What if the greatest threat isn't the Demon King—but the lies keeping humans and demons at war? Episode 3 pushes Kagami Koji closer to uncovering a conspiracy that could change the entire world.
The episode starts with Kagami Koji confronting the commander of the invading demon forces high above the battlefield after effortlessly launching himself into the sky. The commander is stunned to discover that the mysterious human standing before him is neither a Hero nor a legendary warrior, but simply a Villager named Kagami Koji. The shock becomes even greater after checking Koji's status and seeing the impossible number displayed beside his level—999.
Instead of attacking immediately, Koji calmly asks a simple question that completely changes the conversation. He wants to know whether the Demon King personally ordered the attack on Valman. Since Alice had already told him her father was bedridden with a serious illness, the invasion doesn't make sense. The commander confidently insists the order came directly from the Demon King, but as Koji asks more detailed questions, cracks begin to appear in his certainty.
The commander recalls that although the Demon King was present, another individual actually delivered the order. That realization immediately raises Koji's suspicions. He suggests that the Demon King may be acting under someone else's control or manipulation. At first the commander angrily rejects the idea, believing nobody could possibly control his king, but after replaying the event in his mind, he begins questioning everything he thought he witnessed.
The commander desperately wants to return to the Demon King's castle, but Koji advises against rushing back. If someone truly is manipulating the Demon King from the shadows, anyone who questions the situation would become a target. Instead, Koji proposes a smarter plan. Everyone should believe the invading force was completely destroyed, allowing the commander to secretly return to the castle later without attracting suspicion.
Before leaving, Koji casually wipes out the remaining Hellcrows flying above the city, treating dangerous monsters like ordinary hunting targets. While everyone else struggles just to survive, Koji calmly collects valuable monster materials because they can be sold for money later. Even during a major battle, he never misses an opportunity to earn extra income, creating another humorous contrast between his overwhelming strength and surprisingly practical personality.
After landing safely, the commander introduces himself as Menow Eibrasher, a loyal servant whose family has protected the Demon King's bloodline for generations. He explains that he has faithfully served both the Demon King and Princess Alice for years and cannot abandon them now. Menow is surprised when Koji openly states that he has no intention of killing someone who genuinely cares about Alice. To Koji, loyalty and kindness matter far more than race.
Koji once again shares the philosophy that defines his character. He explains that monsters are the real source of conflict because they are born from demonic mana. Humans suffer because of monsters, demons fight back to defend themselves, and generations of violence have created endless hatred on both sides. Neither race is inherently evil. They are simply trapped inside a cycle that nobody has managed to break.
Determined to uncover the truth, Koji promises Menow that he will escort Alice to the Demon King's castle and personally investigate what is happening. Although Menow warns that helping demons will make Koji an enemy of both races, Koji doesn't hesitate. He already promised Alice that he would help, and keeping that promise matters more than public opinion.
Back in Valman, Alice is relieved to learn that Koji successfully resolved the misunderstanding with Menow. The group begins preparing for the long journey toward the Demon King's castle, but transportation quickly becomes a problem. Horses refuse to travel near demons because they instinctively fear demonic mana. Fortunately, Koji has another unusual solution.
Instead of horses, he recruits a group of proud Centaurus monsters. These intelligent creatures constantly insult humans and consider themselves superior beings, refusing to cooperate at first. However, Koji already knows exactly how to handle them. After giving them a satisfying back scratch, their proud attitudes disappear almost instantly, and they happily agree to pull the wagon. The absurd scene provides one of the funniest moments of the episode while showing Koji's strange knowledge of monsters.
As everyone prepares to depart, Menow reunites with Alice and immediately kneels before his princess, apologizing for accidentally attacking the town where she was staying. Alice quickly forgives him, while Takako warmly introduces herself, making Menow realize that humans willing to trust demons truly do exist.
Unfortunately, the peaceful reunion doesn't last long. Rex and the Hero Party suddenly surround Koji's group after discovering that Alice is actually a demon and that Koji lied during their previous encounter. Rex immediately accuses Koji of cooperating with humanity's greatest enemy and insists they cannot allow him to escape.
