INTERLUDE: A PRELUDE

—The Unsolvable Jigsaw Puzzle and Seal of the Evil God—

I arrived at the playground that I frequently visit.

Squatting before the tombstone was…

"What a big goblin!"

"…Hey, brat, don't compare me to a goblin."

"I'm not a brat. I'm Komekko."

"Is it? …Hey, Komekko, what are you doing here? This is the tomb where the other half of the evil god, Lady Wolbach, was sealed. Didn't your family members tell you to avoid this place?"

"They did, but nee-chan said that Crimson Demons should not yield to unreasonable demands."

"…Is, is that so? How troublesome. To think that I have no choice but to eliminate such a brat…"

Sprouting a pair of bat wings, huge and black, the not-goblin lowered its shoulders.

"I'm not a brat, I'm Komekko. Not-a-goblin guy, what are you doing here?"

"Not-a-goblin guy… Hey, brat, look closely! I have huge horns and wings, which signify evil! And no goblin could hope to compete with the sheer musculature of my body! I am the aide of the evil god Lady Wolbach. I'm the greater Devil Lord Hoost. Remember it!"

"So cool!"

Looking at Hoost with his outstretched wings, I raised my arms and cheered.

"Oh, oooh, is it… You have good taste. Normally, I have to silence any witness, but I will let you go as an exception. But you must not tell anyone about me. Everything that happens here must be kept a secret. This is a special treatment, so be grateful!"

"Thank you very much."

Although I didn't know what was going on, I thanked him anyway. I sat in front of Hoost, and patted on his big, hard leg. "Pat! Pat! Pat!"

"What a strange brat… Never mind, I have important things to do. Don't disturb me, understand?"

Hoost turned his face away, and fiddled with something before the tombstone… Ah!

"That's my puzzle!"

"Eh? This is not yours. This is a precious item that can break the seal of Lady Wolbach… Hey, hey, hey, you…!"

I put the puzzle together. Hoost was surprised for some reason.

"You are pretty good! I've been hiding from the villagers for a few months and I still couldn't solve this thing… Alright, I think I can take it from here! Hey, give it to me!"

"Ah! Hoost snatched them away!"

"Eheh, I don't care what you say. Also, don't call me by my name directly, you little brat. You should call me Lord Hoost! Now, Lady Wolbach can fully recover her power. Hereafter, she can rampage as before… Uh, what is this, strange…"

After snatching away the puzzle pieces, Hoost attempted to fit the pieces on the pedestal before the tombstone, but failed repeatedly. Finally, he sagged his shoulders, and looked at me.

"…Hey, Komekko, I will make a special exception to let you play with this puzzle. You may continue."

"I'm hungry, so I don't want to play puzzle now. Lord Hoost, take your time with it."

"...Although I'm ashamed to say this, but you can stop calling me Lord Hoost if you want. I will find food for you, so you help me solve the puzzle, Komekko."

"..."

"...Please, Komekko."

"I understand."

Hearing my reply, Hoost unwillingly beat his wings to fly off somewhere.

I watched him fly off, then picked up the puzzle pieces once more—