Chapter 31 - -35

The Simple Job of Only Perishing to the Hero Volume 2 Chapter 31-35

Translator: Manga0205

The Zadark Kingdom that ruled over the whole Dark Continent.

The southern lands were a majestic region even within the Zadark Kingdom where mountains stretched out.

And then, it was also the region that the oldest Mazoku of the Four Cardinal Generals, the Southern General Raktor, controlled.

Having many mountain districts, the south was where mining and blacksmithing was popular, and it was also known as the region where powerful Mazoku gathered.

The reason for that was because a metal called Blood Metal was abundantly produced within the southern lands.

Blood Metal possessed an aptitude as materials for Magic Tools, and at the same time, it was also a magic metal where amounts of magical power dwelled in the metal itself.

The veins of Blood Metal that circulated within the mountains permeated magical power into ground, and were connected to the increased magical power density of the entire south.

And then, the monsters and Mazoku that lived in the south developed themselves while adapting to the ground’s magical power. Before long, they acquired enough strength to that weren’t inferior to the magical power of the ground. Like this, a group of the strong that could draw a line from the monsters that lived in the other regions was completed.

Elder Golems.

Species of Dragons.

Numerous powerful Majuus (magical beasts).

There are many warriors that possessed high fighting strength were gathered in the south even now.

And then, the most senior and strongest one even among them was the Southern General Raktor.

He was top class in regards to destructive power even amongst the Four Cardinal Generals, and was said to be the Mazoku that was extremely close to the Demon King in strength.

Raktor was a Mazoku that was called a 「Majuu (magical beast)」.

Majuu were Mazoku who were able to change their own form into either a Majuu or a Majin, and generally, there were many cases where monsters evolved and obtained a Majin form.

However, Raktor was different.

He was one of the strongest Dragon species called a Vale Dragon, and boasted the worst strength, a Dragon Majuu (magical beast).

Dragons blessed with uncommon strength and longevity would be differentiated from common Dragon species, and would b categorized into things such as Elder or Ancient, but in Raktor’s case, he was an existence that transcended that even more.

Normally, the dragon species was unable to change their form, but Raktor was the strongest by nature and as he sought even more strength, he changed into a Majin form with his own will in order to fight against those that were smaller than himself.

By going into his Majin form, he ended up sealing the Breath which was his strongest attack, but the magical power that ran through his gigantic Dragon body became compressed and ultra condensed.

What was created as a result was the 「Strongest Majin of the South, Raktor」.

Raktor was a member of the generation that knew of the Hero……And it was for that reason that he was now receiving questions from a certain person.

「Are things the same as usual? Raktor.」

「Well, pretty much.」

Within a room of the solid southern fortress that was built deep within the mountains, Raktor, the master of the fortress, answered like that to the sudden visitor.

The one who deeply sat down on the sofa that no one would sit down on out of reserve……or rather, fear of Raktor, was the Demon King Vermudol.

He was the only person that could get the arrogant Raktor to listen to him.

「So, what do you need? Demon King-sama.」

「Ahh, the organization of various information has advanced see. I came to hear your story.」

Hearing that, Raktor displayed behavior that showed he was pondering.

The reason why the Demon King would personally come visit.

Him knocking the subordinates that disobeyed him to the sky was something that usually happened.

Him knocking challengers that aimed to overthrow him down until they sank deep into the ground, that was also something that usually happened.

It didn’t seem like the Demon King would go out of his way to give his frank advice for that daily occurrence of the southern lands……is what Raktor thought.

When he did, he thought of the possibility that someone like Rokuna had come up with some kind of new project or something.

Or could it be a talk about mankind’s territory.

Thinking that, Raktor sat across from Vermudol.

「What should I talk about?」

「Yeah, about the Hero……and about the Demon King of mankind’s territory.」

The Hero Ryuuya.

Raktor was unable to forget his words and figure.

