《The Betrayed Hero Who Was Reincarnated As The Strongest Demon Lord》 1 1 If you come back to life, the strongest demon king The battle against the Demon King was in its final phase. ''''Die, brave men!'''' A beautiful woman wearing black robes - the Demon King Yulisha brandishes a jet black great sword. I swept it away with my right hand long sword and aimed the gun I pulled out with my left hand at the demon king''s chest. A roar. The demon king retreats while bleeding from his chest. ''''As expected, Master Freed! The boy in line next to me smiled at me. He had blond hair and blue eyes and a fresh smile. I''m forty-two years old, I''m as old as my father and son, and this guy''s name is Lyle. I''m not going to be able to tell you what to do. "I''m on the right. I''m going to be on the right, and you''ll be on the left. All right? Yes, now is the time to use my power to... "By the power of my darkness, you will disappear! The demon king interrupted our meeting and shouted. "''Ragnabomb''! A jet-black energy ball is released from the outstretched sword''s tip. "d*mn it, the highest level spell without chanting... As expected of a demon king, that''s an extraordinary amount of magic. "Miracle Armor ''Gram'' - Maximum Jamming Interference with Magic Power! Quickly, I raise the long sword in my hand. The Miracle Armor. This is a sacred treasure given by God. My gram has the ability to interfere with and obstruct all magic. The black ball of energy melts away in front of me. "My magic is a dud? The Demon King is puzzled. ''''Then I''ll have to hit you directly! And then he pulled out his sword and slashed at me. I also held up my "Gram" and fought back. The arms are almost evenly matched. I continue to receive the fast and heavy slash with my long sword. Now, Lyle! He signaled with his gaze to his beloved apprentice who was coming around from the opposite direction. ''''Bark, ''Levatein''!'''' Lyle raised the great sword with its crimson blade and swung it down. A swirl of outpouring flames. ''''Such flames - ''Rune Shield''! A blue defensive field appears in front of the Demon King as he turns around. ''Jamming Interference (Jamming) Maximum Deployment'' But the Miracle Armor that I activated again caused the field to dissipate without a trace. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. "Shh, shh, shh, shh... Lyle''s fire exploded on the defenseless Demon King. ''''Guaa.....................! It seems that Yulisha, as expected, has received a decent amount of damage from the fire of ''Levatein'', which boasts the strongest class of attack power. She stumbles weakly and collapses on the spot. ''''Now©¤©¤'''' I quickly gave chase. I cut off its head with my long sword and scattered a rain of bullets across its remaining torso. ''Lyle, one more blow. If you leave it alone, the Demon King will regenerate. Before that, the flames of Levateen will completely annihilate it... Slurp. Suddenly, there was a hot shock at my chest. "What...? For a moment, I didn''t understand what happened. I turned around and saw a smiling face in my field of vision. I''m sure you''ll be able to find it. You....? Lyle is thrusting a large sword into my back...? It''s a very good idea to have a good time with them. Laughing against the flames, Lyle looked like an evil demon. ''''My master is the brave among the brave that will be talked about for a long time, and I''m the bonus - but I think there''s a different scenario...'''' No....scenario...? A clot of blood gushed out of my mouth as I asked for it. My consciousness rapidly faded away. ''The brave man Freed died a violent death and his apprentice Lyle took his revenge - wouldn''t the public be more pleased with this one?¡¡Isn''t it dramatic? Oh, you... what...? I can''t keep up with my understanding. For ten years, I was a beloved disciple who was hand-bred. I''m not married and I don''t have children. But I thought of Lyle as my own son. Lyle also looked up to me like a father. I''ve always believed that. Why? Why did you betray me...? "Now, blow it all away, ''Levatein'' Demon King and my master. I''m not going to be able to get a good idea of what I''m talking about. The flames that sprouted from it wrapped me and the demon king together. In the next moment, my consciousness vanished. The first memory I had was of a whole area of fire. I remember when I was a child, when the demons attacked my home village. My parents and everyone close to me were killed. A brave man rushed to the scene, but I barely survived the attack. I was left alone and struggling to survive, and eventually I awoke to the qualities of a brave man. I learned how to fight as a brave fighter at the country''s training institute, and I quickly emerged as one of the highest-ranking heroes, fighting against many demons. At first, I was proud of myself. I was proud to be a righteous hero who protected people. But I soon realized that this was a mistake. Ugly jealousy and power struggles swirled among the brave men and women. A brave man dragging the feet of other brave men who have a better record than him. Others are cozying up to the country''s upper echelons and accepting bribes. The brave men do not give a thought to helping others, they only seek their position and satisfy their desires. It is an ugly battle between the brave - or those on the periphery of it - that is truly ugly. Many schemes and betrayals. The only exception to this was Lyle. Ten years ago - Lyle, who was only six years old at the time, came to me as an apprentice, wanting to learn how to fight as a brave man. Lyle''s honesty and dedication slowly melted my heart, which was on the verge of distrusting people, little by little. I thought of him as a friend, a partner, an apprentice, and a son. But in the end, Lyle betrayed me. Is there no one I can trust? My life ended in frustration.... What is this place? When I woke up, I was in a large hall. The red carpet and the opulent furnishings were laid out. It looks like the inside of a castle. But is it somewhere in the Demon King''s Castle? It''s not the same place where we were fighting earlier, though. How is it possible to be in a place like this...? A shuddering pain in my chest. ''Yes, Lyle made me...'' Are you awake, my Demon King? When I turned around, I saw a girl standing there. She was wearing a black outfit that looked like a military uniform on her slender body. Flowing silver hair that reaches to her waist. Purple eyes with a mystical glow. A breathtaking, beautiful girl of the highest order©¤©¤. I''m pleased to meet you. My name is Stella D. Arzelwein. She knelt at my feet. ''Call me Stella, please. I am a faithful servant who will obey any order of the Demon King. You keep calling me the Demon King or something like that, what are you talking about? I looked down at my body, confused. I should have been engulfed in Lyle''s flames, but I didn''t have a scratch on me. Moreover, his clothes had changed. Instead of leather armor, he was clad in a jet black robe that was decorated in a rather flamboyant manner. A long purple staff was propped up beside him. ''''You still have the senses from your human days. I haven''t been revived long enough, so it''s not surprising.'''' Stella smiled. A beautiful girl who can be called the greatest of all time stared straight at me and made me nervous. Yeah, what am I being embarrassed about, I''m not worthy of my age. Moreover, the other party is not human. It''s a demon race. You will eventually get used to the power as a demon king. ''I don''t see what you''re talking about. What are you talking about now? I''m perplexed. "The previous Demon King - Master Yulisha had the ability to revive. The ability to revive... in other words, it can bring you back to life even if you die? As expected of the demon king, he has an extraordinary power. ''''It seems that the Miracle Armor you possess interfered with Yulisha-sama''s power and caused a malfunction. ...Gram''s magic jamming ability. As a result, you, not Lady Yulisha, have the power of the Demon King and have been revived. I have the power of a demon king...? Suddenly my right hand became hot. When I looked, I saw a red emblem resembling a six-pointed star floating on the back of my hand. That crest is the proof of the Demon King. Stella tells me. Originally, Yulisha would have revived her, but I''ve been revived instead, right? And with the help of the Demon King... Don''t you believe it yet?¡¡Now, look at this - ''Status Display''. Along with Stella''s spell, a series of glowing letters and numbers emerged in the air. Name: Freed Rank: Demon King Overall LV: 4702 H P: 35566 M P: 91005 Attack: 70330 Protection: 45200 Averted: 31785 Hit: 55539 Equipment The Robe of the Supreme Being The Demon King''s Staff skill Intimidation (Lv 250) : Waves of miasma (Lv 536) : Demon Army Submission (Lv 1) incantation ... After that, there''s a string of letters in a row. ''This is... this... this is amazing. Stella has a surprised look on her face. I think it''s a representation of the Demon King''s abilities in terms of content. ''''The level of the general demon race is around 50, our executive class is around 200, and the successive demon kings are roughly 500 to 700. However, your level is much higher than 4000...! They literally had the wrong idea. "Please use your power to save us, Your Majesty the Devil King. Save it? The demon world is on the verge of destruction. The brave men''s offensive is being opposed by the chiefs of the demon army, but they are being pushed back. The keystone, the Demon King''s Castle, is on the verge of being attacked at any moment. I see, each of the brave men who invaded the demon world are active in their own right. "I''m a hero. I have no need to save the demon tribe. Demon King.... "Don''t call me the Devil King. I''m a hero. I''m a hero, a freedman who saves the world from demons. I''ll tell you. Gosh...! Suddenly a distant explosion sounded from the distance. ''''What...?'''' It seems..... ...as if the humans are attacking us. Stella''s expression tightened. ''Human?'' I''m going to check out the battle with my clairvoyant now. The eyes on Stella''s forehead as she announced - a third eye appeared. ''''They must think that they have defeated the Demon King in the battle just now. It seems that the rest of the army attacked near the Demon King''s castle. Apparently, Stella can detect the situation outside the castle. ''''The Demon King''s Castle''s wards are already not working either. The castle''s defenders are intercepting us, but how long can they hold out? I was also drained to the limit of my magic power from the recent battle, and I haven''t recovered to the point where I can fight.'''' She looked straight at me and said. ''''You are the only one who can stand up to the humans in the current situation - I ask you once again. Please save us, Demon King Freed. I''ve already told you. I''m not going to save the demons. They will kill us all if we don''t do something. Please... I was speechless. The eyes with tears in them were too sad, sad and fragile. For an instant, I was fascinated. 2 2 Activate, the power of the Demon King Please save us... and I was asked to do it. I was a human just a few minutes ago, but.... The fact that I was revived as a demon king means that I am now a demon, right? Nevertheless, consciousness is still human. Of course, my emotions and ethics are still human. I''ve been fighting as a brave man to protect the world of others, and now when I was told to fight those humans, I was just confused. That''s right, I''m the one who is brave enough to protect people. And after being betrayed for so long? Suddenly, the words bubbling up from the inside, "I''m a brave man. "I am a brave man. I murmured to myself. Betrayed by the same brave man? The words come up from my mind again. d*mn, what was I thinking......... ''''Demon Lord, here...'''' It was Stella''s voice that interrupted these internal struggles. She held out her hand towards me. From the void, a mask engraved with a devastating pattern appeared. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on it. "This is... ''''It''s better to hide the fact that your identity is a former human. As it is, you will be considered an enemy by both humans and the demon race. Stella said. ''From the humans, as ''the brave man who turned to the demon world''. From the demon race, as ''the human who defeated the previous demon king''. Well that may be true, but... I used to be a brave man, but now I''m wearing the mask of a demon king. This mask cannot be removed by simple force. It''s enchanted so that it can only be removed by your will. And, Stella. ''At the moment, I am the only one who knows this fact. Of course, I won''t tell anyone else, either. His slit eyes were staring straight at me. ''There you are, Demon King! At that moment, several warriors entered the hall. ©¤ Could it be that Lyle is there too? I turned my gaze to them. The man who was my apprentice, my best friend, my partner, my partner, and the man who was like a son. The man who killed me. ''I am the brave Alec! Likewise Fred! ''My name is Jeremy!¡¡Prepare yourself, demon king! The brave men in turn say their names. ''.........no Lyle, huh? I sighed under my mask. A decisive action by a hundred brave men to defeat the Demon King.... It was carried out about three days ago. Me and Lyle were part of that group. Many of my friends were killed or separated by the demon tribe, and by the time I arrived at the Demon King''s Castle, Lyle and I were the only ones left. We proceeded to the top floor and fought the demon king. Now, I have become the Demon King myself. What happened to Lyle after that? Are they fighting elsewhere? Or... You can''t touch the Demon Lord! This time, the demon soldiers arrived. ''''Oh, what?¡¡It''s not Lady Yulisha ... who is it? The female demon in the lead shows a puzzled look. She''s a young girl with red hair in a ponytail. ''''Stand back, Captain Lilim. This person has replaced Yulisha-sama as the new Demon King. Stella sternly announces. ''''The new Demon King...? I know this is confusing, but this is an emergency. Do your duty. She is surprised©¤©¤Stella tells Lilim to her©¤©¤Stella tells her. "I''m sure you have the Demon King''s emblem.......then we''ll protect you. Well, before the Demon Lord, let''s kick your asses first. The brave men and the demon soldiers confronted each other. ''''Now, please step back,'''' Stella urged me to step back. I''m still trying to get my mind off of it. In theory, I suppose I should be a brave man and side with the humans. And yet, something inside me is holding it back. This feeling of.......what is it? Is it because Lyle betrayed you? Do you have feelings for Stella and the demons? Or.... In front of my bewildered face, the battle between the heroes and the demons began. The three heroes each held a spear of the same design. This is the Miracle Armor. It is a sacred armor given to humans by God to defeat demons. Those who have the ability to handle it are called They are called "The Brave". Blow it up! One of the brave men thrusts out his spear. ''Growl, ''Undine! Geez. "Yikes! The water stream that shot out from the tip of the ear turned into a sharp blade and chopped up several demons. ''''Soraora, he''s dead again!¡¡Now I''m on top. There were several heads of what looked like demon heads hanging from the guy''s waist. The same goes for the other two. ''''There''s still plenty of demons out there. Watch, I''m gonna turn things around from here! The brave men were smirking and laughing. These guys are playing a ''game'' of hunting demons........! I don''t like it. I''ve defeated many demons myself. Exchanging lives is a natural part of battle. But to enjoy it as a game is not. If you forget to show the least amount of respect to your enemy, you are no longer a brave man or a warrior. What they are doing is not a battle. It''s just slaughter. It''s as if they are the devil himself. Everyone back away!¡¡I''ll take care of this! Lilim stepped forward. Its body seemed to have faded to translucent, but it quickly softened and expanded. Is he a member of the slime family? I''ll be the shield, so you guys need to regroup and get back in shape.... A screaming slime woman. The water stream released by the brave men turned into a spear and pierced the viscous body. ''''Captain Lilim!'''' No, it''s too strong... The demonic tribesmen under him screamed in despair and fear. Normally, physical attacks are not effective against slimes. But as expected of the Miracle Armament, that water current seemed to be able to damage the slime as well. Even so, she still stood there, trying her best to protect her friends. ''''Ahh........kuah, ah........! His whole body is pierced, he lets out a cry of pain, but he doesn''t step back. As one of the brave men, I have fought against demons. Demons are an enemy that threatens our world. They were an enemy to be defeated. "But... I grit my back teeth just in time. Staring at the sight of Lilim being pierced many times and still standing in defense of his friends. "I don''t care if they''re human or demonic........ I don''t want to miss this part! Stop! I shouted angrily and proceeded to step out. ''''Heh, the Demon Lord is going to take care of you in person?'''' We got it. We''re going to take him down, and we''re going to be great. The brave men cheered. The opponents are three brave men, right? If they came to the Demon King''s Castle, they should be the chosen elite. I''m not sure if I''d be able to cross over to them in my lifetime. But what about the ''me as the Demon King''? When I looked at them, countless letters appeared in the air. Name: Alec. Grade Knightly heroes Overall LV 110 H P 560 M P 170 Attack 302 Protection 440 Evasion 415 700 on impact. Equipment Miracle Armor Undine Skills: Water Flow Javelin LV7 Water Barrier LV4 ''''Is this... the ''status display'' that Stella showed me earlier? Apparently I can do the same thing. That''s the display of the brave man at the top, but the other two had similar numbers. My overall level is 4702, and my opponent is both in the level 100s. They are overwhelmed in terms of simple numbers. ''''What are you zoning out on! There''s a gap! "Go through the demon king, ''Undine''! The three spear-shaped miracle armor unleashed their water stream blades at once. If they are water, will they counter with fire? Just as I was thinking this, another display appeared in front of me. Fire: The lowest level of fire magic. The power is low, but the activation speed is fast. Burst Bomb: causes explosions in a wide area. The range and power increases according to the level of the surgeon. Meteor blade: A slash of fire. Its basic reach is about three meters. There are hundreds of other spell names in a row. Probably a list of magic I can use. I''ve never used magic before. I''ll just use ''Fire'' for now. I chose the lowest form of magic to practice. Flame. The fireball, no bigger than a pea-sized ball of fire, was born. As it slowly drifted through the air, the ball of fire collided with three streams of water. It caused a tremendous explosion. ''''What, that...?'''' The three streams of water evaporated in an instant, and the three brave men disappeared without even being able to scream. Furthermore, the floor, the walls, melted to mush and burned to the ground. The fireball, which continued to push forward, flew out of the castle and reached the mountain range a few kilometers away, extinguishing several mountains in one fell swoop. ''''That was the lowest level of magic I shot at...? It''s much more - a hell of a lot more powerful than I had imagined. 3 3 After the battle What''s a blow?¡¡And yet, to be able to wipe out a mountain... Stella murmured dumbly next to her. Fortunately, the demons didn''t seem to have been affected. The area where the brave men were located, the floor, walls and ceiling are all gouged out. If my aim was off, I would have wiped out the demons as well. "Shooting the most advanced flame spell, ''Mega Fire'' without a chant... That''s very impressive, Demon Lord! Uh, not exactly. I scratched my cheeks with a plop and corrected Stella''s words. ''That wasn''t ''Mega Fire''. It''s just ''Fire''. Let''s look at the description again. Fire: The lowest level of fire magic. Its power is low, but its activation speed is fast. And even with that, this power.... The level of 4000+, far exceeding the previous demon kings, is nothing to write home about. "Eh?¡¡What?¡¡I, that''s "Fire"...?¡¡Demon King, you must be joking... Stella also rolled her eyes, as if she couldn''t keep her cool beauty expression as expected. I didn''t intend to kill the brave men. I just wanted to get rid of them. But©¤©¤I feel relieved that I was able to protect the demons who were being slaughtered in front of me. There was no pity for the brave men. Maybe it''s because I was betrayed by Lyle, and I myself was distrustful of people. ''''Demon King-sama!'''' You have saved us! The demon soldiers rushed to my side. Human and beast forms, bird forms, undead and dragons. They all look like monsters. But I didn''t feel scared or creeped out. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. It was like my heart was being healed. After being betrayed by Lyle and seeing the brutality of the brave men and women just a moment ago, the heart that had been on the edge of tears. Now, it''s strangely warm. It''s a pleasure to help someone, to be appreciated for helping someone. I can remember the feelings I had when I became a hero. I clearly remember the feelings I had almost forgotten. Ironically, becoming a demon king. You''ll be able to get your feelings of bravery back. After that, there was no enemy attack, and I had to rest in my private room. As I lay down on the rather large bed, I immediately felt sleepy. ''''A lot has happened in one day...'''' I murmured sullenly. The final battle with the Demon King Yurisha. Lyle''s betrayal of Lyle, whom he had believed in. The fact that he died once and came back as a new Demon King. And the fact that he fought to protect the demon race from the brave men. ''''What should I do now, I........'''' To live as a demon king means to become an enemy of humans. Even if I was a brave man, I couldn''t choose this path. But I can''t just abandon the demon race for good. Other brave men and women might also attack. Once again, the slaughter might be carried out as we saw earlier. I didn''t know that such an atrocity was going on. I know that there are not a few brave men with personality problems. However, none of the brave men I''ve fought with so far had that kind of fighting style. Even though they were looking for honor and power, they knew the least amount of warrior courtesy on the battlefield. Maybe it''s because I didn''t have much of a chance to fight in partnership with any other brave men other than Lyle, but those guys are different. But those guys are different. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a good deal more than you think. Just remembering it makes me sick to my chest. I wonder if there are other brave men and women out there who would do such a thing. When I woke up, it was already morning. ''Maybe, but...'' Because when I look out the window, it should be morning, but it''s as dark as night. ''Morning and night are almost the same...'' According to legend, there is no light of day in the demon world. It is a world of darkness. This is the demon world. I wonder if it''s my ability as a demon king that I can see the scenery clearly in spite of the darkness. I got off the bed and left the room. I have no idea what I''m going to do now. In the meantime, let''s go get some fresh air to assess the current situation and wake up the sleepiness. ''You''re a wreck...'' I looked up at the castle. The demon king''s castle, shaped like a huge tower, was half collapsed. Since Lyle and I had gone through the underground tunnels, I wondered if it was the brave men of yesterday who destroyed the castle, or some other brave men. Or is it another group of brave men who destroyed the castle? ''''I''m sure there are some demons who were killed. ........I''m surprised at myself for reflexively thinking such a thing. The way I think, I''m completely leaning towards the demon race. ''Do you want to walk?'' My head was hazy. I wanted to shake it off, so I took a walk and started to walk around the castle. ...and 20 minutes later. ''I''m perfectly lost, man. I scratched my head. The outside of the Demon King''s Castle was just huge. As I walked, I lost track of the original entrance. ''I should have asked Stella to guide me...'' Oh, Demon King. Good morning! There was a rather bright voice and a demon tribe rushed over. She''s a vivacious-looking girl with red hair in a ponytail. She wears a simple leather armor. Her bare arms and thighs are white and dazzling. ''''Ah, yesterday''s--'''' He was the captain of the demon soldiers who were fighting against the brave army. I''m Lilim Bargamougou, the captain of the castle''s security force. I''m the commander of the castle''s security force. Lilim salutes with a big smile. ''''Ah, it''s the Demon King! Good morning, Demon King. And even the other soldiers came over. ''Are you guys okay, are you hurt?¡¡We got rid of the human army, so why don''t you take a break for a while? In fact, some of the soldiers are clearly not looking well enough to heal their wounds. I''m getting worried. ''''My Demon King, please show mercy even to the likes of us...'''' What a generous king. Our demon king! Our demon king! Suddenly, they all started praising me. No, no, wait a minute. I was just worried about you guys. Isn''t the reaction over the top...? ''''Ugh, this time the Demon King is a good man.......he won''t have to be treated as a discarded pawn anymore.......'''' Lilim is in tears. I wonder if the previous demon king treated his soldiers badly. "An abandoned pawn...? I mutter with a sigh. I, too, have had to die a terrible death, haven''t I? The man I loved, the man I felt like a disciple, the man I felt like a son to, he betrayed me and killed me. ...hmm? At that moment, a chilling sensation ran down my spine. Something, is there. .........I think. I brought up a list of available spells. Homing Ray: A tracking-type magic bullet. It automatically chases and attacks only those that the surgeon recognizes as enemies. I can find one of them that looks just right. ''''Homing Ray.'''' I cast a spell. The white ball of light shot out of my hand and flew behind me. Dogo........... It causes a huge explosion. When I turned around, I saw a five-meter-long beast lying on the ground. No, if you look closely, it wasn''t a beast. It''s a quadrupedal beast that looks like a machine. "An autonomous miracle armor? There are several types of Miracle Armament. There are armor types that are used as weapons, and wearable types that fuse with their owners to give them power. The autonomous type follows its owner''s orders and acts on its own volition. It''s not supposed to be able to give very complicated orders, so it''s probably ordered to ''kill the demons as soon as you find them''. The Miracle Armor released by the other brave men...?¡¡Or is there a new guy in there? Either way, it might regenerate if left unattended. I released ''Fire'' to make it disappear completely, just in case. ''''Anybody hurt?'''' I look around. ''It''s okay!'' Because the Demon Lord has protected us! The soldiers shouted cheerfully. I was relieved. ''''This swift response and your generous heart that never forgets to care for us.......as expected of the Demon King!¡¡That''s great! "Sasmao!¡¡That''s great! "Sasmao!¡¡That''s great! The call for "sasumao" arose immediately. Oh, oh.... Anyway, I feel like every time I do something, it''s in honor of me. "There may be other autonomous miracle armor out there, and I''ll just sweep them up... 4 4 Healed heart There might be other Miracle Armor like earlier nearby. ''How will we find them...'' I called up the spell list again. There were two main tasks I needed to do. Find the Miracle Armor in the vicinity. And destroying them. "Oh, I like that one. Search: Detects the surgeon''s surroundings. The type and area that can be detected varies according to the level of the surgeon. "''Search''. I try to remind myself that I want to find the autonomous Miracle Armor. Immediately, my mind conjures up images of the castle and its surroundings. Here and there in the vast wilderness, the same mechanical beasts as the one from earlier were moving around. Their number, roughly a hundred. ''''........There''s more of them than I thought.'''' Some of them are attacking the demon race. ''''Homing Ray'''' x 100! As before, he produced about a hundred tracking magic bullets. ''The target is an autonomous Miracle Armament. Go! When I gave the order, a hundred magic bullets flew in all directions. ''''The rest should take care of the Miracle Armament on their own. Maybe, but... ''It''s amazing, my Demon King! As I explained, Lilim and the others cheered. ''Let me know if you see any of the individuals you''ve lost. I''m sure you''ll be able to tell me if there are any new hands on the scene. You''re pretty much pushed to the edge in terms of strength, right? I''d better check with Stella about that. ''Which way is the audience room?'' I decided to ask for directions. "Well I''m a bit lost, It''s not cool for the Demon King to get lost in the Demon King''s Castle, but it can''t be helped. I can''t just wander around like this forever. In order to protect these guys, we have to set up a defense system for the demon world. I don''t want to be in the position of being a brave man or a demon king or anything like that, I want to follow my honest feelings right now. ''''I''m still unfamiliar with it, right? If it''s the audience room, you can go straight along this outer wall and turn left at the fountain and you''ll find the entrance.'''' Lilim gave me directions. ''And ... here''s one if you''d like. He offered me some portable sustenance. Gulp, my stomach growled. Come to think of it, I haven''t eaten anything since yesterday. ''I thought you might be hungry. Lilim''s words, as if he saw through it. ''''Captain~, the Demon King-sama always has a top-tier feast, right?¡¡They don''t want to eat our bread and butter. ''''Oh, I see that too... sorry, Demon Lord. After all, that''s not what you said! The words of his subordinate caused Lilim to huff and puff. He bowed his head apologetically. ''''No, I''ll take it, since it''s your time. Thank you.'''' Your Majesty, how sweet of you.... The Lilim and the soldiers with their eyes rolling. Hmm, I guess the reaction is still very exaggerated. Well, I don''t feel bad about it. When I''m with these guys, my heart warms up. Even the wounds in my heart that were betrayed by Lyle seem to be healing. I took my sustenance and moved into the shadows. ''''Demon Lord?'''' No, you have to take that mask off before you can eat. If I take off my mask, I''m in danger of being exposed as a human. You don''t mean to tell me you''re a demon king? Lilim with a huffy face. This guy, does he sense that I''m human? I brace myself. You are shy that you don''t want your true face to be seen. It''s so cute. Oh, well... It was just a natural. I turned my back to them, took off my mask and ate my rations. ''''- Okay, I''ve made up my mind. I put on my mask again and turned to face Lilim and the others. ''Have you decided?¡¡What? It''s just the beginning. I laugh at Lilim who asks him. After all, I don''t want these guys to die. Of course I don''t want to invade the human world. Even if we have to get rid of the sparks that fall on us... Let''s find a way to do this without anyone getting hurt or suffering. I want these guys to live in peace. Good morning, my dear Demon King. When I returned to the castle, Stella walked up to me. ''Have you been outside?'' ''Yeah, I thought I''d take a little walk around the castle...'' ''The soldiers were happy, weren''t they? You protected them from the weapons left behind by the humans. How do you know this? I have clairvoyance. I couldn''t find the Demon Lord anywhere near me, so I was looking for him. Well, I''m sorry. ''No. Captain Lirim and the others were happy to see you. Well, yeah. I remembered their praise earlier and I was amused. ''''It seems like the castle has come to life again. I''m really glad you''ve been reincarnated as the next Demon King. Stella.... But please don''t let it be known that you''re an ex-human... I know. I don''t feel like I''m hiding something from you. But humans and demons are enemies. I''m sure many people will feel badly if they find out that the king of the demon race is, of all people, a human. You know, I''ve come to focus on the situation of the demon race. I''m not sure if I''ve ever felt more at home in my heart than I thought, but I''m comfortable with the fact that I''m a demon king. Until now, I have been betrayed by many people. I''ve been betrayed by many people, even Lyle, whom I trusted the most. Maybe that''s what makes me distrustful of people. In turn, the people here are warm. It''s not just that they''re showing me respect because I''m a king or whatever. Oddly enough, since I came to the demon world, I''ve become more human. Caring for others, laughing with them, rejoicing with them, or being hurt by them, fighting with them - that''s what makes me human. It''s more than a brave army fighting for honor and power, outsmarting others, and even sacrificing someone else in pursuit of victory. ''''.......What is wrong, my Demon King? No, it''s nothing. I shake my head, then I ask. ''Come to think of it, what''s a demon king to do?'' As I asked, the first thing I thought of was defense. The autonomous Miracle Armor I''d shot at the homing ray, so it will probably be swept away. It would be better to shoot them regularly in case they are attacked, or I should probably look around myself. After that... With the way things are going, we''d better do something about the castle. ''''That''s right. The Demon King''s Castle is the center of the Demon World. It''s a symbol of the Demon King''s prestige, and at the same time, it''s also the final defense base of this world. And, Stella. ''''Now that the brave army is invading various parts of the demon world, this half-destroyed situation is not desirable. It would be desirable to repair and, if possible, strengthen our defenses. Come to think of it, isn''t there anything like that in the Demon King''s spell? A spell to repair or enhance a building... I looked at the list. "Oh, I think it''s this one........Repair! He casts a substance-repair spell over the entire castle. Instantly, the cracks fill up, and the shattered and cavernous walls are restored to their original state. That''s convenient. But they weren''t able to completely return to normal. It was only 70 percent repaired. ''Repairs,'' I''ll chant it again. ...Oh, no? The repair of the castle didn''t go any further. ''You mean this spell is not stackable? There was no detailed explanation of that on the list. So we''ll just have to try it out in the field. Well, all we have to do now is mobilize the engineers and have them repair it. ''''It''s amazing that they were able to repair this much in just a few seconds. Stella looks at me in surprise. ''''........You don''t think you''re going to say ''sasumao'' too, do you? Yes?¡¡Susuma? Stella nods her head in a kyoton. ''No, it''s nothing.'' That''s my boy, Your Majesty. Stella smiled. ........I''m telling you. 5 5 Makai Defense Battle I was in a room in the castle with Stella. There''s no one around, is there, Stella? ''''Yes, I''ve probed the area with my clairvoyant eyes, but I didn''t see anyone suspicious. Rest assured, my Demon Lord. Stella nodded. What I''m going to discuss with her now is about the defense plan for the demon world. It''s going to be a conversation that includes my knowledge as a hero, so it''s not good for the other demon race to hear about it. I can''t breathe with these on. ''Yes. But if anyone comes in, you must put it on immediately. Okay. Nodding to Stella, I took off my mask. Although I was resurrected as a demon king©¤©¤even though I was resurrected as a demon race, my appearance is the same as when I was human. I''m not going to have fangs and claws, or horns and wings..... The reflection in Stella''s eyes is of a forty-two-year-old middle-aged man. Stubble, I need to shave it off.......................... "Demon Lord? No, it''s nothing. Let''s get started. I said to Stella, who looked doubtful. ''Let''s go over the situation again.'' The first thing that happened was that a few days ago, a hundred brave men chosen to attack the demon world. Among those hundred were me and Lyle. We made five holes in the ward that separated the human world from the demon world, and from there we split into five squads and invaded the demon world. I''m not going to be able to tell you what to do, but I''m going to be able to tell you what to do. It was a direct route to the Demon King''s Castle. That Lyle, too, is now unaccounted for. I wonder what happened to him after the battle with the Demon King Yurisha. But now I have to think about the current situation rather than Lyle. ''''What''s going on with the other four squads?'''' We sent our men to intercept them, but it seems three demon chiefs have already been killed. The chief of the Demon Army - these are the Demon King''s direct entourage. There were seven of them, including Stella. In other words, there are a total of four aides who are currently alive. ''''As for the other three, the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zeggert and the Immortal King (Lord Undead) Regal are in the middle of an invasion of the human world. The remaining Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm) Feria went to intercept the heroes, but she was defeated and is missing. And Stella. ''I too was wounded in the last battle and have not yet regained my magical powers. Come to think of it, you said something like that before yesterday''s battle. So, you''re saying that there isn''t a single Demon Army Chief who can fight at the moment. ''''Should I go out and dispatch them one by one? It couldn''t even be called a strategy, it was a simple policy. However, considering the Demon King''s overwhelming status, it''s the quickest way for me to control the four battlefields in order. More than anything else - it would avoid causing unnecessary deaths. And on the demon side. ...and on the human side as well. It''s fine to use the "homing ray" before this, but with that, it''s going to kill for sure. To begin with, unlike the autonomous Miracle Armor, which only possesses simple willpower, whether the Homing Ray will work against a hero is unknown. I think we should go to the scene of the crime. "You''re going to go directly to the Demon King? Stella seemed surprised. ''If we send our soldiers towards them, they might slaughter us unilaterally. Yes, just like yesterday''s battle. But it''s dangerous. ''You know what level I''m on, right?¡¡If it''s possible, we''ll send the humans back to their world without hurting them. And then... no, we''ll have to go to the field to do the rest. Then at least take me with you. Stella stood up. ''I haven''t regained my fighting ability, but I can at least be your shield if it comes down to it. ''No. I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself. I said firmly. ''''All demonkind are like tools to the Demon King. There''s no need to be considerate of their tools. Stella shook her head sadly. ''You''re not tools,'' I said, with all my strength. ''So I will not allow you to lay down your life for me. My Demon Lord. Stella gasps with a huff. ''That''s an order,'' Okay. Stella nodded, gloating. ''''But the demon world is an uninviting place for you. Please allow me to accompany you as a leader. Stella looks at me. As expected, she seems to say that this is non-negotiable. In fact, even if I went alone, I might get lost. .........Even the inside of the Demon King''s Castle was lost. I understand. Then come with me. Yes, sir. There was a faint smile on Stella''s mouth. ''Let''s get going. To fight with the brave men. But to kill them all... I can''t think of any good guys from yesterday, but there are some really great guys out there. ...or not so much. I thought back to my heroic life so far and gave a small shrug. A brave man is a special being chosen by the armor of God. He is privileged in every way and celebrated by many as the one who saves the world. Those who turn their nose up at it and think they are great. Someone who uses his position and oppresses the weak. And those who use their immense power to taunt and kill demons. But that doesn''t mean that there aren''t honorable and brave men too. Anyway, I''ll think about it after I get there... I sighed and stood up and put on my mask. After all, it''s not a fun feeling to have an enemy as a brave man. I rode the demon dragon with Stella and advanced through the air. Originally, I heard that there is a chosen demon dragon that is a rider for the demon king, but it escaped due to the chaos of the previous battle. That''s why the one I''m riding now is a spare demon dragon. Even so, it flew through the sky at quite a speed and arrived at the battlefield in about an hour. The demon world, the western direction. The wilderness was spread out all over, with red-black cracks running through the hollow. There was a hole in the warding protecting the demon world. Below me, the demon soldiers and a few brave men are fighting. ''''Blow it away, demon tribe! The bravest of them all, a big man, the biggest of them all, swings down a huge axe. ''''Crush, ''Behemoth!'''''' A huge crack appeared in the ground where the axe was struck. It was a huge crack, more than ten meters deep. The power was tremendous. ''''Ugh, wow...! A dozen demon soldiers screamed and fell into the cracks in the ground. ''''Energy Hand!'''' I cast a spell while riding the dragon. An arm made of magical energy extended from the void. I pinched the falling demons with its fingers and pulled them up. ''We''re coming down, Stella.'' Yes, sir. Stella controls the dragon and we descend. As we landed on the ground, the demon soldiers we saved earlier looked at me and Stella with surprised faces. ''''Ah, you are........'''' The Witch King will deal with the heroes personally. You will stay back. Stella, who was standing by my side, said to the soldiers. ''''Well, Demon King-sama...? I''ll make them go away. I said and stepped forward. I look at the big man''s bravery and do a ''status display''. Name Jade. Rank Warrior Warrior hero Overall LV 121 H P 860 M P 000 Attack 672 Protection 540 Evasion 215 Hit 573 Equipment Miracle Behemoth Skill: Earth Splitting Strike, LV 13 Grand Slamming Level 11 Strength, level 15 The warrior-type heroes are the types that do not have any special abilities, but instead have excellent white army abilities such as power and speed. So it''s just like it looks, a power fighter. It does sound like you''ve got some serious magical powers, though!¡¡How about a close call! The brave Jake carries a huge axe and rushes in with tremendous speed. It''s fast.... "Shatter away, demon king! The axe swung down with spirit, and I caught it with one hand. It was indeed a heavy and powerful blow. When I was human, I wouldn''t have been able to catch it or brush it off. But now. "Ugh, it''s not moving...? Jake growls, his face turning red. A bundle of muscles rises in both of my thick arms, but the axe I''ve caught doesn''t move even slightly. ''Unfortunately, you and I are on a different level itself. I told him coldly. To begin with, the fact that their levels are on a different order of magnitude means that their power and speed are all on a different order of magnitude. It wasn''t a matter of me as a demon king, the type that excelled in magical abilities or anything like that. ''''Jade!'''' Let my people go! Other brave men and women rushed in with swords and spears in their hands. The attacks they unleashed, but the magic barrier I deployed easily blew them away. ''''Hurricane!'''' The wind magic that I activated on the counter blasted the brave men together. Even if they are the elite of the heroes, they are powerless in front of me, the Demon King. "My, my Demon King...! "Evil incarnate, I will avenge you. The brave men who stand up weakly. The dialogues are admirable, but these guys'' true intentions must be elsewhere. ''''So, you want to get the title of Demon King Killer and achieve glory and glory? I can kind of get a feel for it. I''ve seen this kind of thing many times in my human life. What the...? The brave men''s faces go stiff. I knew I''d hit the nail on the head. "Greedy fools. What do you call yourselves? What did I look like under the mask? Was it anger or sadness? I don''t know myself. ''Leave.'' I held out my hand towards the ground. The magical energy that emanated from that point split the ground. "This, this... I can''t see the bottom of the hole... what a blow...! The brave men flinched. It''s a crack so deep it can''t be compared to Jade''s attack earlier. ''''Otherwise, we will obliterate every last one of you. Ggh...! Oh, you''ll remember! ''''The most powerful Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge) are still waiting over here!¡¡They will surely come to kill you...! The Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge). The four strongest heroes who control the miracle armor of the seraph class. I''ve heard of them too. I''ve only met one of them in person in my long career as a hero. When I was a human, I was one of the highest-ranked heroes, but they had a completely different fighting ability. For some reason, I wasn''t chosen for the ''Hundred Brave Men'' this time©¤©¤. "Whoever comes to me is dust before my power. Say it with arrogance. Be as dignified as possible. "I will not allow anyone to invade the demon world and harm my people. I won''t allow anyone to invade the demon world or hurt my people, even if they are brave and strong, even if they are a god. Demon King. "Godless traitor! Looking at the cowering heroes through my mask, I activated my "energy hand" again. I pick up all of them together with my magic hand and throw them out of the hole in the warding. "Banishment to the human world. Don''t come back. It''s an impressive feat, Your Majesty. Stella leaned closer to me. ''Moreover, he''s refined his demon king-sama-ness. It has an evil vibe that makes it hard to believe he''s a very former human.'''' That''s a compliment, isn''t it? Of course. Stella smiles at her clever beauty and nods. Well, okay......... ''''Well then, the only thing left to do is to repair the wards. 6 6 The boundary between people and demons I stared at the red-black crack in the hollow. ''Well..... How do I repair the warding? Call up a list of spells. As planned, a spell was displayed that was appropriate for this situation. ''Rune Repair: repairing a substance composed of magic power. ''From the name, it''s a variation of the Repair spell you used on the Demon King''s Castle? I held up my right hand to the sky. "''Rune Repair''. With a spell, the red-black crack fades quickly and eventually disappears completely. ''''Has this closed the hole in the warding?'''' I''m tracking it now. A third eye appeared on Stella''s forehead. ''''No problem. The damaged portion of the warding has been fully repaired.'' Well, that should keep you going for a while. At least for about three months. Three months...? When the Hundred Brave Men invaded the demon world, a certain Miracle Armor user broke the wards. The next time he can use his power is roughly three months later. It seems that once you use the Field Breaker, it will take about that long to replenish your power. I explain to a quizzical Stella. ''After three months, the brave men will invade again. ''........many more demons will be involved in the battle.... ''''This invasion is just a start. The next step is to drill more holes in the wards and send in a large army of brave men. That''s right, not just a hundred brave men, but a thousand, or even ten thousand - the brave men of the world. If that much of an army rushed in, this time the demon world would be destroyed. The reason why the humans and the demons were at odds with each other until now is because the demons had an absolute safe zone called the demon world on their side. Demons can come to the human world freely, but humans are not allowed to enter the demon world. The battle is a one-sided invasion by the demon race. Until a few days ago. The humans have devised a way to break the warding of the demon world and have succeeded in sending in the brave men and women. I''m sure they didn''t anticipate that they would be subjected to an invasion, but they were too late to intercept the demons. That''s why the brave men, including me, racked up victories and the demon army took heavy damage. Moreover, this time, this was just a test case. The next time, an even more powerful army should surge in. ''''We have to prepare our defense system before then. ''Yes, sir. I''ll take care of the damaged soldiers and armaments. Please. As I said it, I made a small sigh under my mask. I will intercept the brave men who will be attacking again in three months©¤©¤. I don''t have much of a psychological discomfort with myself as a demon king to think from my position as a demon king. Is my mind now the same as a human''s? Or is it already a complete demon race©¤©¤? Well, you can worry about that later. Let''s move on to the next battlefield. There are four more invasion routes for the brave men to take. ''''The eastern region we''re heading to next is a windy place. Please hold on tightly so that you don''t get swept off your feet. Oh, yeah. I put my arm around Stella''s waist. As expected, though, I''m not going to be dogged like a teenager. ''''I........am being hugged by the Demon King.......'''' I heard Stella''s mumbling voice. ''Hmm, what''s up Stella?'' Huh...!¡¡I''m sorry, too. Stella''s voice rumbled. ''Is that so...?'' I am truly sorry for making such a statement as this. No, you don''t have to be so formal. Even though I''m a vassal, I''m more like a partner to you. Partner..... As soon as I said those words, my chest felt a painful pang. It reminded me of my former partner and beloved apprentice, Lyle. "Your words are too much for me, Demon King. Stella''s voice quivered. ''On me,'' See, you''re getting upset again. I chuckled. When Stella and I exchange words, that''s enough to make the pain in my chest from earlier fade away. It seems to soothe. ''Okay, for starters, you can call me Freed. ''What?¡¡Ehhh........? I suggested it without a care in the world to relieve Stella of her stiffness, but she''s strangely upset. ''Oh, it''s hard to show it in front of everyone, isn''t it? So how about we limit it to just the two of us? You''re calling me by my name? Stella''s the only one who can. So..... I turn around and Stella looks at me. ''Freed, sama...'' For some reason, that face was blushing. The eastern region is a grassland area. However, it''s not an idyllic landscape like the human world. Twisted and bizarre plants grew here and there, giving it an uncanny feeling. A few dozens of meters ahead, a huge man was standing. Around them, countless corpses. Dead bodies everywhere. "That guy... I scrunched up my expression under my mask. ''Master Freed?'' Stay back, Stella. I took a step forward. The wind flapped the hem of my robe. ''I know him.'' Although I had only seen his face, I was familiar with his heroic name. ''Brave Claudio - also known as ''Bloody (Bloody) Claudio''. The number of demon race defeats is one of the five fingers among the brave men of all time. He''s a fierce warrior. Hmm, that''s the Demon King. You''re not exactly what I''m told. Claudio looks at me, and the corner of his mouth hangs up in a grin. His gaze is around my hand. To be exact, on the Demon King''s crest floating on the back of my hand. ''I knew these guys wouldn''t be able to hold their teeth. Claudio laughed, baring his fanged canine teeth. He crushed the skull at his feet. ''''You©¤©¤'''' I clenched my fists at the neglect of the dead. "Demon King, I think you''re ready for a fight. "I''d like to challenge you to a fight as a warrior. "...if you''re a warrior, have you no respect for the people you''ve fought? ''Respect?¡¡To a demon?¡¡LOL! Demon Lord.........sir.......haha. Claudio thrust his sword at the demon in hand - to the one who was still barely breathing - to the demon in question. With a jerk, that demon tribe stopped moving. ''''There''s no need to pay respect to a worm. You....! His back teeth snapped just in time. ''Now he was mortally wounded anyway. I was just making it easier on him, okay? You''re just teasing me. ''A man who is with the Demon King is grieving for the death of a subordinate?¡¡Hmm, but I''ve lost a lot of people. Claudio held his great sword, which was larger than his height, in his right eye. ''All the other brave men have died to get here. ''Miracle Armament ''Arondite'', huh? I''ve heard that Claudio''s Miracle Armor has the ability to cut through everything it can shake by vibrating its edges. I had hoped to wipe out all the soldiers and then attack your castle next, but now I don''t have to. Let''s go out on a limb! Claudio raises his great sword and rushes forward. ''''Whoa, whoa, whoa! The ''Arondite'' was swung down along with the spirit of the rifle. ''''Dark Breaker.'''' With a spell, a black glow is created in front of me. It became a blade of light and flew straight out, intercepting the ''Arondite''. Crackle. It''s a high-pitched sound, and the Arondite is snapped off from the middle. The Miracle Armor is broken? Claudio looks astonished. The spell I just cast is a spell to destroy weapons. I tried it for the first time, but it seemed to be quite useful. ''''The monster........! "No respect for the insects, right? I put my hand in front of his eyes. I can feel my heart being painted black. It''s as if something is stagnating in the back of my chest. ''Well, wait...'' Claudio''s face contorts in fear. ''Help.........'' His muffled voice pleaded in a muffled voice, his face no longer showing the face of a fierce man of the past. ''''How many people have you killed who have begged for their lives like that? I tell them, I release a magic bullet. The black flash enveloped Claudio and before he could scream, he was gone. I''m going to have to repair the wards of this place, and then go to the next front with Stella. There were a few brave men there as well, but they were not my enemies. I wiped them out and closed the holes in the wards. I also get rid of the remaining two brave men and repair the holes in the warding. Thus, all five holes in the warding were sealed up. For now, it would be at least a first aid measure. The short battle for the defense of the Demon World was over, and Stella and I returned to the Demon King''s Castle. There was a lot of darkness. "Where is the way out... He keeps walking, at a loss for words. He was a boy with blond hair, blue eyes, and brilliant good looks. His memory was still muddled. Who am I? Why am I here? My mind is foggy and I can''t remember. ''Yes, I''ve got a master...'' Suddenly, a part of my memory starts to come back. "No, I killed Freed and then... With the memories that gradually became clearer, he - the brave Lyle stepped forward. 7 7 Triumph and daily life After returning to the Demon King''s Castle, I got off the Demon Dragon with Stella. In front of the main gate. "Demon King, it''s a triumphant return, isn''t it? A girl came running up to me, her red hair in a ponytail, shaking. It was Lilim, the captain of the castle guards. ''''Welcome home, Demon King-sama! You''re safe! The soldiers following behind him were all smiling. ''Thank you,'' I respond to them with a wave of my hand. It''s frustrating that I can''t smile at them because of my mask. Lilim and the soldiers surround me with happy faces. ''How was the battle, Demon King-sama?'' We won with no problem. I''ve filled up all the holes in the wards. That''s the devil king! Susuma-o, Susuma-o! Lilim and his friends frolic with riddle calls like last time. ''Refrain, you are in the presence of the Demon King. Stella told him coolly. ''I know you adore the Demon King, but you need to be moderate. Well, that''s fine. I like this kind of atmosphere better than the stuffy stuff too. But the Demon King''s majesty... You''re so serious, Stella. ''''Let''s see, being approached by the Demon King in person and in a friendly manner too - I think it would be very effective in boosting the morale of the soldiers. Isn''t that a bit of painful logic? ''I see. I suppose you have a point. I was able to convince him easily. ''''The Demon King has given his permission. I take back what I said before. I''m sorry. Stella bows to Lilim and others with a smile. Yes, I''m serious after all. And above all, he''s honest. Being a member of the Demon King''s entourage, Stella''s position should be one of the highest in the world of magic. But to have that straightforward apology to the soldiers. In the human world, I''ve never heard of such a person among the higher-ups I know. They were all the ones who looked down on people who were lower in status than them. ''Yay!¡¡The previous demon king was very strict about that kind of thing... Lilim held up her hands happily. ''''Oh yeah, and as punishment for being made to run a thousand laps around the Demon King''s Castle for talking privately while on duty. I know you took a pay cut for three months. I had my benefits cut out. That was a tough one... Some of the other soldiers were also in tears as they spoke. The previous Demon King Yulisha was so strict with those below him........ Thirty minutes later, I was in a room in the Demon King''s Castle with Stella. This is where we had discussed the future with each other before. ''''Now that we''ve finished repairing the wards, I''d like to move on to our next move. ''''You said that it looks like there won''t be any invasion by the brave men for another three months or so. In the meantime, let''s set up as much of the Demon World''s defense system as possible. Stella nods at my words. By the way, since it''s just the two of us, I took off my mask. It''s hard to breathe with a mask on, after all. It''s easier this way. You''re not going to be able to find out. First of all, we need to understand the strength of our forces. Well, under the Demon King, there are seven great demon warlords, and they control the armies under them, right? It''s mostly my knowledge as a brave man, so there may be some misunderstandings. ''Basically, I have no problem with that perception. Stella nodded. ''''However, as I said before, three of the demon army chiefs were killed in battle. Of the four remaining, two of them, except me, are in the human world, and the remaining one is missing after a battle with the brave men. The bottom line is that there is only one Demon Army Chief on my side, Stella. That Stella has not yet regained her fighting ability. "To begin with, it''s a fundamental question... I suddenly thought of something. How about if the brave men invade the demon world in three months'' time, I will fight them alone and drive them all away...? You''re saying that we can expect an attack by the thousands or even tens of thousands, right?¡¡Even for a demon king... no, not even for Master Freed. Oh, as I said before, you call me by my name when we''re alone. ...well, um... What''s up, Stella? ''No, I''m still not used to calling you by your name. It''s a little embarrassing. Stella''s cheeks flushed and she squirmed. As cool as she was on the outside, the gap between the two was adorable. I''ll continue the conversation.'''' Yeah. ''''It''s true that Lord Fried-sama has an ability that''s outstanding compared to previous Demon Kings. I''d say he''s an order of magnitude higher. And, Stella. ''''But........even though you are Freed-sama, there is a limit to how many brave people you can deal with by yourself. ''Hmmm ... that''s true too.'' It''s impossible for me to cover the whole wide world of the demon world on my own. It is quite possible that while I was fighting, a brave man invaded from another place and massacred the demons. The best thing to do is to gather as many strong guys as possible and set up a solid defense system. I won''t be the strongest and most invincible, and the entire demon world will be equipped with a strong defense force. If that happens, the humans won''t be able to attack us easily. It would be best if a battle didn''t happen as is. It''s not that I want to conquer the human world. However, as it stands now, the demon world will continue to be invaded in the future. Humans'' hatred and avoidance of the demon race is deep-rooted. It''s the same for me. ........or should I say, it was. Ending the fight is not an easy thing to do. In fact, it could be called a dream come true. "Master Freed? It''s nothing. First, I''m going to do what I can, one thing at a time. For now, I''m going to protect the ones I want to protect as far as I can see. Whether it''s a demon or a human... After that, Stella and I continued to discuss the defense system of the demon world for several hours. "©¤©¤For now, that''s the basic policy. Is there anything else I should do? ''''We have the Demon Lord''s normal business to attend to, but what should we do? Business as usual? I''ll get it for you. Stella walked out of the room once and came right back in. She placed a large amount of documents on the desk. ''''........What''s this?'''' I pull a face. It''s a pile of papers more than three meters high. ''''The fight with the heroes delayed the king''s workload, so...'''' Stella explains with an apologetic look on her face. ''''I have a few documents piling up that are waiting to be settled. A little...?¡¡This......... I picked up the topmost document. "Well I have no idea. Sure, I know what it says. But I didn''t understand the applications for public works projects, the budget resolutions of various ministries and agencies, so I didn''t know what was going on. To begin with, I''ve been fighting demons as a brave man since I was a teenager. I''ve never done the paperwork itself. ''''Since you suddenly became the Demon King, I''m afraid it would be difficult to understand everything from the beginning. Stella offered her help. ''How about we just ask you to stamp them for now while you get used to them. I''ve already gone through all of these documents.'' Oh, Stella competent! When did I get that kind of job? ''The point is, you''re just going to have to stamp around. That''s a relief. Thank you, Stella. Yes? ''Because honestly, I have no idea what''s going on here. I''m glad Stella was there for me. I laugh bitterly. ''Keep up the good work.'' "I will serve the Witch King with all my heart and soul. Stella bowed her head deeply. So, the Demon King''s normal business begins. For the time being, it is the process of putting a stamp on a document incessantly. .........I paid attention to the contents of the documents, but I still didn''t really understand them. ''Oh well, I guess I''ll just have to learn it all by heart. Still, there is a lot of paperwork. ''''Stella has seen all this........'''' You are awesome. I''m sorry, man. "I''m sorry, man, this must be hard for you. My Demon Lord...? It''s really all my job. I mean, I''m sure Stella''s too busy... I bow to Stella. ''I''m not good at this kind of work, but I''ll do my best to learn it as quickly as I can. ''Master Freed has just been sworn in as the Demon King. And you don''t have to be good at everything. If there are areas of weakness, we can help you find them. Stella smiles. ''You have thought of us, protected us and fought for us - you have fulfilled your most important and precious duty as a king. I''m.... He just couldn''t overlook the one who was being hurt in front of him. Whether they were people or demons. I didn''t want to see the strong trample the weak. That''s all. ''''I am happy to serve you. I''ll be happy to assist you to the best of my ability.'''' A king''s duty, huh? To be honest, it still doesn''t make sense to me, but.... And also - whether or not I''ll continue to live as the Demon King from now on, although I haven''t reached a conclusion. For the sake of Stella and the others, I''ll do my best. 8 8 Feast Roooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! A roar echoed through the village square. Ahead of me, there was a dragon covered in black metallic armor. A psshhhhhhh, intermittent heat exhaustion was occurring from the gap in the armor. I''ve come here after receiving word that a mechanized dragon - an autonomous type of Miracle Armor - is attacking the village on the outskirts of the demon king''s castle. I didn''t know that there was an individual who had escaped the homing ray. I fired a hundred shots at the homing ray before and wiped out the autonomous Miracle Armor. But it seems that there was an individual that was killed. Does it look different from the one we''ve seen before, was it self-evolving? Or it could be a different autonomous type than the one we saw before. ''Master Freed, we have completed the evacuation of the villagers. Stella came to my side. ''Thank you for your help. Stay back. I told him, and I stepped towards the dragon. ''Now all we have to do is take care of this one. The dragon tells me in a voice that sounds like iron creaking. The Miracle Armor before this didn''t have the ability to talk, and I guess it''s a self-evolved individual after all. ''You''re the one who''s going to disappear,'' It unleashes lightning magic. The dazzling golden ball of light swallowed the black dragon''s huge body - and made it disappear in an instant. In an instant, it was annihilated. With the huge explosion, a crater with a radius of several dozen meters was created. "I tried to keep the power in check, but it''s pretty gaily gouged... I didn''t want to destroy the buildings in the village too much. ''''Oh, the Demon King has saved our village! ''''Thank you, Demon King, thank you! With a shout of joy, the villagers ran from their shelter. ''''Wow, wow, this is the Demon Lord''s advanced magic.......! What a thunderbolt. The villagers are groaning when they see the crater. ........By the way, that''s not ''Mega Thunder'', that''s just ''Thunder''. It''s a basic spell that isn''t advanced or anything, but with my magic power, it can kill even the Miracle Armor. ''''It''s brilliant, Demon King. As the villagers returned, Stella''s call had gone from ''Freed-sama'' to ''Demon King-sama''. ''Defeat is complete. Let''s go back, Stella. I turned my back on the villagers. "Let''s get rid of the rest of the paperwork. With all due respect, would you mind if I had a word? Stella lined up at my side and said. ''What?'' ''''Your Majesty has been working very hard since the other day. I suggest you take some time off. Rest.... It''s true that ever since I was reborn as a demon king, I''ve felt like I''ve been going through the motions every day. I don''t feel any fatigue, perhaps because my physical strength has increased dramatically since I was a human, but I''m not particularly tired. It''s a good idea to have a party. Stella suggests. ''Party?'' ''''It''s a consolation for the Demon King and a celebration of his victory in the battle against the brave men. Okay, that sounds good. Well, I''ll take care of the details, if you don''t mind. Please. In the blink of an eye, Stella has quickly and deftly set up the venue, cooked, arranged the entertainment, and sorted out the invitees. I wouldn''t have been able to do it myself. You''re really good at this. Thank you, sir. At my words, Stella bowed her head reverently. Three days later, we held a party at the Demon King''s Castle. A party is not as formal as in the human world. It was a casual affair, like drinking with like-minded friends in a town tavern. Ministers, aristocrats, the SS, guards, and even nearby residents of the demon tribe have gathered and are drinking here and there. ''''Demon King-sama, come on, have a drink. Lilim, the castle guard captain, came over and poured me a drink. ''Oh, thank you.'' This is the first time I''ve ever had a drink from the demon world. The skull-shaped cup is a bit spooky. The purple liquor that''s poured into it is pretty spooky too. I only took off my masked mouth. Stella had altered the mask to fit the feast. She really is a witty aide. ''''Which........'''' I fanned my cup. "That''s it! It is sweet on the palate, yet full-bodied. It soaks into your body comfortably and brings a sweet uplifting feeling. The sake from the demon world is good too. It''s just as good in the human world as it is in the human world. ''''Fuhihihi, it''s a top-grade product prepared for the Demon King. Well, I''ll give you something back. This time I poured it for Lilim. He''s already drunk, this guy. "Demon Lord, you did a wonderful job the other day, you were really wonderful! I was so moved... Plus, it''s kind of out of tune. "You may be rude, but you''re still the Demon King. Have some sense of decorum, Lilim. Stella came over and warned me. ''Oh, excuse me, Miss Stella~'' Totally.... hey, watch your step. Sighing, Stella supports the wobbly Lilim as she does so. ''If you''re not feeling well, can I get you some water? Ha-ha, I''m feeling great. Lady Stella, gosh darn it. Lilim poured Stella a drink. ''''Hmm. Stella is glamorous as she fires up her cup and breathes lightly. ''Come on, one more cup.'' Hmm.... Stella, who pouted small, was even more lustrous. Her eyebrows dropped slightly, and her cheeks were slightly tinted©¤©¤. "Fufu, Demon King-sama... She rubbed up against me in a somewhat indulgent tone that was not her usual style. ''''Stella...?'''' ''I would never wear such a horrible mask in a drinking session... ugh...'' He strokes my mask with his hand. ''You made me put this on, didn''t you? Let''s see your true colors. No, that''s not good........it''s shifting. My mask is shifting......... "Mmm-hmm. Stella mischievously grabs the edge of my mask and pulls it away. She''s not like her usual cool demeanor. She has the innocence of a girl her age. "....Are you drunk? I''m not drunk, okay? Stella is laughing and laughing at me. "I''m a genius at getting people drunk. What''s wrong with your tone of voice? First, the Lilimu. I''ll start with a softball. "Captain, you''re a slime, of course you can do that. It''s bent over more than usual. Over there, Lilim was in a slime state, wiggling and transforming his body. It''s like a party trick. Lively and fun. And. ...your sudden appointment to the throne, demon king. Suddenly I heard a murmur with a stinging tone. ''''What........?'''' I look around. In one corner of the hall, a few beast-type demons had gathered. Their expressions, glancing in my direction, were extremely grim. ''''Abilities Gear.'''' I sneaked in a spell. This thing has the effect of amplifying all five senses and motor skills in general. I limited its effect and only increased my hearing several times. And what I heard was... Hey, come on. You don''t even know who''s listening. ''''Hmm, it was a drinking game. Besides, do you think the new Demon King will be able to come out strong against us, the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegert-sama''s bosom swordsmen? "Unlike his predecessor, Yulisha, who was so bitter, this new demon king seems to be more moderate. But I hear you''re a good fighter. Hmph, it''s not about strength. It''s about courage. Stupid, stupid demon king... Hmmm, well, I''m a rude person when it comes to drinking. I''m not a bloodthirsty teenager either. I don''t feel good about it, but I''ll let it pass. .........but still, it''s a bit annoying. ''''In general, from the point of view of his strength, the next Demon King is, by all accounts, our ally - Zegert-sama. How did he end up with a demon of unknown origin? But he''s got the devil''s armband in his hand. A sigil in the hands of an unworthy person, sooner or later... As planned, Master Zegert will be the new King of the......... As for the rest of the meeting... Their voices became even quieter, and soon even their enhanced hearing was inaudible. No, they seemed to have finished the conversation itself. ''''Well I''m curious. I don''t mind saying the wrong thing about me. But the last thing those guys said to me... I could smell a conspiracy. 9 9 Rebellion conspiracy Is there some kind of conspiracy going on here? I growled a little under my mask. Should I question them? Or should I just let them swim away? ''''My Demon Lord, what''s wrong with you? Stella squeezed my arm. ''Stella, wait a minute. Now... Oh, there you are! As I was about to move away, more Lilim came running up to me. ''''Ehehe, I''m squishy~'''' It''s almost like an amoeba, almost a human form, twisting around me. Isn''t this guy getting drunker and drunker...? "Demon Lord-sama~ I have plump, elastic slime skin~. Doesn''t it feel great~ That does feel good. I don''t mean that. "Demon Lord, please help me with this. Stella also clings to my arm, stronger and stronger. ''I usually hold back that I have to support her as an aide, but I really want to get to know her more... demon king-sama? Stella stares at me with her troubled eyes. ''''I''m sorry, but can you two step away for a moment?'''' When I glanced at the guys from earlier, they were about to move to another place. ''''Demon King-sama, look, look~. My body stretches like this~ ''''Demon King, I don''t want you to hang out with the Lilim all the time...'''' He was sandwiched between Lirim and Stella, blocking him from moving. In the meantime, they disappeared into the exit. He glances back at me for a moment and directs an intense gaze at me. A gaze filled with obvious hostility©¤©¤. A few days later, in the Demon King''s office. "As ordered, I have investigated their backgrounds, my Demon Lord. Stella reported. The list given to her contained the names and official positions of the three demon clans. They were the beast-type demon race, and they were all under the command of the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegert. ''''What kind of guy is Zegert?'''' I asked Stella. ''We''re invading the human world now, as I recall, aren''t we? ''''Yes, he should currently be fighting in the southern continent with an army of beast-type demon clans. We''ve been slow to contact them for the past month or so. And Stella. ''''He is a member of the Demon King''s entourage - one of the Seven Great Demon Commanders and a former Demon King candidate. Demon King... candidate? There are two main reasons why the king of the demon world is replaced. There are two main reasons why kings of the demon world are replaced: one is when their power wanes and they hand over the throne to a new one, and the other is when the king dies and the next king is chosen. The other is when the king dies and a new king is chosen. My case is the latter. ''''Yes. In this case, the Demon King''s coat of arms held by the former king will be automatically transferred to the one who is fit to be the next king. On the other hand, in the former case, the former king''s will will will be decided by the former king''s will, and one of the candidates will be chosen from among several to take over the coat of arms. Stella explains. ''''The two previous kings were approaching old age and it was decided to choose a new Demon King. The candidates for that choice were Lady Yulisha and Zegert, who was the head of the Demon Army at the time. So that''s when Zegert was voted out of office. ''''Yes. Even after that, Zegart seemed to be quite attached to the Demon King''s position...'''' And yet, this time he was not chosen as the Demon King. "The sigil in the hands of an unworthy person will soon be... "As planned, Master Zegert will become the new king of the... "Later on in the meeting I''ll tell you about it... Okay, that might lead to some of their speculative conversations at the party. ''Zegert wants to be my Demon King, is that right? It''s... Stella stammered for a moment. It''s possible, I suppose. I told him with a grim face. ''He''s had all sorts of shady tricks up his sleeve before. Well, it''s the same with the human world. "When the demon world itself was in danger after the battle with the brave men, they probably didn''t have the time to make such a move. But now that the restoration of the wards has been completed and a certain amount of stability has been achieved©¤©¤ Zegert may have started a new strategy. We need to figure out what they''re doing. ''Then we''ll have them follow you. We''ll let you know as soon as we have any suspicious activity. Please. And then it was the weekend night. When Stella told me they were on the move, I left the castle. With Stella and a few men in tow, I head for them. Their meeting place is a deserted mansion on the outer edge of the city below the castle. It''s as if they are meeting in seclusion. Stella and her soldiers are to wait here. Come to me when I give you the signal. I made the girls wait near the mansion and I approached them alone. With my strength, it doesn''t matter if I''m caught by surprise. On the other hand, if you approach with a large group of people, you might get caught off guard. Because the first objective is to find out what they''re after first. ''''Abilities Gear.'''' When I got to the front of the mansion, I hid in the shadows and improved my hearing. And then I hear their voices©¤©¤. I''m asking you to keep an eye out for the Demon King for a while. "Yes, she did say good things about us. When the heroes attacked through the hole in the warding, they deliberately shortened the path to the Demon King''s Castle. ''''As planned, it was fine until one of the brave men defeated the first king, but...'''' ''Ah, it was a miscalculation that the next king was not chosen by Master Zegert, but a demon tribe of unknown origin. ''''Zegert-sama is the strongest warrior in the demon world. If Yulisha disappears, I was sure that Zegert-sama would be the next to become the Demon King... "If that happens, Master Zegert will make a triumphant return to the demon world from the human world. The brave men will be packed up and put away, and the demon world will be saved - we should have been captured by our overlords. "Hmm, the current Demon King won''t be long before he steps down. Hmmm, that''s a good one. And now the Demon King will be crowned Lord Zeggert. Well, that''s a very disturbing story. If this story is true, then the reason me, Lyle and the other brave men reached the Demon King''s castle is because of their manipulation, isn''t it? It''s true that there weren''t many defenders on the road leading to the Demon King''s, I thought it was odd, but....... ''''Well, the rest will have to wait until Zegert-sama comes back. ''''Fortunately, the new Demon King has repaired all the wards. It''s unlikely that the brave men will invade the demon world for the time being. "Act now while we can, and before the next great battle, our leader, Lord Zeggert, will be our new king... Not so fast. If you listen to the story so far, the disgust is more than enough. The story of the party alone might be reopened as drunken nonsense, but this is indeed a level that cannot be excused. All that''s left is to catch and interrogate him. "''Thunder,'' I shoot a thunderbolt that is narrowed down to the very edge of its power. The door is blown to pieces with a loud explosion. At the same time, the surrounding walls also crumble to pieces. I''ve reduced the power to an extremely small amount, but it''s difficult to blow up only the door. The drawback of my attack magic is that it''s too powerful and difficult to control. ........Well, it would be a disaster if the entire mansion disappeared or became so powerful that the surrounding area became a wilderness, so this is a good thing. I stepped over the rubble and entered the mansion. The current explosion should be the signal for Stella and the others to surround the place. ''What''s going on!'' They come out of the back room as if surprised. "Well, Demon King...? Why are you here...? Hi, hi... I know exactly what you guys are up to. I tell them gravely and look around at the three of them in turn. They all have pale faces. They may underestimate me behind my back, but they''re still afraid of me in this situation. "I''m going to remind you of something. "Let''s show them who you are dealing with. I ducked the hem of my robe and said arrogantly. "The power of the Lord of the demons is mine. 10 10 Skull swordsman Demon King! Stella came from behind me. ''''The siege of the compound is complete. Thank you. That''s what I''m talking about, Stella. Surrender. I want to ask you a few questions. I pronounce it again. ''''You understand that there is no point in standing up to this demon king, don''t you?¡¡And I also blocked the escape. Under the circumstances, all they would have to do is surrender. In this kind of situation, you have to use force. One of them groaned in a trembling voice. ''We''ll have to cut out the bloodline........'' But you''re dealing with a demon king and a demon army chief... ''''There are three of us. As long as we don''t give them a chance to use their magic, we, the beastmen, should be more capable of fighting a white army than them....... The three of them consulted with each other in a disturbing manner. In the next moment, their bodies bulged out from within. One of them transformed into a wolf, one into a tiger, and the rest into a hawk beastman. They split up in front and left and right, approaching me from three directions. ''''Paralyze!'''' Me chanting the paralysis spell. ''''Ugh, ka, my body is going numb...?'''' In an instant, they collapsed on the spot. ''Reveal everything you''re up to. I look at the three of them. If not you will pay for it with your own life. With as much Demon King-like dignity as possible. ''''Hi, hi........'''' Oh, help me, Your Majesty, your Majesty.... The three of them had a frightened look on their faces as they realized that there was indeed nothing they could do about it. ''''Please have mercy........'''' If you tell them, they will kill you... "Our leader is a brutal man, please help him... Maybe they''re more afraid of the Beast Emperor Zegert than they are of me. Now, how do we get them to talk to us? I was pondering, and that''s when the question arose. Suddenly, a dazzling white light floods the edge of my vision. What...? Is this...? In front of an astonished me and Stella. ''Geeeeee........'' The demons dried up with a scream. In the blink of an eye, all three of them turned to ashes and disappeared. "Energy drain.........?¡¡This power is........ Stella groaned. ''I beg your pardon, Demon King,'' Suddenly, I turned around to hear a voice. The person standing there was a warrior wearing an old-fashioned silver armor. He must be nearly two meters tall. The face peeking out from underneath the helmet was the very definition of a skull. ''''What do you mean, Maj. Gen. Regal?'''' Stella glared at the swordsman in the skull. ........Regal? So this is a member of the Demon Lord''s entourage - the Lord Undead Regal? "You killed him before you could interrogate him. What kind of weapons they might be hiding. Regal told him in a matter-of-fact manner. ''''So, just in case, I thought it was a bad idea to kill the demon king before he came to harm. ...Is that really all you have to say? Stella''s expression grew harder and harder. It''s not the same as the tone she used when talking to me or to Lilim and the others. It was a stern atmosphere, as if she was facing an enemy. ''''What do you mean, Maj. Gen. Stella?'''' I''m asking if it''s a bad idea for them to be alive. Stella''s gaze is cold to all intents and purposes. ''''For example, they''re planning something in collusion with Zegart©¤©¤or something like that. Hey, Stella. Do you think that this skeletal monster tribe is part of the conspiracy? .........Then, all around us are enemies, isn''t it? I look at Stella and Regal in turn while building up the tension. ''''I don''t know what you''re talking about. I was only concerned for the Demon Lord''s safety first. That Regal told him flatly and turned to me. ''''I''m pleased to meet you for the first time, Demon King. I am Regal Vana Sentora, one of the Seven Great Demon Army Chiefs. I have just returned from an invasion of the human world. Regal takes off his helmet and bows. "...I''m glad to see you back, Regal. I look forward to working with you from now on. I regained my composure and told him in a relaxed manner. The seven great demon warlords. They are the seven demon tribes that have the strongest power in the demon world and serve as the entourage of the demon king. Three of them were defeated in the earlier invasion of the brave men. Of the four remaining people, Stella is on my side, Zeggert the Beast Emperor (Gigantroar) and Regal the Lord Undead (Lord Undead) have gone to the human world, and the remaining Feria the Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm) has disappeared after a battle with the heroes. That Regal has returned from the human world........ ''''I was leading my subordinate, the Immortal Family, to attack the place the humans call the Eastern Continent. Regal reports. "The humans have had their fair share of warriors, and their men have suffered many casualties. In the end, however, our forces defeated them and defeated the three kingdoms. "Three kingdoms... I clench my fists almost subconsciously. A lot of people must have been killed. Not only the brave men, but probably other soldiers and civilians as well-- I''ve deployed my entourage there, and since the war situation has stabilized, I''ve returned to the demon world. In addition to reporting the situation, I also heard that the previous Demon King, Yulisha-sama, had been killed. A red light dwells in the eye sockets of the skeleton. The light in Regal''s eyes catches me sharply. ''''I would like to assess the new Demon King. Determine...? I''m afraid I wanted to see firsthand if I was fit to be king. His tone was polite, but Regal''s words were filled with a strong sense of intimidation. This guy''s stepping on my shoulders...? Rude! Stella shouted in anger. ''''First, the Demon King-sama will have the Demon King''s crest as a sign of his inheritance. What about it? Regal scoffed his chin against Stella. ''What...! The presence or absence of a coat of arms is of little consequence. I will only accept you if you are worthy of my service. Saying, the skull swordsman turns to me. ''That''s what happened to the previous king, Yulisha-sama. Harsh and sometimes brutal - it was also the strength of a king. What about you, Master Freed? Regal...? ''''It seems that your subjects have come to adore you. That kind of expression on Maj. Gen. Stella''s face, at least I''ve never seen it before. She was like ice, but now she''s like a girl her age. What do you mean...? Stella blushed. ''''Wha, wha, I''m not....................'''' I don''t know why I''m a bit mopey. This must be by the virtue of Mr. Freed. Taking one look at her, Regal told her matter-of-factly. ''''If it were a world of peace, that would be fine. But now is a time of war. I believe that the quality needed for a king is not kindness but strength. The intimidating feeling of blowing was even more intense. This guy...! "Therefore, I fear I will test you. It is with great impudence that we shall find out. The sword at his waist, drawn. It''s a long sword with a snarky design, as if it were made up of countless bones. "If you call it a sin, condemn me to death, do what you will, Master Freed. The killing spirit that was blowing at me was real. I see, a warrior type that speaks more with the sword than words. Then there was only one thing to do. "........Let''s go, Regal. I tell him quietly and brace myself. "See for yourself. You''ll see for yourself what a king I am. And you''ll see what you''re made of. 11 １１ Demon King VS Immortal King I was facing Regal with my sword drawn. ''Regal, what are you doing!¡¡Against the Demon King! Why is this a surprise to you?¡¡I''ve always done this. The most important thing - I will always use my own sword to test it. That''s all. Regal says to Stella, who raises her voice. A warrior to the core, huh? I have mixed feelings about the story of how he destroyed three kingdoms in the human world, but.... But for now, let''s just focus on the fight against this guy. Stella, it''s okay. Just stay back. But, my dear Demon King. This is your ''dialogue'' in your own way, Regal. Goodbye. I am going to kill you, sir. Regal held a long sword designed to look like a combination of countless bones. The seamless stance is as good as it gets. ''''Come.'''' I''m here! He announced and kicked the floor, Regal. It''s not possible to believe that he''s wearing heavy metal armor, it''s a tremendous speed. I guess he''s trying to close the gap between me and the magic-focused fighters. "''Energy Drain''. But when you think about it, a pale white light starts to leak out from Regal''s whole body. As soon as I touched that light, my strength drained from my body. This is the energy drain? This is a life-force-absorbing spell used by undead (undead) demons. "It''s too defenseless. You''re too defenseless... huh? It''s nothing to worry about. I put up a magic barrier and told him. It''s just a spell. They can''t penetrate my magical defenses. But it''s more physically demanding than I thought. "Then this is it... Regal accelerated further and slammed his bone sword towards me. With a clank, there was a metallic sound, and Regal''s slash was easily rebounded. ''''It''s useless. Neither physics nor magic can penetrate my barriers.'''' I defend myself, but release an attack spell as a check. But Regal''s reaction is sharp. Flames, lightning, water streams, and earthen spears. With a single sword, I blow them all away. ''''Let''s return to that line as it was. No magic is useless before my sword,'''' Strong.... I couldn''t help but gasp in admiration. As expected of a demon army chief, I should say. In addition to swordplay and current reactions, he also controls spells like energy drain, and is an extremely troublesome warrior if you turn him into an enemy. If it were only simple combat power, he might have surpassed Yulisha the First King. Why did such a Regal approve of Yulisha? The "strength" this guy talks about is not just an individual''s ability to fight. Then what kind of "strength" do I have to show? I''m different from Yurisha, my strength. If I can get them to recognize that, will Regal become a loyal servant of the Demon King? To be one of the key players in the defense of the demon world©¤©¤. "Why hasn''t he attacked us, Master Freed? The sharpness of Regal''s slash has increased. Although it couldn''t break my magic barrier, a shockwave blasted out with each swing of the sword. The walls of the mansion shattered and blew away. ''''There''s no reason for you to hurt my entourage. I just want to assess your power. Just as you try to assess me.'''' You don''t want to hurt me, I suppose. You''re very kind. A slight sneer laced Regal''s voice. ''''If you were Lady Yulisha, you would have attacked me with the intention of killing me. "...I''m not the same king as the last one. Yes, it''s too warm! Regal''s arms suddenly disappeared. No, no. A killing atmosphere appears behind him. When I turned around, there was only a bony arm and a long sword. You took advantage of your skeletal body, separated both arms and flew them behind me! ''Hellblade''! A long sword with a glow of magic power was struck. There was a snapping sound and a crack in the magic barrier. ''''Fire!'''' I turn around, undo the barrier and release a fireball. Both arms and the sword of bone are instantly burned and melted. And one more shot - this time to Regal, who has lost his arm. "Ouch! The skull swordsman instantly regenerated both arms and bone swords while backstepping. He easily cut both sides of the approaching fireball. ''''Why the lowest level spells and such. You could have slaughtered me if you released a more powerful spell.'''' Even if you say so, the Demon King''s power is too powerful. Even the "fire" just now, if you fail to control it, the people around you could be harmed. "You''re going to go easy on me.......are you trying to play me for a fool, Mr. Freed! But that seemed to spark Regal''s anger. Maybe it''s a warrior-like personality, but he doesn''t like the fact that I''m saving my strength. ''You are strong ... but too sweet.'' Regal rushed forward again and swung his sword. How am I supposed to fight? While hesitating, he deployed his magic barrier again. The slash is easily repelled. "The iron law of battle is to kill before you are killed - I have lived for thousands of years on such a battlefield. Regal doesn''t flinch. No matter how many times his attacks are played, he never gives up and comes at you. You understand the difference in power, but it''s a great fighting spirit. ''''The current situation in the demon world is the same. You have immense fighting ability. I can tell just by the signs. Perhaps even compared to Yulisha-sama and the previous demon kings, the power that is separated from them - hahaha! Six consecutive blows that almost seemed to have altered the tip of the sword. Another crack appeared in the magic barrier. This guy is so good©¤©¤. "But why don''t you attack the human world? I''ll let you alone destroy the humans! ''It just creates a cycle of killing each other. And I want to stop it. The Demon King''s power is too strong. If a battle were to take place in the human world now, it would cause a great deal of damage before it could get to peace or a ceasefire. The uncontrollable power would sow great destruction in the human world. ''''I say that is naive! Regal wielded his long sword. The sword''s snarled blade, which looked like a combination of bones, was coated with purple magic power. Is he going to unleash an all-out strike? ''''Energy Hand.'''' Aiming for that momentary opening, he created a magic hand and caught Regal. ''''d*mn, this is........'''' He crashed through the roof of the mansion and pulled it up to about twenty meters in the air. ''''Fire Arrow.'''' Then he releases an arrow of flame. The lowest level spell©¤©¤ although its power is enough to wipe out a mountain©¤©¤ but it is a flame spell that is one rank higher than the lowest level spell©¤©¤ but it is a flame spell. ''''Gah........aaaaah...! With a cry of agony, Regal''s body exploded. Countless bones fell and scattered on the ground. Nevertheless, the skull swordsman still regenerated back to normal. ''''I told you it was sweet.......As long as I, the undead, do not completely disappear I will regenerate like this as often as I can.'''' Yeah, I know. I had to squeeze the power out of the shot so it could regenerate. Then you''ll have to make up for that laxity. I looked at Regal. My gaze through the mask collided with the red eye light that straddled the skull''s eye sockets, sending little sparks flying. ''Fight under me, Regal. I announced and raised my right hand up to the sky. I could see the black sky through the hole left by the earlier exchange. The sky of the demon world, where there is no sunshine at all. The sky, which symbolizes the dark anxiety that surrounds the entire demon world. ''''Megafire!'''' To the heavens, I''m going to unleash The Demon Lord''s most powerful flame spell. "This is... Regal found himself gasping for air. The black sky was filled with crimson light. The magic world, where there is no such thing as sunshine, is filled with a radiance that is more dazzling than the sun. "This is Freed-sama''s........power. This is the power of Mr. Freed''s.... Looking up at the red sky, Regal murmured. ''''Well I still don''t see your vessel.'''' Turning to me, the skull swordsman took a small breath. ''''Let''s admit that you are indeed capable of separation. I could also feel the strength of will. However, that idea is still naive... Then you''re on my side from now on. Can we just suspend judgment for now? "...You, my king, are... "If you don''t think I''m fit to be king, then go ahead and try again. I''ll accept. Regal was silent for a moment. So for now I give you my sword, my demon king, Mr. Freed. He knelt at my feet and gave me a deep bow. Seems to have received some recognition. Tentatively - but. 12 12 Ability test I''m looking forward to your work. Regal. I nodded hawkishly to Regal, who swore an oath of allegiance. ''I''ve repaired all the holes in the wards that the brave men invaded. There won''t be any invasion for a while, and I''d like to ask you and Stella to reorganize the army. "As the king wills. Regal kneels down and bows his head once more. ''''Some of the brave men kill the demon race in a way that teases them. A lot of damage was done in the last battle as well. I want to protect them this time.'''' It reminded me of those who enjoyed killing demons as if it was a game. I didn''t want to see that scene again. ''''That''s very kind of you, Demon Lord. I just want to prevent someone else from suffering and grieving. When I was a hero, and now that I''ve become the Demon King my heart is still the same. "If it is the king''s decree, I will defend this Regal with my life. Please. Well, I think I''ll take my leave... but first, may I ask you something? Regal stood up and looked me straight in the eye. ''What,'' Those brave men who invaded the demon world may still be hiding in it. May I take my men and hunt them out? In the battle the other day, the brave men I saw were either defeated by me or driven away to the human world. But surely that might not be all of them. ''''Okay. Perhaps the man who avenged Yuliesha''s death may be among them. I shall offer up his head at the grave of Yulisha the First. I had the illusion that the skull''s eye light was piercing me through my mask. ©¤ - Regal left, and Stella took care of the aftermath. I wanted to find out what their machinations were, but they all disappeared. What is the Beast Emperor Zegert planning to do? We''ll just have to find out about that in the future. As for Regal, it''s only a tentative one, although he has sworn allegiance to me at least. The path of the Demon King is a very difficult one to navigate. No, to begin with... Am I going to continue on the path as the Demon King? Should I continue on this path? It may still be a little while before a firm answer comes out in me. The next morning, I was advancing through the wilderness. A female warrior with red hair in a ponytail was walking next to me. It''s Lilim, the captain of the castle''s guard. This is the royal capital of the demon world with the Demon King''s Castle at its center©¤©¤the wilderness area that stretches outside of it. There are other wooded areas, as well as areas of scorching heat and extreme cold. Outside of the city, it seems that nature is quite harsh. I''m not familiar with the geography of the demon world either. Although I''ve been learning from Stella in the intervals of her work as a demon king, she''s also busy, so.... The reason I asked Lilim to follow me today is because I didn''t want to add to her busy schedule. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a lot more space than I expected. I think we can try our magic to our heart''s content here. I paused, looking out over the red wilderness that stretched all around me. ''Isn''t there an urban area up ahead?'' I ask Lilim. ''There''s only the Mountains of Despair and the Abyssal Waterfall on the other side. It''s all nature.'' Lilim answers my question. Every place name is frightening. This is the demon world..... Then let''s get started. You can also use it as a tool to help you with your business. I''m not going to get caught in the middle. Yes, sir. And just in case you get attacked. It''s Rikai. I''ll show you what a captain can do! Lilim raises his fist and shouts cheerfully. Well, if the enemy actually comes, I''ll kill them all in the blink of an eye. ©¤ ©¤ The purpose of coming here was to test the Demon King''s power all over again. At any rate, as soon as I was reborn, I didn''t have time to settle down to fight the brave men, do my job as a demon king, expose the conspiracy, and fight a battle with Regal... Eventually, the wards would be broken and the invasion of the humans would resume. Before that, I wanted to know a lot about my abilities. The reason why I came to the deserted wilderness is because if I do it in the royal capital, it could cause damage. The Demon King''s destructive magic is too powerful. ''''Magic Wall.'''' First of all, a barrier of magic power was put up for several kilometers square. Even if the magic we tested with this was more powerful than expected, the power would not leak outside the wards. "So, first of all...''Fire'' Basic magic in place of a review. A fireball explodes in the wilderness, creating a huge crater with a huge explosion. It''s amazing... Lilim gulped. ''It''s Sasumao,'' A simple basic spell can become more powerful than even the highest level of magic when unleashed by the Demon King''s immense magical power. "Now, let''s try this superlative magic. Huffing out a breath, I focused my magic power. This is the highest level of fire-based magic that I fired into the sky during the battle with Regal. Since it''s dangerous to fire it at maximum power, I''ll limit the power to about 10% for now. ''''Megafire!'''' A blast of fire and explosions on a scale that was incomparable to the previous one filled the field of vision. The dirt popped and blew away at a furious pace. They hit the "Magic Wall" that I had put up and rained down as a rain of dirt. And me and the surroundings of Lilim and my... For several square kilometers the ground had deep gouged and caved in, completely changing the terrain. No, no. That''s not all - that''s not all. What''s this? It wasn''t just the terrain, the whole area was covered in a black blur of some sort. I didn''t really understand it because I shot into the sky last time, but ''mega-fire'' can cause this kind of phenomenon? Could it be that........this is a whole space being carved away........? I tried to touch the black blur, but there was no sign of it disappearing. ''''Heeee........Demon Lord, what happened.......?¡¡I''m sure it''s just a great idea, but... Probably incinerated and erased on a spatial level. I answer the trembling Lilim. ''''The power is outrageous, but if it''s not in a place like this, it''s going to cause damage to our allies as well.......'''' You have to be careful about how you use that wide-ranging large-fire magic. I made a firm promise to myself. "For now, let''s just look for an attack magic that can be used within the royal city. Something with high power and a small area of effect. I stared at the list of spells I was learning for a while. There''s a spell picked out that''s roughly in line with what I want, but they all have their strengths and weaknesses. And. Oh, this is nice. I found a certain spell and I muttered. The area of effect is, as the name suggests, only the area cut by the knife. This will keep your allies out of it. Let''s try it now. "Gravity Knife! With a spell, a black knife appeared in my right hand. When I cut with it, it seems to generate super gravity there. I lightly slashed at my feet. Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! With a roar, the place turns black. ''''Hmm...?'''' I don''t know what''s going on here. Sasmao...? Lilim was also nodding his head. Without actually slaying the enemy, it''s hard to say how effective it is. Let''s hold off on this one. After that, I tried a few more spells. But the high-powered ones are generally broad, while the type that affects limited space is not as destructive as it could be (although it would still be possible to kill an ordinary enemy instantly). It''s hard to find a spell like this. ''I guess I''ll just have to look for it steadily every day. After finishing today''s spell test, I returned to the Demon King''s Castle. ''''Welcome back, Demon King-sama. When I returned to the Oval Office, Stella greeted me. ''Has anything changed in your absence?'' There is one thing you might want to know. And then he pulls his face to mine. A sweet, soapy scent drifts in the air and I''m thumped for a moment. ''....What...what? He pretends to be calm and asks. ''There''s a suspicious person who has entered the Demon King''s Castle. And then... My fate began to move - and accelerate. 13 1 The other side of the door Intruder? Yes, a strange presence has suddenly appeared on the top floor of the Demon King''s Castle. Stella explains. ''We''ve sent guards out to meet you, but they look like they''re having none of it. Who is this guy? ''''It appears to be a demon race that looks like a black mist but even my clairvoyant eyes couldn''t see through it completely. It seems to have considerable magical abilities. Well, if there''s an intruder, I''m in. Lilim exclaimed cheerfully. ''As the captain of the guard, I''m going to go get them~'' ''No, wait. It could be dangerous if they''re so bad that Stella''s clairvoyance isn''t working. I stopped Lilim. ''I''ll go with you.'' Then I''ll go with you. Stella advances out. ........So the three of us came to the top floor of the Demon King''s Castle. We proceeded along the corridor that made a gentle curve. And. A chill went down my spine. Suddenly, I felt a chill run down my spine. What''s this feeling... My hand was hot. When I looked at it, the demon king''s pattern floating on the back of my hand was emitting a faint light. This is...? Demon king...? Stella looks at me quizzically. ''Well no, I''m fine.'' I said flatly. "You two, stay behind me. Don''t. My job is to protect this castle and the Demon Lord. I''m going to be your shield, too, if the need arises. I''m just grateful for the thought. I nodded to both of them. But I want to protect you guys, too. So you have to follow me here. Your Majesty... ''And Stella knows what I can do (status), right?¡¡After all, I''m the greatest demon king of all time, you know. I chuckle under my mask. ''....Okay. Yes, sir. Stella and Lilim seemed to be convinced somehow. As I continued on, I saw a figure lying in front of me. It''s the guard demons. ''''Hey, are you okay?'''' I''m calling out to them. From the looks of it, he doesn''t seem to be injured.... Mmmmmm... Supi.................. You mean you''re just sleeping? I let out a small breath. I was relieved that he seemed to be in perfect condition for now. "Five more minutes, five more minutes........ Wake up, all of you. I say with a bitter smile. ''Oh, when did I...? Hey, this is Demon Lord...! The soldiers woke up in their sleep. When they see me, they all fall upright. ''What happened?'' While asking, he braced himself. The room in front of you - there was a strange presence on the other side of the door. Someone is there. Someone with strong power. "I have come here to repel intruders, but... One of the soldiers replied. ''When we got to the door, I suddenly became distant and unconscious...'' ''Yes, I found out I''d fallen asleep...'' The other soldiers nodded. ''All right. I''ll take it from here. He made his way to the door. ''''Wha.........?'''' Suddenly my consciousness drifted away and a sense of sleepiness swept over me. So this is what made the soldiers sleep? The resist wall. It''s a spell that prevents all kinds of state magic, including curses, paralysis, poison, and mental attacks. My sleepiness was instantly blown away. ''''Well......... I''ll have you come out. I put my hand on the door. The next moment, the scenery around me changes drastically. "What the...? I look around in surprise. I''m not in a castle. Around them, the darkness that seemed to have been poured out of the ink stretched everywhere. It was all black. In front of me there was something even darker than the surroundings. Something stagnant, like a fog. ''''I''ve been waiting...'''' I heard a muffled voice from the black fog. An indistinct voice, indistinguishable from a man or a woman. ''''Are you...?'''' The demon king crest on the back of my hand was glowing. I feel like I''ve seen this guy ... somewhere. Something inside me is telling me that I know this guy. I know this guy. "Follow me ... and you will follow me... I followed that guy, wondering. The fog leads me through the darkness. Keep going. How many minutes have we walked like that? "We meet again, brave - no, Demon King Freed. Suddenly, my eyes became brighter. The black fog converged and burst. ''This is a space slightly off from this world. This is the space I created for you and I to talk alone. Talk to me...? But the voice is nowhere to be found. Not here, not here. Hmm, where are you? I scurried around again. ''Yeah, I told you I was here! A voice like a little girl''s, awfully pretty, like a little girl. The voice comes from my feet. ''........Ah, there you are. She was just a girl who was only about my waist in height. Apparently she was just too short to be in view. The black hair that reaches to her feet and the light green eyes that have a mysterious glow in them. And a lovely doll-like appearance. The black robe she wore was too long and downy. ''''Listen!¡¡Surprise!¡¡Fear and respect!¡¡My name is Yulisha! ...Yes? You don''t mean to tell me you''ve forgotten your straw, do you? ''By all accounts, we haven''t met before... hmm, Yulisha? I stare at the girl sullenly. ''You have the same name as the previous demon king. Of course. The previous Demon King, Yulisha, was the one who ruled this world. She used to rule this demon world. The girl turns her flat chest upside down and declares. ''No, you don''t look at all like that. The Demon King Yurisha that Lyle and I fought was a bewitching beauty. She was a formidable opponent who manipulated powerful magic. "She wasn''t this little girl. Don''t tell me you''re tiny! Julisha (?) snapped. ''''So, what does this predecessor Demon Lord want?'''' The self-proclaimed previous Demon King. "Mm, he''s not very responsive. Yulisha scowls in dissatisfaction. ''''I don''t feel any respect for my predecessor you irreverent son of a b*tc*. I''m just a girl on the outside....... There''s not a shred of the Demon King''s dignity. And the encounter was so sudden that I still can''t catch up with it. So what is it that you want to talk to me about? Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Mmm. She nodded and spoke. "I wanted to pass it on to you. The true... the power of a demon king. 14 2 Inheritance "The power of the true demon king... Me repeating her words. In other words, does this mean that my current power is incomplete? No, to begin with, before talking about such things©¤©¤. "For all intents and purposes, I''m not that Demon King Yulisha. Well, to say there''s a face to be found would be an understatement.... ''''Megafire!'''' ''''Whoa!'''' She suddenly shot a top-level flame spell at me, and I hurriedly deployed a defensive spell. ''''What are you doing all of a sudden?'''' You''re not supposed to be doing that. If it weren''t for me, you''d be dead right now. "Because you insulted my son. Your disrespect to the Demon King is worthy of death. A girl with her mouth agape. Is she sulking? I don''t want you to shoot ''mega fire'' at me for that. I''m sure you''ve been trying to kill a strawberry. The one who actually killed him was the other one. ........You mean Lyle. If you know that, then this guy is still Yurisha? ''But the Yurisha I fought against had a bit more of a charisma as a demon king. And you just look like a little guy. ''Ragnabomb''! ''''So stop shooting attack spells out of nowhere! I cast a defensive spell this time as well, to get past her magic. ''''........hmm?¡¡That... that''s the Demon King''s crest. I noticed a pattern floating on the back of her hand. It''s the same design as my Demon King crest. ''''Then I knew you were Yulisha...? Hmm, now you believe me. Little Yulisha folded her arms in a pompous manner and sniffed. ''Well, Warawa originally wanted to build a mental body (astral) in his adult form, too. Somehow he was fixed in this form. Or it could be the influence of the Miracle Armor you were using. "You mean ''Gram''? The Miracle Armor, the Gram, which has the ability to block magical effects. It was my favorite weapon when I was a hero. After the battle with Yulisha, I looked for Gram, but I couldn''t find it. The other favorite weapon, a pistol, was found, but.... ''''I interfered with the Warawa''s revival magic and brought you back to life as the Demon King instead. It''s a disaster to have a weapon in your possession. Yulisha scowled at me. I flinched at the resentful look in her eyes. ''Come to think of it, aren''t you dead?'' I''m going to digress. ''The body is extinct, but the soul is immortal. The body has been destroyed, but the soul is immortal. Think of this as an astral body - well, a temporary body made of mental energy. Yulisha puffed out her chest, eh? The current straw cannot influence this world. You will have to do your best as the Demon King. "As the Demon King... "You don''t want to fight for the demons because you''re ex-human? I''m dead because that person betrayed me. I don''t hate all people, but... And I don''t think I don''t want to protect them because they are demons. It hadn''t been long since we met, but I felt warm and fuzzy when I met Stella, Lilim and the others. I naturally felt the desire to protect them. Hmm, I''m still a little confused about what to do, but I think the feeling is real. Well, let''s get started. Yulisha grins. ''''From the previous generation to the current one - the Demon King''s succession ceremony. If the Demon King''s power is incomplete, he will not be able to fight. Not really.¡¡We were able to hold off the invasion of the brave men in plenty of time. What, are you that powerful?¡¡Let''s see some status. While saying it, Yulisha chanted ''Status Display''. Name: Freed Rank: Demon King Overall LV: 4742 H P: 35766 M P: 91205 Attack: 70530 Protection: 45400 Evasion: 31985 Hit: 55739 Equipment The Robe of the Supreme Being The Demon King''s Staff The Mask of the Demon King skill : Intimidation (LV 261) : Waves of miasma (Lv 553) Demon Obedience (Lv. 19) Demon King''s Emblem (LV2) incantation ... Hmm?¡¡That''s a bit of a step up from the last time I saw you. ''''Nah, nah, what is this?!'''' Yurisha shouted in surprise. ''''Impossible... it''s too impossible... it''s an overwhelming number, more than any of the previous Demon Kings!¡¡Even this strawberry is level 631. Why would a mere mortal resurrected entity like you...? Why don''t you think so? I don''t know. "Or is this just another example of your miracle armor?¡¡Did you get an error when transcribing the ability values during resuscitation... no, the numbers are too big for that... Yurisha growled. ''''Well, that''s not something to think about now, is it? Right now©¤©¤the first thing to do is to hand over the true power of the Demon King to you. True power, huh? But it''s a piece of cake in its current state. When I say power, I''m not talking about simple combat skills. Yurisha shakes her head. ''''To ''pass on true power'' means to ''qualify as a demon king''. "Qualified...? For example, you have the right to hold the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Ladis), the essence of the Demon King''s power, or you have the right to follow the Demon King''s rider, the Belga Elfida. You can also have the right to have the Demon King''s Ride, the "Belga Elfida" which is the Demon King''s ride. And the acquisition of the activation ability of the Demon King''s Castle, which is the final defense mechanism of the demon world - there are several other things as well. It''s all new to me. It''s hard to imagine that Stella would forget to explain them, or maybe it''s information that only the past demon kings have known. ''''I''ll give it to you as soon as possible. Give me your hand. Okay. A small key appeared in his outstretched hand. It''s the activation key for the Demon King''s Castle. Don''t lose it. Activation key...? I''ve got a few other things for you. I''ll put it all together for you. Yulisha held her hands up high. ''''Next, the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Radis) will be awarded. Thus began the task of transferring the Demon King from Yulisha to me. * Where''s the way out...? Lyle, the brave man, was going on and on in the darkness. He no longer had any sense of time or the day. No matter how far he walked, the darkness spread before his eyes. Darkness, darkness, and more darkness. Could this be hell? It suddenly occurred to me. Was he guilty of killing his master? Was it punishment for forgetting his debt of gratitude and betraying Fried for the sake of honor? ''''........So what.........'''' He gritted his back teeth just in time. Lyle did not regret his actions in any way. From the time he was picked up by Freed, all he asked for was ''to stand above others''. That was the only thing he wanted. Ambition and the desire to dominate were everything to Lyle. And yet, Freed was always preaching about justice as a brave man and compassion for saving people - such things. Nonsense, he scoffed inwardly. But Fried''s ability was real and he was an excellent teacher. So, on the surface, he posed as an obedient apprentice and followed. Eventually, Lyle grew up - he was chosen to be one of the Hundred Brave Men who had made a decisive march on the demon world. He made it to the Demon King and came one step closer to defeating him. That''s when I realized. Even if I defeated the Demon King at this point, most of the credit would still go to Fried. At the same time, it occurred to me. Now was the time to fulfill his childhood ambitions and desire to rule. If you kill Freed and the Demon King, then you will be the one to become the Demon King''s killer. 