Chapter 72

November. Old Beijing Forbidden City

"Something like that... I guess."

Thanks to Alba's rampage, which caused chaos in various parts of Japan, Lufina quickly returned to the continent amidst the confusion and immediately presented a report and future plans to the King upon her return.

"I see. With this hero, even ten large monsters would be easy to handle. Without him, it would be a tough fight. Last time, because he wasn't there, we sent twenty monsters and suffered significant damage, right?"

"Yes. So, from now on, we should check where the hero is, or guide him to a location before sending monsters. I think this will allow us to continue applying pressure..."

"Hmm. I think the last part is a bit vague, but the goal itself isn't bad."

(Yes!)

The data and conclusions Lufina prepared, driven by her desire not to be deployed to a hot place, were not bad for the King who was receiving the report.

What was particularly good was that she had completed the investigation of the new model's performance and the hero's abilities, and had firmly grasped the confidential information that, at this stage, no one other than the hero could properly handle the new model.

Of course, the abilities and performance could change based on future growth. However, the methods available when you know the current abilities are entirely different from when you don't.

Regarding Alba's death? Naturally, she had no particular thoughts on it. While she did acknowledge that he had accomplished his mission, she ultimately only thought of it as "a weakling died." Naturally, she had no intention of avenging him.

This wasn't because the King was particularly cold, but because the entire demon race held such values.

After all, even Lufina, who had brought Alba out, thought, "It's none of my business what happens to a fool who disobeys orders."

Since demons fundamentally held such values, they naturally had no particular thoughts on the attack that some of the elders called "cowardly," which was the killing of Alba before he could get serious.

Cowardly? Not at all. Rather, they were disappointed and gave a low evaluation to Alba, who had exposed himself to the enemy, and highly praised the hero, who had attacked without hesitation while Alba was talking. "No mercy. But that's good."

...Whether being evaluated as "merciless" by their natural enemies, the demons, was good or bad for the hero, Kaita Kawakami, is another matter.

"The next thing is the number of new models that will be manufactured and deployed. Since there are few people who can use them properly, I don't think they will rush mass production. However, if they are expected to serve as powerful artillery, they might hurry production."

"Yes. According to their evaluation, even when focusing on artillery, one new model is equivalent to two large monsters. I think it will be necessary to adjust the number of monsters based on the number of new models deployed."

"...That sounds troublesome."

(I think so too. But it's not all bad.)

The King gave a very honest response. Of course, Lufina also thought it was troublesome to have more work, but at the same time, she thought, "Maybe this isn't so bad?"

Why? Because of their current situation.

"Isn't it more like a real 'struggle' if there are some troubles?"

"Hmm?"

Receiving a look that told her to continue, Lufina spoke her thoughts without hesitation.

"If the mass production of the new model and the enhanced exoskeletons begins, the people in charge of other battlefields will naturally start to think about various things."

"Yes."

"It's not exactly creativity, but the stagnant battlefields will start to move. This will make it a worthy 'struggle,' regardless of the outcome."

"I see."

It goes without saying, but what the demon, the ruler and superior of the demons, seeks is not the conquest of the world by demons, but the "struggle between humans and demons."

However, what they had been doing so far was nothing more than one-sided hunting or raiding by demons and monsters. Of course, there was some effort involved, but it didn't require serious thought, and there was no creativity.

Of course, this was because the humans had no counteracting forces. But as a result, the demons, who had lost their motivation, were just going through the motions, which could not be called a "struggle."

Additionally, the demons' lack of serious engagement in battle was also a problem for the demon, who had ordered them not to destroy humans, but that's another story.

Defying a superior with overwhelming power is not courage, but recklessness. If there was something that neither the King nor Lufina could bend, they would not defy the demon's policy over human-related matters.

"I understand the policy. When sending monsters to Japan, I will issue a directive to carefully consider the number of new models and the hero's deployment."

"Yes."

"Continued harassment of the expeditionary forces in Southeast Asia will continue. If something that looks like a new model appears... Well, it doesn't matter how many monsters increase or decrease on their own, but it wouldn't be fun if they invaded recklessly. It would be better to defeat them once."

"That sounds good."

Humans get overconfident quickly. Therefore, they need to be disciplined at the right time.

This is already common knowledge for both demons and the demon.