Possessing a nightmarish strength, he was the strongest living creature as far as Raktor knew.

The abnormal power of the sword that Hero possessed was something that he was unable to forget even if he wanted to forget it.

However, he didn’t know anything about the Demon King of mankind’s territory.

To Raktor, the Demon King was only about Gramfia and Vermudol.

「I don’t really get it but……are you telling me to tell an old tale or something?」

「It’s something similar but different.」

After Vermudol shook his head sideways, he stared at Raktor.

「There are various things I want to know but……first is about the method the Hero reached this place. A Holy Dragon……Do you know anything about that kind of existence?」

Hearing those words, Raktor made a visibly displeased face.

「The Holy Dragon Ikslet huh. What’s this, Demon King-sama, could it be that bastard……is still alive?」

「……What do you mean by that?」

Hearing the words of Raktor who clearly knew something, Vermudol made a puzzled face.

「There’s not much to it. The one that knocked ‘em down was me, you know?」

Raktor had knocked down the Holy Dragon……the Hero’s transportation.

That was a fact that wasn’t known in mankind’s territory.

「Kahー, I’ve remembered that unpleasant bastard! But Demon King-sama, where did you hear about that bastard Ikslet?」

Seeing Raktor spit that out, Vermudol felt that he was right to come here.

「……Let’s talk about that as well. Raktor, I’d like you to tell me about what you know.」

===

「Even if you say the things that I know.」

Fundamentally, Raktor was bad at consolidating stories.

If he was told to talk about all he knew, he would end up talking about everything that happened in his life up until now. That was the man called Raktor.

「In that case……let’s see. About you knocking down the Holy Dragon, what do you mean by that?」

「It’s just as I said. Staring it down, I picked a fight with it and knocked it down with a Breath.」

「……Got it, my way of asking was bad. For what reason did you meet with the Holy Dragon, how was the fight, and how did you knock it down? And then, what happened afterwards?」

After Raktor went “fumu” and nodded, he looked up at the ceiling as if remembering something.

「A reason……there isn’t one in particular. Since there was a guy that I wasn’t familiar with flying in the western sky, I simply went to pick a fight with it.」

It was said that the Holy Dragon Ikslet was a dragon that possessed scales that had a white shine.

It seemed that the Holy Dragon, which came carrying Humans……the Heroes on its back, had caught Raktor’s eye as it was flying towards the direction of the Demon King Castle.

「And, well. I waited until it let the Heroes off. On top of shutting out that bastard’s Breath with my Breath, I went and knocked it down.」

Having taken the name of being the one closest to the Demon King, Raktor, who was a Vale Dragon, was the strongest among the Dragon species that existed in the Dark Continent.

Even the deadly Breath attack that any Dragon would definitely possess, Raktor’s was special.

Just as how a Fire Dragon would have Fire Breath and how an Earth Dragon would have Rock Breath, there existed various Dragon Breaths but……they were element attacks that were the same as the element that the Dragon itself possessed.

However, the Vale Dragon’s 「Vale Breath」 was different.

It possessed all elements other than 「Life」. And then, it had the special characteristic of automatically finding out the element that the opponent was weak to, and would change to a Breath that had that elemental weakness as the core.

Putting it simply, it would unleash an 「elemental attack that the opponent was weakest to」. Since a clear opposite magic didn’t exist for this Breath, the one receiving it could only either 「endure」 or 「avoid」 it.

Theoretically, it could be blocked if an opposing magic or attack that possessed all elements was performed, but someone that possessed the tremendous talent or magical power to unleash something like that did not exist.

Therefore, Raktor was the strongest……and not even the Holy Dragon was able to escape from him.

「However, the Hero returned to where he came from. Then that means that the Holy Dragon didn’t die……Isn’t that right?」

「Pretty much. I didn’t finish him off. But, I don’t think that he’d be able to live a long life with that wound. At most, I think it was enough for him to send the Hero back.」

「Perhaps it was possible to recover it with the Hero’s help……That might have happened.」

「Maybe. Rather, since you’re saying that……Could it be that a Hero has appeared?」

Raktor carried a dark brilliance in his eyes.