15 3 Brave Ludmila The final battle with the Demon King Yurisha came to mind. Lyle wielded his Miracle Armament, Levatein, and burned the Demon King and Freed in one fell swoop. When he returns to the human world, he will be hailed as a hero for killing the Demon King. He will be remembered forever as the bravest man in the world. But the next moment, he was in the darkness. He wandered around for days, with even his consciousness fuzzy, and eventually, little by little, he regained himself. Now his memory had returned completely, but he still couldn''t get out of here. ''''I have to go back.........'''' Lyle muttered half-heartedly. He continued to wobble and walk. ''I can''t end up in a place like this ... as a brave man ... grabbing the glory ... more ...'' ...more...! There was something nagging at the back of my chest. Ambition. A desire for power. A desire for control. A craving for these things.... "..........? Suddenly, a numbness ran through his right hand. The next moment when you wondered what it was, a light appeared in front of you. "An exit...! I had a hunch. Lyle trudged forward. The light grew dazzling, and then... He found himself standing in the middle of the main street. "We''re back...? I look around. The Kingdom of Lemfiel©¤©¤its royal capital. This is the place where Lyle and Fried were based together. "Lyle...you? As I was walking down the main street, I was approached. When I turned around, a beautiful girl with a pleasant-looking face was standing there. Her blue hair in twin-tails and a yellow ribbon. The slender, tall figure was clad in silver light armor and carried a jade-colored long bow on her back. ''''Ludmilla©¤©¤'''' Lyle gulped. Ludmilla Deal. He was one of the ''Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge)'', the strongest among the brave men. He is one year older than Lyle and seventeen years old. He was once with me on a mission as a brave man. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m a good friend of yours. ''''It''s been a while. Haven''t we been together since the Ramdo Forest? Yeah, it''s been six months. It was a large-scale battle to defeat the demon tribe, in which I participated separately from my master, Fried. I recall Ludmira''s tremendous fighting style, which is said to have surpassed even the Demon King. The scene where she used her seraphic miracle armor, Raphael, to instantly wipe out hundreds of demons was a sight to behold. She is strong, dignified, upright, and straightforward at all times - and she is beautiful. I''m glad to see you again. Lyle smiled. His spirits naturally lifted. His chest heaved sweetly. Lyle and Ludmira headed to the royal capital branch of the Guild of the Brave. The guild is a world-wide organization that unites the brave men and women of various countries. Lyle is going to report about the battle in the demon world and Ludmira is going to receive a new mission from the guild. ''''I heard that you were chosen as a member of the Hundred Brave Men''s Decisive Ride to the Demon World--I heard that you were chosen as a member of that, but you returned safely. Yes, I managed to... Lyle slurs his words. What happened to the Demon King and Freed? Could they have killed them with that one blow? If Freed had returned to the human world alive... As a traitor and a hero, I would not escape severe punishment. Extreme punishment is also quite possible. Um, is Fried the Brave back? Freed... or is that your teacher? No, he''s not back on this side. Ludmilla shakes her head. I was relieved. ''I thought he wasn''t with you?'' Actually, my master is in the hands of the Demon King... Lyle slumped. ''It was defending me, and it was mortally wounded. I just couldn''t confirm its end... I thought maybe it was coming back this way... I gave him an answer with a mixture of facts and lies. I trembled my body and bit my lip. This is about as good an attitude as you can have as an ''apprentice grieving for the loss of a master''. If it''s too excessive, it''s too much of an act, but that doesn''t mean that it might seem unsympathetic to be too nonchalant. ''''Well ... yes.'''' Ludmilla gave a short nod. ''Some of the other brave men have come back, but most of them have been killed. I will avenge Master''s death. And then, like Master, I''m going to save a lot of people from the demon tribe... ''Yes. Those left behind must carry on the will of those who were scattered. Ludmilla nodded with a divine look on her face. ''But don''t get too worked up about it. When you''re sad, be honestly sad. Thank you very much. Welcome back, Lyle the Brave. Good to see you back in one piece. I''m sorry to call Ludmilla of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords as well. The head of the guild''s branch - a well-dressed, mature man - greeted Lyle and the others with a smile. Lyle reported on what happened in the demon world. The guild also gave him some information. Besides Lyle, several other brave men had returned from the Demon World, and according to them, the Demon King was still alive. However, that Demon King is said to be different in appearance from Yurisha. Is he wounded in that battle and is he standing in for her? Or has he already been replaced by a new Demon King? Either way, Lyle''s ambition of ''returning as a hero who killed the Demon King'' did not come true. (Oops, missed being a hero.) A small cluck of the tongue. "...What''s wrong, Lyle? No, no, it''s nothing. Lyle shook his head hurriedly at the quizzical branch chief. ''''And then... while you were in the Demon Realm, three kingdoms on this eastern continent were attacked and destroyed by each other. Three? Yes, by the Demon King''s advisor, the Lord Undead, Regal. The branch chief frowned bitterly. ''''Currently, Regal''s ''demons'' are ruling over the three kingdoms. I''ve heard that the three kingdoms have been turned into a hellscape by the undead army. Ludmilla announced with a grim expression. ''That''s exactly why I called you here. Ludmilla the Brave.'' The Branch Chief looks at her. ''''Please save the three kingdoms from the hands of the demons. If you''re on a strike down mission, I want it. I will destroy every single demon in the world by my own hand. Ludmilla bared her fighting spirit and said. ©¤ ©¤ Dukun. Suddenly, something rang in the core of Lyle''s chest. He didn''t know what it was, either. (I have to go, too.) Driven by a strange impulse that suddenly arose, Lyle told him. ''''Would you be willing to take me along on that mission to defeat it?¡¡I''m sure it will be useful to you. ''Hmm, I''m glad you''re here but are you sure you''re okay?¡¡You''ve just returned from the demon world, haven''t you? "A lot of people are suffering. We can''t just let it happen. Lyle tells him. ''As I told Ludmilla earlier. In order to carry on my master''s will. I will defeat the demon race©¤©¤this is my, my will and vow as a brave man. Well said. That''s what makes you a hero. So, let''s keep it together. Lyle. Yes, sir. Ludmilla said to me, and my feelings were uplifted. ''''...?'''' I suddenly felt a strange sensation in my right hand. A strange numbness that I felt even just before I came out of the darkness.... (What.........?) He slowly opened his clenched hand. In his hand, there was a black piece of metal. ''''When did you get this thing...'''' With a click, purple sparks flew from the metal piece. * As Yulisha raised her hands high, a sword emerged in the hollow. The jet-black blade that seemed to reflect the darkness. The beautiful gold decorated flange and handle. This is the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Radis). It is the symbol of the demon king and the magical tool that subjugates all the demonkind. Subjugating demons...? ''''Looking at your status, your level of ''demon obedience'' is low, isn''t it?¡¡That''s because you haven''t inherited the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Radis). In other words, inheriting this sword will increase your ability to obey the demons? I looked at the sword floating in the air again. ''''...But it''s pretty battered. For a symbol of a demon king. When I looked at the sword again, there were cracks here and there in the blade. Some parts of the blade were ripped off. I heard it was broken in a battle with the gods in the past. Yurisha sighed. ''''Hmmm.......one more wound. What? This sword is missing a total of six pieces. In the course of your battles, some of your swords have shattered, and the pieces seem to have been scattered throughout the demon world, the human world and the heavens... Yulisha arched an eyebrow and growled. The damage has increased to seven. I hope the new pieces haven''t fallen into the hands of your adversaries. 16 4 Purgatory Demon King Sword ''When did you get more scars?¡¡Ummm..... Yulisha looked at the sword and growled. ''''Even though it''s a shard, it''s the sword of a demon king. It gives great power to whoever holds it...'''' Oh, I see... so someone who is hostile to demons is a threat to them. ''''Can''t you detect where the shard is? This is impossible. The Demon King''s sword doesn''t block all magic detection. Hence, it has failed to detect the previous six shards of... Search? "Gathering up all the pieces and restoring the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Ladis) to its perfect form - it''s one of the longest desires of all the Demon Kings. Yulisha explains. ''By the way, I''ve looked for three hundred years for straw, and I haven''t found one. Why do you look so smug? What happens when you get it fixed? I asked Yulisha. ''With the true ability of the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Radis), the curse the gods put on the demon race to weaken them will be broken and they will be so powerful that brave men won''t be a problem. Weakening curse...? I know that the demon tribe used to be more powerful than now. Legend has it that these demons were no match for humans, no matter how hard they tried. Eventually, the gods gave humans the Miracle Armor, and at the same time, the demons were no longer as strong as before, and the balance of power must have shifted to the current one. However, the curse of weakness was the first time I had ever heard of it. Is this information known only to the Demon King? Is it a fact that was withheld from other demons - even from Stella and other demon army chiefs? Or...... But I understand one thing. If the demon tribe becomes more powerful, they won''t allow the humans to easily invade. The defenses of the demon world may be well protected. On the other hand. I''m not sure if the demon race, with its increased power, will be able to destroy the human world. What''s the matter, Freed? I think the battle between the brave men and the demons was reasonably close. You can find that the brave men and women who came into the demon world overwhelmed the demon race at times. Is that because the demon race is getting weaker? ''''Of course. As long as the demon race regains its true power, it doesn''t matter how many humans have the Miracle Armor of God, they are not our enemies. Yurisha tells him arrogantly. ''''Well, even among the humans, there are those with mutant strength. A few of them will be able to fight against demons with true power, but...'''' If I get my powers back, I can prevent the demon world from being overrun by brave men? Of course. Yurisha nodded. ''''It wasn''t possible in Warawa''s generation, but if you have a substandard status, or... well... maybe you can find the pieces. I''m going to... "Please. The fate of the demon tribe the Warau cannot intervene in this world now that they have lost their bodies. Thus, he remains in the demon world in his spirit body, but for how long will that last? I can''t help but worry about the demons... I thought Yulisha had a more ruthless personality. Or is she treating me like this because I''ve become the Demon King? What''s going on? I mean, I mean, aren''t you, like, a good guy? And he was kind enough to tell me a lot of things. Guess what? Yurisha laughed, the corners of her mouth hanging up. ''You are a demon king. ''You think you''re the good one, do you? It was an intimidating feeling that froze my entire body. The peacefulness of the air he had felt earlier was blown away in an instant. That''s right, don''t be fooled by his cute appearance. This guy is the previous Demon King who fought me and Lyle to the death. This is the enemy of the world that ruled the demon race and attacked the human world....... ........After that, I heard from Yulisha about the various abilities that the demon king has. I was given some items for the Demon King as well. For the time being, the handover is complete, I guess. It''s a good thing that you taught me so much. Thank you. Hmm. You can''t thank the man who tried to kill me for trying to kill me. ''No, well I''m in a different position and situation than I was then. I''m getting embarrassed and I smack my cheek. Yeah, what are you going to do now?¡¡Can you stay in the Demon King''s Castle in a ghostly state like you are now? Don''t call me a ghost. Rude. While saying it, Yurisha suddenly shot ''Fire'' at me. I blocked it with defensive magic. ''''It''s a spirit body, it''s like a ghost. Hmmm... maybe. Well, let''s make this Yulisha''s room. I think the Demon King''s Castle is the most comfortable place after all, don''t you think? Well, you''re a good man. Yurisha''s face lit up. ''I knew that even the werewolves did not want to leave the castle. I will make this a paradise for them alone. You have a smug look on your face. "I will exterminate anyone who comes near me without permission. You''re dangerous. At least keep them asleep like those soldiers before you. Well, I''m happy to do it for you. Can I come back and ask you something if I don''t understand something? I''ve acquired the knowledge, but there might be things I don''t understand on the ground. ''''I want to protect the demon world, and so do the strawmen. Come to me anytime. Thank you. After thanking him, I asked him, as a thought occurred to me. "I have one last question. Did he... did Lyle really betray me? What do you mean? Are you sure you''re not, um, magically brainwashed? The mere mention of the word disturbs me. In my heart, I can''t get rid of the feeling that I want to trust that guy. The reason is that she is the most trusted person in this world to me, and I''m not going to let that stop me from believing in her. Hm, you''re still attached to it. Human beings are very hard creatures. Yulisha laughs. ''Tell me, Yulisha,'' I stared at the previous demon king. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I was hoping. She manipulated Lyle into attacking me. The real Lyle is pure, kind, and compassionate. I knew he wouldn''t betray me for the sake of gaining credit. I didn''t brainwash him. But the answer was ruthless. "Think about it. "Think about it," he said, "the straw was burned to death by his miracle armor. If he had been brainwashed, would he have killed you alone? Good argument. So you''re saying that this is the way it should be done? Lyle, did you betray me? "Is it human nature? Virtue? Yurisha laughs. ''I pray that your sweetness does not kill you, my dear. I had Yulisha''s power bring me back from the other space to where I was. Stella, Lilim and the soldiers are in front of the door. ''''Demon King-sama, be safe...'''' You had me worried. Stella and Lilim were the first to come running up. ''Yeah, I''m fine,'' I nodded to both of them. ''I''ve learned a lot of useful information. I''ll explain that part later. Because I''d like to at least talk to Stella about it. Also, this place is off-limits. Is this a restricted area? "Well, I don''t know how to explain... I thought about it for a while. This will be my room. I said just what came to mind. ''I''ve got a separate room for you if you want a private room. No, it''s okay. I like it here. In fact, it''s the only place I''d rather be. I''m a forceful advocate. ''Yulisha is going to put anyone who comes close to her to sleep at random, and it''s a good idea to make sure no one comes here. "If you insist. Stella nodded reverently. ''''The Demon King-sama needs a place to relax by herself too. If you like it here, please make it a private room. I''ll take care of the paperwork for you.'''' Please. Three days later, the report came in that the Lord Undead Regal''s entourage had been killed in the human world. ''''The demons have been defeated. Stella reports in the audience room. ''The Regal''s entourage, huh? As I recall, the three kingdoms of the Eastern Continent were conquered by Regal''s army and left their rule to their subordinates....... ''''It seems that all three kingdoms have been recaptured by the brave men. A third eye appeared on Stella''s forehead. The light radiating from it projected an image into the hollow. ''These are the images brought back by Regal''s men. A girl in silver armor was fighting against a legion of demons. The jade-colored long bow in her hand was probably a miracle weapon. Hundreds of arrows shot out of it, blasting away the demons one after another. Strong..... That archer''s ability to fight is different from that of an ordinary hero. When I was a human being, I was one of the strongest ranked heroes, too, but--but she is far beyond that level. "The Sacred Edge........huh? Of all the brave men, I''m talking about the four of the strongest of the strongest. Furthermore, I was stunned when I saw the brave man next to them. ''''That guy...'''' My voice trembles. The blood in my body is about to boil. The man there is a fresh boy with blond hair and blue eyes. The sword in his hand was emitting flames. It''s definitely the Miracle Armament ''Levatein''. ''''Lyle...! Under my mask, I mumbled dumbly. 17 5 Going into the human world "Our Lord Undead, the Lord Regal''s aide, demons! "How dare you take on my army all by yourself! I''ll slash, shoot, chop, and rape you to death, woman! Hundreds of undead rushed in from the front. ''''Evil demons I will destroy every single one of them. The beautiful girl brave©¤©¤ Ludmilla said with a mixture of a smile. The tips of the blue hair in twin-tails, the yellow ribbons swaying in the wind. I''ll reap them off. You guys deal with the stricken demons. It''s just a number. Ludmilla responds to Lyle''s warning without a care in the world. (Are you really going to do this all by yourself...?! It''s fine to go along with the mission to retake the three kingdoms of the eastern continent conquered by the demon army - but.... I didn''t expect Ludmilla to attempt a frontal breakthrough against a large army. In addition to Lyle, there were a total of twenty brave men who accompanied him. In addition, there are about a thousand soldiers from each country in the alliance. However, Ludmilla didn''t seem to have any intention of relying on any of them. When they fought together before, she wasn''t a girl who was this reckless, but©¤©¤. The demon army is already at a distance of about ten meters. "Now, play the tone of carnage - Miracle Armament Rafael. Ludmilla held a beautiful jade-colored bow. It looks like two bows crossed in the shape of an X. It''s a Seraph-grade miracle armament, Raphael. It was the Miracle Armor of the Seraphic level, Raphael. It is the highest-ranked holy armor of all the Miracle Armor. Raphael''s maximum loading capacity is 777, and with this single shot... Countless arrows of light were released all at once. The group of arrows that thrust forward while creating a tornado pierced all the demons at the same time. The area was dyed crimson by the blood spray and the wind blew it away. ''''Your fate will be exhausted.'''' There was no longer a single demon race answering Ludmilla''s voice as she quietly announced. The weaknesses of the undead with immortal bodies - the core - were crushed with precision. It was an overwhelming continuous firing power and precision. ''''In an instant........'''' Lyle stood there, stunned. He was even stronger than he had seen before. Even the Demon King Yurisha, whom Lyle had managed to drive with Fried and the two of them, Ludmilla might be able to defeat him in an instant. However, there was one question. If he was this strong, why hadn''t he been selected as a member in the earlier Demon World Death Row? If Ludmilla and the other Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge) had joined them, they would have been able to defeat the Demon King for sure. The previous battles would have been much easier to win than this one... ''''What''s wrong, Lyle-kun?'''' Ludmilla looked back. Even in the horrific battlefield, there was still a gorgeous air around her. It made her heart flutter sweetly, to the point where she couldn''t help but look at it. ''''No........'''' Lyle shook his head from side to side. We''ll find out later. The questioning will be seen later. ''''Now, all that''s left to do is kick out the remnants and take back the kingdom. Brave men and soldiers of the kingdom, move on! Ludmila said dignifiedly. There were cheers and a battle cry. "Alright, I''ll go too-- With the crimson great sword "Levatein" in hand, Lyle starts to run. The only thing that matters now is the results of the battle. For the glory that Lyle is aiming for... The glory that Lyle is aiming for... "Three kingdoms have been retaken and my entourage slain, my king, I ask you to permit me to attack. Regal appeared in the audience room and said so at the opening. ''''Let''s kill all the brave men and surely offer their heads to the king...! It''s hard to tell because his face is a skull, but from his tone and attitude, he''s probably furious. It''s true that Regal is strong. If he was facing an ordinary hero, he would probably kill them all, just like he said. But this time, his opponent is the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge). Besides, more than anything else........ ''''No, I''ll get it.'''' I stood up from the throne and shook my head from side to side. ''''Demon King-sama, yourself...?'''' Regal looks surprised. Stella, who was standing back by the throne, looked equally surprised. ''''I''m asking you to stay away. The warding makes it unlikely that the brave men will attack us, but we need to be prepared.'''' ''''With all due respect it was my fault for leaving the human world in charge and leaving the human world to my subordinates. I would like to be given the opportunity to make up for it. Regal won''t back down either. ''''On the pride of the demon chief, I will definitely conquer the kingdom again. ''''I''m pleased with your spirit. But the opponent is one of the four Heavenly Holy Swords, the most powerful of all. "Whoever it is, I will smash him with my sword. I know what you''re capable of. I''m counting on you. Anyway, I choose my words so as not to irritate Regal''s pride needlessly. ''''That''s why I want to avoid pointless attrition. No matter how much you are, you might not be able to be unharmed against the Four Heavenly Holy Swords.'''' M..... ''What happens if you are wounded and then pursued by other brave men?¡¡I want you to think about that just in case. To tell you the truth, what I just said isn''t everything. For strategic reasons, though, you''re right. If we send Regal in, we''re going to see a lot of deaths. I didn''t like that. I know it''s naive, but I still didn''t like it. And besides - Lyle is where we''re going. I have to deal with that guy myself. I''m going to be a Demon King - and a human being. I''m going to have to find out what the future holds for me as a demon king, and as a human being. I''m going to have to find out. That''s why I''m going to go alone with Stella. He declared. ''Taking a half-powered demon race with a half-empowered demon race would only add to the casualties. But with only one bodyguard... Stella has excellent reconnaissance capabilities. It''s a great support system for me. Me explaining to Regal. ''''I will do my best for the Demon King,'''' Looking at Stella, she nodded quietly. ''Besides - you know what my power is, don''t you?¡¡If it''s you who crossed swords directly with me. Even if it''s the Four Heavenly Holy Swords, you''re not my enemy. He said bullishly. Regal shushed him, remembering what happened when they fought before. ''''It''s just that ... should I be defeated, I want to leave you in charge. I''m not sure if it''s a good idea, but it''s not. Stella isn''t quite ready either. Your Majesty... When I''m defeated, a new Demon King will be born, right?¡¡I don''t know if it''s Stella, Regal, or another demon race but if anyone other than you becomes the new Demon King, support them. Please. "If you are so determined, I no longer have anything to offer. Good fortune, my king. Regal bowed deeply to me. Therefore, I was going to the human world with Stella. The two of us leave the Demon King''s Castle together. ''''Then, I''ll make a path for you. ''''Dimension Road.'''' When Stella chanted the spell, a gaping black hole opened in the space in front of her. It opened up a part of the warding. When I was still a human, I came from the human world to the demon world by passing through the hole in the ward, but this is the first time I''ve traveled from the demon world to the human world. But this is the first time I''ve traveled from the demon world to the human world. I went through the black hole with Stella. From there, a pitch-black space spread out. "Freed-sama isn''t used to moving through the wards yet. Please, please hold onto me.'''' Stella took my hand in hers. Her hand is soft and warm. She took me along with her as I proceeded through the warding. ''''This ward allows you to go back and forth from the human world to the demon world and vice versa, right? Yes, demons can pass through without any problems. However, humans can''t pass through. Stella answers my question. The human side cannot invade the demon world unless they break their wards, but the demon side can come and go between the demon world and the human world at will. If the human side can invade the demon world at will, the balance of power in battle will change drastically. .........while thinking about this, I continued on. Eventually, a light came into view ahead. Is it the exit? ©¤ ©¤ When I wondered if it was the exit, we were already outside. A lush forest spread out around us. The first sunshine in a long time dazzled my eyes. The sun doesn''t shine in the demon world, you know. ''''The brave men appear to be a few kilometers away. Stella produces a third eye on her forehead and tells her. ''All right. Let''s go straight ahead. Stella, use your clairvoyant eyes to spot the enemy. I started walking with Stella. There are brave men and women ahead of us. And among them........surely Lyle will be there too. 18 6 Confrontation I was advancing through the forest with Stella. ''Master Fried, how do you see this battle?'' Stella, walking next to me, asks. She has the same cool expression as usual. But when I looked closely, I thought there was a slight mixture of concern. ''''To Regal, something like you might be struck down yourself...'''' I''m not trying to be a wimp. I smiled bitterly under my mask. ''The Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge) are indeed strong. I''ve never actually met her in person, and I only saw her in the video I saw earlier... but I wouldn''t have been able to compete with her when I was a human. Master Freed... ''But I''m not now. The reason I spoke to Regal that way was mixed in with a few tricks of persuasion. Never mind that. I''m so relieved to hear that. A smile appeared on Stella''s mouth. ''Then I will do my best to search for the enemy. You''re on it. How''s he doing?¡¡We''re not ready for combat yet, are we? I''m sorry. No, I don''t blame you. I just wanted to check in with you to see what''s going on and I''m sorry on my end. Me and Stella stepped forward. ''''May I ask you one more question?'''' What? How did you come to have such a thing? Stella shifts her gaze to my bosom. Can she, with her clairvoyant eyes, see it? ''Ah, here it is.'' I chuckled again and took out something I had put in my robe pocket. It''s a ruggedly made revolver. It is a weapon that uses gunpowder to launch bullets. The technology to be able to mass-produce it has not been established, so it is quite a rare item, but I was issued this weapon as a priority because I am a brave man. ........Even so, even if it''s against humans, this weapon is difficult to be the deciding factor against the demon race. It''s difficult to inflict a fatal wound with a bullet in front of the demon race''s powerful magic and life force. When I was a brave man, I used my gun as a checkmate weapon. Now that I''ve gained the power of a demon king, there''s little point in using this pistol in battle. ''''........Sentiment, maybe. What? Stella''s expression quickly tightened as she looked dubious. ''There''s a hint of Miracle Armor ahead. I thought it was a brave man. How many? ''''I''m alone. For some reason you seem to be acting apart from the other brave men... Sounds good to me. Let''s take him alive for information. It wouldn''t be hard with my power. I proceeded straight ahead. When I pushed through the bushes, I saw a figure up ahead. "You will... I stand there gulping for breath. I should have been prepared to meet that guy - but my mind goes blank. My heart begins to beat painfully. It''s a familiar face. A face I''ll never forget. "...It''s good to see you again, Lyle. "That voice........can''t be Master.......? That guy - Lyle raises his voice in surprise. ''''Lyle-uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! An explosion of uncontrollable emotions. I took off my mask and threw it off. It was like something that had been stagnant in the back of my mind erupted at once. ''''Freed-sama...?'''' Even the quizzical Stella didn''t have time to answer right now. ''''I knew it, Master........?¡¡But that outfit is©¤©¤ Lyle''s face is stunned. His gaze was directed at the back of my hand. To be precise, to the red pattern floating there. "The Demon King''s crest...? "I am the new Demon King. Silence took over the place. A cold wind blew through. ''''Heh, Demon King...?'''' Lyle gave a thin smile. ''''Surely that pattern is the same as the Demon King Yurisha''s... but why...?'''' I''m reborn. You killed me once and I''m the Demon King. Just the minimum explanation - just a few words - and anger boiled in my chest. I have betrayed him. I''ve trampled on his trust. I trusted you all along. You''re the one who made me...! ''I was acting alone to hunt down the remnants of the demon tribe, me. Whether he feels my anger or not, Lyle seems unconcerned. ''''Most of the credit went to Ludmilla... and yet, I can''t believe I came across such good fortune...'''' Lucky? My master, Fried, has risen from the dead as the new Demon King. If there''s no way for him to return, let him at least have a peaceful end. And let the world be at peace - that''s what my remaining apprentice must do. Lyle tells him with a big smile. ''Are you happy?'' No way. It''s sad, isn''t it? With a smile on his face, Lyle held his crimson sword at the ready. ''''But I am grateful. Thanks to you, this time I can become the hero of the Demon King Killer©¤©¤ I don''t think he feels any guilt at all. You don''t have a shred of regret. ...is that your answer? ''''I''m telling you, please don''t look down on me as a disciple forever. If you put your mind to it, I''m confident that I can beat even my master........ The red blade was covered in flames. ''''I''ll show you, now - howl, ''Levatain''! A swirling fire engulfed me. ''Come on, burn up! It''s hot... A tremendous burning sensation assaults my whole body. "This.... I gritted my back teeth. As expected of a demon king, he can endure it!¡¡But as long as I don''t deactivate it, the flame of ''Levatein'' won''t be extinguished, I promise! Lyle laughs broadly. It''s the same as that time. The same as that time when Lyle betrayed me and burned me out with the flames of ''Levatein''. ''''No........'''' Yes? I looked straight at Lyle, who was scowling, and I looked straight at him. ''Not hot, I said.'' The burning sensation is already gone. I''m not that guy anymore. I will say goodbye to that time. I''m going to do it. FIRE With a fireball the size of a pea grain that was generated, he easily blew out the flames of ''Levatein'' that should never be extinguished. ''''Eh...?'''' Lyle spluttered in dismay. I proceeded slowly. When I reached Lyle, who was standing there, I unleashed a fist at random. ''''Gu.........geez........! Lyle was blown away by the painful blow to his gut, his neat face contorted. ''What''s wrong?¡¡I thought you could beat me if you wanted to? I slowly walked over and looked down at the fallen Lyle. ''Nah, what''s with all this power... haha, haha'' Lyle was glaring at me hatefully. I remember the first time I met him. I remember Lyle looking up at me as a kid, as if he was hanging on to me, as if he was relying on me. That Lyle is nowhere to be found. No....he was never there in the first place. Nowhere. The man I trusted, the man I thought of as my son, Lyle. It was all an illusion. A feeling of resignation and emptiness filled me. I put that thought away in my mind and held out my hand to Lyle. I concentrate my magic power. A faint glow dwells in my palm. ''''Hi, hi........! Lyle groans with a frightened look on his face. Now it''s time to say goodbye to the past. 19 7 Wind duel I focus my magic power on the hand I held up to Lyle. With this blow, he will disappear without a trace. ".........Lord Freed, defend yourself! Suddenly, Stella raised her voice. ''''Runeshield!'''' Quickly, he leaps up and creates a blue defensive field around himself. Just in case, he created the same one around Stella. Immediately afterwards, a flash of light flooded in from behind the trees. ''''This is...?'''' Hundreds of arrows of light were shot from all sides. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out what''s going on in the world. .........Conserve nature, man. I couldn''t help but mutter to myself. In the midst of the storm of destruction blowing in, I picked up the mask with my ''energy hand'' for now and put it on. ''Are you okay, Lyle-kun?'' A girl came running from the front. Her blue hair is in twin tails, tied in a yellow ribbon. She is wearing a silver light armor. She was probably about the same age as Lyle, or maybe a year or two older. It''s the girl of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge) that I saw in the video before. ''''Thank you for your help, Ludmilla.'''' Lyle stands up unsteadily. That''s the Demon King. The blue-haired girl - Ludmilla - glared at me. "I''ll take it from here. A jade-colored bow is held in place. It is a long bow with a unique X-shaped shape. Is it the "Raphael", the miracle armament of the fierce angel (seraph) class? When Ludmila pulled the string, a shining arrow appeared in her hand. The arrows that were released split into dozens of pieces. ''''Fire!'''' I intercepted it with my lowest-grade fire spell. A group of light arrows and a fireball the size of a pea grain that collided in midair scattered a grand explosion of light. The one that was winning in power was - a group of light arrows. It''s a good idea to have a few arrows of light coming at me that still survived the collision with the fireball while most of them disappeared. I was able to easily flick them off with the magic wall in front of me. ''''........You shot through the ''fire''? Even though it''s the lowest level spell, my ''Fire'' is still powerful enough to erase mountains. The only opponent I''ve fought before who has ever prevented this is Demon Army Chief Regal. ''''After all, you''re not like the other brave men. I displayed Ludmilla''s status. Name: Ludmilla Rank: Archer-type hero Overall LV: 192 H P: 1460 M P: 2041 Attack: 1517 Protection: 1280 Evasion: 1620 Hit: 2333 Equipment: Miracle Armor Rafael Skill: Breaking through a single point with maximum armor (Lv. 27) Maximum loading precision firing (LV38) Wind Angel''s Plumage (LV15) ... Compared to the previous heroes, the level is much higher. ''''The Four Heavenly Sacred Swords of ''Wind'' (Sacred Edge)-I''m Ludmilla Diehl. Ludmilla said in a dignified tone. She readied her bow and was in a position to release the next round at any time. ''''Evil Demon King, your fate ends today! Well, that''s great, Ludmilla... Lyle backed away, frightened, and pulled back behind Ludmila. ''I''ll have to do something about her first before I can deal with him,'' he said. ''I''ve got business with Lyle. Get out of my way. I told him quietly. ''If you stand in my way, I will not relent. As a demon king, you have an unshakable will. A will that will never waver, no matter who stands in its way. "If you stand in my way, I will not tolerate you. Ludmira looked straight at the masked demon king who said arrogantly. If he took a defensive stance, he would be beaten. That was understandable just from the offense and defense just now. He was forced to consume dozens of arrows of light to extinguish a small fireball that was probably only a small hand check. If the full force attack magic was shot, how could even ''Rafael'' intercept it? ''''The only way to do it is to make the first move©¤©¤before we get hit. Ludmira clutches an arrow of light on her bow. These arrows appear according to her mental power. The maximum number of arrows that can be fired at one time is 777. They cannot be shot infinitely in succession, and it takes a few seconds before the next firing interval. Nevertheless, you can still say that his numbers are overwhelming. You should be able to push through with your offense©¤©¤. "Penetrate, ''Rafael''! With a spirited voice, over a hundred arrows of light were released. ''''Runeshield.'''' Just like before, the Demon King deploys a defensive field. ''''Then it''s that way! Ludmila quickly changed her aim to the other demon race. I shot more than a hundred arrows of light at that one as well. ''''Kook........'''' The silver-haired female demon tribe retreated as if in a panic. In the next moment, a blue defensive field covered her entire body. The demon king defended her. ''''You''re going after Stella and not me...'''' Taking down the weakest link in the fight will be standard practice. I won''t let her do it. His expression was obscured by the mask, but the sound of his voice was tinged with anger. ''''........You care about your subordinates, don''t you? Are some of the demon race as compassionate as humans? Or do you just not want to lose a pawn? In any case, the demon race is still an enemy to be defeated. All the more so when it comes to the Demon King. "You are the enemy of humanity, the enemy of the world. Ludmila fired another arrow of light. However, it was easily repelled by the defensive field that the demon king had deployed again. After all, it seems that that ''Rune Shield'' cannot be defeated from the front. (Even so ... there''s a way through.) As far as I can see, there''s a small window of time before things unfold. He can use that window to his advantage. Ludmilla continued to shoot arrows, weaving in feints, pretending to aim at the Demon King, but aiming at the female demon race - Stella, or even backing it up. Not even a single decisive arrow was given. However, it seems that because he is defending Stella, the demon king can''t seem to take the offensive easily. Ludmila shoots. The Demon King prevents. They read each other''s aim and intricately switched each other''s positions, repeating that kind of offense and defense over and over again. Dozens, hundreds of times. And then.... With a sound like shattering glass, a small hole is opened in part of the defensive field. No matter how hard the defense was, if they continued to focus their attacks on a single point, it would eventually exceed its endurance limit and break. ''''Now, that''s it, Demon King! Ludmila concentrated her mental power to the maximum level and shouted in a dignified voice. ''''Miracle Armament ''Raphael'' - Maximum Armament One Point Breakthrough (Full Burst Arrow)! Aiming towards the hole in the defensive field, 777 arrows of light were simultaneously released. They fused together while thrusting through the air and turned into a single giant arrow. The shining arrows passed through the hole and approached the Demon King. Maximum Loaded Single Point Breakthrough (Full Burst Arrow). This is Ludmira''s profound ability to focus the energy of the 777 arrows, the maximum number of bullets in Raphael, on a single point and use the enormous destructive energy to destroy and annihilate the target. No matter how much of a demon king you are, you won''t be able to get away with it. ''''Penetrate!'''' With that absolute confidence, the demon king fired an arrow at me.... With one hand, he caught the arrow with the other. What the hell...? I was only waiting for him to come after me. All the arrows were gripped and fizzled out. ''I had seen it coming. Once you shoot that arrow once, there is a time lag between the next shot - and then there is a time lag between the next shot. I''ll finish it off before they target Stella again. ''Oh ... oh ... oh ...'' The blow he had struck with all his mental strength was easily blocked and Ludmila fell to her knees in place with a cringe. Finally, I realized. From the beginning, this was no match. The dimension of battle ability itself is different between myself and the Demon King. It''s too - too different. The Demon King was merely waiting for the right moment to win more reliably in order to protect the female demon race. Ludmilla wasn''t on the offensive, she was just being forced to attack - and that''s all. I''ll say it again. I will not let anyone stand in my way. ''''Kyah! With a thumping gust of wind, Ludmilla was blown away. Is it a shock wave caused by magic? I''m not sure if it''s a good idea. ''''Kutu........'''' He crawled and couldn''t get up. Now for the rest. Lyle. The demon king no longer even took a glance at Ludmilla, but walked up to Lyle©¤©¤. 20 8 It ’s a peaceful day now I walked over to Lyle. ''''U....g.....'''' There''s no sign of any other brave men coming in. This time it''s one-on-one. Ludmila already seems to be unable to move, so we''ll deal with it later. First of all........I''ll settle this with Lyle. "Hi, hi, help me........ Lyle stepped back with ''Levatein'' in his hand. ''''Well, the devil is in the air........!¡¡I didn''t mean it, trust me.... Begging for your life? Master, please! Lyle''s face twisted. It''s a weak face, as if he''s about to cry. It''s as if he was begging me for forgiveness... I can''t... I released a shockwave of magical power. Lyle was blown more than ten meters away and bounced repeatedly on the ground. My right arm was bent in a strange direction. ''''Guh, oh........'''' Next stop, your left arm. I walked up to him and said quietly. Once again, I release a magical shockwave. ''''Giaaaaahhhhh...! Lyle''s left arm, which had been blown away, was bent, as was his right arm. I''m not going to be able to get my hands on it. You can''t even hold the Miracle Armor any longer. The next step is the legs. ''I don''t.......................no!¡¡I don''t want to die! Lyle screamed, his face shaggy with tears, either from pain or fear. ''You killed me. The next time I''ll be the one who kills you... A moment later, a black glow flooded the surroundings. ''''What........? ''''This is.........?'''' The voice of doubt was that of Lyle and I at the same time. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. A lukewarm sweat dripped from all over my body. Lyle barked. Something shiny and black emerged on his chest. A small piece of metal. A tremendous amount of magical power was emitted from the shard, scattering a purple spark. It was not a miracle armor. Rather, it has a disastrous atmosphere, similar to that of the demon race. It''s an atmosphere that I remember from somewhere. Yes, I''m sure........ The Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Ladis)...? It looks just like the atmosphere of the sword, the symbol of the Demon King. Why does Lyle have it? "Gaaaaaaaah........! Lyle bellowed once more, and the shards were sucked into the ''Levatein'' in his hand. ''''Hahahahahaha!¡¡What the hell!¡¡It''s going to give me strength! Lyle let out a cry of joy and stood up. His arm, which should have been broken, was back in place before he knew it, and he gripped his sword firmly. ''I don''t know what it is, but it''s an overwhelming force!¡¡Master ... no, Freed!¡¡I don''t even think I could beat you now! You have the power of the Demon Lord''s sword fragment in your hands. "Howl, Levitein, help me defeat the demon king. Lyle swung his sword. The crimson blade was dyed jet black, and small blades reminiscent of fangs sprouted here and there. It was a sword that gave off an atmosphere of too much misery to be called a holy armament. ''''Come on, burn up!¡¡Demon King Freed! The outpouring of fire swirled around and loomed. "''Aquawall''. I created a wall of water. "...and...? That''s when I felt uncomfortable. Just by shooting the magic, I felt an intense sense of weakness. The slashing wave of fire crashed into that wall - easily breaking through it. "The power of this is... This is clearly different from the previous "Levatain". The ''Water Bullet'' I shoot water bullets at the flame slashing wave. The advancing water bullets collide with the flame shock wave and both disappear. "d*mn, as expected of a magician, it activates too early... Lyle clicked his tongue and rushed forward, sword in hand. Then use melee combat! "Come on, Purgatory Demon King''s Sword, Radis! I summoned my own sword. The Demon King''s sword and the Miracle Armor that held the pieces of the sword and the Miracle Armor. Their swords clashed with each other, and violent sparks flew. "Haaaaaaaaah! Lyle swung his great sword with a voice of enthusiasm. The power and speed may have increased as well, but the slashes were much sharper than before. I was protecting them with my sword as I retreated inch by inch. ''''Kuch........?'''' There was another uncomfortable feeling. Just by striking each other, both physical and magical power is worn out rapidly. The wear and tear is too intense©¤©¤? "''Thunder Arrow''! I let loose a lightning arrow as I cut and tied it. ''''It''s useless!'''' Lyle blew it away with a slash. As I thought, the power is reduced©¤©¤! Is it because he is holding a piece of the Demon King''s sword? ''Look, look, look, look!¡¡What happened to the momentum you had earlier! Lyle laughed and waved his sword. ''Isn''t it weaker than before, Demon King?¡¡Then let''s get on with it!¡¡My... my... sword of justice! The storm of slashes is gaining more and more momentum, and I''m on the defensive. I can''t move into the offensive like this, and I''ll be cut off. The power of the demon king is not effective in front of him. So, what should I do? I''m going to look at his liverwurst. I must do something about that sword with the Demon Lord''s shards in it. I take a huge leap of faith. "You can''t get away from me! Lyle lunges at me. I put my hand in my pocket. ''?¡¡What are you... I turned to Lyle, who gave me a questioning look, and I held my gun up. A gunshot and a roar. ''''Guh........?'''' Lyle lets out a small, bitter cry. This isn''t the power of a demon king. It''s a physical, just a gunshot. That gunshot flicks the "Levatein" out of Lyle''s hand. "Shh, shh........ I unleashed a shockwave of magical power at the panicked fellow. ''''Hey, Master. That''s cool.'''' "Guns?¡¡You can''t make a decision against a demon race, though.'''' "I want one too! ''Ha, it''s hard for a child to handle. When you''re a little older, I''ll give it to you. ...as a child, you used to beg for this gun, didn''t you? I looked down at the fallen Lyle. Perhaps it was because Levatain had left his hand, but the feeling I had earlier that I was losing strength was gone. ''''Isn''t that cool, guns...'''' Lyle laughs slightly under his bitter breath. ''''It wasn''t very practical, so I didn''t end up getting it...'''' Are you reminiscing about those days? No, maybe I''m the only one who gets sentimental about it. The time I spent with this guy gave me a lot of peace. But it''s an illusion that has already passed away in the distant past. I dismissed the sentiment and looked down at Lyle. "You will be punished in two ways. Call up the spell list and find it. The most appropriate spell for Lyle. My punishment...? Lyle murmurs anxiously. "''Guilty Pain''. I chanted with a sigh. ''''Ah.........?¡¡Gah, gah.......................!¡¡Aaaaah! Immediately Lyle''s face contorted in pain. ''''Ouch ... ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ...'''' The Great Sin Pain (Guilty Pain). Those who are subjected to it are subjected to a constant and intense pain. Its effects last a lifetime. The pain doesn''t even allow for a mental breakdown, until the moment it kills you... I can''t make you feel the pain in my heart, but you will live with that pain for the rest of your life. From now on and on........ "d*mn it, Freed...! Lyle stared at me with bloodshot eyes. ''I''ve set it up so that if you try to tell someone who I am, the pain will be multiplied by hundreds or thousands of times. The same is true for any act of telling someone on paper. Be careful at best. I''m going to kill... you... one day... and I''m not going to end up here... ''It''s over, all of it. As long as I have that pain, I can''t even go about my daily life properly. I said coldly. ''''And then I will crush your ambition with my next punishment. Forever.... 21 9 Two punishments Lyle''s punishment for the first time... The first punishment for Lyle was a lifetime of pain. He would be tormented by the pain no matter if he slept or woke up, making it difficult for him to even go about his daily life. Even if you use a miracle weapon like Gram''s magic jamming, it''s impossible to break the curse of the Demon King''s super magic. And the second punishment is the one I''m going to give you now. The Last Word. ''''Ugh.........? The magical light that flooded from my body wrapped around Lyle and his body jumped. This time, what kind of magic is that........ Lyle asks, frowning in pain. ''It''s a type of brainwashing magic. ''''You will now go to the Heroes'' Guild and confess everything you did in the Demon World.'''' I gave the order. ..... You betrayed me, you tried to take all the credit for slaying the Witch King... and now you will answer for it. All of it. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that would be a painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful, painful. ...Guhhh, ahhh...! You would be disqualified as a hero and imprisoned as a criminal. Considering your past achievements, you may escape the penalty of death, but it is impossible for you to reemerge as a hero. Your ambitions for ascendancy will be crushed. Forever. I said, and I lifted ''Levatain'' up. Maybe it''s because it''s out of his hands, but even though I''m touching it like this, it doesn''t feel weak. I''ve got a grip on the jet black blade. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. A black shard emerges and is sucked into the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Ladis). It''s a perfect fit for the missing part of the sword. "There are only six pieces left? The Demon King''s sword that rumbles, "Ooohhhh....... "From now on, live with that pain for the rest of your life. "From now on, live with that pain for the rest of your life, and never rise to be anything else. "Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... ... I silently looked down at Lyle''s face, which was mangled with tears. ''I don''t want ... forgive me ... help me ... oh please ... please ... I know it''s my fault I was wrong... well, it''s crazy... but I was wrong... so, Fried... ... His words don''t resonate with me anymore. Nothing, I don''t feel. There was a sense of the ''human'' part remaining in the back of my mind slowly crumbling away. Something that held me together as a human being was fading and disappearing. ''I don''t want to be here ... I''m going to become more ... higher than anyone else ...'' .........d*mn it, Freed, I won''t forgive you! I turned away from Lyle, who only let out an endless stream of rage, sobs and anguish. I walked up to Stella. ''You''ve kept me waiting,'' Master Freed, my hand... Stella had a sad look on her face. ''Hmm?¡¡Oh, this. I didn''t realize it because I was feeling overwhelmed, but it seems that my palms and the backs of my fingers were torn when I crushed the blade of the "Levatein" sword. Blood was dripping from them. ''''No problem.'''' I cast a healing spell and closed the wound. ''''Maybe this makes me........a demon race in body and mind. When I was human, I had to say goodbye to the last thing I cared about. In the truest sense of the word - the Demon King. "My Lord Freed... ''''No, nothing ... what?'''' Just as I was about to say it, Stella suddenly hugged me. A soft, supple touch. Above all, a warm feeling. "........Stella? Mr. Freed... sir. You''re comforting me. I hugged her back lightly and then let go of her body. ''''I beg your pardon. I hope that will give you some peace of mind...'''' Stella murmured sadly and bowed her head. ''Too much imitation out there...'' No, it was nice. Thank you. I nodded with a mixture of smiles. And. Master Freed, there is a new player coming. Suddenly, Stella''s expression tightened. A third eye appeared on her forehead. ''''The number is seven. They are all brave. Behind them are about five hundred soldiers.'''' ''If you fight so loudly, will the other brave men find out? I muttered with a wry smile. Now, what should we do? ''''We could take down all the brave men and women like a demon king........'''' With all due respect, I think it''s time to move on. Stella advised. ''I am concerned that the Demon King-sama''s power was unstable earlier. ...I see. That was probably the effect of the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Ladis) shard. I''ve already regained the shard and it''s probably fine. However, I can''t say for sure. There''s no guarantee that that weakness won''t strike again, and it''s dangerous to deal with multiple brave men in such a state. Let''s retreat just in case. ''''Stella, see if you can find a safe route. I''m leaving this place. * There were two silhouettes in the mountains where a blizzard was blowing. ''''.........Hmmm, is this sign a piece of the Demon King''s sword? Looks like the new Demon King has retrieved it.'''' A huge shadow growls. "What is his vessel what do you see, Sigmund? ''''This generation''s Demon King Freed is rumored to be powerful. His vessel is unknown. It will be a while before we make a move on him. A diminutive shadow called Sigmund, announced. ''''First of all©¤©¤in order to suppress and defeat the power of the Demon King. I believe our first priority is to collect the shards. Is the piece I have is not enough? In the hands of the giant shadow is a black piece of metal. A bang, bang, bang, a shard of purple sparks. ''With one, not yet. But with one more... or... You''re very careful. A huge shadow shook his body. The fighting spirit emanating from its entire body rose up as an aura and burned the atmosphere. ''''The Lord is too bold, therefore. Sigmund tells him in a matter-of-fact tone. ''I know it is the duty of your subjects to discourage it. Well, we''ll hide out for a while, then. Go, Sigmund. Send me more pieces. "As my Lord, the Beast Emperor, the Gigantroa, wills it. It''s not the ''Gigantor''. A huge shadow - Zegart laughed. "My title will be ''Demon King'' before long. * ''Shit I don''t want to ... no ... no ... no ... no ... no ... no ... I''m never going to confess my sin ... ouch. Lyle begins to walk, crying. In pain, he walks a little, falls down, gets up again, starts walking, and then falls down... The destination is the Guild of the Brave. There his sins will be exposed in the light of day. His ambition, his glory, everything is over, and the time of judgment awaits... 22 1 Rest and action We made our way through the forest where we engaged Lyle and Ludmila. Reaching the shore of the lake. The cold wind felt good. ''We''ve pulled away quite a bit. No sign of brave men or human soldiers around here. Stella reported. ''Well, let''s get some rest then,'' I take off the Demon King''s mask. ''''It''s about to get dark, and Stella must be tired from using her clairvoyance all the time, right? I''m fine. Stella tells me coolly. But this guy seems to be a bit overwhelmed by his personality. Even when he''s exhausted, he''s the type to push himself to the limit without showing it on his face. At that time, gulp, my stomach rumbles. "I''m hungry. I''m sorry, I need a break. If I say this, Stella will get some rest, maybe. Besides, I haven''t eaten anything for nearly half a day since I came to the human world. "Hmm. Stella smiled. And her belly, too, gave a cute little whimper. ''''Oh, that''s, uh...'''' Stella''s face immediately turns red. It''s kind of funny. Let''s have dinner. Me and Stella split up to get some food. We would pick up nuts nearby, look for edible grass, or fish in the lake. And Stella cooked the ingredients we collected. She made a simple stir-fry with flame magic, or a quick salad....and she has a brilliant hand. ''''It smells good.'''' The savory smell that filled the area whetted my appetite. I gagged again. ''Cooking is my hobby. It''s nice to use these outdoor ingredients. Stella likes to cook. I''m surprised. ''Yes, it''s ready. Please enjoy your meal. The menu in front of me, with grilled fish and nut and grass salad, all smelled delicious. Along with Stella, it was dinner time. ''Yeah, yummy,'' I hope you like it. Stella looks happy. ''Thank you. ''And Stella, keep eating.'' But it''s still delicious. It''s worth it to me to know that you like it like that. Stella smiled next to me. ''I can''t wait to have it again when I get back to the demon world. I''m available if you want. ''Really?¡¡Okay, then. Yes, Mr. Freed. Stella grinned and nodded. We had finished eating and I was discussing with Stella about our future actions. The sun had already set and darkness surrounded us. I''m sure most of the demons under Regal were killed by Ludmila. But I believe there are still some of them alive. I want to meet up with them. I''ll look for him with my own eyesight. And, Stella. "Please. We''ll wait until we hear what''s going on before we can regain control of the three recaptured kingdoms or accompany them back to the demon world. The words "conquering the kingdom," came out of my own mouth naturally. I was a little surprised by that. There was a feeling in my mind that something had been blown out of the water. ''''I''ve defeated Ludmira of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge), my maximum strength. We''ll have to see if we can come up with more strength than that. It will depend on the balance between our remaining strength and the way the brave men come out. Yes, sir. And now... I took out a black sword from the void. It''s the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword, Ladis. We need to check this thing out. Demon King''s sword...? How much does Stella know about this sword? I heard that the first Demon King defeated even the gods in the sky with his sword. However, he has lost his power and the sword is now a symbol of the Demon King as a ritual tool. The battle between the first demon king and the gods...........I had heard that from Yulisha too. However, it seems that she herself only conveyed only bits and pieces of the story, and she didn''t tell me much about it. The only thing I know is that there was such a battle in the distant past. ''''Then what about the story of the demon race being weakened by a divine curse?'''' It might not be something he could talk about lightly, but he should at least talk to Stella about it. ''''No... no, I''ve never talked about anything like that. Stella looks surprised. It was half expected, but apparently she didn''t know. ''Fact, is it?'' ''''At least that''s what Yulisha said. But if even you, the chief of the Demon Army, don''t know about it, then maybe it''s information that''s been withheld from the Demon Clan other than the king. ''Probably not even the Demon Army Chief Regal, Zegart, or Feria know about it. Well I''m sorry, but don''t tell anyone else for the moment. Yes, sir. ''And then I''m wondering why I lost my strength when I fought Lyle with this piece of him. Let''s try a little experiment. I looked at the sword again. The piece I recovered from Lyle was lodged in the missing part of the sword, but with a bit of force I was able to remove it. ''Stella, take this piece. Did I...? I''m trying to recreate what happened when I fought Lyle. I handed the shard to Stella. A bee, bee, bee, and a purple spark popped from the black surface area. ''Let''s get started.'' I was a few meters away from her and held the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Ladis) at the ready. ©¤ ©¤ Dukun! My heart was beating fast in my chest. I felt my strength slip away from me. But.... ...Is it like this? Compared to when he fought Lyle, his weakness was nothing compared to what he felt when he fought Lyle. The magic power itself doesn''t seem to have decreased nearly as much. ''''What do you mean...?'''' At that time, it felt like my power was draining away more and more. The fact that my magic was defeated by the flames released by ''Levatein'' was also because it felt like my power was decreasing more than his power was increasing. I''m holding the Demon King Sword and my opponent is holding the shard - the same situation as when I fought Lyle. I thought that the shard had an effect of suppressing the power of the demon king, but that''s simply not the case. Then that phenomenon that happened in the fight against Lyle... ... Ludmilla was alone in the forest. The wind ruffled her blue hair in twin tails. ''You''ve missed the Demon King........'' After she and the Demon King fought, seven brave men, along with five hundred men, went to exterminate the Demon King. However, the demon king and his men have disappeared, and their whereabouts are unknown. If only I had killed them... I bite my lip in frustration. But the power of the demon king was overwhelming. Until now, Ludmilla had always won no matter what kind of demon race she was fighting against©¤©¤that was the first humiliation she had ever experienced in her life. It was the first time in her life she had experienced absolute terror. And...there''s one more thing that bothers me. "I remember Lyle-kun calling the Demon King ''Master''...?¡¡What does that mean...? Since he was dazed and dazed, he couldn''t hear it clearly. But the Demon King''s name, ''Freed'', is the same as Lyle''s master''s name. I''d like to question him, but the important thing is that Lyle had disappeared from the scene. And. I''m surprised. To think that someone like you could do that to me. It was a beautiful woman who walked up to me. She was in her early twenties. She wore her beautiful golden hair tied up and had a gentle smile on her graceful beauty. She is dressed in a pure white dress, which is inappropriate for the battlefield. She was dressed like a nobleman''s daughter. But it seems that she is not seriously injured. I''m relieved to hear that you''re not hurt. Mr. Fiore...! The brave man who is called the strongest like her - Fiore Quell, the Sacred Edge sword of "fire". The rapier is a miracle armor of the seraphic level. I''m so glad you''re safe, Ludmila! This new demon king won''t be so easy to deal with. Moreover, there are two shadows behind it. "To you... The Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge) of ''Water'' and ''Earth''. The four strongest heroes were gathered here. 23 2 Assembly, Four Heavens Sacred Ludmilla''s memory begins with a single flame. Flames spreading in front of me. The flames of the houses. Flames spat out by demons. The town of her hometown has been burned to the ground by the demon tribe''s army. My father, a strong hunter, was devoured by the demon army. His mother, who was kind and beautiful, was tortured to death. The neighboring family, who had been happy and cheerful, the neighborhood children who played together, the adults who had always greeted them on the street - each one of them was brutally murdered as if they were enjoying a game. The demon tribe also came to 5-year-old Ludmila, who was hiding in the basement of her house. They are going to kill her. Just as she was about to break down in fear and despair, a pillar of jade-green light descended on her. This is Raphael, the miracle armor of the seraph class. It is the armor of the holy God that only the chosen of God - the brave can have. It''s a great deal more than just the first time you''ve seen it. "I will not forgive demons. I felt a fierce anger burning from deep within me as my little body was stained with return blood. Deeper than the sadness of losing someone so dear to me. Deeper than the emptiness of losing an important place. Only anger against the demon race dominated her heart. Hence, Ludmila''s feelings towards the demon race are only one. To destroy©¤©¤. That simple, single impulse is still driving the brave Ludmila. "With the power of our Four Heavenly Sacred Swords, the demon king is not an enemy of the enemy - you who jumped out at him saying that, were badly beaten. The Four Heavenly Holy Swords of the ''Earth'' - the knight in full armor told him indifferently. ''''No, that''s how strong the Demon King is right now, isn''t it? Isn''t that right, Ludmilla? The Four Heavenly Sacred Swords of Water - a young man in a robe reminiscent of a wizard said comfortingly. ''''I''m confident that I''m as good as the Demon Commander class. But the Demon King... Ludmilla bites her lip. ''It was as if it didn''t stand up to me. The dimension of combat ability itself is different.'' You''re weak. Then we''ll just have to get more power. Don''t you think? More power...? Ludmilla raises an eyebrow. ''There was an ''oracle'', Yo. "God will give us new strength. You will come with me to the Cathedral, Mr. Ludmilla. Fiore smiled with a graceful smile. The cathedral©¤©¤that''s the sanctuary within the sanctuary where only the upper echelons of the brave guild were allowed to enter. Even Ludmira, who is known as the Four Heavenly Holy Swords, has never entered there. ''''The ''Cathedral''........in?'''' He clears his throat. ''The battle is moving into a new realm - and for that, the four of us will need to gain more power. And we are the ones who will be the true heroes to avenge the Demon King. If you have the miracle armor of a seraph, you won''t be able to enter the demon world... and he''s working on that as well. More power.... Ludmilla clenched her fists. The humiliation of being completely defeated will be avenged. The demon race will be destroyed. Yes, for the sake of fulfilling the vow made that day. For the sake of the anger I''ve been feeling since that day. "I''m coming too. I will be stronger than ever before... * After that, I asked Stella to accompany me on my experiments. But in the end, I still didn''t understand the piece of the Demon King''s Sword. .........I''ll ask Yulisha when I get back. ''''Then let''s look for the demon tribe under Regal. And before that.......how much has Stella recovered? I''ll check again. ''It should be pretty much back already. I''ll give it a try. Stella''s magic power was greatly depleted in the previous battle - the battle when the Hundred Brave Men made a decisive attempt on the demon world - and she has a lot of magic power. I''ve heard that it''s not a problem for using clairvoyance, but when it comes to battle, she can''t wield enough power. After that, it seems that he has been recovering little by little, so to what extent is he back to now? ''''©¤©¤Huh.'''' A small, spirited Stella. Her entire body was enveloped in a pale aura. Her long silver hair fluttered and the third eye that appeared on her forehead emitted a golden glow. I see, your magic power has risen a lot more than before. Although my ability to sense magic power isn''t that high, I can still see it clearly. It''s a far greater amount of magic than an ordinary demon race. As expected of a demon army chief. "I''d say it''s 70 percent. Is this still seventy percent? Stella erased the aura that covered her entire body. ''''If it''s a Four Heavenly Sacred Sword class like the one I just mentioned, but if it''s against an ordinary level hero, I can fight without any problems. All right, I''ll do what I can. I''ll follow up as much as I can, but when the time comes, you''ll at least protect yourself. ''I''m sorry. Originally I should have been the one to protect Master Freed.... Don''t apologize. I chose you as my companion. Besides, you''ve served me well with your clairvoyance. I smiled at Stella, who seemed sorry, and I smiled at her. ''''©¤©¤There are signs that they are approaching us. I''m not an enemy. Suddenly, she tightened her expression. I put on my demon king''s mask and prepared for those approaching. Not long after, a presence arose in the bushes behind me. When I turned around, I saw several red glows floating in the darkness. It''s the way they look at you. "Are you one of the demons under Regal? I called out to the darkness. ''Yulisha the Great was defeated. I am his successor, the new Demon King. My name is Fried. I held up my right hand for them to see. A demon king crest appeared on the back of my hand. ''''Oh, it''s the Demon King!'''' My Lord Freed! A joyful voice chanted. About twenty demonic tribes emerged from the darkness. The skeletal type, the indeterminate ghostly figures, the zombie type.......all of them were undead type demons. Many of them were also wounded. The undead would not die from physical damage. But if their cores were shattered or if they were attacked by a holy attribute or purification system, they were vulnerable. ''''Stella, how do I treat the wounded?'''' I''ve heard that undead, when subjected to a recovery spell, take damage in reverse. ''In the case of the undead, I think the fastest way to deal with them is to give them the energy source, the dark magic, directly. Oh, I see... I concentrated and increased my magic. ''Those of you who are wounded, use this to replenish your wounds. And then it emitted a light like a black pea grain. It was a condensed form of dark magic. It''s a kind of nourishment for them. ,. Oh.... When the undead received it, they all shouted with joy. ''''Power........overflows.......! This magic it''s thick, it''s rich and it''s delicious. It''s exquisite ... it''s exquisite ... Is that right? I''m not sure what the undead feel like. ''''Thank you, Demon King,'''' The undead who seemed to have recovered bowed their heads in unison. ''''As expected of a demon king! "Sasmao!¡¡That''s great! "Sasmao!¡¡That''s great! ........do you guys do this too, Sasumao call. Is it possible that this has been popular in the demon world for some time now? 24 3 Confluence strategy Once the sasumao call had settled down, I asked the undead to report the current situation. ''''Due to the attack of the brave Ludmilla, the main force has been destroyed...'''' Their faces are dark. However, they are undead, so to say that they are dark by nature is an understatement. ''''Even the three members of the Reimasshu were killed in an instant... and the rest is a total collapse. The rest of us scattered and lost and we escaped as well. The Spiritual Demons were the three demon clans that were in Regal''s entourage, right? I think they were quite powerful demon clans, but they were probably defeated by Ludmilla. ''''Who else escaped besides you guys?'''' ''''I don''t know. It''s just........we sensed a large clash of magical power between the heroes and the demons earlier, so we decided that they were reinforcements and came here. So maybe the others will come here eventually. And the undead. ''I see. So the battle between me and Ludmilla has brought you guys together........ I said and looked at Stella. "Can you detect a demon approaching you? I''ll try. Stella stood up. A third eye appeared in her eyes. ''''There are a total of three groups of demons coming towards us. All of them are at a distance of several tens of kilometers.'''' Stella said. ''Based on the speed at which we''re moving, we expect any group to reach us by the end of tomorrow. Okay. I turned to the undead. ''Then we''ll stay here until they get here. When we meet up with them, we''ll move on. Is that all right with you guys? Of course. We''ll protect you, Demon Lord. The undead are enthusiastic. ''''I''m sure you''re tired from the battle, so you need to rest first. I''ll chastise them. ''Stella, I want you to monitor your surroundings regularly. If a brave army heads towards us or any of the demon groups approaching here, report immediately. Yes, sir. Stella nodded. ©¤ After that, more than half a day passed. Stella used her clairvoyance to check the situation regularly. So far, there were no signs of the brave men approaching. Are they unable to find us? Or are they cautious and not approaching us easily? Either way, be careful not to let your guard down. ''''Whew!'''' After the dozens of times of clairvoyant searching, Stella let out a big breath. ''''Are you alright, Stella?'''' I''m a little tired but I''m fine. Stella smiles. If you look closely, you can see a few shades under her eyes. Her complexion is also vaguely pale. ''''I''m ... sorry. ''''I''ve been working you too hard.'''' I couldn''t help but rely on my clairvoyance as it was so useful. ''''That concern alone is enough for me, Mr. Freed. Stella''s smile deepened. I wish I could use clairvoyant-class magic. You can use the magic ''search'' to detect the enemy, but its effectiveness is inferior to Stella''s. It''s not a good idea to be able to use the strongest level of magic in the history of the demon king''s direct attack ability, but it''s not an all-around good idea. And. Master Freed, it seems they''ve arrived. Another group of undead. Before I can finish my words, a group of demonic tribesmen appear from behind the bushes. Just like the first group that joined us, they were skeletal and ghostly forms. Soon after, we were able to join up with the second and third groups as well. The total number of them is about two hundred in all. I''ll be able to share the dark magic with the injured ones and help them recover. ........Needless to say, as usual, the ''sasumao'' call came up again. ''''Alright, for now, the remaining troops have been gathered. I looked around at the undead. Now, what to do now... And that was it. "Your Majesty the Devil King! Stella shouted unexpectedly. ''''The brave men are close at hand. When did they get this close... I tighten my expression under my mask, too. ''You were getting close, just in time to use your clairvoyance. You can''t get away from me, you demons! With a voice, the scene in front of me wavered like a mirage. At the same time, about seven warriors and knights appeared. They might be ''camouflage'' or ''concealment'' miracle armor with the skill to hide their appearance. In addition, hundreds of soldiers came from behind them. ''''I''m sorry, Demon Lord. It was my fault. Stella bites her lip. ''No, even clairvoyance can''t be used permanently, and it can''t help but leave a gap. And it''s not like I didn''t see this coming. Stella and the others should stay back. I said, and I stepped forward. I''ll take care of them. Demons, prepare yourself! The guy in the lead is the Demon King, don''t let him get away! The brave men raised their spirits. In their hands, I could see weapons such as the Sword of Destruction (Arondite), the Spear of Water Stream (Undine), and the Earth Axe (Behemoth). All of these weapons are not as powerful as the Wisdom Angel (Cherubim) class or the Seated Angel (Solone) class - the most powerful Cutthroat Angel (Seraph) class, but they are quite powerful miracle armaments. Of course, if it were just me, I could fend them off with no problem. But I need to make sure that the attack doesn''t cause any damage to Stella and the undead. Be careful here... Move. The first attack unleashed hundreds of magic bullets. Explosions and shockwaves popped, blasting the approaching heroes and soldiers, one after the other. ''''Guaaa.........'''' A cry of agony filled the place. It wasn''t enough to take a life, but I did enough damage to make it impossible to move for a while. First of all, it''s intimidation. No matter how many brave men gather, they will never be an enemy of the demon king©¤©¤. If you instill that kind of fear in them, it will be a deterrent in some small way. I was not able to be rational or cool-headed enough to immediately dismiss the idea that the enemy was all killed. But that doesn''t mean I don''t want to kill them at all costs. If you want to retreat, fine. If you stand your ground, I won''t show any mercy. He says it in his tone as a demon king. It''s not like I don''t know anyone, so I keep my voice low and try to make a slight impression. ''''Flesh, bone, and even soul - those who are ready to perish, come. Ugh.... The brave men and soldiers backed away with frightened faces. They seemed to have lost the will to fight. And. I''m ready. From the very back of them, one brave man advances out of the back of the room. It seems that there were still other brave men in the group. Moreover, unlike the other guys, he doesn''t seem to be timid. ''I''m standing on the battlefield with that resolve from the beginning. I''m your opponent, Demon King. He has silver hair and a silver mustache. He is a mature warrior with an air of serenity. He has a sturdy build and holds a huge hammer in each hand. "You are...! I knew that guy''s face was familiar. Urbano Wraith. I had been with him many times on brave missions. He was a serious and responsible guy. He was a man with a sense of duty as a brave man, and he was a man who fought foolishly. ''To protect love and justice on earth... I will avenge you. I didn''t hate this guy, I didn''t hate this guy. We were in the same forty-something years, and I felt a kinship with him. I respected his fighting style and his activities as a brave man. But if he was going to stand up to me as an enemy.... "You will regret that you stood against the Demon King. Through his mask, he looked at his former comrades in arms. My determination to fight, my resolve to fight, is unwavering. I have people behind me that I must protect. 25 4 Comrades ''''You''re strong. Even that Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge) Ludmilla couldn''t beat you. Urbano glanced at me with a grim expression. ''But a brave man will not retreat no matter how powerful his enemy is. I will defeat you even at the cost of my life. You can''t. You can''t. I arrogantly say to him. ''Even if I fall down here, if I give you one scratch - I''m sure the rest of them will follow. Urbano held his hammer on either side. The Wisdom Angel (cherubim) class miracle armament, Mjolnir. It is an armament that has the ability to control lightning. ''''I hope to be its cornerstone.'''' He''s stubborn. As usual..... Let''s go, Demon King! Just as I was getting emotional, Urbano kicked the ground and lunged at me. There was no feint, no check, no nothing, just a straight move. It was a straightforward, foolishly straightforward attack, just like this man. The left and right hammers arced wide and struck with full weight. But in front of my reaction speed, it''s too slow. I twisted my body to dodge and unleashed a counterattack fist. ''''What...?'''' But Urbano dodged my fist, which I brought out at the right time to counter, with ease. The hammer struck left and right every time. My stance is broken, so I backsteppedaled without straining. ''''I see you!'''' As if he had anticipated this, Urbano steps in further. This guy - it''s as if he knows how I''m going to work, attacking as if he knows how I''m going to work. ''''Barrett.'''' I''m going to intercept it by releasing a lightbulb. ''''Chi-chi.'''' Urbano leaps down with a tongue-in-cheek mixture. ''Your movements are similar to the Xyrus style of swordplay. ....! I scrunched up my face slightly under my mask. Indeed, the Zyrus style of swordsmanship is the school I used to use when I was a human. That movement habit must still be present even now that I''m a demon king. When you think about it, it''s not so strange. It''s just that I''ve been fighting mainly with magic up until now, and most of my opponents were cattled with a single blow. Because of that, I hadn''t even thought about my own body technique habits. ''''Well when I look at you, you remind me of that man. Urbano looks at me with piercing eyes. "He went to the demon world to defeat the Demon King and didn''t come back without a fight. I felt that eye light piercing through the Demon King''s mask. Don''t tell me you''re beginning to sense that I''m a freed...? No, no matter how much, I don''t think it''s possible to detect that much just because of the similarity in their movement habits. And........even if they noticed, it''s nothing special. In any case, I no longer have a connection to the human world. The connection that was most important to me was already severed after I cut it off. ''''I can see you''re upset, Demon King! With a roar, Urbano was approaching. Ouch, my reaction was delayed©¤©¤. Frustrated with himself. How could I be distracted from my thoughts on the battlefield by something other than a battle? Am I still not satisfied with my human...? Fierce Myolnir!¡¡Thunderstrike! Thunderbolts were released from the hammers on either side. I quickly put up a magic barrier and flicked it off. ''''d*mn........'''' Although he didn''t take any damage, he was blown more than ten meters away by the momentum of the lightning strike. ''''The Demon King has retreated!¡¡Everybody shoot! Urbano shouted immediately. "''Undine'' - water flow spearhead (aqua spear)! "Behemoth, the groundbreaking blow! [Alondite] Burst Slash! The brave men and women are firing skill attacks with Miracle Armor one after another. Their targets are the stelae and undead. ''''Homing Bullet!'''' I fired dozens of light bullets at once. The light bullets fly through the air as if they have a will of their own and cancel out the attacks of the brave men and women. This is a specialized version of the tracking-type attack magic "homing ray". ''''Fufu........ In the nick of time©¤©¤. They were able to shoot them all down before the attack of the brave men reached Stella and the others. But even though they prevented that one, the threat still hasn''t gone away. The brave men are still wielding their respective armor and recharging their mental strength (energy) to deliver the next blow. "Demon King, I will cover you too! We are! Stella and the undead fired magical and miasmic bullets. But the brave men fired a second shot and easily scattered them. The aftermath of the raging attack washed over Stella and the undead. You can''t make me... I fired the Homing Bullet again and shot them down. ''Where are you looking, Demon King! Urbano is coming at you from the side. Nah, it''s hard to do in a melee.......! I warned you to stand down. I told him quietly. The Demon Lord''s destructive magic is too powerful and difficult to adjust. One wrong move and your allies could be harmed. But if you don''t do it, you will be attacked. If we don''t do this - we can''t protect anyone. Even if I''m safe, they might kill Stella and the rest of the undead. But if they still come at me I will not condone their actions. Make sure the only people left standing are the brave ones. Kill the feelings. Kill your thoughts. Kill your reason. You will be the one who kills humans... by being the one who kills them. "Thundering Arrow. Over a hundred lightning arrows appeared in front of me. This is a group sniper-type lightning spell. The accuracy of the homing ray is lower than that of the tracking-type homing ray, but this one is more powerful. It increases your concentration. It is necessary to have precise control. It''s the Demon King''s magic. Shoot it down! Water streams, chunks of rock, and slashing waves flew one after another from the brave men''s miracle armor. The group of arrows I fired rushed forward and shot them all together. A dazzling blast of light filled my vision. ''''Wha? "Geez! Every single one of the brave men were pierced by a thunderbolt arrow and died. ''''You demon........! No, only one person escaped a fatal wound. The fallen Urbano was staring at me. Did the lightning strike of "Mjolnir" counteract the damage to some extent? However, he seemed to be dying. He had severe burns and lacerations all over his body. ''''Ha, ha, ha... even if we fall, the heroes are still around...'''' Under his labored breath, Urbano groaned. With a face that was already beginning to look deadly. ''No evil has ever flourished you will sooner or later perish and it will be left to your friends to take care of the rest...'' ...s... I''m not gonna die. I''ll protect them all. I walked over to Urbano and held out my hand. The palm of my hand lights up with a magical light. ''Sleep - O brave man!'' The magical light flashed and Urbano''s body disappeared without a trace. 26 5 Return and daily life again I''ve decided to return to the demon world with Stella and the undead. It would be possible for me to reclaim the three kingdoms that were stolen from me, but it''s not possible for me to stay in the human world and protect them. But even if I reclaimed them, it''s not possible for me to stay in the human world and protect them forever. I can''t stay in the demon world forever. But even if you leave the undead behind, if a powerful warrior like Ludmila comes, he or she will be kicked to the curb. There are not enough forces left to fight against them. Therefore, we have to retreat. Welcome home, Your Majesty the Devil King! When I returned to the Demon King''s Castle, I was greeted by Lilim and his guards. ''''Yeah, we just got back.'''' I responded with a wave of my hand and everyone cheered happily. The undead we brought back with us were sent back to Regal''s army. ''''Thank you, Demon King-sama! They all thanked me repeatedly and left. That Regal is out and away. He was regularly patrolling the area to see if there were any remnants of the brave men who had attacked the demon world before. I''m me, and I have to get the work done that needs to be done. Just let me take some rest today. I went back to my private room. The Demon King has two private rooms, one is purely for private use. The other one is billed as a private room, but it''s actually the room where the spirit body of the previous Demon King Yurisha lives. I returned, of course, to the former''s private room. I take off my mask, take off my robe and lie down on the bed. ''''Fufu........'''' He looked up at the ceiling and sighed. A lot had happened in his few days in the human world. That he fought the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge) Ludmilla. Being reunited with Lyle. I gave him two punishments, and we parted ways. I killed Urbano and other brave men to protect Stella and the others. I sighed again. Many thoughts come up. It''s not simple anger or sadness. It''s not a sense of accomplishment or elation, nor is it disappointment or emptiness. They are all mixed together and swirling in my chest. ...I didn''t get much sleep that day. The next morning. ''''Even if you''re away for a bit, it''s going to pile up quite a bit.......'''' There was a large pile of papers on the desk in the office. I''ve only been away for two days........ ''''Freed-sama must be tired, isn''t he?¡¡I''ll take care of these things, sir. Stella was in paperwork mode or maybe she was wearing glasses. I, on the other hand, have my mask off since we''re alone. ''''I''ll check all of them out. Could you give me a final check? Thank you. It''s always good to know. ''What do you mean? You have saved so many demons this time as well. Let me at least do this much. ''''You''re tired too. You must have overworked your clairvoyance, and you probably didn''t fully recover your magic power in the first place. Stella is the one we should give a break to. ''You didn''t get much sleep?'' She was staring at me. ''No, I''m fine.'' Take care of yourself. There is a gentle light in his eyes as he gazes at me. ''''If it''s okay with me, you can tell me anything you want. Thank you. But I''m still good. And then, Stella and I started to do some paperwork. When I was a brave man, I did most of my duties like fighting demons, so it''s still refreshing to have time to work in the office. Stella checks and I stamp the settlement. Budget bills from various regions, approval forms for personnel and economic affairs, military and ceremonial affairs, etc... I didn''t realize that a king''s job encompasses so many different things. While I was silently working on it, it was noon. Me telling Stella. Before I know it, there are less than half a dozen boxes of documents left. It''s not just about eyesight, but also thinking and reaction time. I''m very good at this kind of work. What''s an eye demon? It''s my tribe''s name. So that''s what Stella was. There was a knock at the door. ''Lunch is brought to you. I remembered that we had decided to have dinner in the office today because of the workload. ''Thanks. Come in. I put on my mask and called through the door. ''Excuse me~'' A girl from the demon race came in with a wagon. Her appearance age would be about the same as Stella''s. She has semi-long purple hair that is loosely wavy and has a plain appearance with glasses. She is wearing a white catsuit on her head and a white and navy blue apron dress. Her bosom was puffy and full, and my eyes were almost drawn to it. ''Thank you. Carry me here, Irene. Stella instructs. ''Yes, miss~'' The maid demon called Irene proceeded to push the wagon. ''''What, miss?'''' ''''Miss Stella-sama is the rightful heir of one of the five major aristocracies of the Demon World, the Arzelwein family~. I also serve Stella-sama in your mansion, so.......I couldn''t help but call her by her usual name, hmm. Irene replies with a bow. ''''Stella was an aristocrat........'''' The thing about the eye demon earlier, there''s still a lot I don''t know about Stella©¤©¤no, there''s still a lot I don''t know about the demon race. What are the five great nobles? From the name, it seems to have a pretty high status. However, it might be common knowledge for the demon race, and I can''t ask him carelessly. I''ll ask him to tell me about it later when he and Stella are alone. ''''Line it up there. Yes, Miss. Stella said, and Irene distributed the food to the table at hand. ''Oh, how about you, Stella?¡¡You must be hungry. And me. After I said it, my eyes met with Irene''s. The maid demon tribe''s eyes shone behind her glasses, glancing at the food on the table. ''''........Looks delicious, Juri. Good, I want to eat it........ My heart is leaking out. Well, it sure looks good, doesn''t it? ''Well do you want some Irene? ''Wow, are you sure~?¡¡It''s nice to see you. Irene''s ample breasts were shaking and shaking as she splashed about. ''Are you sure, my demon lord?'' It''s a win-win situation. Me, answering Stella''s question. Thank you, my Demon Lord. Irene jumped up and down happily. ''The King''s presence. ''Refrain.'' "Uh-huh, miss, you''re in business mode. "Call me the demon chief at work, not the young lady. My goodness, my goodness. Irene smiles serenely. ''Come on, there are only three of us here, so let''s relax our shoulders. I said to them. "Stella was in the human world yesterday and she was all tense, too, wasn''t she? "...if your Majesty the Devil King so wishes. Stella nodded. Then we had lunch together, the three of us. I was tense when I was in the human world, and it''s nice to be able to eat calmly like this. "Miss, if you don''t want to eat that egg roll, can I have it~ No. This is the last thing you''re going to enjoy........wait. Don''t try to sneak it to me. Uh-huh, they''ve found me. You ate it earlier. I''m growing up and I''m starving! Oh, man. Half a child. Wow. That''s very sweet of you, young lady. ''Not the young lady, but the demon chief... or should I call her that since the Demon King has given his permission? The interaction between the two of them is very funny. I spent my lunch break with a smile on my face. It''s late in the evening, and my normal duties are finally over. Thank you so much, Stella. I don''t know how much time it would have taken me without you... Glad I could help. ''I mean, I can''t stand without you. I appreciate it. Oh no... Stella scowled in embarrassment. ''Get some rest. I''ve got someplace to stop for a bit. You want to stop by...? Yeah, it''s just... I was going to go see Yulisha after this. I want to ask her about the Demon King Sword Piece. 27 6 Demon King and Demon King I left the office and proceeded to the top floor of the castle. The corridor that draws a gentle curve - the room beyond the corridor is officially referred to as my private room. However, the person actually there is the spirit body (astral) of the previous Demon King Yurisha. I was called out once before to inherit the qualification of the Demon King©¤©¤. I''m not going to be the only one who can do that. For my part, it''s helpful to have the previous demon king standing by as a consultant in case something happens. This time, I was going to ask him about the piece of the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Ladis). Why was my power weakened during the battle with Lyle? I asked Stella to help me recreate the same situation in an experiment, but there was no intense weakening at that time. The difference - what is the difference? If my adversary had the same Demon King Sword Piece, I would have a hard time. He wanted to take countermeasures now. ''''Ho, you''re here again.'''' A different space, as if a dim light had been lit in the darkness. There was a girl standing there. She was about my waist height. She has long black hair and a lovely figure. The black robe she''s wearing is too long and bulky. I''m here to teach you something, Yulisha. I greeted the previous Demon King Yurisha. To be more precise, the demon king''s temporary first appearance created by his mental energy - well, it''s like a ghost. ''''Hmm?'''' The piece of the Demon King''s sword. I told him about the events in the human world. How my strength was greatly diminished by the shard he held in his hand during the fight with Lyle. "...Lyle, you mean that little boy. The one who burned the straw with fire........ Yulisha''s face was filled with anger. If I had to be punished, I would have. I took a small breath. An intense pain that would last forever as long as I lived. And the end of his ambition. ''''So, there are a few things I don''t understand. First of all, why did that guy have a piece of the Demon King Sword? "The Demon King''s Sword was originally kept near the place where Warawa and your men fought. It may have been chipped off during the battle. Yurisha replied. ''That little boy must have had a piece of it with him. I see... Me nodding. ''Do you know why the Demon King''s power was weakened during the fight with Lyle? The Purgatory Demon King''s Sword itself is more of a ritual tool than a weapon. It''s not supposed to have such a function but........to begin with, such a phenomenon has never happened with the Warawa. Umm....? Yurisha nods her head. ''There was no weakening phenomenon when Stella had it for me and I don''t know...'' ...You are a former human being. That might have something to do with it. Yulisha looks at me. ''You have no idea why, either,'' If someone is good at analyzing magic, they might be able to figure it out. "Analysis... The former lord of the demon army, Master Zsiram, could have done it or been traced back to him but he was killed in his last fight with the heroes. Maybe he''s not a ghost like you? Who''s a ghost? Flames erupted furiously from Yurisha''s hand. Gomph! There was a huge explosion, but I put up a magic barrier so I''m unharmed. ''''Don''t start firing spells at me out of the blue. And it''s the highest level spell, ''Mega Fire''. Normally, you would have been erased without a trace. "Because you treated this strawberry like a ghost. I know it''s like a ghost, but you got mad when you said that, Yulisha. Let''s be careful. ''Can''t other demons create a body like that after they die? The straw is a special item. It''s because he was a former demon king and used the highest level of resurrection magic on himself that he was able to remain in this world as a spirit body. It''s only because of that that he was able to stay in this world as a spirit. Yulisha is proud of herself. "If it''s a normal demon race, it''s over when they''re killed. Demons, gods and humans are all the same in this regard. Well.... I put a hand to my chin and growled. "I guess we''re just gonna have to figure it out. We must always seek other means of defense. And now there is one more thing you can do. Another option? It''s not that simple. Yulisha looks up at me. ''We need more powerful allies to protect you. "Ally... The first candidate would be the Demon Army Chief. The two candidates would be the Devil''s Eye Stella and the Lord Undead Regal. ''Stella''s always helping me out. As for Regal we don''t get to see each other very often. It was a duel out of the blue, from the way we met. "Hmm. The Regal hates humans. Be careful they don''t know you''re ex-human. Is that so? "There are many people who hate people among the demon tribe. There are many people who hate humans for various reasons, but they have been the main force behind the demon invasion of the human world. Yulisha in commentary mode. Regal is the first of them. You think it would be better to destroy every last human, don''t you? ...is it that extreme? ''''And then there''s the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegert and the Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm) Feria you two are no easy task. We haven''t been able to reach them yet. Keep strong, reliable subjects around you. As many as possible. Yulisha laughs. ''But - be careful not to be tripped up by his subjects. A king is essentially a solitary being. There was a faint shadow of a smile on his face. After my meeting with Yurisha, I returned to my office. ''''Demon King-sama!'''' On the way there, Stella comes running up to me. I told her to get some rest - what''s going on? Incident.... Stella, breathless, tells him. ''Incident?'' The crown has been stolen. ...What''s with the crown? I ask. "Of course, it''s the Demon King''s crown. I didn''t know there was such a thing. When I was reborn as the Demon King, I wore a robe and I had a staff. But I didn''t see a crown. Yes, I have not been able to tell you because of the war. Because of the war, I haven''t been able to tell you about it yet, but... Stella bit her lip as she said it. I was polishing the crown just now to show it to the Demon King. Then a dog wandered in... Stella recalls. ''It was so pretty that I couldn''t help but loosen up. If you''re a cute dog, you can''t help but feel loose. ''Oh, by the way, I''m a dog person. I''m a dog person. Cats are cats and I like them. ''Well I''m sorry, I digress. Anyway, the dog suddenly showed his true colors. The real...? Hellhound. Stella announced. ''The dog that turned into a demonic beast snatched the crown from my hand and left like the wind...'' 28 7 Hellhound The Hellhound is running around inside the Demon King''s Castle, that is. ''''Oh, I''m sorry...'''' Stella was hemmed in. ''''That''s a precious thing that has been passed down to the Demon Lord for generations. To have it taken away from me...'''' Don''t worry about it. I''ll get it back for you soon enough. For Stella''s sake, she''s depressed. Tell me where the hellhound is. Yes, sir. Stella nodded and opened her third eye. She searched with her clairvoyant eyes. ''''You are currently on the third floor of the royal castle. It looks like the guards are chasing after you.'''' All right, I''ll be there. When I went to the third floor of the royal castle, I saw a number of soldiers running through the corridor. Hmm, where''s the Hellhound? This thing is fast! He''s disappeared. Hey, relax, we''re going faster than you can go at full speed and it''s biting us! The soldiers are in an uproar. When I looked closely, I saw what looked like a black flash among them. Could it be - is that a Hellhound? They were moving so fast that they could see the afterimage. The guards were completely unable to keep up with their speed. Was it because of this overwhelming speed that they were easily allowed to enter the royal castle? And then the hellhound stopped moving. A dog whose entire body was completely black. It was less than a meter long and had a golden crown in its mouth. Stella said this guy was a demonic beast, but on the outside, he''s just like a normal dog. He''s round and cute. "Leave it to me, Demon King! It was Lirim who advanced. I heard that he was leading the soldiers and hunting down the Hellhound. We''re going to get them! You''re a fighter. Hang in there, Lilim. ''I''m growing even more than usual~! And Lilim extended his slime arm like a rope. The slippery arm extended and approached the Hellhound at breakneck speed. But. ''''........Oh no, fast~!'''' The dog quickly accelerates and slips through Lilim''s arms. Can it still accelerate? I''m the only one who could barely follow it with my eyes, but the other soldiers don''t seem to be able to react. Lilim''s slime arm also only grabs the air in vain. "d*mn it, get him! "The Demon King''s crown! The soldiers chased after him in unison. The Hellhound sloshed through them as if to mock them. ''''Shelter.'''' I use my magic power to create a dome with a radius of a few meters. The Hellhound stops moving. ''There''s no way to escape with this. I''m inching closer and closer, while at the same time reducing the range of the shelter. No matter how fast this guy is, it doesn''t matter how fast he is, as long as he limits the space he can move super fast. I was able to catch it without much effort. And then... Ugh. With a small bark, the Hellhound''s body floated up. ''This guy...?'' In the next moment, the Hellhound flies at breakneck speed while in the position I''ve caught it in. Towards the wall of magic power. Are you planning to break through it with a body blow? I hurriedly deactivated the ''Shelter'' magic. The wall built by the Demon King''s magic power would not be able to be breached by at least a bodily blow. But the Hellhound might get injured. ''''Gahhhh.'''' The Hellhound jumped out of the castle window with me and went in a straight line through the air. ''Hey, where are you going?'' I''m holding on to it to prevent it from shaking me off. I put up a defensive field of magic power in case of wind pressure and frictional heat from the air. The Hellhound kept flying. It leapt up to an altitude of about 1,000 meters and moved forward from there. It accelerated rapidly. ''''This thing is going to fly until it shakes me off? I''d like to lower it to the ground while I catch it, but I can''t find a suitable magic. In the meantime, our flight speed continued to increase. The air around us became red hot, and we flew through the sky with our glowing red tails trailing behind us. In the meantime, the landscape below us changed. From a grassy field to a wilderness. More black mist rutted across the ice field like a pool of darkness. Where am I...? The white of the ice and the black of the fog spread out all over. The Demon King''s robe has a cold-resistant feature, or maybe it''s just a little chilly. ''''It looks like we''ve reached the outer edge of the demon world. I heard a voice. The hellhound looks at me. "You can talk? Who do you think I am?¡¡I''m a lot smarter than most demons. A huffing and puffing hellhound. His voice and tone of voice sounded like a teenage boy. The Hellhound slowed down its flight speed and eventually stopped in mid-air. ''The outer edge........is that the edge of the demon world?¡¡So this is the view... It was the first place I had ever seen. The Devil''s World is, simply put, a huge land area shaped like a rhombus. The four regions from east, west, north, south, and west spread out to surround the royal capital. There are many unexplored areas on the outer edges of the land, and there are still many mysteries to be solved. ''''What? You don''t know?¡¡You''re the new Demon King, aren''t you? That being said, I haven''t been a Demon King for a very short time. There are many things about the geography of the demon world that I still don''t understand. ''''Hmm, that smell........could it be a former human?'''' The hellhound''s golden eyes narrowed. It gawked. ''''Oh, figure~ ... hmmm...'''' You are a bumbling hellhound. And you''ve got some divine power inside you. I can smell that too. ...the power of God? What are you talking about? ''I just wanted to say hello to the new demon king, really. The Hellhound sniffs again. ''I stole the crown, too, hoping to lure you in. Why did you even bother doing that? Why don''t you just come and see me normally? ''It''s a bit of a prank, isn''t it?'' The Hellhound said in a matter-of-fact tone. I''ve changed my mind. I''m a proud rider for the Demon King. I''m not going to let a former human being have my back. I see. Well, there''s no point in pushing it. ''''There''s a replacement Demon Dragon, I''ll take that one. Oh, yeah, okay, so? No, you said you didn''t want me on board. No, no, no, no, no, no. That''s where we stop them. A forceful hellhound. ''You''re the only rider I''ve ever had,'' ''Please let me ride you, my lifelong partner,'' or something like that, right?¡¡Do you have one? You can''t force a guy who doesn''t want a ride. Stick with it!¡¡Good luck!¡¡Hang on!¡¡Please, please, please~! The hellhound is becoming more and more desperate. This guy.........is he just being a picky eater? Okay, you know what? I''m gonna test you to see if you''re a natural candidate for the role of Witch King. I''m not. I don''t feel comfortable. ''''Even though I''m a former human, I''m still the Demon King who inherited the sigil. Then show me your power and follow me...! Listen to me. I''m talking to you. Okay, let''s get started. The next moment, a tremendous amount of energy radiated from the Hellhound''s entire body. ''''Wha........?'''' I was blown away by the pressure of the surprise attack. ''''Windburnia.'''' Use a wind spell in the air to control your attitude. He also slows down his fall and lands slowly. "That was... When I looked up, the Hellhound was surrounded by a pitch-black aura. Bam, bam, bam, bam, spreading red sparks, its body became huge. A huge body covered in black scales. Leathery wings. Sharp claws and fangs. ''''You are...'''' "I am Belga Elfida, the Dark Lord dragon. Once again, the jet-black dragon said in a solemn tone. "The strongest dragon that has obeyed the Demon King for generations and flown over many battlefields as his rider. 29 8 Devil King VS Underworld Emperor Long Now, are you ready for this? Bring me to my knees in a show of force. The dragon growled provocatively as he hooked the crown on the edge of his fangs. ''''If you take this crown away from me, I''ll admit defeat. However... You drink the crown with a gulp. ''As you can see, I''m not giving you the crown unless you beat me. You demand that I show power worthy of a king and obey - the same demand you made with Regal. I told you I''m riding another dragon. You''re afraid of me? Because you want some attention, don''t you? So, buddy, buddy, buddy, I''m not behaving like this. The dragon is extremely upset. It''s as if he''s fessing up that he''s the star of the show. It''s a good thing. As for the special rider of the demon king, the demon dragon is probably more capable than the demon dragon used as a rider until now. When patrolling the demon world or in battle, a high-speed means of transportation is important. If possible, I''d like to secure a more excellent dragon as my rider. Besides, more than anything else. Have strong, trustworthy subjects by your side. And as many as possible. My senior demon lord, wasn''t it? I think back to Yurisha''s words. ''If I show my strength, you will be a rider? If you''re strong enough to get me to admit it. The dragon nodded. ''I promise to fly through many battles for you. All right. I''ll take it. I looked up at the black dragon flapping its wings in the sky. This area is called the Deadly Ice Field, a place where no living thing lives. I''m not afraid to fight here. The Underworld Dragon ¡¶Belga Elfida¡· exhaled. The exhale became a shockwave that cleaved and shattered the icy earth. Just breathing is at this level? This guy is strong. I''m a member of the moth family, the strongest rank among the dragon species - come on, demon king. I''ll tame the prancing horse. It''s a dog, not a horse. No, a dragon. "If they don''t show up, I''ll come to you, ''Shadowbreath''! A black lightbulb was released from the dragon''s mouth. ''''Runeshield.'''' I put up a magic barrier and let it pass easily. Then, with a levitation spell, I floated up to the same altitude as the dragon. Up close, it was even more powerful. It was a majestic appearance worthy of the strongest dragon species. ''''Oh, so you''re unharmed now? The dragon in front of me huffed and exhaled. ''''The ''Shadow Breath'' is a dragon breath of emptiness that wipes out everything. If it''s at its maximum output, it has the power to wipe out this whole area....... The firepower seems pretty high. We don''t want to be judged on this alone. That was just a quick check. I''ll do better next time. As soon as he says it, the dragon spits out another round of light. This time, it spits out two. But they can''t break through my magical barrier. No. No. - Divide! Along with the dragon''s spell, the two light bullets split apart and split into dozens. They surround me and close in on me all at once. It''s impossible to avoid them. You can''t avoid this number of light bullets, new demon king? The dragon was victorious. The Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge) Ludmilla fought during this time shattered the barrier by attacking the same spot in succession. If it received an impact equal to or greater than that time, even the ''Rune Shield'' would be damaged. The approaching group of light bullets were at that level of power, or not. ''''Lucifer''s Shield.'''' I recast a higher-ranked defensive spell. In place of the previous magic barrier, a new magic barrier with a light purple color appeared. All the light bullets were blocked by that barrier and dared to dissipate. ''''Endured...? ''''If it was still ''Rune Shield,'' it would have been smashed and damaged. I looked at the dragon. ''''Could it be that you''re stronger than the Demon Army Chief and the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge), you? I''m just a rider. Basically, I''m not a fighter. You''re so strong. ''I''d rather fly than fight, you know. I only fight when I''m in the mood. The dragon laughs. ''And one more thing - if it''s to protect my pride. I''ll fight for it with everything I''ve got. Pride?¡¡Is it so humiliating to have me on board? I mean, I''m not trying to force you to do anything. ''Yeah, it''s the most humiliating thing I''ve ever done. The sound of the dragon''s voice changes. From a bright, innocent sound. Now it sounds dark and full of hatred. "In an era of mythology, demons and the gods fought a fierce battle... The dragon closed his eyes as he reminisced. The demon army had the upper hand in the battle. But soon, the situation changed. The gods suppressed most of the demons'' power and weakened them. At the same time, the humans were given the Miracle Armor. It was in line with what Yulisha had told me. The demon army was defeated by gods and humans, and even afterwards the demons were hunted by the brave men and women. Many of my friends were killed as well... I heard a grating sound. It was the sound of a dragon biting its fangs. ''''Is it because of that resentment that the demon race hates humans? Yeah. The dragon nods in response to my question. ''Of course, I know it''s not a one-sided grudge. Of course, I know it''s not a one-sided grudge. They killed each other and were killed. The dragon took a deep breath. ''Killing calls for killing, and hatred is a chain of events - people and demons will continue to fight until one of them is destroyed. I myself have killed many brave men in the demon world and human world. If I didn''t need to kill them to neutralize them or get rid of them, I did so. In order to protect the demons, there were times when I had no choice but to kill them. ''''Isn''t there a way to stop that...? It doesn''t have to be pretty to get along with everyone. Can''t we draw a line somewhere and become inviolable to each other - can''t we just draw a line somewhere? I don''t know. The dragon''s wings spread wide. ''Let''s end the story, shall we? To determine your power - let''s resume! In the next moment, the black behemoth turned into a whirlwind. It was even faster than when it was in its Hellhound state, super-duper fast! Let''s see if we can catch it this time! From there, he unleashed a triple combination: a gust of wind on both wings, a slashing wave from his protruding fangs, and a black lightbulb. My "Lucifer''s Shield" didn''t falter. It''s a stable defense. The excess energy from the three strikes ran across the white and black ground and pushed far beyond. An explosive light flashed in the distance. It was an extraordinary destructive force, even more so than before. I scrunch up my face under my mask. ''Heh, worrying about your people in the middle of a battle?'' You''re the king. Hmm. The dragon growled. Fufu, his breath filled with flames and burned the atmosphere. The dark magic power spewing out of his entire body is increasing further. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. The more I fight, the higher my spirits rise, the more my reason and emotions disappear. Eventually, I will become a monster that destroys everything - if you want to stop me, come and kill me! I''m not going to kill him. I focused my magic power. If this guy is against me, he''ll be able to withstand a little bit of seriousness. "You''re going to fight with me. For the sake of the future. I''m going to gather a strong group of vassals. This isn''t just to cover my strength, which is the weakness of the Demon King''s Sword Piece. In order to end the battle between the demon world and the human world... I want you to be a part of that power. 30 9 Lightning thunder You''ll be fighting with me. For the future. Yeah, you can''t tell me that until you beat me! As soon as I said it, the dragon spat out black light bullets. The light bullets split in the air and hit me from all sides. ''''There it is again.'''' The magical barrier prevents its power from reaching me. At this rate, even if I were to be hit by several hundred rounds, the Lucifer''s Shield would be able to withstand it. "I''m not afraid of someone who won''t attack me!¡¡I''ll just go on and on! The dragon got on a roll and shot more light bullets at me. ''''Then attack as you wish. I chanted a spell as I deployed my magic barrier. ''''Fire Arrow.'''' It creates multiple arrows of fire and shoots down the approaching group of light bullets. Gomph! The ''Fire Arrow'' that pushed forward further hit the dragon. With a roar, the black behemoth reared up in the air. ''''Still.....still.........! Despite the hurt, the dragon does not lose its fighting spirit. With the flap of its wings, it creates a gust of wind. The wind that became a blade surrounded me. ''''Burst Wind.'''' A tornado is created and the blade of wind is blown away. ''''Guuuuut...! The dragon retreats in the aftermath of the attack. "What a... A grinning dragon. At the same time, a killing spirit was created behind me. When I turned around, the thing that jumped into my field of vision was an enormous tail. The tail, which is bent like a whip, is closing in on me before I knew it. Meteo-blade. I turned around and produced a sword of fire and swung it. It bounced off the stubborn tail with a blazing slash and explosion. ''No matter how hard I try, it''s useless. You don''t need to be human. Rooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! The Underworld Dragon, Belga Elfida, howled. ''''I will crush you with everything I have! He flaps his wings and rushes forward. Even this guy would understand the difference in power. Or do they respond to the strength of their opponents by increasing their fighting spirit? This is the temperament of a dragon - or is it that of a demon race? "Take it, this is.......the most powerful series of blows! Another triple combination. ''Triple?¡¡Wrong. The dragon''s entire body was enveloped in an aura of black magical power. Its speed accelerated several times - or even tens of times. "Raise the destructive power of blows and magic to the maximum and destroy everything... Fangs, claws, and tails - countless numbers of fangs, claws, and tails - are unleashed at the speed of black lightning. Hundreds and thousands of breaths are unceasingly spat out of their mouths. "Well, if you can bear it, bear it! I put up the ''Lucifer''s Shield'' and take a static stance. The sound of explosions and impacts echoes endlessly. Probably, an attack energy that could even change the terrain has been struck. Even so, the barrier created by the Demon King''s magical power doesn''t get a single scratch. It doesn''t even waver. ''''d*mn it, I will not be defeated!¡¡I don''t care if he''s a demon lord, I don''t give a shit about ex-humans.¡¡There''s no way I''m letting you in! The dragon shouts. ''I knew you didn''t like humans. ''Of course!¡¡Humans are weak!¡¡And yet you kept killing demons and dragons with the weapons God gave you!