196 And it's over.

The defeat of the Scarlet Witch King's army has created a festive atmosphere in Garne. Perhaps it's the same in Mejlis. But that is not the case for those who know he has disappeared. When His Majesty first learned of his disappearance, he immediately notified the soldiers on the border of the demon world and strengthened the surveillance of his comings and goings. The knight who had been guarding the area at night reported that no one had approached the Ghanaian border, but he could not be relieved when he thought of him. His Majesty has mobilized all the Tarzian knights who can go on raids, and they are still leading the search. I'd like to get out there as soon as I can, but .......

I don't mean to tell you that you should put priority on healing your injuries. You should at least have an idea of where you're going or you're wasting your time, Ilias.

"...... I know.

Right now in this room we have Lord Mikus, Wolfe, Ecdysius, Lakra, and the three Demon Lords. Harkdok is also here, but he's in the next room listening to our conversation. His Majesty is searching for him as a human, but the Demon Lords are searching for him as we speak.

Not this way. It's Kuto, right? He can fly, so there's no way a skeleton can find him.

"Are you nuts? The only thing you can do in the sky is move. If he's going to make any kind of move, he's going to have to come down to earth.

Who's the idiot? I don't have many skeletons to begin with, so even a ground search would be limited!

"You're still a fool, aren't you? I'm not the only one who used a lower level as a pawn. I'm not sure if you think you're the only one who can get away with it.

......! You're the devil, why don't you just give orders in all directions?

Are you really that stupid? If he could do that, he wouldn't have summoned you, would he? The Kutou I gave him can be temporarily removed from my control at his command, you know? If he's forced into a situation where he's alone, he won't be able to use Kuto's reaction to find him, right?

The treatment was not so much against the Purple Demon King as it was against the demons that betrayed him. Aside from the Purple Demon Lord's orders, Kuto will also follow the orders of other higher demons. Even if it doesn't exist at present, it doesn't mean that the demons belonging to the Battler Army are free from the possibility of having evil intentions and ambitions. As a result of his consultation with the Purple Demon King about the risk of Kuto's nature being misused, Kuto has been given the power to arbitrarily limit the power of command to him alone. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and how you can use it. In addition, Kuto can also use some of the covert magic used by the dark side.

He can also use some of the covert magic used by the dark side. But I never thought I'd have to play hide-and-seek with him.

"That's just the way it is. I'm sure you're well prepared for Duvraioli's 'sniffing nose'. They've scattered Kutou's body parts in every direction of Gahne to disrupt scent tracking.

We've been using the virtual world to search for him, but so far we've had no luck. The only people who can move in the virtual world are the Garne soldiers. ...... Your demons don't listen to you.

What about the gold fox? What about the gold fox? Can he go to his friend, the one he loves?

"Yes, I've already sent him there. But he's not coming back. Maybe he's been caged. It listens to whatever the people it cares for tell it.

He's been given priority over his creator, the Demon Lord. ......

I let him live by his instincts. ......

After he had been introduced to the golden fox, he had studied its nature in detail. To be honest, there is a good chance that he knows more about it than its creator, the Golden Demon King. He also left all of the communication crystals and pieces of the Exarch's chain at the house. The only thing he can do now is to use the demons of the Demon Lords as a human tactic.

"We shouldn't think of our people as just ordinary people. They know all our cards. They'll be even harder to find than the dark corners of the world. Even though the tensions were relaxed, none of the knights in the house could have detected the escape of our people.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

But from what Marito said, we can assume that the Brethren are plotting revenge against the Scarlet Witch King. I'm sure you've already discovered where the Scarlet Pimpernel is through your virtual world, haven't you?

"Yes, I have. It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find anything you like. But if you get any closer, Scarlet might notice Duvraeus.

I know. The knights will not be able to get close easily for the same reason. I'm sure you're not the only one.

"Duvraeus can't do that. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

As long as the Purple Demon King is in charge, Duvraeus will never let his guard down and will act strictly. But because of this, he is considered to be an opponent whose thoughts are easy to read. It's no wonder, since even I, a more level-headed person than Duvraeus, am no match for him in psychological warfare. In the event that you're not sure when you'll be discovered by a demon under the Scarlet Demon King's control, you can't conduct a large-scale search. It won't take long to get to the Scarlet location from Garnets at Kuto's flying speed. If you're heading straight for it, you could have arrived by the time His Majesty noticed you.

