Chapter 780: The Right to End It

“Why are you called demons?”

A question I should have asked long ago.

A question that should have come out immediately while I was harboring doubts.

“......Ah, that name. I know it.”

They were those who fought together for survival.

There was no reason for people like them to be called demons.

“Those who envied us called us that. It is a derogatory name coined by those who envied and resented us because they could not oppose us through strength. But have you not seen it yourself?”

Its gaze turned toward the sky.

The countless flourishing worlds and the red wilderness connecting those worlds.

“Even after seeing those worlds, do you believe such a name is appropriate?”

Right.

They certainly were worlds that made it difficult to think of the name demons.

They were distant worlds.

But right now, our world was also on the verge of being connected to them through that wilderness.

That was why I could tell.

Just how abundant those worlds were, and just how happy the life within those worlds was.

How far removed those worlds were from the scenery evoked by names such as the demon realm or hell.......

If the ruler of those worlds had not sincerely loved and cherished its creations, such scenery could never have existed.

Perhaps if we also became part of those worlds, we would be able to enjoy the same abundance as them.

But...... I looked at those worlds and said.

“If you are a demon, then that place must be the world of demons.”

“.......”

“Well, if I had to give it a name.”

A land where demons lived.

There was only one name suitable for such a world.

“The demon realm, perhaps.”

Or a place called hell.

A name far too different from the Divine Realm Alliance that creature had called itself.

'They only have one word in common.'

That was why I could not help finding it even more suspicious.

For such a beautiful and abundant world to be given the name demon realm...... just what must have happened?

“I know what you are thinking. But do not misunderstand.”

When I looked at it suspiciously.

It answered with a sincere gaze.

“My words truly contain nothing but truth. I have not told you a single lie.”

If I joined the Alliance, nothing harmful would happen to me.

They would assist me with all sincerity.

And the inhabitants of this land would enjoy peace under their protection.

“In that stable environment, you will follow your destiny and be reborn as a great existence, and we may even promise you a seat upon one of the thrones that represent us!”

“.......”

“Are you perhaps worried about the afterlife of your people because of the name hell? Their afterlife...... everything from birth to extinction will be entirely yours to govern. Countless crises of destruction will approach over the endless ages that follow, but the Alliance will confront every one of those crises together with you!”

“......So you did not lie?”

“Correct. Do not be misled by the name demon realm. I swear upon my name, there is no better choice for you than joining the Alliance.”

It clenched its fist and shouted.

“You do not perhaps believe that because hell exists, heaven must also exist, do you? If so, I advise you to cast aside that thought. I can say with certainty that those arrogant beings would never do anything beneficial for you!”

“Right. If there were no lies, that is certainly fortunate. Then I have one more question.”

Fortunately.

I had already encountered a demon before.

I also knew what methods they primarily used, now that I knew that creature was one of the beings called demons.

“Was there...... nothing you deliberately concealed?”

“.......”

At that.

The creature that had been shouting so passionately suddenly fell silent with a clack.

“I suppose there was.”

“Do not misunderstand. This is merely one method of communication. Hiding one’s flaws in order to appear a little more favorable to someone whose affection one desires, behaving and speaking differently from usual...... It may not be a virtuous act, but neither is it an evil one...... Is it not simply a common occurrence?”

“Well, perhaps. To be honest, it might not matter much whether you are a demon or whether that world is the demon realm.”

“Then!”

“But what bothers me is this.”

I pointed at my head as I spoke.

The greatest problem in the current situation was not whether that creature was a demon.

“Why was I unable to remember those names?”

Demon and demon realm.

I had clearly continued thinking about those names until I entered this battlefield.

I had struggled desperately to prepare a way to deal with that demon.

Normally, the moment that creature proposed that I join the Alliance, I should have realized it was a demon’s proposal.

And the moment I saw those worlds, I should have recognized them as the land called the demon realm.

But.

'While I was speaking with that creature...... I never thought of them at all.'

Even while doubting everything about it with an attitude filled with suspicion, I still failed to remember them.

To the point that I dismissed my suspicions as groundless and tried to move on!

“You.”

No matter how much I might be someone with a few screws loose, this made no sense.

There had to be a reason...... and that reason was probably.

“You did something.”

“.......”

“You tampered with my mind.”

There was no other possibility but that creature.

***

I opened my status window and looked over the abilities I possessed.

[Title: Kingslayer]

[Nullifies mental interference from beings of a lower rank than yourself.]

I possessed immunity to mental interference.

There had been more than one or two crises I had escaped thanks to this ability.

However, there had once been a time in the past when even this ability failed to exert its power.

'The Matron.'

The Matron I had encountered in Seoul.

Inside the false world she created in Seoul, my memories had continued to reset.

And because that ability had still failed to activate, I had only barely managed to escape that world with the help of Lieutenant General Kim...... Lieutenant Kim at the time.

There was one fact I could learn from that.

'My immunity to mental interference only works against opponents of a lower rank than me.'

There was no possibility that the creature before me was of a lower rank than I was.

Furthermore, the golden light pouring from its body had already filled the space around my body.