¡¡You are weak. Thousands, or even tens of thousands more attacks converged, causing a tremendous explosion. The entire area was covered in black smoke. The smoke is so thick that you can''t see the dragon in front of you. Soon, that black smoke slowly clears©¤©¤. I''m floating in the air without a care in the world with my Lucifer''s Shield deployed. ''''Bah, that''s ridiculous........I didn''t get a single scratch from that one.......'''' The dragon groaned in dismay. ''It''s time to end this,'' Even if you always launch a half-hearted attack, this guy will only burn up his fighting spirit. With a more overwhelming force.......we will bring it to its knees. ''''You said humans are weak. Then you should see how much power this former human demon king has gained. A black aura enveloped my entire body. The flame-like aura erupted violently and blew away the clouds in the sky. ''''Let''s go a little tighter. Don''t die. What is this magical power...! A shiver mingled with a shiver in the dragon''s voice. Frightened. The most powerful dragon species. I pointed at him with my finger and chanted. "''Mega Thunder''! A golden flash of light covered with a blue spark pierced through to the far reaches of the sky. A shock and roar that could shake the demon world itself resounded. ''''Gu.........aaaaah......! With a huge explosion, the surrounding space is ripped open and countless black cracks run through it. Behind it, the darkness of blindness spread out. The 100% output Mega Thunder. Even space is scorched, pierced and destroyed - the ultimate thunderbolt. "This power........is a power that could burn the entire world to the ground.......! The dragon''s voice that could be heard from behind the explosive flames and black smoke was trembling. ''''It''s impossible.......even for a Demon King, this kind of power.......! Do you accept me for who I am? I looked at the black smoke ahead of me. Slowly it cleared and the black dragon that appeared was covered in wounds. I shot at an angle that grazed his body so as not to kill him, but I heard he still took a lot of damage. However, he won''t acknowledge me if I don''t do this much. Just like with Regal. ''''I don''t like it.......! But Belga Elfida, the Underworld Dragon, is still fierce. "No matter how much I''m hurt, no matter how much I''m beaten, I won''t stop fighting once I''ve started. As long as my body moves! Not going to the end. You''re a piece of work. I cast the next spell. One last spell to settle the matter. "''Gravityfall''. A black sphere appears above the dragon''s head. ?¡¡Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...? The dragon that was hit directly fell in a straight line. They are slammed into the icy earth with a tremendous earth tremor. ''''U, I can''t move........!¡¡This is... Gravityfall, the magic that creates supergravity. I took control of my floating magic and landed on the dragon''s side. ''''Its activation speed is slow and it''s a difficult spell to hit against a fast-moving opponent. But it''s easy to hit you when you''re wounded. ''So you were going to settle for this spell all along, not ''Mega Thunder''? The dragon glared at me. "I told you. "I''m not going to kill you. "I don''t kill you, but I''m going to have you fight with me. "Now you won''t be able to move, Belga Elfida, the Dark Lord dragon. Silence, flows. Me and the dragon''s gaze collides in the air. The silence was broken by a sigh. ''''I''m the strongest dragon species too. I can''t believe they''ve neutralized me so easily without killing me.'''' The dragon laughed quietly as he said it. ''''As expected, I don''t feel like I can win. I surrender.'''' Somehow, you got me to admit it. I released the gravity spell. ''I''ll give this back,'' The dragon spits out the crown it just swallowed. .........you''re covered in drool. I''m going to use water-based magic to wash it and then take the crown in my hand. A symbol of the king, huh? "I hereby pledge my lifelong loyalty to you. I am willing to risk my life and limb for you. From now on, I would like to thank you for your continued business. The dragon''s demeanor suddenly became vexing. ''''When you talk to me, you can do what you normally do. To be honest, I''m confused by how different the characters are from earlier. ''Nice to meet you, Belle. Bell? Bel-Ga-name-whatever that is, it''s a very long name. I''m gonna call you Belle. Bell... That''s nice. The dragon fished up the edge of his mouth. Perhaps he smiled. ''''Well, again, good to see you - Demon King-sama. It''s Fried. I took off my mask and said to Belle. This guy knows I''m an ex-human, and I''m willing to show him my true face. However, I need to make sure to nail him to the wall that he doesn''t say anything else. I don''t want you to know that I''m an ex-human, only my close associate Stella knows. Please keep it a secret from the rest of the demon race. I just want to get to the place where we were before. I put my mask back on and said to Belle. I thought back to the stray bullet from the fight with the dragon that had landed in the distance. ''Give me a ride, Belle,'' All right. There you go, Master Freed. The dragon bent over. It adjusted its levitation magic and straddled its back. When we get back to the castle, we''ll need to have a saddle made for this guy. All right, then. Don''t let him give you the slip. As soon as he said it, the dragon flapped its wings wide. ''''U........oh.......?'''' It swayed more than I expected. This is a far cry from the demon dragon I rode before. Is that how powerful it is? I''m not going to be the only one who can do that. Soon after, I arrived at the area where Bell''s attack had landed earlier. The ground is greatly gouged out by the shock wave, and a number of cracks and craters have been created. However, fortunately, it seems to be not a residential area, so it seems that the demon race is not damaged. Thank goodness. I''m glad to hear that no one has died. If it''s going to kill you, it''s going to kill you. Belle tells him matter-of-factly. "The demon race is ''the powerful''. The weak who don''t deserve it will be weeded out sooner or later. I prefer a world where the weak and the strong have an equal right to live. He glares at Bell through his mask. ''''Unlike the previous Demon King-sama, you''re quite moderate...'''' ''Anyway you''re too powerful. Think of the damage you can do to those around you and attack me. I chided Belle. "I''m the Demon King with my orders. Okay. Well, let''s just take a quick look around the demon world. Belle and I will fly everywhere in the sky of the demon world... 31 10 crowned I rode the Underworld Dragon Belga Elfida - Bells and rode around in the sky of the demon world. The four regions that spread out around the royal capital. The scorching heat of the earth, the pure white ice field. Green grasslands and reddish-brown wildernesses. Steep mountains and vast seas. In this land shrouded in darkness, a variety of nature lives on. I could see the towns dotted with pockets. I realized that demons have their own life. When I was a human, I only perceived them as ''demons that attacked people''. In fact, there were many such people. They fought to protect people. But now..... What''s the matter, Demon Lord? Belle bent her long neck and looked at me. ''Sentimentality, you mean?¡¡It still sounds human. I''ve never had a tour of the entire demon world like this before. I replied. "It''s not like the human world? ''''Well the races we live in are different, and there''s no daylight in the demon world. The atmosphere is much different. Okay. But there''s a lot of people, a lot of lives and essentially not much difference between them. We''re one ''world'' here, you know. We fly further into the air, having an innocuous conversation. And. ''Oh, by the way, didn''t you say earlier that I had ''God''s power'' inside me? I suddenly remembered and asked Belle for help. ''Hmmm ... I can smell it coming from Master Freed. I smell... It smells like a force that belongs to the gods, not man or demon. A force that belongs to God? What do you mean? Oh, I can see the castle. Belle told me to turn my attention back downward. A huge castle colored in jet black loomed up. It''s the Demon King''s Castle. Even viewed from the sky in this way, it was still large. A cheer could be heard from near the castle. ''''That''s........'''' When I looked into their eyes, I saw the demons looking up at me. ''''Hmph, why don''t you wave to them as they slowly turn around?¡¡A demon king with the most powerful dragon, what a picture that would be. And, Belle. ''It''s good to show your dignity as a demon king. ''Dignity is important. I must call your bluff. Well, you may have a point. With a wry smile, I waved my hand. The cheers grew even louder. I lowered Belle down in front of the main gate of the Demon King''s Castle. I''m getting off the dragon''s back. "Welcome home, Demon King. Stella rushed over. Behind her, her vassals'' demons are lined up in a row. It''s an atmosphere of welcoming the king with all of them. "I got my crown back! And I give it to her. ''Put it back where it belongs. ''''Yes........well, my Demon King. Were you with the Underworld Dragon [Belga Elfida]...? Asking Stella. ''You should have escaped from the earlier battle with the heroes...'' ''It''s rude to say you ran away. I just left the castle in disgust because everyone was so weak. Belle let out a puff of air from the tip of her nose. ''''How can you, the Demon King''s personal rider, run away from a fight? I didn''t like the idea of fighting with the weak. ''''This guy has a bit of a moody streak, but he''s a good fighter and flyer. He''s a reassuring ally. I interceded for Stella. So, that''s what we''re looking at with the whole hellhound thing. I''ll explain. "He took the crown in order to lure me in. Well, in his own way he is testing me, the new Erlanger, isn''t he? Heh, sorry to bother you. Bell bows his head. ''As it turns out, this is how I got my best ride. Let''s just say that this time is a non-issue. "If Your Majesty commands it, Stella nodded grudgingly. ''''Even so, I can''t believe the Underworld Dragon was able to transform into a Hellhound...'''' He knows that Belle is the rider of the previous demon kings, but he didn''t know that he could also take the form of a dog. ''''I don''t transform much in front of anyone other than the Demon King-sama, though. The bell shook the huge body. With a pop, a puff of smoke went up, and the figure changed into a small black dog. ''''It consumes a lot of energy in its dragon form, so I think I''ll stay over here usually. Yeah, do that. Me nodding to Bell. Oh, the Dark Lord Dragon, Belga Elfida, is a female, right? Stella said. ''It''s fine, Belle. ''And that''s what the Demon King calls it,'' ''Belle... girl?¡¡Now that I look at it again, it''s cute... Stella smiles. It''s a soft smile as if her attitude from earlier was a lie. Or rather than that©¤©¤. I thought you were a male? I asked Bell. ''?¡¡I haven''t said a word about that. Belle nodded her head in puzzlement. From the tone of voice, I thought it was a male, and the sound of his voice sounded boyish.......but I didn''t realize it was a female. ''''Can I........touch you a bit?'''' Stella offers timidly. ''Hmm, okay.'' Okay, uh, rubbing. Stella hugged her dog, Belle. She was happily rubbing her cheeks. ''Haha, that tickles a bit,'' "Mmm, nice touch. Best fluffy... Belle laughing and Stella swooning. Seeing them, my heart was softened. During the audience. I sat on my throne with my crown on and my staff in my hand. ''Crowned. ''It suits you, Master Freed. Stella smiles. I''m alone with her now, since it''s outside of audience hours. ''''It''s your formal attire as a demon king, isn''t it?'''' You don''t look very comfortable wearing a crown, do you? Thank you. I''m sure you''ll get used to it. Stella smiles. ''From now on, you will be expected to act more like a king than ever before. So you want to live as a demon king, huh? More than ever before... My heart as a human being and my position as the Demon King. Within me, the memories and emotions that I''ve spent as a human being have seeped into my mind. It''s impossible to separate everything from each other easily. But I''m going to.... Stella........... Yes, Mr. Freed. Stella nods reverently at my call. ''I''ve made up my mind,'' I want to protect the smiles of these smiles that are in front of me. I want to protect the smiles of the many demon clans that are not here, and I want to protect the smiles of the many demon clans. ''''The defenses of the demon world and the organization of the vassals will be arranged one by one. In the end, I couldn''t make it when I was human - a gentle, warm place to live. That place may be here. Then let''s do everything in our power to protect that place. And if someone destroys or hurts that place, we will fight with all our might. As me, as me. As the king of the demon world - as Freed. 32 11 Cathedral This is the cathedral... Ludmira gulped as she looked at the chalk temple towering ahead. She was currently traveling in a carriage with the other Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge). Sitting on the seat next to her is a beautiful woman in a dress that reminds me of a noblewoman - Fiore. ''''I''ve only been here once, but Ludmira-san was the first time, right? Yeah. A sense of tension rises. The international organization "The Guild of the Brave" unites more than 100,000 brave men and women in front of the cathedral, the headquarters of the Guild. In front of the cathedral, the headquarters of the guild, the cathedral. In front of the cathedral, there are a few people who look like brave men and women. Basically, only the upper echelons are allowed inside the cathedral, but the facilities around it are used for training the brave men and women. ''Sis, you''re here?¡¡And Mr. Ludmilla. A boy ran up to him. He had a well-defined face with blond hair and blue eyes. The noble atmosphere was unique to the son of a nobleman. ''''It''s been a while, Elio-kun.'''' Ludmilla smiled. Elio Quell. His age was fifteen years old. He was Fiore''s younger brother and Ludmira''s junior at the hero training institute. ''''Do, hello.'''' Elio blushed and greeted her. ''Huh, you look good, Elio. You too. Elio turns to Fiore, "I''m sorry," he says. ''You were here for training?¡¡It''s energizing. ''I''ve been selected for the second group, too. I have to do my best. Elio smiles proudly. "The second group... Yeah, Operation Demon Invasion, three months from now. It was about two weeks ago that a mission to break the wards of the demon world and invade was carried out. In the first group, a hundred brave men were chosen to attack the demon world. Unfortunately, they were defeated and the Demon King''s power restored the boundary between the human world and the demon world. It took roughly three months to finish preparing to break the boundary again. I heard that the second operation was scheduled to take place there. Last time, they had been carefully selected from Wisdom Angel (Cherubim) and Seated Angel (Solone) level Miracle Armor users to take on the challenge. However, this time, in order to bring a larger group of people together, they will also gather members from lower-ranked wizards. Erio was probably chosen as a member because he is a Lord Angel (Dominion) level user - the fourth highest Miracle Armor rank. ''''I''m going to defeat a lot of bad demons. I wish I could go with Ludmilla-san and my sister. I wish we could be there... Ludmila bit her lip. Anyone with a miracle armor of the level of a fierce angel (seraph) cannot enter the demon world. Therefore, they were unable to join the previous operation. However, I heard that the top brass is working on a countermeasure for this. If I''m selected as a member in the next operation, I want to fight to defeat the demon race. And this time against the Demon King who was completely defeated the other day©¤©¤. There are about 100,000 brave souls who can use the Miracle Armor given to them by God. The Miracle Armor is ranked according to its power, and the number of users in descending order is The "Seraph" class, 4. Cherubim, 500 members. Solone, 1000 members of the Seated Angel class. Main Angel Dominion level, 2000 members. 4,500 members of the "Vacher" class. NouTenshi (Power) level, 6,000. Principality level, 12,000. Archangel, 25,000 angels of the Arc Angel class. 50,000 angels of the Angel class. And then the brave men and women were united. And the thing that unites these brave men and women is the ''Brave Men''s Guild''. The upper echelon of the guild - the ten highest executives of the guild and Ludmila and the other Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge) had met face to face. To be precise, it was not the executives, but a communication magic device that conveyed their will. A total of ten rectangular plates about three meters high flickered in front of Ludmila and the others. ''''Well done!'''' A voice rang out from the board. ''I''ve heard of you four''s exploits. ''''We are happy to be here to talk to the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge), the symbol and pride of the Brave Guild. I''ll get right down to business. It''s about the second invasion of the Underworld, which will take place in three months. Ludmilla and the others listened in silence to the voices coming from each board. ''''The main purpose of the last mission was to reconnoitre into the demon world, which was an unknown territory. ''The route to the Demon King''s Castle had fewer enemies than expected, and some of them made it to the Demon King. In the end, the heroes died or were defeated, but the battle for the war was won in a big way. I''ve defeated three Demon Commanders and killed the Demon King... but it looks like we have a new Demon King. The brave men who have actually fought and survived have reported that their power far surpasses that of the former Demon King. Ludmilla stiffened reflexively. Memories of defeat came back and she unconsciously clenched her fists. ''''Regardless, it has been proven that a higher-ranked hero can compete with the Demon Army Chief class, which had little data to engage until now. ''''Of course we must not be careless. Aside from you guys, the only people who can stand up to the high-level demon race are a few wielders of the Wisdom Angel (Cherubim) level and the Za-Angel (Solone) level. ''The power of the majority of brave men is not far behind the demons. Yes, the demon race is strong. Especially the Demon King, his entourage, and the equivalent classes have high fighting ability. Most of the brave men are able to gather in tens, and in some cases hundreds, to finally fight. ''''Moreover, I hear that the remaining demon army chiefs - the Immortal King (Lord Undead) and the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) - are fierce fighters of the best of the best,'''' The demon eyes (Vision) and the Dreamer Princess (Dead Charm), both of which are said to have special powers, are also troublesome enemies. But with the combined strength of our brave men and women, we can surely defeat it. "We''ll defeat the remaining demon chiefs and destroy the demon king - once we''ve done that, the rest of them are minnows. The brave men will be overwhelmed by the sheer force of their numbers. "We humans will exterminate all demons. "The demon world will be destroyed and the world of men will have eternal peace. They proclaimed, "You are the four of you. "And at the center of it all are you four. "I wish you all the best in your endeavors. "to ensure that this time, the Demon Lord will be buried. And what you are fighting for will be legendary. Their voices chanted. ''Let me preface this by saying... but here''s the thing. I hope you guys get more out of it. I was given the means to do so the other day by an ''oracle''. "The four most powerful miracle weapons of the seraphic class, the four most powerful seraphs... "Miracle armament enhancement... Ludmilla looked at the other three. We can be stronger ourselves. Then we might be able to beat the Demon King next time. However, there were some things that bothered me. (If only God would give us that much power from the beginning...) Ludmilla raised her eyebrows. (The casualties from fighting the demon race should have been much less.) Why does God give his own people limited power, as if ... it would be a waste? It''s as if God has this battle - and he''s not. "Do not measure up to the will of God. The boards flickered at once, as if to interrupt Ludmilla''s thoughts. ''Do not disobey the will of God.'' "Do not doubt the will of God. Trust me. "Trust in God. A few hours later, Ludmila is on the top floor of the Cathedral, where there is a door decorated with majestic reliefs. In front of her, there is a door decorated with solemn reliefs. "Beyond this is the ''oracle room'' - right? This was the only place on earth where she could communicate with the Heavenly God. She was allowed to enter this room in order to strengthen and cultivate the Miracle Armament of the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge). ''''Hmm, nice to meet you, Ludmilla-san. Fiore smiles next to me. ''It''s nice to meet you too. We''ll both be strong together.'' Ludmilla opens the door. A pale golden light flooded in from the other side. ''I will be stronger than ever. I swear on my heart. "And I will surpass the Demon King... Ludmilla took a step into the ''oracle room''. 33 1 Scenery of Demon Castle Regal, I''m back. During the audience, a skull-shaped swordsman wearing an old-fashioned armor appeared in the audience. The Immortal King (Lord Undead) Regal. He is one of the Demon King''s aides, the ''Seven Great Demon Commanders'', and a fierce general who unites the Undead Legion. ''''I led my army''s elite to search the northern and eastern areas, but we were unable to find any remnants of the brave men. As for the remaining southern and western areas, we will search for them in turn. Good job, Regal. Me, nodding triumphantly from my throne. I tried to project a kingly dignity, but it was out of character. "I''ll continue to need your help. Take it easy and get some rest. That''s too good to be true, my king. Regal bowed his head reverently. Then he raised his face and looked at me. The depressed eye part of the skull - a red light fluttered behind it. "....With all due respect... What? You''ve changed your tune a bit, haven''t you? And Regal. ''Hmm?'' You seem more determined than ever. Did you take on the burden of a king''s determination? Well, it''s a bit... Under my mask, I smiled faintly. I think back. I thought back to how I''d settled the score with Lyle in the human world and defeated my former comrades in arms. I remember how I was able to reaffirm my will through my battle with Belle in the demon world. Little by little, I''m beginning to see what I need to do. ''''If it brings prosperity to the demon world, then I will support you with all my might. His tone was reverent, but the hint of Regal''s presence was still aggressive and seemed to be testing me. He is saying without saying a word: ''''I will take revenge on you if your actions bring a disadvantage to the demon world. ''''If your actions bring detriment to the demon world, I will avenge you...'''' That''s how caustic the atmosphere was. And. Regal, it''s been a while. A lone black dog appeared from behind the throne with the speed of a flash of light. It''s a bell in Hellhound form. ''''........A Dark Emperor Dragon [Belga Elfida]? Regal shifted his gaze from me to Belle and growled. ''''You have the Demon King''s riding rider, the Dark Emperor Dragon, with you........'''' I mumble. ''I''ll take the bell. It''s too long. "This is your audience chamber. Refrain from rash actions and words, Dark Lord Dragon. It''s Belle. You''re still so uptight. Huffing and sniffing Bell. ''It''s not that I''m hard, it''s that you''re too light,'' ''Stiffness makes my guys feel stuffy, you know?¡¡You''re a demon army chief, so let''s be more like this ... cheerful character. I am who I am. A warrior doesn''t need any affection. As long as you have a warrior, that''s all that matters. Regal told me matter-of-factly. Then he turned to me. I apologize for my mistake. I thank you for saving my men in the human world. He bows his head deeply. ''''Most of them had already been killed by the brave men after they were killed. We managed to join up with the rest of the army, but...'''' And me. ''''The regrets of the spirits and demons and those who were scattered will be cleared up by me in time. Regal tells him. I could feel a strong fighting spirit and anger mixed in with the sound of his calm voice. ''Let all the brave men be cut down with my sword, and let it be their mourning. The audience was over and I was patrolling the castle. ''''Yes, next. Go on and on~ Whoa! Here. As you step out into the courtyard, you hear a commanding shout. The flames and thunderbolts that are spewed out shoot out one target after another on the ground. It''s like the soldiers are in training. ''Don''t be diligent,'' When I called out to them, the soldiers turned around. The one in the lead is a demon girl with red hair in a ponytail. It was Lilim, the captain of the guards. The people with them were all demons with wings. The Demon Eagle (Garuda), the Winged Woman (Harpy), the Sea Demoness (Siren), and the Flying Dragon (Wyvern). They seemed to be training air battle type demons. ''''Hello, Demon King-sama!'''' Lirim is always in good spirits. The other soldiers also bow to me. ''''We''re practicing our coordination skills today. A coordinated effort. Just do it. Let''s get somebody to do it. Lilim calls out to the soldiers. ''''Alright, let''s show them a little something in front of the Demon King. Let''s do it. The two demons with wings like a bird flew up high in the sky. "You must be Zamato and Aryu. Good luck. Lilim called out to the two men in the sky. ''''Then, begin~'''' On cue, they swoop down in rapid succession. Garuda, who is ahead of them, surges up in a feint-like motion. The harpy, which was flying to hide right behind Garuda, fired its feathers like arrows. The group of feathered arrows beautifully shot through countless targets. ''''The leading group attracted the enemy''s attention, and the following group took advantage of the opportunity to attack!¡¡It''s called Formation Zamato! Lirim exclaims with great skill. ''''Oh, Zamato is the name of the originator of this partnership. My name is Zamato. One of the two groups from earlier©¤©¤Garuda bowed his head with a bow. I see that they are trying to find different ways to fight. Good luck. I''m sorry to interrupt you. I smiled under my mask. ''''Because the Demon King-sama''s encouragement to us all is very encouraging. Lilim replies with a smirk. So, guys. I''ll take another set! Oh! The morale of the soldiers seemed to be quite high. After that, I continued to look around at the busy civilian and military officers and priests who were working. After finishing my rounds, I return to my office. ''''Excuse me, Mr. Freed. Stella walked in. ''What happened to the one I asked for?'' We''re listing them now, but this is what they look like at the moment. And Stella holds out a stack of papers. The posts of the three demon army chiefs who were killed in the last battle were vacant. It was necessary to appoint a new demon race. To strengthen the defense system of the demon world more in preparation for the brave men who would attack in three months'' time. They would serve as the Demon King''s entourage, and they were the highest officials of the Demon World, so to speak. They need to be carefully selected. ''''First of all, the candidate to succeed Master Zwillam...'''' Stella was about to say. The vision flickered. What is this...? The colors disappear from the surrounding landscape, leaving only two colors, black and white. The floor, walls and ceiling shake violently like an earthquake. What''s going on...? The outer edge of the demon world©¤©¤. A pillar of light rose from the forest area where a black blur drifted in the air. A slender silhouette stood in the middle of it. It was a woman demon tribe with glamorous good looks. She was in a slumber. A feeling of floating slowly and intermittently came. Sleep. I murmur. I murmur, half awake, half out of consciousness. "All demons, sleep. I chant. You''ll find me in my dreams forever. 34 2 Dream world I walked out of the office with Stella. The corridor, the walls and ceiling, and the view from the window - everything in the world is colored in two colors, black and white. What''s going on...? ...There''s a huge monster approaching in front of the castle''s main gate. Stella senses it with her clairvoyant eyes. ''''Is it related to this phenomenon...?'''' I don''t know, but I moved with Stella to the front gate of the castle. The landscape had regained its original colors before I knew it. However, it wasn''t completely back to normal. There was a thin red blur floating around in places. ''''No way, this is...'''' Stella mumbled with a huff. ''You have an idea,'' There are only a few people in the entire Demon Realm who can do this kind of imitation. Perhaps it''s her... Shhhh..... Just as Stella was about to say something, a ground-shaking sound came from ahead. It was probably nearly twenty meters long. It''s a giant made of ochre-colored rock - a rock demon (golem). That''s the one Stella sensed earlier. Enemy.........found...... His red eyes flashed as he looked like he was wearing a helmet. Zuzu, zuzu, shaking the ground, coming closer. With obvious hostility. ''''This guy........! I turned the back of my right hand and showed the demon king''s crest. But the golem won''t stop. Even if it knows I''m the Demon King, it will still come at me. And... Demon Lord! The Lirim and the soldiers came running in. ''''Hey guys, we''re here to protect the Demon King. Hey! I''ll show you those skills I was working on. Garuda''s Zamat took off with Aryu the Harpy. Zamato, who was ahead of him, towed the golem and broke away. From behind him, Aryu fired a feathered arrow. It''s the Air Battle Demons'' special coordinated technique, ''Formation Zamato''. But the golem''s armor made of rock easily repelled all of it. ''''I didn''t know it wouldn''t work.... ''''Kyah!'''' The golem shot out stone rubble like a bullet as a counterattack. The two demons dared to be shot down and slammed to the ground. ''''Demon Lord, that was an illusion. Stella opened her third eye and announced. ''An illusion?'' However, it seems to be an apparition with substance. It''s a monster that can only exist in this ''dream world (Nightmare World)''. The world of dreams...? I don''t know what you''re talking about, but. If it''s an illusion, feel free to take it down, right? Please. "''Dark Edge''! I thrust out my right hand along with a spell. I released a crescent-shaped blade created by magic power and cut the golem in two. ''''Ooh, in a single blow! Lilim and the others cheered. You''re gonna have to train hard... Zamato and Aryu were chagrined. ''Stella, what do you know about this space?'' I asked Stella. ''''Perhaps this is the creation of one of the Demon Army Chiefs, the Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm) Feria. Stella nods. ''However... I think she''s in a runaway state. Runaway? Originally, this space was only meant to affect a limited number of targets. But now, it''s indiscriminate... and probably affects every demon in King''s Landing. "All over King''s Landing... Feria''s ability is to put the subject to sleep and draw them into the dream world, the Nightmare World.... While the subject is asleep, they cannot come out of it. Stella explains. ''And in her dreams, Feria becomes the queen of all. She will rule over everything and have immense power. The point is, this place is like a different space. So why don''t we just tear it down and get out of here? It''s impossible. The world of the dreamscape is indestructible, indestructible by any means, physical or magical. Why don''t you just try it? I held up my right hand. "''Ragnabomb,'' A black energy ball is released into the sky. Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! With a huge explosion, there was a huge hole in a corner of the sky. ''It looks like it''s broken,'' Oh, you are.... Stella is looking at me with a stunned face. By the way, that was a medium to high destructive power for a demon king''s spell. Maybe if it was around the highest level ''Burning Heavenly Flame (Mega Fire)'' or ''Breaking Heavenly Thunder (Mega Thunder)'', the entire sky would have been blown away. ''''The only thing left to do is to escape. Not the sky, let''s make a hole closer to the ground.'''' However, an attack spell that is too powerful will also cause damage to the surrounding area. The type that concentrates the destructive power in as small an area as possible would be good. I call up the spell list to find the best magic. And that''s when it happened. ''''Ugh........I feel sick........'''' Suddenly, Lilim collapsed. ''''Uh, oh...'''' No, she wasn''t the only one, the other soldiers were also falling one by one in anguish. Furthermore. Ugh......... Even Stella collapsed and looked in anguish. ''Hey, what''s going on, guys! I think ... part of the world is broken because ... because ... because ... because of ... Stella points to the sky above with trembling fingertips. There was the hole I broke with magic just now. ''''When you ... injure the world ... that damage is ... to us ... too. ........ugh. Is it because I''m the only one unconcerned because I''m a demon king? Or is it due to my magical abilities? Or maybe it''s another reason I don''t know, but whatever. You don''t want to forcefully destroy the world... I chanted a spell at the empty hole. "''Rune Repair''. It''s the same magic I used before when I was repairing the wards of the demon world. The empty hole was completely blocked by my magic power. ''''Ha, ha, ha.......ta, you''re saved. I looked around and saw that Stella and the others were on their feet. ''It looks like they''re all right now. ''I''m sorry. I''m sorry for making you all suffer. ''No, it wasn''t what I expected either...'' And, Stella. Anyway, we can''t just destroy the world and escape. "Well, what are we going to do... We can''t stay in this place forever. There might be another enemy attacking us like before. Or in another place, other demonic tribes might be attacked. ''''Stella, how do we get everyone out of this world?'''' The easiest thing to do is to meet the Dreamer Princess (Deadcharm) Feria. I asked, and Stella answered. ''For Feria?'' ''She is asleep somewhere in this world. She is using her magic to create a dream world. If we can wake her up, this world will disappear and we will be able to return to our own world. According to Stella''s clairvoyant eyesight, Feria was located in the outer edge of the magical world in the western region. However, even with her power, she couldn''t get an exact location. In the dream, it seems that Stella''s clairvoyance also limits her abilities. Well, we have a general location, now we just need to go to the periphery and look for it. We set off for the western outskirts of the city. The members are me, Stella, Lilim and the soldiers. At a time like this, if Belle, aka Belga Elfida, was there, it would be a quick way to get to Feria, but it was nowhere to be found. Is she not captured by this world to begin with? Or maybe she''s in a remote place©¤©¤. Whatever the case, we keep going. After walking for a few hours, the road suddenly disappears. The next moment, a beautiful meadow and a small hill appear ahead of us. At the top of the hill, a magnificent castle loomed up. ''''This is........but why.......?'''' Stella has a puzzled look on her face. ''What''s wrong, Stella?'' It''s not supposed to be in a place like this but.... Stella....? I wonder if I know the place. I''m sure of it. This is the Duke of Aaserwein... Stella looked at me and said. ''This is my home.'' 35 3 Duchy of Azelwein Suddenly, a meadow, a hill and a castle appeared ahead. According to Stella, this was the territory of one of the five major aristocracies of the Demon World, the Dukes of Aaserwein. She is, as I recall, the heiress of that duke''s family. ''''But the duke''s domain is several dozen kilometers away from the royal capital. Perhaps the geography is twisted, as it is only in a dream world.'''' Did Feriah do this?¡¡What does that mean? It''s possible, sir. Stella nodded at my question. ''Did Feria have an agenda, causing the dukedom to appear? Or is it a particularly meaningless event? It''s difficult to read the intent accurately, since the main source is her dream.'''' ''Let''s just go for it. Maybe there''s a clue as to where Feria is. We climbed the hill and came to the castle. Although smaller than the Demon King''s Castle, it''s still a magnificent castle. In the human world, it could be called a great royal castle. In front of the main gate, a female demon tribe was standing there. She has semi-long purple hair that is loose and wavy. She wore glasses and had an unassuming face. She was dressed as a maid in a white catsuit and a white and navy blue apron dress. ''''Irene...?'''' Stella raises an eyebrow. ''Welcome home, Miss. She - Irene bowed deeply. She had heard before that she was originally a maid in Stella''s family''s home and now working at the Demon King''s Castle. Was this guy also trapped in Feria''s dream? Or©¤©¤. ''''........An illusion, right?'''' Stella''s forehead eyes sparkled and announced. ''Just like the golem I mentioned earlier, it''s an illusion with an entity created by Feria. ''''Hmm, as expected of you, Miss. It''s easy to see through you. Irene smiling. Her presence was so real that it was hard to believe it was an illusion. ''''Irene, where is Feria?'''' Stella crowded up to Irene. ''Well, well, don''t panic. First of all, take a break. Answer me, Irene. Stella''s tone is strong. ''''Even the Demon King is trapped in a dream world, that''s an unbecoming behavior for a vassal. ''Young lady, smile and laugh some more. You''ll ruin your beauty~ Irene, this is a time of emergency. See? She''s smiling. Irene grabs Stella''s cheek and forces her to make a smile. ''''Yeah, yeah, let go...'''' ''Your daughter is worth teasing! That''s why I like her. Totally.... Stepping away from Irene, Stella puffed out her cheeks lightly. Is she sulking? And. ...sleep. It''s the sound of voices. "What... At the same time, the colors disappeared from the surroundings. Just like at the Demon King''s Castle, the world changed to a black and white bicolor world. ''''The magic in the air is getting thicker.......beware, Demon Lord. Stella warned. The sound of footsteps echoed, tapping, tapping. A humanoid silhouette appeared, oozing out of the empty space. Light peach-colored hair that reached down to her feet. A dainty appearance, with a mischievous smile on her face. A highly revealing outfit that could be mistaken for underwear, sensational. A thin tail sprouted from her waist, and from her back were membrane-like wings that reminded me of bats. ''''........Feria. Stella''s expression became grim. This is one of the Seven Great Demon Army Chiefs©¤©¤Dreamer Princess (Dead Charm) Feria? "Immediately deactivate the Nightmare World. How dare you involve the Demon Lord in this? It''s all in my dream. Feria doesn''t even answer Stella''s question and mutters. "...the living are equal, sleep. I am Fried, the new Witch King. Listen to me, Feria. ...to sleep forever. She didn''t respond to my words either. "In a dream that lasts forever. He mumbled a curse and the figure disappeared. ''Looks like it''s moved somewhere else...'' And, Stella. ''In the dream world, Feria is all-powerful. You wouldn''t have to make up things like instantaneous travel. So, that''s Feriah from the other day, isn''t it? ''Yes. I just felt like I couldn''t communicate with them. It''s true, Feria was just talking one way or the other. ''''She probably doesn''t even recognize that you''re the Demon Lord. Stella sighed. ''I''ve always been the type of person who didn''t listen to others very much, but as expected, that''s over the limit now. At that moment, a red light flooded in from outside the pavilion. Wow. What is this? I can hear Lilim''s voice. When I stepped outside, a red crystal dome covered the entire pavilion. It''s like a cage. Perhaps this was also made by Feria. ''''........Locked in? Me muttering. What does Feria want? She wants to lure us in. Stall us? Or is it a whim? It doesn''t make any sense, just a whim? I don''t know. We were totally at the mercy of. ''The outside of the mansion is completely covered in crystal. There were no gaps at all from which we could escape. Stella looked around with clairvoyant eyes and announced. ''''If we forcefully break it, it might damage the other demons. I think back to when I made a hole in a part of the sky earlier. It seems that if you damage the dream world, it will bounce back to those trapped within it. ''''I''m sorry, Miss. It''s already curfew time~'''' Irene said in a calm tone. ''''Tomorrow morning, the cage will be opened. Until then, please stay inside the mansion. We''re in a hurry. Open it now. You''ve got to keep your curfew. Mistress will have a talk with me. ...your mother. A dark shadow appeared on Stella''s face. Hmm, what''s going on? If you''re going to be out in the morning, we can stay here tonight. I suggested. ''''My Demon King........'''' ''I don''t want you guys to get damaged again by destroying the cage badly. That''s true, but... ''If the cage is still there in the morning, we''ll think of another move. Let''s just say that we''ll all stay here for the night so that we can all get some rest, okay? ''Yes sir. Now I will go and tell the Lirim and others. Stella''s expression was still a bit dark. We used a room in the mansion as appropriate and rested. And midnight. I had trouble sleeping and woke up. "Let''s get some air... It might not be much fresh outside air, though, since it''s caged up. I walked out of the guest room I''d chosen to rest in. ''Come to think of it, we''re in a dream. How is it possible to sleep even more in a dream...? I think about that as I walk down the hallway. ''Kyahhhh...'' It was then that the screams echoed. It came from the end of the corridor. ''''That voice...Stella?! I started running in a hurry. The next moment, the landscape in front of me switched. From the castle to a well-kept garden. In front of me, a little girl is walking in front of me. ''You...?'' Her silver hair is cropped at her shoulders. With her icy beauty mixed with innocence - she looked a lot like Stella. It''s as if she had become a child. 36 4 Stella A little girl was walking in front of me. She looked as if Stella had become a child. ''''Stella...?'''' When I called out to her, the girl turned around. Her innocent face was still a shadow of Stella. ''''You''re becoming a child........?'''' Little Stella walks up to you. "Hey, Stella... Ignoring my call, she walked straight up to me. And. What the...? It goes straight through my body. As if it had no substance. Is this little stela a kind of illusion? ...Mother. She murmured. At the same time, something flowed into my chest. Loneliness. Loneliness. Anxiety. And - love for her mother. Stella''s feelings... flowed into your heart? I''m confused. Is this an effect of being in the dream world? ''Stella my darling daughter.... The graceful beauty embraced little Stella. This time, an intense sense of joy swept through me. This must be Stella''s emotion, too. Neither of them cared about me. No, they can''t see me in the first place. Regardless of my confusion, they are talking. The scene in front of me has switched from the inside of the castle to a well-kept courtyard. Even there, little Stella and her mother are chatting. ''Could it be that this is a memory of her childhood...? And I''m going to see. Stella''s past. * Stella D. Aaserwein was born as the eldest daughter of the Duke of Aaserwein''s family, one of the five great aristocracies of the magical world. She is a member of the family known as the "eye demon. It is the demon race that has the eye to see everything - hence the name "eye demon. You live to serve the demon king, Stella. Yes, Mother. Her beautiful and elegant mother - Marcella Dee Arzelwein - was Stella''s dream. Stella honed her power to be like her mother, who held the title of "Vision" and worked as the head of a demon army. The power of the "eye" as an eye demon. Marcella led a busy life as an aide to the Demon King. There are only a few days throughout the year when she is at home in her castle. Stella had few memories of being hugged by her mother. I''m not sure if I''ll ever see her again, but I''m sure she''ll be interested in Stella''s hidden "power". If I improve my power, my mother will be happy to see me. Clairvoyance and remote vision. The paralytic eye and the poisonous eye. The haunting eye and the heaven-killing eye. Stella trained all kinds of pupil arts and learned them at a tremendous rate. Look, Mother. I''m getting strong again. Each time she learned one new jutsu, Stella happily reported to her mother. ''Praise, Mother,'' Stella was heralded as the most prodigious genius in the history of her family. ''''I''m getting strong with my pupils again, mother. I was proud of that. And I wanted my mom to see me like that. "Hey, look at me. Give me a compliment. I want you to love me. Mother... Stella''s pupil skills grew by the day. However, her mother, who had been admiring her until halfway through, slowly changed her attitude. ''Stella, it''s time for you to end your training. What, why...? Too much power is a curse. I did not know your genius was here and it was a mistake to leave you to your own devices. I''m not sure. ''You''ve had enough power. You''ve already surpassed me. Sooner or later, you''ll take over as the Demon Army Chief. My mother''s smile felt strangely cold at that moment. ''''I''m like your mother...?'''' Yes. So I don''t have to hone my powers anymore. ''But I want to get stronger and stronger. I want your mother to praise me more. "If this is the case, you will reach that power. If that happens, I''ll... Mother''s words were difficult, and still hard for little Stella to understand. ''Wow, Miss Stella is a genius. No one in history has been able to use the Eye so well. I''m sure Lady Marcella has a very high nose. The demon tribe around me is still praising me. Yes, I''m sure my mother would praise me too. Stella continued her training behind her mother''s back after that. Her powers have grown even more, and she''s mastered a series of new pupil techniques, and The day of reckoning came suddenly. "You have acquired a power that must never be awakened. The sound of anger echoes through the air. ''Because I wanted to get your mother''s praise. ''When did I say that?¡¡I ordered you not to hone your strength. My mother''s face took on the appearance of a demon. ''''Because ... because ... because ...'''' Stella was puzzled. She didn''t know any other way to turn her mother''s eyes to her. Because the only thing that her busy mother could look at her was her pupil technique. If she stopped her practice, her mother would no longer look at her©¤©¤. With that kind of anxiety, Stella was unable to stop. ''You just do what I tell you to do. Don''t do anything unnecessary. Her mother''s eyes shone with a bewitching glow. That glow became a lightning bolt and struck Stella''s entire body. ''''Kyaaaah! Severe pain running through his entire body. Consciousness stirred, faded and muddled. A sense of fear and despair, as if I would cease to be myself. This ''curse'' is a punishment. My mother coldly tells me. ''''From now on, you''ll be able to recover your magic power slower than an ordinary demon race. The power of your pupil technique will also drop dramatically. That power that is being awakened - the Eye of the Apocalypse (Apocalypse Note) - can no longer be used again. ''Ahhhhhh.....................'' ''How dare you put out an ''abomination'' in my place? I must be judged. Farewell. My mother turned away. The sound of footsteps going away. ''Eh, where are you going, mother...? ''I must be judged. I''ll never see you again. Wait! Don''t go!¡¡Don''t leave me alone, mother........! With tears of blood flowing out of her third eye, Stella screamed out©¤©¤. * ''Ahhhhhhhh........! Right in front of me, little Stella was suffering. Her figure gradually grew larger and eventually returned to her usual form. ''''Ahh........ahh.......! The agony continued. Is it the curse I saw in the video earlier? ''''Stella!'''' I run to her side. Gently I reach out my hand. Apparently it''s not an illusion from earlier, but an entity. "Ha, ha, ha.... ''No ... no ... don''t ... don''t go away, mother ...'' Stella, come on. I''m going to listen to you and I''m going to obey your mother''s orders and I want you to stay by my side Mother.... ... There was not an ounce of her usual coolness. Like a little girl, Stella was frightened and sobbing. ''I''m here for you. It''s okay. He took off his mask and spoke to her. ''Freed ... sir?¡¡I... Stella looks up at me with a stunned look on her face. Her tear-stained eyes stare at me. ''Stella,'' You....you... Stella sobbed, sobbing. ''Master Freed........'' Don''t worry. I''m with you. I hold her gently as she trembles in my arms. Her body is soft and smaller than I thought it would be. It felt so thin that it felt like it might break if I put pressure on it. I was holding Stella as if she were a broken thing©¤©¤. 37 5 Incubus I held Stella in my arms. Her slender body is still shaking. She was breathing hard and must be quite upset. I didn''t say anything, but waited for her to calm down. Had I done so long enough? ''''I''m sorry...'''' Stella looked up again. ''I... no, I''m not...'' Are you feeling better? When I asked her, she nodded her head. Hmm, your face is a little red. She''s glancing at me. You''re still restless, aren''t you?¡¡You''re blushing. Huh...! For some reason, Stella blushed even more. The next morning, the crystal that covered the castle had disappeared without a trace. No, on the contrary, as soon as I went outside, the castle itself disappeared. The next thing I knew, it was in its original place. It''s as if the night we spent in the duke''s estate was a dream. Why in the world did Feria do such a thing as locking us up for the night©¤©¤? Why did she lure us to the ducal estate.... I don''t know why, but we can''t stand still. We set off towards the outer edge of the western part of the demon world where she is said to be again. After advancing for a while, a huge shadow appears from ahead. ''''That''s........another golem! Lilim shouted. And there are many of them. There are probably thirty of them just from a quick look. It seems to be another illusion that has substance. "Don''t always rely on the Demon King. Everyone, let''s go! The Lirim gives the order to the soldiers. ''Oh!'' This time I''m going to show you, Formation Zamato Kai! The air battle demons take off and release flames and lightning from the air. Alternatively, some dared to take advantage of their flying speed to collide with their bodies. Lilim also turned both arms into slime and used them as whips to attack. ''''Kyaaaaaah........'''' However, the punches that the golems unleash create a blast that blows away all of the Lilim and the others together. What power...! Lilim seems to have softened the impact by slimeing his body. The other demons also regained their positions in the air and escaped from the difficulty. The golems attacked further. The difference in power is obvious. The golems'' overwhelming physical strength left the Lilimu in a state of war. "If they''re going to come at you with force, then I''m going to come at you too. I thrust my right hand straight out. "''Storm''! It''s a low-grade spell of the wind system. The storm blew in, reaping and crushing over thirty golems together. ''''Wow ... wow.'''' Lilim gulps. ''We''re useless we''re the guards. No, I love your spirit in the face of the enemy. When there''s an enemy that can deal with you, I''ll leave it to you. And I''ll follow up. In fact, my magic power is not infinite. If the enemies are endlessly rushing in, the possibility of running out of magic power is not zero©¤©¤. However, the enemies that appeared on the road were almost all killed in the blink of an eye. Every time they appeared by the dozens, I would use my low-grade magic to blow them all away. The opponents were not real demons or monsters, but all of them were illusions. There was no need to shy away from them at all. I will only burn, reap, crush and annihilate everything. ''''Are you alright, Demon King-sama?'''' Stella asked. ''Even though you''ve defeated all the enemies in a single blow, it''s still a series of battles. If the wear and tear seems to be too much, you should rest early. Yeah, I''m not tired and I''m fine for now. I nod. ''It''s all lower level magic that we use,'' I''m sorry I can''t help you. Stella''s got a spotter on us. You''ve helped me enough. Thank you very much. Stella smiled. Maybe it''s my imagination, but her expression feels softer than usual. She''s still basically cool, but........ A few days later, we reached the outer edge of the western region. All around us are trees with odd silhouettes reminiscent of screaming humans. A light red blur hung in the air, and visibility was quite poor. ''''The ''Forest of Demons'' spreading on the western outer edge of the Demon World. This is a place where many trees with poisonous and paralyzing effects are inhabited. Please be careful. Stella told him. Incidentally, the ''dead ice field'' where I fought Belle the other day is the northern outer edge. ''''I''ll use my ''eye'' to find a safe path for you, and you demon kings should follow it. You''re in charge. Following her clairvoyance, we made our way through the forest. We must have gone a few miles that way. Hey, look what I found. Lilim pointed ahead. Beyond the light red blur, there was a huge crystal with a strikingly red color - like blood. Inside it, a slender figure can be seen. ''''Feria........! It''s just like the female demon I saw in the Duke''s Domain yesterday. ''''It''s nice to finally meet you. One of the Demon King''s entourage and one of the Seven Great Demon Army Chiefs. She holds the title of Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm), and is a member of the succubus. A powerful demon race that controls dreams and controls the mind - a powerful demon race. "It looks like she''s sleeping through the night. She doesn''t talk to me like she did when we met before. ''Wake her up and the dream world will be disarmed. Stella explains. ''How do I wake you up?¡¡If we break that crystal, we''ll all be damaged, right? Perhaps.... All right, everybody. In times like these, we have to be the ones who make the difference. Lilim exclaimed cheerfully. ''Oh!'' The demon soldiers are getting excited. I wonder if they have some kind of plan to wake her up. Look at this, Feria-sama~. I''m going to show you a special trick that I rarely show you, my slime trick. Lilim''s arms, legs, slime and stretch in all directions. Furthermore, they are a parade of tricks, such as tying a bow with their left and right arms, or wiggling their legs to draw various shapes. What are you doing...? With all this fun and games, I''m sure Master Feria will be quite awake. Lilim confidently answered my question in a dumbfounded manner. ''''Is that so...?'''' Sorry, but I don''t think it''s going to work, that plan. Sure enough, Feria didn''t respond as if. She''s still asleep. "Hmm, maybe I shouldn''t do tricks... Captain, I propose a plan to catch the fish by cooking. One of the soldiers said. ''I see, you might wake up to the delicious smell of rice... okay, adopted. Lilim nodded with a smirk. ''Guys, I''m going to get the food ready! No, no, no, no, no, no, you can''t do that strategy either. And. "...you guys. You''re not just playing around, are you? Stella glanced lightly at Lilim and the others. ''Oh no, we''re very serious. Yeah, yeah. The odds are in my favor. M....is that right? I''m sorry. Stella is confused, but apologizes honestly. ''''But I don''t think this is going to wake up Feria, but...'''' It was a plausible opinion. ......... Wait. I eyed the feria inside the crystal. ''My eyebrows twitched earlier. Don''t tell me that the Lillim''s plan really worked? Finally, Feria is going to wake up... The next moment when I thought that, a powerful light flashed ahead. And then©¤©¤he appeared. It''s not Feria, it''s not. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to get it right. "Well, this can''t be... Stella groans with a stunned look on her face. ''You know him?'' ''I''ve only seen it in the records myself, but...'' Stella tells me in a trembling voice. The blood was draining from her face. "That is©¤©¤no, that''s Vrizela-sama. It''s the former demon king who is known as the ''Knight King of the Slaughterhouse''. 38 6 Lending situation The former Demon King - the "Slaughterhouse Knight King" Vrizela. I stare at the figure, stunned. The jet-black full body armor with almost no exposed skin. The horse riding on the ground is also covered in heavy jet black armor, just like its master. "I see, so you are the demon king of this generation. Vrizela spoke to me in a cool voice. Behind her full-face helmet, a sharp golden gleam in her eyes stared at me. ''I never thought the day would come when I would meet another Demon King after my body perished. ''''Fate is a strange thing,'''' With a tone of voice that sounded as if they were making small talk, a tremendous killing intent was blown at them. It''s an oppressive feeling that if you''re not careful, even the slightest bit, you''ll be cut down and killed in that moment. This pressure is indeed only for the Demon King. ''''Look at that - it''s going to come out again.'''' Lilim pointed behind Vrizela. The light flashed three more times - three more times. A wizard-like silhouette clad in golden robes. A lion beastman whose entire body was flaming red. And a giant that looks like it''s fifty meters tall. All of them emitted a pressure as intense as Vrizela''s. ''''Stella, you don''t think those guys are also...?'''' Yeah. Nodding, Stella''s face is pale. Her whole body is trembling. Fear, you''re afraid. "It''s okay, Stella. I''m with you. Stella smiled just faintly as she called out. ''''Well..... I''m sorry.'''' Says Stella, looking at them. As you said, they are all past Demon Kings. Were they all illusions? When asked, Stella nodded. ''''Even though they are illusions, they are all among the most talented Demon Kings of all time. Please be careful, Demon King-sama. ''Four demon kings from the past anything is possible in a dream. I''m smiling behind a mask. Stay away from me, you know. Suddenly, I heard a voice. "Oh, Feria. The female demon tribe standing in the crystal was looking at me. It seems she had woken up before I knew it. ''''As I said before, I need you to disarm this world. There are a lot of demons involved in this world. Stay away from me. Hey, Feria. I want to talk to you. The landscape around us suddenly switched. From the forest to a reddish-brown wilderness. From the wilderness to the frigid ice field. From the ice field to the scorching summit of a mountain. The place was changing one after another. Is this also the work of Feria...? ©¤ I''m afraid........ The Dream Demon Princess murmurs with a sigh. "Eh. I was taken aback by these unexpected words. They are coming to kill me. And that''s why I don''t want anyone to come near me. All the colors in the world will be erased, and there will be nothing left but black and white. No, I''m afraid I''m afraid I''m afraid I''m afraid I''m afraid. And just when you think it has turned even more black, it returns to its original color. The world was unstable. -Don''t come........................ Calm down, Feria. I called out quietly to her, my voice trembling. Were they so horrible? Was that how fierce the attacks of the brave men were? That battle must have caused Feria to feel quite a bit of fear. So much so that it left her deeply traumatized........ ''''Perhaps this is a kind of defense instinct. Stella said. ''Defense instincts?'' ''It was said that in the earlier battle with the brave men, Feria was defeated and missing. Perhaps it was at that time that the fear of the brave was deeply etched in Feria''s mind. Fear of the brave... The fear aroused a defensive instinct to protect itself from it, and that instinct caused the dream world to run amok... Stella announced. ''It seems to me that this world, unstable in place and even in color, is the very landscape of Feria''s mind. Indeed ... it''s possible, judging by the way Feria is looking right now. ''''In other words, if we can get her out of her fears, we can stop the dream world, right? I see... Feria. If you''re a brave man, the Demon King chased you away. And Stella speaks to Feria. ©¤ The demon king...? Yeah, that''s a relief. Can you still disarm it? How strong is the Dark Lord? He''s stronger than anyone in history. You don''t have to worry about that anymore. I''m scared.¡¡Really...?¡¡I don''t know........I''m worried....... Hey, Feria...? Show me, Your Majesty, how strong you are. With those words.... The four demon kings lined up in front of Feria at once. It''s as if they were escorting her. I''m not going to be able to get out of my dream. "I want to test my power," she murmurs. "Do you want to test my strength? "How. It wasn''t Feria who responded to my murmur, but the black knight who drew his sword on his horse. Each of the other three also took a stance. They are ready for battle. If you really are stronger than anyone else you should be able to win, right? Feriah looks at me through the crystal. You have to win. Reassure me. That''s it. I sighed with a wry smile. It''s good to see Regal, Belle, and this guy. You don''t admit me easily, do you? The only one of the officers who followed me from the beginning was Stella. I looked at her over by the side. ''Thank you, really.'' Your Majesty? I put my hand on Stella''s shoulder as she scowled. Then I stepped forward. .............. Name: Vrizela Rank: Demon King Overall LV: 721 H P: 5306 M P: 3391 Attack: 6115 Protection: 5760 Evasion: 4284 Hit: 5980 Equipment : Sword of the Annihilation Moxie Shield : Dark Armor skill Senkouzang (Lv 179) Riding (lv131) Fighting Spirit Release (LV 114) Demon Army Submission (Lv 150) ... The Demon King in knight''s outfit at the front - Vrizela''s status was indeed much higher than the brave men he had fought so far. The other three were in a similar level range - Estr?m''s overall level of 698, Rosgert''s 713, and Born''s 707 - a similar level range. If we were to compare them on simple numbers, they''re all around level 700, whereas I''m over level 4000. There was also a huge difference in status in comparison. However, there were four opponents. ''''........If they work together, it might be tricky. I groaned softly under the mask. Looking at his status, even though he is an illusion, his strength is no different from the real thing. At the very least, this is not an opponent that you can lose your mind about. "So you''re the Demon King of the day? The wizard-like demon king, Estr?m, is looking at me. "My fangs and claws will turn you into a thousand pieces of meat. The Beastman Demon King - ''Crimson Lion'' Rosgert howled furiously. Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. The giant demon king - the giant champion, Born, raised his voice. ''''Let''s begin!'''' Then the knightly Demon King Vrizela readied his sword. ''''Gravityfall.'''' I quickly cast a gravity spell. The first move is winning. My aim is - the giant demon king who seems to be the slowest to move. "....?"? The Giant Demon King Born is trapped by super gravity and stops moving. "''Thunder Arrow''! Then a flurry of lightning arrows hit it. Borun gave a pained cry. ''Sorry. I''m not busy enough to be stranded by illusions.'' The Demon King''s job is pretty busy. "''Ragnabomb''! The jet-black energy sphere crushed the giant demon king without a trace. ''''So, I''ll quickly unleash Feria and obey him - and let him return to his original world. I looked at the Demon Lord and his men. Three more to go. 39 7 Fierce battle of the Demon Kings My offensive magic annihilated the Giant Demon King - the Giant High Priestess Born without a trace. "Mister Born...! Destroying his huge body... what magic it is. Hmm, that''s some offensive power. The three remaining Demon Kings growled at the same time. ''''Even though their offensive power is high, I wonder if their defense is good! The magician-style demon king - ''Magic Emperor'' Estr?m shouted. He waved his staff with a blood-red treasure ball embedded in the tip. That treasure ball emitted a dazzling light. ''''Megawind!'''' Twelve tornadoes surrounded me. The trees in the forest were uprooted and blown away, and the ground was eroded and turned into a crater. The highest level magic of the wind system - the ''Roaring Heavenly Breeze (Megawind)''. The ability to instantly and even simultaneously launch this level of spell, even twelve spells at this level, was unbelievable. As expected of a demon king, that''s a great magic power. But.... ''Burst Wind''! I played them back with wind magic. The spells I cast were ranked lower than the ones I cast, but my magic status was far higher than theirs. I used that difference to forcefully drown them out with a forceful push. ''''Mm, you bounced off my magic so easily. Estr?m groaned. ''''It''s still very magical...! Then we''ll have to physically attack them! The Beastman Demon King - "The Crimson Lion" Rosgert attacked from behind. ''''Shatter away, rookie demon king! Five claws approaching, blasting the atmosphere and creating a fierce wind. There was no way to defend against them in time. I sidestepped and dodged the attack. Immediately afterwards, Rosgert''s claws slammed into the ground. Gogaaaah! With a roar, the earth was deeply split open. ''''That''s some ridiculous physical force...'''' I muttered, half surprised, half dismayed. ''It''s an uncommon power to create a ground crack with just your claws. ''''Well dodged!¡¡But claws are not the only weapons of the beast. The fangs, the tail - if you can avoid them all, try to avoid them! Rosgert is quick to follow up. The fangs that cut through the atmosphere create a vacuum blade. A swirling tail spews out a shockwave. When I dodged it, the aftermath of the attack energy is going to tear my body to shreds. ''''Lucifer''s Shield.'''' But because of the distance between us, I had enough time to chant a spell. The advanced magic power barrier that was generated plays back all of Rosgert''s continuous attacks. ''''Hard........!¡¡Are you going to crush me if I hit you? Bye. I held up my right hand to Rosgert, who had finished all the attacking movements and stopped moving for a moment. ''''Belphegor Sword!'''' With the sword of magical power generated, I pierce his body from behind the magical barrier. ''''Gah...............'''' The Beastman Demon King collapsed with a cry of agony and became motionless. Two more. It''s true that your status is high. It''s too high. The Knight Demon King stood before me. The black horseman threatened me. ''''But fighting is not just about simple power and speed. I''ll show you how. I''d love to learn more, sir. I held up my ''Belphegor Sword'' and said to my seniors as the Demon King. The opponent is probably the type that mainly engages in close combat. It''s easy if you can defeat them unilaterally with attack magic from a long distance, but if you use a magic with too much power, this world itself could be destroyed. And the fact that the world is destroyed means that Stella and her friends are also damaged. ''''All right. Time for instruction. Announcing, Vrizela let her rider gallop. Fast©¤©¤! It''s truly one man and horse. Before I can cast an interception spell, Vrizela invades my space. Nun! The sword shot from horseback, I barely received the sword of magic power. Two more blows, three more blows.... With skillful feints, I couldn''t surpass the tip of the sword that struck me like a lightning bolt. ''''Belphegor Sword!'''' He produced a sword of magic power in his left hand as well, and managed to prevent it with his two swords. ''''Lukewarm!'''' Vrizela''s sword accelerated further. The two magic swords are severed from the middle. This guy - can he even cut the magic power I created? ''''Ragnabomb!'''' Surprised, I unleashed an attack spell in a counter-like manner. ''''Guh........! Vrizela blows up with a pained cry. Me and the Knight Demon King confronting each other at a distance every time. I got my spell in time, but that one was a bit chilling. As expected, my opponent is only a Demon King. Moreover, that guy''s sword technique was familiar. ''''It''s similar to the Xyrus style sword technique...?'''' Xylas?¡¡Hmm, the name of the person I once taught a sword to play with. Vrizela smiled faintly. The Zairus school of swordsmanship.... It is one of the strongest swordsmanship that has been widely passed down on the continent. The founder, Zyrus, is an unparalleled genius knight who was proclaimed the ''Sage of Swords'' hundreds of years ago. I''m not sure if it''s a good idea, but I''m sure it''s a good idea. ''I see. So he left his own school of swordsmanship for posterity? The Knight Demon King muttered. ''''But you seem to know a lot about human swordsmanship, this generation''s demon king. ....! What''s up?¡¡I can see your hesitation. Vrizela galloped with her rider, and once again entered my space. ''''Meteoblade!'''' I produced a sword of fire and used my full reflexes to surpass its slash. However, I was soon defensive. Vrizela attacking. Me, defending and avoiding. After more than a dozen rounds of offense and defense©¤©¤. Shh.... A hot pain pierced my right shoulder. Fresh blood flew at the same time. The sword mixed with a bright feint was slightly more than my foresight. ''''I''m not naive enough to prevent you from using your physical abilities alone. My sword.'''' Vrizela tells me nonchalantly. The slash accelerates further and hits me from all sides like countless meteors. I don''t have time to cast a high-ranking spell. ''''Fire Arrow!'''' In a flash, he produced dozens of fire arrows and released them. ''''To no avail!'''' Vrizela sliced through all of that in an instant. The blast popped, and I fell back hard from the wind pressure. ''No, I''m right on target.'' ''I see, so that was not an attack, but rather an attempt to use the blast to get in time. Vrizela laughed again. ''Looks like you can use your own powers to fight, as well as force push. I''ve done my fair share. Mostly when I was human. Well, the successor to the Demon King has a lot to answer for. Vrizela''s stance changed. ''Then can you take this blow as well? He held the sword in his left hand and grasped the reins with his right hand alone, to an extreme forward leaning position. At the same time, Vrizela''s sword was covered with a blue-white lightning flash. ''''Exquisite technique ''Magi-Breaker'' - a slash that has increased anti-magic power to the extreme, it cuts through all magic defenses. And the speed is so fast that no demon race can react. Can you break this? In other words, an absolute deadly sword that can neither evade nor defend itself. It''s quite tricky. I growled a little under my mask. ........There''s a way to win. If I used a mega-type attack spell, the highest level of magic, I could probably defeat Vrizela. At the very least, it should be able to inflict a great deal of damage. But that attack could destroy the Dreamscape World (Nightmare World) itself. ''''It could cause damage that could kill Stella and the others...'''' So I reject this idea. I needed a spell that would not damage this world and would only kill Vrizela. I called up the spell list and searched for it. But all that showed up were mega-type spells. This list basically shows the best spell for the situation. However, the definition of ''the best spell for the situation'' seems to prioritize ''defeating the enemy'' only. It doesn''t seem to take into account protecting your friends, so you''ll have to choose your own spell. "Well, what do we do now...! I groaned softly. There was no time left to wonder. I have to make a decision now. To win. To protect Stella and the others... 40 8 sword inherited What''s up?¡¡You haven''t lost your nerve, have you? Vrizela announced quietly. With a bang, bang, the blade of the sword thrust out was spreading a violent spark. The ''Magi-Breaker'' technique. It is impossible to defend or evade, a deadly sword technique©¤©¤? Even with my Lucifer''s Shield, I may not be able to prevent it, or even with my Lucifer''s Shield. This is a magical wall of defense that is absolutely impenetrable to ordinary opponents, but the opponent is the Demon King. It''s a good thing that this is the case, because even if it is a secret weapon, there is no guarantee that it will be able to be prevented with certainty, even if it is created with my own magical power. And also - if they can''t prevent it, they''ll cut me in half. "Then I guess I''ll just have to do one thing........ It''s a bit of a risky bet, but the odds were good. Tensions between us would rise to an extreme. And. Let''s go. Vrizela moved. The jet-black horseman galloped at super speed. The demon king approaches with the force of an arrow. ''''Flasher Bomb!'''' I shot out countless light balls. There are about five hundred of them. I dropped my magic rank and played with my hands. ''''This is lukewarm! Vrizela''s sword that intercepts it is a true black flash. It cuts through all the light balls in an instant with a slashing speed comparable to that of light. ''''This guy........! I''ve seen many swordsmiths when I was a human hero, but this one is different. It''s a different dimension.... "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! With the spirit of a cleaver, Vrizela sliced through the last ball of light. The words "cutting through all magic" were not a lie or a bluff. ''''You''re late, new Demon King! Vrizela, in the unison of man and horse, was approaching at a speed that belied her instantaneous movement. ''You won''t be able to chant the next spell in time. I win. You''re right, you''re not going to make it. Me nodding. I nod, but I''m in good hands. I saw enough of your moves earlier with that flasher bomb. And that''s exactly what I expected. So, what''s this guy''s next move? A single feint on each side. Right after that, a small feint to the right. And then a thrust to the left side. I predicted the entire sequence of events and jumped to the right side beforehand. ''''What........?'''' Vrizela''s slash cut through the air. "''Aqua Edge''! The blade of water released by the counter sliced through its chest. ''''Gu...........'''' The black armor was ripped open and fresh blood splashed on it. ''''Ki, you, why...?'''' Vrizela let out a bitter cry and retreated. "How could you move faster than me - how could you move to where I move...? ''''Because it was a move I knew. While looking at Vrizela without caution, I told her. "The basic movement of the Zylas style of swordsmanship, the ''Raishu'' - your movement was a perfect example of that. The number of feints, the timing, the trajectory of the movements, everything. It was exactly the way I learned to move when I was human. "I was in the middle of the fight when I noticed. It''s so similar to the Xyrus style of swordsmanship-- no, it''s not. Xylas swordsmanship is exactly what you do. So it''s easy to predict. ...the swordsmanship you taught him taught me my moves. Muttering, Vrizela laughed faintly. ''If I hadn''t known the Zyrus style of swordplay, I might not have been able to prevent that one. No, it''s brilliant. Vrizela gave a small sigh. ''Xyrus has continued to refine it, hasn''t he? The sword I taught you. ...Oh, to all those who follow from Zylas, the ''Sage of Swords''. Your sword lives on in the mortal world today. ''I taught him the sword just to be fickle, but...'' There was a slight soft sound mixed in with the sound of Vrizela''s voice. ''''Well it doesn''t feel so bad. ''''To feel the growth of an ''apprentice''.'''''' An apprentice, huh? I think of Lyle. I needed to be moved by that, too. I wanted to give him everything I had. But now that I''ve done that, I can''t. "...no time for sentimentality. I chuckle under my mask. It''s already cut off. It''s over. For now. I look back at Stella and the others. So, to me, that''s it. That was a mistake. But I can still fight. Vrizela reasserts her sword on her horse. ''Continue, O demon king of this generation. Great. I was bracing myself for anything. And that''s when it happened. "You''ve been talking for a long time. We are not engaged in a match. This is a battlefield killing. The "Magic Emperor" Estr?m was floating far up in the sky. "Bellow, my blood rod... Estr?m waves his wand at me. But the one pointing the wand at me wasn''t me. "You... He''s after Stella and the others. What do you...? I noticed. You''ve been worried about the demons in your own territory for some time now. I thought you were saving your maximum firepower magic to avoid using it, but that''s not the case. Estr?m chuckled behind his hood. ''Because I''m afraid of destroying this world and hurting my subjects. You know what? No way, this guy. I''ll burn your buddy to ashes. I knew it! They''re going after Stella and her friends! Stop! You know what''s more powerful, my magic with a maximum of prolonged chanting or your magic with almost no chanting, don''t you? The treasure ball on the tip of Estr?m''s staff emitted a dazzling light. ''''Burn up - ''Megafire''! In all, about twenty fireballs spewed out. There was no time to cast advanced offensive or defensive spells. ''''This........! Me intercepting them with the Laguna Bomb. At the same time, I put up the Rune Shield to protect Stella and the others from the aftermath of the attack. "It''s heavy... The "Laguna Bomb" is being pushed into "Mega Fire". As expected, Estr?m''s magic power is high. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make the most of it. In contrast, I am unable to demonstrate sufficient firepower due to the magic I cast on the spur of the moment. Overall, he''s got more firepower than the other two-. ''''Ugh.........'''' The black light bullets I fired were being pushed into Estralm''s fireball group. ''Now, it''s over.'' Master Freed! Stella''s voice overlapped with Estr?m''s as she announced. ''Win........please. Anxiously, I can see her face still staring straight at me. ''Stella....! Recalling the events in the dukedom. Stella''s past. She clung to me like an abandoned puppy. I''ll take care of it. I smiled under my mask. Yes, as king. I will protect them.... At that time, a faint glow leaked from my chest. "This is...? My heart beats so fast in my chest, it''s unbelievable. This sensation can''t be...! At the same time, the group of fireballs of ''Mega Fire'' that had been pushing ''Laguna Bomb'' into it shook. The pressure of his attack eased a little bit. The power of the "mega-fire" has weakened©¤©¤. "Now......... I put all the magic I can find into it. My ''Laguna Bomb'' pushes back the ''Mega Fire''. ''''Fool, why my magic?!'''' Estr?m''s astonished voice rang out. The overflowing black glow flashed through the crimson fireball group, and "Scatter, demon king! I swallowed Estr?m. 41 9 Settlement, Demon King Battle A black glow engulfed Estralm, causing a massive explosion. ''Ha, ha, ha.............................'' It seems that he put up a magic barrier on the spur of the moment, and the magician demon king is still alive. Nevertheless, as expected, he seems to have suffered a great deal of damage. The robe he wore was tattered, and the staff in his hand was also burned. ''''What''s your power...?'''' Estr?m glared at me. ''''Weakening the power of my magic........'''' I''m not letting Stella and her friends get to you. I glared back at Estram. ''Protecting your subjects? ''Hmph.'' Estr?m raises his scarred staff. ''Kind king. But it could be your weakness, too.'' A weakness. "Receive my magic! Fireballs, thunderbolts, fierce winds, and water blades shot out from the tip of his staff, one after another. It seems that they intend to drop their spell ranks and compete with their hands. ''''Then it''s me. The same low-ranked spells are fired in rapid succession. The number of magic attacks produced are both in the hundreds. And each shot is more powerful than mine. ''''It''s a difference in magic power to this extent...! Estr?m gets shoved in every time. ''Go away!'' I add the final magical attack barrage. And the black knight who jumped out from the side by side cut through the attack spell group. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. ''''We''re done here.'''' A knightly demon king stands in defense of Estr?m. "The victory is now clear. You have lost, Lord Estrame. But, Vrizela... You''ve felt the power of this man. You must feel it. Mmm.... "Worthy of a demon king, don''t you think? After he said it, his eyes became sharp. ''It''s sweet, though,'' Agreed. Estram smiles faintly. ...I''m sorry, sweetie. ''Nevertheless,'' Estram squinted behind his hood. ''''There''s a mysterious power sleeping inside you. Weakening - or even inhibiting (jamming) your magic power. Yeah. I have an idea about the identity of that power. But aside from Stella, I couldn''t reveal it openly in front of the other demons. The power that weakened Estr?m''s magic probably means that it''s sleeping inside of me©¤©¤. "It''s about time for us to run out of time to materialize. Vrizela murmured. His body slowly faded. The same goes for Estr?m next to her. ''''No matter how many Demon Army Chiefs you are, you can''t materialize our Demon King class for a long time. I know. The two demon kings look at each other. They are phantoms materialized by Feria''s power. Does this mean that its effectiveness has expired? The body of the first time and although it was only for a short time, it was fun to see the Demon King of this generation. Saying, Estrame disappears completely. ''I, too, am proud to have fought with you. And Vrizela. There is one thing that bothers me. You know too much about human subtleties. ....! Now, what''s going on underneath that mask... As she was about to say, Vrizela shook her head from side to side. ''No, it''s tactless of you to pry. I''m glad we have a dependable successor.......farewell. With those words, Vrizela also disappeared. ''''Heh, defeating four of the best in history......is amazing. A red crystal breaks in front of me. A female demon tribe emerges from within it. She has a pretty face with light pink hair that reaches to her feet and a devilish smile on her face. She wears a sensational outfit that is almost like underwear. Bat-like wings sprouted from her back and a thin tail from her waist. ''Finally, you can speak properly.'' I faced her. "The Dreamer Princess (Dead Charm)-Felia. I''m sure you''re not going to be able to find a way to make the most out of this. As expected, we couldn''t even produce the strongest ever ''The Beginning Demon King (Velfer)'', but even so, he''s still incredibly strong. Feria looks at me sullenly. "I was badly wounded in the fight against the brave men. I couldn''t get rid of that fear but after seeing how you fought, I felt better. And, Feria. ''''Your power, which surpassed even the demon kings of the past, was dependable. I like the fact that you put protecting your subjects first and foremost. You have to protect me as well, right? It''s my job to protect my subjects. I nodded to her. But... you must protect the demon world. You are the head of the entirety of the demon world. To achieve this, I need you to lend me your strength. Hmmm... Feria narrows her eyes with a chuckle. Like she''s priced me out. ''''Fine. Let''s do as the Demon King commands and fight. Then he nodded with a deepening, mischievous smile. Then....once again, good to meet you. I''m Feria Zeru Zillaena. I''m a member of the dreamer (succubus) family. It''s Fried. Me nodding. And. You''re in the presence of the Mad King, Feria. Keep your mouth shut. Stella glanced at her. ''Strangely familiar from earlier...'' Hmm?¡¡It''s fine. Your predecessor, Yulisha, didn''t blame me for this kind of behavior. Feria laughed lustily, and then shrugged at me. ''''Mm.....'''' Stella makes an increasingly grim face. As if to ignore her, Feria looks up at me and Hey, why are you wearing a mask? No, this... My true face is the same as it was in human times. Strictly speaking, this body probably belongs to the demon race. However, it seems that a hint of human remains in the body. I''ve been warned by Stella that there are people who can tell if I''m a former human being if they see my bare face. I''m sure you''ll want to see the real face underneath the mask, just me. Feria rubs up against it even more. She pushes her bountiful breasts against me with all her might, and as expected, I become aware of it. .........Well, I''m not at the prime of my youth, so I don''t give a dogged attitude to every single thing. ''''Feria, come on. It''s too impolite. Hmm?¡¡It''s very unusual to see you so cool and angry. Feria laughed at Stella. ''Could it be yakuza?¡¡Do you have bad feelings for the Witch King?¡¡That''s the kind of disrespect I feel, isn''t it? ''''Wha.....what are you talking about!'''' Stella''s face turned bright red. No, you''re overreacting. ''''No, no, because it''s not!¡¡I don''t have any such feelings for the Demon Lord, and the only thing I have for him is respect, not love....... Feria chuckled. ''It''s worth teasing. I like that about you. You''re not... well, you are. Stella raised an eyebrow. Feria kept smiling. We haven''t seen each other in a long time and I''d like to enjoy more girl talk but we need to unlock the dream world (Nightmare World) first. 42 10 New vassal Okay, I''m going to disarm the Nightmare World. Feria, chuffed, threw a kiss in the air. A heart-shaped mass of magical power flew out of her lips and popped. Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! The next moment, the world was shaken. ''.........! A momentary sensation of floating. Then a feeling of drunkenness ran through me... You''re back...? The view in front of me is no different. But something is different in the senses. Yes, there was an overwhelming sense of reality floating around me. When I look at it this way, I realize that what I was in until now is a dream world. ''''Yes, this is already the real magical world. Feria ruffles her long, light pink hair and tells her. ''You''re all awake,'' So we''re all going to be back to normal? I''ll check. "Don''t worry. In the name of the demon princess, I assure you, my demon king. And then Feriah snaps at me. Since a while ago, there''s been a lot of body touches. ''''It seems there is no great confusion in the demon world, Demon King-sama. Stella reported. Apparently, she looked around the demon world with clairvoyant eyes. ''''Well, good,'''' Absolutely. You''ve brought too many demons into this, Feria. Stella muttered indignantly. ''''I''m sorry~. I couldn''t control the dream world either. You see, I''m very sensitive. You''re being sensitive. That''s terrible. Feria smiles and leans closer and closer to me. The fear that was carved by the battle with the brave men is still there. You have to be able to heal me, Demon Lord, will you heal me? The whipped body was close together. The elasticity of her ample breasts pressed against her, making her body hot with excitement. ''....Aren''t they a little too attached? I''m a bit dogged. It''s not a teenager, I guess, but it was still embarrassing. When I look at her again, I realize that Feria is truly a beauty. A white haze surrounds her, and her beauty is truly radiant. ''''I''m just showing my affection and respect for the new demon king, okay? Huffing and puffing, Feria''s breath tickled my neck. I felt a chill in my skin. Since a while ago, I''ve been feeling the blood flowing in the lower half of my body. It''s a good idea to say that I was horny. ''''This feeling........you''re using a ''charm''! Stella shouted. ''How dare you tempt the Demon King with magic, of all things! Oh, did you get it?¡¡You''re right, you can''t cheat on Stella. Feria sticking out her tongue in a mischievous manner. It''s a "charm" - a charm magic that succubus is good at. It seems to be the reason why I felt strangely awkward when I saw Feria. ........Perhaps there may be a part of me that was plainly dogged, regardless of the ''charm''. Stella, on the other hand, has a Buddha''s face. I''m a succubus. It''s like an ecology that confuses men. That''s not the point. So serious. That''s why you''ll always be a real live girl. And why shouldn''t I be a virgin? Stella flinched slightly. You know, you''re just a guy with a lot of pretend experience. What are you talking about? An angry Stella and a smiling Feria confronted each other. ''''I didn''t tempt the previous demon king-sama because she''s a woman, but now I should approach her, shall I?¡¡Do you think I should? Feria''s gaze shifted from Stella to me. It''s a sticky, entwining gaze all over my body. Just being stared at makes my skin crawl. Aren''t you using the ''charm'' again, this one? I wouldn''t dream of asking you to be my consort, would you, Demon King, be my mistress? Feria, that''s enough! The demon king is in trouble. Yeah?¡¡I think he''d rather be happy about it. Feria looks at Stella. ''You''re just jealous from earlier, aren''t you? ''Wha...?'' Stella choked on her words. Oh, you''re kind of red in the face, Stella? I''m only saying this out of loyalty to the Demon King! I''m so embarrassed, it''s hilarious. Do you want me to teach you some techniques to win over men?¡¡The demon king will be happy to see you. Well, the Demon King is...?¡¡Really...? No, why are you biting there, Stella? "My Demon King, he''s going to make me........ ''A succubus is the ally of every damsel in love. I''ll give you a lecture later. Are you really a nice guy? Stella stared at Feria intently. ''Aww, did you just notice that now?'' Feria, I was totally wrong. Why are you in the pocket, Stella? And, well, so much for the joke. "Jeez, are you kidding me? Stella shouted at Feria, who was laughing, with an amazing expression on her face. ''''The technique of dropping the Demon King-sama.......was it a joke.......huh? No, no, I''m kidding. It''s okay. "I sentence the brave Lyle Lyard to death. Lyle nodded in the center of the courtroom and listened to the judge''s words. Through a spell cast by the Demon King, he confessed to what he himself had done in the demon world in the Guild of the Brave. The verdict for that crime will be handed down today. The intense pain was running through his body without pause. Ever since he was cursed by his mentor, Freed, there was not a day that he could get used to this pain. He couldn''t sleep at night, and he was chronically sleep-deprived. Even just walking was a challenge, and even saying a few words was painful, making it difficult to go about my daily life. (d*mn..........Freed.......I won''t allow it.......I won''t allow it......! I spit out a curse in my mind, incessantly. That''s all I can do. That''s all I can do. "Betrayal of my friend and mentor, Freed Ratz. "As a result, we lost an opportunity to conquer the Demon World and set the stage for the birth of a new Demon King. "All of this is a vile act, which is unbecoming of a brave man. We will never forgive you. Accusations fly from the audience. Curses fly. Shouts of anger fly. There was not an ounce of respect for the brave man. Lyle''s whole body shook with humiliation. ''However, your achievements as a brave man so far have been excellent, and you shall be spared the penalty of death. "I hereby sentence Lyle Lyard to 1,700 years in prison. I hereby sentence Lyle Laiard to seventeen hundred years'' imprisonment, to be permanently stripped of all rights to the Miracle Armor, and to be removed from the heroes'' register. The verdict could be heard in the distance. The prison at the lowest level of the royal castle doesn''t even have a window. All you can see is the bare rock walls and iron bars. ''''I heard he betrayed his master and tried to keep the credit to himself. You''re an a**h*le. The prison guards on watch stopped in front of Lyle and laughed. ''But you were sure of your skills, weren''t you? He''s a Miracle Armor user of the level of the Wisdom Angel (Cherubim). Well, as long as the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge) are around, we don''t need this guy. Hey, speaking of the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge), I heard that he''s currently training in the Cathedral. Yeah. They''re planning to launch a second invasion of the demon world in the near future, and they might be part of it. ''Really?¡¡If those people would go, the Demon King wouldn''t be the enemy. I''ve heard that the new Demon King is quite strong. Rumor has it that he even surpasses the legendary ''The Beginning Demon King (Velfer)''... Lyle listened to their banter, not even listening. (Am I ... going to be like this for the rest of my life...?) He became nothing, and spent his days in prison, tormented by pain. My heroic name fell to the ground, and I was remembered in history as a sinner. (There is no more........hope........) The rest of his life will be dominated by despair and emptiness - the rest of his life will be dominated by despair and emptiness. 43 11 Gods Trial, First Stage It was a different space covered in white brilliance. Thousands of targets were floating in the air. They are all small targets used in bow training. "Let''s go, ''Rafael''. Penetrate all the targets... Ludmilla held her X-shaped bow - the cutthroat (seraph) level miracle armament, Raphael. When she squeezed the string, arrows of light appeared in response to her rising spirit. ''''Maximum Loaded Precision Firing (Thousand Arrow)! The arrows I released split into a total of 777 arrows and hit their targets one after another. ''''No........'''' Ludmila gave a small sigh. There aren''t enough arrows that can be fired at once to shoot through all the targets at the same time. ''''My mental strength itself has improved from a week ago.......but it still doesn''t seem to be enough~'''' Ludmilla turned at the sound of a voice from behind her. Standing there was one girl who was as lovely as a flower. Silver hair in a two-sided updo and crimson eyes. Clad in her petite body was a red outfit of the same color as her eyes. A shining halo floats above her head, and white wings extend from her back. ''''........Rouge-sama. Let''s keep up the good work. She - Rouge smiles. ''''If you draw all the power of that Miracle Armor, you should be able to produce three times as many arrows as you have now. Triple...? Ludmilla groaned. She wielded her mental energy to the limit and her consciousness was blurred. Producing arrows of light would drain his mental energy. The maximum number of arrows that could be released at one time was 777 arrows. Just thinking about creating three times as many arrows of light as that number makes one''s mind dizzy. ''''Ludmira-san, you won''t even be able to break through the first stage of the divine Tribulation if you''re tired like this~'''' Rouge smiled at me. It was about a week ago that I met her. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this as well. She entered the Oracle Room to hear how to do this. It was the only room on earth where one could communicate with the gods of the heavenly realm. When he entered the room, a girl appeared. ''''Welcome~. I''ve heard from the people of the Brave Guild. It''s you guys who want to train, right? Do you...? I''m the messenger of God, the red rouge. I''ll be your coach. She greets him with an oddly light flirtation. ''God''s, messenger...'' Is that what you mean, my angel? Fiore asked. She is a noblewoman with blonde hair and elegant beauty. She is a noblewoman and a brave woman who controls the miracle armor Michael, the miracle armor of the cutthroat (seraph) class. I''m sure you''ll be able to find it. It''s a good idea to call me Rouge. Rouge smirked. In an age of mythology, the gods and the demon king, Velpher, fought a fierce battle. Suddenly he began to speak. ''''The gods gave the mortals the Miracle Armor, and after their battle, they defeated the Velfer. The demons under their command were weakened, and they retreated to the demon world. It was the history of the battle between the gods and the demon king. Ludmira knew that. ''''The gods were also badly wounded and needed a long dormant period. But the wounds are beginning to heal. They have gone from having only fragmentary communication with humans to being able to send angels - I mean me - to them. Congratulations to you~ Rouge smiles happily. It''s a good thing that you''re not the only one who''s interested. It''s a bit risky, but please do your best to follow me to become strong and follow me~ Nice to meet you, Master Rouge. Ludmila was puzzled in front of a girl who didn''t have an ounce of dignity to be called an angel. Then let''s get on with the lecture. First, let''s talk about the Miracle Armor. And rouge. ''As I''m sure you''re aware, operating the Miracle Armor consumes a great deal of mental energy. So it''s not suited for very long battles, is it? Indeed, that''s right. Hence, when fighting demons, the basic tactic is to calculate the attrition and hit them with multiple brave men. ''''There''s also the issue of spiritual energy conversion loss. For example, if you use ten spiritual energy, the Miracle Armor can only convert about thirty to forty percent of it into offensive power. Let''s try to get this closer to 100 percent. That way, we can create a more powerful and accurate attack. With a twitch, Rouge explained, holding up her index finger. ''''So, the first step is to strengthen your mental powers. The second step is to improve your energy conversion efficiency. And the final step is to train in actual combat with me. If you complete all three of these steps, you will pass the test with flying colors~ So it''s a three-pronged test. I see. Well, let''s get right to the first one. Strengthen your mind. Rouge smiled at Ludmilla as she asked. ''''To be precise, you mean that you have more spiritual energy to operate the Miracle Armament. Spiritual energy, strong... ''All it takes to control the Miracle Armor is the power of the mind. Remember. Remember why you fight. And make it stronger. Stronger than ever. Harder and harder. The apostle of God, a young girl, speaks. "And beyond that thought, when your mind has grown, you will have more power. So it''s all in our minds, then? Ludmilla slumped. ''I need to be more ... mindful ...'' ''You seem to be a bit preoccupied. I''m more relaxed. A quick wink at the angel. ''Indeed, Ludmilla-san is far too serious, isn''t she? Fiore smiles. ''''The angel in charge should be training your people in the next ''oracle room'' as well. Let''s do our best not to lose, too. And, Rouge. ...so we''ll just get on with it. With a snap, he snapped his fingers. At the same time, the surrounding landscape switched and a white, shining space appeared. According to Rouge''s story, it was a different space that he had created for his training. By now, the Four Heavenly Holy Swords Sion and Liavert are also training in the same way©¤©¤. Therefore, the training began. A week later. Under Rouge''s guidance, Ludmila continued her training as she is now. It''s training to increase the maximum number of rounds of "Raphael". However, the results were zero so far. The maximum number of bullets remains at 777, and it is not increasing at all. As I thought........I don''t have enough mental strength....... ''Hmm, you should take it easier~? But there''s a chance that we might be able to join you on your next invasion. The Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge) were unable to participate in the previous invasion mission. The Miracle Armor of the Seraphic class was far more holy than other classes of Miracle Armor. The holiness of the Miracle Armor is much higher than that of other classes of Miracle Armor, and this holiness will be bounced off the wounds of the Demon Realm, making it impossible for them to pass through. In order for the girls to go to the Demon Realm, they need to make a bigger hole in the ward than before. The top brass is working on it, but... I''m sure that''s why I want to be part of the team. I want to win this time against the Demon King, who couldn''t do anything about it, but I have to win. As I was about to say, I was suddenly hugged by Rouge. ''''Yes, you are too preoccupied.'''' He hugs me tightly and I regain my composure a little. ''Let''s be more rirakuous?'' ''''But, Master Rouge, you can''t take it easy. If you take it easy, you''ll never get the power to surpass the Demon King...! I said "RELAX"! Rouge hugged me again. ''''You''re so serious, aren''t you? Rouge snaps her fingers with a snap. ''Rough treatment?'' Right after I was about to ask him. ''''Kyaaaah........?'''' Fiore, who was training at a remote location, suddenly screamed. A number of black tentacles appeared from the void and surrounded her. ''''This, this...'''' Fiore tries to cut through the tentacle group with the fine sword in his hand - the Miracle Armament Michael. ''''Let me take it away for a moment~'''' The light bullets released by Rouge flicked the fine sword from Fiore''s hand. The tentacles entwined with her limbs, which were unarmed. The tentacles increased in number from ten to twenty, and eventually©¤©¤the whole surrounding area was covered by an uncountable group of black tentacles. ''''Ha, aaahhhh........no.......! Fiore, bound by a group of tentacles, screamed. Her shapely face was twisted in anguish. ''''Those tentacles have the ability to pollute your mind. If we leave them alone, they will go crazy, right?'''' What...!¡¡Please let her go! Ludmilla shouted in anger. ''Didn''t I tell you at the beginning that this was a dangerous practice?'' The smile disappears from Rouge''s face. The carefree atmosphere from earlier was gone. The atmosphere is cold as ice. ''''What were you going to get without risking your life?¡¡The power you guys are seeking shouldn''t be so light. d*mn it...! Now, I know my guys are in trouble but what do you want to do? "Go through, ''Raphael''! 777 arrows to blow the tentacles together. ''''It''s useless,'''' Rouge announced coldly and snapped her fingers. In the blink of an eye, all the tentacles regenerate. ''''There are a total of 2000 of those tentacles. As long as you don''t destroy all of them at the same time©¤©¤as long as there is even one left, they will instantly regenerate. "2000 rounds at once...? But the maximum number of bullets in ''Rafael'' was 777. It was impossible to erase all of the tentacles in a single attack. "There''s no time to get lost. We''re almost there until our friends'' hearts are broken... Rouge looked at Ludmilla. ''''You were once uprooted by the demon race from those you hold dear, weren''t you?¡¡And now - again - will you lose a loved one because of your inability to do so?¡¡Or. I''m going to... I think back to that day, when everything was destroyed. I don''t want to be in that despair anymore. I don''t want to lose anyone else. I don''t want to let anyone else die. And that''s why I became a hero. "He who has no power has nothing to protect. And justice without power can save no one. I am... At Rouge''s words, Ludmira gripped ''Rafael'' tightly. ''''Ahhh.............! In front of me, there is Fiore''s suffering figure. A group of black tentacles - overlapped with the figure of the demon tribe that attacked the village. I can''t forgive it. I hate it. Something bubbles up in the back of my mind. The power.... I want it. The power to destroy everything. The power to kill everything. I... There was a stirring in the back of my mind. It was a black, murderous intent. It was a negative emotion that was inappropriate for activating the Miracle Armor, the armor of God. d*mn it! It was then that Ludmilla''s ''Raphael'' sounded violently. 44 12 Black miracle armament ''''This is...?'''' Ludmilla let out a surprised voice. The shape of the Miracle Armament ''Rafael'' has changed. The X-shaped bow became a star-like shape. The color also changed from a jade color to a lustrous jet black, and each part was decorated with gold. ''''Heh, it''s a chaotic form (chaos form)?'''' Rouge smiled at that. ''That''s a quicker transition than I thought! That''s quite a quality.'' Chaos ... form? Hmm, now you can do more than that. I''ll... try. Ludmilla held her black bow at the ready. She stared at Fiore, who was surrounded by a group of tentacles. ''''Ugh........kuah.... Fiore''s face is twisted in anguish. I must save her before her mind is contaminated. Help me, "Rafael. Ludmilla squeezed the strings wide. "The power to destroy everything, to kill... And then it releases. "Type 2, Maxi-armor rounds, precision firing! With a voice of enthusiasm, the arrow that was released split into 2,000. It was an instant©¤©¤. All of the tentacles were shot out and disappeared in an instant. ''See, you''ve made it. Rouge smiles. ''This is...'' Ludmilla is amazed as she remains in a position to release the arrow. It''s far more than the maximum number of bullets he''s loaded so far. Moreover, it seems that perhaps the 2,000 rounds just now is not the limit. If you get used to it, it will be even higher©¤©¤. ''Be aware of the triggers that bring out the power of your mind. Rouge walks up to Ludmilla. ''Trigger...?'' Your root is ''hate.'' The angel girl''s eyes narrowed sullenly. ''''The fierce anger and hatred that grew when you stood up against the demon tribe that once destroyed your homeland - isn''t that the root of why you fight? An intense look caught her eye as she wondered if she could see into Ludmilla''s past. ''A starting point for you. Don''t forget that. What have you been fighting against the demon race for? For what purpose will you fight against the demon race?'''' My... my reason for fighting? Ludmilla snorted to herself. ''I''m sorry for being so deceitful,'' Rouge bows his head deeply. ''''It is the power of the mind that controls the Miracle Armor. By pushing you to the edge mentally, I tried to encourage you to grow by pushing you to the edge of your mental capacity - but that was a disgusting way to do it. ...No, it''s been a great help to me in gaining strength. Ludmilla bowed to the angel girl. ''Thank you, Lady Rouge,'' Yeah?¡¡I knew it was my way, right? Rouge''s smile immediately returned to her face. I''m not a good coach. Yeah, great, great. Well no, I''d like you to reflect on that a bit. Ludmira was a bit mortified by the girl who had changed her attitude in a colossal way. ''Oh, just so you know, a tentacle mind-pollution attack isn''t something that''s life-threatening. I just misled you into believing it was a dangerous attack so that you could draw your true power. As he said, Fiore stretched out with a "hmmm". Apparently, there seemed to be no different in the body and mind. ''''But I suppose it''s still ''halfway'' A murmuring rouge. ''Half...?'' So next up is Mr. Fiore. Let''s get on with it, shall we? With a smile that could even be considered innocent, the girl, an apostle of God, called out to Fiore. The heat of the hot springs felt good in the cool outside air. ''''I didn''t know we even had a bath...'''' Ludmira gets a murmur of surprise at the sight of the hot tub made of rocks. A few hours after the training, the place Rouge led me to was a natural open-air bath. It''s surprising to find such a place in a different space. It''s a good idea to take a bath after training to relax and feel better. I made it specially for you. And rouge. ''I tried to recreate the ''hot springs'' of the human world. As I recall, this kind of thing is called an open-air bath, right? Snap, snap your fingers. A beautiful starry sky appeared at the top of the white space. ''''I also tried to create an atmosphere. It''s a perfect view.'''' Gulp," Rouge tells us with a thumbs up, proudly. ''Come on, let''s go in.'' The three of them took off their clothes and soaked in the hot spring. ''It feels so good, doesn''t it? Fiore breathed with a satisfied look on her face. Her ample breasts were swaying in the air, as if she were the type to be dressed. Her beautiful milk-colored skin was so lustrous that even Ludmila, her gender, could not help but notice it. ''''There are a number of hot springs like this in the human world, right?¡¡I love it...I want to go too! Rouge smiles. ''If God gives me permission, I''d like to visit the human world. Please show me around next time. We''re okay with it. Yeah, the three of us should go around town. Ludmilla and Fiore nodded. ''Yes!¡¡I promise. Rouge spluttered innocently. ''Oh, but God is very strict about his commandments. We can''t go down without a very good reason.'' Is that so? Yeah. I can''t have any contact with humans outside the oracle chamber. And rouge. ''Um ... can I ask you one thing?'' Ludmilla cut him off. ''Go ahead~'' Why would God bestow a gradual power upon us? Hmm? She gave Rouge a sharp look as she craned her neck. ''''To be honest, there is a part of me that doesn''t agree with you. Even if it''s a god©¤©¤ Hey, hey, Mr. Ludmilla... Nodding lightly at the astonished Fiore, Ludmilla continued. ''''Wouldn''t we have been able to defeat even the Demon King if we''d gotten more power from the start? Don''t doubt God''s will, Mr. Ludmilla. Rouge smiled. ''''But the invasion of the demon tribe has resulted in many casualties. Even my hometown... "Do not measure up to God''s will. Do not disobey God''s will. Do not question God''s will. The rouge told me like a spell. It was the same line that the upper echelon of the Brave Guild had told me before. ''Just believe. God. I am... Ludmilla slumped and bit her lip. Can we believe it? Could people not just dance on the hand of God? A vague sense of unease swept through Ludmila''s chest. A feeling of insecurity that won''t go away. 45 1 Makai Defense Conference A crowd of monsters stood in front of me. There are about thirty of them in total. Here we go again. It appears to be another magical weapon, Mr. Freed. Stella tells me, scanning me with her third eye. ''Stand back, Stella. I''ll shoot them all out. I thrust my right hand straight out. "''Homing Ray,'' The tracking-type light bullets pierced all thirty monsters. Oooh........hmm. With a cry of agony, all the monsters fell down. They were annihilated in a single blow. They must have killed about five hundred monsters on the way here. ''''Freed-sama, is your magic power okay?'''' No problem. There''s still room for more. I nod to a worried Stella. Let''s move on. We start walking again. A steep canyon filled with fog. The demon tribe we''re looking for must be deep in there. "The new master of polar magic... Well, there''s a candidate. This was half a day ago. Thank you for coming. My lieutenants, the demon chiefs. At the round table with eight seats, I told the three demons - Stella, Regal and Feria. I wore a robe and staff and a crown. It was the formal wear of a demon king. By the way, the staff was rarely used in actual battle and was just a decoration. It seems that it was originally an auxiliary tool for using magic power, but I can shoot magic normally without it. The only time I used this staff was when I fought the brave men for the first time. It had almost become a prop to create an atmosphere. ''''Hang it up.'''' I sat down first and urged the three of them to sit down. Stella and the others bowed and sat down in their chairs. I look over at the three girls. A beautiful girl with long silver hair hangs on the seat next to me on my right. She is wearing a black military-style outfit. She''s the chief of the Demon Army with the title of Vision, and she''s also my aide, Stella, who can be considered my one arm. A skull knight wearing an old-fashioned metal armor sits in front of me. He holds the title of the Immortal King (Lord Undead) and is the Demon Army Chief Regal, who leads the undead army. And next to him on his left sits a dainty maiden with pale pink hair that extends to her feet. Her sensational outfit that could be mistaken for her underwear and her bat-like wings. The title of the Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm) was Demon Army Chief Feria, who excelled at mental interference type magic. ''''So now there are three Demon Warlords. There are a total of eight seats at the round table. One is for me and the remaining seven are for the Demon Commander. Today, me and the demon chiefs had a meeting to discuss the defense of the demon world. We have about two and a half months until the brave men invade the demon world. We have to be ready to intercept them. I told the three men. ''If I were as powerful as you, O king, wouldn''t I be able to eradicate the humans? Regal asked. A golden glint in the skull''s eye socket shoots straight through me. ''''Don''t underestimate the humans, Regal. The power of the brave men, especially those at the top, is quite impressive.'''' I shake my head quietly. However, he does have a point. It''s true that if I went to the human world and launched a series of top-tier wide-area destruction spells like Mega Fire and Mega Thunder, I could cause devastating damage to an entire country. But©¤©¤that would be a mere slaughter. This is too far beyond the category of fighting for self-defense. The slaughter would create a cycle of hatred. And there is another reason for that. My fight with Lyle left me vulnerable for a time. If the same thing happens again I may be caught unawares. "Our national strength in the demon world was also eroded in the last battle. We need to prepare ourselves first. So it''s all about war prevention? Then, when they attack, my undead army will kick their asses. You have a lot of confidence. Feria looked at Regal with a smirk on her face. ''You''re going to get a payback, aren''t you?¡¡Are you okay? What? Regal stared at her mischievous tone of voice. The same is true for Stella and Regal, but it seems that the demon army chiefs do not get along with each other very well. The first thing that comes to mind is the use of ''Nightmare World'' to intercept the heroes or something like that the other day, Feria? I''m the one who asks, partly as an intervention. ''''Oh, it''s impossible~. The last time my power was out of control, I was able to expand my mental field to such an extent, but I can''t last long like that. Feria shook her head. ''It''s very tiring and-'' We don''t need the power of dreams and tricks. Regal said arrogantly. ''''Those irreverent humans will be kicked to the curb by my sword here. "Brains. Feria blurted out. ''Oh, but he''s undead, so he doesn''t have a brain. Are you still taunting me? There is something disturbing mixed in with Regal''s tone of voice. Or rather, it''s been a much more disturbing tone towards Feria since a while ago. I hope that the executives will get along with each other if possible........ ''''Both of you are in the presence of the Demon King. Refrain. Stella interrupted. ''Yes, yes,'' Hmm. ''Yes, Regal was searching for any remnants of the brave men. I broached another subject. "What have you got to show for it? ''''Ha. We searched the remaining areas as we did the other day, but we couldn''t find any remnants of the brave men. I thought they had all been eradicated or expelled in the last battle. Yeah. Thank you. And I''ll be sure to nurse Regal. As long as the wards of the demon world are not broken, we can assume that the threat of the heroes has passed for the time being. I looked around again at the three of them. "Then let''s arrange the division of labour next... There are seven demon armies in the demon world, headed by seven demon army chiefs. After consulting with the three demon army chiefs, I have reassigned these demon armies to new roles. The undead and beastmen are to be guarded in and around the demon world. The demons who control magic are responsible for monitoring and inspecting the wards. The demons who have excellent sensory organs, such as eye and hearing demons, are to be searched for enemies and to collect information. The dream demons are prepared to defend themselves in case of mental attacks. However, most demon clans are not that strong in battle. A more robust defensive posture is needed. ''''As I thought, I''d like to have a single-armed strongman. Me muttering. ''''I don''t know how far I can cover the entire vast demon world by myself. ''''At the very least, we''ll need to decide on the replacements for the three Demon Army Chiefs who were killed in the last battle. Stella said. "As soon as possible, as soon as possible... Regal looks at me. We also need to find out where the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zeggert, whose whereabouts are unknown after his invasion of the human world. That person is truly a fierce competitor. It would be difficult for me to win in a one-on-one match. ...You''re really that powerful, aren''t you, Zeggert? I''d love to see him join the defense of the demon world. Can you manage to find Zeggert? I''ll send a demon who''s good at exploration. It was Stella who answered. ''How about I go out in person and find you? That''s just the way it was last time, he''s going to return to the Demon World as soon as he meets up with Zegert. ''''No, the place he was attacking has a large number of brave souls, and even the Demon King is in danger of being attacked. Stella shook her head. ''''Also©¤©¤I would like the Demon King-sama to focus on selecting a new Demon Army Chief. We should have as much of a defensive system in place as possible before the warding is broken. Well that''s true, but... Then I''d like to find Zegert even more. Let me go to Zegart. Regal came forward. ''Oh, will you go?'' I''m probably the most familiar with the geography of the human world out of all of them. And as for my abilities as a fighter, I''m probably more qualified. Regal, you just do things the right way. And then Feriah makes a tea party. ''My king, may I?'' Oh, don''t ignore me! Feria''s lips twitched in a sultry way. 46 2 New polar magic After that, they continued to discuss the defense system of the demon world for an hour or so, and then ended the meeting. ''''Then go back to your respective jobs. Thank you for your efforts. I praise the three demon chiefs. ''And Stella needs to stay behind for a while. I have something to discuss with you. Yes, sir. Stella nods reverently. ''What, just Stella special?