"The knights on the Ghanaian border are numerous and on alert. It's not easy to break through with Kuto's cloaking power. I never thought I'd feel so unsure about ....... First, I'm taking Harkdock to the Garne Realm. The Harkdock's instincts may or may not be right.

The mere thought of approaching the abode of a demon lord is enough to set off his instincts.

...... Still, Hark-dog and I both feel the need to find our people directly. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a little nervous about this.

"Mr. Exdoch, ......

"Wulfe, I know you're filled with the desire to find your people right now, but you must endure. If your compatriots have already fallen into the hands of the Scarlet Witch King, you will be the ones who can help them.

Ecdysium is already trying to act with the bad consequences in mind. The Scarlet Witch King was trying to take him into custody. It was unlikely that he would be killed, but there was a very good chance that he would be captured. If that happens, the forces that can head to the Ghanaian demon world to rescue him will have to be an elite few. However, ...... both Ulfe and I have been reminded of the Scarlet Witch King's strength to the point of disgust. In the event that you've got a lot more than one, you'll be able to get a lot more. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and how to get there.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.

The Purple Demon King's voice drew everyone's attention. The Purple Demon Lord holds his hand over the communication crystal and gives her a telepathic message from Duvraeori so that everyone can hear.

"My Lord, I smelled Kutou near the cave where the Scarlet Witch King is based, and when I approached, I found Kutou.

"...... 'Kutou'? What about him?

"That ...... person is already gone, and that person's scent is already ...... there.

There was no one here who could not understand the rest of Duvraeus' words. I can feel the air getting even heavier. After all, he went to the Scarlet Witch King by himself .......

"Kuto, why were you the only one there?

I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm not sure what to make of this. You'll need to follow him. I'm not sure what to do.

"Aljisamaytta, Duvraioli, no. You can't do this, Duvleoli.

I don't think you've been told what he's up to, but ...... tell me what you know about his movements.

"Aet, maz al-jisamaha--

Kuto will tell you where he's headed. And everyone shuddered as they realized the answer that would come from it.

I'll be back.

As I sat on my throne, I checked the feel of my right arm. The newly regenerated arm is still not as strong as before. It will take me a while to regain my senses, but I should be able to finish regrouping the army in time. The woman who thrust the magic tool into my right arm did not seem to be very powerful. And yet, this power, the difference in ideas brought about by the people of the planet Yugra can't be taken lightly. Just as the humans resisted the power of my Struggle, it's difficult to get the magic out of the tool before it gets out of control. That blade has a flap on it, and once it's in, it's not easy to pull out. But in order for the Demon Lord's magic power to flow into the tool, he would have to use the power of magic. That means you can't wear a magic seal stone. If we put up a ward, we can stop the attack before it reaches my skin.

"Has your right arm been completely healed already? That's the Demon Lord.

Enough with the flattery. Mercerstiel, do you have any idea how many years it will take to build up the same army as this one?

Yes. We've already optimized the training program. If you take into account the speed at which weapons are manufactured, it will be more than fifty years faster than before.

When we were destroyed by Yugra, our army was nothing more than a bunch of demons. After the resurrection, we learned that Yugra had taught the humans to prepare for the Demon Lord, and we began to strengthen our army of demons. If the humans were going to progress, we should do the same. Once we have the numbers in place, we can expand our army at a faster rate by expanding our facilities.

First, we need to prepare a unique class for each race to command. It doesn't matter if they're not very good. Find them a few at a time.

"Yes!

It will be difficult to immediately prepare a unique class that can take charge of the next war. But if you continue to train, it won't be too difficult to find good individuals. We can give them magical power and encourage them to evolve. Once there are enough of them, let them compete, and select the ones that are more suitable to handle the power of the Struggle. You can do what you've always done. Even if the gold-ruled Garnets proceed with the purification of the demon world, it will take several hundred years or more to reach the southern part of the Garnets demon world. At that time, my army will invade and expand the territory of the demon world.

Yes, that's it. The perpetual struggle I seek will never cease. My life will always be a struggle. Always and forever.

My Lord, there are intruders at the entrance to the cave.

How many?

