Koharu Sasaki. Seventeen years old, a high school girl. A demon lord with purple skin and hidden horns behind her beautiful face and long, swaying hair.
However, Koharu-chan, sitting on the throne, has a slightly softer facial structure. Is it because she’s young, or was she on the chubbier side in the past? Whatever the case, her facial features are different, and her attire is a sailor uniform instead of a blazer. Both suit her, so it’s fine.
“What good will come of talking to someone like this!”
Her words, though spoken while clutching her chest, are filled with power. It should be fine if I leave her be. For now, I want to understand her true intentions.
“Are you Koharu Sasaki-chan? From Meikyō Shisui Academy?”
“Y–yes. I’m from the junior high division, though.”
Was she young-looking because her age has regressed? Hmm? Regressed? Does one regress upon death? Do demon lords regress upon death? Or did she meet a god and regress? Or was the young Koharu Sasaki reincarnated? Is it a crime to get involved with a junior high schooler?
“Are you all my subordinates? Or my retainers?”
“There’s no way we’re your retainers… *cough*!”
This is the third death today. If you don’t want Christine-san to give you heart failure, stay quiet. But what does she mean by “retainers”? For Priscilla-san’s heart, let’s try asking in Japanese from here on.
“Ko-ha-ru-cha-n-wa, ka-mi-sa-ma… Koharu-chan, did you meet a god?”
“Yes. I did. I was waiting for the signal at an intersection when a car came… And then the god asked if I wanted to be reborn…”
That driver wasn’t a god, was he? I hope they didn’t kill him and bring him here. What was my own death like? I don’t remember…
But what does this mean? In my previous life, I died fighting the demon lord, and though the times were different, we were both reincarnated in the same world. This time, the demon lord died, and I survived. So, it means he brought the junior high schooler Koharu Sasaki?
“Could you tell me more about that time…”
“More importantly, you’re Japanese, aren’t you? I was worried about what to do when I heard I was going to another world.”
A Japanese hero. And Koharu-chan is a Japanese demon lord. It’s like Romeo and Juliet. Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Sasaki Ko… Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi!
Miyamoto Musashi, who fought with an oar and arrived late at Ganryu Island. Could that have been the connection!? I just realized it now!
In the end, Musashi wins, and Kojiro loses. The defeated Kojiro dies, doesn’t he? Did the same thing happen here?
It would be fine if Kojiro won, fine if Akechi Mitsuhide took over the country, fine if Japan beat America. Looking at this weak-looking junior high schooler, I find myself wanting her to win…
“What else did the god say? What is Koharu-chan’s purpose for coming here?”
“Um… The god told me to aim for the ending I envision, and I also received a cheat. It seems to be the manipulation of gravity.”
“What do you envision?”
“The coexistence of humans and demons. Doesn’t it seem strange? Even goblins have social communities and the intelligence to maintain them, yet in stories they are simply creatures that attack humans. Isn’t that odd? If they have intelligence, wouldn’t they choose survival over pointless battles? That means…”
As expected of a student from a prestigious school, she points out the contradictions in fantasy. In essence, she says that even goblins have intelligence, and it’s not like tigers or lions that eat because they’re hungry.
Hunger. The fundamental drive to live as a human can lead to stable lives through farming and animal husbandry, rather than a predatory lifestyle that steals from others. If that’s the case, coexistence is possible without attacking people. This is what I understood after about five minutes of questioning.
“I see. And the cheat you received from God, gravity manipulation. Try it on me for a bit.”
“Yes. I don’t understand it very well, but I’ll try.”
Koharu-chan extends both hands towards me, seemingly exerting some kind of power, but this is a gamble for me too. If she reincarnated with the memories of the high school girl Koharu Sasaki, I’d be flattened in an instant.
I tensed in a Mode Six stance and waited. Waited. Waited… Huh? Is it over already?
“Hah, hah, y-your sleeve just moved. You pulled it. So this is psychic power.”
Indeed, my sleeve swayed. It was so slow and slight that I almost thought it was just the wind. This confirmed it. This girl has neither the power nor the memories of the high school girl Koharu Sasaki.
The new Koharu Sasaki from Meikyō Shisui Academy’s junior high division has reincarnated. But why would a junior high schooler reincarnate? Didn’t the high school girl Koharu Sasaki die and her story end?
An unpleasant thought crosses my mind. Only God knows if this is right, and He doesn’t accept questions. …Perhaps being reborn without power is a punishment for not being able to fulfill God’s desired ending upon death?
