CH 62

This chapter will be like an entry into a brand-new one.

(Chirito POV)

“Well then, let us first identify ourselves to each other. I am Kamogawa Sotaro, the human representative.”

The elderly man rises from his chair and bows to us.

“Representative of the ‘Frozen Silver Snow Sage’. My name is Kanae Yuu, ≪Knight of the Snow Sage≫.”

Following that, he is greeted by a young man with a pale complexion and white hair clad in silver armor, most likely the ≪Frozen Silver Armor≫.

“Representative of the ‘Dragon Sovereign of the Caged Cherry Blossom Flame’. My name is Yae Michiru, a Sakurahijin.”

A strangely aged woman with cherry-blonde hair stands up and offers a similar greeting.

“Representative of the ‘Hundred Beast Clad Fox Princess’. I am Shiranui Inaho, the ≪Fox Princess’ Attendant≫.”

With golden hair and fox ears, the Kitsunejin woman politely expresses her greetings.

“Representative of the ‘King of the Devouring Black Fog’. My name is Yaharai Chirito, the ≪Analyst≫.”

Finally, I get up and deliver my greeting. Until I announced my greeting, there were a few eyes around me that were clearly mocking my young age, but that ceased to be the case when I introduced myself. Apparently, the title ≪Analyst≫ is more well-known than I expected.

“Ahem. Now then, let us initiate the third meeting of the Japanese Demon Conference.”

Then Kamogawa-san clears his throat with a single cough before declaring the meeting to be in session.

Slightly more than nine years have passed since Ichiko-san vanished into thin air after Kurokiri-san was defeated by someone who battled him until he was utterly tattered.

Although Ichiko-san’s whereabouts have been sought by Izumi-chan, Houki nee-san, the Kitsunejin Shiranui Mugi-san, and even Lady Ryo, not a trace of Ichiko-san has been discovered.

However, there have been several developments in our country during the last nine years. Here’s what I’d say if I had to list them in bullet points:

・The battle that erupted between the Fog King + Humans and the Snow Sage was concluded. (Incidentally, the reason why Snow Sage’s subordinates marched southward was that the Snow Sage himself had not placed any restrictions on their conduct.)

・The seclusion of Dragon Sovereign of the Caged Cherry Blossom Flame was undone. (i.e., dragged out by the three Demon Kings: the Fog King, the Fox Princess, and the Snow Sage).

・A pact was reached between the four Demon Kings who were on the land of Japan, prohibiting them from launching a large-scale siege.

・The number of the Four Demon Kings’ kin has substantially augmented (Though their number is still less than that of human beings).

・The Fox Princess began to conduct trade with the “Sugar King of White Smearing” on the continent by using Long-distance Transportation.

・A meeting of Japanese demons has been held. The affairs of the country as a whole are now discussed here.

・The implementation of a societal system utilizing skills to ensure a stable supply of food and other necessities.

And so far, this is what is occurring in this country, while on the continent, this is what has transpired:

・The dismantling of the United Nations. The human countries have shrunk to the level of city-states at most.

・The war between the countries reigned by the Demon Kings has led to chaos on a grand scale.

・As a result, all sorts of problems have arisen.

・Figures claiming to be heroes repeatedly appear and disappear (presumably because they are at the level of self-proclaimed heroes, they are crushed the moment they claim to call themselves such).

・The number of Demon Kings who have been exterminated (I believe about 10 Demon Kings were hunted down, including the Ogre King and the Spicy King).

・The rise of the Church of the Righteousness in some human settlements (they’re a decent fellow this time).

Well, to put it plainly, the world is shifting from a science-centered world to a skill-centered world, and according to the prediction of this conference, within the next 50 years, the majority of the technologies of the former civilization will be obsolete, and skills will replace them.

Over the last nine years, research on skills has progressed remarkably, and it has been ascertained that parent-child and sibling relationships tend to develop similar skills. It was also discovered that children between kin of the same Demon King are born as kin, while children between kin of different Demon Kings or humans are randomly born to one of the parents’ races.