¡¡Oh, my God, I''m so jealous. Next to her, Feria laughed mischievously. ''''I''d like to have a one-on-one consultation with you sometime, wouldn''t you? Feria, who makes an oddly s*xy family and stares at me lustily. A little shiver runs down my spine. .........Isn''t this guy using a captivating magic (charm) again? You are in the presence of a demon king. Stella glares at Feria with a snappy face. ''Hmm, yakimichi?'' Who''s jealous? ''That stiff Stella had a damsel in distress side to fall in love with. Surprise. ''''What are you talking about? I''m just saying that because I''m a loyal Demon Army Chief. It''s the truth. A flustered Stella. Apparently, she''s not good at this kind of topic. She''s all red in the face. "Well, leave it at that, you two. I smiled, and I couldn''t help but laugh. ''Yes,'' Excuse me, Your Majesty. Feria nodded nonchalantly and Stella, her face still red. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. I don''t understand those subtleties. Regal blurted out. ''Well, the undead don''t understand...'' I don''t want to know. I only understand swords and sword talk. Regal, who announced his warrior-like lines. "My King, I''m done with this. He bowed to me and left. "So do I. See you later, my Demon Lord. Feria also leaves the room. ''What can I do for you, Mr. Freed? After they left, Stella asked. ''It was the other day in The World of Dreams,'' When we were alone, I took off my mask. "When I fought one of the past demon kings - Estr?m - his magic suddenly became weak. I was curious as to why. Weakening...? Stella frowns. ''I was wondering if maybe some force was blocking (jamming) the effect of the magic. Inhibition...? It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. It was similar to that power. Me explaining. "Can you detect anything in Stella''s ''eye''? I''ll have to try. Stella turns to face me. With a dazzling glow, a third eye opens on her forehead. She is a member of my family called the Ganma. The eyes are equipped with a wide range of abilities, from remote vision and clairvoyance to poison and magic. ''''........It''s no good. It''s vague and even my clairvoyant eyes can''t see it. Stella bowed her head apologetically. ''''I just sensed a strong magical power coming from Freed-sama. A hint of some kind of magic tool.'''' A grimoire...? The Miracle Armor could be considered a magical tool in a larger sense. It''s a category of magic, so a person who is skilled in that field should be able to... And, Stella. ''Or maybe we can find out something. More in the realm of magical research than clairvoyant analysis, I suppose. ''''There are some magician-type demons in the Seven Armies, right?¡¡Wouldn''t it help if we had them look into it? ''Well no, I think it''s a bit dangerous,'' When I was about to nod at my suggestion, Stella shook her head. ''Sure....'' You have a point. But we can''t just leave it at that. ''''Even if we do look into it, we can''t keep it a secret with a large group of people. What about having one person look into it? That might be a good idea. Me nodding at Stella''s suggestion. ''Who will it be?'' ''How would you like to be a candidate to take over the position of Polar Magi (Master) Zuillaam?¡¡He''s a candidate for the head of the Demon Army who unites the wizard-type demon race. I''m pretty sure you had a list of candidates. I''ll bring it to you. Just a moment. Stella left the room and came right back in. ''Come in, Mr. Freed. He presents a document outlining the candidates to replace Zuillaume. There was a list of names of demon clans with superior magical abilities. ''''This one is skilled in magical combat, but lacks analytical skills. The guy''s description column had a rating of ''A'' for magical combat power and ''D'' for analytical power. ''''This person is a leading expert in magical research, but his loyalty is questionable. And then, this one-- Stella explained each candidate. Each of them had their own qualities, and I couldn''t find a demon race that this was. ''''Zuillam was an unparalleled magic powerhouse in the demon world. In particular, his analytical abilities are top-notch. As for the alternative, it''s not quite...'''' And, Stella. ''''He''s from a prestigious family that has produced several Demon Kings in the past, including ''Demon Emperor'' Estram-sama. ''I see... hmm?¡¡This guy. It was rated ''S'', the highest grade in every status related to magic, such as magic power rank, magic combat power, and magic tool creation ability. Among the candidates, it was truly overwhelming. ''''What are you?'''' ''Oh, that''s - I''ve got a list of things to do, but...'' Stella mumbles. ''His name is Judas. He is one of the oldest demons that have lived in time immemorial. He''s a genius when it comes to magic, but his character is difficult and not suited to serve the court. Genius...? After all, he was Zuillaam''s mentor. So you''re good at what you do. I mean, isn''t he a gem? What about the personality difficulties? ''I hear he''s a moody man anyway. Even if it''s at the king''s behest, he won''t cooperate if it''s something he doesn''t like. And, Stella. ''I heard that most of the previous demon kings tried to call him a subject, but he didn''t obey anyone. ...won''t you easily become a vassal? Nevertheless, we want as many people with superior abilities as possible. We have to be prepared for a brave attack, and more importantly... I have a problem with my weaknesses. Although it is not yet understood, the phenomenon of weakening of my magic power that occurred during the battle with Lyle. In order to cover this, I need to gather a strong group of people to cover it. I want to create the strongest army to protect the magical world. Let''s meet... For Judas? You''re a magical genius, aren''t you? I reply to Stella, who seems surprised. ''''Besides, we might be able to solve both the ''Gram'' thing and the problem of the Demon Army Chief''s replacement at once. Then I''ll go with you. Stella said. ''Yeah. ''Lead the way. And follow up on the persuasion. Yes, for Mr. Freed. Stella nodded with a mixture of smiles. ''I''m counting on you,'' Huh...!¡¡Oh, thank you, it''s a pleasure. Stella''s cheeks flushed red and she lowered her head. She seems to be embarrassed. Therefore, I decided to go to Judah''s place with Stella. It is said that his residence is located deep in the southern region. Judas is the new candidate for the new master of polar magic. What kind of demon race is he really... 47 3 Fog canyon I rode the Underworld Dragon Belga Elfida - Bells with Stella and came to the deepest part of the southern region. We lowered the dragon in front of a canyon that was shrouded in deep mist. "Good work, Belle. From here, we''ll continue on foot. "Thank you, Belga Elfida, the Dark Lord dragon. Me and Stella thanked Belle. ''''Originally, I''m the Demon King''s personal rider. I''ve given you a special ride because you''ve been so good to me. The black dragon said and shook his huge body. ''''Then you''ll be in Hellhound form from here on out. Pop, smoke, and turn into a cute dog form. It''s in Hellhound form. ''Kyawaw........'' Stella''s eyes sparkle and she picks up the dogified Belle. ''''Oh, he''s so cute ... fluffy~'''' Oh, here, there, give me some more strokes. Hmm. How''s that? Stella strokes the area under her chin with her supple fingertips. ''''Fenyah.'''' ''Oh, you''re really cute. Rubbing. Stella lowered her eyebrows and rubbed her cheek against Belle with a big smile. She had completely changed her character. Where did the cool girl go? Okay, I''m sorry. Noticing my gaze, Stella blushed and became upright and immobile. Me, Stella and Belle proceeded down the canyon. ''''Hey, hey, Stella knows that the Demon King is a former human, right?'''' ''''Wha...?'''' Stella''s face stiffened when Belle asked her. ''''Well, Demon King-sama...'''' Yeah, he could tell from the smell and stuff. I''ve kept quiet about it to the other demons, so it''s safe. Me nodding to Stella. There are not a few demons who hate humans. It''s not a good idea to reveal the fact that I was a human being, even though I was. It''s a good thing that you''re not going to have to worry about it. It''s a good thing that I don''t like humans either. Or rather, what about Stella? Belle inquired. ''You seem strangely loyal, don''t you care that the Demon King is an ex-human?'' ''''........Fried-sama fought to protect the demon race. Even though he was a former human, he fought against the human heroes. Stella quietly, but with strength, tells him. ''I believe in this person''s will to ''protect the demon race''. Therefore, I will support this person. Hmm. Don''t you agree? ''''A lot of demon leaders don''t know what they''re thinking. I''ve seen the previous generation, and the one before that, and the one before that... and the one before that... and the one before that... I''ve seen many demon army chiefs with a lot of bellies. Belle laughs. ''But you seem to be different. There was a whiff of truth in what you just said. I like it better when it''s that simple. Yeah, really simple. ...maybe you''re being subtly stupid? Stella raised an eyebrow. ''I didn''t. Besides, Stella''s stroking feels good. And it''s true that she''s likable. See, most fluffy? Oh, okay. Well, be my guest. The serious talk from earlier was nowhere to be seen, and Stella quickly lost her chemistry. ''''Mufufu, your touch feels so good........'''' Oh, and behind the ears. Hmm, is this it? Yeah, yeah ............................ "Dear Mr. Freed, my enemy... Stella suddenly turns a straight face. ''Huh?'' It was great that he didn''t neglect to properly search for the enemy while fluffing up. That switch was so sudden that I was confused. The next moment, a black shadow appeared from behind the fog. It''s about twenty monsters. ''''Demon race...?'''' No, it appears to be a magically created biological weapon. And, Stella. Oh, oh, oh! The monsters roared and attacked us. Probably, they are a group of people with a good amount of fighting power. If we were to talk about the human standards, we could feel the hint of a powerful magical power of a class that the lower-ranked heroes cannot compete with. However... "''Laguna Bomb'' For now, I wiped them out with bombing-type magic. All the monsters turned to dust and disappeared. ''''It''s still a blink-and-you''ll-miss-it! Belle said, neither smiling nor dismayed. ''I''ll be back,'' Stella warns. This time there are about fifty monsters. Is this another magic weapon? "''Fire''. He blows them away with fire magic. But after a few more steps, we run into another group of monsters. "How many more of these things are there? There appear to be evenly spaced points of monster appearance for interception. Sighing, Stella explained to me. ''''Even my ''eyes'' can''t completely see through it. There seems to be an effect in this fog that interferes with or blocks magical power. I guess we''ll just have to proceed with caution. While saying that, I shoot them all with Burst Arrow. I can''t afford to be held back by these people. The sooner we get to Judas, the better. The road to Judas was mostly uneventful. Energy Hand. Fling the monsters away with their magical arms. ''''Aquablit.'''' Water bullets pierce the monsters. The Wind. The wind magic blows the monsters away. None of these guys, who come out by the dozens, were my enemies. Eventually, I reach a place deep in the canyon. "This is... We stopped in our tracks. It was a little different than before. There were a number of swords and spears sticking out of the ground. And they are not just weapons. This sign... Miracle Armor...? But the brave men who invaded the demon world were all either defeated or driven away by me. I''m sure no brave man has ever attacked this place. ''''Has a brave man ever attacked the demon world before? ''''No, the last time the Hundred Braves invaded should have been the first time...'''' Stella responds to my question with a puzzled answer. ''''Then what is this...'''' I tried to get closer to where the sword and spear were propped up. ''That''s my research material, so don''t touch it. A voice, I hear. I turn to see a boy standing there. * In the forest, the training of the brave men and women was taking place. The second invasion of the magical world will take place in a little more than two months. It''s the training for the candidates to participate in this operation. The selected heroes are wielding armed Miracle Armor, such as swords and spears, or autonomous Miracle Armor. Or they can use the autonomous Miracle Armor as their own hands and feet. These are fierce men who could defeat mid-level demons on their own. And then one of them noticed something and stopped his sword. ''''That was...'''' A kind of black mist is rising from the grass. No, it''s not fog. When I got closer, I saw that it was emitting a mysterious, jet-black glow. It''s a piece of metal about the size of your palm. "What is this? He tried to pick up the piece of metal. Behind him, a scream rang out. ''''What........?'''' He turned around in surprise and saw a sea of blood all over the place. The brave men who were training had fallen to all of them. ''''What in the world...?¡¡Gahaha! The next moment, he was pierced by what looked like an arrow. No, it wasn''t an arrow. ''''Feathers........?'''' An arrow of feathers that pierced even the iron armor. The brave man fell as it was and became motionless. ''''I''ve found it.'''' A silhouette like a bird©¤©¤the demon race Sigmund advanced slowly. He picked up a piece of metal that had fallen on the grass and smiled. ''''Piece of the Demon King''s Sword.......you can report well to the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegert-sama. 48 4 Its name is Juda When I turned around, I saw a boy standing there. A well-groomed figure with a stupendous atmosphere. Beautiful silver hair and brown skin. A purple robe on his slender frame. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about it. In secret. The boy smiled briskly. This guy couldn''t be.... You have come a long way, haven''t you? What happened to all those monsters on the road? I beat him. Yeah, you know that number?¡¡You''ve adjusted your strength to the point where even the Demon Warlord class would have a hard time with it, but it''s a big deal. I''m Fried. This is Stella and Belle, the Dark Lord''s dragon, Belga Elfida. I showed him the Demon King crest on the back of my hand. ''''Hmm, you''re the Demon King of this generation. Yulisha must be dead. The beautiful boy said in a matter-of-fact tone. ''''You''re Judas...?'''' That''s right. I''m Judas Lugis. Nice to meet you, new demon king. A boy - Judah laughs. The most ancient demon race that has lived through the ages. I heard that, but the Judas in front of me has the appearance of a boy as it is. Maybe it doesn''t matter what he looks like because he''s a demon race. "The fact that the demon king came, is that it?¡¡Do you want to call me up again or something? Judah shrugged. ''Every time the Demon King is replaced, he comes this far, doesn''t he? Yeah. I need your help. I don''t think so. It was an immediate response. He replied so quickly that I felt my nose turn white. ''Serving in the palace service can be a bit tedious for you. And Judah. ''I used to help the Beginning Demon King (W?lfer) in the past, but that was as a friend,'' W?lffer? The first demon king. Stella told me by ear. Come to think of it, I may have heard it before. ''Basically, my life is spent here goofing around. I''ll only train the occasional interesting wizard if I find one that looks interesting. In the last few hundred years, it''s only been Estralm and Zuillam. Judah said. The former Demon King Estr?m, who was called the Magus Emperor, and the former Demon Army Chief Zuillaam, who holds the title of Polar Magus (Master). It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re looking for," he said, "because Estr?m has an outstanding talent for magical combat and Zuillaam has an outstanding talent for magical research. It''s not a bad idea. Well, what about me?¡¡Doesn''t it interest you? In terms of status, he''s the most powerful demon king in history. I think he might be attracted to my magic. It seems he''s the type that judges things based on likes and dislikes. I can''t see it. It was another quick answer. ''''I can certainly feel a strong force but I''m not really feeling it. It''s like your presence or something is strangely irritating to me. Annoying? Sort of. Ha. Judah laughs blithely. ''''From earlier on, you''ve been extremely rude to the Demon Lord...'''' Stella was about to explode with anger. ''''I won''t allow it.......! Well, relax. It''s just the way it is. But, Your Majesty, my Demon Lord.... ''''You''re very tolerant. Some of the previous demon kings have lost their temper and attacked me just for talking to me. Judah chuckles. ''I''ve turned it all around, though. He had high fighting ability, after all. As is to be expected, he was given an ''S'' in every status on the candidate list. Well, the information that he has a difficult personality is also true. ''''Hmmm.......I knew you had a strange feeling about it. When Judas murmured. Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...! A high-pitched sound rang out in the area. "What the... Me looking around. The swords and spears sticking out of the ground were flickering. ''''Wha........?'''' Suddenly, I felt hot inside my chest. It was so hot that I felt like I was going to be burned. "Hmm, it resonates with the Miracle Armor. Judah''s eyes narrowed sullenly. She is still smiling, but her eyes are not smiling. The sharp eyes of a genius of magic ©¤©¤. I see. So you have the miracle armor inside of you as well? ....! You''re a former human being, aren''t you? Is that why you''re so annoying to me? "You know what? I''m surprised by Judas''s words. He doesn''t answer, he just stares at me. "Well I''m definitely an ex-human. My Demon Lord? No, it''s okay. I''m here to scout this guy. You''ll have to be honest with me first. I control a surprised Stella. ''Okay, go on,'' Judah urged. ''I rode into the demon world as a brave man and fought the previous demon king, Yulisha. A lot of things happened, but it was like we were fighting each other - and I was revived as the Demon King. ''''Hmmm ... as I recall, Yulisha was casting a revival spell on herself. It may have interfered with your Miracle Armor and the strange winds. Judah muttered half to himself. ''''So, when you were revived as a demon king, the Miracle Armor you had was taken into your body, I guess.¡¡You don''t remember? I''ve had an effect similar to that of the Miracle Armor I had in my possession. But with Belle and Judas, I''m not sure anyone can see that I''m an ex-human. ''Do you think your identity is a secret?¡¡Well, don''t worry, I won''t go out of my way to touch you around. Judah chuckles. ''That said... I''m starting to get a little curious about you. The smile faded from his face. More and more sharp eyes look at me. ''Well, you''ll have to come to me. I asked again. I knew this guy was real. I could use some help. No. No, I don''t want to help you, but I''m intrigued. But Judah''s reply was curt. ''It''s time for a nap. I''ll leave you to it. And then he turns away. No, a nap..... He''s fickle and elusive. ''''Enough is enough. The Demon Lord is thinking about this demon world, and he''s making his move. He has protected us many times. Don''t you want to help us with that? Stella screams in anger. ''Cooperation?¡¡That''s a strange word. Judah reflected. ''What sustains us demons is ''power. The strong live and the weak die. Selection is the truth of the demon world. The only commandment of the demon world is to eat the law of the fittest - the only commandment of the demon world. Isn''t it? Do you think the weaker demons should be allowed to die? Of course. Judah nodded. It was still an immediate answer. ''''In fact, even until now, the history of the demon world is a history of struggle. Many demons were killed in battles against the Heavenly Army and the Brave Army, and many sacrifices were made in the struggle for supremacy to become the Demon King. I''m sure it will continue to be so in the future. Our essence is ''power'' and ''struggle''. Or maybe it''s the same for gods and humans. And Judah. ''Or would you rather make me obey by force?¡¡From the looks of it, your status is the most outstanding among the Demon Kings of all time. Even the Velfer can''t compete with you. You are definitely the strongest of all time. Judas... If I had to fight, I''d be dead. Well, I don''t mind that. As I said before, it''s the rule of the magical world that the weak die. I''m no exception to that rule. He was an aloof demon race to all intents and purposes. Even his own death didn''t seem to bother him. Will there be a way to follow this guy.... Is there a way to obey this guy? 49 5 Myth of the demon world What do you think?¡¡Fight me? Judas smiles. "Or will you... kill me? The tone was flat to all intents and purposes. This guy didn''t feel anything. He''s not moving. He knows I have the power to kill him. It''s like I''m somebody else. ''If you don''t fight, I''m going to take a nap. I''ll see you later. As soon as he said it, Judah snapped his fingers. It was a hemispherical dome made of seven-colored crystals. It was a mechanical device with pipes and tubes attached here and there. Inside was a bed with a canopy. ''What''s this?'' Okay?¡¡It''s the Ultra Ultimate Bedroom, the ultimate sleeping magic napping device I built to help you get the best sleep possible. Judah smiles like a child with an innocent face. Judah smiles innocently like a child, "It''s a great room, complete with mood music player and massage magic equipment to help you fall asleep. The pillows and bedding are made of the best materials I can find for a good night''s sleep. It''s a big name, but the point is, this guy''s bedroom... ''Oh, I love it.'' Belle spluttered as she ran around the device. ''I want to take a nap like this too~'' I knew you''d understand. Judah nodded with satisfaction. ''Then I''ll go to bed. I eat well, sleep well, sleep again, and sometimes I think for a moment that I''ll learn, but then I get bothered and end up sleeping - that''s the secret to the Judas way of magic. Isn''t that just a goofy life? I''m telling you, if you break this thing by force, I won''t forgive you. Judah turned a straight face for a moment and glared at me. Then he smiled again and went into the dome. Hmmm, what should we do? ''''Shouldn''t we do one thing here and show the power of the Demon King? Stella advised with an angry look on her face. ''''Even though you are the most ancient demon race, that manner of speaking to the Demon King-sama.......is too rude. Well, he''s a bit of a character, isn''t he? ''''The Demon Lord wants a strong vassal for the Demon World, yet he doesn''t even understand his aspirations.......mumble. Stella puffs out her cheeks in a huff. I know she''s angry, but it was cute to see her sulking a bit. ''''I''m sure there are all sorts of people in the demon race too, it can''t be helped. But... And that guy can''t be obeyed by force. I''m sure he meant what he said earlier. I calmed Stella down. No matter how strong they are, no matter how strong they are, they can''t bind your mind. "Why don''t you try to get some rest? Judah, lying in bed, laughed. ''It''s a tense feeling, you know. You need to relax. Especially if you''re in a heavy position like the Demon King, you know......... I say, and this time I fall asleep. How could you fall asleep even if we were there? Oh, the Demon King is here and you ended up taking a nap...........! Stella bit her lip. ''Well yeah. Maybe I should take a nap too. I had an idea. "Demon Lord? I can''t force you to wake up. It''s more like a rejection. I mean, I think the demon kings until now got angry in this area and ended up being rejected by Judas for serving. If that''s the case, it might be a good idea to try to be a little more patient with them. ''''If we spend the same amount of time together, you might be able to understand Judas a little better. Understanding and empathy - that might be the first step in getting closer to Judas. ''....I understand. Then I''ll go with you. Me too. We lay down on the spot. The next thing we knew, the battlefield was spreading out in front of us. What is this.........? A black army that fills the earth.... Dragons, beastmen, undead and unshaped demons. At the front of the army was a single demon tribe leading the army. An odd shape with three faces and six arms. Opposing it was an army of humans. ''''Demon King Velfer, prepare yourself! Our heroes will avenge you! The brave men shouted at the three-sided demon race. All at once, they readied their weapons. It was the holy armor, the Miracle Armor, given to the brave men by God. No, it''s a little different. "That''s... The pitch black swords, spears and bows they hold in their hands. And the jet black clothing they wear. They are also the only ones who have the ability to make a living. It''s the exact opposite of the brave men and women who manipulate sacred armor. ''''An abominable human...!¡¡And then there''s the angels... The three-sided demon race called Velfer spat abominably. Out of the corner of his eye, there were four silhouettes floating in the sky. Red, blue, white and black. Winged figures clad in brightly colored robes. "No matter how many armies come, I will protect the demon world. The army of the brave, the heavenly army, and all of them will be defeated... Six arms groaned. ''''Megafire!'''' A line of crimson fire clears the earth. The heroes are blown away and the angels in the sky flinch. But they don''t flinch either. They wield the black miracle armor and counterattack. The highest level of magic is being blown around. A storm of slashes from the Miracle Armor. They clash, splitting the earth, burning forests, and scraping mountains. The fierce battle continues without end. It''s been a long time since I''ve had a dream about the past. I heard a voice close by. ''Judas...?'' A beautiful boy with silver hair and brown hair is smiling at me. Could it be that we are in Judah''s dream? Like Feria the other day, I''ve been having a lot of dreams lately, I guess. ''I wonder if it''s because of your meeting?¡¡This is your memory of the first demon king, Velfer, and his army of gods and humans when he fought. I fought with them. The first demon king... In the human world, it would be the domain of myths, but to me, it''s a memory of the past. You''ve been alive since then, haven''t you? ''And yet, I didn''t expect you to go along for the nap, either. None of the Demon Kings before have ever thought of such a thing. Judah chuckles. ''All the demon kings of the past have tried to follow me by force. I don''t think you''re a man who can be subdued. ''Essentially, all the demon kings of the past were like a bunch of fighters and control freaks. Except for Velfer, that is. Why did you help Welfar? Because he was my friend. I liked him because he was a friend and that''s the only reason I liked him. Judah tells him matter-of-factly. On the contrary, the demon kings of the past have been people I didn''t like. But you are a bit different from them. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you are a former human being. Judah''s smile deepened. 50 6 Someday, those who reach the limit Before my eyes, the battle between the demon race and the gods and humans was continuing. ''''Mega Thunder!''''¡¡"Guilty Burst"!¡¡"Laguna End! W?lfer unleashed the most advanced spells one after the other, obliterating the brave army. ''''Ugh, what power...! As expected of the king of demons. Even the four angels retreated greatly in their power. Strong. Even compared to the past demon kings I fought in the Dreamscape World before, they''re even a notch higher. Furthermore, the other demon races also struggled. The miasma from the dragon breath, the miasma from the undead, the attacks from the warrior and wizard type demons The demon armies gradually push the allied armies of the heavenly army and the brave warriors into a corner. I''m sure you''ll be pleased with the results. The same as the demon king, he also uses the highest level of magic. This guy is also strong©¤©¤. "That''s too strong, a little. Then let him be weak. The angels looked at each other. ''O God, punish our enemies.'' In the next moment, a flash of light covered the area. What was that...? In front of my doubting eyes, the demons fell one by one. The battle that was so dominant a moment ago was quickly reversed in the blink of an eye. The heavenly army and the attack of the brave men and women are now kicking the demons away. ''''A curse of weakness!¡¡d*mn it.........! W?lffer groaned. ''God grant us more power. "A sacred weapon to destroy evil, the Divine High Priestess. "Destroy all demons. You must exorcise all evil. With a curse from the angels, three huge shadows descend from the sky. They were giants, perhaps thirty meters in length. "Burn, ''King of Flame''! Blow it up, ''King of the Wind'' Swallow, ''King of Water''. The angels commanded. "Autonomous Miracle Armor...? No, but this is it anyway. It was as if the entire world was going to be crushed, with a tremendous amount of intimidation. This is in no way comparable to the autonomous Miracle Armor I swept up before. The three giants roared and blotted out the remaining demons. This was no longer a battle. It was a slaughter. "Stop.........the demons, my subjects....... W?lffer groaned, tears of blood streaming down his face. ''The wicked shall be avenged equally. You don''t deserve to live. Die. Go away. Perish. The giants, and the Heavenly Army and the Brave Army, will not let up at all. Screaming demons. The fleeing demons. The terrified demons. The despairing demons. One after another©¤©¤they kill them. "Stop! I couldn''t bear it and screamed. "...it''s useless. This is my dream. Judah murmured quietly. ''An event that has already happened. It''s a past that can''t be changed.'' "f*ck... Even though I knew it, I couldn''t stand the carnage in front of me. ''No more!'' He unleashed ''Mega Fire'' at the giants, the heavenly army and the brave army. The flames of red lotus dyed the world. ''''Ha, ha, ha.......! Even though I knew this was a dream, I couldn''t help but shoot. ''''That''s ... tremendous.'''' Judah murmured. ''I thought I had mastered all of magic, but I''ve never been able to achieve this level of magic. Or perhaps you are the one who will eventually reach the limit of magic... ''''So the demon race received a weakening curse in this battle. And they were defeated.... Ha, ha, ha,'''' I said, releasing my full force of magic and catching my ragged breath. ''''Yeah, we barely escaped into the demon world. Judas lets out a deep sigh. "I failed to protect my friend W?lfer. And my friends ... nothing. Judas... "The demons are no longer strong enough to fight against the Heavenly Army. They are reduced to a pitiful existence hiding in the world of evil, only to be frightened by the gods. The world could be destroyed at any moment by the whims of the gods... Judah mumbles to himself. So I too have decided to spend the rest of my life goofing off like this. You mean you''ve given up. ''Yes. There''s no point in chasing an unattainable ideal. The demon world will one day be free of the threat of the gods... The landscape changes. It was a small workshop. A brown-skinned boy with silver hair was making something. It seems to be a myriad of magical tools. He has an innocent smile on his face, as if he were playing with a toy. Judah was only making magic tools. Occasionally, a demon tribe that looks like a demon king comes to visit him, but he turns them away without a second thought. And then he immersed himself in making magic tools again. Play with them. Have fun. Is this what he calls "the good life"? But... No. What? You lied to me about giving up. I stared at Judas. Because this guy''s eyes are not smiling. It was just an innocent smile. I thought I could feel the wail of his heart. I thought I could feel his true intentions. Isn''t it true that you are looking for an opportunity?¡¡That''s why I continue to study magic here. Hoping that one day I will be able to put it to good use. Hoping that one day the magical world will be free from the threat of the gods. ....! Judah''s expression changed slightly. I realized that my words were at the core of what I was saying. ''Even this dream was really ... you showed it to me on purpose. I needed that opportunity. You think you''re the one who can free the demon world? I''m going to need that power. I take off my mask and stare at Judas again. He reveals the same face he had when he was human and stares straight at her. "I need your help. A silence passed. Judah doesn''t give an immediate answer. He doesn''t nod his head. But he wouldn''t refuse. I waited for his answer. I had a feeling that his answer was already decided. "...if it''s your magic, or... Judah murmurs. With a deep sigh. ''The liberation of a weakened demon race and the repelling of a divine threat - maybe we can accomplish both. Not me. I shake my head from side to side. "We will. We''ll gather more of the strongest men and bring peace to this world. I smirked at Judas. "I''m going to... Oh, this is Judas?¡¡He''s too nice a guy for my taste. When I returned to the Demon King''s Castle and brought her back to the Demon Army Chief Feria, her reaction was this. She has a look of disinterest on her face. By the way, Regal is away because he has gone out to the human world to find the Beast Emperor Zegert. Would that guy and Judah be on the same page with each other? Doesn''t sound like a good fit... hmmm. "Joining us today. I''m looking forward to working with you. Oh, I don''t have much motivation for work, so please follow me. Judah''s reply was loose. ''''I would like to introduce you again. The new Demon Army Chief - ''Polar Magic (Master)'' Judah Lugis. "I hope that together we can work together for the good of the demon world. Well, it''s the least I can do. Judah nodded and Feria smiled lustily. ''''Me too. It''s a good thing that you''re able to have a good time. It''s a good thing that you''re not the only one. Hey, Feria. Stella glanced at Feria. ''I''m just kidding, Stella. ''I''m a jealous person. Wow, I''m not jealous of you. I just don''t want you to take any chances with the Demon Lord. A damsel in distress. ''I''m telling you no I''m not, so, you know...'' Stella blushes and glances at me. Hmm, what''s the matter? ''Then Judah, go and take over from your predecessor. From now on, you will lead the wizard-type demons that Zulam was leading. ©¤ After the face-to-face meetings were over and Stella and Feria went back to their respective tasks, I ordered Judas to do so. ''Liukai.'' Judah said in a light tone and left. Then, not long after that, he came back. ''Hmm, what''s up?'' I''m done taking over. And while I''m at it, I''ve been reorganizing my men. "...not even 30 minutes ago... You can tell a lot about a person''s qualifications at a glance. It''s a good idea to have a look at them at first glance. The previous Zuillaam was an expert in the study of magic, but he was not a good judge of magic. Judah tells her absent-mindedly, with a smile on his face. ''''Instead, I found some demon clans with quite interesting talents in lower positions, so I''ve selected them. I''ll organize the new position list later and give it to you. Oh, well... For a guy who''s so lazy, this guy works fast.... So....can I have a moment of your time, Demon Lord? And Judah. ''I''d like you to go out with me. Do you want to go out with me? You''ve got all that magic, but you haven''t learned how to use it properly. I thought I''d train you up a bit. Judah laughed. ''I''ll teach you. The essence of magic. 51 7 Devils slash I left the Demon King''s Castle with Judah. As usual, the method of movement is the Underworld Dragon Belga Elfida - Belle. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. It''s a good thing that you can follow Belle''s high-speed flight with ease. They come to the wilderness area that spreads outside the Royal Capital of the Demon World. "Is this the right place for training? Yeah, there''s no town nearby, so it''s just as well. Judah nodded at my question. This was a place I had used before in my magic training. Me and Judas landed on the ground. "''Magic Wall''. A magical barrier of magic power stretches several kilometers in every direction. It is weak against physical attacks, but it is an incredibly strong barrier against magical attacks. It''s hard to use it in real life because it doesn''t protect against sword and other attacks, but it''s a great spell for this kind of training. ''''I''ll put up my own magic wall, at least. "Magic Wall. As Judas covers that ward, he puts up another ward. This is a two-layered protective wall caused by my and this guy''s magical power. This will be able to withstand a great deal of firepower magic. ''''Then let''s start the training. Judah chuckled. ''You have a high level of magic, but when it comes to magic, you''re an amateur. I''ll teach you from scratch. It''s a real battle format, you know. Thank you. It doesn''t mean that Stella, Regal or Feria are skilled in ''magic''. There has never been someone who can coach me in ''magic'' before. ''''I''ll give you the conditions first. You must not fight at full throttle. I don''t know how much damage will be done to the demon world, and if I were to be hit directly by your enormous magical power, I would be in danger too. Judah explains. ''We''ve got a double ward, so it''s okay. Warding is not a guarantee. It can happen as a matter of course. Above all, I don''t know if we can afford to put up a ward in a real fight. Judah adds. ''In fact, I''m guessing that even in previous magical battles you''ve been so concerned about the damage around you that you haven''t been able to give it your all. He could see right through me. All right. It''s supposed to be a drill. Oh, I''ll do my best. Just try not to die. I''m the only one who''s handicapped. You''re the Demon King, you''re going to have to bounce back from that kind of adversity. Judah laughs mischievously. ''Totally....'' Well, I''ll get right to it. "Megafire. Judas unleashes his superlative fire magic. ''''Lucifer''s Shield.'''' I quickly deployed my magic barrier. The flames of the red lotus flames flashed and scattered in front of me. ''''Fire Arrow!'''' Dozens of fire arrows to counterattack, but "''Mana Shield,'' Judah easily prevented it with his magic barrier. As expected of a high magic power. Then, I''ll continue. "Magical power convergence (rune conversion)-- Judas held out his right hand towards me. This technique...? "''Megawater,'' It was a top-tier water flow spell. The water stream that appeared with a force that seemed to wash away the entire area around it turned into a palm-sized ball of water in the next moment and was released. I deployed my magic barrier again and flicked it off. "That was... I noticed something. ''What''s wrong, Demon King? Are you thinking of something? With a smile, Judah held up his right hand. ''''Magic power convergence (rune conversion)- ''Mega Thunder'' This time it''s a lightning ball about the size of the palm of your hand. This one also plays with a magic barrier. ''''It''s different from my mega-type magic...? Is it because of the difference in their ability to control their magic? He''s the one who''s been shooting with convergent force. You see that?¡¡You''re letting your mighty magic take over and just shooting. That''s why you''re causing so much damage to a wide area. And Judah. ''I condensed its power into one place and released it. With this, the destructive power can be concentrated in a small area. It''s called rune convergence technology. A convergence of magic... I repeated his words. ''I guess it''s quicker to train and learn on the job than it is to say it with your mouth, in your case. Now you''re going to try to offset my attacks. Okay. Minimize the damage to your surroundings, of course. "Megafire. Announcing, Judah unleashes a superlative fire magic. ''''One more thing - ''Mega Thunder'' You won''t even have to wait for a second to apply top-notch lightning magic. I''ll also be sharing this one with you... ''Megawind''. And it also unleashes the highest level of wind magic. This guy can handle three types of mega magic at the same time...? I''m surprised. I''m sure that in terms of the size of the magic, I''m better than you, but when it comes to magic manipulation skills, this guy is better than any other demon race I''ve ever met. Probably more than the past demon king he met in the dream world - the ''Magic Emperor'' Estr?m. No, to begin with, you said this guy was Estr?m''s master. Then it''s no wonder that you''re more powerful than him. Fire, wind, and lightning. It''s coming at you from three directions. "Come and smash it. Of course, it is possible to offset this by releasing an attack magic with all your might. But it will also spread the reverberations of destruction to the surrounding area. That''s not the power I want. It''s not the kind of power I want, it''s not the kind of power I need. I want to get what I want... I''ve got to get it. You have to have an image. I tell myself and stick out my right hand. ''Like that guy from earlier. It''s like a spell that he shoots. I''m going to... You need to make it more powerful - lessen the scope of its effect. I want to concentrate the magic there. You picture them converging. Image of convergence. Slash and burn! I howled. ''Mega Fire'', ''Mega Thunder'', and ''Mega Wind'' - all three were extinguished at once. ''''Fufu........'''' A black blur of magic power drifted from my right hand. It looks like a snarky sword, but it was made by squeezing the enormous magic power of a demon king into a small space. It is different from magic like the "Meteor blade" that creates a sword of fire, it is essentially a condensed version of a wide area explosive type of magic. Although the form is bad, I think it worked well for a spur-of-the-moment creation. ''''Heh........it''s still not very convergent, but that was amazing......! Judah murmured in surprise. The space around me was split into a single character. The slash I unleashed tore through the space itself and dissipated the magic power. ''''If I can complete that, I might be able to elevate it to a level of magic that can destroy any enemy after suppressing the damage to the surroundings. I need to get a better sense of what''s going on. Please continue, Judas. I said, holding my magic sword at the ready. ''Power is only meaningful if you can control it. Your power isn''t just about spreading destruction around. That''s one thing you''ve progressed from there. Judas smiles. -Dick! It was then that something pulsed in my chest. ''''Huh........?'''' A strong sense of discomfort. The core of my chest is hot. Something hot is swirling around. What is this...? ! It''s - it''s quietly waking up. Huge, magical power. It was the first time since the age of mythology that he could sense such an overwhelming magical power. No, it is an energy that surpasses even the beginning demon king (W?lfer) who fought at that time. And it is a great enemy to God. For me, it''s an object of annihilation. Hence, the time to activate it has come. It - the crimson giant body trembled and stood up. 52 8 King and aides Ugh.........? My core is hot. What is this...? I see. It''s like it''s still inside of you. Judas stared at my chest. ''The Miracle Armor. "''Gram''... ''As I recall, you said that when you fought the heroes in the human world, your powers were weakened. And Judah. ''''I think I''ve got it all figured out. First of all... the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Radis) itself doesn''t have any function that can weaken the Demon King''s power. As I recall, the previous Demon King, Yulisha, said the same thing. Besides, I myself had Stella hold the Demon King''s sword for me, and when I experimented with it - I didn''t feel my strength weakening. It was only a phenomenon that occurred only during the fight with Lyle. ''The weakening is another factor. Perhaps the piece of the Demon King''s Sword is what triggered the Miracle Armor Gram''s magical power-blocking effect on you. My ''gram'' is ... weakening me? ''''That Miracle Armor is already a part of your body. "The Miracle Armor is already a part of your body, and no matter how dominant you are, your power cannot be blocked. This effect resonates with the enemy''s Miracle Armor. ''It''s a theory, though,'' adds Judah. ''Is there any way to prevent it?'' Impossible. At least not right away. Judah shook his head from side to side at my question. ''I can''t separate the ''gram'' from you. Then the most practical way would be to retrieve all the shards and cut off the weaknesses. There are only six more pieces... Me muttering. "Can''t you detect where it is? I''ve got one thing in mind. Judah said. ''I believe it fell to the human world in a battle during the Mythic Age. I think it''s in a large forest on the Eastern Continent.'' The forest of the human world...? The woods are big enough to hold ten countries. ...Don''t tell me it''s ''The Great Blue Sky Forest''? I frowned. It''s not a metaphor to say that a country could fit in there, about ten of them. In fact, it''s that vast. After all, this is the largest forest area in the world.... The piece of the magic sword, by the way, cannot be detected by magic power. We have no choice but to look for them visually. ''Visually...?'' I raised an eyebrow. ''''It''s impossible to find a tiny fragment with your eyes in such a large forest. ''''None of the previous demon kings have been able to find it. It''s not going to be that easy. Well, yes, but... By the way, it seems that the pieces of the Demon King''s Sword also have mimetic abilities, so you won''t be able to find them even with your eyes. The more I hear about it, the trickier it gets. ''Is there any way you can help me?'' There aren''t any. We''re going to have to look very, very hard. Judah''s reply was curt. "And then... Hmm? Just so you know, you shouldn''t let the demons under your command explore it. Judah adds. ''I don''t know if that guy won''t betray you. At worst, he might give the pieces to forces that are against you. Forces against me...? "The world of demons is not a monolithic place. There are people who want to become the next Demon King. I''m sure you have a clue or two, don''t you? If I''m not mistaken, I might know. Shortly after he was reborn as a Demon King, he discovered the demon tribe talking about something that looked like a conspiracy. One of the chiefs of the demon army, the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegert, was also named. However, since Regal took care of them at that time, the details remain unknown. As for Zegert, we still don''t know where he is, either. ''I can''t leave a clear weakness unattended I''ll think of something to counter it. I nod at Judah''s words. ''I need your help too.'' When I''m ready. Judas was still not sloppy. ''Totally....'' I laugh bitterly. Well, I brought him in as a vassal, knowing that he has this kind of personality. We''ll just have to manage and get on with it. It''s not easy to use a subordinate. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not the only one. It''s time to end the training. What? You seem a little unsteady on your feet. I say, and Judah turns away. ''I''m getting tired of it too, to begin with. It''s fickle to all intents and purposes. I giggled more and more. ''''Fuu...'''' I sat down on my throne. The Miracle Armament Gram that resides within me. Even Judas, a genius in the field of magic, could not remove it. I''ve been told that if I take it out, it will have a bad effect on me. Even though he''s the strongest Demon King in history in terms of ability value (status), it doesn''t feel good to have a weakness. It''s about myself. The future defense of the demon world. Or that there might be forces that are opposed to the Demon King. There are a number of things that cause me anxiety. ''''I am........'''' Master Freed...? Stella approached. ''I''m sorry, I didn''t know you were here,'' No, it''s okay. I said, and I faced Stella again. I take off my mask and stare at her. ''How can I help you?'' Do I have to tell you this? I told him what Judas had described to me. ''Master Freed has the Miracle Armor in his...'' ''''It''s going to be quite nasty if the brave side gets a piece of the Demon King Sword. I said and laughed lightly. ''We''ll have to recruit more strong allies. ...to protect you. Stella advances out. Her wet eyes caught mine. ''Eh,'' I would give my life for it. Stella went further out. Could it be that she is aware of my anxiety©¤©¤? And now, excuse me. She refused and suddenly hugged me. ''Su, Stella...?'' I was surprised by the sudden action. ''Please, if only for a moment ... be at peace with yourself. Touching her soft body certainly seems to lighten my heart. Just by being held. Just to feel the warmth of your body. I''m sure you''re not the only one who''s been in a dream world. I was in the opposite position from that time. "My duty as king. "My mission as a king, my remaining weaknesses as a human being. If you have some of these... as long as you can share them with me, please share them with me. I will bear this burden. I will.... support you. Stella.... I was willing to risk my life for you. When I think about it, ever since I was reborn as the Demon King, she''s been by my side. And she supported me. "...Thank you, Stella. With gratitude, I hugged Stella back. 53 1 month has passed It''s been exactly a month since I was reborn as the Demon King. ''''So, up to five of the Seven Great Demon Chiefs'' seats have now been filled. I was talking to Stella in the Oval Office. ''We''re also rushing to make a list of potential replacements for the two remaining seats. Stella answers. Long silver hair and purple eyes. The jet-black outfit reminiscent of military uniforms. She''s an entourage of beautiful girls with a figure that could be called the most beautiful girl in the world. Once again, let''s review the current situation of the demon army. The First Army. The First Force, led by Stella from Vision. An army made up of demons such as cancerous demons and Jigokumi, who are skilled in espionage abilities. They are the keystone of information in the demon world, with the mission of investigating trends in the human world as well as the entire demon world. The Second Army. The Second Army, overseen by the Lord Undead Regal. An army composed of undead demons that are immortal monsters. They have a lot of time and money to spend on their own. However, they can also wield their power in the event of an invasion of the human world. The Third Army. The third army, overseen by Feriah the Dreamer Princess (Dead Charm). An army of demons with the power to interfere with the mind, such as succubus and death fairies. They play an active role in both defense and offense regarding magic and spells that affect the mind. The Fourth Army. The fourth army, overseen by Zegato, the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa). The fourth army, overseen by Zegato, the Beast Emperor. They are the main force behind the invasion of the human world, and boast the strongest offensive power in the entire army. In a sense, they are the sword of the demon world. Since the Demon Commander Zegert and his deputy Sigmund are missing, the third seat, the demon tribe, is in charge as a substitute. However, compared to Zegert, who has absolute charisma, the control and management of the legion is less than comfortable. The Fifth Army. The new vassal who took over the title of "Extreme Magic (Master)" from Zuillaam - Judah is in charge. This is a military unit made up of magician type demons. It is the magical warfare force in both offensive and defensive aspects of the magical world, and is also responsible for maintaining magical facilities throughout the magical world and developing magical tools. Despite having only been in office for a few days, Judah is more capable than I expected. With a more centripetal force than Zulam, the legion is rapidly being re-organized. However, his own personality is highly uneven and will need to be watched closely. The Sixth Army is made up of demons skilled in healing, while the Seventh Army is made up of artisanal demons who excel in the field of mechanical manufacturing. In the previous battle with the heroes, the Demon Army Chiefs were all killed in battle, and it was urgent to select their replacements. ''''How far advanced is the list of candidates to replace the ''Evil Priest'' (Priest) and ''Alchemist'' (Alchemist)?'''''' I asked Stella. Incidentally, ''Evil Priest'' is the title of the Sixth Army''s ''Evil Priest'' and ''Alchemist'' is the title of the Seventh Army''s Demon Army Chief. ''''It''s just as difficult to select a ''Master'' as it is to select a ''Extreme Magician''. After all, there are only a limited number of demon clans that are capable of serving as the Demon Army Chief... And an apologetic Stella said, "I''m sorry. ''Don''t give me a hard time,'' This is my role. I will do my best to live up to Mr. Freed''s expectations. Stella bowed deeply. ''''You have always done a great job. Because of your support, I''ve managed to fulfill my role as a demon king. I looked at her. ''Thank you, Stella.'' I don''t deserve your kind words, Master Freed... Her eyes, staring at me, seemed to be heartily moist. I remember the other day when she hugged me. Or rather, I hugged her back. Suddenly, I felt like I was being facetious. ''''Oh, um........'''' And Stella''s face turns red. ''''Tu, the next one is related to public facilities (infrastructure) throughout the demon world. I cleared my throat and went on with my story. Oh my God, what I did before... oh my God, what I did to Master Freed... oh my God... ...I... But apparently Stella hadn''t come back to work mode yet. She was blushing and moping. ''''........Stella?'''' What?¡¡Yes, I''m not getting high, you know. Stella''s voice was clearly upturned. ''''I''m ... sorry. It''s utility-related, isn''t it? Huffing out a breath, Stella finally returns to her normal cool demeanor. ''''A lot of facilities were destroyed during the previous invasion by the brave men. I hope you will continue to focus on repairing them for the sake of the lives of the people of the demon world. The Fifth Army is in charge of restoring the facilities where magical technology is used, and the Seventh Army is in charge of the parts of the facility where mechanical technology is used. And, Stella. ''As for the Fifth Army, the pace of work seems to be picking up with the appointment of Judas to the vacant Demon Army Chief position. On the other hand, the Seventh Army''s work was a bit slow. I think we should recheck our staffing allocations and, if possible, turn the budget around a bit more. All right. You''ll have to use Stella''s judgment in that area. Yes, sir. I feel like I''m throwing the job to them, but it''s going to work better if I leave it to Stella than if I half-heartedly interfere. In fact, each field has its own specialized demon race. It''s a good idea to assign roles to them so that they can do their jobs as smoothly as possible. I''m not going to be the only one who has a lot of experience in this field. I''d like to proceed with the search for the shard of the Demon King''s Sword, but it''s not a problem that can be solved immediately. I can''t search for it with Judas''s magic, and I had Stella try her clairvoyance, but it was still no good. I guess I''ll just have to find a way to make it happen... In the Cathedral, the training of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge) was continuing. A beautiful girl with blue hair in twin-tails and a yellow ribbon was engaged in a battle with a beautiful woman with golden hair tied up. It''s a mock battle, just like a real battle. "Type-2, Maxi-armor (Axel-Sau) Bullet Precision Firing (Zando-Arrow)! Type 2: The Fire Flower Buster! The thousands of arrows fired by Ludmilla were met by Fiore with thousands of fire slashes as well. The huge energies collided with each other, causing a huge explosion. If this was the real world and not an alternate universe, the explosion was probably enough to have changed the terrain. ''''You''re good at this, Fiore-san...'''' Ludmira holds her black bow and smiles with the corners of her mouth hanging up. ''''It seems that I, too, have learned to use this power. Fioret announced, holding a fine sword-shaped miracle armor. The sword was colored jet black, just like Ludmilla''s. The Miracle Armament: The Second Release - Chaos Form. The same power that Ludmilla had worn the other day, she had also obtained the same power. ''''Wow, they''re both amazing~'''' And then a girl walked up to me. She is a beautiful girl with silver hair in two-side up and crimson eyes. Wearing a crimson robe of the same color as her eyes. It was a rouge that was an apostle of God. ''''I''m sure they''re already strong enough to defeat a Demon Army Chief class without any trouble. The two of them are both very good at understanding, and I find it worth teaching them. The Red Apostle (Rouge) smiled. ''''Well, let''s go to the next level then, shall we?'''' 54 2 Gods Trial, Second Stage What''s the next step...? ''''Yes, the first stage of the ordeal is the mastery and proficiency of the chaotic form (chaos form) - this is because both of you have reached a very high level. I think it''s time for you to move on to the next stage~ Rouge replies to Ludmila''s question with a smirk. Originally, this training was intended to further enhance the power of the Miracle Armament. As a first step, Ludmira was able to increase the ammunition capacity of her Miracle Armament, Raphael, to several times its previous capacity. By gaining the power of the new Miracle Armament, called Chaos Form, Ludmila is able to increase the number of rounds in her Miracle Armament by several times. Fiore is experiencing similar growth. (What kind of power is the second stage...?) ''Both of you have made great strides on the offensive side of things. If that''s the case, the next step is defense~ Rouge said in answer to Ludmilla''s inner question. ''You should have gotten the hint already, right?¡¡What is needed to activate the Miracle Armament is mental energy. In other words, the strength of the mind. The... strength... of the mind. ''Elephantograph more strongly. ''Picture your own mind. The root of it. The strongest form of mind that dwells within you. Rouge smiles. "My heart... I remember the first time I activated the Black Miracle Armor. A memory that can be said to be my starting point. The village that was destroyed by demons. Anger at the unreasonable violence. Sorrow. Despair. And then there is self-control. Whoever the enemy is, it will be defeated and destroyed. Like a storm, the will. V................... The next moment, the ''Raphael'' in my hand rang out. ''''Hmm........?'''' At the same time, something hot rushed through Ludmira''s entire body. When I noticed, my clothes had changed. A black costume made of thin cloth, gold trinkets, and a pure white cape. It was a divine robe that emitted a faint phosphorescence. ''''Hmm, it looks like you were able to produce the ''Black Vestments (Chaos Jacket)''. I thought you guys who have passed the first stage would be able to do it smoothly~'''' Rouge smiled happily. Looking next to her, Fiore also had a different design than Ludmila, but she was clad in a jet black robe. Ludmira-san is ''hatred of the enemy''. Fiore-san is ''pride in himself''. Both of you know the root of your own heart well. It''s worth teaching you too~ With that said, Rouge spread her wings and jumped up. ''''Then let''s go with the strength test of that robe. I''m going to attack you now, so both of you should try to defend yourselves. A crimson sword appears in her hand. ''Oh, of course I won''t be serious, so don''t worry. However, it''s going to be so severe that you''ll die if you''re not careful~. Please defend it with all your might. The apostle of God smiling and telling them horrible things. Ludmilla and Fiore looked at each other and prepared themselves. ©¤ ©¤ And that was the time. ''''This is........?'''' Suddenly, Rouge''s face changes. "What''s wrong? I just got a feeling. Rouge fades from her smile and tells her with a rare straight face. ''Not since the days of mythology has that thing been in motion...'' What''s that? "God created a weapon of mass destruction for the Demon King... Rouge announced sternly. ''''The demon world might be destroyed without us having to do anything about it. * Warding reinforcements? I went up to Judas and discussed the defense of the demon world with him. ''A month ago, a brave man attacked us and broke the wards. I reinforced that with my magic, but I couldn''t layer it. Can''t you do it? ''I can''t do it either. How much magic power do you think it would take to reinforce the wards that cover the entire Demon World? Judas shrugged with a wry smile. ''It was Velfer who created the wards, but no Demon King since then has ever tried to play with them. It''s a ward that was created because of his extraordinary magical power.'''' ''Oh yeah...'' ''''Rather, even if it''s only reinforcement, just adding new magic power to the wards is out of standard. If it''s an ordinary magic power... even if it''s a Demon King class status, it would end up being played by Velfer''s Warding. Judah looked impressed. ''''Your magic power is really high, isn''t it? Your skills are low, though.'''' I''m sorry for the lack of skill. ''Haha, I guess I''ve said too much. Well, I''ll show you the ropes. Please. When I''m ready. Please. This guy is fickle. Let''s not expect too much. ''''In the first place, do you have any idea how to launch a strike without worrying about defense?¡¡If you kill all the humans, the fight will be over, right? Judah said something plainly horrible. Regal had said something similar before. ''''........kill them all, huh? Well, in your case, I''m worried that it will undermine your powers. And Judas. I swallowed my inner words. Of course, in order to protect myself and my friends - and I still don''t want to kill for no reason - but I''ll still exchange lives. But the slaughter, that''s a whole other story. I am an ex-human. I don''t care if they''re coming at me as an enemy, but I don''t want to kill an innocent person. I''m sure the brave men and women don''t want to kill all of them at once. "What I really want... is for us to coexist without anyone dying. I couldn''t help but speak up. ''Isn''t that the best you can do?'' And I hope that kind of peace will last forever. If possible, a hundred years from now, a thousand years from now. And so on and so forth. Isn''t that sweet, or is that... Judas chuckled. ''The former human demon lord has a nasty mentality, doesn''t he? It''s in their nature. I don''t hate it. It''s the way you think. Judah''s smile changes from a wry smile to a smirk. ''And you won''t always be alive and well. There are always unforeseen circumstances in a fight to begin with. It''s possible that you could be killed by an unexpected misstep. Well, yeah. If we can put in place a defense that is so well-protected that it can function without you, then we can bring lasting peace to the demon world. Oh, I''m not dreaming. Me nodding. "Realistically, you do. 55 3 Omen I''m back, Your Majesty. During the audience, a skull swordsman clad in an old-fashioned armor appeared. He was the Demon Army Chief Regal with the title of "The Immortal King (Lord Undead)". He had traveled to the human world to search for the currently missing Beast Emperor Zeggert. ''''Unfortunately, we were unable to track down Zegert and the others. I have had my handlers continue to search for them, but I have returned in this manner for a timely report. Good job, Regal. I nodded to myself on the throne. "By the way... Regal''s gaze turned to the demon tribe standing next to me. To a beautiful boy with silver hair and brown skin. ''''Ah, you haven''t been introduced to me yet. The newly appointed ''Polar Magic (Master)'' Judah Lugis as the head of the Demon Army. Oh, you''re a senior undead. Nice to meet you, Regal. Judah smiles and waves to Regal. "Judas...?¡¡No way, a member of the most ancient demon race... Regal groaned. ''''None of the previous Demon Kings could have obeyed him alone...'''' ''This generation of Demon King-kun is an odd one, you know. I was curious. Judah laughs mischievously. ''''For now, I''ll help the Demon King''s Army do their job. He''s a very capable fellow with many oddities. I hope you will join forces with me and serve the demon world. I said to Regal and then to Judas. ''Yes, my king.'' "As long as they''re not too keen on it. Regal is grudgingly bowing his head and Judah is carefree as ever. They are two people who are very different. Suddenly, an intense chill that made me shiver all over ran through me. At the same time, a red flash of light flashed outside the window. "What the...? I furrow my brow under my mask. Beyond the horizon, a crimson pillar of light was rising up. I was horrified. My spine grew fierce. There was something in that place. Someone who radiates a tremendous sense of intimidation. "Why is that thing in the demon world...? Judah slightly raised his eyebrows. ''''The ''Celestial High King (Divine Gear)-'''' "You can''t be that legendary...? Regal groans. You know, both of you? ''It''s a weapon from the battle between Welfar and the Heavenly Army and the Army of the Brave. Judah explained to me. ''You''ve seen it in my dreams, haven''t you?'' Oh, and by the way... After being told, I remembered clearly. ''But why would such a substitute be in the demon world? You know what?¡¡You might want to go check it out. And Judas. ''''If the performance is the same as it was in the past, the demons will definitely be slaughtered. ....! I gulped. "Do you know where it is? When you''re spewing so much magic, right? Show me around. I got up from my throne. And. My Demon Lord, there''s a hint of... Hey, I''ve got a really bad feeling about this. Stella and Feria entered the audience room in succession. This meant that the four Demon Army Chiefs were all here. ''''It''s like the ''Divine Principle''. A weapon of the heavenly army that has destroyed many demons in the past... Me telling them both. Well, this explanation was taken from Judas. "Why would such a thing... ''''We don''t know why he appeared. In the age of mythology, W?lfer fought against three Divine Gears and did a lot of damage. But it did not result in their destruction. Judah replied to Stella''s murmur. ''The three bodies left the battle lines to repair their wounds. Velfer was eventually killed in the subsequent onslaught with the Heavenly Army and the Brave Army, and the remaining demons were defeated all the way to the demon world. ''''Shouldn''t we go check on the ''Celestial High King (Divine Gear)'' to see what''s going on?'''''' Regal suggested. ''Well...'' If you want, I can do it. If necessary, I will destroy it. And regal. A visible fighting spirit erupted from his entire body. ''''I know it is a worthy prey for my sword. ...you''re just a fighter, aren''t you? I inwardly tsk. ''No, I''ll go.'' The opponent seems to be a formidable foe. Even for a demon army chief, it''s not going to be a simple matter. ''''Regal, along with Judah, will ask you to protect the castle. This could be a diversion, and to begin with, there are a total of three ''Tenso High King (Divine Gear)''. It''s not guaranteed that they won''t attack separately. But I don''t think the king himself is the one who should take it lightly. I think it''s reasonable in terms of strength. The Demon King is very strong. Regal, who seemed to disagree, and Judah, who nodded casually. It''s a good idea to be prepared for a variety of magical attacks, such as camouflage, spatial mutation and mental interference. It''s a good idea for you to be prepared, Demon King. Okay, Judas. Will you come with me? What, me too...? Judas opened his eyes in surprise. ''''It''s ... a pain in the ass.'''' How dare this guy act like he doesn''t like me? How dare you show your displeasure at the king''s command? Stella is breathing heavily. "I was personally appointed by the Demon King... It''s still a loyal comment. ...I wish I could have gone with the Demon King. Hmm? ''You''re not mad at me because of the king''s order, but more because of your personal feelings? Judah laughs. ''Are you sulking because you weren''t nominated or something? It''s just love! And even Feria exclaimed with a happy face. ''Yi, suddenly, what do you say, both Judas and Feria!¡¡I''m just trying to give you my opinion as a member of the, uh, inner circle... "Uh........well, what is it? Speaking of ''Divine Gear'', it''s an ancient weapon created by the gods, right?¡¡It''s the quintessential stuff of magic. Doesn''t that interest you, Judas? I said to Judah to restore the air that seemed to derail me endlessly. "For research purposes, you know. ....! Judah''s complexion changed. ''I see, that might be good. I''ll have to accompany you. I think I''m starting to understand how to get this guy to listen to me. If this enemy is going to use a mental interference attack, shouldn''t I be there? Feria slid closer. Muzzling, she pressed her lush breasts against me. ''''Feria, attached to the Demon Lord again........'''' Hmmm, jealousy?¡¡I knew it.......love! Yeah, yeah, that''s why I said no! To the teasing Feria, Stella''s face turned bright red. ''''Is it called love........?¡¡I don''t know. Tweeting Regal. If we don''t, we''re going to get sidetracked again. Let''s get our policies together. I forced myself to get back to the topic at hand. Me, Feria and Judah are going to investigate the enemy that looks like the ''Divine Gear''. Stella is to lead the Demon King''s army on my behalf. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. I would like to ask each of you to do the same. Yes, sir. Stella and Regal bowed reverently. I got ready to leave the Demon King''s Castle with Feria and Judah. ''''Um........Demon King-sama.... Just as we were about to leave, Stella called out to me at the main gate. ''Hmm?'' Have a good day, sir. Stella''s eyes as she stared at me were slightly moistened. ''''The opponent this time is a powerful enemy. Please take care of yourself........ Don''t worry about it. I stare at her through my mask. ''You know my power. It''s probably the most powerful weapon in the Heavenly Army, and I''ll be back soon to put it away. Take care of things while I''m away. And then - I left with Judah and Feria. 56 4 Survey line We were heading to the place where the magical reaction of the "Divine Gear" occurred. Judah detected our general location, so the rest of the search will be done after we arrive at the scene. The place is a rocky mountainous region in the western region. I heard that the place is dotted with ancient ruins. In addition to Feria and Judah, the members of the team were several assistants from the Third and Fifth Armies. In total, it was a small group of about a dozen people. Thinking about the possibility, I asked the Underworld Dragon ¡¶Belga Elfida¡· - Belle to guard the sky above the castle. "Judas, what''s your take on it? As I walked, I asked the beautiful silver-haired boy demon tribe. ''''Hmm?'''' ''''The ''Heavenly Visionary High King (Divine Gear)''''. Why did he appear in the Demon Realm?'''' I don''t know. There''s too little information to know at this point. And Judah. ''''Well, if I had to guess, I''d say... the Tensou High King also came to the Demon Realm through the hole in the warding that was left when the Hundred Brave Men attacked us the other day. I see. ''''However, the stronger that ward is, the more resilient that holy power is, the more resilient it becomes. I don''t think a weapon with a Heavenly Fantasy Highness class divinity could pass through it. Judah slightly raised his eyebrows. ''''Currently, the Cutthroat (Seraph) level Miracle Armor - the strongest brave men didn''t participate in the last battle either. Their weapons must have been too holy to pass through the wards. I listened to his explanation in silence. As expected, he seems to have good analytical skills in magic-related matters. It''s a good thing that I''ve been able to bring him to my side, although his capricious personality is a drawback. I''m sure you''ll be happy to see me. It''s nighttime and we decide to camp out in the forest. We take turns standing guard and having each of us take a nap. I was resting alone in my tent. "Demon Lord, may I come in? Feria entered the tent. Her light pink hair stretched to her feet and her beauty reminded me of a small demon. The bat-like wings that stretched from her back and the tail that hung down from her waist twitched and twitched. ''''What''s going on?'''' I didn''t think we were under attack, so I just braced myself. I just wanted to see you. Feria smiled. ''Hey, what do you think of me...?'' What''s the matter with you all of a sudden? I stared at her, confused. Her devilish smile doesn''t let me realize if she''s joking or serious about her words. ''I like strong men,'' Aren''t there plenty of strong men in the demon tribe? I don''t know what I''m trying to do, and I return the line in a flippant way. ''Demon King-sama is exceptional, right?'' Feria''s smile deepened and she slid closer. ''That fight in my dream the other day was amazing. I was mesmerized.'' It''s the demon kings of the past. As I answered, Feria pulled her face even closer to mine. Her dainty face was right up close. As expected, I''m thrilled. ''''Hey, can you take off your mask and show me your true face?'''' Feria whispered. ''No, this is not...'' Hey, Your Majesty. A huff of breath blows over me. It''s so sweet that I can feel it even through my mask. ........Isn''t this guy using charm magic again? No, to begin with, to a succubus, it''s like an ecosystem. ''I''ve been thinking about you since the moment we met... I''m serious. Her wet eyes continue to stare straight at me... * Stella was alone in her office, putting away documents. There was a good chance that they would be plunged into a battle with a powerful enemy - the ''Tensou High King''. So before that, he wanted to get as much of his peacetime work done as possible. In order to reduce Fried''s burden as much as possible. ''''All that''s left is this.......let''s just get it over with. He took care of every single thing that could be decided on behalf of the Demon King. The pile of documents that had been piled up like a mountain quickly decreased in height. From the point of view of an ordinary demon race, it''s an amazing processing power. It''s because Stella is a member of the "Ganma" family that is also skilled in thinking and reaction time that she is able to do her job. ''''Fufu.... After cleaning up to the point where it was clean, Stella took a breath. ''Excuse me. Tea is in, miss. And as if he had timed it right, a female demon in a maid''s outfit entered. She has semi-long purple hair with loose waves. She was a girl with a sober appearance and glasses. She is Irene. She was a demoness who had served as Stella''s maid of honor since she had spent her childhood as a duchess. When she was called as the head of the demon army, she followed him and worked at the castle. ''''Oh, as expected of a young lady. You''ve put away most of the documents that you had, In public, I would have him call himself the Demon Army Chief, but now there are two of us. It wouldn''t be a problem to call her ''Miss'' like when she was living at her parents'' house. To Stella, who was kept at a distance from her mother, Irene was one of the few people she could relate to like a real sister. Come in. Thank you. I thanked him and accepted my teacup. The fragrant tea soothed my fatigue. ''Take it easy, miss. It''s not that bad. ''Your daughter is a little too serious. You have to learn to relax. Huffing and puffing, Irene suddenly hugged Stella. ''''I don''t want you to treat me like a child forever, Irene. I can''t help but let my voice wince in embarrassment. ''To me, you''ll always be a young lady. Irene whispered. ''She''s like a sister to me,'' Totally.... While saying it, Stella''s cheeks were slightly loose. Although the two appear to be about the same in terms of outward age, in reality, Irene is more than a hundred years older than him. For a while, Stella was embraced by her sisterly maidservant©¤©¤. After putting away her paperwork, Stella was looking around the Demon King''s castle. ''''Ah, Stella-sama, thank you for your hard work~'''' A female demon tribe with red hair pulled into a ponytail rushed over to me. It was Lilim, the captain of the castle''s guard. ''''How''s the situation inside the castle?'''' It''s the same. Lilim sighed as he answered. ''''Ha, I wish I''d gone with the Demon King...'''' ''This enemy seems to be very powerful. It''s probably out of concern for you. Stella interceded. I''ve always wanted to be of service to the Witch King. That goes for me, too. But the rest of us have an important job to do too. You will do your best to guard the Demon King''s Castle. I''m here to do my... ''The Demon King was also thinking about the possibility of another enemy appearing. We must be prepared for that. Well...... I''ll do my best. Lilim clenches her fists in a guffaw. ''Let''s do it, oh!'' That''s the spirit. Stella nods. ''Thank you, for comforting me. I was merely stating a strategic point. Lady Stella is so sweet. What the hell are you talking about?¡¡I''m just saying that it''s a strategic... Lilim''s smile made me feel upset. In the past, I would have been able to treat the other demons more resolutely. Lately, I think my emotions have become more easily swayed. That''s right, probably since I met Freed©¤©¤. ''''Ehehe, Stella-sama must be lonely too, without the Demon King. ''''Wha, what are you saying?'''' Stella became more and more upset with Lilim, who was laughing mischievously. It was as if she could see through her feelings, she thought. She thought of the face of the demon king, under the mask. The face of a middle-aged man with the sternness of a warrior, but also kindness, care for others, and - somewhat sorrowful. (Freed-sama....) I murmured softly in my mind. Just like that, my cheeks burned hot. Thump. My heart beat sweetly in my chest. ''Oh, you look kind of enthralled. Lilim laughs. ''Stella-sama, you are a maiden! You see, that''s what I''m trying to... That''s when my voice rose higher and higher. ''''©¤©¤!'''' Feeling a strange presence, Stella returned to a straight face. ?¡¡What''s wrong? Instead of answering the kyotoned Lilim, Stella opened the third eye on her forehead. Searching for the source of the sign, searching for the source of the sign. (Is this...?!) Stella looked at Lilim with a huff. ''''Will you follow me?'''' What? I''ve heard something suspicious in the basement of the Demon King''s Castle. Take a team that can move now and head with me. 57 5 approach Stella, along with Lilim and a dozen or so soldiers, were heading to the basement of the Demon King''s Castle. They descended the stairs and eventually reached the lowest level of the basement. ''''It''s been a long time since I''ve come to a place like this~'''' Lilim scurried around. ''''Even with the castle security, we''ll rarely be able to get in this far. Stella opened a third eye on her forehead and proceeded with caution. On either side of the narrow passage were several huge, bare gears turning on either side. She wasn''t sure what kind of mechanism it was, either. I''ve heard that the Demon King''s Castle itself is equipped with mechanical devices and will be used in battle in the event of an emergency©¤©¤I''ve heard about it. That area was under the jurisdiction of the ''Alchemist'', the head of the Seventh Army. He went straight ahead and arrived at the room at the end. It is engraved on the plate as ''control room''. I could sense the presence of the demon tribe from beyond that. "This was supposed to be a restricted area, but... Stella murmured, looking over to Lilim next to her. ''Let''s go,'' Stella announced in a whisper and opened the door while bracing herself. The room was lined here and there with mechanical devices reminiscent of a steam engine. In the center of it all, there is a demon tribe in hoods and robes. "Hi, hi, demon army chief-sama...? The demon tribe backs away. The face behind the hood belonged to an old man. ''''What are you doing here?'''' Stella asked the old demon tribe. ''''Yes, yes, I mean...'''' I thought this was a restricted area.¡¡Does it belong to the Seventh Army? The Seventh Army is managing the mechanical devices related to the Demon King''s Castle. I thought he was one of them, but something was wrong. ''''Wha, I, uh........'''' Answer me. A demon tribe that seemed to shiver heartily. ''''Well, it''s a military order ... well, yes, it''s a mission. Clearly, his attitude was suspicious. Stella immediately activated her clairvoyance. See through it. The fluctuation of the demon race''s mind in front of her. The anxiety. Fear. It''s impossible even for Stella, as expected, to completely perceive the heart of another person. However, if it was a fragmentary image©¤©¤as long as the other party was not a high-ranking demon race, she could see through it to a certain extent. Behind the old demon race, a beast-like silhouette vaguely emerges. It''s not related to "Alchemist" after all. This is..... "It''s a lie that it''s a mission of the 7th Army, right?¡¡Did the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegert order you to do this? Hey, hey... The old demon tribe was immediately upset. It was half a guess, but it seems to have been a figurehead. ''''Answer me the truth.'''' Stella took a step closer. Instantly, the old demon tribe''s entire body emitted light. ''''........? ''''Stella-sama! Lilim jumped out and pushed her down. Goooooo! A flash of light that pops. A soft elasticity that covered his entire body. I realized that the old demon tribe had self-destructed, and the Lilim who had turned into slime had protected me from the impact. ''''........Thank you, Lilim. It saved me. Hehe, I''m glad you''re okay. Lilim, who has returned to her human form from her slime state, smiles. ''''And yet...'''' Stella looked forward. I didn''t expect him to suddenly self-destruct. Were they afraid that Stella''s "eyes" would detect it? Perhaps she was planning something. And that plan was..... I snapped my back teeth just in time. First of all, without a doubt, the Beast Emperor Zegert is the mastermind. Even though it''s just a difficult time in the demon world for the invasion of the heroes that''s coming in two months, but to have to deal with Zegert''s problem on top of this. ''''Stella-sama........'''' Let''s get back upstairs, Lilim. Stella said to Lilim, who seemed to be concerned, with a grim expression on her face. Stella returned to the top of the floor with Lilim and the soldiers. ''''Maj. Gen. Stella,'''' A skull swordsman comes from the front, clanking his armor with a crunching, crunching sound. ''''Someone is approaching the Demon King''s Castle. Stella nodded her head at Regal''s question. ''Who are you ...?'' I realized with a huff when they told me. Something clad in a holy atmosphere that was out of place in the demon world was approaching. I felt a powerful force that would not stand up to ordinary demons. ''''Just when you think a suspicious demon tribe has appeared in the basement of the Demon King''s Castle, this time it''s above ground... Only when the Demon King is not around, trouble happens one after another. Stella activates her clairvoyant eyesight and investigates the identity of the approaching person. "No way, this is... I gulped and cleared my throat. The most powerful weapon created by the gods in the age of mythology. The existence that destroyed many demon races and made even the first demon king, Velfer, suffer. ''''The legendary, Heavenly Visionary High King (Divine Gear)...?'''' Stella groaned. ''''It seems to have appeared from a different point than where the Demon Lord was headed. Regal said. ''''According to legend, there were a total of three Heavenly Soul High Kings (Divine Gear). I suppose that means there were other individuals as well.'''' You''re just glad you left us here in the castle. Murmuring, Stella glares at Regal. "We will defend the Demon King''s castle and this magical world. We were personally ordered by the Demon King to take charge of his absence. Of course. The next moment, the tremors became more and more intense. The atmosphere trembled and creaked as if it were screaming. And then... The earth cracked. A great deal of water gushed out of it like a fountain. What a tremendous amount of magical power...! Stella groaned. Her entire body was in a total hairy state. With the exception of Freed, the strongest of all time, perhaps equal to or better than the Demon King class. ''''Lilim, lead the troops and hurry up the evacuation of the surrounding population. Okay, I''m off! When I gave the instructions, Lilim shouted cheerfully and left. ''''It''s only a legendary weapon........'''' Stella murmured with a grim expression. In the third eye that opened on her forehead, she saw a clear reflection. Lurking behind the cracks in the ground, a huge shadow. ''It''s coming, Regal.'' Stella announced. ''Mmm,'' Regal put on his helmet and pulled out his sword at his waist and released it. It was a snarky long sword, designed to look like it was made up of countless bones. Almost simultaneously, something jumped out of the fountain. A dragon. It''s a huge dragon that spewed out a stream of water from its blue armor covered body without interruption. "This is the ''Divine Gear'' Stella groaned. The blue giant dragon looked down at us with a hint of hostility. ''''I''ll take the lead.'''' Regal stepped forward, sword in hand. "You are in command of the demon army. I need your help. "...watch out for it, Regal. Hmm, I didn''t think I''d get a nice speech from you. That guy is different from all the brave men I''ve fought. His fighting ability is in a different league... "That''s why. Regal held his sword at the ready. For some reason, a smile seemed to appear on the face of the expressionless skull. ''A divine weapon that raged in the age of mythology - a worthy prey for my sword. A warrior''s, smile. 58 6 Demon King VS Flame King The next day, we were advancing to the "Heavenly Soul High King (Divine Gear)". ''''It''s about time, Demon King-sama.'''' Feria slips up to me. ".........! Whenever I''m facing this guy, I feel my whole body tingle. I can''t help but feel a sweet tingle in my chest. She told me that the high-ranking dreamer seems to be half-unconsciously releasing a mesmerizing spell (charm), and that''s probably why. She told me yesterday when I was pressed. ''''What''s the matter with you, Demon Lord?'''' Feria nods her head lightly. ''''Well no, it''s nothing.'''' I gave a small shake of my head. ''Oh, you remembered last night, didn''t you? ....because you''re pestering me like that. I glared lightly at him through my mask. Is she teasing me, or.... Felia chuckled and moved her face closer to mine. ''''Let me tell you something, I''m the only one who approaches you like this, Demon Lord.......'''' I whispered into his ear. ''Feria?'' ''I don''t want people to think I''m the kind of girl who approaches everyone. Feria smiled again. How far she was serious was elusive. It''s a devilish smile. ''''It''s not just Stella, but you should care about me as well, Demon King-sama. Why do you keep mentioning Stella''s name in there? Oh, are you kidding me? Feria chuckles. ''''No need to play dumb or anything...'''' I really don''t know. And. Be prepared. Judas interrupted our conversation. ''Huh?'' There is a... I tightened my expression under my mask at the short reply. Next thing I knew. Roar! A pillar of burning red lilies rose up in front of us. ''''Have you come to me, you wicked ones? A voice rang out from within the pillars. "This presence... it''s the Demon King. You can talk. I look at the pillar of fire. Maybe the one in the pillar is... "I was created by God to destroy all demons. I destroy thee, demon king, I destroy thee. The ball of fire, flashed through the air. It turned into a giant lion clad in crimson armor and stood in front of us. It was about thirty meters long. It was spewing red lotus flames from its mane. "This is the ''Divine Gear''? I gulped. It''s huge, indeed. One of them, the King of Flames. Judah explains. ''Judah, if anything happens, I''ll put everyone''s defences first. I''m sorry. Judah nodded in a casual tone. ''Feria, be prepared for any mental interference type attacks that come your way. Same goes for defense first. I''m on it. Feria smiled lustily. ''But first, I need to ask you something.'' I stepped forward. ''First of all, where did you guys come in from?¡¡The demon world is supposed to be protected by wards. There''s nothing to talk about with demons. The Flame King''s reply was curt. ''''My God has given me one mission. To destroy the demon. Flames erupt from all over the crimson armor. It seems to be in full combat readiness. I keep my magic power up so that I can intercept them at any time. ''''What if we say we won''t mess with the human world?'''' I still continue to speak. ''Huh, to ask such a question of a divine weapon... it''s different from W?lfer after all. Judah chuckled. ''But maybe we''re similar in our roots. Negotiation is not my duty. My mission is battle. Annihilation of demons. The Flame King''s reply couldn''t have been more curt. ''Therefore I destroy. All of you. I tell you, the king of the fire that kicks the ground. He''s fast... From its huge body, it approaches with incredible speed. ''''Voltic Blade!'''' I produced the Sword of Thunder. The King of Flame made no attempt to avoid or take a defensive stance. You''re going to catch me...? I swing my sword down without a care in the world. Gulp! A metallic sound rang out, and the sword of thunder flashed. ''''Is this...? ''''Burn up, Demon King.'''' Flames swirled and shot out of the Flame King''s mane. ''''Lucifer''s Shield!'''' I managed to bounce it back with my magic barrier. The aftermath of the explosion scattered around me. Some of them are also approaching the demons behind me. Judas! Yeah, yeah, "rune shield. Judas answered my call and created a magical barrier. Judas to protect himself and his demons from the raging flames. As expected of his high magic power. The aftermath of the attack doesn''t seem to bother me too much. ''''Then we can just focus on destroying this thing from now on. I concentrated my magic power. It''s not just a matter of how much Judas prevents the aftermath, but also just in case. I don''t want to use wide-area destruction magic as much as possible. I''m going to use the magic convergence-type attack that I developed during my training with Judas the other day. "The surface armor of ''Divine Gear'' is made of sacred silver (mithril), so be careful! Judah said from behind him. ''Mithril?'' It''s a god-given material. It''s part of the Miracle Armor, but it has a high resistance to magic. Judah explains. ''No amount of half-hearted magic will get through to you, no matter how much you are. I see... So that''s why the ''Voltic Blade'' popped off earlier. But that doesn''t mean you can''t use magic with too much destructive power. I''m going to have to ask Judah and the others to keep their distance to avoid collateral damage. Just as I was thinking about this, the King of Flame rushed forward. ''''Meteoblade,'''' ''''Voltic Blade,'''' ''''Aquablade,'''' ''''Windy Blade.'''' I created hundreds of magical swords of fire, lightning, water, and wind, each of which was hundreds of units. I launch them all like arrows. Cutting. With the magic swords of the four attributes, I slash the giant red body incessantly. Bajie, bashu! The countless magic swords that slash and scatter. As expected, this guy''s armor seems to have a strong anti-magic performance©¤©¤. It''s useless. I''m not going to be the only one. You have no chance. "''Laguna Bomb'' Regardless, I released a black energy bullet. With a roar, a part of the crimson armor that hadn''t freaked out until now shattered. ''''What is this!?'''' The King of Flame shouted in agitation for the first time. No matter how hard your defense was, if you focused your attack on a single point, the damage would accumulate. And eventually, he could shoot through it©¤©¤. It''s the same battle technique as the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge) Ludmilla that I once fought against. "Slash and flick! I concentrated my magic power and released it, imagining the shape of a sword. A magical slash, which I had learned in training with Judas. According to him, the convergence is still a bit lax, but even so, the black magic power that extended from my right hand pierced the armor of the King of Flame. ''''My........'''' Black smoke erupted from the place where I received the wound and the retreating fire king. A stop - I stepped in. A moment later. The ''Gate!'' The King of Flame shouted a spell. At the same time, a black crack appeared in the sky. Is that a rift in space? The King of Flame jumps into it. The next moment, the crack begins to close. Are you trying to escape to another space...? "Judas, send me flying! I''m going to get after him! I''m sorry. Judah held his hand out to me. "''Gravity Road,'' Softly, my body floats up. Is it a gravity manipulation system spell? The momentum of the bullet ejected my body into the air. It''s much faster than the flying system magic. Judas seems to be controlling gravity beautifully. If it''s this kind of ''magic technology'', this guy is still outstanding. In the sky above, the rift in space is rapidly closing. "Just in time... I slipped inside. You...! The King of Flames backed away as he flinched. 59 7 Confrontation of different spaces Red, blue, green, yellow - a different space where the light of many colors sparkles. I was confronted by a giant crimson lion inside. "My God''s weapon, my evil demon king and others are hunting me down... The King of Flames groaned. Fierce flames erupted from his entire body. As if to express his fighting spirit. But don''t let it go to your head. There is no such thing as an evil that has ever prospered- the Almighty God will destroy you sooner or later. We can''t let it destroy us. I had a glare in my eye for the Fire King. "I will protect the demon world. Demons don''t deserve to live. ''''Why do you guys turn your backs on the demon race?¡¡Can''t we have a ceasefire? "Demons, the evil life form, have no value in life. No one deserves to exist in the evil world of demons. It conveys a resolute will to destroy all demonkind. ''''After all, there is no bargaining chip, is there? Well then... let''s just destroy it. I held out my hand towards him. I''m going to concentrate my magic on it. I''m going to aim at the wound in the armor. I''m going to be able to take it down if I shoot "Fire" or "Thunder" at it. Wait, don''t shoot! The Flame King''s tone changed. ''Is thy purpose to bargain with me?¡¡Let''s listen to what you have to say, shall we? You''ve changed your attitude all of a sudden. I wonder. Are they planning something? But©¤©¤even if they were to try something, considering the difference in their combat abilities, it would be enough to break the deadlock. Since it''s time to ask, I''ll ask what I can. I''m going to gather information. "Where do you guys come from?¡¡The demon world is supposed to be protected by wards. First, I wanted to ask here. Maybe the warding is inadequate and there is a pathway to the outside world. ''''Did you come to the Demon World through this different space?'''' No. The King of Flames shook his head. ''''This is a ''dead end'' space that leads nowhere. We came to the demon world through the wards. That was about a month ago. We found a hole in the warding. He''s suddenly become so talkative, this guy. Or is he planning to take advantage of the moment when I''m distracted by this conversation and fight back? Nevertheless, it''s a chance to get information. I decided to ride this conversation. ''''So you''re saying that without that hole, you guys wouldn''t have been able to enter the demon world?'''' ''''To be precise, it''s a little different. The stronger the holy power is, the greater the pathway needed to enter the Demon Realm. That''s to the point of annihilating the warding itself, you know. The hole was very undersized the other day. And the King of Fire. That''s why the gods don''t lay hands on them directly, but give humans weapons to fight demons. Our Heavenly Visionary High King (Divine Gear), those with miracle armor of the level of Cutthroat Angels (Seraphs), or angels and gods... they cannot enter the demon world with just a few holes in their wards. So you''re saying that the strongest of the Heavenly Army and the brave armies won''t invade the Demon Realm as long as the wards are in place. ''''Then how did you guys get into the Demon Realm?'''' He has reduced his power. To the extreme. The King of Flame speaks. ''''Our Heavenly Vision High King (Divine Gear) weakened his holy power to the limit and then passed through the warding. Then he went to sleep in the frontier of the demon world. Little by little, I waited for the right moment, accumulating my strength... and then I felt thy power and woke up. Once they became weak, they raised their strength to the point where they could operate in the demon world again, right? If this is possible, wouldn''t it be possible for those who are unable to pass through the wards - heroes, angels and gods who use the miracle armor of the cutthroat seraphic level - to enter the demon world in the same way? As for the defense system of the demon world, should we take that into account....... ''''Then, the next question. What do you guys want? ''There are things in this world that were once lost to God''s world. What? Well no, it''s none of your business. Suddenly, the Flame King''s presence changed. ''The time for chatter is over. My strength is restored. He violently spews fire from his entire body and distances himself from me. ''''To bother going to the trouble of engaging in a conversation and watching from the sidelines as I regain my power is sweet, Demon King. So the conversation was not to buy me an opening, but to buy time for me to recover. ''Sweet?¡¡This is just room to spare. I stuck my right hand out straight. ''I''m sorry to be so early in your recovery, but... this time you''re going to disappear. The light of magic power converges in the palm of his hand. The guy''s armor is already scarred. If you shoot from there, you can take it down in one hit. "Fool. You will disappear too! Suddenly, the King of Flames rushed forward. Its entire body emitted a dazzling light. This is...? What''s he gonna do, blow himself up? "Thunderburst. I didn''t care who fired the thunderbolt and shot through the King of Flame. A huge explosion occurs. I quickly put up the Lucifer''s Shield and was unharmed. ''''For a legendary weapon, it''s just a bit too easy. The moment I mumbled... I felt a powerful presence. "Well done, King of Flame. You''ve successfully locked the demon king in his lair. A voice rang out from outside the different space. ''''The signal from the self-destruct is also good. I will now proceed to the destruction of the demon race. This guy.... As I recall, there should be three Heavenly Soul High King in total. Perhaps it was one of them. The reason why the King of Flame was defeated so easily was to signal the other two? If I was lucky, they were planning to defeat me with the shockwave from their self-destruction, but... "''Megafire''! I unleashed the highest level flame spell. But the Red Lotus Flame only explodes far ahead. No challenge©¤©¤? Maybe it''s because this different space is too big. I was going to create a rift in the space to escape, but it might not be easy. ''Judas, Feria!¡¡Hold off the other two until I get back! I raised my voice. ''Demon Lord?'' Don''t you want to get out, Demon King? I can hear Feria and Judah''s voices. Apparently, the conversation can reach outside. Or maybe Feria or Judas was able to detect my words through their power. It''s a good thing that we can communicate with each other. I''m not sure what to make of it. It might take us a while to escape. I''ll explain. "In the meantime, I need you guys to protect the demon world. In the meantime, I''ll be there in a minute... * The Divine Weapon created by God to fight the Demon King, ''Divine Gear''. One of them - the Water King. Stella was looking at the blue giant dragon with a grim expression. ''''What a magical amount of power...! He scanned (scanned) with his third eye and groaned. The enemy in front of me was equipped with magic power equal to or greater than the Demon King class. Except for Fried, who has a substandard status even among the successive Demon Kings. In other words, the opponent they were trying to fight was as strong as or stronger than the Demon King. (Can we win... no, can we stand up to them?) Do you know what his weakness is, Madam Stellar? Regal asks, holding his sword at the ready. ''''I can''t find it. His armor repels magic. Probably even your energy drain can''t do any damage. The only way through would be a physical attack. Hm. You mean, I''ll just take the sword down? Easy to understand. Regal stepped forward unceremoniously. "Want me to join you, Regal? A huge dragon descended from the sky above. It''s the Underworld Dragon, Belga Elfida. I''ll take a look at it first. You are to stay back. Regal shook his head. ''''There are a total of three Tensou High Kings. There may be more to come out, you know.'''' ''''The opponent''s firepower is of the Demon King class. No matter how much of an immortal demon you are, if you can annihilate its existence itself, it''s over. Be careful. Who are you talking to? To Stella, who was advising him, Regal returned a gruff line. ''''Anti-Demon King weapons? No shortage for the opponent.'''' The skull swordsman and the Water King faced each other head on. The distance between them was probably about a hundred meters away from each other. ''''The ''Immortal King (Lord Undead)'', Regal Vana Sentra - I come! He is the swordsman of the skull who kicks the ground. "Go away, you evil demons. The Water King spat out a stream of water from his mouth. ''''Hades Blade!'''' Regal''s slash slices it in half. ''''Ho, a magic sword that can cut through water as well? This isn''t even a check on you! Regal wielded a disastrous sword designed to look like a combination of bones. The sword swung down in a fury. Snap. It snapped with a dull sound. "My sword... His armor seems to be protected by a high-pressure water blade. "Carelessly go away, Regal. Stella tells me. ''Hmm, does that mean we have a good physical attack plan? Regal took a swing at the broken sword. The scattered bone-like parts came together and regenerated into the shape of a sword in a matter of seconds. ''''But just like me, my sword is also immortal. Next time I will cut you to pieces. Demons will be eradicated. That''s it. The Water King announces quietly. The fight to the death has resumed. 60 8 Gokumado VS Kazeno Ou Judah was confronting the King of Wind, one of the Tenso High King (Divine Gear). It was about twenty meters long. It was clad in jade-colored armor and looked like a monstrous bird with three pairs of six wings. It is a sorcerer type (Maygas type) demon race. Overall lv620. 9,000 MP. The Wind King looked straight at Judas. His eyes flickered. Apparently it has a function to measure the opponent''s strength. ''''Dream Demon type (succubus type) demon race. Overall LV 220. He specializes in magic and skills that affect the mind. Oh, you know what I can do? And Feria. ''But I won''t tell you my three sizes. I can tell you if it''s the Demon King, but ugh. "My armoured armour is immune to magic. I am only a weapon, I have no mind, and mental magic does not work. Therefore, it is impossible for you to defeat me. You have a lot of confidence. Judah smiled wryly. ''''Then I''ll let you test its performance. I''ve never fought one-on-one with the Heavenly Soul High King, you know. It will be interesting to see what the specs of the Heaven''s Strongest Weapon are.......'''' It wasn''t a fighting spirit that rose in his heart, but only an interest in the unknown weapon. ''''Feria, I need you to provide support and defend the other demons. I''ll take care of him. Can we win? I don''t know. Judah shrugs at Feria who asks him. She lightly brushes back her silvery white hair and smiles. ''''I fought in the era of mythology once, but at that time...'''' Before he could finish, the Wind King flapped his six wings and flew up into the sky. ''''Blow away, demon race.'''' The flap of his wings created countless tornadoes. ''''Megawind!'''' Judas counteracts its power with the highest level of wind magic. The power is evenly matched. The winds they unleashed collided with each other and both disappeared. ''''Your magic amount is as high as ever, the Heavenly Soul High King...'''' Judah chuckled slightly. ''''I guess you could say that your fighting ability is still good enough to make even the Demon King Velfer a handful. ''''However, if it''s magic, I won''t lose either. It''s true that our magic attack power is almost 50/50. And the King of the Wind. "But my victory, therefore, is unassailable. Well let''s give it a try then. Judah cast a flying spell and jumped up into the air. ''Do you want to challenge me to aerial combat? You don''t know what you''re doing.'''' The Wind King flaps his wings. ''Blastie Feathers'' Countless blades of wind were launched from the six wings. The moment it appeared that they were going to cut through Judas'' body©¤©¤the figure became faint. ''''Mm?'''' ''Your attacks are big, you know. It won''t hit me. Judas laughed as he appeared on the flank of the Wind King. He activated a high-level flying magic without any chanting and escaped from the attack zone in an instant. ''''Hogwash!'''' The Wind King released magical bullets that glowed green. There were actually thousands of them. ''If you shoot a few of them, they''ll hit you... what a crude strategy. "I don''t care how fast you are. I will beat you with an overwhelming amount of magic. The magic bullets split further in the air. Thousands - no, tens of thousands of magic bullets were approaching Judah from all directions. There was nowhere to avoid them. With the explosion, Judah''s body was shot out and disappeared. "That''s not bad!¡¡It''s not as good as my mouth. The King of the Wind laughs loudly. ''I see that even you, as expected, could not avoid it. ''Avoid?¡¡I don''t need it in the first place. Judas laughs behind the Wind King. "What are you...? A phantom. Judah explains matter-of-factly. ''It''s a classic move,'' This is ridiculous.¡¡A phantom that is completely identical in appearance and magic to the real thing... ''I''ve still honed my magic skills for tens of thousands of years on this. It''s easy enough to create an illusion that is as good as the real thing. Judas chuckled and held up his hand. The magic power concentrated and a blue glow dwelt in his hand. ''''You - the Tensou High King is indeed formidable. But that''s only when the three bodies are working together. Thus, if it''s one-on-one, it''s a different story. For Judas, who had a magical power equal to or greater than the Demon King class, it was not an enemy he couldn''t win. ''''Goodbye, God''s Relic - ''Aqua Bind''. Countless streams of water stretch out like a snake, binding the Wind King up. "Ugh, I can''t move... "''Mega Thunder''! After wetting the surface armor with plenty of wetting and increasing the conduction rate, it was fed a top-grade lightning strike magic. If it was the Heavenly Soul High King created with a mixture of magic and mechanical technology, this attack should be effective. It''s not worth it. But when the Wind King shook his whole body, he flicked off both the lightning strike and the water current. "My armor is made of mithril. "My armor is made of mithril, and no half-hearted magic will ever penetrate it. I see, so you even play superlative magic? "Hmmm, that was a close call for me too, but I''m sure it won''t happen again. But it won''t happen again. I know what you''re capable of. The Wind King growls. "I''m far more skilled than I ever was in the past," he growls. And with that knowledge, I shall ensure that you are gone. The battle, resumed. Judah deftly mixed the attacks of check and main attack, confusing the Wind King with feints mixed with illusions. Since most of her opponent''s attacks are wind-attribute, she intercepts them with magic of compatible attributes and takes almost no damage. ''''Ore........'''' The Wind King is left at the mercy of Judas. ''''I told you, your attacks are too big,'''' You''ve been using all this cunning and wizardry. You''re too simple. It''s the fate of autonomous weapons, isn''t it? The fight was being pushed by Judas. It''s difficult to push it through in one fell swoop, but it''s possible to push hard and win. Just when I thought that, it was at that moment. "Huh...? Green light bullets grazed the edge of my vision. The stray bullets were heading towards the demons. I was so focused on shooting magic at each other while moving at high speed in the air that my attention was momentarily distracted from my allies. (What I did with me...) I should have been calculating and fighting to position. It was a bit of a toothache to make such a mistake in the stuffing part. Huge magic bullets that glowed green were heading towards Feria and the other demon clans. It''s a level of attack that the other demons, let alone Judas, can''t very well prevent. Even for the Demon Army Chief Felia, her forte is in mental interference-type magic. It''s a good idea to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. "Just in time... Judas accelerated in the air. He increased the speed of his flying magic to its highest speed. (©¤©¤How could I do this?) Suddenly the question arises. Why am I getting so desperate? The demon race is a "powerful" race. The strong live and the weak die - that is the rule of the demon world and the value of Judas. That should be the case. (And yet, I--) Watch out, Judas! "Why, W?lfer why did you defend me? "To protect my friends is the right thing to do... The voice of my former friend came back to my mind. Or maybe I was smitten by him. He has an atmosphere that resembles Velfer''s in some way. A strange kind of person reborn into a demon - and the most powerful demon king. ''''Runeshield!'''' In the nick of time, he stood in front of the demons and put up a magic barrier. ''''I see. Is that your weakness? The Wind King flapped his six wings. ''In this position, you can''t bewitch me with illusions. This guy.... Judas, whose movement was stopped to protect his allies, would be an easy target for his opponent. ''''It''s over, demon tribe. And then tens of thousands of magic bullets rained down. ''''d*mn........! Judas pours all the magical power he can get his hands on and creates a defensive wall. It catches all of the Tenso High King''s enormous magical power, bounces it off and catches it away. ''''Guuuuuuut.........! As you would expect, it''s heavy. Catching it from the front and preventing it all from happening is tough, no matter how much magic Judas has. With a huge explosion, the entire area around it was blown away. "Hmph, I finally have a shot. The Wind King announced. ''''Ha, ha, ha...'''' Judah''s breath is ragged. Her beautiful silver hair is disheveled, her purple costume is torn, and blood is dripping from everywhere on her brown skin. ''''Judah...! Behind me, I could see Feria gasp. ''''Covering for us...? The other demons must have a worried look on their faces. You are injured in order to protect your friends, and then you jump into a disadvantageous situation on your own. A bloody Judas smiled thinly. 61 9 Slashing the void "''Fire''! The pea-sized fireball I fired flew to far away. After a while, a small flash of light popped. The explosion sounded quite late. It felt like it flew tens or hundreds ... or even thousands of kilometers away and then exploded there. ''How big is this space, how big is this space........'' I raise an eyebrow lightly. If the place is separated by some kind of wall, it''s easy to break it down and escape. But how do I escape from this vast space, just to get out of it? Let''s try mega magic at full power. I''ve seen the space itself destroyed before when I used ''Mega Fire'' in my magic training. If you do the same procedure, you can probably break this space and escape. However.... It''s just that it''s too powerful... There''s no guarantee that the destruction won''t reach the outside world. No, wait. There''s another way to use the magic we have. Let''s... let''s give it a try. The demon slash that I learned during my training with Judas the other day. At that moment, a shocking sound could be heard in the distance. ''''Judas and Feria are fighting...?'''' They are both powerful demons. An ordinary opponent wouldn''t even stand a chance. However, the opponent is a divine weapon that is touted as the strongest. They may be struggling, or they may be cornered. I have to get there as soon as possible. He stuck out his right hand. It''s an image. Myself, I tell myself. That trick you learned in your training with Judas. More vividly. More vividly. A magical heat like a flame lit up my whole body. The image of it converging in my right hand. The thing that came to mind was the sword. I couldn''t prevent it from happening. It cannot be blocked. The magic sword that cuts off everything. The name is... The Convergence Type Vanishing Blade. In my right hand, a sword made of magical power was born. It is a black and purple sword covered in crimson lightning. Although the color is different, the shape is similar to the Miracle Armor Gram that I used as my main weapon when I was a hero. In the next moment, a black and purple line appeared in front of me. The trajectory of the flash I wielded. In the next moment, the different space was cut in two and I returned to my original location. "Demon king...? Right next to me was a startled looking Judas. I''ve been in the middle of a battle, it seems, and his whole body is bleeding. "Are you okay, Judas? I''m a little banged up. Judah smiles bitterly. ''''Well no, it looks like you''re a little more than injured. There was a jade-colored monster bird in the sky above us. It flapped its six wings and looked down on us. ''''Is that also the Heavenly Soul High King (Divine Gear)?'''' ''The King of the Wind''. Judas answers my question. "You''ll be resting. We''ll take turns. So I''ll take you up on your offer. Judah smiles and retreats. "...Judah. I called out to his back. "Hmm? I''m proud of you. I noticed. I noticed that Felia and the demons were behind Judas. Perhaps he was badly wounded defending them. ''You did a good job protecting everyone. I thank you. I''m the chief of the demon army, after all. With his back turned, Judah murmurs. I can''t see her expression from here. But I thought I could see Judah smiling at me. "I''ll take care of the rest. Now it''s my turn to repay them. As the king who unites the demon tribe... I used my flying magic to fly up and face the jade-colored giant bird. Since I''m not as skilled in flying magic as Judas, my foothold is wobbly. Nevertheless, if they fought on the ground, there was a chance that the other demonic races would get caught up in the collateral damage. Even if you''re not good at it, it''s better to challenge them to an aerial battle. "You''re second in line, Demon King. I''m not second best. I look at the Wind King. ''I am the last. You will be destroyed here. ''''Indeed, your magic power is powerful. But it looks like you''ve exhausted a reasonable amount of magical power in order to escape the different space. The Wind King growls. "Now I have a chance to win, too. "Come and get it... A green glowing tornado appeared. Perhaps it was a ''Mega Wind'' class wind attribute magic. I''m not going to be the only one. I''m not going to be able to get away from them. ''''There is no escape, Demon King! The Wind King was triumphant. ''Escape?