Chapter 2

The voice's owner spoke with a tone of exasperation.

"This is a different world from the one where you used to live, the world with Earth. The gravity, the composition of the atmosphere, and the size of the stars in this world are very similar to Earth. This place, Im Navar, is a planet that closely resembles Earth. Life was born here just as it was on Earth, though the evolutionary tree is quite different.

As I said earlier, I am the one who brought you to this world. I have a favor to ask of you.

Oh, there's no need to be so tense. Since you were born in this world, you are a resident of this world. If you don't want to hear my request, you are free to do as you please. I am merely here to 'observe.' Of course, if you agree to my request, I will be grateful. This is a request, not an order.

Now, let me explain your current situation.

You were born as one of the 13 Demon Lords who rule this world. Yes, it's true, don't be surprised.

The 13 Demon Lords and almost all the inhabitants of this world are in constant conflict. Those who are not Demon Lords or demons are constantly at war, trying to kill the Demon Lords, and the Demon Lords themselves are not friendly with each other.

Oops, did I make you a bit scared? But don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to 'exterminate other races' or 'attack villages and target women and children.' Oh, it seems I made you even more scared, I'm sorry.

My request is—let me explain where we are first.

This place is the underground of the 'Demon Lord's Blood Tears,' a wasteland that has seen the most bloodshed in history, located exactly between the 'True Continent,' where humans and other races live, and the 'Demon Continent,' where demons and Demon Lords live. I want you to build a massive dungeon here. Oh, you seem even more scared now?

Don't worry. Indeed, living here means you will be targeted by both sides. But if someone tries to take your life, I will give you the power to ensure you never lose.

So, as I mentioned earlier, I want you to stop the conflict between the Demon Lords and the other inhabitants.

Oh, you look quite reluctant?

Don't worry, I'm not asking you to persuade the leaders of the countries or the Demon Lords. I wouldn't ask you to do something so difficult and futile. As I said, if you build a massive dungeon here, that will be enough.

This 'Demon Lord's Blood Tears' is located exactly between the True Continent and the Demon Continent. If you build an impregnable dungeon here, it will create a buffer zone between the two continents.

This area is close to the poles, so the temperature is extremely low, and the sea currents are so strong that sea travel is difficult.

However, if you move away from here, the distance between the True Continent and the Demon Continent becomes too great, and you would need to undertake a voyage on the scale of Magellan to avoid the treacherous sea currents. The technology level in this world is not yet capable of that.

What? You don't know Magellan? You need to study more.

Oh, right, you don't have memories of human names or human history. That's why you were surprised when you saw the people here.

Magellan was the first person to circumnavigate the world you came from. What? The person who stood an egg on its end? ...You really need to study more...

Now, do you understand my request?

I would like to explain the characteristics of the various races and the history of why they are in conflict, but it would take too much time. Time is precious now.

Why am I making this request?

Well... In a nutshell, it's because 'it's a big problem.'

I think you can understand the abnormality of the situation with your knowledge. People in this world die too much. What do you think the average lifespan is in this world?

32 years! Can you believe it?

Because of constant wars, people who work in the primary industry are starving and poor. But they are encouraged to have more children to increase the workforce. The extra children become soldiers and die young. Moreover, despite all the wars, medical technology is still immature. After all, there is magic.

Oh, I let it slip...

I was going to surprise you by letting you use it later...

Well, that healing magic is universal for injuries, but it doesn't work at all for diseases. That's why so many children die, and the average lifespan is short.

So, that's the situation.

From my perspective, as the one who guides the souls of the deceased, this is a huge inconvenience.

I hope that the dungeon you build will divide them and give them a chance to cool down.

That's the kind of request I'm making.

Do you have any questions so far?"

My question was already decided. But the answer to that question was also already decided.

"Are you a god?"

"Yes."