The battle has reached its midpoint as demon reinforcements arrive, launching a full-scale assault.
Not only are there more dragons, but the demon race, especially High Demons, has significantly increased, with several possessing magic power equivalent to Ancient Classes. It’s clear we’re in for a tough fight.
I would have preferred to fight the dragons myself, but unavoidable circumstances have forced me to leave the front lines.
“Hoh, impressive magic power. I’d heard from the Imperial King, but indeed, the number of Ancient Classes has grown since thirty years ago.”
At the forefront of the demon ranks stands a man clad in resplendent golden armor. He appears to be in his mid-twenties, with black hair and eyes, giving him a distinctly Japanese look that stands out amongst the Western-styled demons. Is this the Divine Emperor who rules the Gradia Continent?
His armor is gaudy and in bad taste, and golden armor itself is far from stylish. However, it’s also the color of Divine Metal, so his armor must be made of it.
“You are the Divine Emperor.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to? I never gave you permission to speak.”
“I am not your subordinate, quite the contrary, I am your enemy. Therefore, I see no need for permission.”
“You’ve got some nerve. To speak so boldly when you aren’t even an Engraver.”
This statement alone confirms the Divine Emperor is a proponent of the Engraver superiority doctrine. Rex looks at him with extreme displeasure, and his arrogant attitude suggests he’s a hardline believer.
“I see, an Engraver. However, I hear your Engraving Tools have been destroyed, and more importantly, I am told you were merely a criminal in your original world. Is it not disrespectful for you to act so arrogantly?”
Rex is quite aggressive. But he’s speaking the truth, and I agree that his audacity knows no bounds.
“You…”
While Rex’s words are true, the problem with hardline proponents of the Engraver superiority doctrine is that they twist things to believe they are absolutely correct. That’s why Rex’s statement is an unforgivable insult to them.
“Mako, do you know him?”
“No, I don’t. I can’t possibly memorize the faces of all the superiority proponents. If it were a high-ranking executive, it would be different.”
I haven’t seen his face either, so he’s probably not a particularly important figure among the superiority proponents. He’s likely a disposable combatant, and his skill is probably limited to creating Magical Tools and achieving S-class development.
“You’re probably right. But he’s reigned over the Gradia Continent for two hundred years, and he’s even become a demon now. So, even if he was unknown on Earth, we can’t let our guard down?”
“I understand.”
It’s certain the Divine Emperor was an unknown creator on Earth, but as Mako says, he has ruled the Gradia Continent for two hundred years, so he must possess considerable skill. Furthermore, by using Demon Crystals, he has transformed into an Ancient Demon. Even Mako and I could lose our lives if we let our guard down.
“Rex.”
“I understand. You mentioned I am not an Engraver, but what about them?”
“Huh?”
The Divine Emperor makes no attempt to hide his displeasure, but I and Mako step forward. Then, his expression is quickly overcome with surprise.
“You… Katagiri Mako! And Mikami Asuka too… No, you look alike, but you’re different. Who are you?”
“You know of me. Well, I don’t know anything about you.”
“What did you say?”
“Are you worth remembering, you mere pawn of the superiority proponents?”
Mako’s words cause a vein to bulge on his forehead. However, it’s true; I don’t remember any mere pawns either. Not only does he know of Mako, but he also mistook me for my father, which confirms he’s from a time before I was born.
“You have a lot of nerve… You want to die!”
“That would be you! I don’t know if you’re a demon or not, but ultimately you’re just a pawn of the superiority proponents. You’ve gathered a lot of forces, so it won’t be easy, but do you seriously think someone like you can defeat a Valkyrie?”
Mako is quite provocative. But in truth, on Earth, very few people besides famous creators can genuinely fight against the Valkyries, including Mako. Even among creators, it’s said that a mere pawn of the superiority proponents would find it nearly impossible to even scratch them.
“Fine, if you want to die so badly, I’ll kill you miserably and brutally! I’ll take you, who looks like the other Mikami, with you!”
I’m lumped in with him, which is rather unacceptable.
“Certainly, I resemble Mikami Asuka, but that’s only natural.”
“Huh?”
“I am Yamato Mikami. I am Mikami Asuka’s son.”
“What! His son!?”
Well, that’s surprising. Knowing Mako suggests my father was probably a university student or had just graduated. I recall my father and mother publicly announcing they were Divine Artifact Creators when I was in high school, so naturally, the superiority proponents were extremely wary, and their faces should have been known. Therefore, it’s not surprising the Divine Emperor knows my father’s face, but for his son to appear before him at an age not much different from his father’s known appearance, it’s impossible not to be surprised.
“To put it simply, so your brain can understand: the guest you fought thirty years ago seems to have been from a different timeline. It’s thought that it shifted during the transfer.”
“I don’t like how you speak, but I understand the logic. Certainly, those from thirty years ago didn’t know about Engraving Magic, so if they were from a different time, it makes sense.”
He suddenly became calm, but the vein on his forehead hasn’t disappeared, so he doesn’t seem entirely composed.
“I received help from your father. I will take my revenge on you, his son!”
Ah, so he did have trouble with my father after all. Being Japanese and knowing Mako, I had my suspicions, but to think he fought against that monster… conversely, I almost pity him. More importantly, how is he alive?