After displaying denial to that, Vermudol breathed a sigh.

「No, this is merely verification of the Hero legend.」

「Verification?」

「Yeah. It’s truly a mysterious thing though……There are too few documents regarding those times. Even in mankind’s territory, only convenient tales were left behind.」

Raktor made a puzzled face.

「What kind of story was it?」

「The Hero that was summoned with the God of Life’s power gathered companions, wielded the Holy Sword that controlled the power of the Gods to defeat the Demon King, and went even further and defeated the Great Demon King……that’s the kind of story it was.」

「Hoー. So, who was this Great Demon King?」

「It was Gramfia. It seems that the Demon King was the Shuklous guy that was in mankind’s territory.」

The Demon King Shuklous.

The Demon King that was defeated by the Hero Ryuuya, and announced the existence of the 「Great Demon King Gramfia」 at the time of his death.

He was said to be a powerful Demon King that possessed a castle in the 『Dimensional Gap』.

「I am thinking that, this guy called Shuklous was a genuine Demon King.」

「Ah? Then does that mean that Gramfia was a fake? There’s no way that’s the case.」

「That’s not it. Shuklous was genuine. Gramfia was also genuine. That is most likely how we should think of it. And then, in order to arrive at Shuklous’s true identity, the place called the 『Dimensional Gap』 will be the key. ……And so, that’s where you come in, Raktor.」

「Hou.」

Raktor was the most senior one amongst all of the Mazoku that currently existed in the Dark Continent.

Raktor, the top of the Dragon species, was a muscle-brain, but he was by no means an idiot.

He simply didn’t use that superfluous intelligence at all.

「Raktor. Regarding the place called the 『Dimensional Gap』……if you know anything about it, please tell me.」

In regards to this 『Dimensional Gap』 place, only its name appeared in the documents from mankind’s territory.

How the Hero Ryuuya’s group went to that place, or what kind of place it was wasn’t written down at all.

But, only the words 『Dimensional Gap』 existed.

Then again, it might just be wordplay in order to gloss over something obscure, and there was also the possibility that it wa a word meant to conceal a troublesome place if it was made public.

But, and this is only a but.

If the 『Dimensional Gap』 did exist, it would explain one mystery.

The Alva.

If these strange Mazoku appeared from the 『Dimensional Gap』, it would explain that that place was where the Alva resided.

And then, thinking that Raktor might know something about it, Vermudol visited this place.

Harboring a faint expectation, Vermudol gazed at Raktor.

=====

「……Sorry, I don’t know about it.」

「……Is that so.」

Together with a bit of disappointment, Vermudol dropped his shoulders.

It seemed that there was no choice but to put the matter about the 『Dimensional Gap』 aside for now.

「To begin with. What does it mean by dimensional?」

Hearing Raktor’s words, Vermudol’s shoulders trembled.

「……Raktor.」

「Ah?」

「……What did you say, just now?」

The words just now……were very important.

「Like I said, what does dimensional mean? Is there a place with that kind of name?」

Raktor said that he was unable to understand the word dimensional.

But, Vermudol was able to understand it.

Vermudol thought about the meaning of this.

In regards to the naming, it could be treated as something the Hero Ryuuya added.

But, the fact that the idea of dimensions couldn’t be understood, Vermudol felt that some sort of important fact was held within it.

「……No, let’s discuss this matter again some other time.」

「Nn? Ou.」

Raktor nodded, and leaned his body into the sofa.

「So, are we done?」

「No……This time, it’s about the Hero’s Holy Sword.」

「Ahh……That, huh.」

The Hero Ryuuya’s Holy Sword was said to be something that controlled the power of the Gods, and the Demon King perished due to that.

