We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Those who got caught up
I told Sleigsta-ro about my mistakes.
Complacency. Arrogance. Negligence. It was incredibly embarrassing to talk about my failures in front of so many people who were listening, but I spoke without hiding anything.
Sleigsta-ro and Asher-san listened to my story in silence.
The Giant Demon Lord and Kusharilla also watched until the end without interjecting.
“…I believe my biggest mistake was mistakenly thinking I could wield power as the center of the world thanks to the power of the Spirit Tree. Grandpa always told me that we were insignificant beings, no more than gnats to the world.”
As I hung my head dejectedly, Sleigsta-ro looked down at me with his golden eyes.
“But I won’t make that mistake again! We are but small beings. Nevertheless, I’ve realized that each one of us is connected as beings living in this world. That’s why I will never fail next time!”
I raised my head from my dejected posture and met Sleigsta-ro’s gaze with strong determination.
“Mistral and the others have prepared for us. We will all join hands and face the difficulties together. If we do that, we can definitely defeat Kongo no Kirisame!”
So, don’t rush it, Sleigsta-ro?
After listening to my long story, Sleigsta-ro purred.
“The unnecessary tension has left your face. You’ve returned to your usual self.”
“Yes. Silly and always noisy. That’s me, my family, and those around us!”
“Right?” I asked, looking at Priscilla-chan and Fiorina, and my younger companions started to chatter excitedly.
Mistral hurriedly chased after Priscilla-chan and Mei-chan, who had run off, while Lyra prepared to take care of Fiorina and Rim. Ruiseine and Madrine-sama began a struggle to bathe Momo-chan, and Sefina-san searched for Kusharilla, whose presence was faint. Yufilia and Nina opened sake they brought from home and began serving it to the Giant Demon Lord and Charlotte.
“Kukukuku. How lively it is.”
“Yes. And to ensure this liveliness continues, we will give it our all!”
We will remain a lively family for years, decades, centuries. To do that, we must eliminate Kongo no Kirisame, which stands as an obstacle disrupting our peace.
Next, I told Sleigsta-ro and the Demon Lords about the upcoming strategy.
The decisive battle is in three days.
When Kongo no Kirisame appears at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
We will have a perfect interception system in place by then.
Thanks to the arrangements Mistral and everyone else had already made, volunteers had gathered in the capital and surrounding areas. So, it’s all up to my preparations now.
“By the way. I wanted to ask the Giant Demon Lord or Kusharilla something.”
I once again asked why the Soul Spirit Seat had been ineffective against Kongo no Kirisame in the previous battle.
The Giant Demon Lord nodded with interest at my question.
“You know that the Soul Spirit Seals held by you and us Demon Lords are replicas, right?”
“Yes. The genuine one is held by the ruler of the Demon Race, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. And the replicas we hold were made by him.”
The Soul Spirit Seat was originally a weapon owned by the Divine Race’s Fighting God, Alex-san’s ancestor. However, the Fighting God who fought the ruler of the Demon Race was defeated, and the Soul Spirit Seat was stolen.
After that, the ruler of the Demon Race presented a replica of the Soul Spirit Seat as proof to the “Demon Lord” who would rule the Demon Race’s country in his stead.
However, even though it’s a replica, it’s a demon sword created by the ruler of the Demon Race himself, so it displays immense power.
Not only are all creatures that touch the blade’s edge their souls consumed, but it is also cursed to crush and obliterate the souls of those unworthy who merely touch the hilt or scabbard.
But it was ineffective against Kongo no Kirisame.
I need to know the reason why.
It’s not like I’ll be using the Soul Spirit Seat in the future, you know?
I just thought that perhaps a breakthrough against Kongo no Kirisame might be hidden in the part where the Soul Spirit Seat’s immense power was not enough.
The Giant Demon Lord said, moistening his lips with alcohol.
“If the genuine one were used, Kongo no Kirisame’s soul would have been consumed. That is its nature.”
“Hm? Its nature?”
“Don’t worry about it. In any case, the Soul Spirit Seal we hold is merely a replicated demon sword. That’s probably why. It couldn’t consume the ‘existence’ of that monster.”
So, even though the “Soul Spirit Seat,” a demon sword that inflicts immense curses upon those living in this world, was ineffective against “Kongo no Kirisame,” a legendary existence born from the distortions of this world?
“You can think so. When you confronted it, you must have felt it, right? That its very existence is a distortion that disrupts the world.”
“Yes. If Kongo no Kirisame itself is a distortion of the world, then our common sense wouldn’t apply to it, would it? That’s why we, who live by the rules of this world, cannot correctly perceive or sense the form of the distorted ‘Kongo no Kirisame.’ Our attacks also wouldn’t reach it?”
To put it more in human terms…
“This world was created by the Goddess of Creation. But monsters, Yōma, and the Evil Race, are they not what the Goddess wished to create? That’s why they appear as impossible beings like the Yōma King?”
When monsters are defeated, they leave behind Magic Crystal Stones. While these are indispensable for people’s lives, when you think about it calmly, it’s bizarre, isn’t it?
For beings living in this world, whether animals or plants, when they die, they eventually decay. Even the Spirit Tree decayed. However, monsters leave behind Magic Crystal Stones and continue to have an influence on people after death, deviating from the world’s laws.