While on the subject, the birth rate of kin is lower than that of normal humans, and Demon Kings are reported to be either unable of producing offspring or exceptionally unlikely to do so.

…Yeah. Regarding the Demon King, the source for this is Kurokiri-san. That Demon King is seriously… When you think he’s earnestly training and engaging in work, all of a sudden he starts womanizing….

Yes, that’s right. Also, it seems that when you become a kin, your aging speed slows down according to your level. To be specific, it seems to be 1/(your level). Thanks to this, having been transformed into a kin in my first year of high school, I am still physically less than 20 years old.

So, that’s all I have to say about what has unfolded over the past 9 years or so; let’s concentrate on the conference now, shall we?

(Kurokiri POV)

“With that, the Japanese Demon Conference’s meeting draws to an end.”

“The laws, and so forth, remain as they are, and I will watch out for the Demon Kings of the sea and the sky. Well, it’s the same as usual.”

I am in the “White Fog and Black Swamp Forest” with a report from Chirito, but the contents of the report are the same as usual: “Nothing happened”.

Well, the Japanese Demon Conference is nothing more than a mere formality, and the only thing that has actually been settled in the conference to date is the prohibition of large-scale invasions between Demon Kings.

Now, my level has elevated over the past nine years as a matter of course. Thanks to that, my status is now like this.

Name: Kurokiri (King of the Devouring Black Fog)

Class: Demon King

Race: King of the Devouring Black Fog

Hp：2020/2020 ↑110

Mp：2330/2330 ↑120

Sp：2260/2260 ↑120

Status

Strength 40

Dexterity 55

Agility 57 up1

Sensing 45

Intellect 64↑1

Spirit 74↑1

Luck 10

Skill

≪Dungeon Creation≫, ≪Monster Creation≫, ≪Devouring Black Fog≫, ≪Cycle≫, ≪Mist Plosion≫, ≪Bewitching Fog≫, New! ≪Sharp Aqua Pillar≫

Title

≪King of the Devouring Black Fog≫, ≪White Fog of Ambush≫, ≪Lord of the Kirijin≫, ≪The Demon King Who Has Looked Outside≫, ≪Demon Slayer≫, ≪The One Who Vanquished the Demon King≫, ≪Miracle Deceiver≫, ≪King of the Kirijin≫, ≪Agitator≫, ≪Wordsmith of Sweet Poison≫,  ≪Purger of the Fog≫, New! ≪The One Who Encountered the God of Calamity≫, New! ≪Ruler of Japan≫, New! ≪The One Who Revolts Against the God of Calamity≫ etc.

Now, moving on to the introductions as usual.

First and foremost, ≪Sharp Aqua Pillar≫ is a water-attribute magic skill that attacks adversaries by summoning a ferocious pillar of water from the ground. The momentum is so tremendous that it can pierce an ordinary steel plate with ease.

The greatest advantage of this skill is that it can be employed even if no water source is available nearby since it converts magic power into water before releasing it.

In other words, even if I have to engage in a battle under the worst-case scenario where the surroundings are devoid of water, I will be able to fight without any problems, even if only temporarily, through the process of ≪Sharp Aqua Pillar≫ → Water generation → ≪Mist Plosion≫ → Fog generation.

Now, as for the titles, there are three new titles that are noteworthy. However, since the titles, ≪The One Who Encountered the God of Calamity≫ and ≪The One Who Revolts Against the God of Calamity≫ are literally as it means, I will skip them.

Regarding the title of ≪Ruler of Japan≫, I suppose it is due to the wide range of activities I have recently undertaken for this country. Like abducting people to cut down on the number of mouths to feed, sending Kirijin to the army to have a joint fight against the Demon Kings of the sea, and lifting the level of humans by utilizing the third level of “White Fog and Black Swamp Forest”.

And the truth is, there’s a lot more to it than that… but yeah. Let’s ignore that. There are simply too many to list.

Well, that’s about it for me personally, next let’s move on to the dungeon…