Chapter 225: End and Beginning (2)
Boom──!
The beam fired from the shining eyes of ‘Death’ (or something red presumed to be eyes) instantly destroyed everything it touched.
Included in that was the throne I had sat on just a moment ago.
Narrowly avoiding the beam, I jumped up using the fragments of the altar that were smashed and thrown up as stepping stones one by one, and.
“The instrument to be played is you bastard!”
Mustering all my strength, I threw a punch at ‘Death’.
For a moment, a shockwave arose.
──Fwoosh!
I didn't stop there and even completely covered the guy's body with the 「Hellfire of Karma」 wrapped around my hand.
However.
“Kuh…!”
The one who actually took damage and stumbled was rather my side.
As if to prove that he wasn't a ‘giant robot’ only in appearance, the hardness of the body I hit was also not at a level that could simply be described as hard.
Surely no metal existing in this world would have higher strength than that body of ‘Death’.
Eventually losing my balance, I fell straight down.
I succeeded in regaining my posture midway and landing safely, but.
“Damn it…!”
Zing! Avoiding the laser fired again as if waiting for me like that in a hurry, I ended up falling flat on the ground all the same.
Furthermore, the 「Hellfire of Karma」 I attached to the body of ‘Death’ was completely extinguished before I knew it.
Even though it was a ‘fire that can never be extinguished’ unless I extinguish it myself.
Not an exaggeration, that was really the ‘rule’.
『Meaningless.』
So strictly speaking, ‘disappeared’ would be the correct expression.
As proof, not even a scorch mark remained on ‘Death’.
『No matter how powerful a being you are in this world, eventually you are nothing more than a mortal born in this world.』
Even if 「Authority Kill」 was sealed, as if he was still a ‘god’ anyway.
『Meaning you are a being born into this world to become my kin.』
The unknown fear that came from the ‘outer world’ and conquered this world at once.
『You, can absolutely never kill me.』
Since that is the case, there was nothing wrong with the guy's words.
I had no means to kill the guy.
However.
“──If there is, what will you do?”
As I said just before, I am a Bard.
A Bard has a Bard's way.
I didn't intend to suppress with ‘strength’ only from the beginning.
…Well, actually I did in the past, so I ended up being defeated and sealed.
Now is different.
I had no intention whatsoever of repeating the mistake of that time.
『Fire of Hell──』
Zing──
『──Burn the sky!』
The rain of meteors that began to pour down from the pitch-black darkness blocked the beams of ‘Death’ fired split into dozens of strands.
Breaking through that rain of flames, I rushed towards ‘Death’ once again.
『Burn up!』
The 「Hellfire of Karma」 raised while doing so was, again, insufficient to burn the body of ‘Death’.
『I told you it is meaningless.』
However, unlike the guy's words, it wasn't ‘meaningless’.
At least I succeeded in coming right in front of the guy's ‘eyes’, avoiding the beams fired.
『Foolish.』
“Ugh──”
Of course, as if he expected even this, ‘Death’ immediately snatched me with a hand (or something similar).
『Did you think I would have a weakness or something.』
Squeezing me tight as if to wring me out like that, he pulled me closer and closer to the ‘eyes’.
Then again, the ‘eyes’ began to emit light.
Surely he intends to fire the laser he was shooting diligently until just now like this, eliminating me without leaving even a trace.
『Die this time for sure.』
This guy was huge to the extent that it was hard to simply describe as ‘large’.
It's called a giant robot, but practically it was a size no different from a mountain.
So let alone facing each other, it was a size hard even to look up at.
So, until just now, I wasn't sure.
Although the guy's ‘eyes’ were directed at me, since he isn't human in the first place, one wouldn't know if those are really eyes or not, let alone if such organs even exist.
But, now was definitely different.
Whether that red something trying to pierce me right now is an eye or not, it didn't matter.
“──Ha.”
Therefore, I smirked, raising one corner of my mouth.
『──?』
Since it became certain that the guy is within ‘range’.
“Caught you.”
Before jumping up, I took off the 「Witch's Eyes」 first.
In short, right now ‘Death’ is facing my two eyes straight on.
This meant.
--
Upon unequip, the next Charisma stat-based attack becomes a critical hit unconditionally. Or, a Charisma stat-based spell succeeds ‘unconditionally’.
--
He couldn't escape from the ‘rule’ saying that.
Whether the opponent is a human or a monster, or something like a giant robot from the outer world or whatever.
The next Charisma-based spell to follow, succeeds ‘unconditionally’.
『──Become human.』
And I gave the 「Word of Power」.
『──!』
An absolute command that cannot be disobeyed.
At that moment, the ‘hand’ that was constricting me disappeared.
Because the main body of ‘Death’, which was no different from a mountain, changed into the form of a ‘person’.
As the size naturally shrank along with that, I was also naturally released from the guy's grasp.
Thanks to that, in front of me who landed safely on the floor again, was the ‘Death’ I saw outside this Unique Barrier.