The high school girl Koharu Sasaki died, and the junior high schooler Koharu Sasaki was reincarnated. If I kill her now, will a first-grader Koharu Sasaki come next? If I kill her again, will it be a kindergartner, a baby, and finally “nothingness”?
I feel like the same would happen to me. If I had died, even with Godspeed, it wouldn’t have been usable, and I would have just been a salaryman. If I had lost then, it would have been in university, and if I had lost then, it would have been in high school.
It’s like a game of “Millionaire, Poor Man” where you get weaker the more you lose… No joke! I don’t want to live relying on God that much! I have no right to have God toy with my life like that!
No joke!
It’s God’s word. The ending God desires, with the White Lily Corps. I felt like I would be rewarded if I achieved it. I thought achieving it was my path in life.
And if I lose, I’ll be treated like trash!? The defeated Koharu Sasaki’s power can’t beat me now. It would be the same if I lost. To be brought back to life like that, no joke!
“Hey, Mikael. Is the talk over? The Allied Forces and the Demon Army are heading for Lauenstein. Let’s quickly take the Demon Lord’s head and end this.”
I don’t know if being reincarnated with lost power is really a punishment. I’ve also lost track of what God’s desired ending is.
Is it an ending where the Demon Lord is defeated, an ending where coexistence turns into extinction, or is something else waiting?
…
…
“Hey! Mikael!”
“Ah!? Y-yes.”
“Are you okay? Let’s end this quickly.”
“Y-yes. Let’s end… No, let’s begin. Priscilla-san, everyone in the White Lily Corps, I will follow the Demon Lord.”
“Huh? What are you saying?”
“I will create a world of coexistence between humans and demons with the Demon Lord!”
“What are you saying, Captain! Coexistence with monsters is impossible.”
“That’s right. How much have we fought until now?”
“The Naga will eat the Dwarves~”
“It would be acceptable if it were to create a kingdom of the undead.”
“…”
I know I’m saying something absurd. But Koharu Sasaki, the high school girl, also initially thought of a path of coexistence. What drove her mad was her upbringing. An environment unbearable for Koharu twisted her way of thinking and stripped her of her compassion.
Since ancient times, other worlds have begun with a medieval European worldview. Since coming here, I wonder if “science” exists in a life reliant on magic, as there seems to be no progress.
Koharu has a point. If there is a stable supply of food, there would be less pointless fighting. The same goes for the disparity between rich and poor. If monsters become prosperous, they won’t need to risk their lives to steal from humans.
“Everyone…”
“Are you an idiot! The Demon Army is approaching! Let’s kill them and escape! Fall back! If you won’t kill her, I will!”
I stood with my back to Demon Lord Koharu, holding a wooden sword. Its tip pointed towards Priscilla-san.
“Are you serious!?”
“More serious than ever. You said coexistence, but I don’t think it’s possible from the human side. Everyone said it’s impossible, right? So, I think it might be possible from the monster side…”
“C-Captain, I don’t think it’s possible from the monster side either. Because… monsters are not very…”
“Lacking in intelligence… but I don’t think that’s entirely true. The Demon Army is proof of that. They form formations, fight, and are coordinated. They also have the technology to forge swords and prepare tents and food. Idiots can’t do that.”
“Then why do they fight? Idiots wouldn’t fight, would they?”
“The Demon Lord is responsible for that. If the top is an idiot, the organization becomes idiotic.”
“That’s why! That’s why we’re saying to kill her and end it! If you kill her, the war will end!”
“It will end, this war… But what if a second Demon Lord appears? The Demon Army is not a unified bloc. If the Demon Lord dies, chaos will be born. A Demon Lord born from chaos will eventually clash swords with us humans.”
“If that happens, we’ll just kill them again!”
“Are you going to repeat that? Until when? We humans live for about seventy years. How about Lycanthropes? Demi-humans? The Demon Lord, with that appearance, has lived for 140 years. It’s too far to repeat until death.”
We mercenaries, perhaps because we can’t live without fighting, treat life lightly. That’s not good.
“Even if this war ends, the fighting won’t. But rather than fighting for an ending, I want to fight to preserve life.”
“…”
Is silence the answer? Everyone has started to think. But that’s good. It’s a very important matter. The time for deliberation might be short, but I want them to think deeply.
“…So… What do you want to do from now on, Mikael? …Are you going to let the Demon Lord live and send her back to the Demon Army?”
Christine-san… Did you think it through properly? Your poker face makes it hard to tell. Are you blinking?
“I will have them return to Nordland across Nebel Bridge. The Allied Forces will return to their respective countries. As for the Demon Lord, I intend to have her live in Lauenstein for a while.”
“…That means you will live by the Demon Lord’s side.”