In fact, even the Japanese military, known for being "too cautious," had, a few years ago, judged that the demons had "pushed the humans too far" and used the existence of the Japanese expeditionary forces to deliberately stage a defeat and retreat the front lines. However, some divisions, misunderstanding the situation, abandoned military common sense such as supply lines and front-line maintenance and invaded the territories ruled by high-ranking demons.

Of course, that force was easily annihilated and now no longer exists, but this incident is well-known among the demons as proof of human foolishness.

Considering this human nature, it is not good to keep losing, even if the purpose is to conduct performance tests or harassment.

"The question is how far this hero and the new model can go. If he can completely seal a knight, he can probably defeat a baron, right?"

"Yes, I think so too."

Alba, who acted so arrogantly in the arena, was ultimately just a low-ranking knight. He was what is commonly known as "the weakest among demons."

However, Alba was a somewhat usable low-ranking knight—otherwise, he wouldn't have been brought along—so if he could completely seal Alba, the King's judgment that he could defeat a regular baron was not wrong.

What is important here is how to handle a hero who can defeat demons.

Normally, the correct approach would be to eliminate any threat to themselves as soon as possible.

Regarding the "struggle," the new model can stage it, and above all, neither the King nor Lufina would accept being killed due to carelessness or overconfidence, so there is no reason not to kill the hero here.

However, despite understanding this, the King had no intention of actively killing the hero who had appeared among humans.

"It's good that the weaklings are reduced, don't you think?"

"Yes."

Indeed, the hero had killed demons and would continue to do so. However, the King and Lufina did not consider this a bad thing. Rather, they thought it was just right for culling the weaklings.

This was not carelessness, overconfidence, or arrogance. It was the ease that comes from overwhelming power compared to lower demons.

"He sealed a knight and can probably defeat a baron. He might even reach a viscount or a count."

"Yes."

"But that's where it ends. He can't reach higher demons. At least, if he can't crush a knight with a single finger, he can't."

"Yes."

There is no need to be wary of someone who needs to use a special move against a mohawk. That's the point.

Therefore, what Lufina and the King are wary of is not the current humans but the future humans.

"Well, if the Japanese engineers, who can feel the threat of demons, don't even implement a single enhancement, they won't be a threat to us in the future. ...I'm not sure about 20 years from now, though."

"Of course, with 20 years, technology will advance. If we stay the same, we might be in danger."

The Second Savior Plan, which was carried out based on a child born by chance, led to an explosive advancement in technology. Similarly, this time, experiments using a hero born by chance might be conducted.

If the results are to appear, considering research, production, and growth, at least 20 years are necessary. Therefore, the King mentioned 20 years, but that is the shortest and fastest possible time for research.

Thus, Lufina thinks, "It will probably take a bit longer in reality," but this does not mean that humans will not advance.

Rather, she thinks that if humans advance faster, they will be in danger.

At the same time, she thinks, "This sense of crisis is necessary for our growth."

The King thinks the same.

"Yes. First, the enhancement of magic power and the demon body. The enhancement of combat techniques is also necessary. The method... we can only leave it to each individual. Growth through trial and error would be even better."

"Yes."

"Thinking about it this way, Alba's loss to the hero can be a good motivational boost."

"Yes. At least, it can instill a sense of crisis in knights and barons."

"Yes."

If they successfully grow as a result of training or other efforts, the data can be fed back to us.

If they do not grow even after being informed that their peers have lost, they are already worthless fools. Let them die.

For Lufina and the King, other demons are not protected or considered comrades just because they are of the same race. Rather, because they are competitors, their treatment of other demons is very strict.

"Anyway, we will observe the hero for a while. Contact is strictly prohibited. Of course, assassination and threats are also forbidden. We will issue a formal announcement after deciding on the details, but don't do anything before that, okay?"

"Of course."

"…I see."

The King, thinking of the possibility of a slip-up, warned Lufina, but Lufina had no intention of acting prematurely.

Because her mind was filled with the joy of not being deployed to a hot place, thinking, "Yes! No reassignment! Yay!"

In any case—though the situation lacked some tension—the demon's policy was decided.

As a result, the lower demons will be forced to improve their abilities even more.

"I might be hated by the lower demons who have been doing as they please, but since they are the enemy, it's fine, right? 'Try not to get killed after the observation period is over, hero.'"

—Kaita Kawakami, the hero who was forced to fight and ended up defeating demons, will, without his knowledge, be unilaterally hated by the demons, the archenemies of humans.

Thus ends Chapter 3.

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