“You bastard…”
Having the appearance of a human, like the statue carved of the guy.
“…Just because I took this form of a mortal, did you think you could kill me?”
“Would I? Since you'll probably revive again or something anyway.”
If I could really kill this damn ‘god’, I would have killed him long ago in the first fight.
Including this ‘Death’ guy, for these things called gods, the concept of death in this world didn't apply. I don't know if it's because they came from the outer world.
That's why I didn't give a command like ‘kill yourself’.
Because that would really be meaningless.
“From the start, I had no intention of killing you or anything.”
Babbling about killing or not, throwing punches, and spewing fire all this time was just to deceive the guy.
It was to show that my attacks don't deal any damage, confirming that the guy stood in an overwhelming advantage.
“Don't you know?”
In other words, I made him let his guard down.
“Acting── and [Deception], are also one of a Bard's weapons, you see.”
Everything.
“A petty mortal──”
For this one moment.
“──Look closely.”
As expected.
“──!”
For an instant, the movement of ‘Death’ trying to spew shadow at me stopped.
“At my beauty!”
As I said earlier, the guy right now has become a ‘human’.
“All humans are born to fall for me! Falling for me, is the fate decided for you!”
“What──”
He was ‘charmed’.
“I am a beauty──!!”
By my 「Kingdom-Toppling Beauty 」.
“M, Mortal dare…!”
‘Death’ moved the hand he was barely trying to move back, trying to attack me with the shadow extended from that hand.
But the attack of the guy who was already perfectly ‘charmed’ by me could be easily avoided just by slightly twisting my body.
“This is the Bard's way of fighting. ──Winning without fighting in the first place, that is.”
Of course, since he is of the ‘God Race’, he has basic resistance, so very briefly── probably after ‘one turn’, the guy will quickly escape from the control of 「Word of Power」.
Right now, I just made the guy into a ‘charmed’ state towards me, lowered that resistance, and bought about one more turn.
However.
『─The Die』
That one turn was enough.
『is cast』
Clang!
From the cracked and broken altar, ‘chains’ popped out.
“You bastard……!”
『Cast──!』
And the moment fate was overturned by the 「Moment of the Star」.
“──Kuh!”
‘Death’ couldn't ‘evade’ those chains in time, and eventually ended up having both arms wrapped quickly and bound.
“E-Even if you do this, me──”
“So I told you. I had no intention of killing you from the start.”
Anyway, as expected of a ‘god’. Not listening to the words of a person like me even with the back of the ear.
“Actually, you see, this is the place where I was sealed.”
Yes. Practically I was trapped here.
I am also, strictly speaking, a ‘Demon God’.
Like other ‘god’ guys, being an existence that cannot be killed easily even if tried, eventually it ended at sealing.
So, maybe I was also an existence from the outer world like these guys actually.
Or maybe their blood is mixed in half.
I don't know the details either.
And honestly, I'm not curious either.
Who cares.
Where and how I was born.
The important thing was that I wanted to live as an existence of this world── as the ‘Primordial Demon King’.
Just as I want to live as Yubin in the future too.
“This time, it's your turn.”
“……Are you saying, you will seal me.”
“Correct.”
“Meaningless.”
“No, it will be quite meaningful.”
“Eventually, it is the thinking of a mortal. Someday you will meet death. If that happens, this seal will also be broken.”
‘Death’, whose two legs were also tied by chains before long, and eventually ended up kneeling in front of me for real, distorted the corners of his mouth.
“Do you think I cannot wait for the time when a mere mortal meets death?”
“Well, for now, I'm also something like you guys. Won't die easily.”
“Even so, it would be at most hundreds of years. Even if it takes thousands of years, I just have to wait.”
“Maybe so.”
It wasn't wrong.
“But when that time comes, you will have become a nothing existence.”
“…What?”
“Don't underestimate the power of us mortals── of people.”
However, during that time, we will also never stay still.
“Someday when I really close my eyes, and you wake up── someone like you, will be nothing more than a remnant of the past.”
The reason you gods could easily rule this world was that you were ‘unknown fears’.
“One of the other specialties of a Bard is, you see, singing history, and conveying it to future generations.”
I will widely convey to this world about ‘Death’ sealed here.
People will research about gods including ‘Death’.
So that they won't be ruled again.
“Meaning you will no longer be something like an ‘unknown fear’.”
I will make it so without fail.
“When that time comes, you will also come to understand the meaning of my words.”
“……Are you saying you will bet everything on, merely such hope.”
“Don't you still know that hope is binding you right now?”
Before long, the chains binding ‘Death’ blocked even the guy's mouth.
It was a signal announcing that the time for ‘conversation’ was over.
Whatever the future holds, the meeting between me and ‘Death’ was over here now.
“I won't say let's meet again. At least while I am alive, there won't be any chance for us to meet again.”
Therefore, bowing lightly, I gave the last farewell with an exaggerated gesture as if acting in a play.
