I am Evyna- well, that's the name Lady Luciel gave to me. I was summoned to this world by Lady Luciel as a Hero, and I don't have many memories of the world I used to live in, nor do I remember my previous name. I do remember video games, though, and I kind of miss them... Well, this world is kind of like a video game all on its own, so I guess it'll just have to do.

I'm an Archmage, and just like all the other Heroes, I have golden eyes and golden hair. Apparently, if a different Goddess summoned someone from another world, they'd have a different colour, because they'd receive that Goddess's blessing, instead. As an Archmage, I have very strong magic, and my most powerful spell is [Grand Exorcism]. I like being an Archmage, because I don't have to endure attacks, and I can stay back and help everyone out from behind. I can't help but feel like something's up with Lady Luciel, though... I somehow feel like the other Heroes are trusting her and the priests too easily? And something's wrong about her attitude, too... Well, it's probably just my imagination.

Today, I'm going on an adventure with a few other Heroes. As a group of 5- me, a Thief, a Paladin, a Grand Priest and a Monster Tamer, all of whom refuse to introduce themselves- we're going to go raid a dungeon and kill its owner. Apparently, this dungeon looks like a castle, and its owner is very powerful, so we've been told to be very careful.

... What's going on? The moment we entered, the Monsters left rather than fighting us, but of the ones I saw, at least half were Demons! Demons are just Monsters with intelligence, so they're not that rare- even a Goblin is a Demon, after all- but in dungeons, the amount of Demons is low, since Demons prefer to live with others of the same species, self-governing. There are exceptions like Devils who interact with humans or make contracts with more powerful Demons, of course, but most Demons keep to themselves. To see them in such numbers is...

Wait, there's Goblins coming?! They're not carrying any weapons, though...

"Master will receive you!"

"Please follow Goblin!"

"No, please follow Goblin!"

They spoke?! Well, Demons can speak, but... They don't usually try to communicate with humans? Plus, they said their Master- the dungeon's owner, probably- will receive us? It's common knowledge that anything a Goblin says is true, since they're too stupid to lie even if ordered to... No, can they even remember the way?

"Heroes, please follow me. I shall take you to the Master."

A ghost?! Wait, she's wearing a maid outfit... A Ghost Maid? Aren't those supposed to be really rare Demons? Well, should we follow her or not? The Paladin is the leader, so should we leave this to him?

"Hmph. We shall follow the Ghost, for now, since the Goblins can't have been lying earlier. But if you lie, Ghost, know that I will slay you."

Alright, then, let's follow the Ghost Maid, I guess...

Who is this person?! Scary!

The moment the huge throne room doors opened, the aura that came out was so oppressive it felt like I was going to vomit...

Looking inside, I saw a man with black eyes, and he was calmly stroking a Red Dragon's head?! Even if you're a dungeon's owner and Red Dragons are one of the most intelligent species of Demons, they're also one of the most aggressive, you know?!

There was also a really pale girl dressed in black, drinking tea at a table?! Plus, her mana is stronger than mine?!

The purple girl in the corner also had stronger mana than me?! And she's not even paying attention! That book looks like something erotic...

That witch is abnormal, too! And she also wasn't paying attention?! What's with the ridiculous mana coming from that machine?!

And then there was that huge aura of physical intimidation from the ceiling...

Even leaving all that aside, the fact that this dungeon's owner was able to calmly speak to us is weird. Usually, owning a dungeon breaks the owner's mind, causing them to go completely insane, unless they've been blessed directly by the Goddess of Darkness.

Then, for some reason, he asked us our allegiance? Even weirder, three of our party members responded the exact same way at the exact same time? And he even noticed the Thief! Although, the Thief getting knocked out was his own fault, since he tried to sneak up on a Red Dragon...

And then he cold-bloodedly gave the order to kill those three who answered at the same time... Was he trying to gauge our teamwork earlier? In any case, I'm the only one left, and I won't be able to finish my spell in time... Is this where I die?

"Come now, fellow reincarnator, drop the spell. It's alright- we won't hurt you. We can still save you from the brainwashing of Lady Luciel and then you can do what you want to do."

Huh? He's suddenly started speaking? Ah, I've dropped my spell... Wait, that oppressive aura of bloodlust is gone. No, wait wait, did I hear that correctly?

"Fellow... Reincarnator...?" But, his eyes are black, and the only Goddess who reincarnates humans to summon Heroes is Lady Luciel... His eyes were black, right?

Wait, his left eye is golden? Wasn't that black earlier? Leaving that aside...

"You're... You're a Hero, too...?"

"Was", he says. "I was a Hero. However, I managed to break free from Lady Luciel's brainwashing, and you can, too!"

He broke free from her brainwashing?

"Broke free... Brainwashing... So I was right, then?!"

Ah, I'm holding his shoulders.

So that's how it is. This thing called an Azalyth was brainwashing me and even limiting my power? And she puts something like that on all the Heroes? What a terrible Goddess...

Ah, the Thief is awake.

"The force oppressing me... is gone?"

Ah, I know how you feel. Yup, that feels weird.

"Now, let me introduce myself once again", the Demon Master announces in a booming voice. Somehow, I feel like I've got no choice but to look over at him.

"I am the owner of a Red Dragon who could destroy an entire continent, Davna." Wh-what's with the volume of that roar?! I feel like I'm going to get torn apart!

"I am the lord of a Vampire Princess who rules the darkness with absolute might, Charlotte." Ah, so she was a Vampire Princess. Wait, she's royalty?! No wonder she's calmly drinking tea...

"I am the one who has raised a simple Small Slime into an incredibly powerful, unrivalled existence, a Grand Slime, Navillus." Ah, the origin of that squelch must be the origin of that intense aura of physical intimidation I felt. Wait, isn't a Grand Slime a Calamity-Class Monster, only having been recorded to exist three times?!

"I am the patron of an Arch-Devil who has grand power over the mind, Lilith." Wait, she's still reading that book?! How lewd... Are you sure she's not just a Succubus?

"I am the teacher and disciple of a Witch Queen who has made enough inventions to outdo the world's greatest scientists, Tempest." Witch Queen?! Didn't the previous Witch Queen found a country of witches and start a worldwide war... And she's not even paying attention?!

"I am the man who was personally chosen for this role by Lady Entropy, Goddess of Darkness." By Entropy herself?! Well, that does explain why he isn't insane... No, actually, I think you could quite make a case for him being insane?

"I am the man who shall personally strike down the vile goddess masquerading as good, Lady Luciel, and free this world from her tyranny." Well, this I can agree with, I suppose... She did try to brainwash me, after all?

"I am the Demon Master." Does he have to be so theatrical all the time?

"I am Astaroth."

Mm... Well, I'm not sure about him being nice or not, but I can say one thing about him after that self-introduction, and the aura he was letting out throughout the entire thing: as I thought, this is a scary person. A very scary person who could kill me in seconds if he wanted to.