¡¡No need. All of the approaching wind magic - all of it disappeared in an instant. ''''What...?'''' The Wind King who let out a stunned voice. In my hand, there was a sword of magic power that shone black and purple. All six tornadoes were cut down, the sword. ''''Thanks to that, it was a good training ground. He announced, and wielded the sword - "Convergence Type, Void Slash (Vanity Blade)". A flash. A black trail ran in a straight line. The space on the trajectory was split open and a crimson lightning bolt flashed. "Wha........? All he could do was let out a voice that could not be described as a slight cry of agony or a scream. The next moment, there was no sound, not even a struggle. The most popularly acclaimed divine weapon was cut off by the magical sword I brought down on it. I landed on the ground and walked up to Judah. The purple robe was torn in many places and was stained with blood. "How are you hurt, Judas? I have a recovery spell on him, but he''s not healing fast enough. And Judas. ''''When the demon race is attacked by a holy attribute, it slows down the healing process. Really? ''''In case you''re wondering, so are you. In a battle against the Heavenly Army or the Brave Army, recovery magic won''t be that effective. Judah tells him. ''Your offensive abilities are immense, but don''t let your guard down. If you get hurt badly, you won''t heal easily.'' I''ll keep that in mind. Yeah, well, the next time you''re in a fight, you better watch your back. And Judas. ''The next enemy?'' "I can feel the strong magic in the Demon King''s Castle. It''s probably the last one of the Heavenly Visionary High King - the Water King. This sign is probably engaged with him as an undead. Regal? It seems to me that the attack on the castle while you were away... was a diversion. Judah murmured. ''''Or, the ''thing'' in the basement of the castle is the target. If that''s the case, it''s possible that the three of them will use that form...'''' Hmm, what does that mean? No, questions later. I''m coming back. I called out to all of them. I''ve left Stella and Regal at the Demon King''s Castle, and Belle is also there. Nevertheless, the Tensou High King is a formidable foe. We have to return quickly and join forces with him. 62 10 Immortal King VS Water King The Demon Army Chief Regal was confronted with a huge dragon wrapped in blue armor. ''''©¤©¤strong.'''' It is indeed the most powerful weapon in the Heavenly Army. In the age of mythology, the Tensou High King (Divine Gear) destroyed many demons. One of the three - the ''Water King''. ''''There is no shortage of opponents.'''' Regal re-holstered his sword, which had an eerie design that looked like a combination of bones. ''I''m coming.'' The purple miasma spewed out of his entire body and used it as propulsion to rush forward at super speed. ''''The undead style is...'''' The Water King opened his mouth and let loose a dragon breath. Regal did not dodge the blue magic cannon. On the contrary, he accelerated further and rushed in. With a direct hit, the skull swordsman broke apart. ''''Fragile©¤©¤no, this is...'''' The voice of the Water King sounded slightly quizzical. ''The dismemberment was on purpose. Regal announced quietly. The bones that made up his entire body disintegrated and became a myriad of parts, surrounding the Water King. ''Decay,'' White light flooded from the Regal bone group all at once. The Energy Drain. It is the energy absorption ability of the undead race. It is the ability to absorb all kinds of energy, including energy, life force and magic. The Tensou High King, which is driven by magic power, was supposed to be unable to move if it ran out of magic power. A moment. Deploying the barrier force. The blue dragon''s massive body was covered by a wall of shining crystal. The energy drain''s light was played by that wall and dissipated. ''''Hmph, did you intend to suck out my magic and make me unable to move?¡¡It''s not going to work out the way you planned. Then we will destroy it head-on. Regal assembles a group of bones again and takes the form of a skull swordsman. The shattered armor regenerates using magic. ''''Regal, stay back! I heard Stella''s voice from behind me. If I turned around, I could see that she was accompanied by hundreds of demon clans. They must have gathered the defense forces and soldiers of the Demon King''s Castle. ''''Three seconds left until the output of the warding weakens.......two.......one.......shoot! Along with her instructions, the demons released magic bullets in unison. Hundreds of trails of light were sucked into the Water King. ''''Muu........'''' With the explosive light, the blue giant dragon backed away slightly. ''''You''ve seen through the waves and cycles of the output of the Saint King''s Warding (Barrier Force) with such precision...? ''''Next, 30 degrees right in front of the firing angle! Stella shouts again. It seems that the clairvoyant in her forehead is predicting the rise in her opponent''s magic power and movement, and directing the most appropriate attack. Just as before, magic bullets are shot and explosive light flares up. Hmm, brilliant. The position and timing of the attack is perfect. The Water King appeared from the other side of the black smoke and was unharmed. ''''However, it seems that you lack the firepower to do so. Decisively.'''' Hard... His hull is made of mithril. We can''t give him an effective hit so easily. We''ll have to chip away at it little by little... Stella said to Regal, who murmured. ''You don''t have to scrape it off. We just need to break it up.'' Regal stepped forward. He raised his oddly shaped sword, which looked like a combination of bones, to the upper level and looked at the Water King. ''''I''m enough for that big guy on my own. The others should back off so as not to slow you down! The miasma rises from Regal''s howling body like a flame. It spewed out and fleshed out into the Water King with the same - or much more pressure than the previous - super speed. "Ho, can it still get faster? But it''s only a Demon Army Chief class. These are not my enemies, which are built for the Demon King. The Water King shook his huge body and unleashed his tail. More claws, more fangs, one after another. It''s a flowing, coordinated attack. ''''Chi-chi.'''' Regal spewed out miasma each time, changing direction and avoiding the Water King''s attacks. The ground exploded and blew away. The atmosphere creaked and a shockwave blew up. I''m not going to be the only one who can do this. Probably just a graze was enough to shatter Regal''s body and other parts of his body into pieces with each blow. Even though it could regenerate no matter how much it was dismembered, Regal was not an immortal being. Once each of the bones, the smallest components of the body, are completely shattered, they are no longer regenerative. (With his offensive abilities, or maybe he could make me disappear.) Muttering inwardly, Regal sped up even faster. In the face of an unprecedentedly strong enemy, you can feel your blood flowing. ©¤ It''s strange, this sensation. If Regal had a body of flesh, he probably would have smiled. It''s been a long time since he lost his mind, but only when he is on the battlefield does he feel the same elation he once had. Crossing swords with a powerful enemy. By continuing to fight between life and death. He has given up love and affection, but this feeling is the only thing that remains the same. This reminds me a little bit of my human formative years... Thousands of years ago, when he was still human, Regal was a warrior. He was a skilled swordsman who was known to be unparalleled in the sword, and he was a brave swordsman who fought against many demons. There was always a wizard at his side. He had lived only on the battlefield, and he was the only man he could call his best friend. Together with that man, Regal continued to achieve results in battle. Before long, the two of them were called heroes. Then one day, they fought a powerful demon race. He was one of the Demon Lord''s aides, the Demon Army Chief. After the battle, Regal and his friends were cornered. And then - their best friend betrayed them. "I don''t want to die, I don''t want to die. He tried to magically blow up the Demon Army Chief, as well as Regal. ''I will survive at your expense. How did you come to be so... Die, you and your demons! A blazing fire. That was the last thing Regal had seen as a human being. Before he knew it, he found himself in the darkness. The world of darkness where the sun never shines - the world of evil. He was alive while losing his flesh and becoming nothing but bones. No, he could not die. He became a demon - an undead demon - a demon that only those who left a strong grudge in this world could reincarnate. "I''m no longer........human? Regal raised his skeletal body. There was a sense that something inside him was decidedly missing. There was a sense that something important to him as a human being had been lost. ''Well, I am,'' If you can''t get undead, you can''t have your heart broken. I lost my mind. I don''t have a human heart. But... Tweeting, Regal looks at the Water King. ''There''s still something left in me like that. Deep within the black eye sockets, a crimson gleam flickers. ''It''s a hatred of the enemy - and a pride in being a warrior. Driven only by a negative mind, that''s exactly what evil demons do. The Water King growled. "Yeah, I''m not a man. I''m a demon, The miasma from Regal''s entire body erupts like flames. But on the battlefield, as in the days of my human life, my soul burns with the same intensity. He swings his sword of bone and shouts. ''Come on, make me burn more, God''s weapon! Burning?¡¡You''re wrong. Extinguish. Get rid of thee. Gone without a trace. The Water King spat out a dragon breath of magical power that glowed blue. Regal fired a miasmic bullet to intercept it, but it dared to be blown away before the Breath. And then the Breath changed its trajectory in front of him. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on it. "Stella, huh... She must have commanded the demon troops and had them create a magic barrier at the perfect time. No matter how much it was the attack of the Water King, a magical barrier created by hundreds of demon clans at the same time could at least prevent one shot. ''''You little fish!'''' The Water King howled. "You shall extinguish them all... I won''t let you. A voice rang out from the sky above. It was the waiting Underworld Dragon [Belga Elfida]. ''''Shadowbreath!'''' The dragon, which is the Demon King''s riding horse, spits out black light bullets. It''s likely that he intended to assess the battle situation and join in at the best possible time. It was truly a priceless support for Regal. ''''Gu.........whoa.......? As expected, its power is immense. The water king backs away with the explosive light. ''''Didn''t it work?¡¡For the moment, have we done our duty to Master Freed? The Underworld Dragon laughed mischievously. ''''It''s stopped moving - aim for it!¡¡Target, enemy face!¡¡Flash and lightning magic! Stella quickly gave orders to the demon army. The thunderbolts and flash magic released by the demons were slammed into the face of the Water King. The face of the dragon is enveloped in explosive light. "I can''t see my way out of this... Regal, now! I told him to stay out of it, but... Nevertheless, both the Underworld Dragon and Stella provided exquisite support for each of them. With their cooperation, they created a thousand opportunities to win a thousand times. I can only thank them for that. The rest of the finishing touches were mine. ''''Whoa, whoa, whoa!'''' Regal rushed forward with a roar. Considering the difference in strength between them, this is the first and last opportunity. Make sure to take advantage of it and destroy the enemy©¤©¤. This is the end........! Regal slammed a slash with his full strength. A large amount of water streams blasted out of the Water King''s armor and tried to bounce off of it. ''''Hades Blade!'''' A moment later, Regal poured all of his magical power into it. The sword of bone, which easily sliced through the high-pressure water stream, pierced through the center of the water king as it was... 63 11 The worst appearance Regal''s sword pierced the heart of the Water King. ''''Decay!'''' The miasma of miasma is sent from the blade of the sword as much as possible. "G................... The water king let out a scream that was unlike any weapon. The miasma emitted by Regal was like a deadly poison to the Water King, who was clad in a holy atmosphere. It exploded inside his body, causing the blue giant dragon''s body to decay into tatters. Regal drew his sword and jumped back. ''''Wow I''ve defeated a legendary weapon. That''s a lot of fighting power. Behind them, Lilim, the guard captain, and Stella, the demon army chief, let out an exclamation. ''''Do it, Regal.'''' In the sky above, the Underworld Dragon Belga Elfida said happily. ''''Your backup worked. I thank you.'''' Regal told the girls and turned to the Water King. His body is already reduced to wreckage. There is no sign of it coming back to life. ''''........Is this the end?¡¡The Heavenly High Priestess, who is touted as the strongest of all, has no qualms about it. Sure, the Water King was strong. But if it was as he had heard in myths and legends, he should have more tremendous fighting ability. I couldn''t shake the feeling of discomfort. ''''- Not yet! Suddenly, Stella screamed. There was a crack in the air. "A subspace transference phenomenon...? Stella murmurs. "Something is coming... The rift in space opened wide. Two light balls shot out from beyond it. Red and Blue. ''''Revise the Demon Army''s strength assessment. We are no match for them on our own. "Our aim is to destroy the demon army and seize what is hidden in the Demon King''s castle. The two transform into the forms of a lion and a bird, respectively, and furthermore, each part of the body is folded and transformed. "Now is the time to fulfill the mission given to me by God. The King of Water stood up and folded into two bodies, transforming his body as well. In the next moment, a pillar of pure white light rises up. ''''This is...'''' Regal stared at the scene, stunned. His whole body trembled on its own. He shuddered and couldn''t stop. He realized that he was in an intense state of awe. It was as if the divine Qi (aura) was in a different dimension from the Water King I had just seen. ''''Using this form is the last thing I want to do. It''s too powerful and could destroy the demon world itself... The pillar of light shattered. ''''It could destroy the ''thing'' that lies in the Demon King''s Castle but I''ll prioritize the annihilation of the demons now because they could become a threat to the gods later on. ... The one that appeared was a giant that looked to be a hundred meters long. The figure is a knight in pure white armor. Twelve shining wings sprouted from its back and it carried a giant sword that exceeded its height in its right hand. Its majestic atmosphere was reminiscent of gods and angels. ''''Three Heavenly Visionary High King (Divine Gear)........merged together.......?'''' Regal groaned. The pressure I felt from the Water King alone was tens, if not hundreds of times greater than the pressure I felt from the Water King alone. Just by being relative to it, my entire body is going to be crushed. It''s as if a divine spirit that could cover the entire demon world©¤©¤. ''''.......I see. So this is the true Heavenly Soul High King? No wonder it''s a legend, Regal murmured inwardly. A moment later, his vision was covered by a flash of light. ''''Wha........?'''' The flash of light reaped the earth in a straight line. Everything in its orbit was collectively burned, blown up and exploded. ''''This guy........! Regal shuddered. Part of the Demon King''s Castle had been blown away and white smoke was rising. Furthermore, the miasma forest that spread outside the royal capital had disappeared, the river of madness had dried up halfway up, and the despair mountain range had been largely carved away. Super firepower to the extent that even the terrain was changed©¤©¤. The demons within the attack range would probably be vaporized in an instant. ''''I am the King of Light. I am the King of Light, the strongest weapon that once defeated the Demon King Velfer. The weapon that the three Celestial Highnesses merged into - the King of Light - quietly announced, "I will destroy all the demons with its power. ''''I will use its power to destroy all the demons. "Destroyed"? Regal regrasps his bone sword. No matter how overwhelmingly powerful he is shown to be, his fighting spirit never falters. ''''You guys have always ... just one-sidedly taken us ...'''' Hurt, trample, kill. I remember when I was betrayed by a friend once. Am I doomed to be the oppressor? No, it''s not. "I am the lord undead Regal, the commander of the Demon Army. I am the sword that destroys everything that avenges the evil world! Confronting and fighting against all unreasonable violence - that''s the root of the legal system. That is the root of the legal system. I don''t care how strong they are. The skull swordsman wore an aura of miasma all over his body. It unleashed that aura backwards in one fell swoop. Drawing a purple trajectory, Regal rushed forward with explosive force. ''''©¤©¤It''s useless.'''' The King of Light flashed the sword in his hand. Immediately after, a tremendous shock hit Regal''s entire body. ''''I..........'''' Was he unconscious for a moment? The King of Light was still unleashing his magic cannon intermittently, burning the demon world. A scream, a shout, resounded out. ''''Stop...........'''' I tried to stand up, but I couldn''t muster the strength to do so. I realized that my body was falling apart. ''Not yet...'' Regal levitated his own body that was reduced to bone fragments. As an undead man, he has no concept of ''death''. The miasma, the life-force of the miasma, could be used to regenerate a shattered body as many times as needed. The only thing you can do is to keep fighting until you are incapacitated. Next, shoot thirty degrees to the upper left! Stella was still in charge of the demon squad. ''''His armor strength is extraordinary!¡¡Concentrate the attack! He was inspiring his allies with a dignified voice, but the difference in strength was obvious. There was no sign of the Underworld Dragon ¡¶Bel Ga Elfida¡·. It was that fickle dragon. It might have fled in the face of the King of Light''s overwhelming battle power. ''''........You can''t do it. I''ll go. Regal gathered up the shattered parts of his body and regenerated them. ''No, Regal. You can''t beat him. Stella shook her head from side to side. ''Let''s make the evacuation of the people of King''s Landing a priority anyway. We''ll buy ourselves some time until then. ''Buying time?¡¡What weakness. Regal said. He slouched the bone sword down to his right hand and stepped towards the King of Light. ''I will defeat him,'' The miasma spewed out from his entire body and rushed towards the King of Light. ''''Disappear, dwarf demon race.'''' Countless light bullets flew from the King of Light. Arms and legs were shattered, one after another. ''''I........can''t stop.......! Even though he was crushed, Regal still rushed forward. No matter how much he was hurt - no, the more he was hurt, the more he was hurt. The more she was hurt, the more she was hurt. The more it rose, the more it rose. ''Crush it if you can!¡¡I will - even if it''s the last piece, I will strike a blow at you! More bones disappeared everywhere. ''''My body and mind may be crushed, but my soul will not be crushed!¡¡Take... The outstretched sword reached the armor of the King of Light. A slight scratch is made on the armor that seemed impenetrable. But - that was the end of it. The king of light emits an even more intense radiance from his entire body and blows away the regal. ''''Gaha........? Regal, whose arms and sword were shattered, leaving only the face of a skull, was slammed to the ground. ''''...........................This is it? The miasma, the source of energy, was running out even as he tried to regenerate his body. They had planned to use their immortal bodies to get into the enemy''s flesh and strike a fatal blow, but the opponent''s offensive and defensive capabilities were far greater than Regal had imagined. ''''Enough of this... Turn it off.'''' The King of Light raised his great sword and swung it down. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. It''s not just a matter of time before the miasma is eliminated. It''s not a good idea. I groaned, a moment. The black brilliance that surged out of the air extinguished the slashing wave of the King of Light. ''''What........?'''' Surprised voices were emitted by both Regal and the King of Light. ''''You''ve endured well, Regal. And a dignified voice echoed from above. ''''You are...'''' Regal looked up at the sky, stunned. There was the figure of a masked demon king riding a black dragon. ''''Sorry to make you wait,'''' Freed descends from the underworld dragon Belga Elfida. With a thud, the hem of his robe is flipped over and the demon king leisurely advances out. A powerful aura of magical power was rising from his entire body. It is a super-duper demonic air that can even swallow the divine air that the Tensou Highness radiates. ''''Demon king........sir.'''' I''ll take care of it. Regal stared quietly at the Demon King''s back as he stepped out with the announcement. Honestly, he didn''t approve of Fried from the bottom of his heart. His power is overwhelming, but his mental laxity is unremarkable. It''s doubtful that he has the qualities of a demon king. But for now. Just for now........ "...please defeat him, Demon Lord........ His power is reliable. It''s more reliable than any demon race I''ve ever met. A sense of relief and the excitement of watching the strongest demon king in history take on the most powerful weapon in the heavenly army welled up. Or maybe it was the first time since I went from human to undead. My heart is this hot and burning like this©¤©¤. 64 12 The decisive battle that shakes the world Bell...? I defeated the king of fire in another space, and the king of wind that went outside - I defeated the king of wind one after another, and then a huge black dragon appeared in front of me. It was Belle - the Underworld Dragon Belga Elfida, which was waiting for me at the Demon King''s Castle. Why did you come here? You''re not going to... I have a bad feeling about this. "We''re in trouble, Mr. Freed. Bell said to confirm this premonition. ''''The Heavenly Fantasy High King has appeared in the Demon King''s Castle. The last one? No, they merged. And, Belle. ''Combined?'' Well, it''s kind of like three of them merged together and became a cool-looking weapon. For some reason, Belle''s eyes are shining. ''''No, combined transformations are so romantic, aren''t they? What is this guy talking about? According to Bell''s story, it seems that fragments of the King of Fire and the King of Wind appeared in the Demon King''s Castle and merged with the King of Water, who had already attacked. It seems that it took on a new form called the King of Light. Its battle power is much higher than when it is alone, and I heard that Stella and Regal are struggling with it. So that means Belle flew here to call me to the rescue. Gleam! Just then, a flash of light illuminated the surroundings. "This is...?! Immediately afterwards, the earth shook violently. This is the aftermath of the attack by the King of Light? I''m not sure how many times I''ve heard that they reached a place like this, so far away from the Demon King''s Castle. I''m not sure if it''s a good idea. I''m going to get on the bell and head back to the castle. You guys will have to come after me. He instructed Judah and Feria to do the same. ''But be fully vigilant, you know. I don''t know exactly what level of combat ability the King of Light has. I didn''t want to force Judah to do anything, especially since he was wounded in the battle with the Wind King. The other demons are also worried about the collateral damage if they are allowed to approach him carelessly. ''''©¤The King of Light is strong. Judah told him. ''After all, it''s the weapon that defeated the former Demon King Velfer. What? ''I only saw him once, too. It was almost as if he and W?lffer were fighting each other, and they retreated. But if that power is wielded to its fullest extent... Judah''s expression was grim. ''The demon world will be destroyed.'' I understand. Come on, Belle. It looks like we don''t have a moment to lose. "Riukai. After straddling the black dragon, I made my way to the Demon King''s Castle. As soon as I arrived, Regal was in danger. I immediately fired a magic bullet to block the giant white knight''s slashing wave of the "King of Light". I''m sure you''ll be able to find it. I''m sorry for making you wait. I got off the bell and called out to Regal. ''''Demon Lord.........'''' I''ll take care of it. Stella and the others will stay back. I told the wounded Regal and Stella, who was commanding the demon soldiers, and I stepped forward. ''''That''s the Demon King?'''' The King of Light looks down at me. "Just in time. I''ll make it go away. Indeed, it is a giant. The intimidating feeling that blows from its entire body is accompanied by a physical wind pressure that slams into me. I lightly put up a magical barrier and let that wind pressure flow away. ''''First... let''s see how powerful it is...'''' The King of Light''s eyes light up sharply. I wonder if he''s measuring my status. ''''Is this........?'''' And a slight dismay mixed in with his voice. ''''Overall level of 4800, 93,000 MP........?¡¡Even that Demon King Velfer is far more than even that Demon King...! The King of Light''s voice trembled. ''''Impossible, this kind of ability value.......is it a false fluctuation (bug) in the law of cause and effect.......?'''' The King of Light mumbles something I don''t understand. ''''What''s the matter?¡¡You''ve lost your swagger. I took a step forward. "....I am a weapon of God. I am a being created to destroy the Demon King. No matter how powerful my opponent is, I will avenge him. The King of Light holding his great sword. ''''I won''t let you kill any more demons and I won''t let you destroy the demon world. I looked at the giant white knight. ''I will destroy you,'' Go ahead and do it, if you can. As soon as he said it, the body of the King of Light rang out. Countless light balls shot out from his armor-covered body. ''''Homing ray!'''' I quickly released magic bullets in the hundreds. The magic bullets with tracking ability intercepted the King of Light''s light ball from every side. A flower of explosive light bloomed in the air. I cut through the black smoke that is already rising and the King of Light rushed in. I used my magic barrier to catch the great sword swung down head on. Bang! In the aftermath of the powerful energy collision, the earth beneath his feet split wide open. ''''It looks like your attack power is indeed high...'''' Even if I don''t do any damage to myself, it''s going to affect everyone around me. In that case... "Then... ''Laguna Buster''! The magic cannon I fired drew a jet-black trail and hit the body of the King of Light. The momentum of the gun caused his huge body to rise up and in one fell swoop, blowing him several hundred meters into the air. ''''I''m chasing you, Belle! Okay. I''ll ride the Underworld Dragon and go after it. If we bring it into an aerial battle, we''ll be able to reduce the damage to the demon world a bit. Let''s go... I flap my wings and stick out my right hand towards the King of Light, who has regained his position in the sky. ''''Megafire!'''' With about thirty percent of the power, he unleashed a top-tier fire magic. Even though it was in the air, I don''t know how much impact it would have if I shot with 100 percent power. It''s half a check, half a small check. ''''Nunn!'''' The King of Light swung his great sword and cut through the flames. ''''Megawater!'''' This time it''s about 50 percent. Even so, the King of Light would still prevent it with his sword. The impact of the shattering impact spread in all directions, causing the atmosphere to tremble violently. ''''Lord Freed, look down. And bell. If you look down, there are several cracks in the earth from the shock wave alone. ''''Even an output of this much power can destroy the surroundings........'''' Too much power is a tricky thing to deal with. Hmm, so that''s about it for a guy of high status? The King of Light grumbled. ''You are indeed strong,'' he said, ''but I think you can handle it. But I think you can handle it. If you take a long game, you will tire and I will have a chance. I''m not giving you a chance. I just don''t want to destroy the environment as much as you do. Nonsense. What kind of consideration does a demon lord give to his surroundings? What do you say? I held up my right hand. The atmosphere trembles. The demon world itself rings. I''m going to have to tell you that this is a good idea. "My full strength... Focus. An image that explodes the magic power in your entire body and gathers it into your right hand. Destruction. Explosions. Convergence. The jet-black sword. My©¤©¤the Demon King''s own, most powerful sword. "Convergence-type Vanity Blade. As I quietly announced it, a black-purple sword of magic power appeared in my hand. Alright, when I did it in different spaces earlier, it was a crash course, but it looks like I can control it well. The destructive power is too high, and the full destructive power of the mega-type magic that is usually suppressed - my new jutsu, which compressed it to the size of a sword. This technique is...? I don''t want to destroy the demon world. I won''t let you destroy it. Therefore, I''m going to... Holding my magic sword at the top, I told him. "I will dismantle you alone. 65 13 Settlement of flash Astride the dragon, I, holding a jet-black magic sword, and a pure white giant knight raising a great sword, faced off against each other. A tremendous amount of magical power spurted out from the other side, clashing with each other and blowing in a storm. You can feel the tension building up. What I see is the timing of the special attack. ''''Whoa, whoa, whoa!'''' It was the King of Light who moved first. He slashed at it with a roar. A weapon that is supposed to have no emotions bared its fighting spirit. That''s how excited he is, or... ''''Is that much of a corner...'''' The pressure from the Demon King. "Shatter away, demon king! I slammed the magic sword in my right hand haphazardly against the huge sword that was swung down. There was a small sound of a zazhusu, and the great sword of the king of light was slashed off from the middle. ''''What a sharpness...'''' The giant knight backed away in a shudder. ''Go, Belle,'' I ordered my rider to get closer to him. ''Ku, don''t come! The King of Light screams in terror. ''''The evil demon king ah! Countless light bullets flew from his hands. But it''s no use. I release the ''Homing Ray'', a tracking-type magic bullet, and shoot them all down. ''Accelerate, Bell. I''m sorry. Belle flapped her wings and increased her flying speed all at once. As we passed each other, I swung my magic sword. The slash is four degrees. I slash the king of light''s arms and legs from the base. ''''Guh...! It''s over. I thrust the cut end of my magic sword at the King of Light, who was reduced to only a body part. ''''Oh, it''s such a cool weapon, but it''s in pieces, limbs apart.'''' And, Belle. ''No, which side of the fence are you on? ''Because cool stuff is cool. What a waste. I wonder if it''s a toy sense. I don''t know what this guy''s sensibilities are. "I never thought it could be this powerful, my dear, but I can''t stand up to it. The King of Light groaned. ''You are a weapon that only kills demons and destroys the demon world. I will destroy it here. I wielded my magic sword. A moment later. Master Freed! The Underworld Dragon (Bell) makes an unusually startled sound and retreats with me on board. ''''What''s up, Belle?'''' This guy''s vibrations ... there''s something wrong with him! There he is. This is indeed the Belga Elfida, the Dragon Warrior, the head of the Moth family, the highest ranking member of the dragon family. The King of Light murmurs. But there''s nothing you can do about it. I will wipe out this entire demon world. With the ultimate weapon God has given me... ''''My Demon Lord, he''s going to blow himself up! I heard a voice from the ground. It was Stella. A third eye opened on her forehead. ''''The magic inside your body is concentrating at an extraordinary rate. If it continues at this rate, it will explode in about three minutes... What the... Bell retreated because he sensed the presence of it, right? ''If possible, I wanted to keep the magical world itself. A world that is of use to God. There are some things that must be recovered. But if the Demon King has this much power, I can see that destroying it is the top priority. The King of Light announced nonchalantly. In the meantime, the flickering of his entire body was intensifying. It''s like a countdown to self-destruction. ''''Tch........Lucifer''s Shield! I got off the bell. "You stay away. You don''t want to get caught in the middle of anything. I said and approached him with my flying magic. I put up a barrier with all the magic I could find. "The effects of the suicide bombing will be contained within the barrier... But the opponent is huge. A few pieces won''t be enough to cover his entire body. Can I completely envelop the Lord of Light before he explodes? We were racing against the clock. "What a waste of time! No matter how incomparable your magical powers are, there is a God-given power within my body. No matter what I am, I cannot shut it down...! The flickering of the King of Light intensifies. I earnestly create "Lucifer''s Shield" and wrap it around me. Since this magic originates from the sorcerer, it can only wrap me and the King of Light together. In other words, when I self-destruct, I myself will be affected by its power. But there is no time to hesitate. There is no time to hesitate. ''''Lucifer''s Shield! I shout. Five more.....ten more. The number of barriers had already exceeded fifty. As expected, my consciousness begins to fade. My magic power is not inexhaustible. Moreover, it ignores all chanting and creates magical barriers in a way that consumes more than normal. "I''m telling you it''s a futile struggle. My final power is unleashed now. You can''t make me! And then - a hundred. The hundred barriers that were produced completely enveloped me and the King of Light. At the same time, the flickering intensity of the Heavenly Soul High King''s flicker of light reaches its maximum. "Master Freed, no! Stella shouted with a sad face. ''''To sacrifice yourself...'''' Don''t get me wrong. I laugh under my mask. "I''m not going to sacrifice myself. And I''m not going to let this guy destroy the demon world. "Then I will fall to pieces with you... I tell you, the king of light explodes. The overflowing radiance dyes the pitch-black world of magic to pure white. * There is no sun in the demon world, and darkness is always wavering. Such an inky black world was enveloped by a pure white glow, as if the sun had appeared. ''''Ugh........'''' The glare was too much, and Stella narrowed her eyes. Still, she didn''t avert her gaze. (Freed-sama........! Calling the name of our own Lord in our hearts. Just pray for victory. Pray for safety. Soon, the explosions ceased and the demon world was enveloped in darkness once again. The giant white knight©¤©¤the king of light has disappeared without a trace. In the center of the explosion, there was a figure clad in a tattered robe. The figure of the demon king. "Mr. Freed! Stella was the first to run out. With joy and relief that he was safe. Her emotions exploded and she couldn''t contain herself. ''Thank God you''re safe...'' He hugs her with a tearful voice. ''Stella I''m sorry you had to worry about me. Mr. Freed... I noticed that his mask was shattered, exposing almost his bare face. The robe he wore was also torn in many places and drenched in blood. ''I prioritized putting up a barrier around him, so I was only able to create a minimal barrier to protect myself. Somehow, I only managed to get my mask and robe torn to pieces... Fried smiles bitterly. ''Then I''ll get you a new one. For now..... Stella tore the hem of her military-style costume and handed it to Freed. That would cover her mouth and nose, and she would be able to hide her face. ''Go ahead....'' As I was about to hand him the cloth, I locked eyes with Freed. I realized that our faces were closer than I thought they would be. My cheeks immediately felt hot. ''''I... uh... well...'''' My heartbeat quickened and my head felt lightheaded. ''Hmm, what''s going on?'' ''I''m sorry... it''s nothing... it''s nothing...'' Stella shook her head hurriedly at a dubious-looking Freed. Once again, she handed him the cloth and gently turned away from him. You shouldn''t think of me like this........) I tell myself. What you need as a vassal is only loyalty. It should not be romantic feelings. But when I was concerned for Fried''s safety, I became clearly aware of the fact that he was very important. He was important to me. I don''t want to lose him. I want to be with him forever. This is... Regal groaned as he stared at Fried and Stella, who were embracing each other. ''''The Demon Lord''s true face........?'''' Perhaps the explosion of the King of Light had broken the mask he usually wore. From a distance, but I could definitely see it. The face of an intrepid middle-aged man. ''''That face and atmosphere...'''' It''s just like being human. No, it can''t be. There''s no way. Regal murmured. He shook his head from side to side, as if to deny his own thoughts. But the doubts that had sprung up did not disappear. It''s always been smoldering... 66 1 Peace of mind There were several cracks in the sky. ''What do you think, Judas?'' There''s quite a bit of damage to the wards. After I defeated the King of Light and Judas and Felia and the others returned, I was investigating the demon wards with Judas. I was investigating the warding of the demon world with Judah. It seems that the magical attack launched by the king of light, which could change the terrain of the demon world, had damaged the warding as well. There were about seven true cracks that ran through the hollow, in this vicinity alone. Beyond them, a black darkness was fluttering. I''m not going to be able to get a good idea of what I''m talking about. I''m sure that in another two months, the brave men and women will break the warding and attack. But since the wards have become so fragile, there is a chance that this will be hastened. ''''There''s a particularly large crack in the space near where the King of Light''s attack hit,'''' Judah explains. ''Because that attack doesn''t just seem to do physical damage, it seems to do damage to space itself. They left a hell of a lot of stuff behind. I sighed under the mask. Incidentally, this mask is a new one Stella made for me. The previous mask was broken when I suppressed the King of Light''s self-destruction. The robe also fell apart, but I didn''t have time to make a new one for this one, so it flew away as is for now. ''''However, there''s no point in panicking. The humans will still be attacking us anyway. I guess it''s all about being prepared. I''ll put some extra emphasis on this area. Leave Regal in charge. I don''t want you to be on your own. Judas smiled. ''''The Demon King and the Demon Army Chiefs have united to defeat the legendary Heavenly Weapon. Why don''t we throw a victory party to celebrate? A party...? In this battle, there were casualties from the attack of the King of Light. There is also the regret of not being able to protect them. ''''I think it''s tragic that there were casualties. Judas said, as if he could see right through me. ''Still, we have to move on, you know. In order for the subjects to be able to laugh again - or for the repose of their souls. It wouldn''t be a bad idea to hold a banquet to mark the end. A break. And it''s the king''s duty to reward and encourage his subjects. Punishment is the basis of government. I see... ''I''ve been living a simple life in seclusion for a long time, and I haven''t had a lavish meal in a long time. "Hmm. When I glanced at him with zit eyes through my mask, Judah just smiled without affirming or denying it. ''''Well, you have a point........'''' I muttered with a bitter smile. The next night, we threw a victory banquet for defeating the Celestial High King. As usual, Stella took care of all the arrangements. Competent as ever. And so, from the Demon Army Chiefs and other senior levels to the castle''s soldiers and civil servants, a grand feast began. ''''Say, goooooood! Captain Lillim, the guard, poured me a drink. ''Thank you. Lilim also did a great job working with Stella and the others. I was mainly in the background this time. No, the backstage is an important part of the job. You helped me in many ways, from assisting in the command of the troops to directing the evacuation of the population to dealing with the wounded. Stella looks at her with a serious face. ''I''ll thank you too,'' And Stella poured a drink for Lilim. ''Ehehe, it''s embarrassing! Oh, Stella-sama, kanpai. Cheers. The two of them gulped down each other''s drinks. ''Ah, Lady Stella, good drinking. "It''s nice to have a nice drink after a victory. It''s delicious. The congeniality of the girls was hilarious. I''m sure they all have their own thoughts about the battle. But it looks like they''re having fun at a banquet. To move forward, huh? I remember Judah''s words. ''''Hmm, it''s nice to see the Demon Lord in contemplation. Felia slipped closer to me, making a bewitching family tree. It''s a very good idea to have a drink as well. You can have a drink with me as well. This time she pours me a drink. Then she breathes into my ear as she blows on my ear. Don''t just let them stay with me. And if we''re going to be in bed later, I want to be in the same room with you. ''Mmm, what''s the natural temptation, Feria?'' Stella turned to me. "Don''t be mad at me, okay? You''re jealous. Ditto, ditto, who''s jealous? Stella protests with a red face. ''''I knew it, Stella-sama, didn''t you hug the Demon King.......oh, by the way, didn''t you hug the Demon King after the battle?'''' Lilim smirks at him. "What are you talking about?¡¡It''s just that..... Stella''s face was bright red. Well, I guess that was a hug, or rather, she was trying to hide me from the other demons with my mask cracked and my true face exposed. That''s a first. Feria''s eyes narrowed in amusement. ''But I don''t think a proactive approach is a bad idea. The time for Stella to finally step out of her eternal virginity-- What''s wrong with being a virgin? ''Miss, isn''t our pre-marital daughter a little slutty? Irene, the maidservant, walked over and chuckled at Stella''s side. She had been Stella''s handmaiden before she became the Demon Army Chief, and the two of them were very close. ''''Irene, call me the Demon Army Chief. It''s a party. The Demon King wouldn''t blame you for this. This is a matter of moderation. You''re so formal. Irene smiles. It''s so funny when the female demon race gathers together. ''''I''m going to go around to the others for a bit. I told them no and left. As the king, I''ll just pat my subjects on the back. No, should I take my place and wait for my subjects to greet me? Well, the party in the demon world doesn''t have a very formal atmosphere, and it''s fine to let it flow. ''''........Speaking of which, how are Judas and Regal doing?'''' I look around. I couldn''t see Judas away or anything else, and Regal was sitting on the edge of the seat, drinking chilly. .........Can the undead drink? A simple question arises. I mean, that guy stepped up while I was away. I should thank him again. And as I was about to walk up to Regal, I was about to walk up to him. ''''Kyah...?'''' I bumped into someone who ran out of the room. The one who fell in front of me was a small girl. ''''Well, Demon Lord-sama, I''m sorry.'''' No, I''m good. Are you okay? Okay, I''m fine. His voice was woozy, as if he was nervous. It seemed to be a beastman-type demon race. Her golden hair, red eyes, and pointy fox ears suited her pretty face. The nine tails that stretched out from her waist bounced around and were cute too. It''s a good thing that you''re able to get a good idea of what you''re looking for. ....Awwww. The girl stands up while mumbling something. ''''Is something wrong, Demon King-sama?'''' Stella came closer. ''Isn''t that Olivier?'' And I look at the foxgirl. ''You know?'' ''''Yes, this is Olivier Kiel. She''s a member of the Beastman-type demon race, the Nine Tailed Fox. Stella answers my question. ''''Oh, I''m sorry I didn''t introduce myself, Demon King-sama. I was too busy fantasizing. She - Olivier is cowering. What, delusional? Olivier Kiel. Please get acquainted. This is Fried. Take care of him. ''''The ''Nine Tailed Fox'' is a clan that excels in both offensive and defensive magic, but she''s especially good at defense and recovery. In the clan, she''s known as a genius. Stella explained. ''Come to think of it, that sounds familiar. ''I remember. I remember seeing it in the list of candidates to replace the Evil Priest (Priest). ''''Yes, I''ve made a list of candidates. The Evil Priest (Priest) is responsible for overseeing the demon army whose main duty is to protect and heal. A good healer like her would be useful. And Stella. I''m just saying that I have a few personality issues. Oh, you''re on the short list, Miss Stella. Olivier was looking at her with pouty eyes. ''I''m honoured - I''ve admired Lady Stella for a long time now. Okay. ''I love your cool, beautiful face and your supple, stylish body. I adore it. My imagination gets better. Yeah, right. Stella with a drawl. Her clever beauty looks a little stiff. ''''Oh, by the way, I also admire the guard captain Lilim-sama and the Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm) Feria-sama. I draw pictures of the three of them as a hobby... Oh, I''m especially proud of the picture of Stella-sama and Lilim-sama playing bewitchingly with each other without a trace. Wait. What did you draw? I''m a fan of Stella-sama and Lilim-sama, but the opposite isn''t bad either. Oh, but I think Feria-sama and Stella-sama are intriguing as well. A bewitching beauty approaching an earnest, beautiful girl...the innocent girl who was once a bewitching beauty will soon begin to experience lustful pleasure. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Stella''s face scrunched up even more. 67 2 Nine-tailed fox ''Stop having weird fantasies with me, Olivier. No...? At Stella''s protest, Olivier''s eyes welled up with urls. Her fox ears and tail are both hanging down without power. ''Lilies are precious.......precious..... She tears up and makes a forceful statement. ''Wow, okay ... no, I don''t know what your taste is, but at least I don''t blame you or limit your fantasies. Stella flinched. ''Really?'' ''It''s a personal preference. There''s no need to limit it, and no one has the right to do that. Stella tells him. ''Have it your way around that. ''So, unknown Olivier Keel, I will continue to spend the rest of my days in full fantasy. Yay! BOOM! A blue-white flame-like aura rose from her body as she jumped happily. The outpouring of magical power became a shockwave that blew up, causing countless cracks to appear on the floor. ''''What the...? ''''Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...! The surrounding demon race was startled and groaned. ''''Wha........! I gulped. Aside from Judas, who surpasses even an ordinary Demon King class, he has tremendous magical power. As expected, he was listed as a candidate for the next demon army chief. ''''I didn''t expect anything like this...! Next to her, Stella is also surprised. ''''........Stella. Yes, Your Majesty. What do you see in Olivier''s power? I gently overheard him. ''''I had put you on the list of candidates, but your magic power rating was about a B-. I guess I misjudged.......sorry. Stella apologizes. "This will give you at least an A... or an A+ or better... ''''Oh, I can''t usually produce this much magic, can I?¡¡It''s only when my imagination gets the better of me that I feel like this, that my magic sparks like this. Olivier gazed at Stella. His gaze was bewitchingly moist. ''''........Yes. If you have this much magical power. I whispered, and Stella nodded to me. "Hmm, I can hear you~ He moved his fox ears with a twitch and Olivier laughed. Shit, this guy has a good ear. Then he probably heard everything from the beginning. I''m sorry. ''''No, no~. Um, does that mean I''m going to be the Demon Army Chief? It''s just a candidate. It''s not an easy decision to make. I told her. Nevertheless, we need a strong force now. The first and foremost priority should be the peace of the entire demon world. I''m sure that Olivier will be able to help me with that. ........although his character is a bit of a nut. We''ll get to the details shortly. There are several candidates for the position. The day after the banquet, Stella and I began the process of selecting a replacement for the Evil Priest (Priest). What is required for this position is mainly recovery-related abilities. Olivier was a genius among the nine-tailed foxes'' attendants, and the only obstacle was his low magic power. But as I saw at yesterday''s banquet, it seems that her magic power can be greatly increased by triggering her delusions. It''s a new fact that I couldn''t find out from Stella''s investigation. After examining the other candidates, I finally decided to appoint Olivier as the new Evil Priest (Priest). Therefore, I call Olivier into his office. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this in the next few days, but I want you to take charge of the new "Priestess". Olivier Keel. I tell him sternly. By the way, it''s just me, Stella, and Olivier in the room. "Wow, I''m the demon army chief...! The nine-tailed fox girl''s voice trembled. ''''Your magic power is high. You should be able to serve in that capacity well enough.'''' Okay, my dear demon king. Olivier bows his head reverently. The fox ears and tail twitching at that beat. It was a very cute demon army chief. It''s nice to meet you. I''ll do my best. Oh, Stella-sama, I''d like to thank you for your help in the future with my yuri obsession. ''''Yuri...?'''' Stella was pulling away. ''''If I can work with you as a demon army chief, there''s no shortage of fantasy material, right? ''Stop looking at me with those bewitching eyes, Olivier. Lady Stella, you''re embarrassed you''re so cute. I''m not embarrassed. I''m pulling. "Uh-huh. ........I wonder if the two of them will be able to get along with each other. ''''Anyway, we''re colleagues from now on. You can call me by my nickname, not my name. And Stella. ''Nope. Lady Stella is Lady Stella. Olivier said with a wry look in his eyes. ''Please allow me to call you Lady Stella. We''re equals, so why would you call it that? Stella shows difficulty. ''It''s hard to show even those below you. Ummm ... then may I call you sister? Hey, sis? I mean, I have to call you Miss Stella. Mmm.... There are things I can''t give up either...! Olivier is strangely forceful. ''Shh, but your sister... hmmm...'' Stella is troubled. ''Well, well, just call it what you want to call it, right? I was the go-between. "I think he''s a very powerful guy who works best when he''s free. It''s better to put him in a situation where he''s not restricted. If Your Majesty the Demon King says so. Nodding, Stella turned to Olivier. She looked a little stiff, but So, once again, Stella D. Arzelwein. It''s a pleasure to meet you, Madam Commander Olivier. It''s nice to meet you too, sister........ .... no, why are you drooling, Olivier? * A blizzard was blowing in the mountains. In the cave, there were three shadows. "This is Homunculus No. 253 Tsukuyomi. It is a pleasure to meet you, Gigantor. A figure crouches at Zegert''s feet. The body made of silver looks like armor, but it''s not. A body made of metal - Tsukuyomi is a magic machine doll. The inside of the body is filled with artifacts such as magic channels and gears. I''m glad to meet you too, Tsukuyomi. Zegart nodded hawkishly. ''I look forward to working with Sigmund here. He turned his gaze to the bird beast-man demon race at his side. Sigmund silently and reverently bowed his head. ''''How is the investigation of the Demon King''s Castle going?'''' Zegart turned to Tsukuyomi, "I had my men look for it. ''''I had my own men search for it, but Demon Eyes (Vision)-sama found it and had it blow itself up. Hm, you can''t fool me with Stella''s eyes, can you? Zegert growled. The control room is heavily guarded and inaccessible. However, we have completed our investigations of the mechanisms in the surrounding areas. I think it is possible to speculate and analyze the defense mechanism and "that power" built into the Demon King''s Castle to some extent. "Law. "I was told several times by the former commander of the Legion, ''Alchemist'' Izana-sama. Of course, since this is confidential information, I did not divulge it to anyone else. And Tsukuyomi. ''Well, you don''t have to tell the Demon King that information. Just tell me. Ha! The time is ripe. Zegert slowly stood up. ''The shards of the Demon King''s Sword that I have, the newly recovered shards from Sigmund, and the Miracle Armor. And your alchemy, one of the best in the world. With these, my great ambition will be fulfilled. He looked down at the mechanical doll and the bird beastman demon tribe who were cowering at his feet. ''''Well then, let''s call it a return. Yes, sir. "As you wish. First, let''s have an audience with the Demon King. We''ll see if he''s got what it takes. And then I shall have the throne, which will soon be mine. 68 3 錬金机将 In the last battle, the attack of the King of Light had caused no small amount of damage throughout the demon world. In regards to the reconstruction work, I decided to ask the newly appointed Demon Priest Olivier and Judah to help with that task. For support, he has the Seventh Army, whose successor has yet to be appointed as the head of the Demon Army, attached to him. They are made up of demons with artisanal skills, and their help is essential in repairing broken houses and public facilities. I ordered Regal and Feria to take on the task of defending the demon world. So, I''m going around inside the Demon King''s Castle with Stella. This place was also suffering the aftermath of the King of Light''s attack. ''''We''ve discovered considerable damage to the Demon King''s Castle. In particular, various mechanical parts seem to have been damaged. The mechanical part. I mumble to Stella''s explanation. I heard that the demon king''s castle has a number of mechanical devices inside the castle. When the need arises, they are activated to defend the demon world©¤©¤and I heard from the former demon king, Yulisha, that they are activated to defend the demon world. ''''The original jurisdiction was the Alchemist General (Alchemist) - the former legion leader, Isana, but now there is no replacement for him, and his military officers are in charge of it. The last of the Seven Great Demon Commanders - the Alchemist General. I''ll have to decide on his successor as well, as soon as possible. The candidates are here. Sorry it took me so long to put it all together. Mr. Freed. And Stella holds out the list. Since we were alone, she called me ''Freed-sama'' instead of ''Demon King-sama''. ''Stella does a lot of work for me. She''s always helpful.'''' Me, who puts in a follow-up. ''....Thank you. A faint blush appeared on Stella''s cheeks. I go through the list I received. ''A demon race called Tsukuyomi, is it promising? There were about five candidates, but the overall rating was an A+ for Tsukuyomi, while the other four all received only a B+ or B. Tsukuyomi appears to be a modified life form (homunculus) created by the former Legion Commander. A homunculus is a magical creature created by alchemy. It is said to be low in intelligence and can only listen to simple commands. However, the homunculus created by Izana is in a class of its own, and is said to be far superior in intelligence, magic and physical ability to ordinary demons. It is said that among them, Tsukuyomi is the best modified life form in terms of intelligence, strength and magical power. ''''I think it''s head and should be head and shoulders above the other candidates. However, she tends to be dogmatic, and that''s the only thing I''m concerned about. Stella explained. ''In layman''s terms, I would say that I have a tendency to be selfish,'' Okay. Any other candidates? All of them are relatively docile in terms of personality. However, as you can see from the evaluation column, they are a notch or two inferior to Tsukuyomi in terms of ability. Tsukuyomi, who has high ability but may have personality issues? Or another candidate with inferior abilities, but who seems to have no problems in terms of character? I discussed it with Stella and eventually came to a conclusion. ''''©¤©¤Okay, call Tsukuyomi. As a new alchemist general (Alchemist). Now, more than anything else, I want to keep a competent demon race on hand. I''m not going to be able to get it right. And after that... And after that - to continue to organize the strongest army to bring peace to the demon world. "My name is Homunculus #253 Tsukuyomi. It''s a pleasure to meet you, my Demon Lord. What appeared in the audience room was a silver silhouette. At first glance, the silvery-white body seemed like a piece of armor, but in fact it was not. This is Tsukuyomi''s body. I''m not going to be able to get it right. It''s nice to meet you. I got up from my throne and walked over to Tsukuyomi. ''''You will be given the title of ''Alchemist'' (Alchemist) and the appointment of Demon Army Chief. Respectfully, I accept. The silvery modified life form bows deeply. Tsukuyomi''s ego is said to have the personality of a man. ''''Then let''s get to work.'''' I said to Tsukuyomi. "''The Demon King''s Castle has a lot of damage. I need to talk to you about repairing them. Well, would you mind if I checked the area myself? Of course. I''ll come with you. I urged Tsukuyomi. By the way, I had Stella return to her normal duties after I called him. I began to proceed inside the Demon King''s Castle with Tsukuyomi. ''''©¤©¤To begin with, I have a fundamental question. As we walked down the corridor, I asked Tsukuyomi. ''What kind of mechanical contraption is this in the Demon King''s Castle?¡¡I''m told it''s a defense mechanism, but the former Demon King''s handover of that area is vague... I have heard a lot of information related to the Demon King from the former Demon King Yulisha, but I haven''t heard many specifics about the Demon King''s Castle among them. There are a number of devices to intercept foreign enemies, and I was given a spell to activate them. However, she herself doesn''t know much about what kind of device it is. It seems that the information about it has become quite vague as it has been passed down through successive demon kings. ''''Originally, this castle was built by the beginning Demon King Velfer-sama. After that, successive alchemy generals have added magical devices and mechanical equipment in various places in the castle. And Tsukuyomi. I''ve heard some of it from Izana-sama, but I can''t claim to know everything about it. However, if I were to take a look at it, I would have a pretty good idea of what I''m talking about. ''''Do you think the trick of the Demon King''s Castle will work against the brave men? I''d like you to do a little research on your own, or rather... haha. Hmm? Now, he''s suddenly getting b*tc*y, this guy. No, he just started talking to himself. Didn''t he say that so I could hear him, obviously? "Gimme. The chink in the armor? No, sir. It was my imagination. Okay. Okay, good. ........well, I''ll just assume that''s the kind of personality you have. Right now, I want a competent subordinate anyway, rather than a personality aspect. ''So, back to your earlier question you don''t know exactly what you''re talking about either? Yes, sir. However, I can guess. Let''s hear it. "The contraption in the Demon King''s Castle was probably not meant for the brave men, but for the angels and the gods. God, angels...? Because of the wards, no one with a strong holy nature can enter the demon world. However, it''s possible that the warding will eventually be completely destroyed and the gods and angelic class will invade. Tsukuyomi said. ''''It is my belief that the alchemy generals of generations have been making preparations for that,'''' ...I see. ''''The Demon King''s Castle is equipped with a powerful function, and if we release it, or maybe even a god, we can compete with it. Tsukuyomi told him. The great power that lies in the Demon King''s Castle........ ''''........this is just a guess. Even if it''s not true, I hope you won''t punish me for it. In other words, I want to live more freely without taking responsibility. I don''t know why I was appointed as a demon army chief... haha. I''m talking to myself, too... right? 69 4 Immortal King and Beast Emperor The Demon King''s Castle. As the name suggests, it is the Demon King''s castle, and it is also a fortress that can be activated as the final defense mechanism of the demon world when the need arises. However, its activation is accompanied by several conditions and preparations. In the past, when I defeated Yurisha with Lyle, the defense mechanism was never used. In the first place, it is said that the Demon King''s Castle has only been activated a few times in the history of the Demon World itself. Basically, the demon world is covered by a ward to shut out the invasion of gods and brave men. But in less than two months, that invasion will become a reality. In preparation for that, the defense mechanism of the Demon King''s Castle must be prepared for that. ''''Then, I''m going to inspect them one by one. Since it will be a painstaking task, if you don''t mind, you can leave it to me. Tsukuyomi said. ''We need some time,'' How long will it take you to do that? I asked him. The brave men should be invading again in less than two months. If possible, I''d like to make it there in time. A week is all it would take. Thank you. Okay, can I ask?¡¡Let me know if you need any other help. No, I think it''s best if I do this on my own. It would be more of a hindrance if someone else were to be present. Tsukuyomi bows her head. ''''In the name of Alchemist General (Alchemist) Tsukuyomi©¤©¤I will surely fulfill the Demon King''s life. Aside from his character, he was as reliable as he could be in terms of ability. When I looked up, I saw a large crack in the sky. I heard that the wards protecting the demon world had cracked during the recent battle with the Tenso High King (Divine Gear). With the possibility that brave men and divine relatives might attack from that crack, Regal was assigned to the defense. There are undead under his command around. All of them were fierce men carefully selected by Regal. Gi....................... Suddenly, the cracks began to distort, making a creaking sound. ''An enemy attack?'' Regal draws his sword from his waist. A snarky sword with a design that looks like a combination of bones. "Wait.... It''s me, Regal. A huge silhouette appeared from the other side of the crack in space. It was nearly four meters tall. It was a lion beastman with an imposing physique. Its swirling, upside-down tendrils were like flames. His entire body was clad in a glittering golden armor. ''''Zegert...! Regal exclaims in surprise. The Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegart. He was one of the seven great demon army chiefs and a great man who was also known as the strongest in the demon world when it came to white army combat. I''ve been to the human world several times looking for you, but I couldn''t find you. I''m glad you''re safe. I''m sorry. I''m sorry, I got injured fighting the humans. We had to concentrate on healing in a very secluded area. ...Are the wounds good enough for you? In less than two months, we''ll have a decisive battle with the heroes. With Zegert''s help, it will be a great asset. Hmmm. I''ll be ready for battle. In the coming battle, I will dispatch the brave men. It was a reliable word. ''By the way, I hear the Demon King has been replaced. Zegert cuts in. ''How is the new Demon King, from your point of view? It''s sweet, The Immortal King growled at the Beast Emperor''s question. ''''But he is strong. If you just look at his fighting ability alone, he''s a cut above all the other Demon Kings of all time. Hmm, I''ve heard of you. Zegart chuckled. ''''I heard that you even destroyed that Heaven''s most powerful weapon, the Heavenly Soul High King (Divine Gear). Yeah. For Regal, the Demon King defeated a hopeless opponent without a struggle that seemed to be a struggle. With that kind of power, it wouldn''t be difficult to even destroy the human world. Of course, we don''t know what kind of enemies we have on the side of the gods. Even if they were invincible in a frontal battle, their opponents might come in the form of arrows. Or even if they don''t have the means to block the power of the demon king or weaken it©¤©¤that''s not necessarily true. (But even so©¤©¤it''s still naive.) Let the humans perish. We should fight to the bitter end. Regal''s idea is simple. Once, when he was a human, he was severely betrayed by a man he thought was his best friend. Ever since, the humans had been regarded by him as an ugly race to be spat upon. The way the Demon King fought against such humans, sometimes seeming to be holding back, was frustrating and unpalatable. ''''You don''t seem convinced. ...a little bit. What would a more belligerent king do? Zegart lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled. ''What?'' ''I recognize the power. But I don''t agree with you on the countermeasures against gods and humans - if you put your mind to it, that is. "Your summing up of the situation is a bit too rough. I''m the one who, at least as of now, recognizes the Demon King as the Lord of the Rings. Are you sure? The look in Zegart''s eyes, as if he could see through them. Regal did not like those eyes. Oh, well. By the way, I would like to have an audience with the Demon King. Zegart''s smile deepens as he says it. ''And afterwards, I want to talk to you, too. I''ve got a lot to discuss with you. "Consult? It can''t be too bad for you, Regal. The Beast Emperor''s eyes became even sharper. 70 5 Audience of the Beast Emperor "I would like to apologize for not being able to see you for a long time, and I would like to congratulate you on the birth of your new king. I would like to apologize for not being able to see you for a long time, and I would like to congratulate you on the birth of a new king. A lion beastman appeared before the audience and bowed his head grudgingly. His body hair and the armor he wore were glittering gold. The Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegart. He had been lost in the invasion of the human world, but he had finally returned. ''Raise your head. I called out from my throne. ''There are only four of us here, me, Zegart, Stella and Olivier. It''s Fried. It''s a pleasure to have you back. I hope you will continue to help us. I look forward to working with you. According to the story, Zegart''s white army fighting ability is at least as good as Regal''s. It is said to be the strongest class in the demon world. So, in preparation for the invasion of the brave, a reliable ally has been added to the mix. ''''Heeee, that''s really powerful! And Olivier shuddered. ''Oh, but I''m not into men. After all, lilies are the supreme...! "Be less paranoid, Olivier. Stella chided. ''Oh, I''m sorry. Sister, No sisters in public. No, make yourself comfortable. I intercede with them. "...Hmmm. You don''t sound like the former king. Zegart growled. ''Was the former king, Yulisha, strict?'' ''''All previous Demon Kings have been like that. They were disciplined and always caustic. And Zegert. ''If my subjects behave as they do now, they can''t complain about being killed by the king. Isn''t that a bit harsh? ''''Hee.......Am I going to be executed too.......? Olivier''s face turns pale. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you are not going to be punished for that kind of behavior. Rest assured. I quickly followed up. Then I turned to Zegart. ''It''s going to be different from the former king, okay?¡¡I don''t want to be too hard on that area. ''Lord Freed is king now. Your will be done. Zegert tells him reverently. It''s helpful to hear that. "...by the way, Regal wished you to join forces with him when he first met you... The lion beastman slowly looked up. ''''Ah.'''' Would you be willing to share with me? Zegart glares at me with a glint in his eye. "What? "You would be so rude, Maj. Gen. Zegert. Stella interrupted him. "I am speaking to the king. You shut your mouth! Zegert blackmailed him. But Stella didn''t take a step back. "Can you overlook this disrespect to the king? ''Is that the loyalty of a vassal?¡¡A woman''s love affair? What?¡¡Nah, nah, nah, nah! Stella turned bright red and froze. I know it by looking at it. The way you look at the king is far different from that of a vassal. The way you look at the king is far different from that of a vassal, and it''s clearly that of a woman with a lot of passion, isn''t it? "Oh, no, no, no, no, I''m not, I''m not, I''m, uh....lying, it''s that obvious...? Stella is wavering. .........don''t you think you are overreacting a bit too much? Hmm. Zegart took one look at Stella and turned to me. ''That doesn''t mean I don''t recognize the king. Don''t get me wrong. The Beast Emperor grinned as he said it. ''''Since the Demon King''s crest has chosen Freed-sama, I have no objection to serving you as a king. Therefore, please consider this as purely a warrior''s interest. I know it''s insolent to the king. However, if you are allowed to serve Regal, I would like to serve you as well. Your eyes are sharp. No matter the way you talk, you want to see my power, isn''t that what you really want to do? However, if you''re the same type as Regal, showing your power might make the relationship smoother later on. ''....I get it. Well, here we go. Come on. I''m ready. How much power should I use to intercept them? I''m sure you''re as good as or better than Regal, so I think it''s safe to shoot a little bit more magic, but... "Hmm, you''re concerned about me. Zegert growled. ''I do not feel any fighting spirit in you. Only a hint of concern for me, and kindness is a virtue of kings. I don''t feel like a compliment. No, it''s not a compliment, this is not a compliment. Zegert doesn''t want to fight me. He''s trying to find out who I am by fighting me... Then how can I, as the King, respond to that? Ta! Zegart barks and lunges at me. "''Paralyze,'' I opted for the paralysis spell. A yellow-white bolt of lightning shot through Zegert''s massive frame, setting it up. Tepid! It just popped apart easily. This guy.... Paralyze itself is an elementary level of magic, but with my magical power, it can be as powerful as the highest level. It''s a good thing that you can''t get rid of it easily. It seems to have a strong resistance to magic. "You think you can stop me without holding back?¡¡It''s a taunt to this Beast Emperor! Zegert was already close to his eyes. His sharp claws extended like swords and struck down. ''''Rune Blade!'''' I produced a sword of magical power and caught Zegert''s clawing blow. Heavy......... It''s a battle of wits and I''m jittery and pushed. "''Wind!'' I cast the lowest level of wind magic. Even though it''s the lowest grade, it''s more powerful than the highest grade magic cast by ordinary magicians. ''''Ku........Ugh. The wind pressure blows Zegert away. ''''Lucifer''s Shield.'''' I created a magical barrier. And. "Howling... Zegert murmured quietly. Immediately after, his vision wavered slightly. A slight sense of weakness comes over me. The wall of magic power distorts languidly and disappears. What was that.........? As I recall, Zegart doesn''t have the ability to use magic. His strengths are attack and endurance using his overwhelming physical abilities. It''s the ultimate in white knight warfare ability. With that alone, he has the greatest strength in the magic world. ''''Whoa, whoa!'''' With a roar, Zegart rushes in with a roar. ''''©¤©¤"Rune Blade"! I quickly produced a magic sword. This time it''s not just one sword. Dozens of them all in front of me. "Mmm, what a lot of them...! Zegert''s movements stop for a moment. ''''Rune Blade.'''' Without missing that moment, I created additional magic swords around him. Fifty.........one hundred.......two hundred....... A total of four hundred magic power swords surrounded the lion beast man on all sides. ''''I''ve blocked your movements with this. You''ve...¡¡If you''re prepared to take damage, you''ll be able to break through at least this much. Zegert raised his claws. He shattered one of his magic swords in a threatening manner. ''You can''t.'' I hold up my right hand. The image of converging magic. I increase it all at once. At the same time, a black-purple magic sword covered in red lightning appears. It''s not the same as the Rune Blade. It is a "Convergence-type, Void Slash (Vanity Blade)" that cuts through space as well. It is a magical sword that has cut through even the strongest weapon in the heavenly army, the King of Light. If you get close enough, you''ll be fed this. V......................... The blade of the magic sword vibrated with a sound like a featherworm growling. The space around it was scraped away, and small cracks appeared in it. "This, this technique... As expected, even Zegart was surprised. It cut wide open in front of him. A huge black crack appeared in the audience room. ''''..........I won''t be able to find the slightest bit of hope if I am torn into an entire space. The Beast Emperor quietly lowers his right arm. ''''My purpose is to protect the demon world. It''s not to hurt you. I told Zegert. "You are what you need to be. And I''ll do everything in my power to protect you. ...hmm. Follow me, Zegert. The gazes of me and the lion beastman intertwined in the hollow. A brief moment of silence. And. I''m impressed, my king. You have been called the greatest of all time. Zegart bowed his head deeply. However, his eyes still had a light that seemed to be looking at me. Really, did he approve of me? Or ..... ''''Please be careful. I don''t know what Zegart is planning to do. After Zegert left, Stella advised him. By the way, the crack in the space I created earlier has been repaired with my magic. ''''Stella.........'''' I remembered the previous banquet. The existence of the demon tribe who seemed to be planning something against me. They had mentioned Zegert''s name and I suspected a connection. However, they disappeared with Regal''s intrusion, and the truth remains a mystery. ''I''ll use a demon tribe skilled in intelligence to scour his person. If we have any suspicious information, we will report it to you immediately. Okay. I will do everything in my power to protect you, Master Freed. By any means necessary. Stella grabbed the sleeve of her robe with a sizzle. That hand was trembling. ''''Stella...?'''' I''ll take care of you...! I''ll take care of you...! It might not be smooth sailing, but in any case©¤©¤the new Seven Great Demon Commanders are all here in the Demon World. Devil''s Eye (Vision) Stella. The Immortal King (Lord Undead) Regal. Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm) Feria. Kyokushin (Master) Judas. Evil Priest (Priest) Olivier. Alchemist General (Alchemist) Tsukuyomi. The Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegato. The seven high-ranking demons who are to be the swords that protect the demon world. These are my trusty assistants. 71 å…­ Assembly, Seven Demon Commanders It''s about time. I cut off my patrol inside the Demon King''s Castle and headed for the audience room. ''''Ah, it''s the Demon King. Hello~ Good evening, Your Majesty. The guard captain, Lilim and the soldiers under his command rushed over. ''''We''ve come up with a new battle formation again. Would you like to take a look at it if you want to~ Lilim smiles. ''''It''s called ''The Return of Formation Zamato MKII.'''''' This one is amazing. It plummets three times faster than a normal formation. His men were eager to invite me to join them. I''m sorry, but we''re in a bit of a hurry today. We have an audience with the demon chiefs. I said no to Lilim and the others. ''Let me take a look at it sometime.'' It''s comforting to be with the girls, and I wanted to see a little of them if I could. ''Oh, I see. Sorry to hold you back. ''No, we have time to talk for a little while. However, I won''t be able to show my subjects that I''m late. I chuckle. ''Well, the face of the King, I guess. ''That''s the kind of hardship that the people on top have to go through.......'' Lirim murmured with a sobering look. I''m in charge of organizing the soldiers. I can understand that feeling very well. The sorrow and sadness of those who stand above them. Lilim clenches his fists in a tight fist and makes a forceful speech. But. The captain isn''t struggling at all, is he? I''m afraid we''re going to have to let you handle this. He was getting tsked by his men. You''re terrible! I''d have to be ready for the moment.¡¡Crisp!¡¡I''m so crisp! Did I...? ''I''ve only seen you in almost lurid form...? Oh, come on, guys. Ha-ha-ha. I was soothed by their relaxed atmosphere and smiled at them. I want you to work on improving your fighting skills. I''m counting on you. Feeling a sense of regret, I cut the conversation short. ''Yes. Well then, I''ll refine the formation more, so please watch it sometime. Everyone, let''s do our best so that the Demon King-sama can see us. Oh! The soldiers were elated at Lilim''s call. ''''Well, I''d better get going. See you later. Yes! Demon Lord, good evening! After receiving a send-off from Lilim and the soldiers, I continued down the corridor. Today is the first day that I''ve become the Demon King, and for the first time ever, the seven great demon chiefs will be in attendance. "Good evening, my entourage, demon lords. When I was on the throne, I called out to the seven demons. ''''Yes, Demon Lord,'''' The one who kneeled reverently was a beautiful girl with long silver hair and dressed in a military-style black outfit. Stella from "Vision". She is the first demon tribe I met after I was reborn as a demon king, and she is my most trusted aide and confidant. He''s the chief of the Demon Army, who oversees the First Army, which is skilled in espionage. The first one is the head of the first army. Even if a million brave men attack us, it won''t be a very large number. The one who shook his body and laughed vigorously was a lion beastman with shining golden body hair. The "Beast Emperor (Gigantoroa)" Zegart. He controls the fourth army, which boasts the strongest offensive power in the demon army, and is a fierce man who boasts of his incomparable strength in hand-to-hand combat. Whenever the Demon King gives me an order, I''m ready to rush over. I have a lot of work to do, but I don''t need you to call for me to come over every time I have a lot of work to do. The one who told us in an indifferent mechanical tone and added a blunt complaint at the end was a demon race made of silver metal. The Tsukuyomi of "Alchemy Machine General (Alchemist)". She is a homunculus, a modified life form (homunculus) created by the former head of the Demon Army, Izana, and her alchemy abilities are said to surpass even her. He is the chief of the Demon Army, which oversees the Seventh Army, which is in charge of the mechanical manufacturing field. ''''You can call me at any time, Demon Lord?¡¡Not only in the audience room, but in the bedroom... I can deal with you day or night, you know. A beautiful woman with long peach-colored hair smiles seductively. It''s a very sensational outfit that is so revealing it could be mistaken for underwear. Feria from "Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm)". She is in charge of the Third Army, a group of specialists in mind-altering magic and spells. The idea came to me from the coupling of big sister and Feria-sama.... The one who seems to be lost in thought is the girl with the nine tails of a fox. She is the Olivier of the "Priestess". The Sixth Army, which she controls, is made up of demons skilled in healing abilities. I want to take a nap soon. Can I leave early?¡¡Huh..... The one who said this with a yawn was a brilliant boy with silver hair and brown color. Despite his appearance, he is one of the most ancient demon tribe and possesses a magic power of the demon king class. The "Polar Magic (Master)" Juda. He is in charge of the fifth army, a group of magician-type demons. You can''t get away from them.¡¡It''s probably only a.m. now, Commander Judas. A skull swordsman clad in old-fashioned armor said quizzically. He was a high-ranking undead with outstanding swordsmanship, white knight warfare ability, and the ability to absorb the life force of his opponent. The ''Immortal King (Lord Undead)'' regal. He is in charge of the Second Army, the undead army. ''''You''re so formal, Regal-kun. You are in the presence of the Mad King. Everyone refrain from unnecessary conversations. Stella raised an eyebrow at Judah, who puffed out her cheeks like a child. It''s a good thing that you''re so loyal to the demon king. You are very loyal, or perhaps you have a full-blown maiden''s heart. Feria points out. It''s not from a maiden''s heart. I am only speaking from a sense of loyalty. He''s chewing on it. Ugugu.... Stella was blushing. Next to her, Olivier is pouting. ''''Ah, but Feria-sama x sis is hard to get rid of too.......the variations of yuri are endless.......haha.'''' With those three men by my side. ''''Hmm, this is a lot more seditious than the last time we had a demon king. My own opinion is that this is a rather inefficient meeting. We''re all busy. I think we should cut to the chase, sir, as soon as possible. I know we don''t have time for this and I don''t want to make you feel awkward. Zegert and Tsukuyomi are talking. I chuckled inwardly and looked around at the demon army chiefs. Well, in terms of ability, they all have their own excellence. Let''s join forces and prepare for the upcoming invasion of the brave men and women. You are the only ones who have gathered here. "You have gathered here, of all people, to prepare for the coming invasion of the brave men and women. This was the first time the Demon Lord and the new Seven Great Demon Army Chiefs had gathered together for the first ever Demon World Defense Conference. 72 7 Gods trial, final stage V.........n! With a growling sound, hundreds of light balls are produced around the girl. A group of energy bullets, into which the angel, the ''Red Apostle (Rouge)'', poured its full power. I''m going to take it easy. If you''re not careful, you''ll die, so please do your best to shoot them down! Rouge released them in a throwing kissing pose. Hundreds of light balls headed towards the two female heroes in front of them. Both of them were dressed in black clothes and beautiful women holding black bows and fine swords in their hands. They are Ludmila and Fiore of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge). Type 2, Maxi-armor (Axel-Sau) Bullet Precision Firing (Zand-Arrow)! Type 2: The Fire Flower Buster! Ludmilla, a female hero with blue hair in twin tails, shoots shining arrows, and Fiore, a female hero with golden hair tied up, shoots slashes of fire. The number of them are both in the thousands. ''''Divine Breakthrough Guide (Aura Burst)! In addition, Ludmilla and Fiore''s voices chanted. A blue-white glow covered the two types of attacks. Zuo-ooh........hmm! Immediately afterwards, a tremendous blast of light popped out. Rouge''s light ball was intercepted by them and easily erased. ''''The third trial - enhancement using the malfunction (bug) of the law of causality. Apparently, it''s a success. A murmuring rouge. White smoke rose from the surroundings, and there were countless cracks in the space itself. All of this was created by Ludmila and Fiore''s attacks. ''''Following the Chaos Form (Chaos Form) and the Black Vestments (Chaos Jacket), the probability of activating the third power has increased as well, hasn''t it?'''' Rouge smiled with a satisfied smile. In the first stage of the ordeal, she awakened the black Miracle Armor to strengthen her offensive skills. In the second stage of the ordeal, he wore a black vestments to strengthen his defense. And in the final stage, you will be able to control the divine energy as you do now to strengthen it comprehensively. Through the three stages of training, the battle abilities of the brave men had increased by leaps and bounds. (Excellent, Ludmira-san, Fiore-san.) I stared at the two female heroes with enraptured feelings. A blue-white divine air (aura) was rising from their bodies. It was an enormous amount of divine energy that I couldn''t believe was emanating from a human being. I was filled with joy at the growth of my students. They were both honest, hard, and dedicated - truly worth teaching. They are absorbing more and more of Rouge''s teachings and have finally gained the strength to be able to compete with angels in human flesh. I''m even impressed. The speed at which the human beings grow. Ludmira-san and Fiore-san have increased their power to a degree that cannot be compared to what they were two months ago. Even against the Demon King and the Demon Army Chiefs, they should be able to fight well enough. Yeah, I''m not gonna lose this time. Ludmilla tells him emphatically. ''What happened to their training?'' ''''We''ve achieved the same results as you guys. The Four Heavenly Holy Swords have all become several levels stronger. Rouge smiles at Fiore''s question. ''Then let''s take a short break, shall we? It''s tea time.'' Oh, I''ll go make a cup of tea. ''It''s so good when Fiore makes it for you. I''m looking forward to it. Me too. I''ll be waiting for you~ and the three of them headed to a caf¨¦-like place that had been built for a break. Having a little teatime and meal in between training was now completely enjoyable. It was never my intention to interact with humans in the first place. Before I knew it, the girls weren''t just my students, they were becoming like friends. (.........no, I didn''t know angels and God were friends. You''re thinking strange things, I am.) I sigh inwardly. ''The two of you will have a mock battle this afternoon. I have to go out. Do you want to go out? A little into the heavens. Rouge said with a smirk. ''I''m going to give God a tentative report,'' Or the final report. Rouge came to the throne of God - the heavenly realm. A huge silhouette sitting on a throne-style chair that seemed to be more than a hundred meters long. God. The Absolute who has no name, no title, and is only called ''God''. The supreme being who controls his angels and governs the world. Next to Rouge, who is crouched at the feet of God, there is a beautiful boy with a face very similar to hers. The angel "Black Apostle (Noir)". It''s Rouge''s twin brother. ''The training of the brave men seems to be going well. I thank you for your work. What a waste of time, Lord. Rouge and Noir spoke together and bowed their heads reverently. ''''The Demon Army is mighty. The other day, the Heaven''s Strongest Weapon, the Heavenly Fantasy High King (Divine Gear), was defeated away.'''' About a month ago, the Heavenly Soul High King invaded the Demon World and was eventually destroyed by the Demon King. Upon receiving the report, Rouge shuddered. The power of the Demon King was beyond his imagination. It''s a good thing that you have a good idea of what you''re looking for. You''re going to be able to find out if you''re going to be able to get a good deal more than you expected. The brave men''s miraculous armor has grown in strength accordingly. If they reach their limits, some of them may even surpass the Celestial Highness. Continue to strengthen them. God quietly announces. The divine energy (aura) that floods out of his entire body - just sitting there is huge enough to cover the heavens. (If God were to use all his strength to fight the Demon King.) Rouge murmured inwardly. Its power will be on a scale that will flood every corner of the world. Unique and unique. Unprecedented and immortal. (Even if he is a demon king, he can''t be a match for God, the Absolute.) Rouge was sure of that. However, it seems that the current generation''s Demon King has the strongest power of all time. It''s even surpassing even the beginning Demon King Velfer. You can''t be too careful. In the unlikely event that he had a power that surpassed even the gods.... (You''re overthinking it. (There is no such thing as an existence that surpasses God. But if. What if God is defeated by the Demon King? What will happen to this world? My goal is to obtain that power that lies within the demon world. I must obtain it. God told him. However, it needs to be handled delicately. It should be resting in the depths of the Demon King''s Castle, but refrain from making any careless attacks. Ha! The voices of Rouge and Noir chanted. First of all, I will occupy the Demon King''s Castle with an army of gods and men. After that, I myself will go to the demon world and obtain that power. How shall we treat our brave men? And noir. ''''They are God''s pawns. Some of them are strong enough to compete with the high-ranking demons. Be careful with them. I understand. "As for the weak, let them be discarded; as for the brave, let them fight for love and peace, they will gladly give their lives to God. The brave men who fight for love and peace will gladly give their lives to God. The smile that God had on his face oozed a calm yet chilling ruthlessness. No, it''s probably not something to talk about in terms of calm or ruthlessness or any other dimension. We only obey God''s profound recklessness. And people - too. Everything is just a roll in the hands of God. 73 8 Action and decisive battle The Beast Emperor Zegert was facing two demons in the deep forest. It was a secret meeting. The huge mansion that was his home and the separate houses in various parts of the Demon World were all in high danger of being watched by the Demon King''s handlers. The Demon King has a section of suspicion about Zegart and his actions need to be done in secret. ''''It''s been a month since we returned to the demon world. How are you preparing your plans, Sigmund? Zegert asked his gut. ''I think things are generally going well,'' How''s Tsukuyomi doing? ''I have no problem with my work either. I am making 78% progress. I am confident that I will meet the deadline. ''I don''t know,'' the silver magic doll tells him. ''''Not at all. I''m sure you''ve been using it too much because it''s a homunculus. "...I heard your whole heart, Tsukuyomi. ''Voice of the mind?¡¡Huh?¡¡I didn''t say anything about it. Tsukuyomi shakes her head in a white manner. ''You''re still the same,'' Zegart chuckled. Well, the personality aspect is not the problem. What we need is ability. Subordinates like Sigmund, who is outstanding in both character and ability, are not often obtained. The other day we had a little run-in with Demon King Freed, and his ability value (status) is even greater than I''ve heard of. Although I''ve been preparing to fight them, there are still many uncertainties. As I thought, it''s not going to be that easy. Zegart looked at Sigmund and Tsukuyomi in turn. That''s why your work is so important. I''m counting on you. With my life, I will surely help you, Master Zegert. Sigmund bows his head reverently. He is truly a loyal vassal. I will do my best, sir. I''m sure you will be able to find out more about the underground mechanism of the Demon King''s Castle. And that equipment of Lord Zegert''s. And this is Tsukuyomi. ''''It''s hard because I''m busy with the Demon Army Chief''s work and I have to proceed with our work as well.......Zegert-dono is just giving orders, so it''s easy and good. Mumble. I knew I could hear the disgruntled mind in full voice. ''Both of you, keep it up, please.'' Zegert told him. ''''It''s not just the Demon King who is in trouble. It''s not just me and Tsukuyomi, it''s the other five Demon Commanders. Stella and Feria are not the type of people who specialize in direct combat, but they have special skills to be reckoned with. Regal is a fierce fighter of all time, and Judah is a magic user who is as good or better than the Demon King class. Olivier''s recovery ability is also troublesome if you turn it into an enemy. How will we deal with that area? ''''You''re having a chat in a place like this?¡¡Maj. Gen. Zegert, Maj. Gen. Tsukuyomi. Suddenly, a voice came from behind me. ''''........Regal? Why are you the one in this place? Zegert growls. ''A walk,'' The swordsman of the skull, who told him without a care in the world. Since he was undead, I didn''t feel any sign of him at all. How long has he been there? Perhaps they had been asked about their plans. Reflexively, he flailed his entire body. He signaled Sigmund and Tsukuyomi on either side with his gaze. If they sensed something - in the worst case, it was unavoidable to take care of them here. Nevertheless, Regal has a use for it. If possible, I don''t want to bump into him just yet. (And besides, when I become the Demon King, I want him to be in the heart of the army. It was indeed a shame to erase the strongest level of Demon Realm martial artist in such a place. ''''I could only make out bits and pieces, but I think I heard some disturbing words. With a clatter, the armor clicks and Regal walks up to him. It''s not a battle stance, it''s just natural. Was he listening to what Zegert and the others were saying? Or is he saying something like that and exploring our reaction? (........What do you think?¡¡Do you want to keep him wrapped up in the smoke? (Or do I step to the core and bring this guy into the fold) I am concerned. What will become of this world? Zegart let out a sad exhale. He tried to avoid using specific words and kept it abstract. I''m always thinking about it. I''ve been thinking about the best way to protect this world. "I''ve always wanted to take steps to protect this world," he said. And to do that, I need your help. My...? Regal''s voice had a suspicious ring to it. ''You''re being warned. ''You said earlier that you had something you wanted to discuss with me. ''About this?'' Well, that''s not far off, actually. Zegert grins. ''''I consider you to be one of the most trusted and good comrades among the demon army chiefs. This one also decided to reveal a little bit of information and find out the other party''s reaction. I heard that Regal challenged the current Demon King to a fight when he first met him. Although he doesn''t seem to have an attitude of outward defiance, it is possible that he has some kind of dissatisfaction with Freed. If we strike a blow, he may come to our side... I was in my office doing paperwork as usual. Stella was at my side. ''''Demon King-sama, I''ve reviewed the financial and civil engineering, as well as the military-related applications. Please settle the accounts. You''re always helpful. I''m sorry, Stella. I thank her and take the papers. In fact, I wouldn''t be able to turn in this much work without her. I couldn''t thank her enough. ''''It''s a pleasure for me to be of service to the Demon King-sama. If you want to do something like this, I''ll do it as much as I can.'''' Stella smiles happily. ''Well, maybe I should help you with that. The one who opened the door and walked in was a beautiful woman with light pink hair - Feria. ''''Hey, Demon Lord, do you have a job you want me to do?¡¡Oh, maybe a night out or something? Feria, how''s work going? Stella gets a grim look on her face. ''I''ve done my share, okay?¡¡As a matter of fact, I don''t think you''re the only one who stays close to the Demon King. I''m just doing my job. Well, this kind of paperwork is your sole province, but... ''Oh, Sister Stella and Lady Feria are having a conversation...'' This time a beautiful girl with fox ears and a tail came in. A thousand guests. ''''A beautiful girl and a beautiful woman talking........precious.......fenyah. To Olivier. Stella sighs. ''This isn''t a salon, you know. ''Oh, don''t mind me. Please continue with your lily talk. Olivier said with a melodramatic and debauched smile. ''I don''t know about this whole lily-talk thing but you''ve done your job, haven''t you? Of course. I''ve been working as fast as I can so that I can see the precious lily pads in action. The Demon King''s office was getting a bit shifty. It''s always been like this lately. The calm before the storm, perhaps. I sighed inwardly. That''s right - a storm. It may be that it is not long before we can spend a peaceful time like this. The time for the brave men''s second invasion is approaching. The wounds in the warding were getting bigger by the day. They must be attacking with their special Miracle Armor in order to destroy the warding of the demon world. Yes, just like that time two months ago. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on it. It''s just a little bit longer, and I''m grateful for the peace. I''ll be ready for the time to come. I will protect the demon world. And the smiles of Stella and her friends. After a month or so has passed, that time has finally come. "We are informed that an army of brave men has appeared on the outer edge of the demon world! You came... I stood up at Stella''s report. Finally, it begins. The brave men''s second invasion. The second invasion of the brave men and women, with all the power of the demon world... 74 １ Kaiju, Demon Army VS Warrior Army The number of heroes who have appeared in the western edge of the demon world is about three hundred. I want you to intercept them immediately. I had gathered the seven great demon army chiefs before the audience. Among the demon army chiefs, the three who were particularly skilled in combat were Judas, Zegart and Regal. I looked around at them. Zegert, can you go? ''Your first assignment under the new king. With pleasure. The golden lion-beast man bared his fangs and laughed. ''''With the strength of my Fourth Army, let''s offer the heads of these brave men before the king. I''m glad to hear that. While saying that, my face might have been scrunched up under the mask. What I''m giving now is tantamount to an order to eliminate the human army. I''ve been the Demon King for three months now. Compared to the beginning, I feel much more compassion for the demons. I think my resolve to defeat them, even if they are human, as long as they are the enemy, has grown as well. But even so, I''ve still got a strong part of the "human" in my heart. No, it''s the same feeling as a human being. Which is the current me? It''s not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you''ll be able to get your hands on it. Is it still the same as the "brave" freedman? Or is it...? What''s wrong with you, my dear king? The one who sounded suspicious was Regal. "You are not lost in the war against the humans. You have no equal in power in the demon world, and you have no reason to be afraid of the humans. "Regal... What''s on your mind? A voice that seems to see through the conflict that has arisen within me - or a blaming voice. There is an unpleasant air in front of the audience. And. ''Don''t worry, Demon Chief Regal. I''m sure the Demon King has an idea of what we should be doing. Stella said as she gave me a helping hand. ''''I have no objection to Maj. Gen. Zegert taking the honorable lead, but I would like to ask you to give us some role as well. We will certainly be able to help you. With a firm tone of voice, Stella bowed her head. The unpleasant atmosphere that was flowing in the place naturally shifted to the atmosphere of deciding on the division of roles for each demon army chief. As always, I can''t thank her enough for following me around. ©¤ Thank you, Stella. ''''Oh yeah, I don''t have time to just wait around in a daze. Feria smiles. ''If you don''t have a job, don''t, I''m fine with it. ''Huh,'' yawned Judah. ''I''m taking a nap or something.'' It seems to me that Lord Jude sleeps all year round rather than naps. Tsukuyomi tsked nonchalantly. ''Regal and Judah, be on alert with your respective armies. It''s possible that the brave army could attack from many directions. Chuckling at them, I said. ''Yes, sir.'' ''Yeah, the wards are pretty battered. A simultaneous multi-pronged attack is entirely possible. Regal and Judah nodded. ''Olivier''s army will be split in two, half to follow Zegert''s army and the other half to stand by. Okay, I''ll do my first job. Olivier''s voice trailed upward, as if he was nervous. The fox''s ears and tail were wagging impatiently. ''''There is a possibility that the brave army will use their holy power to launch a massive spiritual attack. Feria''s army should be prepared for that. Stella and Tsukuyomi will be at my side to provide support. Feria, Stella and Tsukuyomi also nodded. ''''©¤©¤that is all. Get rid of the brave army without missing a single person in this place, and without missing a single army or people. I concluded my audience with that order. * Finally, the operation to invade the demon world begins. The brave Elio Quell was excited to get his heart pumping. It''s not as brilliant as Fiore, the elder sister who is known as a genius, but he is brilliant enough to have been chosen as the fourth-ranked Miracle Armor "Glacisa" at the age of 15. You are the pride of our family," my father, the Duke of Quell, praises me at every opportunity. I want to live up to my father''s expectations, and I will be stronger. I will be stronger. I''ll do more heroic deeds. I will be braver than my sister, and I will make the name of the Quell family known to the world. Erio trained with youthful ambition. And then he was chosen as a member of the first group of the prestigious group and stood on the land of the demon world. This world, where the sun never shines, is always shrouded in darkness. The air is more stagnant than that of the human world, and there is a sense that it is heavy and clinging. The outer edge of the demon world - the reddish brown wilderness. The reddish brown wilderness spreads endlessly, it is the land of death. And countless shadows appear from the front of it. In contrast to the army of the brave lined up in an orderly line, an army of disparate steps and ranks. The atmosphere was more like a group of lowlifes than an army. They are all demons in the form of beastmen. ''''I''m Guilloua, in charge of the Demon World''s Fourth Army''s Second Unit!¡¡Humans, know this is your final resting place! At the head of it, a rhinoceros-like beast demon race howled. ''''Scatter!¡¡Close quarters, coordinated attack. Long-range types, assist. The leader, a brave man, shouts. ''Coyly!'' The demon tribe, who called himself Giloua, controlled a giant iron ball and did not dare to resist the concentrated fire of the brave men. He was still advancing after receiving countless slashes from the Miracle Armor that was shot at him. ''''Blow them away!'''' Geez. Uggh. The iron ball that was unleashed kicked the brave men away. Although the ranks were about to collapse, the brave men with long-range miracle armor supported them and barely made Guilloua fall back. After that, the battle continued to go back and forth - evenly matched. No, it was Giloua who was slightly pushing. Alone, he is fighting with dozens of brave men for more than five minutes. ''''Strong........! Elio gulped and cleared his throat as he looked at the battle situation. It was frustrating that they were ordered to stay in the rear. The rank of the Miracle Armament is the fourth ''Lord Angel (Dominion) Class'', lower than those fighting in the front row, but Elio has the ''thing''. ''''What''s up, humans!¡¡I don''t need to bother the Beast Emperor or the Demon King''s hands if that''s the extent of it. I guess I''m enough on my own. The ranks are slowly crumbling under the onslaught of Guilloua''s onslaught. Impatience and then fear floats on the brave men''s faces. ''''©¤©¤Shall we do it, that one? Elio made up his mind. If he obeyed the order to stay in the rear, the entire squad could suffer a fatal situation. The only person who could repel an inferiority complex here was himself. Not overconfidence, but confidence. Not overconfidence, but determination. ''I''ll take the guy. Everyone else, stand back! Shouting, Elio stepped forward. ''Oh, hey, you--'' You''re not going to fight alone?¡¡Don''t... He smiled at the surprised heroes. The Miracle Armor Glacisa, chaos form. He called out to the spear in his hand. -Dick! A violent pulsation is transmitted from the spear hilt. At the same time, ''Gracisa'' was surrounded by a black aura. ''''©¤©¤Ho?'''' Guilloua looked at Elio as if she was intrigued. ''''Gaaaaaahhhh...! With a roar, Gracisa had turned into a jet black spear. The tip of the spear became larger by one degree, and red sparks scattered from the tip. Chaos Form (Chaos Form). A new stage of the Miracle Armament that was acquired half by accident in training for the invasion operation©¤©¤. "Oh, you, that''s...? The brave men are beyond astonished and have stunned looks on their faces. "Ahehe, I''ve been training for a long time and all of a sudden I was able to use it... Elio scratched his head in embarrassment. After all, it was only a few days ago that he was able to use it. The activation was also unstable, and he hadn''t told anyone about it yet. I was relieved for now that it worked in the show. ''This thing is many times more powerful than the traditional Miracle Armament. Leave this place to me. Hey, okay, can you do that? The leader, a brave man, said dependably. Elio nodded emphatically at that. ''Let''s go!'' I''m going to kick the shit out of you! Giloua waits for Elio as he rushes forward. The claws swung down seemed to stop in their tracks to the current Elio. The Black Miracle Armor (Chaos Form) does not only increase the attack power. It also raises the power of the person who holds it in their hands several times over. ''''Too late, too late. Smirking, Elio flashed his ''Glacisa''. ''''Yuck...?'''' So, it was a match. Guilloua is cut off from both sides with fresh blood. He swung his spear and, with a snap, brushed off the blood, and raised his fist in the air to his friends. It was a complete victory, to the point of being refreshed. "©¤ ©¤ Ho, it seems that there are some people with a few bones. With a voice that suddenly rang out, the demon tribe''s army was divided to the left and right. ''''What.........? A lone demon tribe leisurely walked along the open road. It''s a lion beastman wearing a glittering golden armor. "You are... The air feels like it''s tingling and charged. An intimidating feeling as if the hair on his body was standing on end. This is clearly different from the other demon race. "I am Zegert, the Beast Emperor. I''m the one who controls this fourth army. The lion-beastman says his name. "The Beast Emperor... Elio gulped. He was one of the seven great demon army chiefs who were considered the strongest in the demon world. The Demon King''s inner circle. 75 2 Furious lion The seven strongest demon clans - the seven great demon army chiefs - were the aides of the Demon King. One of them was standing in front of me. The golden body hair and armor. The golden hair and armor, and the warts that reminded me of a burning fire. It was a fierce lion beastman. ''''So this is the Demon Army Chief...! Elio regained his grip on the jet-black spear - the Miracle Armor "Glacisa". I felt as if I was going to slip. I''m not sure if it''s a good idea. (Calm down ... I''ve become much stronger than before. (By wearing this chaos form (chaos form)) He has always been compared to his genius sister. Fiore, who is spectacularly active as one of the strongest heroes©¤©¤the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge), and himself, who is languishing in the fourth rank from the top. The voices of those around me that the next head of the Quell family is not Elio, but Fiore is the one who is most suitable for the next head of the Quell family are inevitably heard. It was frustrating. It was seething. I admired my sister, but at the same time I had a complicated mixture of jealousy and hatred. I hated myself for that. However, that kind of rudeness - one day, Erio was suddenly awakened. In the midst of his training, the Miracle Armor turned black, and a tremendous amount of power arose from it. It was a semi-instinctual realization. The Miracle Armor''s energy comes from the power of the mind. In other words, it is the power of human thoughts. However, it is the "negative" mind that gives it more power than the "positive" mind of love and justice. What strengthens the power of the holy armor is not a pure hero, but an evil hero. It was a great contradiction. Regardless of the reasoning, Elio became much stronger. Stronger©¤©¤the power to destroy everything©¤©¤. The power to destroy everything©¤©¤. The more power he sought, the more he felt his heart began to turn black. That''s what makes me feel so good. I''ve been liberated. Elio grins. Realize your true nature. Realize that he is free. With that thought in mind, he swings his spear. ''''Even if the opponent is the demon army chief, I won''t lose. Elio brought his consciousness back to reality. The brave man with the measuring instrument murmurs with a bright blue face. Normally, the overall LV of the demon race is considered to be around 50. On the other hand, the top-ranked heroes had an overall LV of around 100, and even the strongest of the Four Heavenly Holy Sword class was around 200. Erio''s own overall LV was 76. ''''The level difference is overwhelming...'''' Elio groaned in a muffled voice. As expected, he tightened his mind. I''m going to make sure that those who want to be torn apart get what they want. Zegert swung his right arm at him. The claw he swung down split the earth. ''''Or do you prefer ''Zan Feng Fang''?'''' With a light shake of his head, a shockwave that flew out of his fangs cut several of the brave men together in both directions. Fresh blood poured down like rain. ''''Or is it the ''Tails of Destruction''?¡¡The Clawing of the High Priestess?¡¡"The Raging Fang? The earth cracks and shatters under the attacks of tails, claws and fangs. The brave men are cut in half one after another, or their entire bodies explode and are blown apart. "Hi, hi! "I''m too strong... The brave men and women immediately fell into a state of panic. ''''Everyone, step back! Elio stepped forward, Gracisa in hand. He kicked the ground and rushed at the Beast Emperor. And. Oh, no, I won''t let Master Zegert get anywhere near you. It was the bird beastmen who stood in the way. ''This Sigmund will kick your asses. Do it! Elio wielded his spear. The demon race named Sigmund flapped its wings with its huge wings. Gosh! The gusts of wind blowing are an attack and at the same time a propulsion for Sigmund to take off. As Sigmund danced through the air, he ''Haaaaaaaaaaaaaah!'' Elio flashed a burst of cleaver spirit. The red lightning that surged out of him entangled Sigmund. ''''Gah........?'''' The avian beastmen let out a bitter cry and crashed down. "Stay back, Sigmund. Zegert stepped forward. ''No matter how hard you try, you''re going to have a tough time dealing with that black miracle armor. But... "We cannot lose you here. For the sake of our ambition. Yes, sir. Sigmund withdraws in frustration. ''Then I''ll deal with you. Zegert stepped forward. ''You should be honoured, young brave. Then the battle with the Beast Emperor began. ''''Gahhhh!'''' The Beast Emperor rushes forward with a roar. Elio swings his spear and intercepts it. Claws, fangs, and fangs attack, leaving several flashes of silver in the void. It''s a series of blows that combine tremendous speed and weight. If you''re not careful for even a moment, you''ll receive a fatal wound. But - I can see it. It''s certainly fast, but not so fast that you can''t handle it. Using his physical abilities and reaction time, which were increased to the extreme by the power of the Black Miracle Armor, Elio used his spear to defend Zegert''s continuous attacks. Ten pairs, twenty pairs, thirty pairs. Their attacks collided with each other, and the impact of their attacks caused a fierce wind to blow. "Ho!¡¡That''s quite good spearmanship! Zegart lifted the corner of his mouth and laughed. We can fight©¤©¤. We can''t push through, but we can barely hold off the opponent''s attacks. Then the rest of the time, we can win by coordinating with the other brave men. ''''If you see an opening in him, shoot him!¡¡I''ll hold it together until then! There was no time to turn around, so Elio called out over his back. Even though most of them had fallen in Zegart''s attack, there was still a brave army left. If we can get those with long-range miracle armor to take advantage of Zegart''s opening - we can win. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this as well. "Hmm, even faster........? Elio suddenly side-stepped and left Zegart. Immediately afterwards, the brave men and women who held bows, throwing spears and stone thrower type miracle armor attacked in unison. Red, blue, green, purple - countless flashes of light slammed into Zegart. With the explosion, the golden armor shattered. The body hair of the same color was dyed in fresh blood. ''''E........! Zegart frowned slightly and backed away. It seems to have caused more than a little damage. No. It''s been a long time since I''ve had my armor shattered. I haven''t had my armor shattered. Zegert was laughing. He was laughing happily, his whole body bleeding. ''It''s been a long time. It''s been a long time since I''ve been able to remove these ''restraints'' that have been holding back my power. Straitjackets...? Elio raises an eyebrow. ''''It''s been a long time. It''s been a long time since I''ve invoked the magic crests in my blood.'''' Golden body hairs sway and blood collects on the chest, turning into a pattern. "Then... let''s... begin! Zegart''s body sank down. A gust of wind blew through. Following that, a plume of blood was scattered. ''''Eh.........?'''' Elio stood dumbfounded. When he turned around, all the brave men except himself had been torn to shreds and fallen. ''''What........happened........?'''' It was a moment - it was a moment. Perhaps the current wind was generated when Zegert ran through. Not only was there no attack, but the movement itself was invisible. Even Elio''s eyes, which were dramatically strengthened by the Black Miracle Armament, were not able to see. ''''Impossible... too fast...! "Hmm, I thought I''d enjoy the fight a little more, but oh well. Zegert''s smile deepens as he licks the fresh blood on his nails with a peroration. ''''Did you think that a human could defeat this Zegert, who is connected to the bloodline of the former Demon King©¤©¤the ''Crimson Lion'' Rosgert?'''' Zegart takes a step forward. ''Hi, hi...'' Elio slumped to the spot. The will to fight had already been lost. The "Glacisa" in my hand returned from jet black to pure white and fell to the ground with a bang. ''''Help..........'''' Elio looked pale and begged. Slowly, something warm spread between his legs. He realized that he had become incontinent with fear. ''Hahahahahaha!¡¡Great!¡¡That''s your face!¡¡That''s what I love most about the human face! Zegart laughs loudly. ''Come on, more frightening!¡¡Pray to God!¡¡Your prayers - let me smash, grind and destroy them! d*mn it, I''m going to be killed. Elio groaned in his mind with despair. (Help.........sis.......!) 76 3 Each battlefield After the fight with the brave man, Zegert let out a small breath. ''Well done, Zegert-sama. A little crunchy, but not my enemy. Zegert sniffs at the odds of his entourage of avian beastmen - Sigmund. "I''ll call for reinforcements to the Demon King''s Castle, Sigmund. More...? Of course, there was no need for reinforcements, since they had actually already won a complete victory over the brave army. We have another objective. ''''I want to summon the Demon King here.'''' But will the Demon King come in person? Sigmund asks quizzically. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about it. My opinion is that it''s about 50-50. He seems to be a little suspicious of me. Well, it''s not unreasonable. Zegart laughs inwardly. I need to know him. How he thinks, how he fights, what he cares about. What do we fight for? The parts that are strong and the parts that are weak. Zegert growled. "How will we respond to the reinforcements? How would you respond to the reinforcements? I pick up the brave Miracle Armor lying at my feet and lightly put some strength into it. Vn.........! With a dull thud, the armament glowed. As if in response to Zegert''s will. "And when all is ready, I will strike him down. A flame of fierce ambition burned in the Beast Emperor''s eyes. * The Demon King''s Castle... "Zeggert is outnumbered? Yes, sir. I received a message from the Fourth Army with such a message. Stella reports to me. The audience with all the Demon Army Chiefs together has already broken up, so it''s just me and her here. ''''Pushing Zegert into a corner...'''' After all, this time''s heroic army seems to be more fierce than last time. Or perhaps there might be a Four Heavenly Holy Sword (Sacred Edge) class. ''''Shall I send reinforcements to them?