“Eh, ah, yes. Rather than living, it’s more like studying. About this world, about demons, about humans, about human-demon coexistence, a variety of things.”
The high school Demon Lord Koharu Sasaki lived in a bad place. I want to give this junior high school Demon Lord, Koharu Sasaki, a proper place to live, and eventually hope she becomes a great Demon Lord and chooses the path of coexistence with compassion. Therefore, I won’t teach her about the night. It’s too early for a junior high schooler!
“…I see.”
With that, Christine-san walks towards the door of the throne room. She doesn’t seem angry, but I wonder what’s wrong? If you need the restroom, go down the corridor, turn right, then left at the end.
“Christine-san?”
“…Where Mikael is, is where I am. …I will eliminate any troublesome demons or humans. …Especially males…”
Christine-san. Will you help me? With something that could be called reckless? I’ll be making enemies of both humans and demons.
“Fufufu, a wife is where her husband is. I’ll be going too.”
Sophia-san. Your kindness and ferocity have always helped me and nearly killed me. Are you truly alright with this?
“Ah… If possible, without killing. Even if they become enemies now, they are people who will lend us their strength someday.”
“It’s easier to kill~. It’s a shame I haven’t killed anyone with chemical weapons~.”
Orietta followed. You’ve been a great help behind the scenes of the White Lily Corps. Please make me a new sword again.
“If everyone’s going, I’ll go too.”
Alana. The cat demi-human who made me truly feel like I had arrived in another world. Your always beautiful fur soothed me.
“Hmm. If it’s to create a land of the dead, I will cooperate. Let’s go, Rossa.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The genius Necromancer, Rufana. She used to say, “There are no allies who are about to die.” This time, I’d prefer no deaths. Also, I’m not making a land of the dead. Please keep a close eye on Rossa.
“I’ll give it a try. I’ll try to persuade the demons.”
Alma, who broke the horns that are the life of a demon to accompany me, simply because she wants to be by my side. I don’t know how much she’ll listen to talk of demons without horns. Please, die in battle before you confide your secrets to me.
Everyone leaves the throne room, leaving only me, the Demon Lord, and Priscilla-san. Isn’t Priscilla-san going to help with something like this? Even so, it’s fine. Even so, by my side…
“Ahhh, they’re gone. In the end, they’re going to follow that scum.”
“Priscilla-san. I can’t force you, but…”
“In the end, it’s just me… I didn’t get a epithet.”
“Eh!? You were concerned about that?”
“Of course! In the White Lily Corps, I’m the only one without an epithet!”
Goddess of Support, Platinum, Rider Killer, Dragon Slayer, Cursed Wood King. Priscilla-san is the only one in the White Lily Corps without an epithet.
“I don’t have one either.”
“You have “Hero” attached. Am I the only one without anything…”
I took the ring I had hidden in my pocket and put it on Priscilla-san’s hand. It was actually a ring I was supposed to give her along with the presents I gave everyone before coming here.
“How about the epithet ‘Mikael’s Wife’?”
“Wh-what are you…”
On my ring finger, held up like exposing it to the sunlight, is a shining ring bought with all my savings, though the light is weak. I wanted to give it to you then, but there was a hole in my pocket, and I didn’t notice it was stuck to the lining of my clothes.
“Is that okay…”
“Please… stay by my side forever.”
I drew the hand with the ring closer and kissed Priscilla-san. I had to stretch a bit, but Priscilla-san bent her knees to meet me.
“Ouch! What are you doing, Priscilla-san!”
“That’s something to do after the wedding ceremony!”
To have the bride’s breasts groped and then pinched… If the Demon Lord’s power grows stronger, I’ll have her pull my bust a little more.
“I’m going ahead! Don’t fall behind, scum!”
“I’ll be right there. My honey.”
I managed to catch a glimpse of her blushing face. I am very satisfied.
“Koharu Sasaki-chan… No, Your Majesty the Demon Lord. In this world, people die easily and are hurt. Coexistence in such a world will seem like a fairytale to people. Nevertheless, I hope you will move towards the ending you envision with compassion.”
“Y-yes! I’ll do my best!”
Environment changes people. If given the right environment, a powerful Demon Lord will make the right choice. I want to believe so.
Now, my wife is waiting. I’ll go to the battlefield where the White Lily Corps is waiting. I will proceed towards *my* ending. I don’t know if this is the right way. But it won’t be too late to regret it even after I die.
I will live to the fullest, laugh, and then die. I will raise my fist to the sky and declare, “I have no regrets in my life!”
Godspeed! Full Power!
Mikael Sin races through the other world at Godspeed.