However, even after searching through the mankind territory documents, he couldn’t figure out a single thing about what kind of thing the Holy Sword was.

「That is the worst sword.」

Raktor’s body trembled hearing the words Holy Sword.

Raktor vividly remembered it even now.

Controlling the power of the Gods……that sort of story wasn’t a lie.

In fact, the Hero’s Holy Sword possessed outrageous strength……powerful strength strong enough to cut through Raktor’s magical power.

Raktor’s magical power was the same as his Breath, in other words, it was furnished with all elements other than the Life element, but the Hero’s Holy Sword that opposed it directly from the front also concealed a special characteristic that was equal to Raktor’s magical power……or even greater than it.

In fact, that power was verified when Gramfia had perished. It was a sword that he didn’t want to confront ever again if possible.

「But ya know. If you want to hear about the Hero’s Holy Sword, rather than me, I think it’d be better if you asked that Fainell girl. It’s because I ain’t interested in weapons other than if they’re strong or weak.」

「Fainell huh……」

The Eastern General Fainell was actually the next senior Mazoku after Raktor.

And during those time, she had even fought against the Hero several times.

「Yeah, I’ll try visiting her after this. But Raktor, how were your own feelings about the Holy Sword?」

「There isn’t much to say. If there’s a next time that thing is brought here, it’d be best to blow it up along with the Hero from far away. That is a dangerous thing. The image of me exchanging blows with it and winning won’t come to my mind at all.」

Raktor’s words told it all.

The Holy Sword was most likely one of the things that made the Hero a Hero.

If it went just as the Hero legends said, although it would take time to make……as long as it was completed, it would literally become a weapon that could destroy Mazoku.

If possible, it was something that they would like to somehow deal with before it was completed.

「……Say, Raktor.」

「What is it, Demon King-sama.」

「Do you, want to go to war against mankind?」

「And what’s the point if we did.」

「……True.」

Vermudol made a wry smile at Raktor’s answer……and then looked up at the ceiling.

That’s right. From the Mazoku’s point of view, there was no reason to go to war against mankind.

But, if there was a reason for mankind’s side to go to war against the Mazoku, then the Hero would surely appear once again.

Equipped with that knowledge, he was preparing for it but……it was questionable if he would make it in time.

Even Vermudol was unable to predict it.

「Say, Demon King-sama.」

「What is it, Raktor.」

Raktor spoke to Vermudol with a lightheartedness as if he were talking about the weather.

「Wanna try having a light fight? Against me.」

Hearing those words, Vermudol made a blank face, and then laughed with a loud voice in the next moment.

「Between you and me? Jeez, are you planning on blasting away the south.」

「That might be good too. If we go that far, then maybe the Hero will also get scared and won’t come anywhere near.」

After saying that, Raktor returned to his serious face.

「Say, Demon King-sama.」

Correcting his posture on the sofa, Raktor gazed at Vermudol.

「The Hero is coming, isn’t he? If I think of it like that, then everything falls into place.」

「What does?」

「I’m talking about that Sancreed guy.」

The Western General Sancreed was a Hero of the Mazoku that Vermudol had created.

And he was one of the trump cards that Vermudol had prepared.

「If it’s just about building the Demon King army, then there’s no need to prepare something like a Hero. No, it might be fine to prepare one but……Demon King-sama. You predicted the return of the Hero ever since then, didn’t you?」

Vermudol met with Raktor’s gaze.

Seeing those eyes that wouldn’t allow any deception, Vermudol nodded.

「……There was no certainty to it. That’s why I prepared him.」

Vermudol continued on.

「But now it has been confirmed. I was correct to have prepared him. But, even so, I am thinking that it might not be enough.」

「What’s lacking? And also, why has it been confirmed?」

「……Let’s see. It might be about time that it’s reached a stage where I should talk about it.」

Vermudol muttered that and stood up from his seat.