One ...... with black hair and dark eyes, matching the appearance of the people of Yggra that the Demon Lord told us about.

The people of the planet Yugra have shown themselves here. He thought there was a small chance that they might. But the fact that he was alone was troubling. He's even less capable than the weakest of us. It would be impossible to visit this place without an escort. We should assume that he used the demon he had on his weapon on the way.

"Don't let the demons get to you. Let them pass through.

Ha!

The objective is mine, the objective itself is unknown. But it's not a bad thing if you find yourself a bargaining chip with the Colorless. The people of Yugra took a long time to emerge from the entrance of the cave, past the demon training grounds and weapon manufacturing facilities, and into the throne room at the far end of my castle. Bandaged all over their bodies, they walked forward weakly like old men, using a tree branch as a staff. At the sight of him, the voices of my demons echoed in derision. I silenced them by raising my hand and voicing my doubts about the people of the planet Yugra.

"People of Yggra, what is this imitation?

"It's no big deal. It's no big deal. I'm here to end you, Scarlet Witch King.

The Star People of Yggra let go of their staffs, picked up their daggers, and pointed them at you. He looks like he can barely stand, but his eyes are serious. They want to kill me, even if it means stabbing me in the back. But those are not the eyes of a warrior. They're not the eyes of an assassin or an absolute powerhouse like Yugra. There is a darkness in them that is unfathomable. I've seen something like this eye before. Yes, something close to the almighty black.

"...... still makes me wonder more. Are you mourning for the fallen, or--

You don't need words to make me understand that, do you?

This man is clearly different from the one I saw in Garne. The absence of magical power felt by the people of Yugra's planet is still the same. The only difference is that he has more bandages and a cloak over his body. It's strange that I'm a human being and have no influence in a magical world filled with my magic, but it makes sense if I don't have any magic to interfere with. ...... So what's the point? I'm not sure why I'm wasting my time thinking about this.

I'm not sure why I'm wasting my time on this. Then do as you wish.

You will not rise from your throne.

I don't feel the need.

...... You're right. Well, just be proud of yourself. It's easier.

The people of the planet Juglar start to run. But their running is so poor, so affected by the pain of the wounds all over their bodies, that they look untrained. The dagger is coated with something, but it's just a plain iron, and even if I don't move, it won't give my body a scratch. The people of the planet Yugra are right in front of me, and I make a well-aimed thrust. You can't even move your body without causing a scratch.

Huh!

It's useless. Even if you thrust the dagger directly into my eyeball, it will not cause pain to my body. No matter how deadly the poison, it will not work on this body. A thrust from my inexperienced arm is easily repelled. Has there ever been a battle as tense as this? No, I wouldn't even call it a battle.

"Not even blinking. Then you'd better take a good look at this!

Contrary to the right arm that had been flipped, in the left hand of Yugra's star people was another dagger. The shape of the dagger is clearly different from the normal dagger. This shape is similar to the magic tool that the woman was using. The slight difference in shape suggests that it is an improved version or something. The target is the heart, and if it has the same power, it would certainly be a killing blow. But there is an inexhaustible difference in the skill of the person doing the stabbing compared to the woman at the time.

--No, this man's eyes, he's sure he can kill me. The shape is slightly different, it's possible there's some way to get through this skin. Should I deploy a ward to prevent the attack just in case? I can't build a spell and activate it. This is--

"Got it!

That's just plain stupid.

With this man's slow stab, it would be no trouble for him to rise from his throne and circle behind you. The blade plunges into the empty throne. He grabs the head of a stunned Yggra starling and wrestles it to the ground.

"Agh!

A dagger that looks like a magic tool spills out of the man's hand due to the shock of being knocked down. This man's body doesn't seem to have any power. I'm not sure if it's because of my injuries or because I'm too weak to begin with, but it's a minor difference. He releases his restraints and rolls the Yugra Star People on the ground onto their backs with his feet. As you might have guessed, a cylindrical magic seal stone rolled down from inside the cloak.

I'm sure you've heard of it. I used my previous attack to obstruct his vision and aimed for a blow with my magic tool. The moment when he was alerted to my magic tool and tried to block it with his ward, the magic seal blocked him, and he tried to take advantage of that unrest. If you were as powerful as the woman who lost my right arm, you might have been able to plunge your blade into my chest.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. Your quick thinking alone is worthy of praise. But even the ability to do so is lacking in this man.