Koji, however, refuses to solve the conflict with violence. Instead, he challenges everyone's assumptions. He asks a simple question: does Alice actually look evil? The Hero Party hesitates because, despite being the Demon King's daughter, Alice has never acted like a monster. Koji points out that they themselves spared her previously because she never appeared dangerous.
He acknowledges that monsters created by demonic mana harm humanity, and he even states that he won't interfere if someone chooses to defeat the Demon King for that reason. But beyond producing monsters, demons are fundamentally no different from humans. They have families, emotions, dreams, and people they care about. That is exactly why Koji refuses to let anyone kill his friends simply because they belong to another race.
When the discussion turns toward Menow's attack on Valman, Koji surprisingly agrees that the commander should answer for his actions. However, he asks everyone to delay judgment until they discover whether the Demon King truly gave the order. Koji reveals that he has personally met the Demon King and knows he has always wanted peaceful coexistence rather than war. Even more importantly, Alice had already confirmed that her father was seriously ill when the invasion supposedly began.
Although several adventurers begin considering Koji's reasoning, Rex refuses to believe him. In his eyes, demons are enemies regardless of circumstances. Realizing nobody is ready to abandon years of prejudice overnight, Koji decides to leave before the situation escalates further. Even Alice feels disappointed, but Koji reminds her that today's conversation already achieved something important. For the first time, humans actually listened instead of attacking immediately.
The journey toward the Demon King's castle finally begins. Menow steals a sturdy wagon from a merchant but makes sure the owner isn't harmed, while the Centaurus monsters happily pull the group across the countryside. Along the way, Koji explains that they must first pass through the fortress city of Salmaria before reaching Athros Island and eventually the Demon King's castle.
To avoid exposing Menow's identity, Koji hides him inside a wagon loaded with Blue Devil horns whose natural mana disguises his presence. The clever trick successfully fools the city guards, allowing everyone to enter Salmaria without raising suspicion. Inside the city, however, they discover an enormous military celebration. Citizens are cheering because repeated attacks by the Demon King's forces have been defeated, and the kingdom plans to launch a massive assault against the demon army the very next day.
Koji immediately realizes the danger. If the army marches toward the Demon King's territory while the mysterious conspiracy remains unresolved, the conflict could spiral into a full-scale war that destroys any hope of peace. Instead of waiting for disaster, he announces an ambitious new plan. They will reach the Demon King's castle first, uncover the truth behind the invasion, and stop the fighting before both sides become trapped in endless bloodshed.
Takako questions whether this dream is even possible, especially if the Demon King truly has chosen war. Koji calmly answers that if the Demon King has genuinely abandoned peace, he'll fight him with everything he has. But he won't fight as a Hero or as a demon. He'll create a third force—an army made up of humans and demons who refuse to continue the cycle of hatred.
Alice immediately promises to stand beside him, even if it means confronting her own father. Menow also chooses to remain loyal to Alice above everything else, while Takako joins without hesitation. Together, the group takes its first steps toward building an alliance unlike anything the world has ever seen.
As evening falls, the tension briefly gives way to lighter moments. Alice excitedly tastes soft-serve ice cream for the very first time and marvels at how cold and sweet it is, reminding everyone that despite being the Demon King's daughter, she's still an innocent girl experiencing the human world with genuine wonder.
Their peaceful dinner is suddenly interrupted when soldiers begin searching for Koji's group once again. They escape before being caught and soon arrive at a crowded public demonstration where adventurers are showing off their strength by defeating a weak monster to raise public morale. Koji quietly criticizes the spectacle as nothing more than entertainment.
The mood changes instantly when a genuine Hellbeast Berserk suddenly appears. Unlike the harmless creature meant for the exhibition, this monster is powerful enough to slaughter everyone nearby. As terrified civilians panic and the demonstration collapses into chaos, the episode ends with everyone turning toward Kagami Koji, knowing only the world's strongest Villager stands a chance of stopping the disaster.