「I will talk about what I saw and everything that Rokuna has consolidated.」

Finally, that time has come.

The uncertain information.

The indefinite predictions.

The conjecture that was raised up to a 「most likely」 stage by piling up several facts.

The stage where he should share those had come.

「……I will gather all of the Four Generals and the Central General.」

A council of the top Mazoku of the Zadark Kingdom……The Central Council, was about to start.

===

The ones gathered in the Grand Library that was in the underground floors of the Demon King Castle were the top members of the Zadark Kingdom.

The Northern General Altejio.

The Southern General Raktor.

The Eastern General Fainell.

The Western General Sancreed.

The Central General Gordy.

Furthermore, the Library Guardian Rokuna.

And then, the Demon King Vermudol, and Ichika and Nino who were under his direct control.

What gathered them together was only this council called the Central Council.

The Cardinal Council, which was the usual council performed, was where one of the Four Cardinal Generals would make a summons and hold it within their respective territory.

For the Cardinal Councils, Gordy and Rokuna would not go to them unless they had business in the council.

If Vermudol had the time, he would sincerely show his face, but in cases where he couldn’t attend, either Ichika or Nino would go to them as messengers.

In contrast, the Central Council was where Gordy, the Central General, would make the summons in the name of the Demon King Vermudol.

The rule was that the conditions for the summons was that it had to be a case where they would decide important matters of the entire Zadark Kingdom.

In other words, since this matter fulfilled that condition, attention was naturally gathered on Gordy and Vermudol.

In particular, Gordy had gathered gazes in a different meaning.

Today’s Gordy was in the Majin form that no one other than Vermudol had seen before.

It was a figure that could be perfectly described as a female knight that wore full body armor and had a red-haired ponytail but……somehow, there was an artificial beauty to it.

「……」

The Gordy in question simply quietly kept silent.

[Illustration]

That gaze was fixed on Vermudol.

Before long, after Vermudol turned to Gordy and nodded, she finally opened her mouth.

「……I am grateful to you all of answering this abrupt summons. From hereon will be the honorable words from Demon King Vermudol-sama.」

Continuing on from that dignified address, Vermudol started talking.

「Now then, we’ll start immediately but……First, I will start from explaining the reason for the convening of this Central Council.」

Saying that, Vermudol leaned his back onto his extravagant chair.

This chair was an article that was presented to him from the Norms, and was something that Ichika had brought in from the treasury not too long ago.

It couldn’t be said to have an affinity with the furnishings that had a calm design that were within the Grand Library, but it could also be said that the exquisite choice where it couldn’t be said to be too out-of-place was very much like Ichika.

「As everyone knows, I had gone to mankind’s territory not too long ago.」

Hearing those words, everyone nodded.

Mankind’s territory──In the past, the Hero Ryuuya’s group came to the Dark Continent from there.

When Vermudol declared that he would be taking Nino along with him to mankind’s territory, almost all of the members here were jealous of Nino.

It was because everyone felt that they themselves were Demon King Vermudol’s most loyal retainer, and thought that they were the appropriate capable person to accompany him.

There were reasons as to why Nino was chosen. At the time, Nino had few jobs that she was in charge of when compared to the others, so it was easy for her to move about.

Going even further, the fact that Nino had an appearance that was hard to be cautious of was also somewhat related.

Raktor was clearly a dangerous person, while Ichika and Altejio were hard to approach, and since they gave too much of an impression that they were sharp and able, they would cause others to harbor unnecessary wariness.

As long as Sancreed was his trump card, he didn’t want to move him all that much.

Besides, his Heroic personality was a catastrophe, and if handled unskillfully, there was also the danger of him sticking his own neck out into needless situations.

Fainell and Gordy didn’t have any problems in terms of personality, but due to their appearances that stood out, there was the possibility that they would invite trouble.

If only personality and appearance were taken into account, Rokuna would have been fine as well, but with a pair of two Magicians, that in itself might be suspicious.