“You say you received help from my father, but you’re alive. I can’t imagine my father letting an enemy escape alive?”
“Ah, about that. Indeed, I was on the verge of being killed by your father, and I thought I was dead. But when I came to, I was in the plains of Abaricia. I don’t know why, but thanks to that, I now control all of Abaricia and am on the verge of seizing this world itself. Ah, in that sense, I’m grateful to your father?”
He teleported just before death. Well, if he opposed my father and mother and even fought them, there’s no other way he could have survived.
“I see, in other words, a loser exiled from his world was just taking out his frustrations in another one?”
“What did you say?”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it? While this world has no Engravers, it has magic. Moreover, magic is very similar to Engraving Magic, so there were people stronger than you, weren’t there? In fact, thirty years ago, you were driven out of the Philia Continent for that very reason.”
If anything, magic seems more convenient as it can be used equally by everyone. Especially teleportation and spatial magic, which were impossible to obtain on Earth.
“Bring it on! Like Katagiri, I’ll kill you miserably! Just because your parents are creators doesn’t mean you are!”
“Try it if you can!”
The Divine Emperor is right; it’s rare for a child to be a creator just because their parents are. Especially if the parents are famous, children often crumble under the pressure of expectation, turn to crime, or fail to gain any real skill. I know many such people. However, I am undoubtedly a creator, and recently I succeeded in Engraving Fusion Magic. Based on his previous words, he doesn’t think I’m a creator, which is proof of his arrogance.
“Y-you…!”
“Why should someone like you decide I’m not a creator?”
Upon seeing me create the Multi Edge, the Divine Emperor visibly falters. Because my father and mother are Divine Artifact Creators, my older brother, older sister, and I were subjected to immense expectations and surrounding pressure. However, not only my father and mother but also our masters raised us as individuals. Therefore, not only I, but also my brother and sister, can create.
“Very well. I will personally deal with you! Come at me when you’re ready to die!”
“You first!”
I switch the Multi Edge to my left hand and grip the Azure Silver Sword – Pale Green in my right. I could create the Wingbit Liberator, but I want to avoid revealing my full hand immediately. The Mirror Ring is also already created, but it’s hidden within the sleeve of my Crest Defender Coat, so he hasn’t noticed that I am capable of dual-creation. I’ll create the Wingbit Liberator after I’ve gauged the Divine Emperor’s capabilities.
“You all understand, right?”
“Ha! We shall surely achieve His Majesty’s earnestly desired goal!”
“Good. They may be few in number, but it’s true that many of them are Ancient Class. Altur, you remember, don’t you?”
“Indeed. I never imagined individuals like them would exist.”
“Nor did I. That’s precisely why I’ve gathered such a force. Understand? If you disgrace yourselves even once, you’ll lose your lives, no matter who you are?”
“I understand. Listen, everyone! His Great Majesty, the Divine Emperor, has granted permission to annihilate the enemy forces! There’s no need to hold back any longer. Fight as each of you pleases and trample them! The world shall kneel before us, who have obtained divine power!”
I could hear the conversation between the Divine Emperor and Altur. It seems the reason for gathering such a force lies in the lessons learned from the previous expedition. However, what concerned me more was his referring to the power gained through Demon Crystals as divine power. That power is nothing but the bringer of ruin to the Helios Orb. Yet, he unequivocally calls it divine power. Even though it’s the same world, such a difference in perception, truly, what is going on?
“I, the Divine Emperor, command you. Trample them, destroy and defile the town behind them. Not only I, but you all have that right. However, I forbid any of you from laying a hand on that child. If you break this command, I will use your families, and even your descendants, as slaves until they are worked to death. Do you understand!”
He’s binding the demons with fear. Although it’s been mentioned many times, calling him a Demon King rather than a Divine Emperor feels more fitting.
“There’s nothing more to say.”
“Yes. Now, we just clash.”
“It seems so. Thank you for your trouble, both of you.”
“In the end, the demons won’t be entering the fight with the Divine Emperor, so I’ll consider it a success.”
The Divine Emperor forbade me from attacking him, likely driven by anger. Of course, he might rescind that order without warning, and he wouldn’t consider it shameful or cowardly, but as long as he’s not at a disadvantage, he probably won’t.
“Then, I shall take over from here. Hear this, Order and Hunters! If we fall, it means the ruin of the world! Annihilate every last one of those despicable demons and protect the Philia Continent, and the Helios Orb! Our victory is what leads to protecting the Helios Orb! Everyone, put in even more effort!”
Rex’s rallying cry boosts our morale. Although he dislikes it, he has experience leading armies, so he looks the part, and as the highest-leveled knight among the regular Ritters, he commands great trust. He is vastly different in class and dignity from the Divine Emperor, who controls his subordinates through fear.
“Then, Rex, I will keep the Divine Emperor occupied.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m counting on you. Unlike before, the real battle begins now. I apologize for burdening you, but as I said earlier, we will also be fighting the dragons.”
“Understood.”
Although the Divine Emperor’s true identity has been revealed, he has undoubtedly lived for two hundred years and experienced countless wars during that time. I must not let my guard down. I activate Mist Solution on my Pale Green and Multi Edge, and combining it with Flying and Accelerating Magic, I immediately attack the Divine Emperor.