And I escaped from the Unique Barrier where I sealed ‘Death’ and returned to the mortal world again.
Yes.
To the world where the ‘God of Death’ no longer exists.
Therefore, the shadows he brought from the Underworld── the ‘Legion of Death’ also could not be found anywhere.
“Y, You…!”
Waiting for me beyond the flames that subsided before long.
“Yubin……?”
“Ta-da.”
“You, idiot──!”
“Ugh.”
Were only my beloved ones who rushed in all at once and hugged me tight as soon as they saw me, making me unable to support my exhausted body, and the comrades who fought together regardless of race.
***
Playing the king, which I hadn't even thought about until recently, was certainly not clothes that fit my body.
Furthermore, I chose a path that other Demon Kings had never walked before.
Peace, that is.
So there wasn't even a proper precedent, and since it was the first time for everyone as well as me, it was full of awkward things.
Naturally, not all things proceeded cleanly.
And surely we would have to go through many trials and errors in the future.
But, I had companions guarding my side.
Of course, on the surface, they were excellent vassals, but our relationship hadn't changed at all from the time we gathered around the same campfire and spent the night together.
Lily became the first demon-human diplomat representing our kingdom to interact with humans.
At first, since it was full of unfamiliar things for both our side and that side as expected, there were often mistakes too.
But receiving teachings from her mother── Lilith, who took on the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs, she grew day by day, and these days only news of her playing an active part could be heard.
─ Your Majesty── my, husband?
Thanks to that, Lily became a diplomat, a devout clergyman of the Sistina religion, and.
─ This time, I learned a lot of new things from mother again…
─ Uh…
─ Please look forward to it?
My lovely consort who gives a mischievous smile that makes one have no choice but to be charmed even though clearly not hit by 「Charm」.
─ Rise, knight.
Miki was active as my exclusive knight and the Captain of the Royal Guard leading the Demon King's Royal Guard.
─ ──I, Michael. I will dedicate this body to serve Your Majesty.
I will become Your Majesty's living shield!
The news that the strongest Irons, and the continent's best knight Michael Irons became the Demon King's knight soon spread throughout the continent, and like that, Miki became an existence like a symbol opening the new era ahead.
─ Miki.
Shall we have a light spar after we finish?
─ Ah…! It is an honor,Yubin!
Well, to me he was always an existence like a cute younger brother though.
The most unexpected was Toric.
Since the fight with the ‘God of Death’ was over, I thought Toric would surely want to return to his village and spend a peaceful daily life.
However.
─ Don't you still have a lot of work to do.
I was taking on the role of the elder of our party in my own way, I won't pretend not to know at this point.
Saying that, he expressed his intention to continue to play an active part by my side for the time being.
Of course, for me who lacked even one person's hand, it was welcome beyond measure, but I still asked once.
─ Will you really be okay?
─ Ha.
Useless worry.
This dwarf uncle's body is still usable.
Having shaken off many things in various ways, he just laughed heartily though.
Like that, Toric became the branch manager of the first Capers branch established in our country, and it became a daily routine for many demon warriors to visit holding large barrels of alcohol to receive teachings from that legendary warrior.
Rine became the Chief Mage of our kingdom.
However, for a while, instead of staying here at the castle.
─ …Travel.
─ Huh?
─ Alone, I want to try leaving on a trip.
She was in a role closer to an ‘advisor’ as she traveled the continent.
─ During that time I received care from everyone, but this time I want to find the things I want to do, the places I want to go by myself.
─ …Really?
Leaving on a trip leaving behind that one word that almost brought tears along with a warm smile, Rine returned in front of me again one year later and said.
─ Was the trip fun?
─ It was fun.
And, I came to know more about people's emotions in detail.
─ Really?
─ Yes.
──I realized that I had already learned everything while traveling with everyone.
That there was no need to go far to find it, but it was all inside herself.
─ You realized.
─ Yes.
Thanks to that, I found the work I want to do for the rest of my life and the place I want to be for the rest of my life.
─ Oh, where is it?
─ It is by Yubin side.
Evie was well… Evie.
Even if I recommended any position, she just waved her hand saying she declines all such annoying things.
Saying she isn't a person to be tied down to such a position or something.
However, even refusing all positions like that, she always guarded the seat next to me.
Never showing it in front of others, but if we are alone or only those she can reveal her true self to without hesitation are around, just like now sticking close as if to collect what she has held back during that time.
“Once the system settles down to some extent now, I want to quit being king or whatever right away and go traveling like before.”
“Like before?”
“Yeah, like before. ──Lighting a campfire, and singing my songs that you love to listen to so much.”
“You crawl up whenever there is a chance, really?”
“So you like it, don't you?”
“Ha.”
Evie, who scoffed, lightly kissed my lips instead of answering.
“Yeah, idiot.”
This story of mine will also end someday.
And the Bards who will convey that story in the future, although it is a cliché ending, will conclude with a phrase that has been loved by many for that long.
Everyone lived happily ever after.
Like that.