Fire can be ignited from Fire Magic Crystal Stones, and Water Magic Crystal Stones can purify muddy water.
The Yōma King also manifested a giant upper torso of a skeleton from above the sky where thick clouds spread. That was truly an abnormal phenomenon, ignoring the world’s laws.
Are monsters, Yōma, and the Evil Race, alien beings created by the world’s distortions?
“If that’s the case… applying powers that follow the world’s rules against the world’s distortions would be ineffective?”
Is that why not only the Soul Spirit Seat but also the Spirit Tree’s power were ineffective?
Then, how can we deliver an effective blow to Kongo no Kirisame…?
“Well, that’s not a problem that requires deep thought to solve!”
As I said this with a cheerful laugh, not only Sleigsta-ro but also the Giant Demon Lord, Charlotte, and Kusharilla turned their gazes towards me with interest.
“Different existence definitions? That doesn’t matter, does it? Because it’s a world distortion, powers based on the laws we know wouldn’t work? No, that’s wrong. Besides, in this world, to put it in human terms, as soon as monsters exist in the world created by the Goddess, they are at least influenced by the world’s principles.”
Even if they are distorted beings that deviate from the world’s principles, if we, who live in this world, can perceive and recognize their existence in whatever form, then at that point, even distortions are influenced by the world’s principles.
“If that’s the case, the principles of this world must surely apply. No, I will absolutely make them apply!”
For that, there’s something important.
Something we mustn’t forget.
Isn’t it the prayer of those who live in this world, with their own feelings, to save the world?
“Hohou. Prayer, you say?”
“Yes, Grandpa. I believe that wanting to win, wanting to be saved, wanting peace. It is because everyone wishes and prays for these things that the world continues to exist, isn’t it? Because if we only wished for ruin and destruction, the Goddess of Creation might become despairing and want to destroy the world.”
“Kukukuku. That is indeed a very human way of thinking regarding religion. However, I can nod and say there is some truth to it. I too may be alive now because I have wished and prayed to continue protecting the Dragon Forest. But, can your words be directed towards the Demon Race?”
Sleigsta-ro’s golden eyes turned towards the Giant Demon Lord and the other Demon Race.
“It’s fine. Because although the Demon Race directs destruction and despair towards others, isn’t that, in other words, trying to obtain their own peace by eliminating others? Their thoughts and actions are very violent and unacceptable to other races, but in a sense, they are not wrong, and at their root, I believe they are connected to wishing for their own happiness, to praying.”
When I stated this, the Giant Demon Lord and Charlotte laughed cheerfully, saying “You’re saying something clever,” while Kusharilla’s presence wavered unpleasantly.
“Therefore, I am convinced. To counter the distortions that disrupt the world’s principles, ‘prayer,’ which forms the foundation of the world, is the key.”
“And that leads to the strategy you mentioned earlier?”
“Yes!”
As I replied loudly, Mistral and the others also nodded in unison.
“Very well. We entrust the vanguard for three days from now to you. I will observe until the end before deciding my own actions.”
“Don’t worry, Grandpa. There won’t be a situation where you’ll need to take action!”
I will absolutely not let Sleigsta-ro use forbidden techniques!
Sleigsta-ro softly narrowed his eyes at my stubborn will.
“Now. The question about the Soul Spirit Seat has been resolved…”
I looked at the Giant Demon Lord.
And voiced the biggest question in the room.
“Why are the Demon Lords here?”
“Hate!”
“Uwah. Kusharilla is really angry! Why!?”
I only asked a perfectly normal question, I think!?
It’s understandable that races living in this region, such as Humans, Beast Race, Mimicho Race, Spirits, and Dragon Race, would gather. But it’s inexplicable that the Kings of the Demon Race, who live on the opposite side of Dragon Peak and don’t usually concern themselves with other races, would come.
And not just the Giant Demon Lord and Charlotte, but the Fairy Demon Lord Kusharilla too!
Then, the Giant Demon Lord continued to laugh cheerfully and told me.
“It’s nothing. It seemed interesting. While you were sleeping, the Dragon Princess came seeking advice.”
“Mistral, you went all the way to the Demon Race’s country after the Dragon King Conference, didn’t you?”
“We were also concerned about your demon sword being ineffective. So, I went to get advice from the Giant Demon Lord. But…”
Mistral smiled wryly, holding Mei-chan, whom she had caught.
“I think I consulted the right person, but it ended up causing trouble, didn’t it?”
And she turned her gaze towards where Kusharilla’s presence could be faintly felt.
“Um. The Giant Demon Lord and Charlotte came here to watch our battle with amusement, right? But why did Kusharilla come too?”
The Giant Demon Lord said with a laugh in response to my question.
“It’s obvious. It’s more interesting to involve him.”
“Uwah! Kusharilla is being inconvenienced even more than us!”
“Hate, Dragon King. Not only did you break our pact, but you’ve involved me in this.”
“No, no, no, I kept my promise? But I apologize for getting involved with the Giant Demon Lord. Wait, why do I have to apologize?”
The Giant Demon Lord and Charlotte, who toy with even the Fairy Demon Lord Kusharilla.
How terrifying!
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