"I can't believe you can't even hurt me without using something like this. You're still too weak.

"To .......

What?

You're the one who's using one of these things to stand up to a small fry like this!

This man is already stuck. The murderous intent in his eyes is no different from that of an ordinary man. In other words, these words are nothing more than a sore loser. The last thing this man can do against an opponent he can't beat no matter how hard he tries. But it seems to have worked. For for the first time in my life I felt annoyance at a man I'd never had any real feelings for.

"So that's the end of the barking. That's the end of your barking.

I put my foot on the rolling stone and crushed it. The faces of the Yugra people hardened as the tool they had believed in for victory was destroyed. You'll be able to see the difference in his eyes. They're different from last time. Not killing intent, not anger, not a hint of will. He doesn't see me as an enemy, he sees me as...

"What?

Leaning back, the pain as if my legs were shredded. No, no. My leg's been cut off. What? What kind of attack did you get? It's not safe to stay here, I have to get some distance. Faster than I can see what the attack is, I follow my instincts and move away. But faster than I could move, a greenish-yellow liquid came flying at me. No way, no way, no way!

It's ......!

◇.

Yes, it is, as you know, a demon eater that lives in the Mountain of the Kuro Demon Slayer.

Thank you for being so kind to leave. I'm not going to get caught up in this like it was an accident. Slowly get up and look at the Scarlet Witch King. Either he's very strong, or he's healing very fast. Either way, it doesn't matter.

The Scarlet Witch King has a huge amount of magical power, and the demon eaters that have taken a bite of the Scarlet Witch King have quickly grown in size and begun to attack the surrounding demons. The screams of the demons began to echo in the surroundings. But as expected, the Demon Lord is desperately struggling to crawl out while being swallowed.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

A demon eater is the worst kind of demon that has no intelligence and eats up all living things. It is the most common type of demon. The first priority of the demon eater is to prey on beings that possess magical power, followed by beings that move. I have experienced the latter firsthand. They respond to sound, or vibration, and attack. In reality, however, demon eaters do not have auditory or tactile organs. The reason why witch eaters can sense vibrations is because they can sense the flow of magical power in the air.

On the contrary, witch-eaters do not perform any predatory behavior in situations where they cannot sense magical power. That's why I focused on the properties of the magic seal stone that Nora had me study. The magic seal stone itself is clothed with a special magic power that breaks down the construction of magic that comes into contact with it. The magic power cannot be detected by any magic.

If the ability of a demon eater to sense magic is based on the same principle as magic, how will the demon eater react to the magic seal stone? After explaining to Kim that it was a magic experiment, he had gone to the Mountain of the Kuro Demon King's Slayer several times to get the magic seal in the virtual world. Aside from the fact that he had several near-death experiences, the result was that the demon eater did not react to the magic seal stone. He then prepared a cylindrical magical stone, hollow inside, with a mechanism that automatically closes the lid when a certain amount of material enters.

Rai's fruit, which the demon eaters carry their magic power like spores in the wind and plant in the ordinary forest. Any creature that eats it will receive magical interference and be lured to the home of the demon eater. Have Kuto capture small animals in the forest alive and feed them to you. Tie a container of magic seal stone and a long rope made of ivy to it and send it off to the mountains. After a while, the animals will be eaten by the demon eaters. At that time, some of the demon eaters will be captured by the container of magic seal stone. The next step is to estimate the location of the magic seal from the length of the rope, and from a short distance away, release several animals at regular intervals that have been fed Rai's fruit by Kuto. Then, while the animals are being preyed upon by the demon eaters, quietly climb up the mountain and retrieve the container of the magic seal stone. The mountain of the Kuro Demon Slayer was shining brightly even at night, so it was easy to find the container of the magic seal.

You're right, it's mine. Thank you for doing what you wanted.

He spoke in a lower voice than the Scarlet Witch King so as not to irritate the demon eater. The Scarlet Witch King, who had been unfazed by everything, now showed a palpable agitation. You can't blame him if he's dealing with a demon that was eaten by the Kuro Demon King, a demon he was never able to defeat.

This ...... should not be happening ......!