¡¡Regal, or perhaps Judas, although he''s a bit of a character and a bit of a dullard... Based on their combat abilities, either of those two would be the right choice. It would be Regal, after all. As I thought about it, a chill ran down my spine. What is it...? It was like a gut feeling. It''s not an ability as a demon king. It''s a power I''ve had since I was a human. A hunch, a warrior''s hunch. That instinct told me that I had to move. It was my turn to make a move. "Regal and Judas are on standby. I''ll have them defend the castle and prepare for new enemies. Me standing up from my throne. I''ll take the reinforcements. Master Freed himself...? Stella seemed surprised. ''''It seems the enemy is stronger than last time. The morale of our allies will be boosted if I repel the brave men and women. I don''t want the other soldiers to be upset because Zegert and his reinforcements were defeated. You have an eye on the future of the war, I suppose. Nevertheless, I... Stella''s expression clouded over. ''Are you worried?'' I believe in your power. Just..... "I''m the greatest demon king who ever defeated the King of Light! He chuckles, half-jokingly. ''Don''t worry, you''ll be waiting for me.'' For a moment, silence. Then Stella took a small breath. ''Now, please take this with you.'' Stella bends down in front of me. I cut off a strand of her silver hair. I''ll tie this on Master Freed''s finger. And he wrapped it around my fingertips. ''What''s this?'' It''s a form of communication. If there''s an emergency, I can send you telepathic messages, images, etc., through this hair. That''s handy. ...be careful, Mr. Freed. Stella stood up and stared at me. ''And the enemy, and...'' I know. I''m aware of that. I knew what Stella was going to say without having to tell everyone. The brave army, of course, and Zegert never let up. I''ve arrived at the battlefield where Zegert and his friends are. "Demon king, thank you for your service. The golden lion-beastman who greeted me bowed to me. ''''How is the war going?'''' "Our brave Fourth Army has made a clean sweep of the brave men. Around them, there was a sweltering smell of blood and a pile of corpses. The brave men seem to have been wiped out. Apparently, the war situation has changed drastically on the way here. They didn''t need me to come down to reinforce them. I was bothered by one of them. He asked for reinforcements, but I and my men managed to get them back with some effort. I''m sorry to have caused the Demon King to go on such a fool''s errand. Well no, I''m glad we won. As I said it, I bit my lip under my mask. I would be lying if I said I felt nothing at all when I saw the corpses of hundreds of brave men and women. But I''m the ''Demon King''. For three months, I''ve spent time with many demons. It''s a war, so I have no intention of saying that one side is good and the other is evil. As expected, I don''t harbor such green ideas. But I want to protect the people I care about. It''s not going to change when I was a human hero and now that I''ve been reincarnated as a demon king. The people I care about now... What''s the matter, my Demon Lord? Zegart grinned and looked at me. I felt like he could see right through me inside. ''''Well I admire your bravery. I look back at the Beast Emperor through my mask. ''Great battle result. Well done, Zegert. It''s a pleasure, sir. Zegert''s grin deepens. The edges of his mouth flipped up to reveal long fangs. And. My Demon Lord, we have an emergency. Suddenly, Stella''s voice rings out. It''s as if the voice is echoing directly into my brain. It seems that the voice can be heard through her hair wrapped around my finger. ''''The Hellfire City Jiregga and the Black Thunder City Bardos have been attacked by heroic armies, respectively. I''m not sure if the city''s garrison alone can hold them off. Shall we send reinforcements? Jiregga and Bardos are the second and third largest cities in the demon world after the royal capital, respectively. So it''s a simultaneous two-point attack there? "Send Regal''s Second Army to Zilegga and Judas'' Fifth Army to Bardos. I''ll be right back. Yes, sir. Communication with Stella is lost. As long as it''s not too much of an opponent, Regal and Judah will be able to handle it well. However, this isn''t always the only enemy force that comes in. There''s a possibility that the third and fourth waves will come in addition. "©¤©¤Demon King-sama... Zegert said, confirming that hunch. ''It''s a new move,'' I turned around and saw the reinforcements of the brave army approaching. 77 4 Sortie, four heavenly holy swords The training in the "Oracle Room" had finally entered the finishing stage. In a mock battle in the form of a real battle, the girl who is an apostle of God©¤©¤Rouge is taking on the two brave men. ''''Type 2, Maximum Armor (Axel Sau) Bullet Precision Firing (Zando Arrow)! Type 2: The Fire Flower Buster! The thousands of light arrows that fall down are flicked by the deployed barriers, and the approaching slashes of fire are avoided by jumping up. Even for an angel, it''s a powerful series of blows that wouldn''t be safe if it were a direct hit. Moreover, the two of them aim at the gaps in Rouge''s attacks and defenses, and shoot from the blind spot one after another. It''s not only the incomparable offensive power of the pre-training period, but also the combination of the two has been refined several levels. It''s a good thing that you can''t get past the constant barrage of attacks. ''''Kyaaaah...?'''' Rouge was blown away with the explosion. ''''Ha, ha, ha.......I finally won.......! If we work together, we can stand against the angel class... Ludmilla, who was holding a black bow, shouted under her breath. Fiore, who also held a black fine sword in her hand, smiled with satisfaction. The costumes they wear are also jet black, just like their weapons. They are black brave men and women who wear an aura of evil like demons. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. Rouge, I''m happy for you. Rouge smiles. I was genuinely happy for the growth of my students. I was proud as a teacher and happy as a friend. But©¤©¤that''s why a sadness comes into my heart. When I think about their future destiny. (.........please survive, both of you. (My friend.) The Angel Rouge prayed in her heart. Not to the Lord God, but as his own wish. Just purely - she prayed. * When Ludmilla and the others went outside, two brave men were just about to come out of the next room as well. A fresh, beautiful young man in a robe that reminded me of a wizard. A knight in full plate armor. They were the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords Zion of ''Water'' and the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords Liavert of ''Earth''. ''''Has your training ended?'''' The one I asked was Theon. He is a direct descendant of the "Sword Sage" Zylas, a young man whose superlative swordsmanship is considered to be the strongest in the world. His magic skills are also at the level of a court wizard of a great country, and he was a battle style - a so-called magic swordsman - who handled both sword and magic. ''''Yes. You too? When asked, they nodded vigorously. ''I''ve got new powers,'' I''m not afraid of demons anymore. Take care of yourself. A voice echoes, and the figure of a boy emerges through the door where they came out. It''s a beautiful boy, with a face much like Rouge''s. ''We were trained by that one. And Theon. Apparently, just as Rouge had trained Ludmilla and the others, he was the coach to Sion and the others. ''''I''m going, Noir-sama. Theon bowed, and Liavert gave a small nod in silence. ''Brave men, I wish you all good fortune in your military endeavors. He - Noir smiled. ''We angels are always watching over you. The figure of Rouge floats up to the next door. ''Good luck, guys.'' The two angels are not allowed to come out on this side of the room unless they have God''s permission. Normally, it might be a violation of discipline to visit them through the door. Even so, they must be reluctant to say goodbye to me, as they greet me like this. ''''©¤©¤I''m going to go...'''' Ludmilla bowed her head deeply in gratitude. As she left the cathedral, the sunshine was glaring for the first time in months. A sense of liberation that her training was over and at the same time a sense of elation that the great battle was about to begin. Finally, it was time for the decisive battle. This time, I will not lose. Memories of how he once fought the Demon King and lost, came flooding back. At that time, I couldn''t do anything about it. There was an overwhelming difference in power. I was devastated by the hopelessness of the power gap. But it''s different now. Not anymore. Ludmilla clenched her fists powerfully. Her blue hair in a twin-tail, a yellow ribbon, fluttered in the wind. "I will defeat the demon king. And bring peace to this world... 78 5 Black brave army Regal and the Second Army are in Jiregga, the second city of the demon world. Likewise, Judah and the Fifth Army were in the third city of Bardos. Each of them received orders from the Demon King Freed and went to intercept the heroes. ''''Those two will be safe. Feria took a breath. Unlike herself, whose direct combat power wasn''t that great, both Regal and Judas possessed the strongest class of power in the demon world. No matter how strong the human heroes are, they will surely defeat them. ''''Don''t let your guard down, Maj. Gen. Feria. Stella advised in a firm tone. ''If the second and third waves have come, there''s no reason to believe that the fourth wave won''t come. We, too, must prepare for an enemy attack. But the last time we had an invasion, it was only a hundred men. Can they send that many people to the Demon World in just three months? ''''The wards that protect the demon world are so strong that not even a god can break through them. In my opinion, it''s possible to create a few cracks in it, but it would be extremely difficult to create a rift large enough to allow someone with a strong holy nature to enter. Tsukuyomi explained matter-of-factly. It''s like a machine, she thought. This modified life form (homunculus), which I don''t know what it was thinking, was not good for Feria. ''''I hope strong people don''t come as much as possible. I''d rather fantasize, live in peace, and fantasize about such things.'''' And this is Olivier. The fox ears and tail bounce prettily with a twitch. ''Delusional...nice. Felia licked her lips with her tongue. Then I''m going to have an intense night with the Demon Lord..... Wait, Feria. What dubious delusions you have, Feriah? You''re free to think and feel. It''s disrespectful. It''s generally a time of emergency. I don''t think we should be indulging in such delusions. That''s why we need to keep our minds hydrated and free. That''s the basis for all my skills in spiritual magic. Mmm.... At that moment, a roaring sound was heard outside the castle. When I headed towards the balcony, black smoke was rising from a section of the royal capital. ''''The brave army©¤©¤'''' All of them are about thirty brave men dressed in black clothes and holding black swords and spears. The Royal Capital''s guards fall one by one before their attacks. They are all elite guards, but as expected, their opponents seemed to be skilled at it. The black miraculous armor they wield is used to unilaterally defeat the demons. "......... Feria''s heartbeat quickened all at once. ''''U...........'''' My whole body becomes heavy with the fear that surrounds me. My eyes darken in front of me. My limbs tremble and I can''t stop. ''?¡¡What''s the matter, Feriah... No, no I''m afraid of the brave men... She shook her head furiously at Stella, who wondered. Memories of the earlier battle replayed in her mind. They erupted and stained her with dusky fear. They had killed Feria''s men without mercy. They killed non-combatant demons without mercy. And their blades also rushed to Feria. I''m afraid. I''m afraid. I don''t want to die. Help me. Help me, please. She narrowly escaped, but the first time she experienced a situation where she was one step closer to death, she was severely traumatized. That''s why she closed herself in by putting up wards around her, and eventually her ability to "create dreams" went out of control and spread throughout the demon world. She was awakened and saved by the Demon King Freed, who stepped into the world of dreams, although he caused a lot of damage. His presence lit up Feria''s hope and courage. His brave fighting style gave her the strength to stand up again. But, after all, the brave man is strong. "I''m afraid... Feria... No, I''m still scared......... Feria shook her head from side to side. There was no Regal or Judas here. The remaining demon army chiefs were hardly the type to specialize in combat. The defenders were also being kicked around one by one. In no time, the brave army will reach this castle. ''''©¤©¤It''s okay. It''s all right. Stella hugged Feria''s shoulder. ''''My magic power is almost at full strength. I will see right through their weaknesses. Olivier is there. There''s Tsukuyomi. And there are many demons. I''ll need your help. Stella.... ''Even if we are inferior to the brave army, we will find a way to persevere. Do not give up until the end. Stella was reliable as she told me with dignity. I feel lightened. Just by being around her, I feel brave. It''s the same with Fried. ''''Well that''s true. Her - or rather, her friends'' existence is my hope. That''s why I''m here. Feria clenched her fists. The trembling of her limbs had stopped before she knew it. I don''t want to think that I''m just being protected anymore. A light pink glow floods her front. "Activate spirit magic (astral)... Countless lights converged, drawing a complex trail in the air, creating a magic circle. ''The World of Dreams (Nightmare Hour), The Pattern of Illusion (Ludomistia)'' It''s a magic that acts on the target''s psyche and elicits a powerful illusionary effect. A light purple blur clung to the black heroes'' surroundings. Soon after, their movements stopped. ''''They''ve stopped moving...? ''''Feria-sama, it''s amazing!'''' A high level of mind interference magic? But there are so many brave men and women at once. Stella, Olivier and Tsukuyomi are looking at us. ''''Fufu........'''' Feria let out a big breath. As expected, disorienting thirty brave men would consume a large amount of magical power. ''''We can stall them for the time being. About two hours passed, but the brave men and women wandered around the place, staring into the void and mumbling something to each other - they seemed to be out of mind. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. "But that doesn''t mean we can''t stop it forever. And Tsukuyomi. ''We can''t win just by stopping them. We must make our next move now. "Then I shall mobilize all the forces in King''s Landing to attack. The risk of a counterattack is real, but we can beat them now... It was then that Stella said. A powerful glow lit up the sky. The sky cracked open and a new group of troops landed in the royal capital. ''''More reinforcements are coming...! Stella groaned. Feria also has a grim expression. From a quick look, there are about thirty reinforcements. Regardless if they were small fry, they should all be top-notch brave men. It was indeed impossible to disillusion more people than this. ''''This isn''t good. I can''t stop now... The brave men of the reinforcements come in a straight line down the main street of the royal capital. Once again, they try to use the illusion magic from earlier, but they are very short of magic power. ''No, it''s enough. You''ve made good time for me.'''' Suddenly, a voice rang out. "I won''t let you pass any further, brave men and women - the Blazing Flame of Heaven. Red lotus flames poured down from the sky. ''''Guh........'''' The brave army was blown away with a bitter cry. ''''As expected of a demon army chief. You pierce the blind spot of the opponent''s mind and strike it into an endless loop of illusion - a structure that is like a model of mental magic. A beautiful boy with silvery white hair and brown skin appeared in the sky above and landed on the battlefield. ''''Thanks to you stopping the first group, we made it in time. Judah looks back at us and smiles. ''I''ll take care of the rest.'' He stepped forward with a careless gait. ''Thirty of us, all by ourselves! Don''t lick it, demon! The brave men barked as they held the black miracle armor in their hands. ''Have I offended you?¡¡But I think that''s a fair assessment of our strength. Judah brushed his silver hair and held out his right hand in front of him. ''The black miracle armor used by the brave men of ancient times - the chaotic form (chaos form). Why has it been resurrected in this world? Is the power of the gods coming back or... What are you talking about? The brave men rushed forward with a shout. From black swords, spears, bows and arrows, attacks that far surpassed the normal Miracle Armor flew in rapid succession. ''''Rune Shield!'''' Judah easily blew them apart with a single magic barrier. ''''Foolishly, our Miracle Armor should be far more powerful than normal, but...'''' I''ve been fighting against the Black Miracle Armor. "I''ve fought alongside my friend the Velfer, the first demon king in ages past. Hundreds and thousands of battlefields. A faint glow lights up in Judah''s palm. The light changes colors one after another - red, blue, yellow, green - and gradually increases in luminous intensity. This magic that slaughtered the brave men and women of ancient times without limit, I present it to you as a gift. Goodbye, black heroes. With a smile, Judas'' spell was completed. ''''Annihilation Saint''s Terminal Rainbow (Divine End).'''' Countless rainbow-colored meteors fell from the sky. They shattered the black Miracle Armor and pierced the black vestments. ...ha........................ The thirty brave men standing in front of him and the thirty brave men who were still trapped in the illusion - all of them were instantly decimated. 79 6 Genie Eye and Incubus Princess I cleared out the new army of heroes with Zegert. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. It''s not that I don''t feel anything about unilaterally reaping the brave men and women. I was once a brave man, too. But I pushed away any unnecessary feelings and focused on the battle at hand. The only thing I want to do now is to protect my friends, and my demons. Soon after, the enemy was annihilated and I returned to the royal capital with Zegert. By that time, the battle was already over. Judah, who had defeated the valiant army in Bardos City, had returned to the royal capital and defeated the valiant army here as well. Until he returned, Stella, Feria and the others bought time and endured. ''''They all did well. I praised the activities of the demon army chiefs. Regal, who is fighting in Jiregga City, has not returned. It''s a good thing that they are engaged in a battle with the brave army. However, the battle situation is favorable, and I heard that it will be settled soon. There is no sign of further newcomers coming in, so let''s rest all of our troops while we still can. ''''The demon chief has informed each army to rest. You guys need to rest too. I commanded Stella and the other six. ''Let me know if there are any more changes in the war situation. I said, and I went back to my private room. About thirty minutes later. My Demon Lord, may I have a word? "Enter. There was a knock on the door of the private room and a beautiful woman with light peach-colored hair in twin tails walked in. ''What''s up, Feria?'' You look tired. Feria smiles lustily. ''Not so much. The battle was mostly taken care of by Zegert and the others. And the battle in King''s Landing was over when I returned. ''There''s more to mental exhaustion than direct combat, isn''t there?¡¡This has to be the first time he''s led an offensive of this magnitude. That''s ... well, yeah. Since he became the Demon King, he had experienced several fierce battles. But most of them were one-on-one or close to it. Or even though they were numerous, they were all one-off battles that would end in an instant. This is the first time I''ve had the experience of leading an army to fight the armies that keep pouring in all over the demon world. This is not only after becoming a demon king, but also through my time as a human. In any case, when I was a human brave man, I was just a mere warrior, so I didn''t even have the experience of ''commanding''. In a sense, it''s much more mentally draining than fighting directly by yourself. Moreover, even in direct combat, he had just put a large number of brave men at his disposal. ''''It''s not like I can just go to the battlefield with the Underworld Dragon (Bell) and wipe out the brave men and women and it''ll be over quickly...'''' At the same time, a brave army of heroes came out one after another to a remote location. No matter how much they are the Underworld Dragon, there is some time lag before they rush there. In the meantime, the battle situation is changing by the minute. While I''m away, reinforcements sometimes come to another location. It''s more difficult to get around than I thought. That''s why you need to rest when you need to rest. I wish I could heal you. As she said it, Feria slipped up on me. "Hey, hey, Feria... You''re not going to charm me again, are you? I chuckled inwardly, and then Feria jumped into my chest. ''''I was ... terrified of the brave army in the battle three months ago. That fear still remains even now. Feria...? I was afraid of the battle just now, too. But when I saw Stella and her friends in action I was inspired to fight, too. The existence of my friends gave me the courage to fight. Felia confesses to herself. ''''I''ve been supported a lot, but as one of the demon chiefs, I felt like I had to work even harder. You don''t have to be supported all the time. I''ve been informed that your help has helped to stall the heroic army. I smiled through my mask. ''If everyone gave you courage, then you also gave others courage. You can be proud of yourself, Maj. Gen. Feria. Thank you. Feria gave a sly smile. "Hm. Standing tall, he kissed me. Through the mask, to the position of my cheek. "Feria...? You should thank me. ''''What are you doing, Demon King? And Feria. "Wow, Stella! There was Stella standing in the doorway. And she''s in a terrible mood. She didn''t even knock. "..........?¡¡I''m sorry. I heard a woman''s voice. You''re still a little girl with that jealousy. ''No, no, it''s not jealousy, it''s loyalty - or rather, don''t distract me, Feria!¡¡You, what are you doing to the Demon King! Stella exclaims. ''''Even though it''s through the mask, well, you can''t kiss the Demon King on the mouth, etc.! Oh, I''m jealous?¡¡Do you want to do Stella too? Feria smiles mischievously. The two of us will each be able to see the Demon Lord''s true face - this time on his lips. Hmmm. You''re kidding me!¡¡I don''t want you to take my first kiss so lightly. Demon Lord, you don''t want to give your first time to your opponent, do you? ''I never said that!¡¡I mean, if you''re dealing with a demon king... Suddenly moping, Stella glanced at me. ''''How''s Demon King-sama?¡¡What do you think of us as women? ''Feria, you''re not being very rude! Stella shouted. You''re on the verge of panic. The first thing that comes to mind when you say this is that you are curious about it.¡¡The Demon King''s Feelings. Ugh, I''m curious... a lot. Stella nods with a bright red face. No, no, no. I feel like we''re getting further and further off topic. 80 七 The Undead King VS Four Heavenly Sage A dark world where the sun does not shine. A murky wind tangles my tied-up blonde hair. The sodden air clings to my skin. An unpleasant place. The first time Fiore Kuehl landed in the demon world, his impression was that simple. A place where demons, not people, dwell. It felt right in the senses. It''s a place of evil, a nesting place. Born a nobleman''s daughter, she was honored by her family as one of the strongest ''Sacred Edge'' I''ll reap all the evil that nests in this disgusting place and make the name of the Quell family roar more than ever before©¤©¤. That''s what I''ve decided. You''re going to go. I will get to the Demon King''s Castle in the shortest possible time and defeat the Demon King in the fastest possible time. It was Ludmilla who told him. I know. The four of us now have the power to make up for it, so the demon king is no match for us. Next to him was a young man, Theon, dressed in a wizard-like robe. ''''I have only to fulfill my mission. The knight in full body armor, Liavert, nodded. ''Elio and the others must be ahead of you. Fiore said. Erio is her brother. He is a brave man who controls the Miracle Armor of the fourth-ranked "Lord Angel (Dominion) Class" and a young hopeful who was chosen as one of the first members of the mission to invade the demon world. (Be safe, Elio...) In truth, I was against him becoming a brave man. He doesn''t have the same qualities as Fiore. He just admired himself as an older sister and entered a heroic training institute, knowing his lack of talent. And he obtained a certain amount of power. My brother is much stronger than an ordinary brave man. But in the eyes of Fiore, the Four Heavenly Holy Swords, who was considered the strongest, his strength was dangerous. I have to meet up with him soon........ Struggling with the desire to deviate, Fiore started to advance through the demon world with the other three. Fiore and the others continued on the city road and reached a city surrounded by huge walls. It''s a rather large city compared to other cities. ''''We won''t let you pass from here.'''' A skull swordsman clad in old-fashioned armor stood before him. Furthermore, with a bang, countless moving corpses (zombies) appeared from the ground, and a crowd of dead spirits oozed out of the air. The entire Undead Army had appeared. ''''I am the Demon Army Chief Regal, who controls the Second Army of the Demon King''s Army. All those who avenge the demon world shall be the dew of my sword.'''' Regal holds a creepy sword that looks like it''s made up of countless bones. ''No one can stop us now,'' Ludmilla grimly said, holding her bow-shaped miracle armor, Raphael, in her hand. ''''I''m going to kick your ass, guys. The words were full of confidence. And rightly so. They had become immeasurably stronger through their training during the oracle. ''Yes.'' Nodding, Fiore holds his fine sword-shaped miracle armor, Michael. It''s the first battle with new power. Shall we go with a flourish? Theon carries the spear-shaped Miracle Armor "Gabriel". "All I have to do is make my way to the Demon King in the shortest possible distance. Riavelt held up the huge hammer-shaped Miracle Armament "Uriel". At the same time, a jet-black costume - a black vestments (chaos jacket) enveloped everyone''s bodies. ''............ With Regal''s short words, the battle began. The miasmic shockwave of miasmic death spirits released a miasmic shockwave, and the zombies narrowed the siege from all sides. ''''Type-2, maximum armor (Axel-Sau) round precision firing (Zand-Arrow)! Thousands of arrows of light released by Ludmilla shot the zombies together. The holy power causes all the zombies to stop moving and disappear. ''''Type 2, Cherry Blossom Flame [Fire Flower Buster]! Flames swirled out of Fiore''s fine sword and flew out in a whirlwind, burning away the dead spirits. ''''Well we''re out of luck, aren''t we?'''' Absolutely. Behind him, Theon and Liavert looked a little rusty. And. My men... Regal kicks the ground and rushes forward. It''s so super-fast that it''s hard to believe it''s clad in heavy armor. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. With a crunching sound, both of Regal''s arms were cut off. ''''©¤©¤Eh? No, no. Before she could cut it off, the enemy''s arm was cut off by itself. The left and right arms slid directly through the air. ''Hades Blade''! A bone sword covered in miasma is unleashed from behind. I couldn''t avoid the slash, and it struck my back. What.........? Regal shouts in surprise. "If it was me before, that blow would have killed me. But... With a smile that was filled with grace, Fiore reasserted his fine sword. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to find a way to get a job. The miasma of the miasma is not a good thing when you''re wearing a black vestments or chaos jacket. This time she rushes forward. Now without both arms, the skull swordsman is defenseless. ''''I''m going to end it©¤©¤'''' Ouch. Regal brought his arms back to his body in the nick of time and caught the blow with his bone sword. As expected of a demon army chief, he was tough. But.... "Aura burst! Fiore shouted. At the same time, the divine energy rising from his entire body swelled up several times. ''''The power still goes up........?'''' Swallowing down Regal''s astonished voice. ''''I told you that I would end it........'''' They didn''t stop walking until they met up with Elio. Fiore''s slash, clad in flames, cut both swordsmen of the skull off. * I was dressed between Stella and Feria. ''''Come on, Demon King-sama. What do you think of us?¡¡Just a subordinate?¡¡Or will they see me as a woman? And Feria. No, what are you talking about all of a sudden? "Do you prefer Stella to me?¡¡Sometimes it''s a good vibe. I''m in a good mood... Stella''s cheeks relaxed for some reason. ''''Well, me and the Demon King-sama...'''' ''Huh, Stella is a pretty thing. You can be proud of yourself. Really, Feriah? Pretty, pretty, pretty. You''re actually a very nice guy. What do you usually think of ''really''? No, no, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean it. Stella bows her head in a bow to a jit-eyed Feria. No, no, no, no, no, the story is going off in a stranger and stranger direction. And. Excuse me, Your Majesty. The newcomer was Zegert. ''I''m here to report.........are you taking in?'' The Beast Emperor looks at me, Stella and Feria in turn and smiles at me. ''''No, it''s nothing. ''''Report, what do you mean?'''' I''ve just received word from a messenger. Zegart tells us. "It seems that Regal and the Second Army, who were fighting in Zilegga, were defeated by the brave men... 81 8 The beginning of a true fierce battle ''''According to reports, Regal was defeated by a group of brave men calling themselves the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge). And Zegert. The Four Heavenly Holy Swords. They are the four brave men who are considered to be the strongest. One of them, Ludmilla, I had fought before. I''m going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to get the job done. ''''An opponent that Regal can defeat even if you send half a dozen troops to them, they''ll still get their revenge. Zegart squeezes his chin. ''What will you do, my king?'' There was a light in the lion''s eyes, as if it was testing me. ''''©¤©¤I''ll go.'''' He said no. "Ho, the king himself. ''''Regal is one of the fiercest men in the Demon World. If he''s good enough to beat it, I''ll have to go out. I met Zegert''s gaze head on and said. ''I need you and Judah to protect this place. I wish you good fortune, my king. Zegert bowed reverently. ''Good luck, Demon King. Well, I''m sure you wouldn''t be able to do that very often.'''' Judah''s tone is easy-going. And. My Demon King, there is one more thing... a sign of a brave man with great power approaching. Stella looked up with a huff. A third eye opened on her forehead. ''What?'' There are two of them. Every garrison in their path seems to have been destroyed in an instant. ...don''t let it get to you. I growled. That one could also be an opponent on the same level as the brave man who appeared in Jiregga. Or it could be the Four Heavenly Holy Swords. It could be two moves or even more routes, and they are advancing separately©¤©¤? If that''s the case, none of them would be able to deal with an ordinary demon race. "Send Judas over there. I''ll be standing at Jiregga right away. Stella will be in charge of the rest. Zeggert, Feria. Coordinate with the rest of the demon army chiefs and be ready for an attack on the Demon King''s castle. I gave them a quick order and left. * The march of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords was truly a march. The demons standing in his way were instantly killed by the power of his black Miracle Armor (Chaos Form). The black vestments (chaos jacket) blocked all of their attacks. There''s no need to use their trump card, the Divine Spiritual Destruction Guide (Aura Burst). In the blink of an eye, they were closing in on the outer edge of the demon world to near the center. ''''How do we proceed beyond this?¡¡The four of you in a straight line to the Demon King''s Castle? Fiore asked. "Or... I think it''s time we split up. Ludmilla said. ''Because we don''t want to risk everyone being rounded up by an enemy trap or an unexpectedly powerful enemy. ''''I agree with you. There are still six demon chiefs left. It won''t be a simple matter to deal with, you know. Sion agrees. ''How about a pairing of me and Liavert, Ludmila and Fiore?¡¡It''s a group we trained with, and I''m sure they''ve honed their coordination. I don''t object. Me too, sir. Fiore proceeded with Ludmilla. As they progressed, a bad feeling was gradually growing. Even though it''s the next best thing to rapid progress. Why on earth©¤©¤. That question will eventually be resolved. In the worst possible way. I''m going to have to say that I found it when I was in the mountains. Ah. Fiore''s expression froze. Her mouth stopped in a way that made her inhale heavily. ''''It''s awful...'''' Ludmilla murmured. The corpses of countless brave men and women were folded over the blood-soaked earth. Fiore''s gaze was riveted to that one point. No words came out. His head denies the scene he saw. Reason denies it. The heart denies it. No. It cannot be. It must not be. ''Ahhhhhhhh...'' With a gulp, the strength from his knees disappeared and Fiore collapsed on the spot. ''''Ahhhhhhhhhhhh..... A strangled cry and a scream. What she sees in the end of her gaze is... The head of her beloved brother Elio, lying carelessly on the ground. * Theon Mertillat was advancing in the wilderness. Next to him is a knight in full plate armor©¤©¤Riavelt. ''''We''re still a long way from the Demon King''s Castle. Gazing at the huge castle that loomed far ahead, Theon sighed. ''''I can''t go any faster than this, ne. And Reavert. A cloud of dirt smoke is rising from the two men''s feet. The high speed movement using the power of the Miracle Armament of the ''Earth'' that Riawert has. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. It''s a long way off, Theon. ''''It''s more like I''m getting carried away. The last time we had an invasion battle, the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords were out of our hands. It''s like we''re finally in the spotlight. His fresh smile didn''t falter, and yet there was a fierce fire burning in Sion''s chest. A flame of justice and a sense of mission. ''''In the name of my ancestor, the Sword Sage Zyrus©¤©¤I will defeat the Demon King. For the family? I''m on a mission. Sion laughs briskly. ''From the time of birth and fall, those of the House of Mertillat are on a mission. To fight and save the world as brave men and women. We dedicate our entire lives to that mission. Life is a preordained path. I''m happy with that, and I''m happy with it. And Theon. ''That''s how I''ve protected so many people. The smiles of many people. Happiness. I''m proud of that. It''s what I''ve been doing my whole life. Above all, fulfillment. A lifetime mission.... That''s a very confining way to live. The front is hazy like a shimmer, and a sleek silhouette appears. ''''You are...'''' Master Judas Ruggis, one of the chief of the demon army. He looked like a boy, but being a demon race, he wasn''t necessarily as old as he looked. He had an air of solemnity about him, as if he had lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years or more. It looks like he''s not just anyone. ''''I won''t let you pass from here. Then why don''t you just say, "By force"? Theon asked gruffly. ''If you think I can help you, try me. The silver-haired demon tribe keeps smiling. ''''Then... it is my choice. Sion and Liavert held their black miracle armor at the ready. 82 9 Wind rematch I was riding the Underworld Dragon (Bell) and flying all the way to Jiregga City. On the way. I''m getting a very strong aura, Mr. Freed. Bell said. ''Divinity?'' They may be brave, but they''re like an angelic class of people - very powerful people. Where is it? Just a little further. Around the Grudge Mountain Range. Belle answers my question. ''Do you want to go?'' Please. After going through the skies for a while, Bell landed on a mountain road. As I recall, this was the place where Zegert''s army had intercepted the heroes in the previous battle. Not long after, two brave men come from ahead. ''''You guys........'''' All of them were female brave men. One was a vivacious-looking beautiful girl with her blue hair in a twin-tailed yellow ribbon. The other was a graceful beauty with golden hair tied up in a bun. One is a familiar face. One of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge), the strongest among the brave men. Ludmilla Deal. "Demon King... "This is...? The blonde girl glared at me. Elio, you have your regrets. He held up his fine sword. ''''The Four Heavenly Holy Swords of ''Fire'' - this Fiore Quell! So this guy is the Four Heavenly Saints'' Sword. "This time I''m going to beat you. Ludmilla holds her bow next to Fiore. ''''I''ll never lose again!'''' Yes, we will. I promise. A black glow rose from the two men who nodded at each other. ''Chaos form (chaos form), activation. Black Vestments (Chaos Jacket), deploy. With a chanting voice, the miracle armor they possessed was dyed jet-black and their appearance changed dramatically. Ludmira''s bow changed from an X shape to a star-like shape, and Fiore''s slender sword became a sword that exceeded her height. ''''So this is the black miracle armor Zegart told me about...'''' I raise my eyebrows under my mask. When I was a human being, I fought as a brave soldier for about 20 years, but I''ve never seen or heard of such a transformation function in the Miracle Armor. And the costumes they wear. This one was not what Zegert had reported. I don''t know, is it the power of a brave man that I don''t know about...? Even though my status is the strongest Demon King of all time, I still need to be wary of unknown battle methods. I guess I''d better brace myself enough. "Type 2 - Maximum Armor (Axel-Sau) Bullet Precision Fire! It was the arrows of light released by Ludmira that signaled the opening of the battle. I''m not going to be able to get the same thing done. Literally, the difference in the arrows of light rained down around me in a shining rain. ''''Homing Meteor.'''' I created countless giant fireballs and intercepted them. The surrounding area is engulfed in explosive flames and explosive light. ''''Type 2, Cherry Blossom Flame [Fire Flower Buster]! As if to cut through it, a slash of fire was approaching. However, it was expected that it would take advantage of our gap in coordination. ''''Meteoblade!'''' I shot out flaming sword after flaming sword around me, offsetting the flaming slashes. The surrounding area was still surrounded by black smoke and explosions. Where are they? Where are they going to attack from©¤©¤. ''''Homing ray!'''' I let out my next spell with caution. If they can''t see me, I''ll use automatic tracking type magic to finish them off. ''''Kyah!'''' There were two screams that echoed. There were explosions at the front and side respectively. The blast that erupted blew away the black smoke and widened my vision. "...Did you survive? Neither Ludmilla nor Fiore seem to be chasing any damage that seems to be damage. There are a number of reddish-purple shining light shields floating around the two of them. That''s probably what prevented the ''homing ray''. Or it could be the ability of the black vestments. ''''It''s sturdy.'''' I don''t want you to think that your offense and defense are the same as they were before! Ludmila held an X-shaped bow. Countless tornadoes blew up around it. ''''We have become strong. Forged by the messenger of the gods to avenge our demons!'''' With a thin sword in hand, Fiore announced with dignity. Red lotus flames swirled around his sword. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on it. "This is©¤©¤the aura, Me muttering. It is an emanation of the power of God and angels, the holy power. Ludmilla and Fiore, who are humans, are emitting it in a very strong way. ''''I don''t want you to be surprised like this, Demon King. Our true potential is yet to be discovered. The two huddled back to back and shouted. "This is our trump card... the aura burst! At the same time, their divine Qi exploded. ''''Destroy, Demon Lord!'''' Countless tornadoes were released from Ludmila and Fiore shot out fireball after fireball. The atmosphere was scorched and the earth cracked. Space itself is screaming. The power is different from the previous one©¤©¤! I stared straight at the approaching wind and flames and "Convergence Type: Vanity Blade. A flash. And you''re gonna slice through it all. Oh, no...! The two brave men groaned in astonishment. ''''Just as you''ve become stronger than then, my power has also evolved...'''' With the sword of emptiness in my hand, I quietly announce. "Too strong... Ludmilla dropped to her knees with a huff. Probably used up all his strength earlier. ''''I didn''t expect it to go this far...'''' Fiore groaned with a pale face. ''I have nothing against you guys directly. I looked at the two brave women. In fact, I could sense a dignified and strong will from them. I''m not a depraved hero who wears authority by the hilt or covets glory and glory. I''m sure they''re exemplary brave enough to fight for love and justice on earth. But even so.... In order to protect our world, in order to protect our friends, I''m going to ask a brave man to disappear. It was the duty of a demon king. I declared arrogantly. 83 10 Signs of a melee "Master Judas, one of the seven great demon chiefs, a master of extreme magic... Sion grew tense. Next to him, Liavert was also getting ready for battle. After separating from Ludmila and the others, Judah stood in the way of the Demon King''s Castle. "Overall LV 620, MP 9000 - when it comes to magic power alone, this one surpasses the Demon King class. Liavert looked at the measuring device and murmured. ''''More magic than a demon king, huh? Theon regained his composure again. It would be better to take it as an intention to fight the Demon King rather than the Demon Army Chief. ''''If that''s the case©¤©¤Sion, your ability is very important. ''''Yeah, if they''re a sorcerer-type (Maygas-type) demon race, that''s where my ''that technique'' comes in.'''''' That technique he had mastered, the secret of the Zyrus style of swordsmanship... "Haaaaaaaah! Zion emits a red flash from the black spear. It''s an energy wave caused by divine energy. ''''Runeshield.'''' Judah deployed a magic barrier in front and prevented it from happening. With a bang, bang, bang, the atmosphere turned into plasma with sparks, causing a small explosion. A crack appeared in the black magic power shield. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not the only one. It''s as if he has perfected the chaos form (chaos form). Judah looked impressed. ''It''s a big deal. It rivals - or maybe even surpasses - the brave men of old. You''re a generous man, demon. But the margin for error is slackness. Reavert swings his hammer from behind. ''Remember there are brave men here too, Na! He attracted the attention of the demon tribe with the current offensive and defense, and he moved with the ''earth'' technique to launch a time-delay attack©¤©¤. This was what the two of them had been aiming for from the beginning. ''''Megawind.'''' Judas cast the spell without looking back. A gust of wind blew the reavert away. Reavert re-positioned himself dexterously in the air with his tongue and landed on his feet. ''''Was that the highest level of wind magic?'''' Theon groaned. "Strong... It''s not going to be a simple matter. I have one question. Judah held up a twitching index finger. ''How did you guys acquire that power?'' Why would we reveal that to you? No. Judah smiles briskly. ''I''m just curious,'' He was aloof to the point of aloofness. He had a soft, gentle demeanor that didn''t seem to fit for the battlefield. ''You''re a joke. I''m not here to have a chat with demons. Theon readied his spear. ''''Well no, I''m willing to go along with the story for a bit, Row. Liavert got on with Judas. ''Oh, hey, what are you talking about?'' I have my own ideas. Liavert said to the puzzled Sion. His face, covered by a full-face helmet, gave no indication of his expression or thoughts. ''We were trained by angels. Angel...? Judah raises an eyebrow. The ancient battles have left such beings as gods and angels with little influence on the human world. They may give you a divine armor like the Miracle Armor, but they shouldn''t be able to engage you directly, right? It is possible now. At last. Liavert told him nonchalantly. Unlike his usual emotionless voice, there was a slight heat in his voice tone. A joy, a fever. ''''.........I see, God''s influence on the earth is increasing. Interesting. Judah growled. ''I asked you one question, too.'' ''Hmm, it''s not fair that I''m the only one who gets an answer. Go ahead, brave boy. Do you still have that thing underneath the Demon King''s Castle? And Reavert. (What are you talking about...?) Theon raised his eyebrows. This was the first time he had ever heard of something in the basement of the Demon King''s Castle. ''''A power that was taken away and sealed away long ago, Da. ''Huh, I didn''t know you knew that. I''m surprised you''re aware. You seem to be aware of that. Judas murmured admiringly and looked at Liavert. ''I wonder who taught you that?'' I know. Liavert tells us. ''God da,'' The next moment, a bombing hit the surroundings. When I turned around, I saw a line of brave men with swords and spears at the ready. ''''You guys are...'''' Theon''s eyes widened with a huff. It seemed that a squad of brave men was still alive. ''My hands Da.'' Liavert said. ''What...?'' We are on our way to the final objective of this mission, the Demon King''s Castle. Eliminate those demons that are in our way! The brave men shouted. ''We won''t let you go to the castle!'' Judah fired a magic bullet to check them out. ''No ne. It''s me who''s going. Liavert kicked the ground. ''''Shattering Ro - Type 2, Rikuha Super Heavy Attack [Royal Earth Break]! He wields a huge hammer-shaped miracle weapon, "Uriel," which is a huge hammer-shaped miracle weapon. ''''Solid Shield.'''' Judas created a magical barrier and caught it. "Stop my blow...? It''s a specialized anti-physical barrier. Most of the Miracle Armor knows its properties from ancient battles. Judah smiles at Liavert, who is surprised. "Your ''Uriel'' is the strongest of all the Miracle Armor when it comes to physical attack power - that''s why I''ve decided to counter it with a physical specialization as well. Dear Mr. Liavert, I agree! And then the brave men attacked at once. In their hands, they all had black miracle armor. Besides Sion and the other Four Heavenly Holy Swords, I had heard from reports that there were several other heroes who had awakened to the chaos form through their own training. As expected, there were no heroes who had awakened to the black robes (chaos jacket) or the trump card, the divine breakthrough guide (aura burst), but..... ''''Kutu........! Judah retreated significantly after receiving a barrage of long-range attacks. ''''There''s a gap, Da!'''' At that moment, Reavert ran out. It''s not just a matter of time before you''re ready to go. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out what''s going on. It''s a good idea to have a good time. I''m not going to let you get away with it. "I won''t let you get away. No, let him go. Theon controlled Judas as he tried to chase after him. We don''t know what Liavert''s purpose is. We don''t know what''s in the Demon King''s Castle. But Theon - Theon only trusted his companion who had shared his hardships until now. I''m sure there''s a reason if he''s heading to the Demon King''s Castle. If that''s the case, then I''ll........support you with all my might! Announcing, Sion re-positions the ''Gabriel''. A blue light of divine energy shining from the tip of the jet black spear overflows. "If you turn your back on me, the moment you turn your back on me, I''ll be able to use ''Gabrielle'' to rip you apart... Well that''s not very pleasant. Judah''s expression tightened slightly. 84 １１ Devil City Underground The audience room of the Demon King''s Castle. Fried and Judah sailed out, and the five members of Stella, Olivier, Tsukuyomi, Zegart, and Feria were waiting here. ''''©¤©¤They''re coming.'''' A third eye opens on Stella''s forehead. ''Can I help you, sister?'' Someone is approaching the Demon King''s Castle. This response is... underground. Stella answers Olivier''s query. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. That''s where they''re targeting it, or... Tsukuyomi murmured nonchalantly. ''In any case, we should protect the underground. Okay, me, Tsukuyomi, and Zegert will head out. Okay? Since Demon King Fried is not here, she has no choice but to take the lead. ''''All right.'''' Yes, sir. The Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) and Alchemist (Alchemist) nodded. ''''The rest of us will stay here in case of an enemy attack. Stella ordered. ''It''s possible that whoever is targeting the basement is a diversion. Hey, sister, have a nice day. Olivier clings to me. He wagged his fox ears and tail anxiously and hugged me tightly. ''There''s Zegert and Tsukuyomi, too. ''No problem.'' Stella smiled. Stella proceeded to the basement of the Demon King''s Castle with Zegart and Tsukuyomi. ''''©¤©¤What''s here, Tsukuyomi? Stella who asks. ''''A secret that not even our Demon Commander is aware of... you know about it, don''t you? It''s a matter of first class secrecy. Tsukuyomi''s reply was indifferent. ''''It is information that was only passed on to the generations of alchemist generals (alchemists). I''m fed up with this secrecy. I''m not going to tell the Demon King what''s going on underneath the castle," she said. It''s a job for Tsukuyomi. This is not our concern, Stella. Zegert laughs hawkishly. ''But this is an emergency. Without a bit of information, we need to know how to respond... Stella was about to defend herself, when. Bogo! The inner walls suddenly blew off. "The basement is indeed heavily guarded. We can only go so far. A knight in full body armor appeared with a cloud of dust. In his hand was a huge hammer that was colored jet black. ''''I am Liavert, one of the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge). I am here to avenge the demon race. Liavert tells us in a squeaky voice. ''One of the strongest and bravest - and the black miracle armour that was reportedly in place. Stella''s expression tightened. A black sacred tool that is said to be much more powerful than the normal Miracle Armor. "You are to stand back. If it''s direct combat, it''s my territory. Zegart takes a step forward. ''Be careful, Zegert,'' Stella called out on his back. ''Zegert is one of the strongest warriors in the demon world, but you can never be too careful. ''''Who are you talking to?'''' The golden lion laughed furiously. The fighting qi emanating from his entire body swept the heat wave around him. ''''However, if anything happens, I''ll need your support. Yes, sir. So.... here we go. I said, and Zegart kicked the floor. The gust of wind that arose was caused by the blows they unleashed. The roar that followed was the sound of their yells and the collision of their attacks with each other. The huge hammer-shaped Miracle Armament struck with tremendous speed, and Zegert forcefully flicked it back with force alone. Two more blows, three more blows. The atmosphere creaked with each collision. My feet are trembling like an earthquake. There was no small technique or tactics. They were head-to-head combat with each other''s power at the forefront. With a crunching sound like steel colliding with steel, the two were separated. I''m not like the kid I fought before. It''s nice to see a foe with a lot of teeth. The roaring Beast Emperor. "Then I shall do my best to help you... With a bang, Zegart''s armor popped off. A red pattern appeared on the chest covered with golden body hair. A demonic pattern. It is the crest that emerges when Zegart is in full throttle combat. ''''Be torn apart by the lion''s clawed fangs! "You think a beast is an enemy to a righteous and brave man? Claws, fangs, and tails that are unleashed while shattering the atmosphere and spreading gusts of wind. Reavert''s hammer, which intercepted it, was not defeated by force either. Each time their attacks collided, a heavy crash sound resounded, and shock waves bounced in all directions. The battle was evenly matched. "I''m not sure if you''re going to be able to fight me with the magic crests... So much for... Moaning Beast Emperor and the Four Heavenly Holy Swords. And that was when. ''''Huh........?'''' Suddenly, Liavert jumped back significantly. ''''The reaction to ''that power'' - as I thought, it was here. Liavert murmurs. ''As the oracle says, Da.'' What? Zegart stops moving as if he were wondering. "Don''t tell me that you are also aiming at that power... He looked at Liavert with a huff. I am the only one among the brave men who receives orders directly from God. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. I will not give it to the demon race. (What are they talking about...) Stella listened to their conversation with suspicion. Considering the situation, ''that power'' is probably something that is hidden in the basement of the Demon King''s Castle. I tried to explore it with my third eye, but I couldn''t find anything that looked like it. In the first place, I''ve used all kinds of pupil techniques to explore the basement of the Demon King''s Castle until now. But there was nothing in particular that was suspicious. (What is the ''power'' that not only Zegert, but even the brave men are aiming at........) It was heartbreaking. And. Uriel, the Miracle Armor... unleash the full power of the Earth! Liavert shouted. The hammer in his hand growled violently. The floor rippled loudly. In the next moment, Liavert''s body slipped through the floor and disappeared underground. ''''What...?'''' In an instant, Stella and the other three stood still. And. Gleam........! A golden light flooded out from the entire floor. ''''What, what is this enormous divine spirit (aura)...?'''' Stella shivered. ".........Hmph......whoever obtains ''that power'' is only temporary. It will be in my hands in the end. Zegert murmurs softly. It was just as the gods said. The power that was stolen and sealed in the ancient war is now in my hands... Immediately after, the reavert appeared again, oozing out from under the floor. However, the signs were completely different. The divine Qi that Liavert was wearing was increasing at an abnormal level. ''''You.........are.......! Stella groans in a muffled voice. The enemy in front of you is no longer a brave man. No longer is the enemy in front of me not even a human being. No longer - beyond even the angel class. I''ve got it. I... The Power of God! From the back of his black costume, Liavert sprouts rainbow-colored wings and flies up. ''''Now, you evil demons - now let the gods judge you. 85 12 "Power" that appears Stella pushed down the tension that was building up and stared at the brave man who was surrounded by a rainbow-colored glow. It''s an unusually intimidating feeling, to the point that just being relative to him is enough to crush his entire body. ''''God''s judgment?¡¡Hmm, you think you''re a god yourself? Zegert, who was still unperturbed in the midst of this intimidation, had the gall to do so. ''That''s right Da,'' Liavert nodded quietly. ''''Now - I''ve obtained the power of God. I don''t care if it''s a demon chief or a demon king, they are no longer my enemies. Destroy them before my power. The swinging hammer was covered in rainbow-colored glitter. ''''Polar Style, Holy Heavenly Land-Headed Super Heavy Attack [Eden''s Earth Break]! What the...?¡¡This power...! After receiving a shining blow, Zegert let out a shaky voice, as expected. Making use of the spring unique to the beast, he jumped down heavily. Following that, Reavert struck yet another blow. ''''Guuuu.........! Zegert, the strongest level of fierceness in the Demon Realm, had been completely outgunned. That''s how much physical strength. That much physical power, that much pressure.... "All wickedness shall be destroyed. Liavert stepped forward. He just swung the hammer with all his might. But that simple attack creates a fearsome destructive force and blows everything away. ''''Guh........! Tsukuyomi let out a bitter cry. The silvery white flesh that looked like armor crumbled more and more from the surface as soon as it was touched by the rainbow-colored shockwave. Its limbs were shattered and a large hole was made in its body, which eventually shattered into pieces. ''''Noooooooo........Sage''s core stone (elixir core), detachment (reject).......'''' Leaving behind such a voice, Tsukuyomi turned into countless wreckage and scattered on the spot. ''''Tsukuyomi!'''' Stella shouted. The homunculus, which is supposed to boast a much stronger physical strength than the average demon race, was destroyed by the aftermath of the attack - just by receiving the aftermath of the attack. It was a power that was far too obscure. Or is it really the power of a god...? "Hey, we''re retreating, Zegert! Nuh-uh. It''s humiliating to run away, but now I have no choice...? Zegart growled in frustration as he left, following Stella. * I was facing Ludmilla and Fiore. It is an opponent that cannot be trifled with, but my victory is unwavering©¤©¤. At that moment, a tremendous radiance suddenly burst forth. "This is a sign... When I turned around, I saw a long pillar of light rising up to pierce the sky. Was that in the direction of the Demon King''s Castle? Moreover, it was an uncommon divine spirit. Even compared to Ludmila and Fiore, it was overwhelming©¤©¤. It''s as if the gods themselves had descended from the sky. "...Let''s go back, Belle. Hmm, are they good? The Underworld Dragon (Bell), who was standing behind me, looked at Ludmila and Fiore and asked. They held their bows and fine swords at the ready and looked at me without caution. The battle situation is in my favor. But they have unknown powers, such as black miracle armor and vestments. They won''t be easy to defeat. In fact, if you launch a careless attack, you may be met with a painful counterattack. Even if your opponent is less powerful than you, you need to be wary of "unknown forces". There was a good chance that the battle would become a protracted battle. ''''... that way is the first thing to go. I''m worried about Stella and the others who were left at the Demon King''s Castle and the residents of the royal capital. Leaving Ludmila and the others behind is also dangerous, but... First we have to return to King''s Landing. I''ve made my decision. * In front of the main gate of the Demon King''s Castle... A lump of earth erupts from the ground and something emerges from the ground. A knight wearing a rainbow colored aura. It''s a brave man, Liavert, who has acquired a mysterious power. ''''What a tremendous amount of divine energy...! Stella looks at the knight in full body armor again. Tsukuyomi had been destroyed and the wounded Zegert had gotten separated on his way back to the ground. Even if he didn''t escape, he might be planning to take a rest somewhere until he recovers. Although I am angry at him for acting on his own without contacting me, this is not the time to be angry. The remaining Stella returned to the ground and went out with the other demon army chiefs©¤©¤Felia and Olivier. And©¤©¤and©¤©¤as if you were chasing after it, Liavert appeared like this. ''''It''s not a human........?'''' When I probed with my third eye, the signs were strange. He was like a different person from the Liavert of not long ago. It has been transformed. From the body of a human being to a holy body like an angel or a god.... A representative of God, as it were. Stella shivered in front of Liavert. Come on, I''m going to blow you up. A brave man in full body armor wielded the hammer-shaped Miracle Armament, Uriel. A rainbow-colored shockwave arose. ''''Guh........! Hi, hi! Hundreds of demon soldiers were instantly erased with bitter cries and screams. ''''If only Judas were here...'''' Stella bit her lip. But now he was out to intercept the other heroes. Once again, he realized that Fried''s intention was to gather powerful demon clans to create the strongest army. No matter how many strong people there were in the demon world, they couldn''t be surpassed if they were attacked by dispersing them like this. We don''t even know how much strength the Brave Army and Heavenly Army still have - and how many trump cards they have hidden away. The demon world is absolutely lacking in manpower. ''''©¤No, there''s no point in bemoaning the fact that we don''t have enough forces. We have to do what we can do now. Regal has been defeated, Tsukuyomi has been defeated, Zegart has left, and Judah is out on other fronts. And Demon King Freed is also in battle with another enemy. Only I was the only one who could rebuild the entire army here. ''''Olivier, can you do one thing for me? Hey, sis! The fox-girl came to his side. ''''I need you to tend to my wounded men. All your men are to be mobilized. Yes, sir. Oh, wait a minute. Yes?¡¡Hmm...? I hug Olivier tightly. ''Huh..... The strength drained from her body and the prodigal breath tickled Stella''s ear. Completely euphoric, Olivier''s fox ears and even his tail were bright red. ''''What do you think?¡¡Does that give you some strength? ''I''m so thrilled that your sister has given me a hug... Olivier, I''m so excited! A tremendous magic power rose from her entire body. ''With the yuri moe power, my magic power is just like this. Sisama.'''' Stella laughed inwardly. It''s not that she didn''t feel uncomfortable taking advantage of Olivier''s proclivities, but©¤©¤. Well, she seems to be very pleased, so let''s say it''s good. 86 13 Demon King VS "Earth" Four Ten Holy Swords I rode the Underworld Dragon (Bell) and arrived at the Demon King''s Castle. It seems that the area in front of the main gate has become a battlefield. The enemy is©¤©¤only one person. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. "That guy... When one saw it up close, one could see the tremendousness of its divine Qi. Probably just the amount of divine qi is on the same level as the Heavenly Army''s most powerful weapon, the King of Light, that we faced before. No........maybe even more. The opposing Demon Army had surrounded it from afar. They took a certain amount of space and fought mainly with long-range attacks such as magic and bows. The commander must have decided that if it was a close fight, they would be killed instantly. The one who is in command of that seems to be Stella. I can see Feria and Olivier at her side. I dismounted from the bell and landed at her side, controlling my flying magic. ''''Demon King-sama...! Stella looked at me and looked relieved. ''Thank you for coming,'' You are the one who has been leading our army. I thank you. Oh no, I didn''t do anything about it. ''What are you talking about? The morale of the army is high, even against a strong enemy. It''s proof that you''ve inspired everyone to hold on. Proud of yourself, Stella. He put his hand on Stella''s shoulder. ''You saved me again,'' Demon King.... Stella''s cheeks were red and upturned. ''I''ll help you guys from here. The first thing that comes to mind is that Stella will continue to lead the army. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. Ha! The voices of the three demon army chiefs chanted. ''What happened to Zegert and Tsukuyomi?'' Tsukuyomi was destroyed and Zegert is nowhere to be found. Stella reports. That was more than a little shocking to report, but I swallow it quickly now. ''''........Okay. Then, the three demon army chiefs will take care of the army. I''ll be... He turned his back on Stella and the others and faced Liavert. ''We''ll hold him down,'' The ruler of evil Demon King. I will defeat you and bring peace to the world. The knight in full body armor caused the rainbow-colored aura that covered his body to flare up like a flame. ''''........One of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge), Liavert?'''' When I was human, the only Four Heavenly Holy Swords I had ever met was the man in front of me. A warrior specializing in superhuman ramming power and stubbornness. He always wore full body armor and never even revealed his true face, his identity was shrouded in mystery. Well, whatever this guy''s true identity is, we''ll just have to defeat him. In order to protect the demon race. Blow it up... I''m not going to be able to get my hands on any of them. With the demon king''s magical power, even the lowest-grade spells are capable of wiping out a mountain. It''s important to emphasize the number of moves rather than the grade of the spell. The other party is not ordinary, but they will not be able to surpass this many easily. You have to be able to find out if you are able to get past them, that''s how you can understand his fighting ability. But... Warm. Liavert was charging forward unperturbed. I didn''t intercept him or defend myself. At the point where I touched or didn''t touch him, all of my attack spells were erased. What is this..... In the blink of an eye, Liavert was close to my interval. That''s the rush power as expected. ''''Lucifer''s Shield!'''' I quickly create a protective barrier. "Hmph! I didn''t bother to swing it, but Liavelt''s hammer shattered my barrier. "Kukka! While back-stepping, I''m checking the spell by hitting it wildly. ''''Mm.........'''' The bombardment stopped me in my tracks, and Reavert was unable to pursue me. In the meantime, I''m out of range again. I got out of it for now... This thing has an abnormally high offensive and defensive power........! It''s clearly beyond the human level. No, it''s too far beyond. ''''My power was given to me by God to defeat the Demon King, Da!¡¡By the power of the ancient gods, who have slept since the beginning of time, I will kill you now! The heroic knight turns his rainbow-colored aura into an erupting force and rushes forward with explosive speed. The hammer swung down shatters the atmosphere, spreading shockwaves and approaching me. ''''Convergence-type, Slash of the Void (Vanity Blade)! I produced a sword that converged all the magical power I could find and received it. The power is evenly matched. The rainbow colors of his Miracle Armor and the emptiness of my sword collide and rebound powerfully. His attack can''t reach me, but instead, his deadly magic sword can''t cut through his Miracle Armor. I was flung wide and jumped back. "Shatter away, demon king! In contrast, Reavert doesn''t back down and rushes in for more. d*mn it...! You can take each blow with the sword of emptiness, or you can use magic to keep it in check and keep it at a distance. My magic didn''t reach the guy at all. It''s still not going to be able to pass through with a half-hearted attack. So then... "''Feather Air''! I cast a flying spell and leapt up into the air. ''''Don''t let me get away!'''' Liavert leaps after it. The rainbow-colored wings sprouting from his back flap, and he flies through the air faster than I can. Before long, he catches up with me and... There is nowhere to run, demon king! Running away?¡¡Wrong. I laughed under my mask. ''I let it catch up to me.'' Yes, this is the goal. If we can lure them into the air, we can shoot the greatest amount of magic without worrying about the damage on the ground... "Blast away, go away brave! I stuck out my right hand towards Liavert. ''''Breakthrough Thunder (Mega Thunder)! The outpouring of golden lightning splits into a dozen strands, entangling the rear veldt in the air. The flashes of lightning burst and illuminate the magic world covered by the darkness like midday. And then©¤©¤... It''s useless. The power of God is inviolable. Every bolt of lightning bursts just before it touches him! Does this guy even play superlative magic? No, no. I think back to the scene just before. The ten-odd lightning bolts disappeared before they could touch Liavelt. "No way... Is my magic itself not reaching you at all? It''s not defense. It''s something else. 87 14 Devils light, Gods darkness Master Freed, please don''t lose. Stella watched the Demon King''s battle with a prayerful heart. A masked demon king clad in black robes and a knight in full body armor covered in rainbow colored divine air (aura). The tremendous intimidation they emit from each other clashes, even creating a physical wind pressure that rages around them. The battle between the two sides has begun. The black magic bullets released by the demon king and the rainbow-colored barrage of blows from the heroes clashed. The atmosphere trembled violently just from the aftermath of the attack. The one pushing was Reavert. Freed''s attacks are not damaging at all. No, in the first place, the magic itself disappeared just before it hit Reavert and its power didn''t reach him. ''''What was that...?'''' Stella''s eyes widened in surprise. ''''It''s not defense. Disabling.........?'''' The power caused by the demon is completely nullified. This is truly the realm of God himself. I''m not going to be able to do anything with that thing, no matter how powerful the Demon King Freed is, who is the most powerful of all time. Even the ultimate offensive power - if it doesn''t reach the opponent, it''s useless. ''''Divine Bursting Guide Sacred Bullet [Aurabast Bullet]! The rainbow glow that covered Learvelt''s entire body exploded out. That radiance turned into countless arrows and rained down. ''''Lucifer''s Shield!'''' The jet-black magic barrier that was deployed was easily shattered. Ugh..........! A group of light arrows pierced the Demon King''s body. Fresh blood gushed out of the perforated robe. ''''Master Freed!'''' Stella screamed in grief. It was the first time she had seen the Demon King pushed to this extent. Even in that battle against the "King of Light", Fried was overwhelmed. "Against a single brave man, to this extent... Stella bites her lip and groans. I want to help. The urge to swell up is breaking my heart. My forehead heats up. The blood in my body is boiling. I........want to fight for Master Freed........! I wish I had the strength to do it. I wish. With a burning desire. Earnestly. Wanted. To protect. To help us. And then - I thought. I have to love him. That''s why I''m begging you... to help me! Stella exclaims. There was a feeling inside me that something was being released. A power that had been sealed away from her mother when she was a child in the distant past. Losing the love from her mother, abhorred, shunned, and sealed away. That power. ''Just this one time!¡¡Wake up and find out what I can do. The third eye that opened on his forehead was hot as a flame. * Strong... I groaned inwardly. Objectively speaking........if it were a simple offensive or defensive ability, I would be far superior to you. But Liavert''s strength was completely different from that. In a word, ''rejection power''. My every attack can''t reach him. Nor is it defense. It''s not evasion. It''s not physics. It''s not magic. That rainbow-colored divine spirit (aura) - that mysterious field - nullifies all of my magical attacks. Or is this the power of a god? As it is now, no matter how I try, I can''t give Liavert a decisive blow. No, I can''t even give him a single scratch. We need a plan to break through his ''rejection''. ''''Master Freed!'''' I turned at the sound of Stella''s voice. A beautiful girl in a black outfit, her long silver hair fluttering in the wind, walked up to her. What is this©¤©¤! A shiver ran through his entire body. It was a different sensation than when I faced God or when I faced the demon. A chill bubbled up endlessly from inside his body. Such a sensation blew from Stella. ''''........It''s okay, Freed-sama. She gave a gentle smile. The eyes that opened on her forehead©¤©¤. A crimson, bird-like pattern floats in the air. It''s different from the usual ''Third Eye''! ''''Demon Lord, his divine Qi has a ''wave'' to it. Wave? "An immense amount of energy is being cut off for a moment and then flooding out again - a cycle that repeats itself. Perhaps it''s impossible to maintain such a large amount of divine energy at all times. Oh, I see, you have to ''rest'' from time to time. Perhaps. Stella nods at my words. ''Your resting cycle is irregular, but your resting time is always 2.079012 seconds. About two seconds... I bit my lips under my mask. If the timing is constant, it''s easy to aim, but if I''m going to shoot a magic with the power of a kill in two seconds that could come at any moment, it''s not easy. I''ll see to the timing. Stella looked straight at me. ''I won''t let you die. Never. Stella....? A supple hand removes my mask. Stella, who stretched out as it was, put her own lips on mine. "My darling, I want you to... ''Stella...?'' I stare at her, stunned. With an uplifted face, she''s also staring at me. Our gazes are intertwined, and then... No matter what you do, the evil one can''t defeat me! The rainbow aura that covered Liavert''s body flared up even more. I turned my consciousness back to my enemy. ''What I have gained is the power Da, which was taken away by the demons in the old battle. Now that I''ve regained it, God''s power is shining through the world. The heavens, the demon world, and the world of men - all of them!¡¡And then we''ll destroy it all!¡¡It''s all wo!¡¡Everything! The sky of the demon world is about to be burned to the ground, and the dark world is dyed with a dazzling brilliance. It''s truly the authority of God. But this is the darkness for me. This is the darkness that destroys my friends - the darkness that destroys the demons. Then I''ll make that thing disappear...! We''re gonna take him down. Help us, Stella. I took the mask from her and put it back on. ''Your, follow your heart.'' Stella smiles. The pattern of a bird in the third eye on her forehead changed shape as she flapped her wings wide. 88 15 Full stop I see... everything. At my side, Stella murmured solemnly. "What''s that feeling...? Liavert lets out a confused voice. "Mr. Freed! Okay! Taking her voice as a cue, I release a magic bullet. ''''Gha-........?'''' It penetrated through the ''rejection'' by Liavert''s divine spirit and dealt damage to him. This is the first time, damage. "A filthy demon tribe has obtained the power of a god, and I... Liavert groaned abominably and stepped back. ''''Whether you are a god or a brave man, I will not let the Demon King''s path be blocked. I will eliminate all those who are avenging this person! Stella exclaimed with dignity. Crimson eyes with a bird''s pattern on their forehead opened. ''''Freed-sama, I will find out when the next ''rest'' is due. Please aim for it! I understand, Stella... I''m going to concentrate all the magic I can muster. "Are you trying to measure the cycle of the gods weakening?¡¡But in vain. Demonic power cannot reach God''s power. Moreover, its timing can be displaced as much as I will. ''It is in vain, you are the one who is wasting your time. Even if it''s the power of a god or the effect of rejecting a demon, I''ll read through it. Stella tells us. "I see the future, cause and effect, even fate, everything - that''s my ''Apocalypse Notebook''. A crimson glow flooded out of the third eye. The brilliance became countless threads of light, stretching out like a spider''s web. ''''Nonsense wo... no matter what you try to do, I said it''s useless©¤©¤! Liavert raised his hammer and rushed forward. Using the rainbow-colored aura that cloaked his entire body as an erupting force, he accelerated further. Faster than ever before©¤©¤! I raise the sword of emptiness and intercept it. ''Three seconds to go - attack at my signal. Stella''s voice echoed in my head. It seemed to be telegraphing to me because I still had her hair wrapped around my fingers. Liavert closed in. ''''Two seconds to go--'''' Stella''s voice echoes again. "One second to go... I surrender everything to her eyes and brace myself. ''Master Freed!'' Haaaaah! With a burst of energy, I thrust out my sword. "It''s no use, my divine energy blocks all demonic attacks... The aura that enveloped the victorious Liavert''s entire body flickered for a moment. At the same time, the tip of the sword of emptiness blew away that aura and stabbed at his side. ''''Gah!'''' Liavert leaps down with a cry of agony. ''''How is it that you can see the cycle so accurately da...? The attack went deeper than before. Stella will be able to determine the moment when his divine energy weakens. Then I''ll just have to trust in that and deliver the blow of my life. "You''re done. I raised my jet-black magic sword. "I will retreat and trust in the power of the gods, and will only go forward. Is that what makes Liavert proud to be a brave man? If he believes in God, I believe in demons. I believe in Stella. And then I''m going to crush his pride and his pride in himself. Here we go. Come on. We exchanged a few short words and we both moved at the same time. "Master Freed... Once again, Stella speaks to me by telekinesis. The first move is a rush with three feints: right, left and right. From there, I stepped in and struck down with my full strength. But it''s also a feint. Once he stepped back and sent the shockwave flying. He chased it and rushed forward again, this time with four feints. Four feints. He goes around the side and fires the real blow. At that moment, the god loosens up slightly. She reads through all of Liavert''s attack patterns and tells me. Immediately afterwards, a brave person clad in a rainbow glow rushes in. Even more than before, much faster. Without a trace of hesitation, everywhere and fast©¤©¤. "Crumble away!¡¡And then I''ll disappear, demon king! Reavert approaches with an intricate feint and swings a rainbow-colored hammer down from my side. Everything is just as Stella read it. I can even see into the future, just as she expected. That''s why I... Sorry, Liavert, but you''re going to have to leave. A moment earlier than that hammer, he delivers the final blow. ''''Convergence-type, Slash of the Void (Vanity Blade)! The blade of emptiness stitched a gap in the divine Qi - and cut both sides of the reavert. 89 1 End of battle Convergence-type, Slash of the Void (Vanity Blade). My strike cuts off both sides of Liavert''s body. The battle against a powerful enemy that manipulates the power of God and ''rejects'' even my attacks finally comes to an end©¤©¤. ''''Still........da.......'''' Liavert groaned. ''This guy...! Maybe it''s God''s power, but he''s still breathing faintly while his body is split in half.......? To God......... Reavert raises his arms high in the air. An iridescent glow escapes from his entire body and soars as a small ball of light. At the same time, Learvelt''s body disappeared as particles of light like powdery snow. And the light ball that left his hands disappeared into the sky beyond the demon world in the blink of an eye. It was truly an instantaneous event. ''''Lord Freed,'''' Standing beside me, Stella looks up at me. "God''s power ... taken away. I muttered bitterly. I defeated Liavert and the crisis was over for now. But it was not a complete victory. ... Sion, one of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords, was confronting the Demon Army Chief Judas. A fearsome sorcerer (Maygas) type demon race with demonic power of the Demon King class or even higher. The battle was being pushed back. However, Theon had a trump card. The secret to the Zylas style of swordsmanship that cuts through any magic power. "It looks like you''re aiming for something. Judah smiles. ''Yeah, I''ll show you my greatest depths. Theon brandishes the spear-shaped Miracle Armament Gabriel. "Unbelievable technique... I was about to play my trump card when I stopped moving. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a shimmering iridescent light. ''''Is that...?'''' A small ball of light soaring into the sky. From there, the words echoed in my head. "Come back, children of man. His voice was solemn and divine. ''I cannot afford to lose you here. This voice is not supposed to be... Theon shivers. ''Ludmilla, hurry with Fiore and return to earth. The voice continued. An intense awe washed over me. It''s natural to feel a sense of godliness. This voice is exactly like God himself©¤©¤. Sion managed to escape from Judah''s source and joined Ludmilla, Fiore and the other brave men and women. And now they are advancing through the darkness. It is a sub-space passage that connects the demon world and the human world. After hearing the voice of God, the brave men and women are advancing to the outskirts of the demon world and returning to the path they came from. That meant a retreat to the human world. In other words, defeat. ''''I didn''t expect this outcome...'''' Sion bit his lip. Out of a total of over four hundred brave troops, most of them were killed by the Demon King''s army. Only about twenty of them survived. It was a devastating defeat. ''''I can''t believe we ended up running back...'''' Ludmilla is biting her lip. ''It looks like Mr. Liavert has been struck down. Fiore is nodding. According to the story, her beloved brother Elio had also been killed by the demon race. This second brave invasion battle was a complete defeat. In the last invasion battle, they had defeated three Demon Army Chiefs and even defeated the previous Demon King... ''''Even though we have all four Heavenly Sacred Swords, it''s a shame. Theon bit his lip in frustration. In this battle, I will defeat the Demon King and save the world from the threat of the demon race. He should have come with that kind of spirit. Having received training from the angels and increased his power by far, he did not doubt his victory. However, his power - he dared to be defeated. It had cost him a lot of money. It did not achieve any particular success. But this isn''t the end. Theon''s will is still unbreakable. No, it can''t be broken. For the sake of the brave men and women who have been scattered. For the sake of love and justice on earth. And for his own pride. ''Both of you, let''s face it. Theon... Mr. Theon.... Next time I won''t lose. I won''t let you down. Theon told him emphatically. ''''Never........! Following the guidance of that voice, the next time, the next time will be better. 90 2 Post-processing The second city of the demon world - Jiregga, the city of fire. Did you find Regal, Stella? Yes, I''m picking up an undead-specific magic waveform. It''s just ahead. I had come to this Jiregga with Stella and Olivier. As the name "Hellfire City" implies, black pillars of fire were rising up from all sides of the town. Not only would you sweat just by staying put, but if you were not good at it, you might get a fever. In order to alleviate that heat, I was deploying a light cooling spell around me. The three of us proceeded to cool off. Eventually. I was there. Numerous pieces of bone were scattered in front of them. The conspicuously large piece was a skull that had been cut in half. Regal''s head, part of it. "Are you okay, Regal? I ran over to the skull. ''You look hapless, my king. Regal tells him. Although his tone was indifferent, his voice was tinged with frustration. It seems that he was defeated by the Four Heavenly Holy Swords in the previous battle and was torn to pieces. Even so, he still seemed to be in good health, as expected of the Immortal King (Lord Undead). ''''Wait, I''ll have Olivier heal you now. It''s a shame that I have to live vicariously through you. If you think it''s a disgrace, you can shove it up your ass next time you fight. That''s good. Yes, sir. While saying this, Regal is still frustrated. This loss must have hurt his pride as a warrior so much. ''''Well then, I''ll heal you, won''t I? Olivier moved forward and out. Nine tails grow long from his waist. Her body is covered with countless demon fire, and she releases an enormous amount of magical power that is unimaginable from her usual carefree character. ''''Ring of Healing Fire©¤©¤'''' A circle of blue-white flames appeared in front of Olivier, who chanted quietly, just as he said. The circle spread out and enveloped Regal''s head and scattered bone fragments. In the next moment, the circle of flames popped. ''''Fufu, I''m tired~'''' Olivier takes a deep breath. ''This is...'' Regal looked surprised. His dismembered body had been regenerated and was completely back to normal. ''''One of the greatest healing profundities handed down to the ''Nine Tailed Fox'' family - the Ring of Healing Fire. All physical damage has been repaired. Olivier smiles. ''To make you feel whole in an instant...'' It''s amazing. Me and Stella are in awe. ''''There are several activation conditions, so we usually use a slightly less effective jutsu.......Regal-san is an indispensable person for the defense of the demon world, and we did our best~'''' Yeah, good job. Olivier. I thanked Olivier. "....and thank you. Regal bows his head deeply. Next, let''s look for the missing Zegert. I was able to meet that Zeggert again easily. Once I returned to the Demon King''s Castle, I met him. ''''I just returned, my king. A lion beast-man demon race that does not take offense and arrogantly says. ''''........Where have you been all this time?'''' I don''t mean to be embarrassing, but I was dropped deep into the bowels of the castle after a battle with that Liavert guy or whatever he''s called. Scratching his head, Zegart said. ''Normally, I would have been able to get out of there quickly, but I was wounded and it took me a while to get out. Is the bandage on his arm and chest an injury from that time? Or - was it that he was out of the line of fire with other intentions, and the bandages were just camouflage? It was impossible to determine either. Since there was no confirmation, we can only believe Zegart''s words for this moment. ''All right. First, you need to heal your wounds. You are an important asset for the defense of the demon world. That''s too kind of you, my king. The Beast Emperor smirks at my niceties. And. I have just returned, sir. With a crunching sound, like metal hitting metal together, a small silhouette appeared. A silver knight-like doll, less than one meter tall. Hmm? You don''t suppose this guy... I am Tsukuyomi. Since my main body was destroyed in the battle with Liavert, I have returned in a spare body. Spare body? As a modified life form (homunculus), I can operate as long as the nucleus is intact. When the main body was destroyed by the Reavert, only the nucleus was able to escape. Then I replaced the nucleus with a spare body and came to you. Well, I''m glad you''re okay. I''m glad you''re okay, too. That''s too good to be true, sir. Tsukuyomi bows her head lightly. It''s not a good thing. The other demon warlords were so cowardly that they too got dragged into it.......mumbling. ........I hear you. Well, I definitely feel like this whiny part of me is definitely a Tsukuyomi. At any rate, I was relieved that the two demon army chiefs were safe. Now it''s Judas... Well, he''s not going to be easy to get to, because of that guy. I''d be here. A voice suddenly rang out, and I looked around in surprise. Judas is nowhere to be seen. ''Hahaha, here I am.'' The mischievous voice was not back and forth, left and right, nor upwards - it was at my feet. "You... Demon chief Judas, I''m back. A beautiful boy with sleek silver hair appeared from the shadows growing at my feet. A magic that moves within the shadows©¤©¤is it a magic that moves in the shadows? How dare you invade my pause without giving me any sign at all. It seems that Judas still has many more hidden techniques. In any case, it was confirmed that all of the Seven Great Demon Commanders are safe. A few hours later, I was in my office working on post-war processing. There was even more paperwork than usual. As usual, I have Stella helping me with it. And. Well, would you mind, Mr. Freed? Stella stopped checking papers and looked at me. ''Hmm, what?'' Her face was blushing strangely. My face was reflected in her shaking eyes. Since we were alone, I took off my Demon King mask. It''s the true face of a middle-aged man, exactly the same as when he was a human. ''''Well I want to apologize to Master Freed for the fight with Liavert. Apology? ...hmmm... so... What? I mean, you know, I just, you know, kissed her, you know, out of the blue, so, you know... Stella said in a shaky voice. Oh, that''s what she meant. Sure, though I was surprised when he kissed me out of the blue. ''''Oh, I was so into it at the time........ I''m sorry for that. Please give me whatever punishment you want. No, no, no, no. I''m embarrassed too, as you can imagine. I wonder what her intentions were. I''m not the kind of woman to use the word "love" lightly, that''s obvious. It''s not simply because the battle has aroused my emotions, or any other reason. How should I respond to Stella''s feelings? In the first place.... What do I think about Stella? 91 3 Love with the king and his vassals Stella is the first demon race I''ve met since I was reborn as a demon king. She was always there for me. She was always there for me, always doing her best to support me. There''s no way to thank her enough. I used to be a human hero, but the reason I''m still doing my job as Demon King Fried is because of her. That''s why I have a strong feeling that Stella is my best friend and partner. Of course, I''m aware of the fact that she''s an exceptionally beautiful girl, and I think she''s attractive as a woman. But when I think about whether those feelings are romantic in nature, I don''t know. I don''t know. How do I feel about Stella? It''s true that my heart is tingling sweetly and sourly, my heart is beating and fluttering. But is it a definite romantic feeling? The more I think about it, the less I know. It was a fresh surprise to me that a man over forty years old could be as confused as a boy. ''I have had the most unbecoming feelings for my subjects. I beg you to punish me. Stella begs for punishment in layers. ''Why should I punish you?'' I smiled at Stella. ''I''m glad you feel that way.'' ''....You''re very kind. Caring for me. I don''t care. That''s not caring. While saying it, I think in a corner of my mind that I may be getting away with a safe answer. Would my answer be unfair? Is it just procrastination? But.... But... thank you. Stella returned a smile. ''''©¤©¤The battle against the brave will end at some point. At that time©¤©¤please allow me to express my feelings again©¤©¤. Stella''s smile turns into a sly smile. I still think she''s dainty. More than any other woman I''ve ever met in my life. ''Until then, not as a woman, but as a subject - I will serve you with all my might. Okay. I looked at her. ''I will do my best to make that day come as soon as possible. As the Demon King. ''On a different note, what was the power Stella used that time? I asked Stella. ''Although it was noticeably different from your usual ''third eye'' It''s just... I''m not sure what it is... because I''m not that crazy about it. Stella tells us. ''Probably The Eye of the Apocalypse (Apocalypse Notes),'' The eye of the apocalypse...? It was a word that sounded familiar from somewhere. ''Well, in Stella''s past...! In the course of Feria''s search for the Dream Demon Princess, we were once trapped in Stella''s hometown - the Duke of Arzelwein''s territory. It''s actually a world in a dream created by Feria. I experienced Stella''s dream - the past, in that case. Her mother, the aide of the previous demon king - the visionary Marcella D. Arzelwein. In order to attract her busy mother''s attention, Stella, as a child, continued to hone her power. Stella was a genius. She continued to learn all kinds of pupil techniques at a furious pace, and finally began to awaken to a power that was forbidden among eye demons. That was The Eye of the Apocalypse. Marcella suppressed Stella''s growth and placed a powerful seal on her third eye. Because of this, Stella''s pupil technique power was weakened. ''''However, it seems that that seal is being broken. Stella tells us. ''''The Eye of the Apocalypse is an invincible pupil technique that might even threaten the Demon King''s position. Hence, the Eye Demon has held this power as a taboo. Because of their loyalty to the Demon King,'''' Even the Demon King''s throne... My eyes are imperfect now but I may eventually awaken to the full ''Eye of the Apocalypse''. Stella suddenly looks like she has a thoughtful look on her face. "Before that happens, you''ll have to take me by the hand... Stella? In your hands, I don''t have ... a shred of regret. "Lay a hand on it?¡¡You wouldn''t do that. I shook my head quietly. ''Mostly, I owe Stella a great debt of gratitude. It was only because of your eyes that I was able to get an opening in the divinely empowered Reavert. I hug Stella''s shoulder. ''All I can say is thank you. Not just this time, but all the time. No, no... Stella spluttered, embarrassed. ''I believe in you. I need you to continue to be there for me. "...as you wish. Master Freed. Stella looked at me with wet eyes. ''I will serve you with this life,'' After finishing my talk with Stella, I headed to the top of the Demon King''s Castle. It''s been a long time since I''ve seen ''her'' and to hear her out. The previous Demon King Yulisha. I have to ask her about that power that was hidden underneath the Demon King''s Castle. 92 4 Freed and Yurisha I came to the Demon King''s Castle''s Chamber of Unopenness. This is where the spirit of the previous demon king, Yulisha, lives. I''m sure you''ll be able to find it in the same way that I can. ''''It''s been a long time.'''' I walked into the room and walked over to her. She had innocent beauty and black hair that reached to her feet. Due to her small size, her black robe was tattered. ''''You''ve been neglecting me for quite some time. Yulisha was like a wolf in a cage. ''Totally you don''t come to see me very often. Her cheeks puffed out like a small child''s and her mouth was agape. ''Sorry. I''ve been busy with a lot of things. You must be bored to death spending time alone. I''ll try to find a demon tribe that you can talk to. Me placating Yulisha. Of course, I''m assuming that it''s someone who seems to be tight-lipped, of course. Surprisingly, Olivier''s area might be good. She would be able to say, ''Wow!¡¡It''s tiny, it''s cute, it''s moe!'' It''s easy to imagine a response like. ''Hmm, what''s up?'' ... no. I had an idea of a demon who might get along with you. "Law. I''ll bring him back. I''m a man of my word. Yulisha moved her face much closer. Her eyes were blazingly bright. You might make a new friend - that''s the kind of gaze you''re looking for in anticipation. ''''Oh, I swear to you as a demon king. Okay, then. So, what are today''s requirements? Yulisha asks while leaning back. "Actually... I told him about the fight the other day. "A ''power'' in the basement. Do you know anything, Yulisha? ''''It is said that during the battle with the ''Beginning Demon King'' Velfer, the god was greatly wounded. Maybe a part of the ''divine power'' was sealed in the basement of the Demon King''s Castle at that time. Yulisha answers my question. ''''In the basement of the Demon King''s Castle...? We can only surmise from what this Liavert guy or whatever he says and does. The previous Demon King sighed. ''''Even though he is the Demon King, there are many things that even a straw man does not understand. Or maybe it''s just Velfer who knows everything. Riavert took that power and made it that much stronger, didn''t he? "And, moreover, its power has probably crossed over into the heavens. Yurisha speaks in a bitter tone. ''I knew it,'' When we defeated Liavert, he sent a rainbow of light out of the magical world. By now, his power may have been sent to the gods. Soon, the gods will gain more power. And as God becomes stronger, his messengers, angels and brave men, will become stronger. And as God becomes stronger, his angels and heroes will also become stronger. We''ve got to play better. Me sighing. "Defense? Yulisha sniffed, huffing and puffing. ''It''s lukewarm. Why don''t you go on the offensive? There will be many casualties on our side. Besides, I''m sure we''re better off on defense than on offense. Hmm, you''re right. Yulisha nods. ''Whatever we do, we will have to get our pieces together for the fight. I said and stared at me. ''''Above all, the demon army must be united around you. How is the demon army united now?¡¡Is there a disturbance? A disturbing molecule©¤©¤. It was Zegert that popped into my brain. I can''t say that he''s not there. I groaned bitterly. ''''If we can repair the Demon King''s sword, the curse the gods placed on the demon race to weaken it will be lifted. If that happens, even if the heroes become stronger, they will be able to fight well enough. Purgatory Demon King''s sword... But as it stands, it''s hard to get around to exploring it. There are only six pieces left. Where in the world is it now? Then it occurred to me. It''s a good idea to use Stella''s eyes to find them. ''''I''m sorry. I still don''t have that power at my disposal to control it. I asked Stella immediately, but she shook her head from side to side as if she was sorry. ''It was an extreme situation, and I was, you know, very excited, so.................. Finally, Stella mumbles shyly. It''s cute, to say the least. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to say anything. No, no, no, no. I couldn''t help but look at Stella, too. Ever since she confessed to me the other day, I still couldn''t help but be aware of it. ''If you were able to use the Eye of the Apocalypse (Apocalypse Note), do you think you could find the Demon King Sword Piece?'' ''That eye is an all-seeing pupil art. I think it has a lot of potential. Stella nodded. ''I see. I know it won''t be easy, but you''ll learn it somehow. "As you wish, Mr. Freed. Stella nodded reluctantly. ©¤ For now, the search for the Demon Sword Piece is over for now. ''''There are still a lot of wounded people. I sighed as I looked at the line of demons lining up at the aid station. The sanatorium was built near the Demon King''s Castle. The demons who were injured in the last battle were being treated there. ''''Yes, please stand in line.'''' Hey, you''re out of order. The Sixth Army, which is good at healing, has been struggling every day. Among them, the Demon Priest, Olivier''s work is particularly impressive. He''s casting healing spells on all sides. ''''Brilliance of Healing!¡¡The next one is also The Splendor of Healing!¡¡And then ''The Great Recovery''!¡¡Oh, those two people should be given an IV. Olivier looked at me. ''Oh, I''m sorry. I just came to check on you, carry on. I raise one hand to control her. I can''t get out of her way, and I move away. I''m not incapable of using healing magic myself, but I''m pretty bad at it. Most of the Demon King''s stats are biased towards attacks. However, that doesn''t mean I can''t use healing at all, so I decided to help heal those with minor injuries. ''''Large Heal.'''' Even though it''s not my favorite, my magic power is quite different from the other demons. For now, just hit ''Large Heal'' in rapid succession. I''m not going to be able to get it right. ''Wow........in the blink of an eye. ''I can''t heal some of the wounds right away, but I healed as much as I could. Thank you! The demons of the Sixth Army thanked me. All of them were female demonkind in white robes that reminded me of doctors. There were humanoid types, beast types, indeterminate creatures, and even demonic beast types in a wide variety. And. ''''Demon Lord, I''m sorry about earlier~'''' Olivier came to me. ''No, I''m the one who interrupted him. All right, get off your post. Just in time for the break. Olivier smilingly tells her. ''''I''m good at increasing my magic power instantly, but my magic capacity isn''t very large...'''' If I were to use an analogy, it would be like having instantaneous power but no stamina. ''''I''m going to take some time off until my magic power returns for a bit longer. "Thanks to you and the Sixth Army, the wounded are recovering one by one. Thank you. I nudged Olivier. ''''Ehehe, I don''t have any direct combat skills at all. At the very least, I''ll do my best with something like this. ''''Each demon chief has a role to play. Your work is important. I smiled at Olivier through my mask. 93 5 A moment with Olivier, a meeting with Regal Your work is important, Olivier. I hope that you will continue to unite the Sixth Army and protect the magical world, and that you will continue to serve as its healer to the best of your ability. Oh, thank you very much! Olivier''s fox ears and tail popped and bounced. ''''Ehehe...'''' Hmm? Heh heh heh.... What is it, your face is so uncharacteristically burned out? ''I''m not used to being praised on a regular basis, so...'' With a smirk on his face, Olivier said. ''I''m embarrassed~'' ''Aren''t you used to receiving compliments?¡¡But your healing ability would be outstanding even among the demon race. It''s a power that should be fully admired. ''''I''ve always been unstable in activating my magic power, and even in my clan I haven''t been used much. It wasn''t unusual for me to be treated as incompetent. "Unstable activation... Come to think of it, I heard that this guy''s magic power only jumps to the extreme when he''s feeling delusional and excited. That''s why it''s impossible for him to consistently exert his power. ''''It''s terrible to be treated as incompetent when you have this much magical power. ''''No, no, it''s only recently that I''ve been able to invoke healing magic with relative stability like this. And Olivier. It''s probably because I have more opportunities to interact with Stella, Feria and Lilim-sama, who I admire so much. There are situations here and there where I can fantasize about yuri couplings, so my fantasies are multiplied by a thousand times, and my magic power is multiplied by a thousand! I don''t know if it''s the power of ''moe'' at the moment, but I guess it''s the power of ''moe''. ''Whatever the reason, you''ve done a great job. I''m grateful. Not just me, but all the demons who were healed and saved by your power. Did I save you? You''ve saved a lot of demons. And I hope that from now on, you will continue to use your power to protect the demon tribe. I''m counting on you. I put my hand on Olivier''s shoulder. ''''Expectation ... the Demon King-sama expects me to ... hmmm ...'''' Olivier blushed and covered his cheeks with his hands. ''What''s wrong, Olivier?'' ''Oh, it''s funny my heart throbbed like I was dealing with a pretty girl. His tail wagged violently. Is it a sign that I''m in a state of high spirits? "Maybe this is a new budding moe...! Olivier looked up at me with a twinkle in his eye. ''Moe...?'' ''I''ve only ever moaned about pretty girls. With the Demon Army Chief, it''s the Stella sisters and Felia-sama. And then there''s the big sister, the big sister, and the big sister. And I also moe to sisters. Almost stellar, that one. ''''But now, my heart fluttered in front of the Demon King-sama. It seems that I can moan with men as well, I think. It seems that a new attribute has been developed. Olivier clenched his fists tightly and shouted. At the same time, an aura of magical power rises from her entire body. As usual, it''s a tremendous amount of magical power. ''''Fufufu, if you replenish your moe, my power will be inexhaustible. Olivier exclaims cheerfully. ''So, we''re back to healing! Yes, please. I said to Olivier. ''Just don''t take it easy. Like I said, your work is important. I need you to continue to help me. ''Yes, sir!¡¡Unknown Olivier Keel, I''m going to do my best, in moderation, and in moderation! As soon as he said it, Olivier ran off. After I left the first aid station, I went to visit Regal, "How''s your wound, Regal? "Regal, how''s your wound? In the last battle, Regal fought against the Four Heavenly Holy Swords and was shattered all over. He fully recovered with Olivier''s power - but even though he is an immortal demon, I''m concerned about his physical condition. ''''Because I''m undead, I''m immune to pain. My shattered body was completely restored with the healing of Maj. Gen. Olivier. And Regal. His voice was full of his usual supremacy. ''''There is no hindrance to the battle. The same as before©¤©¤no, I''ll work even harder than before. That''s encouraging. I''m glad to be a king. I nodded hawkishly. Regal bowed reverently and silently. ''With all due respect, my King. May I ask you one question? Hmm, what? "Underneath your mask... Regal''s twin eyes - the red glow behind the black eye sockets - looked at me. It''s as if it''s a sharp glow that pierces my true face underneath the mask. ''....No, it''s nothing. "Regal? ''''You have put together seven demon army chiefs and rebuilt the demon army. You have defeated powerful enemies such as the King of Light and the heroes who have obtained God''s Power. Now that the brave men''s offensive is intensifying, I believe that you are the strongest king who can defend the demon world. I remember the first time I met Regal. How he dismissed me as ''naive'' and challenged me to a fight. Although I won that battle and gained his loyalty for the time being - it was only ''tentative''. Does that mean that things have changed a bit now? A little bit of recognition of me, right? "I intend to continue to work as your sword. And I''m counting on you to continue to be there for me. I looked straight at Regal. ''I''m counting on you, Regal. Ha! 94 6 Report of Feria After talking to Regal, I returned to my office. The papers for today were already checked by Stella and were in a box awaiting a decision. She worked fast, as usual. I was just about to pick up the top document when there was a knock on the door. ''Enter.'' He''s here. A female demon tribe with peach-colored hair in twin tails walked in. Her devilishly impressive beauty was well suited to her revealing and sensational outfit. A thin tail sprouted from her waist and bat-like wings sprouted from her back. It was one of the Seven Great Demon Army Chiefs, Dream Demon Princess (Dead Charm) Feria. ''''I couldn''t hold back my feelings for the Demon Lord. Feria winked at me with a snap. Just by doing that, a shiver ran down my spine for a moment, is it because she is a dreamer who half-unconsciously wields charms? ''''©¤©¤what, you know. It''s true that I adore the Demon King, but I came here today on business. I have something to report. "Report? The thing is... Feria moved her face closer to mine and briefly told me the contents. ''''........The wards of the demon world are being eroded?'''' Yes, it''s some kind of psychic attack spell. I furrowed my brow under my mask. As a member of the Dream Demon''s household, she is an expert on spirit-based magic. ''''Did the heroes do this? During the last invasion battle, the warding of the magic world was weakened considerably. The damaged parts should still be there. Its repair hasn''t been finished, so I wonder if they launched a mental attack as a second wave. ''''Hmm ... I don''t know for sure, but it''s probably not.'''' And Feria. It doesn''t feel like it was created by humans. Or maybe it''s a divine force. God''s...? After a fierce battle with Liavert, the ''divine power'' he had in his hands had flown out of the demon world. Probably, it''s probably with God by now. That''s what''s eroding the wards of the demon world...? ''I don''t think there will be any immediate impact, but I would advise you that it''s dangerous to leave it unattended. His usual devilish smile disappeared and he had a completely straight face. ''''If things continue as they are now.......eventually, a holy attribute spirit magic will break through the wards and descend on the demon world. If it takes it, most of the demon race will be severely damaged. If the erosion gets too bad, it''s bad. All right. As for the warding, I''ll see to it. Should I come with you? Yeah. Can you come? Of course I do. Feria smiled lustily and put her hand around my arm. Muffled, lush breasts pressed against my two arms. ''Wherever you go. It''s not just a matter of time before you''re in the bedroom. Don''t be a straight-up seducer, though, eh? As I smiled bitterly, Feria pulled her face closer. Then let me ask you more straightforwardly.......what does the Demon King think about his queen? A queen? ''''The Demon King is not hereditary, so some of the previous Demon Kings have passed their bachelorhood. But what will the Demon King do? I don''t have time to think about that right now. I intensified my giggle under my mask. ''Huh?¡¡But aren''t you being approached by Stella? No, no, no. It reminds me of the kisses and confessions I made with her. ''''Well that''s fine with Stella, not really. I scowled at my age. ''By the looks of it, it''s not too late. Do you think I have a chance? Feria leaned in even closer. I''m thrilled at the feel of her ample breasts and supple body. ''''........Are you wearing a charm again?'''' I''m a dreamer. It''s an ecosystem. Feria smiled seductively. ''So, what do you think?¡¡I... I''m going to do whatever the Demon Lord wants, right? Feria... ''Do you prefer a more innocent look?¡¡Like Stella?¡¡Or would you rather have your full-on s*x appeal?¡¡Or... Feria twisted her body lustily, keeping her mischievous smile intact. How much of it was a joke and how much was serious? It was hard to determine what kind of attitude she had. It''s not that I''m saying this with any kind of calculation or light heartedness. The Dreamer Princess lets out a hot breath. I''m being honest. If you can afford to think about the queen, I''d like to be in the running, wouldn''t you?¡¡You can have a side room if you want. Right? Feria lightly kissed my mask''s cheek with a chuckle. The wards have been eroded©¤©¤. Following Feria''s advice, I left the office with her. I jumped up from the balcony of the Demon King''s Castle with a flight spell. Feria also flapped her wings with her bat-like wings and followed me. When we reached several hundred meters above the sky, I looked at the wards. I can''t really tell the difference. That was my honest opinion. The warding itself has indeed become fragile. As for the part of the hole created when the brave men invaded, it has already been sealed up, but it''s just a stopgap measure. However, I wasn''t sure about the ''erosion'' as Feria calls it. Well, she''s an expert on mental magic. Even if I can''t understand it, if Feria feels something, I''ll believe it. And. Wow, you''ve noticed the erosion. You''re a true dreamer. A demon race flew through the sky at super speed. It''s a beautiful boy with silver hair and brown skin - Judas. "You need to work on your magic sensing ability a little more, Demon King. There''s no question about his fighting ability, but I think he still has a lot of room for training in that area. Can you put the apprentices on another time? Liukai. You''re quite a teacher, you know. Judah smiled mischievously. ''So, let''s get back to the point. The wards are indeed eroding. Or, more accurately - I should say the erosion is accelerating. 95 7 Barrier survey When Judas became the commander of the demon army, I asked him about the warding of the demon world. He wondered if it could be reinforced as a more powerful warding. But Juda. I can''t. He replied curtly. ''''The wards are constantly being eroded by the power of the gods, and they''re slowly weakening. The power of God...? ''Of course we can reinforce it by pouring magic into it from the outside. But you know what? At my question, Judah smiled. ''''No matter how much you pour into it, that magic power will gradually spread out over the entire wide ward that covers the entire Demon Realm and eventually fade away. That won''t be able to resist the erosion of divine power. That''s why permanent reinforcement is impossible. How about periodic reinforcement with magical energy... ''''It would take an enormous amount of magic to cover the entire demon world. You''re right, your magic is immense. I''d say you''re the strongest in history. And yet... Judah shook his head from side to side with a bitter smile. ''''As expected, even your magic power can''t continue to cover and reinforce the entire demon world. The amount of magic power definitely can''t keep up with it.'''' Yeah, right. ©¤ ©¤ That was the conversation before. Moreover, Judah says that the ''erosion by the power of God'' is intensifying. ''How do we get to the root solution?'' I asked straight away. Judas chuckled. Defeating God, maybe? If you can do that, you''ll have no trouble. I''m mortified. "Well, I guess that means I can''t. Totally.... I sighed. It was because I had received the exact same response when I had asked for advice before. A part of the mighty and different power of the gods was made clear to me the other day in the battle against Liavelt. It''s not in the dimension of simple offensive or defensive abilities. In front of God''s power, demonic power would be ''rejected''. Any kind of firepower is useless against an opponent that the attack itself cannot reach. There is no way to defeat the gods in the present situation. Realistically, it''s ''reinforcing the wards''. Judah explained with a smile. ''It''s impossible to create wards that can withstand divine erosion, but it''s not impossible to develop wards that are more resistant to erosion than the current ones. Can you do it? I asked hopefully. "I''ve been studying it. Ever since the day W?lffer died. The smile disappeared from Judah''s face. It''s a serious face, which is rarely seen. ''Though so far it hasn''t produced any results. I''m sure you''ll find that the most successful warding is the current one. It will take time to improve it further. All right. Continue to work on the warding. Let me know if there''s anything I can do to help. At least I can get some money for research. ... "Well, come to think of it, you submitted a request for an increase in the budget. It''s hard to coordinate with the others, and Stella must have had a lot on her mind. And. ''It''s time to end the seriousness of the conversation. You can''t do anything about it right now, can you? Feria clings to my arms. Mu Mu Mu, she presses her chest against me. ''Huh, am I a distraction?'' Judas smiles. "Yes, from here on out, it''s time for me and my Demon Lord to have a chat. I''d appreciate it if you''d hold off on that. All right. Well, I guess I''ll be going now. No, no, I want to talk to you about... I''m sorry, but I think it''s time for a nap. Judah tells me curtly. It''s hard to hold this fickle guy for long. ''As for the wards, I''ve already reinforced the areas that were heavily damaged, and that''s fine, right? ''Oh, yeah...'' He''s a fickle but fast worker. Well, enjoy your stay. When Judas left. My Demon Lord, come on now, you can do whatever you want with me, all right? Feria''s seduction time had begun. ........In a different way than Judas, she was a difficult enemy. As if escaping from Feria''s subtle offensive, I proceeded through the castle. This time the destination is underground. I wanted to investigate in detail the point where Liavert had entered the building. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about the site where the power of the gods rested. And then a silver knight, about a meter tall, comes from in front of us. It''s the Demon Army Chief Tsukuyomi, whose former body was destroyed and changed into a new form. ''''This is Demon Lord-sama.'''' Tsukuyomi bowed. ''How''s your new body feeling?'' That is not a problem, sir. Tsukuyomi replied in her usual inflectionless tone. ''''The ''divine power'' that lies underneath the Demon King''s Castle©¤©¤did you know that?'''' I knew that there was a great power lying dormant. It must be defended in every way possible. And Tsukuyomi. ''But I had not been informed that it was ''God''s power''. I was surprised myself. I see. I don''t know everything about everything. Moreover, the other day in the fight, the previous body was destroyed, so the repair of it is a confusing task. Oh, I want to take a break for a while.......work is a pain in the ass. What did you say? "I was talking to myself. I was obviously complaining to the best of my ability. .........Well, this guy''s complaining seems to be a kind of venting, so I''ll let it slide to a certain extent. I''ll move on to the next question. I''ve been told that there are other defense mechanisms underneath the Demon King''s Castle, right? I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this in the next few days. ''''I am in the middle of my own investigation. Since I was appointed as the new Alchemist, I have been exploring the underground of the Demon King''s Castle from time to time, but the underground mechanism is extremely complicated and we are far from a complete picture... the previous Demon Army Chief left only fragmentary records. And Tsukuyomi. So there are still many mysteries underneath the Demon King''s Castle. If you find out anything, let me know. "It is my duty as the Witch Master to assure you of this. Tsukuyomi nodded. ''But first, I need some more time off. Ah, the hassle. 