In any case, everyone remembered that time……and everyone other than Nino, who made a subtly triumphant face, expressed similarly bitter faces.

Only Rokuna made a face that said that she didn’t care.

「I gathered as much information I could in mankind’s territory……Also, something that actually had something a bit to do with our people.」

Information gathering and……preventing the rumors of the Demon King’s revival that were in mankind’s territory.

Having thought that the Mazoku that were in mankind’s territory just on the level of being remnants, Vermudol’s anticipations had virtually collapsed after going there but……even so, there was information that he wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t gone.

He could only obtain fragmented information about the crucial fight between the former Hero and the Demon King, but even so, he was able to make estimations about the historical past and about the future to a certain extent.

「With Rokuna’s cooperation, it has finally been organized into a state where I can report it to everyone.」

Vermudol said that, and survey each of the gathered faces.

「I would like for you all to listen to the details I am going to tell you from here on……and give your opinions on it.」

====

This was a story about an age before mankind’s territory was assembled into the form that centered on the current four great nations, when mankind quarrelled seeking hegemony.

Aiming for the time when mankind was exhausted from a long time of war, Demon King Shuklous appeared.

Demon King Shuklous, who governed over tyranny and strife, declared that he would annihilate mankind, and released many Mazoku into the Shutaia Continent.

Mankind was at its wit’s end before that powerful strength and was trampled down.

During that time, the Grand Priest of the Grand Altlis Temple, which believed in the God of Life, sought aid from the God of Life Philia.

It was said that the Goddess Philia answered that prayer, and imparted the secret process of the Hero Summoning to them.

And then, the Hero Ryuuya was summoned from another world.

At this time, the Hero Ryuuya was gifted a single sword from the Goddess Philia.

「Go around the world, and obtain the blessings of the Gods to complete the Holy Sword.」

Receiving that oracle, the Hero Ryuuya went around the world just as he was told, and completed the Holy Sword.

Invading as far as the 『Dimensional Gap』 together with numerous companions, the Hero Ryuuya destroyed the Demon King Shuklous through the use of the Holy Sword.

However, on the verge of death, the Demon King Shuklous told the Hero Ryuuya that the Great Demon King Gramfia had manifested in the Dark Continent.

The Hero Ryuuya’s group headed to the Dark Continent……the place surrounded by the 『Sea of Farthest Ends』, together with Holy Dragon, and in the end, the Great Demon King Gramfia also perished.

The people were ashamed of themselves for having been guided to strife by Shuklous, and assembled themselves into the current form.

But currently, the assertion of the Demi-Human rejection argument was rising in mankind’s territory due to the St. Altlis Kingdom.

As a result, it’s tension with the Jiol Forest Kingdom was raised……and was now in a situation where it wouldn’t be strange for war to break out at any moment.

「Well, that’s about it. We also can’t overlook the secret maneuvers of the mysterious Mazoku called the Alva……Rokuna, do you have anything to add?」

「Although I do have a bit to say, I’d first like to hear everyone’s impressions.」

As encouraged on by Rokuna, Fainell was the first to open her mouth.

「The Hero Ryuuya……I’ve heard a nostalgic name.」

「If I remember correctly, you’ve fought against him, haven’t you.」

「Yes, he was a strange man.」

Fainell remembered those days.

The Holy Sword that the Hero Ryuuya carried in his hands was powerful, and the person himself was by no means weak.

His sword technique that seemed to cut through the battlefield was sharp and honest.

No matter how many times he fell, he would get up, and would get stronger every time he did.

Honestly, he was a man who possessed an ability for growth that was just astounding……is what Fainell’s impression of him was.

「Altejio, what about you?」

「No, I was not involved with the circumstances of those days after all.」

Altejio answered that way to Vermudol.

During that time, Altejio was enjoying a reclusive life with a single Metalio.

That was why he was not all that informed about the Hero invasion.

