became concerned.
"We shall welcome them."
The concern doubled.
"As honored guests."
Tripled.
"Prepare the reception hall."
Quadrupled.
"And inform the city."
The king raised both arms dramatically. "Today, Angelus shall receive visitors from the heavens themselves."
Sumire lowered her head into her hands. [Overcomer] surged again. Her heart skipped a beat. A pulse of warmth spread through her chest before racing into her limbs.
The floor beneath her feet cracked softly. For a moment, the magicules throughout the throne room seemed unusually clear. Sharper. Closer. Then the sensation vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and if Sumire ever noticed, she didn't show it, too consumed by panic.
[xxx]
Frey observed the humans as they gathered.
Along the walls, guards hurried to their positions before ultimately seeming to think better of it.
She couldn't blame them. No fortress this small was stopping a Demon Lord. Not that she had any intention of causing trouble.
The city gates opened before they even reached the ground. A delegation was already waiting.
Priests in white robes. Knights in polished armor. Several nervous-looking officials.
The moment Frey landed, every eye immediately shifted toward Kaede. Frey's eyebrow twitched. Of course they did.
"Welcome!" one of the priests exclaimed. His gaze never left Kaede's halo.
"Uh." Kaede waved awkwardly. "Hi."
The priest looked seconds away from collapsing from happiness.
Frey suddenly understood why Kaede had been reluctant to visit this place.
"We have been instructed to escort you to His Majesty immediately," another official said.
"That was quick," Kaede remarked.
The man looked confused. "You are visitors of great importance."
Frey exchanged a glance with Claire. The harpy looked equally unconvinced. Still, the invitation saved her the trouble of announcing herself. The group was escorted through the city.
As they passed, citizens gathered along the streets to watch. Many immediately dropped to one knee when they saw Kaede.
Some openly prayed. Others simply stared.
Kaede's expression grew increasingly uncomfortable with every passing minute. "I hate this already."
"You have only yourself to blame," Frey replied.
"What did I do?"
"You look like that."
The Demon Lord looked down at herself. "Fair."
Before long, they arrived at the largest structure within the city. A palace of white stone situated near the center of Angelus.
The doors opened before they even reached them.
She immediately noticed that the priests within were different from the ones outside. For one, they were each carrying a large red box slung over their backs.
"Coffins?" Frey heard Kaede murmur, the dark haired Demon Lord looking over the priests. There were around fifty of them at first glance.
Experience told Frey to expect more of them hidden nearby. At the end of the large space stood a short elderly man in white robes. He was flanked by a young girl on his right side.
The elderly man spread his arms as they approached. "Welcome to Angelus." His smile was calm. Confident.
Far more confident than most rulers would be standing before two Demon Lords. She filed that observation away for later.
"I am Angelus, ruler of this nation." His gaze shifted toward her. "Queen Frey of Fulbrosia."
At least he knew who she was.
"I have heard much about your kingdom."
"As I have yours," Frey replied. That was technically true. She had learned of Angelus less than a day ago.
The king laughed. "Then I suspect your information is considerably more complete than mine. Angelus has kept its borders closed for many years."
His eyes drifted briefly toward Kaede. "As for your companion, I confess I know very little of Maple Tree."
Kaede awkwardly waved. "Hi."
Frey stepped forward slightly. "Regardless, there is a matter that should be addressed."
The throne room quieted.
"Angelus exists within territory claimed by Fulbrosia."
Several ministers visibly stiffened.
Frey continued. "As such, your nation falls beneath my protection."
The king nodded knowingly. "So this is how Demon Lords conduct diplomacy."
Frey's smile became fractionally thinner.
The man then turned away from her entirely. His attention settled upon Kaede. "Though I confess there is one thing I do not understand."
Kaede blinked. "Hm?"
Angelus gestured toward Frey. "Why is a god traveling beside a Demon Lord?"
Frey felt a sudden urge to laugh. She suppressed it immediately. The image that appeared in her mind was simply too amusing.
The realization.
The inevitable moment when this man discovered exactly who he was speaking to.
Beside her, Kaede stared. Then her expression darkened. "Oh."
The Demon Lord crossed her arms. "Oh, now I'm annoyed."
Angelus appeared confused.
Kaede pointed directly at Frey. "First of all, Frey's my close friend."
Frey froze.
Several priests gasped.
Claire looked moments away from choking.
Kaede either didn't notice or didn't care. "Second, she's the reason we're here."
The king frowned. "But surely..."
"And third." Holy energy rippled slightly around the Demon Lord, and she smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. "You're being really rude."
Angelus looked genuinely bewildered. Then he scoffed. "A god has no need to stand beneath the protection of a Demon."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Now Frey was getting irritated.