96 8 at the Hero Guild The Cathedral (Cathedral), the general headquarters of the Brave Guild. At the far end of it, ten of the guild''s top executives were discussing. All of them were discussing via a rectangular shape about three meters high - a communication terminal. ''''The operation to invade the demon world has ended in failure. One of the executives tells us. The number ''01'' was floating on the surface of the communication terminal. The other communication terminals flickered at once. ''''The Demon Army has been dealt a fair blow, but the Demon King and the Demon Army Chiefs and other high-ranking demonkind are still alive and well. You''ve even thrown in the strongest and bravest man in the world, the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge), and this is what you get? ''''And one of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords was killed in battle...'''' ''03,'' ''04,'' and ''07'' continue to talk about it. ''But we were able to bring the ''thing'' back. As if to soothe them, ''01'' said. ''''One of those Four Heavenly Holy Swords released the ''thing'' that was sealed in the basement of the Demon King''s Castle - the ''God''s Power''. It would have been nice if you''d just taken down the Demon King. It''s not so easy as it sounds. That Demon King is presumed to be a mutant caused by a malfunction of the law of causality (a bug). A demon king with the most powerful status in history. A "nasty 05, 08, 09 and 10 spoke respectively. "Nevertheless, this one has enough ''power'' - a piece of it - to resist it. And, ''01'' That alone makes every failure an insignificant event. Is that thing already with God? It should arrive. "01" tells me. "So there''s nothing wrong with that. We''ll continue to move forward with the plan. "Everything is as it should be, God willing. "All things work together as God intended... The voices of the ten highest ranking officers chanted. * Have you had enough of your wounds, Mr. Fiore? Ludmila visited the wounded Fiore. She is staying in a temple close to the "Cathedral" to recuperate from the wounds she received in the last battle. Ludmila''s injuries were minor compared to Fiore''s, and she has already returned to the front lines. She was flying around to exterminate the demon tribe that appeared sporadically in various places. ''''........Yes, I was lightly injured to begin with. There is no smile on her face. I haven''t seen her smile once since she returned from the demon world. The expression on her face remains gloomy. With the death of her beloved brother Erio©¤©¤. She has changed. Just looking at it is painful. ''''Can''t it be the next invasion mission soon? I can''t wait.'''' Fiore mumbles. ''''I can''t wait to kill the demon race. Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry...'''' It was hard to watch the gentle beauty tainted with resentment. My heart felt heavy. ''Miss Fiore,'' Ludmilla hugged her friend. She hugged him tightly and gently nodded her head. ''....It''s okay. I''m sane.'''' I''m not going to be able to get it right. But the light in his eyes was filled with a chillingly cold hint. (Fiore-san........) Ludmilla bites her lip. And. There you are, Ludmilla, Fiore. It was Theon who came in. ''Just in time. I''ve got something to tell you guys. "Report? They say the power of God is beginning to manifest more than ever before. Theon answers Ludmilla''s question. ''The ... power of ... God?'' It is said that this world was once filled with the power of gods and angels. However, due to the battle between the gods and the demon king that took place in ancient times, the power of the gods has been unable to reach them. Over a long period of time, the power of the gods has started to reach the earth little by little, but it is still weak. Does that - does that mean it''s getting stronger again? ''''It''s thanks to Liavert releasing the ''divine power'' from the demon world to the human world in his last moments. Theon announced with a solemn expression. ''He lost his life, but his actions will surely continue into the future. The rest of us who are left behind will surely spin the future. By defeating the demon army, you know. Yeah. It''s not just Mr. Liavert. All the brave men and women who died in this battle... Fiore said. With eyes as cold as ice. ''''And even Elio - I''m sure his actions will be honored forever. I will defeat the Demon King and I will surely do so. I''ll make sure that Elio''s name will be remembered as a legend. Mr. Fiore. Ludmilla became concerned and hugged her again. ''I know what you''re going through. Don''t be too much of a worrier. Please... Thank you, Mr. Ludmilla. ''''The increase in God''s power means that our Miracle Armor can be even more powerful. The brave men will continue to be strengthened. The third round of demon invasion may not be too far away. Ludmilla looked up at the sky. ''No, or...'' Theon murmurs. ''Don''t let anyone hear it, but tell yourself that. ''This next one could be my last invasion mission,'' Either man or demon. The final battle, in which one or the other will be destroyed - will approach. 97 9 The rise of the Beast Emperor Zegart had been working on countermeasures ever since Freed became the new Demon King. He is indeed strong. In terms of simple magic power and status, he''s the strongest Demon King of all time. If you face him head-on, even Zegart will surely be killed. But there''s still room to maneuver. Tweeting Beast Emperor. From the records of his battles in the human world, we know that he will be weakened by the Demon King Sword Piece when ''certain conditions'' are met. If we can use that, we also have a chance to win. I already have a good idea of what the ''certain conditions'' are, and I''ve got the shards to activate them. ''''However... even if we contain the Demon King, his entourage is tough enough. Zegert let out a huff of air. ''There will be no final victory unless we cut through it. Yes, sir. The Tsukuyomi at the side nodded. ''''Even if we were able to seal off the Demon King, if we take on Regal, Judas, or even Stella, who has awakened to new powers, at the same time, we would indeed have little chance of winning. Zeggert is one of the strongest in the world of demons when it comes to direct combat, and Tsukuyomi is a top-tier homunculus that has both high hand-to-hand combat ability and magical power, and will continue to operate on a semi-permanent basis as long as its core is not destroyed. His one arm, Sigmund, also boasts an unparalleled ability to defy ordinary demons, even if they''re of the Demon Commander''s class. I''m not sure I''ve ever seen such a thing. But... The highly resilient Olivier and the master of spirit magic, Feria, are also troublesome opponents. Tsukuyomi said. As expected, if they fought the entire Demon World army head-on, the odds were too slim. ''''No, I''d call it reckless,'''' Zegart grinned. ''But if we can bring Regal into our camp and contain Judas - the rest of them are inferior to us in terms of direct combat ability. There was a clear vision in the Beast Emperor''s eyes. ''''As long as we don''t make a mistake in standing around, we can win.'''' A vision of victory and beyond - a vision of his own demon king''s crowning. Zegert went to one of the demon army chiefs, Regal. "You want me to be one of you...?¡¡It''s also a rebellion against the Demon King. The Immortal King (Lord Undead) glares at Zegart. Although the expression of the Immortal King (Lord Undead) cannot be discerned due to his skull, his red eyes were clearly filled with anger. ''''Even if it''s a nonsense, I can''t overlook it...! It''s not crap. Zegart tells him matter-of-factly. "I value your power. Therefore, I have come to invite you. You mean it? Then, as the head of the Demon Army, as the leader of the Demon Army, and the backbone of the Demon Army, I will have to kill you. Regal drew his sword. It was an oddly shaped sword that looked like it was made up of countless bones. ''Well, wait.'' Zegert controlled it with one hand. ''Do you know who the Demon King is?'' What is it? He''s a human being. ...stupid. While saying this, there is a slight tremor in Regal''s voice. Or is it that he is sensing something in his own way? Or is it that he saw Fried''s true face under the mask? ''Of course, his body is a demon race. But his mentality is still human. To put it simply, it can be said that a human in the skin of a demon race rules this demon world. ...human beings, huh? Yes, the one person you hate more than anything else in the world. Zegert and Regal''s gazes intertwined in the hollow. ''''The Demon King - the Demon King, the human...?'''' A slight flutter could be seen in the Immortal King''s gaze. * Well, you know. I let out a small breath under my mask. Where do I start today? There''s still a lot of routine work to do, but thanks to Stella''s support, it doesn''t take too much effort. Recently, I''ve gained a better understanding of the contents of the various petitions and other documents, and I''ve been exchanging opinions with Stella more often than not. As a king, have I grown up a little bit, have I? The warding, the formation of the demon army, the treatment of the wounded from the last battle, the reconstruction of the destroyed town, and many other issues. But I have reliable subordinates - my friends. I''ll work together with Stella, the other demon warlords and the demon tribe to revitalize the demon world. On the way to the office with these thoughts in mind, on the way to the office... Demon King! Stella ran up to me. She looked odd. ''There''s an emergency.'' Her face is pale. ''What''s wrong, Stella?'' I raised an eyebrow under my mask. ''The Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegart and Alchemist General (Alchemist) Tsukuyomi, and the Fourth and Seventh Armies under their command...'' Stella tells me. A sickening feeling runs down my spine. "We''ve committed an insurrection. 98 1 The beginning of turmoil Jiregga is the second largest city of fire in the demon world after the royal capital. As the name suggests, it''s a burning city lit by flames. In the center of the crimson dyed city, two demons were confronting each other. The demon army chief. They are both high-ranking demons who serve as the aides of the demon king. "Judas, would you like to join me? The Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegart cut to the chase. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it''s not a good idea. I was planning to spend the whole day lounging around. Always a joke. While muttering, he looks at Polar Magic (Master) Judah without a care in the world. On the outside, he is a beautiful boy with silver hair and brown skin. He is aloof and has a soft smile. He doesn''t look like a fierce man. But in fact, he is the owner of super magical power that surpasses that of an ordinary demon king. He is one of the oldest and most powerful demons who fought against the gods in the ancient battles along with the beginning demon king, Velfer. Even with Zeggert, he was an opponent that could kill you if you weren''t careful. What do you say, Juda? Without caution, the Beast Emperor showered the Extreme Demon with a sharp eye light. ''''Huh........'''' Judah yawned, unaware of his nervousness. You can''t see an ounce of wariness in his carefree face. ''''Didn''t you pledge your allegiance to the Demon King? And Judas. ''It is because I fear for the future of the demon world that I have risen in revolt. I cannot be loyal to the current generation of demon kings. Future... hey. ''Freed is strong indeed. But as a king, he''s too sweet. He is only a warrior''s vessel, not a king''s vessel.......therefore. Zegart takes a step forward. He slowly closes the gap between himself and Judas. ''I will rule this world. I have stood up for it. ''It just looks like a lust for power to me. Judah''s eyes narrowed sullenly. ''''You''re a descendant of the former Demon King Rosgert, aren''t you?'''' For a moment, a sharp killing intent dwells in his calm expression. ''''You''ve always had ambitions and wanted to be the Demon King, right?¡¡And I''ve been skulking around, getting ready - no? What about it? Zegart met the killing intent head on. ''''The ambition is there. Likewise, there is concern for the magical world. How can those two things be at the same time?'''' ''At least he ... Mr. Freed is acting in the best interest of the demon world. But you act to satisfy your ambitions. Judah smiles. ''''I don''t know, it sounds a bit thin to say that I''m worried about the demon world. It''s really just a way of satisfying your ambitions, isn''t it?¡¡Is that a ''king''s bowl''? That''s your answer? Zegart growled. ''You don''t recognize me you understand that, don''t you? Okay. Judah''s reply was light. ''''Huh........! But the killing spirit that emanated from him was so heavy and strong that it seemed to crush Zegert. It would have been best if he could have been a pawn without laboring, but that didn''t seem to be possible. Rather than playing a trick on Judas, I decided that the odds of bringing him into the fold were stronger if I told him my true intentions - but... (Well, it can''t be helped. Then that''s it, until we take a different approach) Judas, you are indeed strong. Zegert is inching closer and closer. The opponent is a sorcerer (Maegas). The theory was to close the distance and fight. If you move away, Judah will hit you with a series of top-level spells. "But will they be able to fight us all at the same time? At the same time? I won''t forget it, sir. As if melting out of space, a silver knight appeared. It''s one of the demon army chiefs, Alchemist Tsukuyomi. I didn''t know you were here, too. Is that a warding device that blocks the detection of magic power? It is a device that blocks and cloaks not only magic, but also light, sound, presence and everything else. I developed it myself. "Wow, the homunculus is an evolved version of a modified life form. I didn''t do much research on that side, but Izana, who created you, is a great alchemist. Judas smiled. ''So, it takes two demon chiefs?¡¡So you think you can beat me? No, A voice rang out from behind him. Zegart grins. Judah looks at him and gives him a quizzical look. ''There are three of them.'' The voice that uttered was not Zegart or Tsukuyomi. Zang! The blade thrust out from behind©¤©¤pierced Judah''s chest. ''''Ga.........ha....... The beautiful boy spat out blood from his mouth and collapsed. ''''You........are.......?'''' Judah groaned with a shocked expression. Reflected in his eyes is the figure of a demon tribe with a bloody blade at the ready. The Beast Emperor''s other ally. "If you won''t obey me, you''ll have to be quiet for a while. We don''t want them to join us in our fight against the Freed. Zegart looked down arrogantly at the fallen Judas. 99 2 To the prison flame city The Demon King''s Castle, the audience chamber... I will lead my troops to Jiregga. I''ve been giving instructions to the demon chiefs. ''''Stella, when the need arises, you''ll be in charge of the entire army for me. Regal, Feria and Olivier will be his assistant. I also need you to contact Judas. ''''We''ve been looking for him with our clairvoyant eyes, but there''s no sign of Maj. Gen. Judah. We will continue our search. And, Stella. ''Judas is an important asset. As soon as you hear from him, tell him to go to King''s Landing for protection. Yes, sir. You take care of this for me, guys. I looked around at Stella, Regal, Feria, and Olivier, who were gathered there in turn. ''''Please be careful, Demon King-sama. Good luck. Good luck, Your Majesty. Fight. Four Evil Warlords stare at me. I''m off. After saying that, I left the audience room. With Lilim and the other guards in tow, we headed to the Hellfire City of Jiregga. I''m riding the Underworld Dragon (Bell) and flying low. Lilim and the others were on horseback. We''re going to protect you, Demon Lord, we''ll protect you well, right? Lilim was full of spirit. ''''Your opponent is Zegert, the fiercest man in the demon world. Don''t take it easy. The reason I brought the guards with me was not so much to protect me as to protect the people in the area. I had already told Lilim and the others about that. ''''I''ll take care of you too, Belle. I called out to the dragon, the rider. And Bell. I was ready, I was prepared. I had a hunch. I had a premonition that Zegart would stand in front of me sooner or later. The time to put that determination and that premonition to rest is now. When we arrived at Zeggert, I faced the Zeggert army. The beastman type demons lined up in a row. All of them are elites with top-notch combat abilities. It''s here, it''s the Demon King Freed...! The army groans when they see me. ''Yes, I am the king of the demon world! That''s right, I''m the king of the entire demon world!¡¡An existence that stands at the top of all demon races!¡¡If you want to surrender quietly, good! I shout cheerfully. You''re trying to discourage them from fighting, and that''s why you''re using such bombastic language. "Or else... I stuck out my right hand. I unleash the lowest level of fire spell, Fire. Gomph! With a huge explosion, a huge crater appears on the ground. Even though it''s the lowest grade, this spell of mine is still powerful enough to wipe out a mountain. I don''t mean to hit you. This is only to warn you. What...? Did you really think that was a minor spell? That''s a powerful spell... Immediately, Zegert''s army fell silent. Their faces were uniformly pale. This is the power of a demon king. This is the power of the demon king, if you are going to stand against him, you will experience my power firsthand. I tell him, with dignity. ''Hi, hi........'' He''s even more of a monster than I''ve heard of... "Don''t flinch. We have Lord Zegert and Lord Tsukuyomi... Still, it''s only the brave and ringing Zegert''s men who still won''t surrender, as expected. However, I didn''t want to kill them for nothing either. Essentially, they are an important army that serves as a sword to defend the demon world. I don''t want to annihilate them, I want to suppress them. And in order to do that... ''Come out, Zegert, Tsukuyomi. You think you''re hiding, using your men as shields? I called out to my surroundings. In preparation for a surprise attack, the Lucifer''s Shield, a magical barrier, will be placed around me and Lilim and the others. Beat them down and deal fatal damage to the command of the army - that was my aim. In order to end this rebellion with the fewest possible casualties. And. I have no intention of hiding. The beast demon race split to the left and right, and the lion beastmen leisurely advanced out. Beast Emperor Zegert. You intend to fight me from the front...? It''s true that Zegart is strong. But in terms of status, I''m far superior to him. I''m sure he understands that, but... "How dare you plot against me, Zeggert! It doesn''t work that way. I''ve made this world a better place. Zegart said calmly. I am the one who is most deserving of the title of Demon King. Don''t we all? And waved to his handlers. Whoa, whoa, whoa! The beastmen shouted in unison. They were frightened by me, but they have completely regained their fighting spirit. As expected of Zegart''s charisma, he seems to have excellent charisma. ''''The demon world is a world of the weak and the strong. It is a world that is constantly threatened by gods and people. The king who controls it must be stronger than anything else. The eyes of a fierce lion stared at me. I looked straight back at its eyes through my mask. ''''I''m not strong enough to do that...? Yes. Zegart kicks the ground. It''s not a good idea to ask any more questions, so he unleashes claws, tails and fangs one after another. It''s too late. I came around behind him. "''Fire''! The lowest grade fire spell I can find. It''s a powerful spell that could wipe out a mountain if I unleash it, but as expected, Zegert is one of the demon army chiefs. I''m not going to be able to get it right. He stepped up despite his struggles and turned to me. ''After all ... you''re strong.'' Surrender. You will not win. A win?¡¡I know that there was no such thing in the first place. Zegart laughs. No, this is©¤©¤. His face suddenly changed. From the appearance of a lion to that of a bird. ''''You are........'''' This is not Zegert. This is the Beast Emperor''s second in command, Sigmund...? 100 3 Battle of the royal capital Inside the Demon King''s Castle, there were two shadows. The golden lion beastmen and the white silver knight-like demon race. They were Zegert and Tsukuyomi. The two of them were walking up the stairs with a handful of selections. Their destination was the audience room on the top floor. The keystone of the Demon World''s war effort - the Demon Army Chiefs should be gathered there. It seems I''ve succeeded in luring Fried to the fiery city of Jiregga. By now, Sigmund, in my guise, is drawing him there. We have done everything we said we would. Tsukuyomi nodded at Zegart''s words. ''''However, according to my calculations, if Freed fought at his full battle power - even the Fourth Army would be destroyed in a few minutes. When you''re at full throttle, right? Zegert chuckles. The strength of the Fourth Army is the greatest in the world of magic. They are all fierce, single-handed fighters. However, Freed is too strong. His battle prowess is far too non-standard. Even with the Fourth Army, there''s no way they could stand up to him. However... ''That man has so much status, yet he often fights with additions and subtractions. He seems to avoid hurting others as much as possible. Zegart''s smile deepened and his sharp fangs peeked out of the corner of his mouth. ''That''s the sweetness of it, that''s what we''re trying to get at. Agreed, sir. Tsukuyomi nodded. ''Lord Zegert is a fierce man who smashes everything in a diabolical manner without an ounce of mercy. That is why I thought of betting on you and not on Freed myself. Hmm. When I become king, I''ll take you as my second in command. I want your support. I understand..........well, I''m taking a lot of risk in cooperating with you, so it''s only natural that I should get something in return. I hope you don''t want to be too patronizing........mumble. I hear everything, Tsukuyomi. "I was talking to myself. Hmmm, well. While it''s true that Tsukuyomi has quirks in his personality, he''s also competent. More than anything else - his cooperation was essential in order to overthrow Fried. ''Let''s go. We must successfully complete the operation for Sigmund and the others who are standing firm. I will definitely become a king And while advancing through the corridor of the Demon King''s Castle, Zegart''s resolve was again in his mind. Every step forward, that heart burns with each step. After a long, long time of preparation, this day could finally arrive. Since his ancestor, the ''Crimson Lion'' Rosgert, there hadn''t been a Demon King from the Zegert family gate for over a thousand years. Always in his own generation. At that time, will his two names as the Demon King be the golden lion? With his heart pounding in his chest, Zegart''s ambition reached a climax. He has already unleashed a different force in the royal capital than the army in Zillegga and is proceeding with the control of the city. All that remains is to seize the executive officer, the demon army chief, and it''s literally a ''royal move''. ''''The audience room is near. Tsukuyomi said. All right, I''ll go to the front. I will go to the front, and you must keep an eye out for the target. Yes, sir. Hmm. Nodding to Tsukuyomi as she said it, Zegart ran off, killing his footsteps. Every muscle in his body rose up. His armor popped off with the momentum. The crimson pattern floating on his chest was the proof that he was in full open battle form. Gogaa! He destroys the door to the audience chamber and rushes inside. Zegert...? You''re not supposed to be in Zillegga. Feria and Olivier looked at me in surprise. Zegart silently waved his right arm. ''''Kyaah!'''' A shockwave blew up and the two were blown wide open. It was a pretty tame blow. The girls aren''t the fighting type, and if they put too much force into it, it could kill them. ''''Ugh........'''' The female demons groaned and stood up. ''''They attacked us under the pretense of attacking Jiregga.......! ''Oh, um, I don''t think it''s a good idea to rebel, but...'' Feria glares at you with a snap, and Olivier is flustered. A master of mental magic (astral) and a master of healing magic (healing) - first of all, they are sealed and cut off the battle support on the Demon King''s side. ''Tsukuyomi, seal it. Yes, sir. He ordered Tsukuyomi behind him, and he stepped forward with a huge magic machine. The giant cage-shaped machine is said to be a kind of subspace generator. It was something that Tsukuyomi had created with the best of his alchemy. It''s something that even that Judas can seal up, even if only temporarily. "I will be confined here for a while. Just because we''re not combatants, doesn''t mean you''re not going to be able to take advantage of us. Feria glares at me with a crisp face. She used to be mentally fragile, but she seems to have grown up a notch or two through the battle with the brave army earlier. Even under this situation, she never shows any signs of flinching. But that''s why she''s valuable as a pawn. Not to Freed and others, but to himself. After becoming the new Demon King, under this Zegart... You''ll be the one to help us overthrow a brave man and a god. Zegart chuckled inwardly. "Activate spirit magic (astral)... A light pink glow flooded from Feria''s entire body. That radiance drew an intricate trail in the air, creating a magic circle. ''The World of Dreams (Nightmare Hour), Illusion Type (Ludomistia)'' Magic that acts on the target''s psyche and draws out a powerful illusionary effect. If you are a fella who is the highest spiritual magic user in the demon world, the magical effects are immense. Even if you are a Zegert, there is no guarantee that you won''t be captivated by it. Moreover, the timing of its activation is faster than one would expect. ''''As expected, don''t do it! Zegert swung his right arm. In the nick of time©¤©¤. ''''Kyaaaah........! A gust of wind that arose just a moment earlier than the magic was completed blew Feria and Olivier together. The girls still have a use for it. When I become the Demon King, I will have to have them continue to wield their skills as Demon Army Chiefs. I didn''t want to hurt them as much as possible. ''''Gu, gho........'''' Even so, he was slammed against the wall and apparently suffered quite a bit of damage. Feria and Olivier were spitting out blood. ''Do it, Tsukuyomi,'' It is sealed, sir. Tsukuyomi switched on the device. 101 4 A flash of farewell As the sealing device emitted a glow, Feria and Olivier''s bodies turned into countless particles of light and were sucked into the interior of the device. ''''The seal is complete, sir. And Tsukuyomi. The inside of this magical device shaped like a cage is said to be a kind of different space. The two of them are trapped inside it, drifting in a state of half-death. Unless they release themselves, they will continue to sleep inside this half-permanent. ''So all that''s left is Stella. Zegart huffed and let out a hot breath. The psychic magic of Feria and the recovery magic of Olivier are also valuable forces, but the one he wanted most was Stella. Her ability that he had shown in the last heroic invasion battle©¤©¤. It''s an ability to see into the future and perhaps even alter the law of cause and effect. "With her power in my hands, I have no enemy. Even if the opponent is the most powerful demon king in history - or even a god. Or even a god... But the whereabouts of this Stella is unknown. She is a pupil-using demon - even among the eye wielding demons, she has an outstanding power. Probably, she used her clairvoyant eyesight to detect our intentions and escaped from the situation as quickly as possible. Look for it. Zegert ordered his men. "His power is important. Bring him to me alive. Or at least find out where he is. However, we are in no hurry. The plan is going well so far. All that''s left is the Demon King in Jiregga. "If he''s going to get it done, so be it. If he fails to do so, so be it. Zegart chuckles. Yes, even if he fails to do so, he still has a real trump card to play... ... ''Crimson Whip''! Along with my spell, countless red chains appeared and tied up Sigmund, writhing like a whip. ''''d*mn, I can''t move........'''' It''s over. Stop resisting. I look at Sigmund coldly. ''Where are Zegert and the others?¡¡What''s the point? I don''t need to tell you what I''m up to. Already prepared, the bird beastman looked straight back at me. His eyes were unclouded. I wondered if it came from loyalty to Zegart. ''''Please kill me, Demon King-sama.'''' Sigmund hung his head. ''I am prepared to die, of course. "I won''t kill you. But you will be brought to justice. "...treason against the king is punishable by death. Answer the first question. I said coldly. ''Where are Zegert and Tsukuyomi? What do they want? I told you it goes without saying. I''m sure you''ve already figured it out. Sigmund bent the edge of his beak into the shape of a grin. ''''©¤©¤Oh, King''s Landing?'''' I raised an eyebrow under my mask. I had a hunch when Sigmund was disguised as Zegart. Nevertheless, we''ve left Regal in King''s Landing with a fighting ability comparable to Zegart''s, and we''ve got Stella, Feria, and Olivier in place, so we have plenty of support. Even if it takes two people, Zegart and Tsukuyomi, they won''t be easily broken down. All that''s left is for me to return to the capital with the Underworld Dragon (Bell). ''''I''m sorry, but the king will have to deal with me here. The miasma is not the same as Sigmund''s. The miasma is so dense and dense that it rises to a tremendous level. The miasma is so dense that it''s impossible to... ''''Are you...?'''' I turn around and stare dumbly at the shadow that appears. A skull swordsman wearing an old-fashioned armor. ''''Regal........! ''''Demon Chief Felia and Demon Chief Olivier have already fallen into the hands of Zegert''s army. I hear that Maj. Gen. Stellar is also missing. Your supporters are no longer with us. ''What...?'' I frowned under my mask. The fact that Feria and Olivier were in the hands of the enemy and the story of Stella''s whereabouts were unknown was no small shock to me. ''You will stay with me for a while now. In the meantime, Zegert and the others will take complete control of the royal capital. So you''re going to join Zegert and his friends? On your left, sir. Regal''s reply was not stagnant at all. No hesitation at all. You have no hesitation in trying to turn against me. ''''You have gathered seven Demon Army Chiefs and rebuilt the Demon Army. You have defeated powerful enemies such as the King of Light and the brave men who have obtained God''s Power. Now that the brave men''s offensive is intensifying, I believe that you are the strongest king who can defend the demon world. "I will continue to work as your sword. Regal''s words the other day went through my mind. ''''Well what was your reply back then?'''' I stared at the swordsman in the skull with an impatient feeling. Like Zegert, Regal was a tricky man to deal with. But unlike the Beast Emperor who probably revolted because of his ambition, this guy must have bumped into me out of pure concern for the demon world. Even if he has different ideas than me. Even if our stance on battle and our feelings towards humans are different. We''re all aiming for the same thing - that''s what I thought. ''I thought you were going to fight for the demon world with me? I''ll always fight for the demon world. But I don''t... Regal held up a devastating sword with a design that looked like it was made up of bones. ''''I can''t allow a demon king with a human heart in him! A powerful slash with a fierce intent to kill. It was the very flash of a farewell from him to me... 102 5 Demon King VS Immortal King, again "You said you don''t recognize the Demon King with a human heart... Is that because you hate humans? I looked at Regal. "Why do you hate people, Regal? Is it because of your demonic nature? ''''The demon race doesn''t necessarily hate humans. Even some of the previous Demon Kings have interacted with humans. Regal spoke plainly. ''But I don''t - I don''t forgive the existence of human beings. We will never be compatible. I feel that. Because... The skull''s eye sockets and the red glare behind them glare at me. "That''s because I''m a former human being. Regal told him. "Just like you, Huh...! Face scrunched up under the mask, me. Does that mean that, like me, Regal is a human-turned-magic race? Zeggert told me. Zeggert told me that you were reborn as a human to demon. And that his spirit is still human. I gulped. How did Zegert know that©¤©¤? I was surprised to see Regal''s red eyes staring at me. "When I was reborn as a demon, I gave up on humans. They are dirty. They are filthy. They easily betray even those whose hearts are in harmony with their own interests. Betrayal? Thousands of years ago, when I was still a man I was celebrated as a hero in my little country. Regal reminisces. "Rion is the only man I can call a good friend. He and I rode through countless battlefields. We crossed swords with many demons, defeated them, and eventually, Rion and I fought a powerful demon warlord... It was the first time he had heard of Regal''s past. When he was human, he may have lived a brave life. "We were backed into a corner. Then Rion betrayed me. In order to survive he blew up the Demon Lord, including me, in order to survive. Huh...! I gulped again. The situation was different, but his past of being betrayed by what he believed in was the same as mine. It was easy to imagine his pain, anger and despair. It would be similar to the feelings I had for my beloved disciple Lyle.... With these feelings of regret, hatred and resentment in my heart, I was reborn as an undead man. I built up my strength and eventually became a demon army chief. Huffing and puffing, Regal let out a breath. I don''t have a human heart anymore. But the anger and resentment towards the existence of human beings will never go away. The reason for fighting as a demon race is to eliminate every last one of them. It wouldn''t be all that human. It''s everything to me. Regal refused to budge. "Therefore, I do not recognize a Demon King with a human heart. You can''t fight for me, is that it? Yes. The swordsman of the skull nodded. ''Then what are you going to do?¡¡Will you make Zegert the new king and fight under him? Yes. Regal affirmed in a squeaky voice. ''Therefore, I will cut you down here. Bang! With a sound, Regal''s armor shattered. Purple flames rose from the skeleton''s entire body. ''''This is...'''' Enormous miasma density...? It''s a miasma that condenses a grudge I''ve spent thousands of years cultivating. The swordsman with the flame-clad skull announced. ''''It''s true that your basic ability value (status) is much higher than mine. If you fight properly, I won''t stand a chance. The flames blowing up from Regal''s body increased the heat even more. It''s as if the atmosphere itself is going to be burned to a crisp. The miasma is a miasma that threatens to destroy the world itself. The miasma of flames. But the miasma that I''ve accumulated, if I release it, converge it, raise it to whatever extent I can, I may be able to exceed its power for a moment. Regal raised a disastrous sword that seemed to be made up of countless bones. The flames that covered his body moved to his blade. You can only use this power once and only for an instant. I''ll use that one moment to slay you. I''m sorry, but I won''t let you cut down. I am a king, and as a Freed-Latts, I have a purpose in life. I told him quietly. I''m already ready to fight. And I''m ready to cut him down. So, overcoming my hesitation, I announced. "Anything that stands in the way of the king I will defeat. 103 6 Miasma and emptiness, grudge and hope "The Dark Lord''s Demise of Hades Blade End... unleashing my greatest sword technique with maximum power on you. With the sword wrapped in the flames of the miasma, Regal is running at a sprint. The miasma is fast. The miasma flames are not only from the sword, but also seemingly from the back of the guy. I''m going to be able to say that this is a very good idea. The Immortal King, who was fleshed out by me in just a moment, unleashes a slash of his full strength from the upper level. A head-to-head battle without any tricks... In that case, I''ll go with you. ''Convergence-type Vanity Blade! The magic sword that cuts off space is activated. The sword of miasma and the sword of nothingness It''s the only way to go. We''re not going to be able to get away with it. It''s the only way to go. Our swords clash, causing metal to creak and sparks to fly. As it is, we move into a teetering position of a sword battle. "I can''t cut... I let out a voice of confusion under my mask. His sword, which cuts through even space, is catching the sword head on. ''''No way, this is...! It''s the same as when I fought the brave Liavelt who had gained ''divine power'' before. The power of the magic sword has been ''rejected''. Has Regal''s maximum sword technique reached that level? ''''It''s a one-off technique created by thousands of years of accumulation. The Immortal King quietly announced. ''''But for that one time - I can ''reject'' everything and crush everything. Even if it''s your strongest magic. You are a keeper. ''The fight with you is worth it. That''s all I''ve decided. Jittery, Regal pushes. ''.........! The blade of magical power I created creaked loudly. A crack runs across its surface. I can feel the magic power itself wearing away. Indeed, it''s a tremendous slash. Even the sword of emptiness that condenses my magic power is being rejected and is about to be destroyed. Regal pushes in further. You want to continue to push through and cut me in half? "But... I put more magic power into it. The magic sword, which was covered in cracks, returns to normal again. ''''What........? ''''That''s not enough to exhaust my magical power. You''re not the only one who has an uncompromising will to do so....... This time I pushed back. The close quarters battle that had been a legal one was back to five minutes again. I''m not sure why.¡¡"Why can''t I push it away - why does my miasma, my grudge, my obsession with the miasma, overpower a human''s heart? "I''m the same as you. I told him quietly as I received Regal''s miasma sword with my sword of emptiness. The miasma of the miasma is the only thing that matters. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. "In my battle with the previous Demon King Yulisha, the one I trusted the most betrayed me. And now... he''s dead. ...What? I hated him. The smile of his beloved apprentice, Lyle, floated in my brain. The core of my heart throbbed with pain. Although they have parted ways and settled their differences, the pain in their hearts will never completely heal. But even so.... I''m sure I would have come to hate all human beings just like you. However, I''m not sure if it''s a good idea, but it''s not. When I became the Demon King, I gained a new set of important people. I''ll take a step toward you. The equilibrium is shattered. "d*mn........you''re still going to get more power......? Regal takes a step backwards. ''''The desire to protect what I hold dear barely kept me from being a person. It''s kept me from being trapped in hate, and it''s kept me from believing in and thinking about my friends. I''ll push it one more time. So I can fight. Just one more step. "If there''s anyone who threatens the demon world... if there''s anyone who hurts the demon tribe, I''ll fight them off with everything I''ve got. I will crush them. And I took the last step. The girls will give me that will! The empty blade cut off the miasma sword in mid-air. ''''Guh, whoa, whoa.......?'''' Regal retreated heavily. It''s the same thing we''re going for, Regal. Can''t we fight together? This is a stupid... The Immortal King groaned in dismay. ''''Is it because your hatred is so great that it prevents you from doing so?¡¡Am I not one of you? Friends.... You''re a valuable member of the family, aren''t you? Garan. The sword fell from Regal''s hand. The sword, which was broken halfway through its blade, weathered as it was and scattered as countless ashes. ''''©¤©¤Kill him.'''' The Immortal King nodded. The miasma is now completely exhausted. I don''t think I can ... fight anymore. ''The winner gets to set the loser free, right?¡¡Then this time you''ll be loyal to me. Would you allow a man to point a sword at you? I told you I''m on your side. If we''re going to save as many others as possible we''re going to need your help. ...sweet. ''Huh,'' breathed Regal. ''Then you''ll make up for that sweetness. I chuckled. It was the same line as when we first met. ''The King''s life.'' ...you... Regal seemed to laugh heartily. ''No, you''re - you''re still sweet. His words are also the same as when we first met. But the heart that we exchanged between us was... But the heart we shared with each other must be different from that time... 104 7 Secret plan So you chose Freed instead of me in the end. A voice rang out from the sky. "You are... I looked up in surprise and saw what looked like a silver bird in my eyes. Is it a magic machine for flying? The two demons on it descend to the ground. A golden lion beastman clad in armor. Following at their side is a silver knight type modified life form (homunculus). They are Zegart and Tsukuyomi. ''''But I see you''ve exhausted the Demon King to some extent. That''s enough.'''' Zegart chuckles. "I ... wanted to see if ... Is Freed the vessel of a king or not? Once again... Regal groaned. ''I''m still ... beginning to feel that this one, and not the noble, might be fit to be king. I''m wavering. The Immortal King shakes his head from side to side. ''''I don''t.......understand. Then watch me there. Zegart advanced. He bared his fangs and laughed furiously. "You''ll see. I''ll show you the true power of a true demon king... Now you''re going to fight me, Zegert. I turned to face him. I''m sure that''s the true face underneath the mask. It''s just like a human being, after all, it''s the same face I had when I was human. Zegart looks at me. Well, the fight with Regal left my mask broken. Did Zegart and Tsukuyomi see your true face as well? ''''Well how do you know I''m a former human?'''' Me asking. ''Did Regal tell you that?'' No. I already knew. Zegert told him arrogantly. ''I will not recognize a demon king with a human heart. ....the same as Regal. ''You have the heart of a man, and yet you took the Demon King''s place from me and I hate you for it. I see, so the same words are very different from the thoughts Regal had about the same words. "Ambition and jealousy. Yeah, I knew I was the only one who would be next. I was jealous when the first King Yulisha was elected. I resented him. I was furious. "Why not me? Zegart growled. I can make this world stronger. I can make this realm stronger and my name will be known forever. So why can''t I, in this generation and in the next generation, be the Witch King? The lion''s eyes stare at me. Eyes with a dark fire in them. ''Then we must take it away!¡¡Power!¡¡The power that is stronger than anyone else, the power to defeat and lay waste to everything - that is the only absolute rule in the demon world! You come by force, I''ll deal with you, Zegert. I focused my magic power. It''s true that the battle with Regal had drained me, but I could still fight. ''''Demon Lord, we''ll protect you! Lirim and the guards get in front of me. But I won them over. ''No, Lilim and the others stay back,'' Zegart is a powerful man. I don''t want any unnecessary casualties. I will defeat him. I''ll defeat him, as the Demon King. ''Well said!¡¡From now on, I''m going to take the Demon King''s throne from you! With a shout, Zegert kicked the ground. ''Let''s go to the vulgarity - the game! Something jumps out from behind the Beast Emperor. ''''Unnounce, Miracle Armament ''Gracisa''! What the...? Miracle Armor. It is the armor of the gods, which only the brave can control. And Zeggert is using it...? To be precise, the spear was not held by the Beast Emperor, but by an auxiliary arm that looked like a magic machine that extended from the back of the armor - a sub-arm, so to speak. ''''Meteoblade!'''' I quickly fire a dozen flaming swords together and intercept them. ''''That''s lukewarm!'''' Zegart''s spear sliced through all the flaming swords together. My ''Meteoblade'' is powerful enough to burn and melt the earth and cut through it if it''s at full throttle. Slashing a dozen or so of them together is a tremendous power. No, that''s not it©¤©¤. This could not be.... It''s a Laguna Bomb! I unleashed an advanced spell as I continued. ''''Noooooooooooooooo!'''' Zegert raises his spear with a roar. ''''Heavenly Resonance (Howling)! With a curse, a black glow popped out of its ear tips. ''''Kook........?'''' A strong sense of weakness rose in me. Disordered magic? You can''t release the "power" well©¤©¤. The magic bullets it fired were far from its usual output. He says he''s not warm. I was still slashed apart by Zegart''s spear. ''''Ha, ha, ha........'''' I dripped sweat from my entire body and breathed heavily. For some reason, the power of my magic was extremely low. Come to think of it, the first time I met Zegert, the same thing happened when we had a hand-to-hand meeting. No, it''s a phenomenon I remember even before that. Yes, the same as when I fought with my beloved disciple Lyle©¤©¤. 105 8 Predicament "You are indeed very powerful. Your only weakness is this piece of the Demon King''s Sword. A black glow overflowed from Zegert''s forehead and chest. "A piece of the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Ladis)...? ''''And two of them. "You once fought a brave man who possessed the shard, and your strength was severely weakened? Zegert chuckles. "The Miracle Armor that you carry inside your body, the Miracle Armor that the brave man carries, and the shards of the Demon King''s Sword interfered with each other - that weakened your power as a Demon King. Interference...? The Miracle Armor is a weapon that embodies the power of a god. And the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword, a ritual tool that holds the power of the Demon King. When these two powers rise within you at the same time, they cancel each other out and your ''magical power as a demon king'' will be weakened indefinitely. And Tsukuyomi. ''''This phenomenon occurred because you are different from the previous demon kings... you are a former human and have both the divine armor and the power of a demon king in your body at the same time. "In the past, this condition was only met when I fought you and a brave man who had both the Miracle Armor and the piece of the Demon Sword in him, and I learned that from him. Therefore, I thought I could weaken you if I reproduced the same conditions. Zegert laughs. I''m sure you''ll be pleased to know that I''m not the only one. I also used Tsukuyomi''s magic technology to modify the arm of the brave man and put it on my back. I''ve learned to control the Miracle Armor. I see. So the sub-arm sprouting from Zegart''s back is made from the arm of a hero he defeated in the Second Battle of the Brave Invaders. That''s why Zegart is able to control the Miracle Armament by using the arm. And I put the two shards in my body and in the Miracle Armor. The result is - as you can see. And as you can see, the tactics he taught me worked wonders. He...? ''We made a deal. To advance the high road. With the enemy. A slight bitterness appeared on Zegart''s face. ''''Enemies........'''' I don''t have to tell you. Zegert grins. ''Well, let''s get on with it! Zegert howls and unleashes his spear. He also mixes in his own claws, fangs, and tail to unleash a variety of attacks. I intercepted them with fire and lightning magic, but they were all easily blown away. With the power dropping to this level, I have no choice but to raise the rank of the spell further. ''''Breakthrough Thunderbolt (Mega Thunder)! He unleashed a top-grade lightning spell. A lightning bolt with the power to scorch away even space, however. It''s useless! Zegert''s freaky armor cut me off. I guess this isn''t going to work either. Lucifer''s Shield! I put up a defensive wall and retreat while shielding myself from his attacks. But that protective wall is also cracking under Zegart''s continuous attacks. It won''t last long. "Are we already on the defensive?¡¡Aren''t you the most powerful demon king ever?¡¡Kuhahahahaha! Zegert was happily winning. With a high-pitched sound, the protective wall shattered completely. ''''Chii........'''' I clicked my tongue and retreated further. In that case, I''ll use this one.... "Convergence-type Vanity Blade! I''m going to create a magical sword that is my trump card. No. It''s not going to work. The jet-black energy sword that appeared in my hand was a blur, a blur, and it dissipated. The magic power did not converge into the shape of the sword. Don''t tell me that the magic power is almost gone already! It''s as if I''ve returned to the days when I was a human hero. No, in fact, my status now might not be much different than when I was a human. After my reincarnation, the power I had as a demon king is gone...? ''''You''re not an enemy, as you''ve lost even your magic power!¡¡Scatter now and hand me the demon king''s throne! Zegert steps in for the last time and unleashes his spear. Oh no, I can''t prevent it...! I freeze up, I cringe. The sharp tip of the spear is in front of me, and... ''''Huh........?'''' However, the expected pain and shock did not come. Gingh! Instead, I hear a sound that seems to echo in the pit of my stomach. ''''You........?'''' The surprised voice was uttered by both me and Zegert at the same time. ''''I won''t let this one point his blade at you, Zegert. The Beast Emperor''s spear was caught by Regal, who flew out from the side with his sword©¤©¤. 106 9 Trump card Zegart aimed at me, and Regal caught the blow. Did you save me...? He looked at the skull swordsman in surprise. Zegert, too, looked surprised and confused. Give it to Freed, Regal. I don''t understand.... The skull swordsman groaned. ''My hatred for humans has not disappeared. Nor will it disappear. But this man... Regal looks back at me. Something is different. When we''re together, my heart warms up a little bit - my ''heart'' that I thought I''d already lost, just a little bit more. Hmm. I want to find out what it is. Therefore, I can''t let you take on the Demon King now. That''s a very self-indulgent way of putting it, Immortal King. Zegart growls uncomfortably. ''There is no excuse. But I can''t retreat from this sword either. Regal held his broken sword at the ready. The miasma had almost disappeared from his body. The miasma of the Dark Lord''s Demise Blade End. The miasma of the miasma that has been stored for thousands of years must have been exhausted during the fight with me. It''s not like they have much strength left to fight. It''s a good thing that you''re not going to be able to find a way to get the best out of it. "I have no mercy, Freed, Regal. Zegert announced quietly, turning his gaze to Tsukuyomi. ''Do it,'' Are you going to pull that thing out, sir? "In a game of life and death, you never know what will happen until the end. The trump card will be cut off here at once. I will crush them with overwhelming force as it is. We haven''t had an uptime rate yet, but it''s just as well for a field test, don''t you think? Saying, Tsukuyomi holds up her right hand. ''''King of Darkness.'''' I called out to the sky. Roooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! An eerie roar echoed through the air. Something was slowly descending from above. "What was that... I look up at the sky, stunned. A black, dragon. I wonder if it''s more than a hundred meters long. It''s a huge dragon with a mechanical design, covered with magical armor. "The ''Ashtarotgear'' - one of the weapons used to defend the Demon King''s castle against the gods. Although it''s an unfinished product. And Tsukuyomi. A defense weapon for the Demon King''s Castle©¤©¤. It was true that they had been taught about the existence of these weapons through the succession from the previous Demon King Yurisha. But I was told that most of the weapons were destroyed in an ancient battle and are now useless. It had been restored, you say...? ''''In ancient times, I activated the one that had been sealed up in the basement of the castle during the battle between God and the Beginning Demon King (W?lfer). The operating rate is at most 30%, but... It''s more than enough to bury you with all your strength. And Zegert. There''s something else lurking underneath the Demon King''s Castle," said Zeggert. If I can investigate it to my heart''s content, if I can get the knowledge to do so from him, then the reward for me is sufficient. The thirst for knowledge, you mean. Is that why Tsukuyomi joined the rebellion? "I was created as an instrument of the former demon warlord Izana. But now that Izana is dead, she is free - and she will live according to her own will. That is, For the first time, the heat was in Tsukuyomi''s voice. ''''You will continue on your path as a researcher........'''' With a cry of creaking iron, the giant dragon opened its mouth. A flash of light filled his vision. Yellow-white glowing dragon breaths reclaimed the Hellfire City. The buildings collectively disappeared, and the black pillars of fire on all sides of the city were also blown away collectively. ''''The power of this...! In an instant, Jiregga had turned into a ruin. If they had used this as a brave interceptor, it would have been much easier to fight. Why didn''t they use it? Of course, it was probably because it was a secret weapon for the rebellion. Even if the brave men sacrificed their demons to them.... I gritted my back teeth to the bone. No, anger was an afterthought right now. "Regal! I ran to his side and cast a magic barrier spell. ''''Lucifer''s Shield!'''' But the barriers that were triggered would soon shake and disappear. ''It''s useless, it''s useless. I could get rid of you all by myself, but I also have Tsukuyomi and this weapon. There is no way to escape... Not yet. I hadn''t given up. There was no way I was gonna give up. Me, Regal, Lilim and everyone else will get out of here alive. Then we''ll destroy all hope! Zegart raises his fist. A sharp claw shines sharply. The magic that was powerful enough to intercept it was not going to be able to shoot anymore. ''''I won''t let it!¡¡We''ll protect the demon king! The Lirim and the other guards jumped out at him. "You can''t do this to me... They''ll kill you for sure! I ran out to get in front of them, to get ahead of them. ''Ice Blast''! Suddenly, ice magic flew in from behind. ''''Mu!'''' Zegert eats the advanced ice magic by surprise and retreats. As expected, he couldn''t be defeated by the current blow, but he seemed to have received some damage. ''''Demon King-sama, are you alright! Someone came running up behind him. This voice... Stella! A beautiful silver-haired girl in a black robe ran up to me. 107 10 offense and defense ''I was delayed in rushing to the scene because I had escaped from Zegert''s hands. I''m sorry. Stella runs up to me and bows her head to me. ''No, thank God,'' On the way here, I took stock of the situation with my clairvoyance. And, Stella. ''I think now is the time to step back. Can you do it? I''ll take care of it. I made brief eye contact with Stella. "That blow was stunning, but it was a surprise. Zegert glares at me and Stella. "No matter how good your pupils are, you''re basically a supportive type. You are a combat-type person, not an enemy of me. I don''t know. The Demon God-eyed girl looked at the Beast Emperor coldly. ''''Fighting is not decided by force alone. At the very least©¤©¤couldn''t a brainiac like you understand that? A cheap provocation. Grunting, Zegart slowly approached. I looked at Stella again. This ''trick'' is all about timing. We need to match her breath with mine©¤©¤. Once again, I analyzed our current strength. First, me. Zegart''s tricks have nearly exhausted my magic power. With my current magical attack power, I won''t be able to do much damage to him. Next, Regal. You can''t say he''s completely on my side, but at least he''s protecting me. However, he must have been pretty worn out from the fight with me earlier. The miasma, a source of energy for undead demons, is almost completely exhausted, and he probably doesn''t have enough strength left to stand up to Zegart and Tsukuyomi. As for the Lilim and the guards, it is indeed impossible to resist the Demon Warchief class. If that''s the case - the last one is Stella. She seems to be in top form. Her powers are pupillarism and magic. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. Of course, it''s not strong enough to defeat Zegart and Tsukuyomi, but it''s enough to keep them in check, and there''s even a chance to defeat them if you see an opening. All that''s left is.......to combine those cards and break the deadlock. I''m going to do it, Stella. I signal to her with my gaze. Her eyes nodded in agreement. ''''Come, ''Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Radis)! I called up the Demon King''s sword. The jet-black blade that seemed to have melted the darkness, the graceful golden flange and hilt. There are a number of cracks running through its blade, and a total of six spills on the blade. Normally I use my magic sword in melee combat, but right now even that magic power is running out. I have no choice but to fight with this thing as my gain. I grabbed the Demon King''s sword. ''''Hmph, that sword will soon be mine too. Zegart raises both claws like a sword. ''....Let''s go. I held the Demon King''s sword at mid-level and rushed forward from a low stance. This is the basic motion of the ''Zylas style of swordsmanship'' that I used to use when I was a human. "You are a thousand years too young to challenge me in close combat! Howling, Zegart swings down his arm claws. Fast©¤©¤! After all, in a white army battle, a guy who is a physically skilled beast-man demon race is better than a guy who is a physically skilled beast-man demon race? ''''Kuh........'''' I swivel my sword and retreat, playing with Zegert''s clawing fire. ''I won''t let you get away,'' Quickly, Zegert closed in on him in time. ''''Fire!'''' It''s not working! The fireball I released would disappear with just one blackmail from the Beast Emperor. It''s not even a check. "My Demon Lord, we''re going to... Zegert, prepare yourself! Lilim and the others, and even Regal, rushed in. ''No matter how much we gather, it''s useless! Zegart howled. His yell became a shockwave, blasting the Lilim together. Furthermore. "''Dark Lord,'' you must attack Freed! Tsukuyomi orders the Maaso High King (Ashtaroth Gear) to give chase. Gigi.........i.......! But for a moment, its movements slowed down. The black giant dragon wiggled its body from side to side as if it was puzzled. ''''A malfunction?¡¡Oh, well. The former Demon King is not finished with a weapon, I will finish him off. The Beast Emperor looking back at me. ''''This is........?'''' That''s when Zegart let out a bewildered cry. The extinguished fireball appeared again and grew dozens of times larger and attacked him. ''''Don''t underestimate the Demon King''s magical power. I grin. ''''Chii, you still have this much power...! Zegert retreats in surprise. At that moment. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...! The fireball popped with a roar. * ''Gone...?'' Zegert looked around. There was already no sign of Freed, Stella, Regal, or the guards. It looks like they were able to escape. ''''........Hmph. You were planning to deceive me from the start by using a magic trick to escape, under the pretense of an all-out attack. Zegart gave a small snort. However, that was also expected to some extent. ''''If you want to run away, you can run away. All I have to do is return to the Demon King''s Castle and continue my preparations to get the ''thing''. I do too, sir. Yeah, I wouldn''t get ''that power'' without your help. Please. Here''s what''s going on. "I shall not be a pawn in the hands of the gods. I will outmaneuver him and rule all the world. * ''Ha, ha, ha...'' Stella was breathing heavily. ''Are you okay, Stella?'' This is the forest on the outskirts of Zillegga. After escaping from Zegart and Tsukuyomi, we arrived here and hid out. "As I thought, the current me.......it''s still a heavy burden to control the Eye of the Apocalypse (Apocalypse Note) at will. Beads of sweat floated all over her face. Her beautiful face was pale. It must have drained a considerable amount of magic and strength. ''''I''m sorry.'''' I lowered my head deeply. If it wasn''t for the illusion created by her pupil technique and the prediction of Zegert and the others'' reactions by the Eye of the Apocalypse, I wouldn''t have been able to escape so successfully. ''''What do you mean? I would risk my life to protect you.'''' It''s us. Lilim said emphatically. ''''I''m glad you''re safe, Demon King-sama. And also.... well, Regal-sama. It''s okay. At least we''re not enemies. For now. I gave a small smile to the somewhat anxious Lilim and the guards. 108 11 Determination of counterattack The rebels, led by Zegert and Tsukuyomi, marched from Jiregga to the royal city. ''Come, my elite. Let''s riot to the fullest. Zegert gave a command to the surviving beastman demons under his command. ''''Follow my orders. Follow my orders, demon weapons. In addition to the group of magical weapons under his command, Tsukuyomi controlled the Demon Boss (Ashtaroth Gear) that he had excavated from underneath the Demon King''s Castle. The mixed army of beastmen and weapons broke into the royal capital at once. The Demon King and the other Demon Army Chiefs have already captured or repelled them across the board. Only the crowds remain. There is no way they can stop the army of Zegart, which boasts of its strength, or the army of Tsukuyomi, which assists it. One-sided destruction and violence rushed through the area. Screams and cries of fear could be heard everywhere. However, Zegert had no intention of destroying the royal capital. When he becomes the Demon King, he will rule this place. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do anything more than show off. I don''t want to be shy about it. When Zegart comes to the throne, let the people be in awe of him. Let the people praise him. Absolute power must be shown... "Fear!¡¡And worship!¡¡I am the new Demon King Zegert! The golden lion''s proclamation rang out cheerfully. * I don''t... I don''t have the magic in me. I sighed. He might recover in time, but I couldn''t wait that long. Zegert and the others would be coming after us, and most importantly, I couldn''t just leave King''s Landing like that. I looked in the direction of King''s Landing. Countless flames and black smoke were rising. This is the proof that Zegart''s army is on the rampage. How much destruction has been wrought? How many people have been hurt? Just thinking about it is heartbreakingly painful. He wouldn''t destroy the royal city, but he does intend to show a certain amount of power. So, if the people of the magical world sacrifice a little bit of their lives - perhaps they don''t care. That''s the kind of man Zegert is. I have to stop it...! I stood up, unable to bear it. ''But you can''t use your usual powers, can you, Demon Lord?¡¡That''s not going to win, well... Although it looks like it''s hard to say, Lilim stands in front of me. "As the captain of the guard, I don''t want to send the demon king into a battle he doesn''t have a chance of winning. He looked at me with a snap. ''Lirim........'' No, they won''t!¡¡So I will stop it. That''s what I''m going to do! Her stern face, which she rarely shows. A look of sympathy for me. "So do I, my Demon Lord. Stella stepped forward. ''Of course, King''s Landing is on my mind. The rebellion of Zegart and Tsukuyomi is an unforgivable act. Even so... it''s time to endure. I should be patient and wait for the opportunity to fight back...? I know. I know it in my head. But when you think about the fact that the royal capital is being overrun by Zegert and his army, you can''t stand still. "There''s one strategy I''ve been thinking about. I looked at Stella and Lilim - and Regal. "But I''ll need your help. Stella, Lilim, Regal. He adds with bitterness. ''It must be quite risky.'' However, the only way to win is by overcoming that danger. The power of the three of us, my power, and the ''characteristics'' of the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Radis) - if you combine them, there''s a chance for all of us to win. "If the Demon King commands it, I will devote myself and my life to it. I''m going to do my best, too. Stella tells her reverently, and Lilim shouts cheerfully. ''''........Me too, right?'''' Regal stared at me. I could see the slightest hint of confusion in Red''s eyes. ''''Do you expect me to believe that I have betrayed you?'''' ''Why don''t you rather think of it as atonement for your betrayal, Regal? I looked at him quietly. ''This desperate predicament - if you contribute to my fight, I''ll consider lessening the crime of rebellion. You are. Regal takes a small breath. Well, I''m half joking. The atmosphere is a little less tense now. ''''We''re going to need your help on this mission, Regal. I''ve lost most of my magic, and my attack power has been drastically reduced. Stella isn''t the direct-attack type, and the same goes for Lilim and the others. If you, who are skilled in the white army, don''t join us, the overthrow of Zegert won''t be possible. I looked at the skull swordsman again. ''''Lend me your strength, Regal Magistrate. You''re... Your orders as the Demon King. 109 12 Those who transcend fate The Oracle Room. It''s the only room on earth where one can communicate with the God of Heaven. I can''t believe I''m coming back here. Ludmila looked around. This was the place where she had been trained by the ''Red Messenger (Rouge)'', a divine messenger. ''''All of us, let''s make sure we become strong.'''' Next to him is Fiore. ''''Yeah, a comrade who was scattered in the battle against the Demon King - for Riawert''s sake, too. Sion is also with them. After the three of them were defeated in the operation to invade the demon world, they were summoned to the upper echelons of the Heroic Guild. And they were sentenced to further training. He said that God had prepared a new place for the three of them to train. ''''We''re all here~ Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge), everyone. It''s a shame we''re missing one of you, but I''ll let you three work out. What appeared was a beautiful boy and girl with wings and a halo. They are the messengers of God, the ''apostles'' - Rouge and Noir. ''''Huh, first let me explain a little bit.'''' I''ll be there, but this time the apprenticeship will be a little harder. Rouge and Noir smiled. The two apostles began to explain. ''The earlier invasion mission ended in defeat. However, we were successful enough. "The ''divine power'' that Mr. Liavert brought back, or more precisely, a piece of it, is trying to awaken a god. The power that was lost in the battle against the Demon King Velfer in ancient times is about to be revived. This is the longest wish of the Heavenly Army~ Once God is complete, the Demon King''s army won''t be the enemy. A succession of rouges and noirs. But for that, we need more pieces. Once again, you must go to the Demon Realm and retrieve the missing piece of the ''divine power'' that lies beneath the Demon King''s Castle. "When we have reclaimed the pieces of the puzzle... then God will be fully awake. Let''s give you new powers to do just that. A new power...? Ludmilla murmured. With their last training, they had acquired power beyond the limits of their bravery. That was the intention. But is there still ''more'' ahead of us...? "Through the God''s awakening, we are now able to give you the ''fourth test''. But it''s a risky proposition. Rouge and Noir tell me in turn. ''Preparedness is good, isn''t it?'' I hope you''re ready for this. The second the two apostles spoke at the same time... ''''This is........?'''' Ludmilla''s vision changed. Several scenes emerged simultaneously. Probably the images being shown by Rouge and Noir. Some were defeating over a million dragons by themselves. Some had sealed innumerable higher demonic races in an instant. Some had psychic control over people all over the continent at a glance. And some... ''What the hell...?'' Ludmila gulped. The people who appeared in the video were all humans with powers far beyond human knowledge. That''s right, the overwhelming ''strongest'' of them, so much so that even the Four Heavenly Holy Swords didn''t have a problem with them. ''''All beings are bound by ''cause and effect.'''''' And rouge. ''''Causality is fate - you could say it''s the reason (rule) that binds the world. Even gods and demon kings can''t escape from that rule. Nor can they be overcome. So you''re saying that no being can defeat fate? Under normal circumstances, Rouge nodded at Ludmilla''s question. ''But there is an exception. It is those who have obtained the ''power that exists outside the law of cause and effect''. How they obtain that power is not clearly understood, but it seems to be caused by a malfunction (bug) in the law of cause and effect. There have been a few people who have gained that power in the past. The Red Apostle speaks. Those people - the ''Fate Breakers'', so to speak - have all gained the power of the superpowered warriors. The current Demon King Fried was probably the one who obtained that power. The fact that he is more powerful than any other Demon King in history is proof of that... So the Demon King has power over fate...? How am I supposed to fight such an entity? How am I going to win? The power over fate is not in the hands of gods, demons or dragons but somehow it resides in people. We can''t, but one of you can, or... ''''But doesn''t the Demon King have that power too? ''''I''m guessing that the Demon King is a human - or perhaps a human got his power and was reincarnated as a Demon King. Rouge tells him. (The Demon King is a former human...?) Ludmilla raised an eyebrow. 110 13 Devil King VS Beast Emperor "Wind. Zegart sat deep on his throne and let out a hot breath. The demon king''s throne. No matter how many times I sit on it, it''s the most comfortable place I''ve ever been. ''I''ve finally made it this far. Zegert thought back to the path he had just taken. In the basement of the Demon King''s Castle, the ''power'' that the Demon King Velfer had stolen from the gods in the ancient battle was said to lie dormant. An immense and absolute power. In the last battle, the brave Liavert obtained a part of it. But even with a piece of power as small as a shard, it was powerful enough to ''reject'' the magic of the Demon King Freed and cross over. If you could get all of them, how strong would you become©¤©¤. However, that power is extremely unstable, and if someone with the demon attribute touches it carelessly, it seems that it will not escape annihilation. Zegart and Tsukuyomi investigated the depths of the Demon King''s Castle and carefully studied its "power". As a result, they found a way to communicate with the gods. Hand me the power. Give me your power, it''s mine to begin with! The gods sent this message to Zegert and the others. In exchange, they''ll give you the means to defeat the Demon King. In other words, a deal. God would get his power back and Zegert would get a new Demon King. It was a dangerous gamble, but he took it. And God has given him a great deal of useful information. Fried is an ex-human. For some reason, he is the only one who has surpassed the "law of cause and effect", a rule that even gods and demons cannot surpass, and he has gained immense magical power and ability value. However, because he is a former human, he has a strategy. The strategy is to use the magic sword and the Miracle Armor together. The strategy is a combination of the Demon King''s sword shards and the Miracle Armor. And the tactics he used to track down Fried. This is a good thing. The problem is, what comes next is... "If we hand over our ''power'' as we have bargained for, God will definitely destroy the demon world. Tsukuyomi said from the throne. ''We''ve made an agreement, for what it''s worth,'' Zegart nodded. If the demon world doesn''t unfairly invade the human world, he will allow the demon race to continue to exist, he said. To the point of bringing up a deal with the demon race, an irreconcilable enemy - the god is that much more attached to the lost power. The likelihood that the god would immediately renege on the deal is probably low. Even after he regains his power, it will take time for the god to blend it in with himself.......because it seems. ''''It''s reasonable to assume that they won''t attack the demon world right away. And Tsukuyomi. ''Yeah. Of course, I don''t know what the future holds. In fact, the promises God made to us are just a diversion. Eventually, if he regains his power, he will try to destroy the demon world. But we just need to buy ourselves some time. Zegert growled. ''''In the meantime, repair the defensive weapons that lie underneath the Demon King''s Castle and prepare yourself to intercept the Heavenly Army. And Zegart himself - he will surely acquire power that surpasses God. In other words, this agreement is by default that God and Zegart''s camp will become even more powerful, and eventually the two sides will decide who''s boss. Freed will be harmful to each other, but not beneficial. Therefore, the general idea is that their mutual interests are aligned, and they will join forces to eliminate each other. "Master Zegert, this is an emergency! And then a beast-type demon race entered the audience room. ''''What is it?'''' "Well, I mean, Demon King - no, Freed''s group........? With an explosion, the demon race was blown away. They were knocked to the floor and knocked unconscious. ''''An enemy attack?'''' Zegert rose from his throne. A black robed figure appears with high-pitched footsteps, followed by a beautiful silver-haired girl, a red-haired girl warrior and a skull swordsman. You have come to challenge me. "You have come to challenge me, the Demon King. "I don''t give the throne to you, Zegert. The masked man in the lead - Fried - quietly announced. "In the name of the Demon King, I will avenge you. * "In the name of the Dark Lord, I will avenge you. I looked straight at Zegert. "Are you going to avenge me? Growling Beast Emperor. No, he already thinks he''s the new Demon King himself. "Do you think you can defeat me now? It''s not about winning. We''ll win. He arrogantly folds his arms and says to Zegert, "I''ll be sure to... ''''I''ll be sure...'''' As a king. To protect my people. And to protect the demon world... It''s a battle I can''t afford to lose. Stella, Lilim, Regal. You did exactly what we discussed. I told the three men behind me. The other guards had them waiting elsewhere. Even if it took a large number of people, Zegart''s fighting ability was too different in dimension from an ordinary demon race. It was better not to be here than to needlessly add to the casualties. Now that the strongest magic power of all time has been greatly weakened, our reliance is on working with these three. ''''Yes.'''' Regal lines up at my side and holds a sword designed to look like a combination of bones. ''I will read his movements. The Demon King should match it. Regal, so will Lilim. And Stella. ''I''ll do my best too~! Lilim exclaimed cheerfully. ''Have you had your meeting?¡¡You won''t be able to defeat this Demon King Zegert even if you have the numbers together. Do you think? ''Don''t underestimate our power, Zegert. Me and Regal rushed at the growling lion beastman. 111 14 Beast Emperor Strategy Battle I rushed forward with the Demon King''s Sword in my hand. "Heavenly Resonance (Howling)! Quickly, Zegardt weakened my magic. "As long as I have this magic, you are no match for me! Howling Beast Emperor. "Let''s go into full throttle combat mode and show them. I am the king who reigns in the demon world!¡¡King, power! With a bang, the armor covering his body cracked and a blood-red pattern appeared on his chest. A roar that shakes the atmosphere. At the same time, the muscles in Zegert''s entire body rise up greatly. He brought out the physical ability of the beast type to the limit - or rather, beyond the limit! ''''Come on, shatter!¡¡It''s the previous demon king! The long, sword-like claws on both sides are swung down. If received properly, the difference in physical strength will push them away©¤©¤. "''Fire! I cast a fire spell on the spur of the moment. But it wasn''t to attack Zegert. I aimed at the ground beneath my feet. I created an explosion and used it to propel me backwards in a big way. ''''Mu........?'''' Zegert stops moving for a moment, as if puzzled. I''m not going to be able to get through that momentary gap. Zegert, prepare yourself! Regal slashed at him from behind. ''''Too late!'''' But Zegert, who turned around with a super fast reaction, gave him a spinning kick. ''''Guoh........'''' The skull swordsman was shattered in the torso section and blown wide open. Zegart gave chase to Regal, who managed to stay on his feet. Claws, fangs, tails, body blows, head-butts, arms and legs©¤©¤. A flowing series of blows using every part of the body. The intelligence of the demon race and the physical strength and reflexes of the beast are combined in a furious attack. ''''It''s too tight...'''' The Immortal King is blown away even more as his armor and various parts of his body are shattered. How could Regal be pushed through in a white army battle.... The Beast Emperor''s physical abilities are beyond my imagination. And. We can''t have them forgetting who they are. They''re all brain cells that can only fight in close quarters.... Tsukuyomi murmured in frustration from behind. Above her head, a huge black dragon flapped its wings. The defense weapon that was sleeping underneath the Demon King''s Castle - the "King of Darkness". Perhaps the one that could rival the Heavenly Army''s most powerful weapon that they once fought against, the "Heavenly Visionary High King (Divine Gear) Gulp! He spits out a powerful dragon breath. ''''Rune Shield!'''' Stella cast a defensive spell. The barrier that plays the magic attack, however, is easily blown away. ''''I''ll take care of this place~! Quickly, Lilim turned into slime form and wrapped the breath around it. It barely offset the Breath that had been reduced in power by Stella''s defensive magic. ''''Kyaaaah........'''' But that''s the limit. Even though he was a high level demon race that served as the captain of the guard, the opponent was too bad. The power of the breath blew him wide open and knocked him to the ground. ''''Ugh, it still hurts~'''' Lilim frowned as she returned to her human body from her slime body. ''You did a good job of preventing it.'' I took a swipe at Lirim. "You''ve done that with a single blow. The game is now in sight. Tsukuyomi looked at me. ''We cannot prevent the next one from happening again, sir. ...of course. I look back at Tsukuyomi. In fact, if I take another hit, it will penetrate the defenses of Lilim and Stella and we''ll all be reamed away. However, even if we jump into the enemy''s bosom, Zegart, the strongest in close combat, will be waiting for us. ''''It''s a literal kingpin (check), the previous demon king. Zegert laughs. And. Mr. Freed, we are ready. Stella''s voice echoed in my head. A telepathic message. I have a few strands of her hair wrapped around the fingers of my left hand. Using it as a medium, I communicated with the voice in my mind - a strategy I used in the battle against the Four Heavenly Holy Sword Liavert. ''''Can it work?'''' ''''Thanks to the Demon Kings for buying me time, I''ve read through it all. And, Stella. "So, please. Regal, Lilim. As we discussed. Yes, sir. "Yes, sir. Regal and Lilim, who are similarly wrapping Stella''s hair around their hands, reply with a heartfelt voice. Now, it''s time to finish up the battle for the Beast Emperor©¤©¤. ''''I will now inform you of Zegart''s future movements. Demon King-sama, please move accordingly. Regal, can you go too?'''' Okay. Yes, Madam Stellar. Me and Regal return the telepathic message to Stella''s voice. In the next moment, Stella gives us a detailed account of Zegert''s future actions. Me and Regal took it and stepped forward. ''Collectively, shatter!'' The Beast Emperor''s claws, fangs, and tails were unleashed at a furious pace. Me and Regal wielded our swords and surpassed those barrages. Although the opponent is superior in terms of close combat ability, if we knew in advance how they would attack us, we could manage to deal with them. ''''Icicle Blast!'''' Taking advantage of the gap, Stella unleashes an advanced ice type magic. Her target is the sub-arm that grew out of Zegart''s back. But. ''''These magic arms are lined with layers of anti-magic defensive armor. It''s useless! It was easily played. ''Do it, Tsukuyomi!'' "Yes, my lord, the Dark Lord, we will reap them all. Upon Zegart''s command, Tsukuyomi sends instructions to the Magician High King (Ashtaroth Gear). That moment. It''s not us who are going to reap the benefits. It''s Zegart and Tsukuyomi. I raised the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword in the air. ''''What...?'''' Zegart and Tsukuyomi''s confused voices. "Do it, ''King of Darkness''! The black giant dragon obeyed my orders and hurled breaths at the two of them... 112 15 The power of the king In the previous battle, Tsukuyomi tried to get the Dark Lord to attack me. However, the Dark Lord looked puzzled and stopped moving. That was because of the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Lardis). I learned it from our former king Yulisha. The sword was handed down from the first Demon King (W?lfer) to the previous Demon Kings. It''s a symbol of a demon king and has the power to subdue all demon armies. Yes, ''All Demon Armies''. It seems that a person with a strong will like Zegart can repel the effects of the sword, but it was effective against the "Dark Lord" who was nothing more than a purely magical weapon. In short, this means that the priority of the Dark Lord''s order is mine, the owner of the Purgatory Demon Sword, is the priority of his order. That''s why the Dark Lord is now following my orders and not those of Zegert and the others, and attacking them. With this surprise attack, they hit Zegert''s emptiness. We''ve been betting on it from the start. Our plan to reverse the power gap between us... My... The giant dragon''s dragon breath took a decent bite from the giant dragon''s dragon breath, and Zegert was still standing. But as expected, he seemed to have taken damage. White smoke was coming out of his entire body, and blood was flowing out of his skin, which was torn everywhere. ''''Zegert!'''' Regal rushed forward with a roar and unleashed a slash. ''''Kook, this........! Although the Beast Emperor also fought back, his movements were definitely slowing down. Even so - Zegart tried to push Regal back with his fearsome physical strength. ''''As expected of him, he''s formidable...! No matter how much damage you''re doing, you''re not worth the damage. I''m here too! And Lilim, who had changed into a slime, wrapped around Zegert''s feet and blocked his movements. ''''Oh, my........'''' To the Beast Emperor, who had stopped moving©¤©¤I aimed at the sub-arm that grew from its back and held the gun I pulled out of my pocket. I''m not going to be able to get it right. It''s the king''s hand (check), Zegert. Squeeze the trigger. Phew! ''Acceleration!'' The roar of the bullets fired and Stella''s spell overlapped with the roar of the bullets. The bullet, which was accelerated and multiplied in power by that spell, shattered Zegert''s magic arm. ''''The sub-arm...? Zegert groaned in astonishment. ''''I hear it was strong against magic, but not that strong against physics. This was also information that Stella''s Eye of the Apocalypse (Apocalypse Notes) saw through. She looked at the ''past'' where Tsukuyomi created the sub-arm and grasped its weaknesses. Even if it''s my original power or a Judas-class magic power, it''s a magic defense armor that even a high-level demon class can''t break. But on the other hand, my physical defense is more fragile than that. Of course, Zegart won''t show any gaps that would allow him to easily crush the sub-arm. That''s why we worked together to attack and cut off his attention until the very last minute. And then we waited. And then I saw an opening. I''m back! My whole body was burning hot. With the Miracle Armor away from his hands, my weakened magic power was restored. ''''If relying on force and trickery is your ''king''s power,'' then my ''king''s power'' is this. Thrusting out his right hand. Convergence-type, Slash of the Void (Vanity Blade). The magic blade that shines in black and purple was born there. The power of the bond that is created with your friends... ''Sweet ... to the extent that it''s repulsive. Zegart spits. ''Call me sweet, call me sweet. I''ll use this bond to cut off your ambitions! The sword of emptiness that was thrust out pierced the beast emperor''s chest. 113 16 End of ambition The sword of emptiness that I unleashed pierced deeply into the Beast Emperor''s chest. ''''Goooooooo.............................'''' Zegart blows wide open with a strained cry. ''''Ha, ha, ha...'''' Zegert stands up with a ragged breath. While shedding a large amount of blood, he was still alive. As expected of a beast emperor. That''s a tremendous amount of life force. But©¤©¤there is no more reversal. Shattering his sub-arm and disabling the Miracle Armor made my magic-weakening tactics unusable. The shards of the Demon King Sword alone have no effect on me. It was only effective if the shards and Miracle Armor were used together. And now that I have regained my true power, no matter how much of a beast emperor I am, I am not an enemy. "Why was I defeated by someone as sweet as you? Zegart groaned. He spits out a mouthful of blood. A former human being... a proud member of the magical family. I was born into an honorable family that has produced a demon king. Staggering, the Beast Emperor continued to attack with his fangs and claws. ''''Enough.........'''' All of those attacks were pathetically weak. I lightly put up my magic barrier to receive them. ''''Why........!¡¡Why........ Zegert... "I am fit to be the Witch King and not you.... I blasted the rushing Beast Emperor, releasing a lower level magic to blow him away. ''''Gaha........'''' Zegart hit the floor, groaning and groaning, and stood up unsteadily. He looked back at Tsukuyomi, who was standing behind him. ''Tsukuyomi, blow that thing up! "Dear Mr. Zegert... The Silver Knight''s modified life form (homunculus) looks back at the Beast Emperor coldly. ''''Is ''that'' a warding device?¡¡We still have the three demon chiefs, Judas, Feria, and Olivier, in captivity. You''re not a hostage. I huffed and scrunched up my face. ''Hm, you''re not going to do that at this point in time,'' Zegert spits. ''That''s an order!¡¡Do not listen to Demon King Zeggert! Exclamation. Now Zegert may be desperate because of the reversal of the war situation. He had just said that he wouldn''t do a hostage operation, but there was no guarantee that this was true. I watched Tsukuyomi''s movements. If he intends to blow up the warding device and kill Judas and the others he''s captured, I''ll stop him before he does... But Tsukuyomi didn''t move. ''''Huh..... He returns a languid sigh to Zegert, which is not typical of a modified life form. ''The game is already won, sir. What...? The only chance they had of winning was to weaken Demon Lord Freed. But they''ve broken that tactic. There''s no turning the tables on us. Tsukuyomi, you''re a... Zegert''s eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately jumped back. ''''.........Hmph, I won''t be subjected to such a humiliating death penalty!¡¡I will take care of myself! As soon as he says it, he runs to the back of the audience chamber. Let him go! Me, Regal, Stella and Lilim following it. There was a huge device in the back room. It''s a magical device in the shape of a giant cage. "You don''t think that''s what it is... This is the sealing device Tsukuyomi made. It holds Judas, Ferria, and Olivier, whom we have captured. And, Zegart reaches out his hand towards the device. I knew he was going to threaten me, using Judas and the others as hostages... Stop! Zegert looked back at me with a grin as I shouted. ''We no longer need hostages!¡¡I''ll give it back to you! The device deployed, and Feria, Olivier, and Judah, who seemed to have been trapped in the subspace inside, appeared. This guy...? ! "Fortunately, you''re in for a rude awakening. Oh, he got out. ''The Demon King came to rescue you?¡¡Phew, I''m glad. The three of them look at us and smile. I thought we were going to take a hostage, but... "Don''t get your hopes up. We''re just going to use this guy to make sure that you''re dead. Zegert snorted. ''''At the center of this sealing device is an enormous amount of magical power stored to create subspace. If we force it to go out of control and blow it up... Zegert, you...! After all, I am tough. And I don''t want to die in the slightest. Zegart laughed. It was a tremendous smile, stained with blood. ''I will not live to see my ambitions come to fruition. I said and raised my arm towards the device. ''Stay away if you don''t want to be collateral damage. Stop it, Zegert! I reflexively ran out. Even if he was the high treasonous man who had led the rebellion... No, because he''s a high treasonous traitor, I''m not going to let him blow himself up. I''m going to have him judged. As your king, I will judge you. Farewell, my ambition!¡¡And my life! But, a moment too late, Zegert''s claws bit into the device. In the next moment, with a dazzling spark, the device explodes in a huge explosion. The surrounding area is covered in a white explosion of light. The next thing I knew, I was in a rainbow-colored blur. "Where am I.........here.......? 114 1 The place you arrived at The rebellion of Demon Boss Zegert. The battle ended in our victory, and he attacked the mage device in an attempt to cut off his own life. A huge explosion erupts. And then... When I came to, I found myself in a rainbow-colored blur. "Where am I....? I look around. It doesn''t look like it''s inside the castle. A different space©¤©¤is it? Isn''t there anyone here...? I tried to call out to them, but there was no response. I tried using the detection magic "Search", but neither enemies nor allies - the creature responded to anything. For now, we have no choice but to proceed. I walked straight ahead. After a few dozen minutes of walking, the blur eventually cleared up. The desolate land appeared. There was no sun, and the sky was covered in dark clouds. There was no doubt that it was the Devil''s World, but.... And that''s when it happened. ''''Kyaaaah........?'''' A pretty scream can be heard from above. When I looked up, someone was covering me. Mugiyuuuuuuuuuut. A soft touch is pressed against my face. Hi, hmmm...? A high-pitched scream could be heard. Hmm, this voice was..... Stella....? Oh, Master Freed...? It''s Stella, after all. That means this soft and elastic thing is her breasts©¤©¤. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it''s not a good idea to have a good time.¡¡I''m sorry, Momo-Momo-Momo!¡¡How rude of me! Stella screamed again. ''I''m very sorry to have caused you discomfort...'' She immediately moved away from me and seemed to be filled with horror. .........No, well, for me, I don''t feel uncomfortable at all. Even if I confide in her, it would create a delicate atmosphere, so I''ll weigh myself. ''''But I''m glad.......you''re okay. Stella looked relieved. ''I''m glad you''re okay too,'' We smile at each other. ''....er, well, you know...'' Stella is moping. ''''I''m sorry, I just remembered,'''' I wonder if she''s still embarrassed by what happened earlier. Nevertheless, rather than going along with Otome''s typical sentiments, we need to check the current situation first. ''''Do you know where we are, Stella?'''' I''ll see what I can do with my ''eyes''. A third eye opened on Stella''s forehead. ''''Huh........! As soon as she does, her face goes pale. "What''s wrong! I can''t help but stare at Stella as she seems to be going through something out of the ordinary. The actuality of this is that there is an incredible amount of magical power... I can''t believe that there is a demon race that has this much power other than Freed-sama...! Stella crouches down in place, breathing roughly, ha, ha, ha. ''Are you okay?'' ''''I''m sorry. Just detecting it, the feedback to me... the magic is too intense to do any damage... I pulled Stella into a hug. ''Rest a while. We can detect it later. I''m sorry I can''t help you. Don''t apologize. I put my arms around her. ''Your body is more important. I''m sorry I put you through the ringer. Master Freed... Stella nuzzled her face into my chest and took a small breath. An hour or so has passed, and then... ''''The magic power I just felt is probably in the level 3,000s - an outstanding number compared to the previous Demon King class. A recovering Stella explained. ''''Fried-sama is in the late level 4000s, so it''s not even close to that. However, it''s an unbelievably high level that is unthinkable from the common sense of the ordinary demon race. As I recall, the past demon kings I met in Felia''s dream before - Vrizela and Estr?m and others were around level 700. Even compared to those past demon kings, they''re an order of magnitude different - I didn''t know such a guy existed. ''''I''d love to bring him on board. Even if it''s only because of Zegart''s rebellion, the magical world is in chaos. I want as many strong demons as possible on my side. However, detecting that guy directly would put Stella in danger. First of all, as per the first objective, we should find out where we are. ''''This time, I''m going to explore the surrounding terrain by sensing the movement of the wind and the flow of water instead of magic power. Hopefully, we''ll be able to figure out where we are. And, Stella. ''You''re not going to take as much damage as you did earlier? It''s a terrain detection system, sir. Stella smiled happily at me as I asked her uneasily. ''Thank you. For taking care of me.'' It''s natural to worry about you. Mr. Freed. Stella''s cheeks flushed red and she slumped. ''Well, um, I guess we''ll start detecting then. Smiling shyly, Stella opened a third eye on her forehead again. An intense glint in her eyes flashed. It seems that the detection has begun. A few minutes later. "It can''t be...? Stella murmured in a shocked manner. What''s the matter? No, I can''t tell you for sure, but... Stella turns her stunned face to me. As if she was upset, her twin eyes and the third eye - were also shaking violently. ''''This place........is like the magical world of the past. 115 2 Encounter The past ... the magical world? I asked Stella in surprise. ''It''s also more than a few hundred thousand years old - probably super-ancient, only told in mythology. We''ve traveled through time, are you saying? I''m detecting traces of a violent disturbance in the flow of space-time... perhaps the explosive energy from the destruction of Zegert''s sealing device is affecting it. And Stella. She herself still looks stunned. ''''Traveling through time is impossible with any kind of magic, and we don''t know exactly why, but...'''' A world past... I was still very confused. It''s unbelievable that we would come to the age of mythology. Nevertheless, I have full faith in her ''eyes''. And of course, her own. That''s why I''ll believe Stella if she says, ''This is the magical world of the past. And based on that premise, we have to decide on our next course of action. The first thing we have to confirm is. Are there other demons who have wandered into this world besides us? I''ll look into it. Stella''s third eye sparkled. ''The reactions - two. The undead and the beastly type. Stella finishes detecting after a while and tells him. Is the undead a regal? In that case........the beastman type is Zegert? It''s a world where there''s no right or wrong. Let''s meet up with those two first. Are you sure?¡¡If it was Regal and Zeggert... Stella asked anxiously. ''As for Regal, I think he''ll be fine. Zegart too - I''ve already destroyed his trump card, and even if it comes to a battle, it''s unlikely that he''ll be driven away. I said. ''I can''t say it''s unlikely they''ll be enemies, but it''s not too late to meet them in person and see how they react before deciding how to handle them. And it''s not necessarily Regal or Zegert to begin with. Yes, sir. As you wish, Master Freed. Let''s go. We began to move forward. In the age of mythology, in the land of demons. After a short time of advancing through the wilderness, a dazzling glow flooded in from ahead. What is that...? It was a hemispherical dome that flickered in red, blue and green. It had a mechanical appearance, with pipes and tubes attached here and there. And. "We have located the approaching party ... and have eliminated anyone who would disturb the master''s ability to sleep comfortably ... An inorganic voice sounded. Thin mechanical arms extended from various parts of the device. The tips of the dozen or so mechanical arms were filled with a magical radiance all at once. "Hey, this can''t be... "''Laguna Bomb'' Explosive superlative magic! A dozen or so black magic bullets released at the same time. ''Lucifer''s Shield,'' I put up a magical barrier around myself and Stella and shrugged it off. ''''A ''Ragnabomb'' - how dare they shoot a magic of the Demon King class...'''' Stella looks surprised. ''What the hell is this device?'' Leave ... for the Master to rest in peace ... The device still shakes a dozen mechanical arms and sends out what seems to be a warning. The phrase "for a good night''s sleep" is somewhat dumb, though. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time. "Sorry, but we''ll have to defend ourselves too. I stuck out my right hand. "''Meteoblade,'' Dozens of flaming swords are ejected together. They cut through all the mechanical arms of the device. ''There''s someone inside?'' I asked the device. I thought back to what the device told me earlier, ''For the master''s rest. Then there must be someone sleeping inside the device. And. "Oh dear, my ''Ultimate Magic Napping Device, Ultra Ultimate Bedroom'' has been destroyed. A sighing voice came from behind me. ''This is a restricted area. Where did you guys come from? When I turned around, I saw a demon tribe there. "You are... He has silver hair and a purple costume. A boy with an innocent-looking face. ''''Judas...! So this guy had come to the past world too? It was impressive that he didn''t even give me any sign of him and went behind me. ''''Hmm, who are you?'''' Judah nodded his head with a scowling face. ''''........I can sense a tremendous amount of magic power. In terms of the amount of magic power, I should be the best of the demon race, but you far exceed that. What in the world are you? His aloofness tightens. ''''And... for some reason, there''s even a hint of human presence. Don''t you understand me, Judas? I raise an eyebrow. ''I don''t know any demons like you. Neither does the girl over there. Judah looked at me and Stella and assured me. Is she losing her memory or something? Or... What''s the matter, Judas? Yeah, I''ve met some weird demons. Judah looked back at the newly appearing demon race. This one was a muscular and great man, in contrast to the slender Judas. He wore a luxurious armor decorated with gold and jade. I''m not sure I''ll ever be able to find out what it is. I''m sure you''re interested in that, too, Velfer?¡¡They could be as strong as you and me... or better. Well, that''s interesting. Growling warrior demon race. Wait. What did you just say? This guy''s name is... You''re not suggesting... Next to her, Stella is also gulping. ''I see, I feel a tremendous amount of magic. I''m glad to know that there is still a fierce man like you in this land....... Kuhahahahahahaha! The warrior demon tribe laughed vigorously. ''''I am Demon King Velfer. This is my aide and partner, Judas the mage. Let me hear your name.'''' W?lfer. That''s the name of the - the demon king in the beginning. 116 3 Demon King camp It''s Fried. I looked at the ''Beginning Demon King'' who suddenly appeared and called his name. ''''Are you sure, Master Freed?'''' Stella''s voice echoed in my head. It seems that the telekinesis trick I used in the Zegart battle is still in effect. ''''For the moment, it doesn''t seem to be an enemy. And at least Judas is there too.'''' I answer with telepathic communication. I''m sure you''ll be able to get a lot of information from him if he''s the Demon King. But don''t let your guard down. If you detect any suspicious activity, please inform me immediately. "Yes, sir. Stella replied with a telepathic message and turned to Velfer. ''My name is Stella,'' "Hmm, Freed and Stella..... I''ve never heard of either of those names. I thought I had grasped all of the powerful demons, but it seems there are still some fierce and awesome people in the field. ''''His magic power is overwhelming, and it seems that the girl over there is also wearing a top-notch pupil technique. And Judas. He shouldn''t have been acquainted with us in this world, but did he see through all of my and Stella''s abilities on the first sight? A moment ago, he didn''t give me or Stella any sign of his presence, and they got behind him, and even though the times are different, Judas is still Judas - that''s what it means. "I''d love to see you join our ranks. And Velfer. The smirk on his face was so friendly that it didn''t look like a demon king. Your camp.........? "If you are demons, you know that we are fighting a powerful enemy. We are fighting a powerful enemy. W?lffer said. ''God,'' God... I gulped. Stella has a similar reaction next to me. A god and a demon king - are they fighting in this era? And then there''s the heavenly army led by God, the elite of men, the army of the brave. We''ve been fighting each other for more than a decade now, but we''re not getting any better. The smile disappeared from W?lfer''s face. "The Heavenly Army has recently won over the humans. The special qualities that are called ''heroes'' - they are tough opponents who control the armor of the gods, the Miracle Armor. Judah supplemented his explanation. ''Humans themselves are a race that doesn''t have much power compared to the demon race. The brave men and women are an exception. They are strong enough to compete with the demon race. W?lfer growled. ''But I''ve got some good friends in my corner. Judas, of course, and others... ''Yes. We''re here. What?¡¡Who are these people... With a voice, four shadows approached. A dragon with scales as red as fire. An undead clad in tattered robes. An indeterminate creature that looked like a slime. And a young woman in armor. ''Who are they?'' My close associates, the four great demon chiefs. At my question, W?lfer laughed happily. ''''I simply pushed for the name ''Four Heavenly Kings''. There are four of us now, but there could be more in the future. At Judah''s words, W?lfer said. ''I think the Four Heavenly Kings are more like that...'' Judas is strangely particular about it. ''''I see, in the past, they were not the seven great demon army chiefs, but the four great demon army chiefs. ''''All of them are fierce fighters who are single combatants. Not as good as me and Judas, but all of them are over level 500. ''''Our Demon Lord''s class is usually around 200. Successive Demon Kings are usually around 500 to 700. Stella supplemented it with a telepathic message. Come to think of it, I got that explanation when I first met you. In other words, the four great demon army chiefs are close to the demon king - or they have the same level of ability? ''''That''s amazing.'''' Right? At my admiration, W?lffer gave a broken smile. In contrast, the four demon army chiefs became colorful. ''''You, what a mouthful you have for Velfer-sama! Oh, that''s right........the "Demon King" to them isn''t me, it''s Velfer. I''m an infidel who doesn''t adhere to that "Demon King". No, that''s fine. I don''t like that kind of stuffy stuff. W?lffer won them over. ''And he is not my subject. He''s a fierce man in the field. I''m trying to recruit him to join us, if you can. Friends...? Indeed, I sense a tremendous amount of magic... That girl is cute too ... moe ... it''s a lot of fun to fantasize about. There was a Demon Army Chief girl who was reacting like Olivier. ''''Spare me your anger and put it away. W?lffer nudged the four men. ''If it''s your majesty, Demon King,'' The demon war chiefs nodded reverently. Then they turned to me. ''I take back what I just said. I''m sorry. No, I''m the one who made you feel uncomfortable. I''m sorry. I waved to the dragon, who bent over his huge body and bowed his head. I''m sure you''ll be glad to know that a demon like you has joined our ranks. I''m counting on you. "Let''s go blow up the Heavenly army and the heroic army together! I''ll do my best too! It''s nice to meet you, Mr. Freed, Stella. The atmosphere of this area was similar to the atmosphere when talking to Lilim and Irene or the demon war chiefs. Even though the times are different, they are also demons (companions) - that''s how I feel. 117 4 To Demon Castle The strongest dragon species of the "moth" - the "Flame Dragon" Jade Ga Zelfed. This is the immortal demon with unlimited life force and excellent magic powers - ''Lord Undead'' Hazel. An indeterminate creature that nullifies all attacks - "Void" Nabam, the "Formless Demon". The female demon tribe that boasts of the strongest swordsmanship - ''Lightning'' Alfina. All of them are powerful demons that have a strength approaching that of the previous demon kings. They are the four great demon warlords of this era. ''''Hey, why don''t you show us your magic power? A huge dragon - Jade stared at me. I''m sure you''ve heard the words of Master W?lffer, but I still want to see it with my own eyes. Whether or not you are strong enough to be recognized by the Demon King. I understand. Mr. Freed! It''s okay. It''s a good thing you''re a force to be reckoned with. Especially for a guy like Jade. I returned the telekinesis to Stella, who spoke to me with telekinesis. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a great deal more to say about it. I''m sure you''ll be able to gain the trust of the public by showing them a part of my abilities. I''m going to lightly release my magic. It''s 10 percent for starters. I used my flying magic to fly up to the middle of the sky so as not to cause collateral damage. I stop at a point about 100 meters above the sky and release about 10% of my magic power. Goooooooooh...! A roaring sound and an explosion of flame, popped out. A dark purple aura rose from my entire body. The strongest, most powerful demon king''s magic power of all time. A part of it is visualized, and it blows up with an amount of heat that can burn even space. "What the...?¡¡Ten percent and this is it?! Below me, Zied groaned. The other three Demon Army Chiefs were also stunned. ''''It''s tremendous.'''' Well, you''re not just anyone. Velfer and Judas were looking at me with serious faces. ''''Ah ... as expected of you, Mr. Freed. Stella''s cheeks were stained with enchantment. I released my magic for a moment, then returned to the ground. ''Awesome, you!'' Well, I''m sure Master W?lffer will approve. ''I wonder if that girl is as strong as you think she is?¡¡I''m going to moan. The demon war chiefs rushed over to me. There was one demon tribe that felt differently, but that''s not the point. I''m glad to see that everyone is convinced. I''m happy to see some of your power myself. W?lffer smiled at us. ''If you don''t mind, you''ll have to stay at the Demon King''s Castle for a while. ''Fried, Stella.'' ''I''m interested in you guys, too. I''d like you to take it a little slower, if you can. And Judah. ''What do you think, Stella?'' ''Not that there isn''t some kind of plot but it seems to be quite favourable and it doesn''t seem to be a trap.'' Yeah, I think so. This is how Stella and I ended up staying at the Demon King''s Castle. While searching for information about the past world, I must also search for the modern-day demons who have wandered into this world. Stella and I entered the Demon King''s Castle with Welfar and the others. Although the construction of the castle is the same as the castle of my era, it is not damaged at all and the interior of the castle is magnificent. Stella and I walk down the long corridor. I''m not going to be the only one. This is the world of the past. I''m not sure if the arrival of Stella and I here will change history. If history changes, the events of the future will also change. Or is it possible that me, Stella and the other demons will no longer be born....... ''''What''s wrong, Mr. Freed?'''' Stella looked at me suspiciously. ''Well yeah, a few thoughts. I say, and I explain my current thoughts to Stella. ''What do you think, Stella?'' Well there are two ways of thinking about it, I suppose. And, Stella. ''The first is that the future will be changed, just as Freed-sama fears. In some cases, those who existed in the original history might disappear. Of course, those ''those who might disappear'' will include me and Master Freed. ''Well...'' I might disappear, or each other, or both. It''s a horrifying story just to imagine it. The thought of not wanting to lose them comes from my chest. "Master Freed.... Stella reaches out to me. I gently take her hand in mine. A small, soft hand. A warm hand. "Oh I''m sorry, too. Stella blushed and pulled her hand away as if in a panic. ''No, it''s fine,'' Smiling, me. ''Well, um, back to the point...'' Stella grimaced with an embarrassed grin. Secondly, the world is starting to branch out. Branching out? "In other words, apart from the ''original world of history'' as we know it, there will also be a ''world whose history has been changed'' because of our coming in the past - the world will branch into two. I see... It''s also possible that this one is just as likely. I wonder which is the right answer. And then I stopped. While we were talking, we arrived at the guest room that had been prepared for us. ''Oh, you''ve reached your room. Stella is also looking at that guest room. ''''........Hmm?¡¡I was ushered to use this room. ...me too. We looked at each other. Could it be that we''re in the same room...? 118 5 After one night Stella and I were apparently given the same room. What does W?lffer mean by that...? It''s like we''re in the same room. Stella was also puzzled. ''Let''s go to Welfar''s and ask him to get another room for us. I said to her. ''No way, we''re not going to sleep in the same room.'' "............... What? No, no, it''s nothing....it''s really nothing! Stella blushed and exclaimed. And. ''What. Wasn''t that the kind of relationship you guys had? W?lffer was standing behind me before I knew it. Judas was with him. Furthermore. I can''t help but be jealous of such a pretty girl. Absolutely, I hope it explodes. ''Ugh, I''m not jealous because I''m not jealous I swear I''m not jealous...'' Even the demon war chiefs have come. Each of them are biting their teeth and looking at us - or rather, at me. "A couple of old men and a beautiful girl.......moe...... As usual, though, only one of them reacted differently. ''It looks interesting, so I was just using camouflage magic to distract them from the signs and see what was going on. Judah laughed wickedly. Even in the past world, your personality hasn''t changed........no, that''s not surprising. ''''Wow, I am only Fried-sama''s assistant. Such a thing, awe-inspiring...'''' Stella moseyed on. Is she embarrassed by the gaze of all of them? There was no sign of her usual coolness. ''Love is free. What''s wrong with that?'' Freed is not going to be disappointed. W?lfer grins. I couldn''t help but chuckle back at his innocent smile. ''If you have any extra room, I''d appreciate it if you could share it. Shouldn''t you be with me? No, well... I said, subtly struggling to answer, but I said it. ''At least in the next room...'' Haha, fine. The room next to this one is open, so use it. Make it count. What? There''s all this room to spare. Haha," said W?lfer with a bold smile. ''Are you sure?¡¡I think this is our chance to close the distance. Judas looks at me and Stella with amusement. ''Close the distance ... a chance ...'' Stella was blushing and mumbling in a very forceful voice. In the end, we had to get a room next to each other. And the next morning. ''''Oh, good morning, Freed-sama...Huh. After greeting her, Stella yawned adorably. ''''No, no, I''m.......sorry........'''' He blushed as if in a panic. ''Hmm, couldn''t you sleep?'' Well, I''m suddenly transported to the past. I''m in a state of high spirits, anxious about the future - no wonder I can''t sleep. I was thinking about the chance to close the distance between us and, well, you know... Hmm? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, it''s nothing. Stella blushes again. I''m not sure how I should treat her like that either. Well, the first thing to do now is to find the demon tribe that wandered in here. I''m going to start detecting it. Please, Stella. Yes, Mr. Freed. Stella let out a breath with a huff. A golden ''third eye'' appears on her forehead. "©¤©¤I''m here. It''s about 30 kilometers southwest from here. It was great to find her right away. I left the castle with Stella using my flying magic and came to the point she had detected. It''s in a deep forest. There''s the place... ''My Demon King!¡¡Sis! Olivier was there. 119 6 Confluence Under Stella''s guidance, we landed in the forest. There we met again the fox girl, one of the demon army chiefs - the evil priestess (Priest) Olivier. Before, I had Stella detect if there was a demon race that came to this era other than us. At that time, it was ''There are reactions from undead and beast-type demons''. I was wary that the beastman type was Zegart, but it seemed to be Olivier. ''''Sister~! That Olivier runs up to me, wagging his fox ears and tail with a twitch. ''I''ve missed you, sir. I hugged Stella as it was. ''Oh, hey, Olivier,'' ''Ugh I''ve been lonely by myself~'' Despite Stella''s confusion, Olivier starts to cry in her chest. She must have been feeling quite heartbroken. ''''Totally....'''' Sighing, Stella stroked Olivier''s head in a good-natured manner. ''Ehehe, you''re so sweet, sis.'' That''s how she regained her composure. Oh, I''m so glad to see that you''re okay, Demon Lord. Olivier bows to me. ''We should probably address the Demon King first. Before you run up to me. Stella glares at Olivier with zit eyes. ''Because ... hmm, don''t make me say it, sister. For some reason, he makes a strange chuckle and Olivier blushes. ''''Well what do you mean?'''' I''m so happy to have my sister hug me, Olivier. Olivier murmured enraptured. ''The elasticity and softness of your breasts felt nice too. Totally. Stella was getting more and more jittery. Anyway, you''ll have the decency to be a vassal, Olivier. Yes, sweetheart. Saying, Olivier bowed to me again. ''''Demon King-sama, I''m sorry for what I just did. No, that''s okay. More importantly do you know anyone else who has come to this side of the world besides you? When I found out, I was all alone. And Olivier. ''Are there others here?'' ''I detected one beastman-type and one undead. The beastly type was you, so the rest are probably Regal. Stella explained to Olivier. ''If I have a leak in my detection, there may be others, but...'' Anyway, let''s find the undead. I told them both. Is it Regal or another demon race - or is it another demon race? The answer to that question was revealed a few days later. "....my king. Near the Demon King''s Castle, a skull swordsman clad in ancient armor appeared to us. As expected, it was Regal. ''''I''m glad you''re safe~! And Olivier. ''Wait, Olivier. He sided with Zegert in the last uprising. Stella controls her. ''Oh, yes I did...'' ''''Even though I''m on the side of the Demon King in the final battle with Zegert, his treatment is still undecided. It could even be a death sentence. Death.... Olivier said with a pale face. Stella''s side kept a grim expression on her face as she looked at the Immortal King. ''''I''m more prepared than the original. As soon as you turn your blade on the king, I believe there is no such thing as this life.'''' Regal looked over at Olivier and Stella. ''Well, wait. We''ve all been sent to a time when we don''t know what we''re doing. And we don''t even know how to get home. Let''s just forget about all the friction ahead and work together. I placated Stella and Regal for now. ''Good ... at least we''re avoiding death penalty here. Olivier with a relieved face. ''''Let''s go to the Demon King''s Castle first. We need to introduce you to Velfer and the others, you know. I''ve already introduced Olivier to me and Stella''s friends, which is what I''ve already done. I was going to make the same introduction for Regal. Yes, now Regal is one of us. Regardless of how this is handled from now on - at least for now. Heavenly realm©¤©¤. A huge silhouette sits on a huge throne that is more than 100 meters long. It has no name, no title, and is only called ''God''. A transcendent being who rules the world and possesses absolute power. "I can sense a hint of powerful magic... The god told him. ''Or maybe you''re more of a threat than W?lffer. I said and looked down. There were angels dressed in red, blue, black and other costumes crouching there. ''''A being of that magnitude...?'''' Are they demons? The angels look up in surprise. ''''Mm. Moreover, this presence appeared suddenly. It''s as if... as if they just appeared from another world. God groaned. Or maybe it''s another time. Our invasion of this world is about to begin. "Our invasion of this world is about to begin, and we will wipe out the evildoers and turn all worlds into God''s... We must not fail. There is no room for error. The uncertainties must be eliminated. 