「And so, all that’s left is Raktor……huh.」

「Yeah. Well, I had said this to Demon King-sama. The one that knocked down that Holy Dragon or whatever was me.」

This was everything they knew right now about those days.

「So, Demon King-sama. Just who is that fellow called Shuklous or whatever?」

Vermudol nodded to Altejio’s reasonable question.

「I……am thinking, that he is a genuine Demon King.」

Hearing those words, everyone became noisy.

The fact that there was only one Demon King was something that anyone knew if they were a Mazoku.

Vermudol, the Demon King, had denied that fact.

「……But.」

「More accurately, he was something similar to Sancreed……is what I was thinking.」

Hearing those words, this time attention gathered on Sancreed.

Sancreed was a Mazoku hero, and originally someone that shouldn’t exist.

Having been created by Demon King Vermudol’s hand, his occupation was that of 「Hero」 which should have been given by the God of Life Philia.

But, that person that shouldn’t exist was actually here like this.

In that case, the possibility of a Demon King that similarly shouldn’t exist existing was something that couldn’t be denied.

「……But, even so, he shouldn’t have existed.」

Fainell spoke that out.

「Just who in the world are you saying was the one that created that Demon King? I do not like this way of speaking but, I do not believe that the previous Demon King could create a Demon King.」

Certainly, that was impossible.

That should be impossible even for Vermudol.

Creating something of the same rank as one’s self surpassed the Demon King’s authority.

Even at the time of creating Sancreed, it had surpassed the Demon King’s authority but……having obtained someone’s inexplicable assistance, Sancreed was born into this world.

The one that lent their power was most likely an existence that was superior to even Vermudol.

The existence that Ichika called 「That Person」, and that Rokuna temporarily designated as 「Demon God」.

The black little girl that the Human who had become the material for Vermudol had met.

If it was by an existence equal to that, then it would be possible to create another Demon King.

Then, who was the one that created him.

Who would profit from creating another Demon King.

Vermudol remembered Rokuna’s words.

In order for anything and everything to end with a happily ever after, the Hero will come.

Rokuna said that as if she were telling a heroic tale that was aimed for children.

When society was disturbed by a Demon King that guided the world into a bad direction, the Hero would guide them to a solution.

The ones who would profit from this, was mankind.

Imposing everything onto the Mazoku, mankind would become peaceful.

But, it didn’t seem like mankind would be able to do something like create a Demon King.

In that case, who was it.

「……The God of Life.」

Someone, muttered those few words.

「Certainly……if it was the God of Life, she would be able to create another Demon King……」

「But, if that really is the case……」

Fainell muttered.

Anyone would hesitate to say what was beyond those words that she didn’t finish to the end.

If that really was the case.

It meant that the enemy……was the God of Life.

「No……that certainly might be the case, but there are measures that we can take. 」

Sancreed said that and stood up.

「……Certainly, that God of Life or whatever might be the enemy. But, the one that will be sent to us should be the Hero of mankind. It means that things will end if we defeat them.」

「……And how would we do that. How would we oppose the strongest bastard that carries the divine protection of God」

「……It’s simple.」

Attention naturally gathered on Sancreed who cut off Raktor’s words with 「it’s simple」.

「From what we heard from the earlier story, the completion of the Holy Sword will take time. It will be fine if we settle things before then.」

「That’s……true but.」

「In truth, I’d like to do something about it before they appear but……in this situation where we don’t know how to obstruct the Summoning Ritual, I think that this is the best move to do.」

Certainly, it was just as Sancreed said.

For example, if there were conclusive evidence that they would be able to prevent the Hero’s summoning if they blew away the Grand Altlis Temple, then it would be fine if they carried that out. But at the present time, they didn’t know the method of preventing the summoning.

In that case, defeating the Hero after they’ve been summoned but before they obtain absolute strength was the most reliable plan of action.

「……」

While listening to the advancing discussion, Vermudol pondered.