What do you mean? I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a way to find out more about it. That's not true. When you lost your right arm, you thought, "Now that I'm one-armed, the humans might send their elite to take advantage of the opportunity. That's why you didn't put an unintelligent demon in front of the cave, but a demon that can communicate with you. Isn't that right?

He moves slowly, quietly, and picks up his staff.

Didn't he consider the possibility that other demons might kill him when he challenged you to single combat? Not even that. You think of demons as nothing more than pawns. The important things are done by yourself. It would be an insult to you if a demon attacked me right there. You'll never forgive it. Isn't that right?

You don't need a ...... knife to prototype the shape of a demon tool. It is possible that the demon eater will target us just by talking to us.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. Not even close. You're very careful. If I thrust out a weapon similar in shape to the one that blew off my right arm, with a look of victory on my face, you will set up a defense that you can use even if you don't want to. And if you judge that you can't set up a ward with a magic seal stone, your body will naturally take evasive action. I'm a small fish, and I'm a small fish, and I'm sure you can avoid my attacks. If I had used detection magic, they would have noticed that I had a magic seal stone. But I didn't want to be so cowardly as to use detection magic against a small fish. Isn't that right?

The shouting around him became quieter, and the screams from the exit of the cave began to echo.

Didn't they consider the possibility that you wouldn't break the container of the Demon Eater's magic seal? Absolutely not. Because the only people who have been abusing you so far are the same Demon Lord, or people of reasonable power. I'm not a demon king with so little pride that I'm able to resent the abuse and humiliation of those I deem to be worthless. That's why I'm going to destroy the tools that I brought with me, believing that I will win, right in front of my eyes, to lower my spirits. Isn't that right?

The movement of the demon eater, the appearance of the surrounding demons. I won't be able to stay here much longer. But there's one last thing I need to tell this demon lord.

I've been focused on understanding you ever since I confronted you. Even if Ilias and the others are defeated, even if I am captured, I will make sure that you are defeated.

"Understand ......? ......? You think you understand me?

"You became a demon king for a reason. It's to be a necessary evil.

I'm sure you'll understand.

I already understand the Scarlet Witch King's purpose. By his own actions and words.

If he wants to destroy humans, he doesn't need to declare war, he can destroy them one nation at a time. But you have invaded both Ghanaians and Medis, where you can exert your influence. Rather than winning, you chose to show your threat, to show off your existence as the Demon Lord. You were a general before you became a demon lord. So you know. When there is a common enemy, there is no need to fight among friends.

You ......!

"Did Seiya Yukura tell you this or something? If you want to stop the humans from fighting, then you must become their common enemy. The Demon Lord is immortal. If you fight for eternity, the humans will be able to keep their hands to each other, right?

"Yes.

That's why I didn't cooperate with the Kuro Demon Lord who wanted to destroy humans. The blue Demon Lord, who was being influenced by the words of others, did not make a thorough invasion, but took steps to instill a threat. He praised the growth of the humans and showed up alone to show that he was still a threat. Oh--

"This is so stupid. It's an idea I understand but never want to be associated with.

What do you know about ......? If there's no fighting, people will eventually--

Yeah, that's fine. I'm not interested, and your words don't resonate with me.

I don't care what you say. I don't care how the Scarlet Witch King felt about becoming the enemy of humans. I really don't care about that. You can't agree with an act that disturbs the peace of the present where I live, no matter what your feelings are.

As for me, I was angry that someone I cared about had their life taken from them, and I had a lot of feelings about it. But more than that, I genuinely don't like the way you live. It's just unpleasant. If I could fix it, I would, but your resolve is so strong that I will never be able to break it. So I'm ending it. You're not leaving this cave forever. Your struggle ends here today. Worthless and ununderstood.

I'm not going to just end it. You can unilaterally end the path you believe in as worthless and unpleasant. I will give this demon king a humiliation that will never end.

Your ideals will be trampled by the ego of a mere individual whose name I do not know. Goodbye, Scarlet Witch King, and continue to live in a hell that produces nothing of value.

The Scarlet Witch King roared, "......!

The Scarlet Witch King roars. The Scarlet Witch King roars. Words are no longer understood and there's no time to even think about how to escape. So he has no choice but to howl. The Scarlet Witch King roars because it is the only way for him to express his anger, sorrow, and thoughts to me.