120 7 Gods Trial ? Further ahead 1 W?lffer?¡¡Don''t tell me it''s that ''Beginning Demon King''? Yeah. Me, Stella and Olivier are staying with him. I want Regal to come with us. I told Regal about W?lfer. Including the situation we''re in now. "You know, I haven''t met the Demon Chiefs yet, me. Olivier said from the side. ''''There are women among the demon army chiefs, right?¡¡Is she pretty?¡¡Is it pretty? A glint in his eye. Drool was dripping from his mouth. This guy has a propensity to moan oddly for pretty girls. Even if he came to the past, his s*xuality was in full swing, Olivier was Olivier to all intents and purposes. It''s a good thing that you''re able to get a good idea of what you''re looking for. It''s a pretty girl in appearance. Stella explains. ''....do you have something out of the ordinary in mind? Stella looks at Olivier with jaded eyes. "Hmm, don''t worry. My best friend is your sister. I''m not worried about it. I love that kind of coolness. Yeah, well... Stella flinches. ''So much for the coy conversation - my king, what is your reason for staying with Velfer? The conversation that seemed to derail endlessly was brought back by Regal. "The purpose of this is........a base of operations for the time being. After all, it''s an unknown world to us. I said. "What do they want? ''They want me to join them, if possible. We''re going to fight against the Heavenly Army. I answer again. But...if we fight in the past, we don''t know what the future holds. And what effect it will have on the era we were in.... I see. So it''s possible that we could just disappear? Regal nodded. ''''I''m not sure what I''ll do in the end, but I was thinking of two things first: joining up with all the demon clans that came to this era, and gathering information©¤©¤these two things. But I''ve accomplished the first one for now, so the rest is the latter. Then I''ll go with you. Let''s follow the demon king. "...because I don''t trust you, Regal. Stella glares at Regal with a stare. ''Sis, your eyes are scary...'' Olivier murmured, looking frightened. ''Now let''s act in unison so that we can safely return to our time. All right? I look around at everyone again. I''m very concerned about the teamwork in this gathering, but we''re back at the Dark Lord''s Castle. It''s a different space covered in white brilliance - the Oracle Room in the Cathedral, the home of the Brave Guild. It was the only place where you can communicate with ''God'' on earth. Ludmilla, Fiore and Theon - the three of the Four Heavenly Holy Swords - were receiving training there from the divine apostles, Rouge and Noir. ''''All beings are bound to cause and effect. Rouge told him. A divine messenger dressed in a red outfit - a so-called angelic being. "Everything..." "Everything" is everything, including gods and demons. Noir, a boy dressed in black, tells me. He was Rouge''s twin brother, also an apostle. ''No man can escape from cause and effect ... from fate. There''s no one who can change your fate. There is an exception, though. "It is he who has attained ''power outside of cause and effect.'' The twin apostles proclaim, "This is what it is called - ''The Fate Breaker''. "It''s called this - ''The Fate Breaker''. Finally, they concluded. ''So much for the preliminaries, shall we? Rouge smiled and looked around at Ludmilla and the others. ''I''ll train you three anew. Noir smiled as well. And then - the training by the Messenger of God begins. In order for Ludmila and the others to acquire more power. To advance beyond the limits. To defeat the demon king. 121 8 Gods Trial Further Beyond 2 First, let''s take a fresh look at the powers you''ve acquired. Rouge said. The ''chaos form'' that transforms the Miracle Armor into a high-powered form. It''s a localized ward created by the increased divine energy (aura) and the ''black vestments'' (chaos jacket). And the ''Aura Burst'' technique that instantly and explosively raises the divine energy. These are the three in total. As a result, you have the ability to overwhelm other heroes. So much more powerful than even a demon warlord. Noir continues. ''In the past©¤©¤in the age of mythology, every brave man had that power. Except for the current Demon King Freed, to fight the strongest and most primordial Demon King of all time, Velfer. ''''After that, the demon race was weakened by the power of the gods, but the gods were also consumed by the battle against the demon king. In the aftermath, the heroes were also weakened. Once again, Rouge and Noir took turns telling him. ''We''re getting weak too...? Ludmira murmured. The Miracle Armor is an armor that embodies the power of a god. Therefore, if the god''s power is weakened, its output will also be weakened. On the contrary, the higher the power of the gods, the more powerful the Miracle Armor will be. Rouge and Noir take turns explaining. ''God is regaining the power he once had. Therefore, you must develop the mental capacity to embody that power. If we can do that, we''ll be even more powerful than we are now. Or maybe even more powerful than a demon king. So that''s what you''re training for this time? The two apostles nodded in response to Ludmilla''s question. ''The control of the Miraculous Armor is controlled by the owner''s mental power - the mind itself. In this training, each of you will be facing your own roots. Saying, Rouge looked at Ludmilla and the others. ''However, if you cannot overcome - your spirit will be destroyed and you will never wake up again. Never again... Ludmilla gulps and gulps. ''Do you still want to do it?'' Of course. The first to advance out was Fiore. Normally gentle, elegantly smiling beauty - now it was filled with a tremendous fighting spirit. And vengeance. "To avenge my beloved brother, I will not spare my heart or my life. Of course. Theon also advanced. His expression was also full of fighting spirit. ''''To show the pride of the House of Mertirat, which is linked from the Sword Saint Zyrus. Me too. Ludmilla declared in a dignified tone. It was the same for her that she was determined to fight against the demon race. To put an end to the continuous war between humanity and the demon tribe. To protect this world and its people from the threat of the demon tribe. The people like her who were taken away from their loved ones by the demon tribe are never to be born again. I want the power to end all this! I hope you have the power to do just that! You three have made your decisions as you see fit. So let''s get right to it. Rouge thrusts out her right hand. The light pink lightning that poured out of it danced like powdery snow and wrapped around Ludmila and the others'' bodies. All of the colors and scenery - all of them disappeared from sight. "This is....? Ludmila is confused. A sense of elation, as if her consciousness was floating away. After that, the sensation of falling, as if your consciousness is sinking to nowhere. I.......... In her up-and-down consciousness, Ludmilla remembers. It is the source of her own heart. The beginning of her as a brave woman©¤©¤. The reason why I.........became a brave man.... Yes, that was when Ludmila was still a little girl. A village engulfed in flames. People close to her are being killed by demons. The memories of that horrible tragedy come back vividly now. 122 9 Gods trial, further ahead 3 Ludmilla Deal lost her parents and her home when she was only five years old. She was destroyed by the demon tribe. She herself was about to be eaten by the demon tribe - and then she was rescued. The Miracle Armor Rafael, which came down from heaven, saved her. Since then, Ludmila has become a hero and has defeated countless demons. At the root of her mind is hatred. The people she loved were taken from her and her precious places were destroyed. The resentment and hatred for the demons drove Ludmila. In the course of the battle, it was eventually sublimated into a feeling of ''I don''t want to create an existence like me again'' and ''For that reason, I want to protect others''. Still - the hatred did not disappear within Ludmilla. Fearlessly and daringly. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do anything about it. But©¤©¤that fighting spirit was suddenly broken one day. With force, it was forced to yield. The fighting spirit was also brought to its knees. In the battle against the demon king. I was terrified, and I knew I couldn''t win. I couldn''t forgive myself for that. So, I apprenticed under the rouge to gain strength. I faced the demon world with confidence, and then... And then I was defeated. (Why am I losing... why can''t I win...? Maybe Ludmilla hates herself now. My own impotence. I bite my lip. Even though it''s bleeding, he continues to bite down harder and harder. ''''No matter how much I hone my strength... no matter how much I stand with my strongest friends... no matter how much I stand with them... no matter how much I stand with them... I can''t win against that guy? Two defeats had robbed Ludmilla of her confidence. The fear that she should have discarded and conquered had not disappeared. It also means that her mind has been weakened. It was a fatal mental damage to the brave person who controlled the armor that was activated by the power of the mind - the Miracle Armor. ''Then what will you do?¡¡Do you want to stay scared? A girl appeared in front of me, clad in a red glow. It was Rouge. She was different from the usual, somewhat easygoing atmosphere. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get a good deal more than you think. "I am... I tell you. No matter how much we are beaten down, there is always a will in the center of our hearts. The will to fight. The source of her... And yet she does not run. He slowly looks up. ''If you''ve lost, you just get back up again. The friends who have fallen away. Towns and countries destroyed by demon attacks. The people who were killed. Sorrow, pain, hatred and despair. They will only become stronger. I don''t want the world to be threatened by the demon race any longer. I don''t want any more demons like me who have lost their homeland and all those close to them to appear on the scene. I''m sure we are the only ones who can do it. Ludmilla stands up. ''Only the chosen brave can save the world. So©¤©¤Raphael! A light gathers in her hands. The jade-colored Miracle Armor was dyed jet-black, and Give me the power!¡¡Light up the world with hope! A golden glow radiates from her... I am...? My wavering consciousness was clearer. It felt like hours had passed, or maybe just minutes. Next to me was Fiore and Sion. From the atmosphere, the two of them must have gained new strength as well. ''I see, this is the new stage of the Miracle Armor - or rather the new stage of the power of the brave...! Theon has a somewhat contented look on his face. And Fiore........ I''m sure you''ll be able to kill them all with this power. I will avenge Elio''s death by wiping out every last one of the demons... Ludmilla had a bad feeling about the daughter-brave who smiled the smile of an awesome vengeful demon. The practice of bringing out the root of the power of the heart©¤©¤. Ludmira was able to reaffirm her own reason for fighting. She was able to rekindle the courage in her faltering heart. Perhaps the same is true for Theon. But Fiore-- It''s as if I''ve fallen into darkness... The atmosphere was dismal. 123 10 Two Demon Kings 1 A few days have passed since I joined up with Olivier and Regal, and we all started staying at the Demon King''s Castle. I, along with Stella, have been gathering information about this past era. Searching for a way to return to the era we were from. Examining the possibility that our future will be altered by our interference in this era. And... "In this era, there is a complete version of the Purgatory Demon King''s Sword (Ladis), right? ''''It''s a symbol of the king handed down to successive demon kings and a ritual tool to control the demon army. Me and Stella were talking in the garden inside the Demon King''s Castle. In my time, the Demon King''s Sword that has already been damaged and some pieces remain missing©¤©¤. If I could restore this to a complete version in my era, it would be possible for the weakened modern demon race to even regain its original power©¤©¤ according to Yurisha before. ''''The complete restoration of the Demon King Sword........?'''' I''m thinking that with Stella''s detection skills, or at least the ability to detect it. How in the world did the Demon King Sword get damaged and where did the pieces scatter to? If we stay in this era, we might be able to find out. ''''No, I''m only putting the burden on you. I huffed and lowered my head to her. ''I''m sorry. I think I got a little ahead of myself. Stella''s ''Eye of the Apocalypse Note'' is extremely effective. It is the ultimate pupil technique that allows her to see everything - even the future. However, that''s why her body and mind are subjected to great wear and tear. I''m not sure what you''re talking about. It''s the greatest honor for me to be of service to you, Master Freed. Well, I''m very.......happy. Stella''s cheeks flushed and she looked at me. ''I''m glad you need me,'' Stella.... "Feel free to command me, Mr. Freed. I would do anything for you, Mr. Freed. You guys are still so close. You''re like a couple. Welfar walks over. He grinned and looked at me and Stella in turn. ''''Fu, husband and wife...! Stella''s eyes immediately light up. I''m glad to see that you''re happy about that. Stella....? It''s a bit of an overreaction, don''t you think? Do you have a minute?¡¡I need to talk to you. W?lffer asked me to join him. "Talk? It''s a little... I''m sorry, but can you take Stella out of it? And W?lffer. ''All right. Stella, go on back. I urge Stella. ''Mr. and Mrs. Freed and I ...'' Stella is completely facing in the direction of the day after tomorrow, mumbling something. ''''Stella...?'''' Married couple..... Stella, come back here. S-Sorry, sir!¡¡I couldn''t help but get my imagination going... aww. Stella looks at me as she realizes with a huff. Her face turns increasingly red. ''''So, if you''ll excuse me then........'''' She leaves as if she were running away. ''They adore you a lot, don''t they? Haha. No, well... I scratched my cheek with a pollywheel, having trouble answering the laughing Velfer. We moved to the balcony. It''s a place facing the demon king''s private room. You can see the cityscape of the castle below. I''m sure you''ll be able to see that the buildings are few and far between compared to my era, but it''s still prosperous. ''You can feel the liveliness, right?¡¡The view here is my favorite in the Demon King''s Castle, for me. W?lffer smiled happily. ''It sure is a nice view,'' Me agreeing with you. So, what''s the story? And. ''Oh, you''re ahead of me. I''m sorry I''m late. A slender silhouette appeared as if oozing out of the void. A beautiful boy with silver hair and brown skin - it''s Judas. ''''I want to talk with this guy too. Or rather, you''re late again.'''' I was taking a little nap. You continue to sleep in your spare time... Sleeping is a hobby of mine, you know. Judah smiles. ''Oh well. Let''s get back to the subject at hand. Chuckling, W?lfer turned serious and looked at me. ''It''s about who you guys are. A background? You and Stella and your friends... are you from the future? 124 11 Two Demon Kings 2 You''re from the future... W?lffer''s question made me silent. How should I answer it? ''Judas analyzed it. Your magic wavelengths cannot be from this era. And W?lfer. ''Wavelengths of magic...? ''We''re all bound by this thing called the law of cause and effect. It''s the absolute rule that defines the world. Judah explains. The law of cause and effect? How does that connect to the question you asked earlier? There''s a law of cause and effect governing magic power. I don''t need to explain it in detail, but the point is that when you analyze a person''s magic power, you can find out the era from which they originated. When I analyzed your magic, I could see the law of cause and effect in a different era than we have now. And Judah. To be honest, I don''t really understand the logic. But I think the point is this. You''re going to be able to find out what we''ve come from the future by analyzing the magic of me and Stella and the others©¤©¤. I''m not accusing you of anything. Don''t get me wrong about that. W?lffer said. ''''- it''s just as you guys see it. Me, Stella, Olivier and Regal are from the future, from the magical world. After thinking about it, I decided to tell the truth without hiding it. I''m sorry I didn''t tell you until now. No, don''t apologize. I don''t care where you come from, I like you and you''re staying here. W?lfer waved his hand and laughed. It''s the same bold smile as usual. ''''Let''s not ask about the future of the magical world. It would be boring to find out what''s ahead.'''' Because just because you hear it in the first place doesn''t mean it''s going to happen. Judah said. ''The future is a myriad of possibilities. The future that you have come from and the future that we spend our time in are not necessarily connected. What do you mean? Simply put, we''re going to branch out. And Judah. ''Branches....'' I repeated those words. "So, you''re saying that for some reason, the future splits in two...? Yes, because of this repetition, there are probably an infinite number of future worlds. In short, there are as many futures as there are possibilities. Judah explains. ''This is information I got from my analysis of the law of cause and effect,'' A thousand futures... So, no matter what we do here, the future we''ve come to is the same.... I don''t understand all the small details. That sort of thing is the domain of Judas. W?lfer smiles bitterly. ''Let''s talk about something else from here. W?lffer snapped his hands with a bang, as if to dismiss any future-related talk. ''There is no sun in the demon world. There is a moon, but it''s not the kind that lights up the world.'' Saying, the ''Beginning Demon King'' looked at me. ''Fried, what about the times you came from?¡¡Is the demon world still a dark world? Yeah. ''''Humans are trying to kill us demons unilaterally as the ''evil ones''. Will that not change in the future? Judas asks. "Do you think the demons - for humans - should be destroyed?¡¡I''d love to hear it from your mouth. From your former human mouth. Huh...! I gulped. ''Oh, don''t worry. I''ve only told Velfer about this. I don''t want to create unnecessary confusion and conflict, you know? Judas waves his hand in a nonchalant manner. How far does this guy see into the future? Not only does he know we''re from the future, but he knows I used to be a man. Fearsome insight and perception. It''s another time, but he''s still Judas. I''d love to hear about it. It''s very interesting to hear from you, a former human and current demon tribe. Judah smiled. ''People and demons - I want to know how you feel about spending both lives. Hmm. That''s something I''m interested in. W?lffer looks at me. "I don''t think... I wonder what he thinks of the demon race. I''ve asked myself this question more than once since I was reborn as a demon king. I have to ask myself that question again. When I was a human, I was fighting to destroy demons. I believed that by defeating the demons, the world would become peaceful. I believed that I could protect people''s happiness. He never imagined that the demons he had to defeat were also seeking happiness. But after becoming the king of demons and treating them not as enemies, but as vassals and friends, my opinion changed dramatically. The way I felt about it also changed. "I want to make the demon world a place where people can live in peace. 125 12 Two Demon Kings 3 You want the demon world to be a place where people can live in peace... Judah smiled happily. ''Hmm, what?'' No, I''ll tell you the same thing I told Velfer. Judas staring at me with a smile. The way she looks at me is very similar to the modern Judas. His usual aloof smile is subtly different. It''s a face of sincere joy that is rarely seen. Maybe we''re more alike than you think. Ha, so you have a vessel for a king, huh? W?lffer laughed vigorously. ''Really?¡¡You are too good-natured for a king. You, too, Mr. Freed. Don''t give me that kind of credit. Judas shrugs his shoulders, but W?lfer doesn''t care. Or rather, it''s like he naturally dropped me with him.... ''''I didn''t mean to compliment you...'''' And Judah. ''Don''t be embarrassed,'' I''m not even embarrassed. I know what it is. I believe that''s called ''tsundere'', right?¡¡Alfina taught me that the other day. Totally, you''re... As he said it, Judah''s smile was mixed with a wry smile. In such a harmonious atmosphere between the two of them, I can''t help but smile, too. My heart beat suddenly quickened. What the.........? A thud, thud, thud. What''s wrong, Freed? Mr. Freed? W?lffer and Judah wondered. ''I have a bad feeling ... this.'' I brace myself and look around. And then I realize with a start. A golden glow spreads like a ripple in the corner of the sky above me©¤©¤. A huge circle appears in the center of the ripple, shining brightly. From inside, countless shadows appear. The heavens©¤©¤. There was a person sitting on a huge chair that was more than a hundred meters long. It was one of the gods. "The time has come. God told the angels crouching at his feet. "The evil ones, those who call themselves demons, now is the time to be destroyed. Okay, God. Can I help you? "We must lead our heavenly army into the demon world at once. The angels who told their mouths. God smiled faintly and conquered them. ''First, I''ll have them dewdrop you.'' Dewdrop...? One of the angels asks. ''Behold,'' God lightly raised his right hand. An image emerged in the mid-air. A dark world where the sun doesn''t shine at all - the magical world. A huge hole opens in one corner of it, and countless human shadows trickle in from there. They are not the lower level angels of the heavenly army or divine weapons. "A human...? The angels raise their eyebrows. ''These are my personal choice of humans. They all possess a certain level of mental strength. You''re going to use the humans to fight a war against the demons? I have given them a weapon that will embody some of my power. To the wondering angels, God told them. "It''s a good thing you can be a good fighter. Well, it''s just a disposable piece of equipment... God tells him. I''ve managed to send them to the demon world with my power. The only thing left to do is for the humans to whittle away at the demon army. I''m not going to be able to get rid of it. "As you wish. The angels nodded reverently. 126 13 Devil Army VS Heaven Army, Brave Army 1 Numerous shadows can be seen in the sky above. They were hundreds of human figures descending in an iridescent glow. ''''A heavenly army...? No, the magic waveform (pattern) is different. It seems to be human. Judah replied to W?lfer''s murmur. Humans©¤©¤that means those are the brave men and women of this era, right? That glow seems to have a levitation effect. It''s going to travel through the air and come at us. Have the humans come to fight against us demons? W?lffer growls. ''He''s got to be licked, and so do we,'' ''''Hmm, it''s a bit of a different vibe than most humans. For now, let''s try maximizing the output of the wards. With a snap, Judah snapped his fingers. At the same time, a light purple light curtain spread across the sky. Batchi! With a violent spark, the humans stopped moving. "Hey, we can''t descend any further... Their voices sounded puzzled. ''''As expected, we can''t break through the Demon Wards?'''' Welfar murmurs. ''''Well I don''t know,'''' Judas, in contrast, raised his eyebrows slightly. When she looked at it, she could see that the warding was shaking slightly. The energies of the humans are beginning to erode the wards©¤©¤? Demon race...! They looked down at Welfar and the others and muttered hatefully. ''Don''t flinch. We ''brave men'' have a God-given armor! Yes, activate the Miracle Armor! Activate! The humans shouted. At the same time, their bodies were covered with black robes. The weapons in their hands are also black. "That was... I''ve seen these before. That''s right, the black miracle armor and vestments used by Ludmilla and the others during the Second Battle of the Brave Men''s Invasion. It''s a good thing that they are brave. ''''Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! A roar chanted. ''''Heaven''s Stream (Heaven''s Stream)! The black miracle armor in their hands released energy bullets all at once. They fused in the air and turned into gigantic arrows of light that slammed into the wards. Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Loud noises and explosions were scattered around. ''''....Heh.'''' Judas tightens his expression slightly. Floating in the air, countless cracks. The concentrated fire of the brave men seems to have damaged the wards. ''''It seems that the wards that Velfer and I jointly created do not seem to be able to hold out for long. Judah shrugged. Even at this stage of the game, he didn''t lose his aloofness. ''''They seem to have quite a lot of spirit, don''t they? I wish I had a guy like that under my command. W?lffer also gets such a bold impression. Well, it''s much better than being thrown into a panic. However, the situation is not one in which you can feel at ease. Do we fight or stay calm? If we take any action in this era, the future will be altered, and in the worst case scenario, our very existence will disappear. I was wary of such a possibility, but according to what Judah just said, I don''t think we need to worry about that. The future is an aggregate of countless possibilities. When I take action here, a new future will only be created. It won''t affect the era we came from. That''s the way it should be. "...I will help you fight. I belched. ''How?¡¡That''s reassuring. It''s interesting to see you in action. W?lfer growled and Judah smiled happily. ''I''ll get Stella and the others. Hold on until then. As soon as I said it, I ran back into the castle. I gathered Stella, Regal, and Olivier and returned to my original location. I gave Stella and the others a summary of the conversation I had with W?lfer and the others earlier. ''We''ll leave first. You are to be ready in the rear in case of an emergency. And W?lffer. We got together with great effort, but at first it was decided that we were going to stay in the back. Well, this is just their time. We''ll leave it to them first, and then we''ll wait for the right moment... Soon after, the battle began. A loud explosion rang out and countless flashes of light flashed. I was much more nervous to watch others fight than to fight by myself. Would Welfar and the others be okay? I know they are strong, but their opponents are the Heavenly Army and the Army of the Brave. Besides, when I think back to the dream I once had in Judah''s sleeper - the battle between gods and demons in this era - I can only have a bad feeling. Hey, Stella. If history is correct, will the demon army be defeated? Yes. In response to my question, Stella nodded with a sad expression. ''''Although the Demon King Velfer-sama fought hard against the Heavenly Army, he was unable to match their strength and died in battle. Many demon clans were also defeated, and furthermore, the entire demon clan is greatly weakened by the power of the gods. ''It''s a weakening curse. It still binds the demon race. Regal continues, half to himself. ''If history is correct, are you all going to be killed? It was Olivier who looked sad. The fox ears and tail are twitching. ''''I want to help you if I can and I''ll do whatever I can to help you with your healing magic. Yeah, I want to protect you as much as you do. But it''s possible that the enemy may also have troops in the rear. W?lffer has sent us to the rear not only to be prepared, but also to ask for protection against another force. "We''ll keep an eye on the battle first. If there''s an atmosphere of danger, I''ll come to your aid as soon as possible. Then I''ll see the entire battlefield with my Eye. Stella stepped forward. "Please. Let me know as soon as there are any changes. 127 14 Demon Lord vs. Heavenly Army, Brave Army 2 A third eye opens on Stella''s forehead. It seems that she is using her "clairvoyant eyes" to see the war situation. The ultimate pupil technique, the Eye of the Apocalypse (Apocalypse Note), can be used to detect more details, but that is very wearisome for a surgeon. You can use the Eye of the Apocalypse in case of emergencies and use the clairvoyant to see how it works. ''''Judging from the strength ratio between the brave army and the demon army, they won''t be defeated in this battle. We also have Velfer-sama, Judas, and the Four Great Demon Army Chiefs here. And Stella. ''After all, the gap between our forces is staggering. It was Regal who muttered. "Times may be different, but the brave men are not to be feared. "But sooner or later, a more powerful force will come to attack. Stella tells Regal and turns to me. ''''According to the lore, the ''Celestial Fantasy High King (Divine Gear)'' that we fought before was also fierce in the battles of this era... it will eventually appear. There may be other heavenly forces that have not been transmitted to our era. So there''s still a lot of warfare ahead of us. Yes, sir. Stella nodded at my words. The ''Tensou High King'' is a divine weapon that we fought a few months ago. It''s attack power was nothing short of tremendous. It''s the most powerful form of attack, the ''King of Light'', and it''s capable of destroying the magical world with a single machine. ''''The initial battle will be a heroic offensive, and the main strength of the Heavenly Army will be preserved. That''s why I think we should focus on support this time and see what the battle capabilities of the Velfer-sama and the others are. To prepare for the future... Ascertain...? I growled at Stella''s words. ''''It''s important to know exactly what our allies are capable of in the upcoming decisive battle. The "Beginning Demon King" Velfer-sama - his power is legendary, but the details have not been passed on. I''m not going to lie. It''s frustrating. I''m sure I''d have an easier time winning this one if I was in the room. The truth is... Stella stammered. ''What''s wrong?'' I''m sorry. Stella suddenly kneels at my feet. She bows her head deeply. ''''I used the Eye of the Apocalypse (Apocalypse Note) to look into the future of this battle without the Demon King''s permission. What? ''Despite the fact that you were forbidden to use it it is my sole discretion. I have no control over what happens... No, you''re allowed to be flexible in your decision-making in that area. However, it''s rare for Stella to go against my life. Of course she had her own ideas, and she did it because she thought it was in my best interest to do so. ''Tell me what it is.'' Thank you for your generous words. Stella bowed her head again. ''As for the content, well all I could see was fragmentary images, and I couldn''t see clearly. Stella says apologetically, "I''m sorry. ''I can''t see it...?'' The future is so uncertain and fluid that even with the Eye of the Apocalypse, it cannot be clearly visualized. Stella explains. ''''But the image of the future seemed to be brighter if we chose to wait in the rear first, rather than allowing the Demon King-sama to leave from the first game. Bright? I guess that means there''s hope. It''s a fuzzy picture. And Stella. ''Then I guess we''d better keep an eye on the battle here for the first game. Muttering, I let out a big breath. Although I have a toothless feeling, I''ll trust Stella''s ''eyes'' here. Besides, just like she said, Velfer and Judas are both fierce men who remain in the history of the Demon World. Furthermore, there are also four demon army chiefs who are as strong as the previous demon kings. No matter how strong the Heavenly Army and the Brave Army are, they won''t be so far behind. And while we''re watching from the rear... The battle between the Demon Army led by W?lffer and the Heavenly Army and the Brave Army had begun. W?lfer was tucked away with Judas. Countless cracks ran across the sky as he looked up. The brave men and women attacked one after another from outside the warding. This is the boundary that covers the entire demon world that was created by concocting Velfer''s powerful magic power with Juda''s magic technology. It''s not just a matter of time before it''s broken. "No matter how strong the enemy is, no matter how many of them are, I will protect the demon world! W?lfer roared. At the same time, his entire body emitted a black lightning bolt. The figure of the beginning Demon King transformed as it was enveloped in a miserable thundercloud. His face was reduced to three and his arms to six. Velfer, who had turned into a three-sided, six-armed man, jumped up into the sky. Judah follows it with his high-speed flying magic. The other demons seem to be very unable to keep up with the speed of the two of them. ''''Do you think this is reckless?'''' No, not at all. Then we''ll go on as usual. You and I are gonna kick ass. I''m sorry. Their conversation was so calm and joyful that it didn''t seem like a battlefield. It was just the way friends talk to each other. 128 15 Demon VS Celestial Army, Brave Army 3 Velfer was flying through the air with Judas. ''It looks like the wards are about to be broken. And Judah. The sky ahead of us is cracked one after another, and the number is increasing at an accelerated rate. It''s only a matter of time before a group of humans calling themselves the ''Brave Men'' invade the demon world. ''''You''re swallowing up at this point in time. You want to see me get upset, don''t you? Judah said flatly. ''No, that''s exactly what you are,'' W?lfer grinned. Just then, a large crack ran through the sky. At the same time, countless brave men and women passed through the wards. Finally, they were allowed to enter the demon world. An army of heroes flew through the sky, surrounded by rainbow-colored light. ''''Let''s intercept them!'''' I''m sorry. Velfer and Judas began chanting magic at the same time. Their spells echoed in a beautiful melody. And. ''''The Flame of the Burning Sky!'''' The highest level of flame-based spells were chanted. The two flames that were released merged in the air. "Combined magic: ''Burst Megiddo''! A huge fireball, which turned from red to black, annihilated hundreds of brave men without a trace. With a huge explosion, a huge hole opened up in the hollow. A part of the space had disappeared now. ''''Sh, I can''t believe it...! ''''A firepower capable of scorching space...! Surprised voices sounded from behind. A dragon, a slime, a female swordsman, and an undead man©¤©¤. It was the four great demon warlords who had finally caught up with him. ''''This is the first time I''ve ever shown this to you guys. Me and my Velfer, the best of times. Velfer and Judah smiled. ''Then we''re next! The demon army chiefs raise their spirits. The Flame Dragon Ziad Ga Zelfeed spits out a scorching hot breath and blows the brave men away. This is a great way to get the best out of the city. The Formless Void uses its slime body as a shield to completely block the enemy''s counterattack. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on them. The four great demon army chiefs showed their strength as expected. ''''Ho, we can''t lose. We can''t afford to lose. Yeah. The three-sided demon king and the most powerful mage in the demon world nodded to each other. ''''Let''s go!'''' I''m sorry. Every time Velfer wields his sword or magic, the heroes are blown together. Judah fired a series of superlative magic and swept the heroes over a wide area. With just the six of them alone, the heroic army was about to be wiped out. And. He''s going to be next. W?lffer looks at the cracks in the wards. From there, a new shadow appeared. This time, it wasn''t a human. Three huge shadows, tens of meters in length, all three of them. ''''My name is The King of the Earth.'''' The dragon, whose entire body was formed of earth and sand, spoke solemnly. ''''I am the ''King of Thunder.'''''' The golden, shiny, monstrous bird calls himself. "Also known as the Ice King. The nine-headed serpent wiggled its entire body. ''''A holy beast?¡¡Or is it some kind of weapon? It''s like a weapon. Judah replied to W?lfer''s murmur. ''From the looks of it, the body seems to be made of sacred silver (mithril). Mithril... I''m sorry, I thought you had a high resistance to magic. And the hardness is extraordinary and it''s not easy to do. A bolt of lightning gushes from Judah''s slender body. They must have increased their magic power in the face of a powerful enemy. W?lffer also had his entire body''s magic power burning. ''''No problem. If it''s you and me.'''' Yes. Judah smiles at W?lfer''s words. ''When we team up, we''re not the enemy. I don''t care if we''re dealing with God. 129 16 Mojun VS Celestial Army, Brave Army 4 Looks like we won''t be needing any help for now... I murmured to myself as I watched them fight. W?lfer and his team are very strong. It''s a good thing that they don''t let the brave men come near them at all. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. At that time, a roaring sound could be heard from a corner of the sky. At the same time, a new shadow appeared from the breach in the ward. This time it wasn''t a human. They were huge beasts that looked to be twenty to thirty meters in length. ''''That looks like the ''Heavenly Visionary High King (Divine Gear)''...? The strongest weapon in the Heavenly Army that I fought against in the past. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to say that. ''''No, apparently, it''s not.'''' And, Stella. Looking at it again, the atmosphere is similar, but the design is certainly quite different. ''Probably the same type of weapon made by God. Then it probably has a fighting ability equivalent to the ''Heavenly Soul High King''. ''''What do we do?'''' No more waiting and going to join the party... Just when I wasn''t sure if I was going to be able to... Combined magic: ''Dual Thunderbolt Dragon Roar! Velfer and Judas simultaneously released Mega Thunder, and the lightning wave they merged in the air hit the nine head snake out of the three. Kiwiiiiiiiiiii...! With a screeching voice, the nine-headed snake retreated. ''''No matter how much it''s Mithril, it looks like you won''t be safe after receiving such a high firepower magic. W?lfer growled proudly. "Magical force against a Mithril weapon... Stella gulped. ''As expected, you''re strong...'' Yeah. Stella and I nodded at each other. And with the attacks of the four great demon warlords, the three "Heaven''s Gears" are gradually pushed into a corner. And... There it is again! Olivier pointed to the sky above. Humanoid figures and four-legged beasts made of trees, surrounded by fog and clouds. It seems to be a different type than before. ''''A new one?'''' Muttering Regal. And now there''s a huge difference in numbers. Probably not hundreds of them, countless divine weapons. They''re......... Welfar and the others will also fight back, but as expected, the number of enemies is too great. Although there are differences in performance, you can imagine how much pressure they are under when you consider that they are dealing with hundreds of similar guys like the ''King of Fire'', ''King of Water'' and ''King of Wind''. ''''Chii, there''s no end to the number of them that can be defeated! That''s a bit much it''s a pain in the ass. W?lfer and Judas growling. The four great demon chiefs are also struggling with each of them. ''''You........what a number! Don''t flinch!¡¡The demon world is ours to protect........! Ugh, there''s a little too much of this...! Hang on, guys. Flames from the countless Heavenly Army Weapons burst into flames, and lightning explodes on the Demon Army Chiefs. Countless explosions linked together, sending shockwaves through the air. The heavenly weapons worked together to multiply their attack power. The performance of each and every one of them is far from that ''King of Light''. However, the pressure from the hundreds of bodies gathered together could be comparable to that of the King of Light. As expected of them, they were being squeezed in little by little. Even so, they are still holding on in their mission to protect the demon world. However, the ''violence in numbers'' is still overwhelming. If things continue as they are, they will eventually be impossible to prevent...! I''m coming out, Stella. I''ve made a decision. "My Demon King.... "Your Eye of the Apocalypse notes recommended standing back. It''s not that I don''t believe in it. But we can''t just leave you here like this. I knew you''d say that. Stella took a small breath. ''''I don''t want to leave you to die, either. But... His eyes wavered uneasily. ''That''s why. Support me with your ''eyes''. Demon King.... Your eyes will find a way out of this. You''ll find a way to make it happen, I believe. I smiled at her through my mask. ''I want to help them, those guys. One of our own, in a different time. Yes, sir. Stella smiled back at me. ''I have the same desire to help,'' Okay, let''s go. Olivier shouted cheerfully. ''''I''ll heal your injuries~! I''m ready to go, my king. Regal pulls out a devastating sword that looks like a combination of countless bones. ''''No, I want you guys to protect this place. I''m the only one who will go to cover Welfar and the others.'''' I gave the orders. And then - the second act of the battle began. 130 17 Enforcement I used my flying magic to head to the battlefield. I left Stella and the others on the spot and had the Heavenly Army''s separate force prepare for them. Soon after, we reached the front line. ''''Velfer!'''' He called out to the Demon King, who was struggling with hundreds of heavenly weapons. ''''Freed...'''' W?lffer looks back in amazement. ''I''m sorry to leave my post, but I decided now was the time to join in. I explain. "They''ve left Stella and the others out there. They''ll be fine. I''ll stay and fight. It''s so reassuring to have you here, my Demon King. Judas comes over with a smirk. He has a spare attitude, but his purple costume is burned and sooty in places. As expected, Judah also seems to be having a hard time dealing with this number. It would be the same for Welfar and the four great demon army chiefs. Do we need to get this done in one fell swoop before prolonging the war? ''''Homing Ray!'''' I released hundreds of magic bullets that automatically detect targets. It''s also meant to check the opponent''s armor strength, so it''s a small trick instead of a small check first. A flower of explosive light blooms on the battlefield. A chain of explosions dyes the surroundings crimson. But.... It''s not going to take much more than this to destroy it. As expected, the heavenly weapons made by Mithril have a strong magic resistance. ''''We''ll just have to hit them with more powerful spells.......'''' I looked around again at my surroundings. I saw a huge dragon©¤©¤Zeed surrounded by dozens of heavenly weapons. The slime Nabam, the female swordsman Alfina, and the undead Hazel are also pushed to the front of the massive amount and are defending themselves. ''''The wide range of high-explosive magic engulfs the surroundings and if possible, I''d like to gather them all in one place and burn them down,'''' I bit my lip. ''I can handle it if I just collect them. Judah said. ''What?'' I can lock her up for a minute or two. Do you have any idea of the magic that could wipe them out in that amount of time? Yeah, that''s one. I nod. "Then I''ll help you warm up. I said and Judah jumped up into the sky. ''This spell requires a prolonged chanting (charge). In the meantime, Mr. Freed, keep them in check. Welfar, flail about at random. Okay. Hey, man, why don''t you just go flail around? I continued to shoot all the ''homing rays'' I could find. W?lffer also laughed at Judah''s words a moment ago and tore apart the heavenly weapons at hand, blowing them apart. ''''Demon tribe.........'''' "Wicked men ... destroy ... That''s the voice that comes from the Heavenly Weapon. "Destroy... "Destroy... Perish! And from hundreds of them at the same time. It''s the same as the ''Heavenly Soul High King'' we fought against in the past. The only thing they do is to annihilate the demons. They are cold-hearted weapons of slaughter without a shred of mercy. Just because they are demons doesn''t give them a reason to be destroyed! I couldn''t help but shout. When I was a hero, when I was fighting on the side of the gods, the demon race was my enemy. But now it''s different. It''s not the same anymore. It''s a friend to protect and an important place to belong. That''s why I''m going to keep fighting. I''m going to keep fighting... I''m so glad you''re holding on. You completed the spell, and now you''ve done it. And Judah''s voice comes from behind me. ''''Your desire to protect the demon race seems to be genuine. Judah seems to be laughing. He looks happy. ''Well, now it''s my turn to do it - "Dimension Coffin"! The moment Judah chanted the spell, the surrounding atmosphere - no, space itself rang out. The heavenly weapons were all enveloped in a pale yellow-white glow. In the next moment, they gathered in front of me. At the same time, something like a cage of light traps them all together. ''''Fufu........'''' Judah let out a deep breath. ''''Hundreds of coordinates, spatial movement, and blockades - compound magic acting on space is tiring as expected. This is... I don''t understand the logic, but it seems that all the Heavenly weapons have gathered in front of me anyway. In a position that doesn''t involve my allies in the line of attack. ''''Shouldn''t you have done that when I was?'''' Velfer tsked. ''This magic will use up most of my magic power. Even your attack magic would indeed be unable to reap the benefits of this number in a single blow, right?¡¡We can''t afford to let the surviving enemy hit us back. And Judas. ''That light cage will hold for about a minute. Can you settle the matter in that time, Mr. Freed? Smiling, she looks at me. Her smile is as aloof as ever, but her eyes are serious. With a single blow, I''ll get rid of these guys... I''m sure that''s why he used the magic he just used. "©¤©¤Take care of the rest. I nodded vigorously to Judas and increased my magic all at once. Now, it''s time to finish up. 131 18 A flash in the void The important thing is the image. The strongest and most powerful magic power in the Demon King of all time floods inside me. I don''t just unleash it, I converge it. It''s as if I''m controlling this enormous energy that''s about to burst out of control. It is reined in and gathered to a point. The technique I learned during my training with Judas and have been refining ever since. My own unique technique. "Slash and pop! The moment my image becomes extremely clear, it appears. A dark purple sword clad in lightning. The name of the sword... ''Convergence-type Vanity Blade! The flash of light that he wielded tore through dozens of heavenly weapons in the front row together with the entire Judas light cage. But there are still some remaining enemies. There are probably more than two hundred of them surviving outside the range of the slashing wave I unleashed. I have to wipe them all out within one minute, which is the holding time of the light cage. Then. Grow! I put all the magic I could into the blade. A new image is given to the sword. V.........n! The sword of the void rang out. The black and purple sword blade extended all at once. It cut off both sides of the heavenly weapons from one side to the other, tearing through space itself as well. The blade that cuts through and destroys everything stretches out endlessly. Even beyond the horizon.... "Fuuuuuck! After a while, all the Heavenly Army weapons were cut in half and were silent. ''''Heh, this is amazing...!'''' Judah whistled. ''This isn''t just cutting magic. A wide-area explosive type of super high-powered magic condensed into the form of a sword and then released locally...? It''s a little bit like the magic I''m studying. Well, it''s a technique I perfected from what you taught me in the future. I grinned. ''Oh, I knew it,'' I appreciate it, Judas. "No, we are the ones to thank. You have done well to defeat the enemies of my demon world. And W?lfer. ''''As the King over all of the demon world, I''d like to thank you for this. From me. Thank you, Mr. Freed............... Judah says and yawns. ''''I''ve consumed a lot of magic and I''m getting sleepy. I''m going to go to sleep for a bit.'''' Oh, hey...? It''s okay. There''s no sign of the enemy anymore. As soon as he says it, Judas leaves. He''s still going at his own pace. Totally.... W?lfer chuckled. His figure went from a three-sided, six-armed figure back to a normal humanoid form. He must have deactivated his combat mode. ''Well, it''s true that that guy saved my life. And... I guess we won the first battle. Yeah. I nod at a satisfied W?lfer''s words. But... Is it really, is this a good thing? I''ve deviated from the best path that Stella foresaw the future and led me down. "You''re still amazing, you are. Wiping out all those people. The demon chiefs are coming. It seems that all four of them are safe. I''m relieved to hear that, and then I think to myself, even if the future is not in my favor. I''m not going to be able to get the best out of it. I''m still glad that I was able to protect them©¤©¤and I''m still glad that I was able to protect them. It seems that there is no reinforcement from the heavenly army for now. The brave men also ran away when they saw that the heavenly weapons were annihilated. I said no to Velfer and returned to my first post. ''''Demon King-sama!'''' Stella was the first to run up to me. ''Thank God you''re safe.'' I''m sorry. I went against your advice. What do you mean? Stella smiled. "As long as you''re safe, that''s all I have to do... Thank you. I stare at Stella. Her face was red and uptight. ''It''s kind of a chirpy vibe,'' Olivier looked at us in equal measure. ''Ichara-Bu...?¡¡Moe...?¡¡I don''t understand.... And Regal was growling. 132 19 And to the mythical battle In the heavenly realm, the gods were watching over the battle situation. Hundreds of heavenly weapons that were pushing forward in battle in front of the Demon King Velfer and his subordinates. However, they were daringly defeated by a new demon tribe that suddenly broke in. "The Heaven''s Machine King (Heaven''s Gear) has been defeated, and the army of the Heaven''s Holy King (Holy Gear) has been destroyed... God growling bitterly. ''How...!¡¡I didn''t know that even the Demon King Welfar, Judas the Magus, and the Demon Army Chiefs were capable of fighting to such an extent. A beautiful boy and girl crouched at his feet - several apostles buzzed at once. ''No, it seems that some of them have joined forces with us. God explains. "I''ve been worried about a new demon tribe, a demon tribe that may be even more of a threat than Velfer. First of all, he unleashed a group of brave men as discarded pieces and analyzed the strength of the Demon Army. After that, he calculated enough strength to annihilate it, and sent the Heavenly Army Weapons with confidence. And then they were wiped out. The God''s vision is absolute. Humans call this an ''oracle'' and revere it. That oracle-level plan was easily overturned. By a single demon race. There is no greater humiliation for the gods than this. "In my foreseeable fate, the demon tribe should have been wiped out. "Under my prediction, the demon tribe should have been wiped out, and the damage to the demon world should be kept to a minimum. Even if a new demon race joins, there is no way that the result will be reversed. The gods tell us. It''s easy to just destroy the demons. All you have to do is tilt God''s omniscience and bury them without a trace. But God also wanted the demon world itself. A land of nothingness surrounded by darkness. But that''s why it''s a place that hides infinite possibilities. That is the new territory. And then, as an existence that is superior to the other gods, it accumulates power. The gods were secretly ambitious. In order to obtain the demon world, he looked at the flow of cause and effect over and over again - the path of fate. Causality is fate - you could say it''s the reason (rule) that binds the world. Even gods and demon kings can''t escape or overcome those rules. But in spite of that, that demon tribe, Fried, defeated it. "Why... hmmm...? That''s when God finally realized. "The cause and effect is........twisted?¡¡No, some people''s actions have become a new fate in themselves...? ''How can that be...? The apostles groaned in unison. Causality is an absolute rule. The existence of a being that can interfere with this is not possible under normal circumstances. Yes, it is possible, but... This place. God rose from his throne. ''I have to get out.'' What are you doing? You are going to make your attack against the demon world a lot worse than it needs to be? Have mercy on us, demons, for we are of infinite love. We are beings of infinite love. We are of infinite love, and we must not hate evil spirits, even if they are evil. Gods. At the sound of his brethren''s voice, God raised an eyebrow. ''This is my jurisdiction. Let the other gods retreat.'' I sense a strong sense of aggression in thee. I''m concerned that you are deviating from your divine duty. Be silent. An iridescent glow rose from the God''s entire body. The heightened divine spirit frightened away any sign of my brethren. ''God, then, so do we.'' The apostles stand up in unison. "Hmm. I''m not going to be able to do anything about it. I don''t want to hurt the world as much as possible, but if that''s the case, we can''t afford to be complacent. God told him solemnly. ''''Everyone, keep your divine Qi ready. As soon as the preparations are complete, we will begin our invasion of the demon world. That was.... It meant an all-out war between the God''s army and the Demon King''s army. 133 The strongest demon king in history and the seal of the void The second invasion battle by the brave men was won, and we had returned to a peaceful routine. ........However, there is still a mountain of normal business for the Demon King. The defense system of the demon world must also be built anew. ''''We have to strengthen our defenses even more, right? I sighed. In particular, the empowered Four Heavenly Holy Swords had acquired a battle ability that surpassed even the Demon Army Chief. Even though I had repelled them with my own hands, I didn''t even know how many casualties would be caused if they invaded the demon world again. There are a lot of problems. I holed up in my office and went about my normal duties. Well, as usual, Stella has finished checking and processing most of the documents, so I''m just doing the final checks. I have the feeling that it''s mostly just a matter of stamping the Demon King''s seal on it©¤©¤. She wore a pair of paperwork glasses and was flipping through documents at a furious pace. As always, her paperwork skills are not on par with mine. Really, it''s dependable. And then Stella suddenly looked up. ''''My clairvoyant eyes have detected something strange. Someone with great power is approaching the Demon World. A third golden eye appeared on her forehead. Stella, who is a member of the family called the Ganma, is excellent at every pupil technique. The ''clairvoyance'' that allows you to see into distant places is one of them. However.........it doesn''t seem to be an enemy. Stella took off her glasses and looked at me. ''Not...enemies...?'' It''s a powerful force, but I don''t sense any hostility. And she''s not a god or a demon. So you''re human. ''''Perhaps ... but it doesn''t seem to be the same as the brave ones either. I''ve never seen a hint of this kind of power before... Stella looks puzzled. ''If I had to say, I''d say that I''ve only felt one person - I''ve felt a similar presence. Who are you? Well this is Mr. Freed. Stella looked straight at me. ''Like you, he has an air of strength and warmth about him. So that''s her impression of me. ''Oh, I''m sorry ... is that a familiar phrase?'' No, it''s not. I shook my head with a smile. ''Don''t be shy, just say what you think. We''ve known each other for a while now, so there''s no need to be overly distant, right? ''Oh, yes ... hmmm ... yes. Stella beamed happily. ''There''s another similarity,'' Stella said. ''Another one?'' ''''It''s a vague way of putting it, but.......a hint of absolute power that seems to transcend even the realm of gods and demons. It''s as if it transcends even fate... I said, and Stella shook her head from side to side. ''I''m sorry. That''s an off-point way of putting it.'' ''No, if you perceive it that way, I''ll take full note of it. Thank you. I thanked Stella. Anyway, we need to find out the identity of the mysterious intruder. Even if he doesn''t look like an enemy, it''s clear that he''s a powerful man. We don''t even know what this person would do in the magical world. Or perhaps.........it could be that they suddenly go on a rampage. I have to be prepared for anything. Let''s go, Stella. "As you wish. I left the castle with her and jumped up with my flying magic. ''I can feel a mighty powerhouse approaching from the other side. Stella pointed to the outer edge of the royal capital. ''''It looks like we''re advancing through a different space right now we should be appearing in the demon world soon. From outer space? I raised an eyebrow. ''You mean the warding is broken?'' That''s why........I don''t feel any signs of aggression. Instead of breaking the wards, it''s as if it''s ''slipping through''... Stella also seems to be confused. Are you saying that this is a phenomenon that cannot be seen through even with her ''eyes''? Let''s just go. We''ll jump in the direction it''s supposed to come from. That moment. The landscape in front of us shakes greatly. This is...? No way. Stella groans with a huff. ''Time and space are distorted...? ''Eh.'' "I can feel the vast amounts of energy colliding and interfering with each other. Perhaps it''s the intruders approaching the demon world and Freed-sama''s............. ''''Kuu........'''' We''re pulled by a powerful suction force. We can''t resist even if we control our flight magic. ''Stella, hold on!'' I grabbed her hand and increased my magic all the way up. The flying magic I''m using now is of a lower grade. But if I poured in my magic power, which is beyond the standard of any other Demon King of all time, I would be able to obtain an output that far surpasses even high-level magic. I''m going to explode my speed and escape this suction©¤©¤I''m going to escape this suction. At that moment, the scene in front of me wavered even more. ''''What...? ''''The distortion of space is increasing!¡¡If we don''t, we''re both going to be lost to the strain of space-time... Stella explains with a scream. The next moment, a single image emerges ahead of us. We see a small black circle. Furthermore, on its side is the figure of a young man. "A human, huh? He''s a young man in his twenties. I guess he''s an adventurer from the way he looks. It''s him. Stella tells me with a grim expression. ''What?'' I sense a great deal of power in this young man... From the looks of it, he was a young man who was far from being a fierce man. If anything, he looked like a gentle human being. At his side was a fox-eared girl who looked like a beastman, and a girl holding a shield. ''''That shield is a miracle armament, isn''t it?'''' Stella said. ''So that means she''s a brave woman? An adventurer, a beastman and a brave man - what a strange combination. What they were fighting was a huge monster. It was a dragon several tens of meters long. That''s why only the most powerful SSS-ranked adventurers would be able to get at it. But.... Oh, my God! The black circle floating in front of the young man sucked the dragon in an instant. Exactly, a blink of an eye. "This thing... ''It doesn''t seem to activate magic, so it''s not magic. Perhaps it''s a skill. And Stella. ''But ... I''ve never heard of a skill that could suck a dragon down in an instant. At least when I was in the human world... I was stunned. ''''If it''s the demon race, do some of them have these skills?'''' This man looks human, but could he be a demon? Or an angel©¤©¤. The only thing I can think of is that even among the higher-ranking demons, there is no one with such powerful skills. Even the Demon King class would be able to do that... Stella''s face stiffened. ''''If he turns against the Demon Realm he might be a greater threat than the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge). This thing is stronger than... maybe even stronger than any enemy I''ve ever encountered. I looked at the young man who kept fighting. No, rather than a fight, it was closer to a task. Anyway, anyone who approached a certain distance from him would be sucked in by both monsters and demons in an instant. It wasn''t even a game. ''''But I don''t feel an evil vibe. Even in terms of the way he fights, he always seems to be standing up for his friends.'''' It''s strange to see him use his overwhelming power, but neither fear nor anxiety arises. I even feel somewhat relieved, perhaps because of the warm atmosphere that emanates from him. ''''Indeed ... yes, it is.'''' Sometimes he stands in the front line and sucks up the enemy from one side to the other, and sometimes he sucks up all the enemy''s attacks themselves, stopping the damage to his allies from being almost zero. He fights in a way that prioritizes the protection of his allies rather than the defeat of the enemy - a way of fighting. The image switched dizzyingly. A battle against a huge weapon - vaguely resembling the Tensou High King (Divine Gear) we fought before - or a battle against a monster beast or a large army. Or a warrior in front of a demonic beast or a large army. All battles were killed in the blink of an eye. And it was an easy win. There was no struggle at all, almost like a struggle. Meanwhile, a golden silhouette appeared in front of him. It''s a familiar figure. "That''s... ''''The former Demon King...''Magic Emperor'''' Estram-sama...?'''' Stella groans next to me. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. The young man who controls the black circle is confronting the demon king. ''''Is that image a place like the world in Feria''s dream?'''' I asked Stella. I wondered if she was somehow recreating the appearance and abilities of the former Demon King. ''''No, that''s probably the real thing.'''' Stella replies. ''Maybe - in that image - what''s going on in that image is a battle of the ''past world''. It''s a thing of the past. So, that human fought against the former Demon King Estr?m, right? What was the outcome of that victory? Normally, a mere mortal who isn''t brave would never be able to stand up to the Demon King. But he is.... Or even the strongest brave man, the Four Heavenly Holy Swords, has a fighting ability that surpasses even the strongest brave man, the Four Heavenly Holy Swords. If it''s him, he might not even have a problem with the Demon King Estr?m and win. And then. Or will he attack the demon world in this era? I reflexively brace myself and watch the battle unfold. Next to me, Stella squeezed the hem of my robe. ''It''s okay,'' He smiles at her. "I don''t sense any evil in him, but even if he is my enemy, I will defeat him. I will protect the demon world. And you, of course. The next moment, the image disappeared in a flash. What...? The distortion of space-time seems to have calmed down. The suction phenomenon has also stopped. I''m going to be able to use flight magic in a stable manner with this. I headed with Stella to the predicted point where he would appear. And then........the time of my encounter with him arrives. The person who has the invincible power (skill) to suck in everything. The wielder of the Black Hole. The adventurer, Magna Cloud... 134 1 Fleeting daily life The Great Hall of the Demon King''s Castle. A feast was being held there to celebrate the defeat of the Heavenly and Brave Armies. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make your life easier and more fun. As your king, I would like to thank you. W?lffer announced in a cheerful voice, pointing at me. Immediately the demons cheered. It''s also amazing this time. The heavenly weapons were blown up in an instant! Fearsome magic... The demon tribe and the demon warlord are all praising me. Only Alfina, the female knight, was looking hotly at Stella and Olivier, who were present in the room, not me. ''''Oh no, how could she be cute...'''' Olivier smiles with a huffy smile. The fox ears are bouncing around, twitching. ''''I''m embarrassed~'''' He''s cute. Fluffy. Alfina, who closed the distance at a tremendous speed, was muffling her fox ears. He is fast©¤©¤. As expected of Alfina, who has the title of lightning high knight (Lightning). Or rather, it was like a waste of superlative physical ability, here''s the best way to go about it. ''''Most fluffy.'''' "Yikes! It''s funny to see the girls frolicking with each other. ''Hmm, I don''t see Regal?'' I asked Stella. ''You were supposed to be in there earlier.........................oh, there. In the corner of the hall, they are surrounded by swordsman-type demons. They seem to be discussing swordsmanship. I wonder if Regal is enjoying the party in Regal. I turned to Stella. ''I''m sorry. You were the one who foresaw the best path for me, and I ended up ignoring it. I apologized again. ''What do you mean? I was ... honestly happy to see you. With Master Freed standing up to protect and not abandon the demon race of the past. Stella smiles. ''Just the same as you always have been,'' I''m.... Because of that, I wish to follow you wherever you go. I was a little embarrassed by his straight eyes. And. Oh, you''re a charlatan whenever you can. Olivier is looking at us with a smile on his face. Next to her, Alfina is smiling as well. ''''We''re about to churp like this... no, even something more amazing... ufufu, my imagination is going to get better... julp...'''' Olivier was drooling heavily from the corner of his mouth and his beautiful girl face was ruined. What kind of fantasy is this guy? I chuckle inwardly. ''We shouldn''t interrupt him too much. Let''s go over there, shall we? Lady Alfina...? "Mmmmmm... cute Olivier-chan is all to herself.......fluffy to your heart''s content.......no, see, let''s make sure the two of you can make out to your heart''s content.... ...fluffy. "Nah, I see..." but it tickles. Olivier cowered at Alfina who was just fluffing away. Alfina''s real intentions are just to fluff Olivier........ ''''No, wait a minute.'''' Stella tsked. ''Me and Master Freed flirting separately, etc. Oh, don''t you want to?¡¡Flirting. Yeah, well, it''s not... Immediately Stella''s face turns red. ''Be honest. You seem to be the type to stifle your feelings. Right? With a snap and a wink, Alfina took Olivier away. ''''Totally ... that was a strange thing to do. Oh, yeah, I mean, I''m sorry. What do you need to apologize for? Let''s take some time alone. I put my hand on Stella''s shoulder. ''Master Fried........'' Stella looks up at me, her cheeks reddening. ''We don''t know how this era will progress. I don''t know what the future holds, or if we''ll be able to safely return to our own time - but that''s why I hope we can live peacefully, just for now. I looked at Stella. ''Especially since you''re a bit too serious at times. Why don''t we have a little party? Yes, Mr. Freed. Stella nodded her head. ''''I hope that I can spend tonight at your side and be at peace...'''' Her smile was even more dainty than usual, which made my heart flutter. 135 2 Peaceful feast It will be some time before the Eye of the Apocalypse can be used again. As soon as I can use it again, I''ll be able to predict the changed future once again. Stella said. ''Yeah, I hope we - and Welfar and the others - can find a way to stay in peace. I murmured, half-praying. Stella snuggled into my arms and nodded. ''Yeah,'' Squeezed, he clung to my arm. Her soft breasts are pressed against my arm as hard as I can. ''''........Stella?'''' I''m old enough to know better. I''m not old enough to get upset and make a fuss. However, it''s true that I''m a bit embarrassed as expected. "I~, I''m starting to feel a little better now. What? Master Freed, let''s have a drink. Stella....? Where''s the usual coolness? Come to think of it, she might have been like this at the first banquet I threw in the Demon World, too, when she was drunk. Back then, I had just been reincarnated as a Demon King and didn''t know left or right. Stella has been saving me ever since then. And even now..... I was lost in emotion as well as nostalgic memories. "Well, have a drink.......oops. Hey, Stella. You''re wobbling. Yikes! She stumbled back, and I held her with my right arm. ''You okay?'' Master Freed! With a pampered voice, Stella is just supple on my chest. ''''Warm, is........Fried-sama.......'''' Stella.... I put all my strength into my right arm and hold her tighter... * Olivier gazed at Fried and Stella''s figures in the distance as they cuddled together. ''''Demon King-sama and your sister, it''s a nice atmosphere~'''' She murmurs enthralled. Stella''s usual coolness is great, but her drunkenness and friendliness is also great. It''s a great moe. "Big sister, the same thing about the Demon King........ What were you talking about earlier, Demon Lord? Alfina nodded her head. ''If it''s Master Welfar, he''s over there...? Oh, no. It''s Mr. Freed. Olivier hurriedly kept his mouth shut. In this era, the Demon King is a werfer. ''''Huh, is he a bit drunk?¡¡That''s pretty cute too~ Alfina was leaning over Olivier. Huffing and puffing, she blew sweet breath mixed with the smell of wine and my body tingled all over. ''''Alfina-sama........'''' ''Cute ... I want to fluff you ...'' Well, would you like me to... Fluffy, fluffy, fluffy. Oh, my God, that tickles. Oh, come on, you two. Did you guys hear about me? I suddenly realized that Stella was looking at me. A grin on her mouth. ''''Look, look, Fried-sama. Let''s have a nice drink together, the girls too~'' Stella, what do you think about slowing down a bit? Freed came from behind Stella with a wry smile. ''''Ufufu, this is fun~'''' You''re drunk, sister! I''m sober. Oh, Olivier is cute. Let''s give him a fluffy ride. Sister, your character has changed completely. I love it. Fluffy Fluffy~ Stella, who is bewildered, is constantly fluffing Olivier''s fox ears. ''I''ll be fluffier than Alfina the most~'' Apparently, he''s been watching the whole exchange. Oh, sister. I''d like to remind you that my true love is your sister. Olivier said in a hurry. Alfina is also a nice female demon race, but as I said, as Olivier, I moaned most for Stella. She''s cool, kind, and even mischievous in her drunkenness. ''''Hmm, I''m not the best.'''' And a jittery-eyed Alfina. But, by the way, Alfina-sama is beautiful and wonderful too. Olivier chuckled and accelerated his fantasy. 136 3 Beginning Demon King and Immortal King 1 I suppose I just got carried away. Regal came to a place some distance away from the banquet hall and took a breath. Even in this era, there were several demon clans that could be called fierce. He exchanged swordsmanship talks with them and got carried away. He was reincarnated from a human to a demon race and lost his basic emotions, but he still has the pride and joy of being a warrior. For such a Regal, it was fun to talk about swords and warfare with the fierce warriors of the past. However, he couldn''t indulge in the fun forever. I have to decide what to do in the future. (What should I do?) He was alone. I thought that since I had rebelled against the demon world by joining Zegart, I would not escape the death penalty. However, for that Zegart''s war of attrition, he cooperated with Freed and even moved with him to the ancient times. Regal''s position is in a rather delicate situation. If he returns to the original era, it would still be an extreme punishment. Regardless of what Fried''s thoughts are, the people around him would recommend it. How should I fight here and now, when I will most likely die? And for whom? And for what purpose©¤©¤. Hmm, you seem to be mulling that over. A single warrior walked in with his footsteps. The overwhelming sense of presence and intimidation makes even Regal cringe. "...©¤©¤Welfer, your majesty. The Immortal King kneels on the spot and bows his head. ''''Good, don''t be so formal. Demon King Velfer smiled bitterly. ''The Beginning Demon King'' Velfer. Thousands of years ago when Regal was reincarnated as a demon race, the name was already passed down as a myth. Aside from the current Demon King Fried, he was the strongest Demon King in history, boasting the highest status of all time. I''m now facing such a mythical existence. I''m not supposed to have an emotion of fear, but I - my whole body, made of bones, begins to tremble in small increments. (As expected of the Demon King, W?lfer. A tremendous sense of intimidation. It''s not that they have any animosity towards us. They aren''t even trying to intimidate you. It''s just a normal state of affairs. It''s just that they exist peacefully. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get a good deal more than you think. (This is©¤©¤The Beginning Demon King.) Welfar smiled wildly at the shivering Regal. ''You were one of Fried''s friends, I believe. ...in your group, sir. It''s a delicate position to be in, though. Regal''s mouth slurred at Welfar''s words. ''''Well you guys have a lot of things going on, you mean. I won''t pry, though.'''' The Beginning Demon King raised his eyebrows slightly. ''''By the way... what''s your world like?¡¡Do the demons live in peace? So Master Freed told you. That we have wandered in from the future. Yeah. W?lfer nodded. "He didn''t say it outright, but from the way he acted I''m sure he thought he was on the wrong side of this battle. I''ve been thinking about doing something about it, but I also don''t want to confuse history by acting carelessly. ...that''s what he''s thinking. You have so much power, yet you have no arrogance. Is it because he is an ex-human being that he cares so much about others? Or is it just a quality of his character? Welfar shrugs. Apparently, he even knows that Freed is not a pure demon race, but a human reincarnation. ''''Speaking of ex-humans...were you one too?'''' Huh...! Regal gulped. ''It wasn''t me who saw through it, though, it was Judas. W?lfer smiles bitterly. ''No, as I said before, I don''t want to pry into your affairs any more than necessary. I was just talking to you because I was curious about you. No offense. No, I don''t think I... I don''t want to talk about this anymore. Would you like to play me for a drink as a sideshow? Regal gulped again at the sudden offer. 137 4 Beginning Demon King and Immortal King 2 I never thought I''d be challenged to battle by the Devil King in the beginning. I recall that I had challenged Fried to a match before. And twice. Once, shortly after Freed had become king. I crossed swords with him to assess his strength and the vessel itself. Once, when he and Zeggert had revolted against the demon world. He couldn''t suppress the hatred within him for Fried, a former human. Crossing swords, he felt as if that feeling had sublimated from hatred to something else. What that something is, Regal still doesn''t know what it is. And©¤©¤now. (I''m about to fight the "Demon King" again...!) The surrounding demon clans are all cheering. Even to Regal, there are many favorable looks at him. They don''t seem to be seen as an irreverent and impious demon race - standing up to the king. Everyone is genuinely enjoying this entertainment. Even though they are respected as kings, they are treated as friends by those around them. Even though their personalities and moods were different, I felt that they were similar to Freed in that way. (No, it doesn''t matter if Velfer-sama and Freed-sama are similar or not. Right now, I''m just focusing on the game.) Regal switched his consciousness. All consciousness, for the sake of the battle. There was a premonition. The hazy feeling he had right now might be cleared up in this battle©¤©¤and that''s all. ''''Then I will only do my best.'''' He told himself that he would increase his fighting spirit. For me, who lives by the sword, my doubts can only be cleared up by the sword. In the past, and in the future. (So...) I''m a proud warrior. "Come on, fight! Regal pulled out a disastrous sword that seemed to be made up of countless bones. He held it in his right eye. On the other hand, Velfer on the other hand, slackly kept his arms down. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a great deal more to say about it. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about it. W?lfer grinned. ''''As an undead and as a swordsman - you can tell that you have top-notch abilities. You have a good subordinate, Freed. Thank you very much for the compliment. Regal rubs his feet and closes up a bit of space between them. In the previous battle, the fight ended with him standing at the rear, so the details of Velfer''s warfare methods are unknown. I have information that he has a powerful magic power and an overwhelming status, but©¤©¤. ''''I''m going. Come on. Prompted, Regal kicked the ground. Thud! At the same time, the miasma is released backwards. It used its momentum as propulsion to charge forward. ''''Hades Blade!'''' The miasma-laden slash is a powerful blow. It''s the only way to make sure that you''ll be able to get the most out of the miasma. It''s not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. "This power is a greeting. Welfar summoned his sword from the void and received a slash from Regal. ''But you won''t get through to me. With one hand, it doesn''t matter. You are very good. ''''For this level, ''two'' is enough. Isn''t there an attack of greater power? Then do as you wish. Regal further increases the miasma in his entire body. He changed his stance and released a three-step thrust. It''s not a bad idea.¡¡Your swordsmanship - has it reached this level? A hint of joy in Welfar''s voice. The beginning demon king retreats while surpassing Regal''s three consecutive stabs with his sword. ''''You are more capable than expected. Then©¤©¤ A black and purple magic rose from its entire body. With a bobbing, bobbing, the area around its side wriggled, and two new arms grew out. Yet another face appears from the side of his face. Velfer, who had become two faces and four arms, summoned three more swords from the void. ''''Let me raise this one up a notch as well. Let me see you take it through, Regal!'''' I''m not going to take it. He dodged the four slashes that were delivered. My only goal is to be aggressive. Gulp, I look at a full-body thrust as it stretches up. ''''Chii........'''' W?lfer jumped back wide. An unavoidable blow shallowly cleaved its chest. Don''t do it.'''' Velfer grinned. ''''Or maybe even more than the best swordsman in the demon world, the Thunder High Knight (Alfina), your sword. The man I was and the man I have become, together they have been perfected for thousands of years. Interesting. W?lfer''s smile deepened. ''You should have done everything in your power to deal with them from the start. I''m sorry I started out by imitating you as a petty thief.'' The magic power that rises from that entire body swells several times - no, dozens of times at once. ''''........! The magical pressure is so great that you feel as if your whole body is going to be blown away just by being in relation to it. And a sense of shivering and intimidation. (This is the true nature of the "Beginning Demon King"........! ''I apologize for my rudeness in keeping my full strength under wraps to this point, Regal. And to make up for it, I will now deal with you with all my might. He announces, and W?lfer''s figure changes. Three faces and six arms. Three faces and six arms. "In this form, it''s difficult to add or subtract. That''s why I only show it to the best of the best, but... you''ll be fine. All three of W?lffer''s faces howled simultaneously. ''Come on, let''s fight to the fullest! 138 5 Beginning Demon King and Immortal King 3 Now, let''s go out and fight. A three-sided, six-armed - all-out battle form, W?lfer attacked Regal. ''''This is...?'''' In an instant, I realized. I can''t catch it. There is no way to escape. If this one attack is over, I will be cut down for sure. (This is the true strength of the "Beginning Demon King"........) Even thousands of years of training as a swordsman are not far enough to reach W?lfer. He was pressurized and couldn''t stop his fighting spirit from fading. ''''What''s the matter, you''ve given up! W?lffer barks. ''I am...'' You will be cut. You''re gonna lose. No, no, no! I won''t stand idly by and let you cut down! The will to fight that I had almost lost rises again. Is it instinct or just willpower? Regal himself didn''t know for sure, but he stepped forward. ''''Haaaaaaaaaaaaah!'''' Along with the spirit of the rifle, Welfar unleashed his six swords. Regal did not dodge. His bone body was torn apart countless times. ''''As a swordsman, I am not as good as you©¤©¤but! The skull''s eye light blinked intensely. ''''As an undead swordsman, I''m different! What...? A body of bones torn apart by Velfer. Some of them turn into blades and go towards W?lfer. -No. From the beginning, he had them slashed on purpose in order to use them as flying tools. An undead body itself is used as a weapon...? No, that''s not it either. Regal spewed out all the miasma at once and sent his right arm flying. A double attack with the blade created from the body of bone and the sword in his right hand. This is the only swordsmanship that Regal can perform that combines his abilities as a swordsman and his characteristics as an undead person©¤©¤. ''''Kutu...! Welfar knocked off all of the bones while getting shallow cuts on his shoulder and side, and tore into Regal''s right arm as well. ''''©¤©¤after all, you are strong.'''' Regal, now down to just his skull, rolled to the floor. ''No, it made me cringe. Seems to be more up in arms than I imagined.'' Welfar brought his sword down. His face was slightly stiff and sweat was running down his cheeks. ''You''re strong, dude. That was fun.'' The Beginning Demon King with a big smile on his face. ''''........I hope you enjoyed it. What about you?¡¡Did you enjoy it? Welfar asked. Regal huffed. (No way, this one was trying to make me feel better from the start...) ''You cared for me, you say? ''Your reason for fighting was a grudge against the humans but that''s not the only thing that drives you, is it? .......... "Your pride as a warrior. And the love you can''t get rid of - you''re torn between resentment and love. Perhaps for thousands of years. So you''ve seen it all before, have you? I''m not a prospect. It''s just a feeling. W?lffer laughs. ''We''re both warriors. We''ve spoken by the sword.'' With all due respect, sir, what does Your Majesty intend to do with the humans? This time Regal asked. ''''Demon kings in the past have generally had an adversarial relationship with humans. Demons are nothing more than enemies to the human race. Freed doesn''t seem to think so, though. W?lffer chuckled. I''m not particularly fond of humans, either. There was a time, back when there were no wards in this world, there was a massive invasion by humans. A full-scale invasion...? It was the first time I''d heard of it. "They unilaterally condemned us as evil and attacked us. We fought them off painlessly and attacked back into their world. And W?lffer. ''Retaliation.'' Retaliation... Although the humans aren''t as powerful as the demons, some of them were still killed in the first invasion. To avenge them, I led my army into the human world. W?lfer''s expression was stern. ''''But in the end, the cycle of killing each other would only continue. We hated each other, and they hated back too - we eventually returned to the demon world and laid wards across the entire demon world. To avoid further fighting? Yes. But now that the boundary has been broken, the edge of the war has been opened once again. And this time, even the heavenly army is invading the country. We need to get rid of the sparks that are falling on us. W?lfer sighed. ''I don''t like humans, but that doesn''t mean I don''t hate them, either, I guess. If I had the time to harbor such feelings, I''d rather spend my time ruling the demon world. The bottom line is that it''s a matter of prioritizing your feelings. Priority...? Hatred, pride, compassion - it''s all you. From there, you can choose what you value and decide where you want to go. 139 6 The morning after the party The next morning after the banquet... "I''m sorry about last night, Mr. Fried. Stella came to apologize to me. ''I regret that I behaved in a manner unbecoming of a subject. I am truly sorry to have caused you discomfort. ''It''s a drinking party and that''s fine. Of course I''m not uncomfortable with it. I smiled through my mask. "And before she was a vassal, Stella was the most important thing... I was about to say, ''She''s an important colleague,'' when I found myself saying something different. Yes, she''s an important person. She is the first demon tribe I''ve met since I was reborn as a demon king. The demon tribe that has helped me more than anyone else until now. And the woman who was closest to me and supported me the most. "...Mr. Freed, sir. Stella squirmed against my chest, reserved. Her cheeks are red and she looks up at me with wet eyes. ''Stella,'' I looked straight at her... "Moe. ''''H........?'''' I heard a voice up close, and Stella and I couldn''t help but back away. ''''Jeez.'''' Olivier is right beside us. He was so engrossed in his conversation with Stella that I didn''t notice him at all. Maybe it''s the same with Stella. ''I-I don''t want you to just show up out of the blue...'' I said, unable to hide my impatience. ''Ehehe, I''m sorry,'' While saying this, Olivier has a big smile on his face. ''''Fufufu, sister Stella is a maiden. She is in full love with you. It''s her first love.'''' The nine tails were twitching adorably. ''''Moe... haha. Don''t get me wrong. I''m a vassal to the Demon Lord, you know. Stella defended herself with a bright red face. She fumbled and waved her hands in the air, which was unusual for her to be cool. ''I''m moaning more and more as I squirm,'' So, no, it''s not- Oh, come on, don''t grin. Don''t get me wrong. "Hufflepuff. Olivier seems to be in a full moe state. ''Romantic feelings, eh? You''re still talking about something I can''t understand. With a thud, a thud, a skull swordsman approached with the sound of footsteps. It was Regal. The eye light looking at me looked a little different than it had yesterday. The eyes that had been wavering as if to show hesitation are now dazzlingly intense. As if to show Regal''s state of mind. As if - as if to say that the hesitation was cleared. ''Please punish me when things have calmed down. Regal tells him. ''You look like you''ve blown it, Regal. The only thing I can do now is to mindlessly swing my sword. I see. ''I can only be me. I can only be me, the hatred for people and the way of life of a warrior. I will continue to wield the sword as I am... I was satisfied with his words. Of course, it''s a heavy fact that he was complicit in the rebellion. It''s not a simple matter of ''forgiveness''. No, if it were me personally, I could choose to do that, but as the Demon King, that would never happen. However, that was also a relief. That''s what makes it regal,'''' he said. ''''Alright, let''s all work together and get through the phase phase. We''ll work together to get through this phase, and we''ll find a way to get back to the time when we started. The moment I was about to say. "...! A tremendous shiver and chill ran through my whole body. I feel it. It''s not logic, but instinct, a sensation that warns me with every fiber of my being. An overwhelming and immensely powerful being turns on me with hostility. To me, to Stella, to Olivier, to Regal. And to all of this demon world©¤©¤. "Demon Lord, what was that sign? Yeah. I nodded at Stella''s words. I had felt this presence before. That''s right, the huge amount of divine air that Liavert was wearing during the second heroic invasion battle. This is the source of it©¤©¤. "God is beginning to move. It''s finally going to start. The battle between the God and the Demon King, as described in the myths. 140 7 Departure to the decisive battle ''''As expected, when God comes directly to attack you, the signs are different. Judah spoke from behind him. ''''The intense divine energy that reaches the demon world - it''s going to be much more intense than the battles we''ve had so far. I noticed that his voice was wavering faintly. I huffed and turned around. ''''........Are you nervous? As expected of you.'''' Ha. Well, more or less. Judah shrugs his shoulders. This guy, always aloof and unhurried, has an unusually serious look on his face. And he has a tense expression. Does Judas realize something? Maybe - the outcome of this battle. That''s right, in history, the demon army led by the Demon King Velfer suffers a defeat to the heavenly army led by a god. You can''t get away with it. Can I ask you something? Judah asks. He looks tense as ever. ''In the future you came from how is this battle reported?'' That''s because... When he spotted ''we''re from the future'' before, he never asked me about it. I avoided bringing it up, too. I knew that Welfar was going to die after his battle with the Heavenly Army. While I was wondering if I should say it I failed to say it until now. ''The future has countless branches - you said so. I looked at Judah. ''This battle isn''t always going to turn out the way I know it did in history. I guess. But I still want to know. Judas will not relent. Tell me about it. He doesn''t retreat. I''ve never seen Judas behave like this before. "....W?lffer will be killed by the Heavenly Weapon - ''King of Light''. By the Heavenly Weapon - ''King of Light''. Okay. Judah sighed deeply. ''Then there''s a good chance we can change that ending. And then a smile appeared on his mouth. ''If you''re around, you know.'' It''s true that I defeated the King of Light in my former world, but... Will it be as simple as that? Judah shook his head faintly at me, which made me uneasy. I see, this guy is also - no, he''s probably much more anxious than I am. Maybe that was just a line to inspire it. ''''Of course. I''m the most powerful demon king in history, you know. So I grinned at Judas, taking his feelings into account. And. You two, let''s get going. W?lffer came to us. Do you want to go? Yeah, that wasn''t clear. We''re going to the human world now. In the human world? That''s where we''ll battle it out with the gods and the angels. And Judas. ''In the human world, they wouldn''t be able to use indiscriminate mass destruction. They would have to get the humans involved. Well, I don''t like the idea of this, but I can''t help but notice that Judas insists on it. As far as I''m concerned, I''m just trying to improve my chances of winning a little bit. ...Is that really all you have to say? Yeah?¡¡Do you mind? No, I just believe in your plan. W?lffer answers immediately to Judas, who laughs mischievously. An un-Juda-like strategy........huh? I murmured inwardly. So he still foresees that Velfer will be killed........? Will my arrival in this time period overturn the consequences of that? And if it were reversed, what would happen to the era we were from? I don''t know. But there doesn''t seem to be much time left to think about it. I''m lost, and I''m not sure how much time. A few hours later, I came to the human world with W?lffer and his Demon King''s Army. Stella, Regal and Olivier are also with me. The grasslands surround us, and beyond that we can see forests and steep mountain ranges. It seemed to be a remote place. ''''The atmosphere is thick... this is going to be an appearance point. Judas tells him. And then... And then... a crack appears in the sky. "It''s coming...! I groaned half-heartedly. 141 8 Devil, Heaven, and Human Death Fight 1 Demon Lord, the concentration of holy air is increasing rapidly... At my side, Stella warned. ''''It''s not even comparable to the last Heavenly Army Weapons. Someone with even more power - probably four of them! Four bodies. I regained my composure. Regal was next to me on my right, and he had already drawn his sword. Olivier is in the rear, standing by to help the wounded recover. Stella was in the role of a ''command post'', using her pupil technique to grasp the battle situation and give instructions to me, Regal and Olivier. The next moment, the sky cracked open. Red, blue, white and black - four colors of light burst from the crack that ran in the sky. That light changed its form into a human form with wings each. ''''Apostle........'''' W?lfer growled. ''A warrior on the side of God, a warrior with god-like powers...! I see, they seem to be a powerful enemy this time. Each of the boys and girls were dressed in red, blue, white and black robes, with wings shining from their backs and a halo on their heads. I could feel a tremendous amount of divine energy from all of them. ''''Choosing the human world as a battlefield...'''' One of the apostles glanced at us. A dainty little girl in a red robe. Do you want to use the humans as shields when the need arises?¡¡But it''s sweet. "We will not hesitate to cut a man down at the drop of a hat. "Sacrifices must be made in order to avenge the demon. The voices of the apostles were cold. Protecting a human and not being able to use your true strength........didn''t seem to be a situation that would happen. ''''Well, it''s just a measure to make money if the other party shrinks back. Judas laughs. ''''You guys are going to stand against the elite of the Demon King''s army with just four men! W?lffer shouted arrogantly. It is a roar with a tremendous sense of intimidation, as if it would make the atmosphere tremble - no, as if it would make it explode. Perhaps if an ordinary person heard it, that alone would crush their soul. The fact that this much ''power'' was contained in his voice alone was indeed only the beginning Demon King. ''''Don''t lick it, you divine minion! His body transforms into a three-sided, six-sided body. ''''A hint of evil you demons should not exist. Your presence threatens the world of men and God, and many lives are taken, maimed, destroyed, and destroyed. "Therefore, it is erased. "Our God has decided. ''We didn''t do anything. You and your heavenly army were the first ones to attack us! W?lfer raised his voice. The sound of his voice was a mixture of anger and sadness. ''Why!¡¡We lived in the demon world. That''s because some people like to fight. There are plenty of conflicts between demons. But we never messed with the world of people or gods!¡¡We''ve been living in our own little world. We''ve been living in our own world, and you... W?lfer grits his back teeth with each of his three mouths just in time. ''You have committed a one-sided slaughter. You branded us as evil and continued to kill us indiscriminately and mercilessly, regardless of whether we were young or old, male or female! Your very existence is evil. Hence, I have eliminated you. The apostles announced in unison. ''''Even with the combined strength of us, the heavenly weapons and the army of brave men selected from the humans, you who have survived quite reluctantly - but that''s over! "The history of the demon world ends today. The four apostles held out their hands simultaneously. In their palms, red, blue, white, and black - the same color radiance as their robes dwelled in their palms. ''''Heaven''s Stream (Heaven''s Stream)! Four light bullets were released. They mingled into one in the air and turned into more gigantic light bullets. They are gray, stagnant and eerie flares. That was, as I recall, a combined technique that the brave army also used©¤©¤? The technique the brave men used to use was one we taught them. This is the original home! As if to answer my inner doubts, the apostles shouted. It''s true that compared to the same techniques fired by hundreds of brave men, this flare fired by only four apostles emitted a far greater amount of divine energy. You can''t prevent it with half-hearted magic...! I instantly thrust out my right hand. Despite the fact that we didn''t have a meeting or anything, W?lffer and Judah also perform the exact same action at exactly the same time. And. "The Blazing Flame of Heaven! My, Judah''s, and W?lffer''s spells were chanted. A trio of maximum-grade flame spells©¤©¤. The three flames merged in the air, just like the apostle''s magic. ''''Combined magic...''-''Ixed Megiddo''''! A huge fireball, which has changed from red to black ... and then to pure white, collides with an angelic flare. The destructive energy blasted with the massive explosion rushes to the horizon. 142 9 Death battle between demons, heaven and people 2 The combined magic ''Super Flame Burning Heavenly Explosion (Ixed Megiddo)''. This is the ultimate flame magic that allows multiple sorcerers to release the strongest flame spell, Mega Fire, at the same time, fuse it and double its power. Moreover, the ones who released it were me, Judah and W?lfer, who are among the five most powerful magicians in the history of the magical world. The white fireball collided with the apostle''s light bullets. Roar! It blew up in an instant and exploded into the apostles as it was. The screams of the four resounded. A chain of explosions dyed the entire sky red. ''''Ha, ha, ha........'''' When the flames eventually cleared, the four messengers were all covered in blood and burns, with their robes almost blown off. They all looked like they were half-dead. ''''Haha, no matter how much of an apostle you say you are, was it too hard to eat the three of us for your magic?'''' Welfar barks. ''My ... how far the wicked have come in their power...'' As he said it, the bodies of the four men emitted a flash of light. Immediately, the wounds on their bodies and their clothes were completely restored. Is it a divine art of the recovery system? ''''It''s.......him, isn''t it? The girl in the red robe looked at me. ''''We''ve already analyzed Velfer and Judah''s magical powers ... but we have very little data on him alone. ''''Even more magical power than Velfer and Judas........I see, this is the power of the ''Fate Breaker''.......'''' It was the boy in black who murmured. ''''We''ll have to put it all out there too, won''t we? The boy in the blue robe said. ''''Then... come on, brave men! The girl in white shouted cheerfully. At the same time, light poured down again from the crack in the sky. Tens of thousands of brave men and women descended from there. It was a huge army that seemed to fill the earth. All of them wore black miracle armor such as swords, spears and axes, and all of them wore black vestments. In addition, they all wear black vestments. Glimmer...! Iridescent light poured down from the cracks in the heavens, enveloping them all. ''''Is that?!'''' It was a familiar phenomenon. ''''Oh right, during the Second Heroic Invasion Battle...! Liavert took it away from the basement of the Demon King''s Castle and fought clad in it himself - the Power of God. The rainbow light that now enveloped the black heroes was very similar to that. "No way... I had a bad feeling. What if they all had the same level of ability as Liavert...? If such people attacked in the tens of thousands, no matter how many Welfers they had, there would be no room for one more. The demon king''s army will be destroyed and the demon world will be at the end of its life. ''''........Master Freed.... Stella was grabbing my sleeve tightly. I''m sure she was imagining things the same way I was. "It''s okay, Stella. I took her hand in mine. Warm, soft, thin hands. "I''m here. I''ll protect you and I''ll protect us all. I''ll do my best, too. To win. Stella bent down and kissed the back of my hand. ''For you,'' Yeah, we''re gonna win. And. So, all hands on deck. So long! W?lffer turned around and looked up. ''My fellow Demon Commanders!¡¡And you, my brave men!¡¡Now is the time to show the strength and pride of the demon race! He brandishes the Purgatory Demon King Sword (Ladis) in his hand. Ooohhhhhhhhhh! An earth-shaking shout echoed through the air. The morale of the Demon Army Chief and the soldiers seemed to have reached its peak at once. ''''Well isn''t it a bit theatrical?'''' I''m glad you''re a demon king, W?lfer. ''''No, I''m a demon king to begin with and you''re the original architect of that line right now. Well, the demon chief and the soldiers are motivated, so what do you think? Smiling, I noticed that Judah''s eyes weren''t smiling. This is where the real battle begins. In the first clash, we overwhelmed the apostles, but the all-out battle that is about to begin is the real battle©¤©¤. The real battle to the death is about to begin. My whole body trembled with that premonition. 143 10 Devil, Heaven, and Human Death Fight 3 The battle did not begin immediately. The armies of the apostles and heroes and the demon king''s army both stared at each other, changing their formations inch by inch. ''''You''re more cautious this time, Velfer. Me tweeting. ''We don''t know what kind of depth they have in store for us, and it doesn''t look like they''re going to attack us all at once. Stella, who was leaning close to me next to me, replied. ''''And... and... when you go on the offensive, the battlefield moves at once. Yeah. Occasional long-range firefights would occur, but they were sporadic. The rest of the day was filled with standoffs and small shifts in formation. I hope the bloodthirsty Velfer doesn''t get impatient....... The war will be moving violently in the not-so-distant future. Be prepared for that time. I said to Stella, Regal and Olivier. We''ll work together to deal with them. Stella, take a look with your ''eyes'' and tell me the best formation to use. Yes, Your Majesty. Stella nods at my words. ''''The enemy''s core strength is the apostles. The brave men also seem to be considerably strengthened by the ''Power of God'', but they are still a few steps lower in strength compared to the Apostles. It''s a tricky thing in numbers, though. Regal murmured. ''''It''s true that an ordinary demon race is too heavy a burden to deal with. I''d like Regal to take care of the brave men.'''' I said to the skull swordsman. ''In the meantime, I will strike the apostle. I have a hatred for the humans, but I''d rather fight an apostle who looks crunchy anyway. And Regal. ''Wow, Regal, you''re a warrior character! Character or not, I''m a warrior. To the flushed Olivier, Regal told him in a matter-of-fact tone. ''''No, I''ll deal with the apostle. I don''t doubt Regal''s abilities, but I don''t think you''ll be able to do enough in an air battle. Mmmm. I can fly with magic, but I don''t have the means to fly in the air with Regal. It would be difficult to attack the apostles in the air. Besides... I''m not sure what will happen to them if they''re flying against the apostles, no matter how many regals they are. And there''s more than one of them. It would be better to have Regal deal with the brave men first. ''''It''s unavoidable. As ordered by the Demon King, let''s go cut down the brave men and women. ''Don''t ever do anything rash. Take a good look at the battle situation and retreat if you have to. Even the brave men are not an opponent to be careless with. If there are a large number of Liavelt-classes, it will be tough indeed. ''''Do you think I''m going to fall behind easily against the humans? It seems that what he just said touched Regal''s pride. ''We don''t know what they''re capable of. I''m telling you to be careful enough. We cannot afford to lose you, the key to the attack, just in case. Because if we lose you the balance of our forces could be thrown off at once. Yes, sir. Regal bowed his head reverently. ''''Then I will leave the air battle to the Demon King and the land battle to Demon Chief Regal, and I will look at the entire battlefield and tell you the most appropriate battle pattern for each case. Olivier is on standby to prepare for the wounded. Be ready to use your healing abilities at any time. I''m here for you, sister. Olivier nodded with a smirk. Then. My Majesty, the apostles and the brave men are on the move. Stella reported, her third eye sparkling. ''Let''s go,'' I announced shortly. The battle. Probably the biggest and last battle of our time... The fate of this era and the future of the demon race will be decided in this battle. 144 11 Death battle between demons, heavens and people 4 The brave men, surrounded by a rainbow glow, scattered in all directions. Each unit slashed at the demon tribe''s army from the front. It suddenly looked like an all-out battle. The demon king''s army was fortified in the center by Velfer and Judah, while the four demon army chiefs took up positions on the periphery. I must join them. ''''Homing Blast!'''' I cast a spell. Countless light bullets shot up into the sky and poured down from there at once. It is an enhanced version of the automatic tracking magic "homing ray". It''s a good thing that this is able to get rid of some of the brave men and women. Bajie! The iridescent glow they wore flashed my magic. ''''As I thought, it''s the same power as Liavert...'''' Borrowing a part of God''s power, it ''rejects'' all kinds of demonic attacks. Moreover, hundreds or thousands of brave men and women all have this power. ''''It''s tricky.'''' The enemy is a brave man. Leave it to me. Regal stepped forward. ''I will join the Demon King''s army. "Regal... "In the meantime, the king will send his apostles Regal looks up at the sky. An angelic silhouette floats a few hundred meters above the sky. The light emitted from them falls on the brave men. Each time this happens, the iridescent glow that covers the bodies of the brave men and women increases in magnitude. Perhaps - that was ''supply''. The ''divine power'' that is being shared with the brave men will probably disappear or fade after a certain amount of time has passed. That''s why the apostles probably replenished the "God''s power" every time they did so. If they cut off that part©¤©¤the brave men will lose their power. The war situation will tip in favor of the Demon King''s army. Okay.... Nodding, I cast a flying spell. First, I will defeat the messengers in the sky... I''m going to take out the messengers in the sky, Stella, and I''m going to take out the messengers in the sky. If you notice anything in your ''eyes'', let me know. Yes, my Lord Demon King. Well, I''m off. I try to cast a flight spell. At that moment, Stella lightly squeezes my hand. ''''........Stella?'''' Good luck. Stella''s eyes, staring at me, are faintly wet. ''Yeah, it''s okay. I will definitely come back to you - to your - to your people. I said, and I flew through the sky. Up in the sky above, there were four boys and girls dressed in red, blue, white and black. All of them are breathtakingly beautiful in appearance. Wings sprouted from their backs and a dazzling halo floated above their heads. ''''We are God''s angels - we are called messengers.'''' The boy in the black robe said. ''I am the Black Apostle (Noir) and she is the Red Apostle (Rouge).'' He points to a girl in a red robe floating next to him. Is she a twin, or does she have a similar face. ''The Green Apostle (Verde). He also pointed to the boy next to him. From a distance it looked like a blue robe, but up close it was a beautiful jade green color. ''''And the White Apostle (Bran). It''s a girl in a pure white robe. ''''We, the four apostles, obey God''s will and annihilate the Demon King''s army. Annihilation. "I will not let you... 145 12 Demon King VS Four Apostles 1 God''s will, huh? I glared at them. "All evil shall be destroyed. And our God will reign over all the world, the one absolute being among all the gods. Noir, the angel in the black robe, announced cheerfully. ''The only one of the gods, or........'' In my day, God was considered the only thing that existed. At least that''s what I was taught when I was a brave man. There is no concept of ''gods''. But it seems that there are multiple gods in this era. I wonder what the other gods'' stance is towards the demon world. Do they see the demon race as an enemy, just like the gods that are attacking them now, and are they trying to destroy the demon world? Or is this...? No, we''ll think about it later. For now, we just need to focus on the Apostles first, and then how to surpass the Heavenly Army and the Brave Army. ''''Is that an ambition?¡¡One who is with God. I look around at the apostles. ''Ambition?¡¡Rude. The powerful have a mission to lead those without. Our God is only trying to take the lead in that. Noir glared at me. "Whoever stands in the way of that higher calling will be avenged by us for God. V........... With a dull sound, a shining spear appeared in Noir''s hand. No, it''s not just Noir. A bow in Rouge''s hand, an axe in Verde''s hand, and a sword in Blanc''s hand. They each appeared. ''''Meteoblade!'''' I''ve produced about 50 swords that emit flames. This is an apostle. I''m not sure I''ve ever seen him in person, but if he''s the next best thing to a god, his ability to fight is hard to guess. "Go... He put strong magic power into each ''meteor blade'' and sent all the swords flying towards the four apostles. The flaming swords coming at them from all sides. So much for that! Noir and the others play back with their respective weapons. As expected, will they surpass this much magic? ''''I can sense more magic than Velfer from you you''re still hiding your inner workings. Noir looked at me. ''It would be the same for you guys. I''ll be on my guard and look back at them. The apostles are responsible for ''replenishing'' the power of God to the brave men. That means they themselves can receive and exercise God''s power, right? If so, should we see that they are also equipped with the power of ''rejection''? A half-hearted spell cannot be understood. The spell to choose here - this is the spell to choose. ''Convergence-type, Void Slash (Vanity Blade)''! I converged my magic power and materialized it into a single sword. It is a black and purple long sword covered in a crimson lightning bolt. It is the most powerful spell in the attack magic in my hand. A slash that could cut through even space and destroy everything. The drawback was its short reach. You can''t use it as a flying tool, you have to get close to the opponent until the sword is in time to hit them. But the flying tools would only be blocked by their ''rejection'' anyway. Anyway, I have to close the distance©¤©¤. 146 13 Devil VS Four Apostles 2 ''''No matter how much more magical power you have than Velfer and Judas, don''t think you can take on the four of us at the same time! Noir shouted. The other three apostles scattered and surrounded me from all sides. I didn''t move carelessly, and remained still with my magic sword, "Convergence-type, Slash of the Void (Vanity Blade)" at the ready. I''ve also produced about a hundred meteo blades. It''s not very effective against them, but it might serve as a check. The flame-emitting swords are arranged around me in a unified offensive and defensive formation. You are certainly a tremendous magic power... that magic power sword and the flaming sword you summoned have a reasonable amount of magic power in them... but we were given power directly from God. I''ll kick you to the curb... Noir sticks out his right hand. ''Come on, obliterate, demon race! Blow it out! Blow it out! Blow it out! The other three also chanted and stuck out their right hands as well. Scattered bullets of divine energy shot out from there. The countless energy bullets shining in rainbow colors, all of them must have divine power in them. I raised my magic sword while simultaneously sending countless ''meteor blades'' flying. Bajie, bashu........! The scattered bullets erased the meteor blade one after another. ''''That''s as powerful as it should be. I swung my magic sword. While slashing down the scattered bullets from one side, I turned my attention to my surroundings. The apostles are positioned several hundred meters away from me, front and rear, on either side of me. It''s difficult to get them all to eat attack magic at once. In the first place, it seems unlikely that a flying tool would work. Then who should we aim at first. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. Noir gave a generous smile. ''You''re confident. ''You can prevent my first blow,'' I suggest you take a shot at it, if you''re feeling confident. Noir invites. ''However... the moment I block it, the other three will take a shot at you. If they block the first shot, you will die. The other three raised their hands and created a giant energy ball above their heads. Indeed, Noir might be right. If you make an attack, a ''rigid state'' will come immediately afterwards. If you are targeted at that point, it will be quite difficult to avoid or defend yourself. The other three people have created a divine bullet that contains a large amount of "divine power". I''m not sure what will happen if they hit me while I''m defenseless. I''m not sure what to expect. You have the courage to hit me with this? Noir''s smile deepens. But - in other words, it''s a chance to take a decent shot at him. Should I ignore the provocation? Should I dare to accept the provocation and believe in my own strength and give him the blow of my full strength? Which is the right thing to do? 147 14 Devil VS Four Apostles 3 "Dear Mr. Freed, I will use the Eye of the Apocalypse to see the future. I heard Stella''s voice. It was a telepathic message with her hair. ''Then I can tell you the best tactics for Master Freed. No, no, I don''t want you to save your future vision. I think for a moment and reply. ''But...'' ''I think we''re going to be relying on you to help us in more challenging situations in the future. So you don''t have to use it now. With all due respect, isn''t that ''tough phase'' now? Stella unusually didn''t back down. ''I''m ... worried. Just in case something happens to you. It''s nice of you to be concerned about that. Not just now, but all the time. I smiled softly. "But for now, you have to trust me. I know how to beat them. What? I mean, I''m half-conceived, but... I understand. Then I wish you good luck from here on out. Stella seemed to smile too. ''But if you get in danger, please pull back immediately. I promise. I knew you''d be worried. All right, I promise. I replied, turning my smile into a wry smile. Then I turned to face Noir again. ''Are you done discussing it?'' Yeah, you''re here. What? Take your time. The next attack will kill you. You have to make up your mind before you come at me. I''m ready for this. I move forward in the air with the magic sword in my hand. And then - I accelerated at once. "I will slay you, I''m ready! You''re going to kill me?¡¡Don''t make me laugh! Noir fired a divine bullet. At the same time, the other three apostles also shot at him. Three hundred and sixty degrees, an all-directional attack with no way to escape©¤©¤. ''''Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! A moment later, I turned my magic sword around. It''s not to cut down the divine bullets - it''s to cut through the surrounding space. It''s to cut through the surrounding space. "What....?! Noir raises a cry of surprise. The space around me was torn into many layers, and the countless divine bullets were sucked into it and disappeared. I''m going to be able to go through the gaps between the rifts in space and flesh out Noir at once. ''''Kaku, using a magic slash to defend against this kind of defense©¤©¤'''' It''s my kind of ''rejection''. Now get ready, Noir! I swing the black-purple magic sword at Noir... "I will not. At that moment, an intense glow flashed in the sky. A tremendous energy density of divine bullets poured down. ''''Kook...! I quickly changed the trajectory of my flying magic and escaped at full speed. "Who''s that... When I looked up, I saw a shining giant standing there. I wondered if it was over a hundred meters tall. It was the most intense and intimidating thing I had ever felt. And the divine spirit. No way, this guy.... "Refrain, demon race. I am the one... The Giant of Light calls himself. He is God.