If only everything ended through discussion.

He searched for a path of coexistence by reaching peace with the leader of mankind called the Hero.

If possible, that would be for the best.

……However, that was most likely impossible.

If even fellow members of mankind were in discord as they were now, it didn’t seem like there was room for Mazoku to be accepted there at all.

If there was a single path to coexistence, it would only be through domination.

By dominating mankind through complete victory, he could search for a path of harmony little by little.

If it was through that kind of drastic measure……is what he dreamed of.

In the end, it was nothing more than a dream is what Vermudol himself understood very well though.

「……The Hero, huh.」

Ultimately, it ended up there.

As long as the hope called the Hero existed, no matter what kind of path he tried to go down, mankind would surely stand in the way of the Mazoku.

That is why, Vermudol, as the Demon King……would end up needing to pulverize the Hero.

Vermudol was in mental agony.

No matter what he did, he couldn’t avoid the path of violence.

He had continued to take measures to the point of being exasperated.

However, the situation always went above them.

No matter how much he avoided it, no matter how much he ran away from it, there would be fights. And then, he couldn’t see a future beyond that.

Vermudol was in mental anguish.

Vermudol lamented in his heart.

They should be able to understand each other.

It should be simple.

Why, couldn’t they do that.

How?

Why?

What was the reason?

The cause, where was it?

Was it the Humans?

Was it the Metalio?

Was it the Sylphid?

Was the the Beastmen?

Or, was it the Mazoku?

As long as each one of them existed as their respective selves, did it mean that they wouldn’t be able to understand each other?

Were they made to be like that?

「Demon King-sama……」

「Are you alright?」

Ichika and Nino looked at Vermudol’s face seeming worried.

The heated discussion stopped, and at the same time, some sort of voice could be heard from the upper floor.

Ichika dealt with that.

「I……」

He didn’t think that he made a mistake.

Surely everything was necessary verification work.

A procedure for him to understand everything, and arrive at despair.

It was not for him to know that he couldn’t find the answer, but self-satisfaction so that he would be aware that there was no answer.

Even if he did reach that place in the end, it was something necessary.

In order for Vermudol……to be completed as a Demon King.

「……Demon King-sama. It’s been reported that Borkio’s group, has set sail.」

「……I see. And so, is it just as expected?」

「Yes. It would seem that they possess documents split amongst several people that hold information regarding Demon King-sama’s physical characteristics.」

He had purposely not put any restrictions on Borkio’s group.

That was for the sake of checking answers.

A formula for the sake of knowing mankind’s response towards the Mazoku’s sincerity.

The result, was simple.

For the sake of justice of the whole of mankind, Borkio’s group decided to tell the world of the Demon King’s existence.

And he had no intention of reproaching them for that.

It couldn’t be helped. That’s right, it was something that couldn’t be helped.

「……I see. That’s unfortunate.」

「Yes, it is unfortunate.」

Vermudol and Ichika made sorrowful expression.

It was something truly unfortunate.

If they didn’t do anything unnecessary, Vermudol had intended on accepting Borkio’s group.

He was able to believe in the possibility of harmony.

But, it was impossible.

「……Sancreed, sorry.」

Vermudol, looking truly apologetic, turned his gaze towards Sancreed.

「For a short while……I think that the amount of driftwood around the 『Invasion Coast』 will increase.」

「……I see.」

Sancreed answered with only that.

With only those words, everyone that was there understood.

About Vermudol’s decision.

And then, about the change of Vermudol’s magical power.

「……It truly is, unfortunate.」

Around this time, there was a simultaneous firing of 「Voltenix (Electric Shock Cannon)」 that should have happened at the 『Invasion Coast』.

Imagining the 「ship」 that had burst without leaving a trace due to that, Vermudol muttered that it was truly unfortunate.

「Ahh, sorry about that. Let’s continue the council.」

And then, he expressed, his usual gentle smile.