It had even manipulated my perception of time and created a situation in which the surrounding world appeared to have stopped.

'Compared to stopping time like this, interfering with my consciousness probably would not have been difficult at all.'

The power of that transcendent existence was touching my body.

There was nothing strange about that energy reaching all the way into my head.

“Please understand.”

......And.

That creature was a demon.

A being that had sworn never to speak falsehood in order to maintain the Alliance known as the demon realm.

“There is no better future for you and your world than joining the Alliance.”

Even the System had openly declared that demons were beings that did not tell lies.

Therefore, every word it spoke could only be true.

“But I knew that if you learned several facts, you would not choose that best option. Therefore...... I merely influenced you ever so slightly so that you might view me more favorably. For your sake!”

But concealing something.

Was entirely possible.

“Making me forget the words demon and demon realm. Was that it?”

“......Indeed. But believe me, I did nothing else. Every thought and judgment you made after hearing about the Divine Realm Alliance was entirely your own.”

“As I said, I do not care whether you are a demon or a god, whether you came from the Divine Realm Alliance or the demon realm. What matters is.”

SHING.

I drew the cooking knife at my waist.

“There was a reason you had to conceal those two words, demon and demon realm.”

“.......”

“Something must have changed depending on whether you concealed them or not.”

Had I accepted the deal as it was.

I would have joined the demon realm without knowing that creature’s identity.

I would never have seen through its deception with my own abilities alone.

And yet, there was only one reason I had been able to notice the truth.......

'It was not my power.'

Within the frozen time.

I had thought the only beings capable of moving were that creature and me.......

'In truth, there was one more.'

The body that creature occupied.

The original owner of that body.

The existence that still shared a single body with it.

“......Because he remained silent and taciturn, I believed he had given up on everything. That was why I did not take the risk of eliminating him, but.”

That was why.

He was an existence that had clearly maintained his will even within this frozen world.

“Perhaps...... I should have sealed this insect’s mind even if it meant taking the risk.”

An existence belonging to this System.

Someone who had not once belonged to this world, but who had now unmistakably become part of it.

'The prince.'

My cooking.

The effect of [Course Meal - Earth] was to strengthen the influence that beings of this world possessed over this land.

That effect was certainly powerful, but when examined closely, it was simple.

It merely amplified the power that the life of this land originally possessed to an extreme degree. It did not create power that had never existed.

Right.

Separate from the effects of my course meal, life belonging to this land.......

Those who possessed even a small fragment of the old god’s flesh, or those who existed under the influence of the System, could wield that power.

The more powerful an existence was, the greater its share within the System would be.

That was why the prince, buried deep inside that creature, had used the System’s power dwelling within himself.

And conveyed it to me through the sound of that heartbeat.

'The golden energy that had infiltrated my mind.'

He had driven that energy out with that sound.

“You understand that I have no choice but to find your little trick extremely unpleasant, do you not?”

“......I understand perfectly.”

“But that does not mean there is no room left for negotiation.”

Regardless of what it had concealed, its words had certainly been true.

The advantages it offered were far too clear and certain.

“Tell me why you concealed those names, without hiding even the slightest detail.”

“.......”

“Do that, and there may still be room for negotiation. I may suppress my current anger and accept the deal. So...... let us negotiate again, without concealing anything.”

The lives of every living being on this land, not only mine, depended on this.

I was angry, but I could not throw away that opportunity merely because it had deceived me.

I pointed my knife at it and watched its mouth.

If its reason for deceiving me was insignificant.......

No, even if it was significant.

If it was not enough to make me reject the advantages it had offered, I might still allow the red wilderness to approach.

'The conditions that creature offered...... were everything I had longed for.'

That was why.

I hoped only that it would speak honestly.

“......For your sake.”

The creature squeezed its eyes shut as though deliberating for a moment.

Then opened its mouth.

“I cannot tell you.”

***

“......I see.”

At those words.

I could only give a bitter smile.

“It is about what I expected.”

I had survived in this destruction for several years now.

From what I had learned by experiencing this world firsthand.

'There is no way something that easy and good would ever happen to me.'

In the struggle to overcome this destruction.

There was no such thing as an easy and comfortable path.

“Then the negotiations end here.”

“......No.”

When I glared at it and spoke.

The golden ruler answered arrogantly.

=It is not over. The right to end these negotiations and this conversation...... does not belong to you.=

“.......”

Just as it said.

The world had been frozen.

Standing in the middle of it, perhaps I truly did not possess the right to end this conversation first.

Even if I wanted to end the conversation and storm away, I needed its permission even to storm away.

'The difference in strength.'

The strong could force negotiations upon others, while the weak could not even easily leave the place of conversation.

It was the law of the jungle, a sad truth that could not be denied.

“Perhaps I truly do not possess that right.”

......Right.

I could not deny the law of the jungle, the rule of the strong.

It was certainly true that I did not possess the right to end this conversation.

“I do not, that is.”

=......?=

But.......

There was one more point that had to be made.

“So...... I am counting on you!”

In this arena ruled by the law of the jungle.

The being that reigned as the stronger party in this place.

As for who possessed the right to end this conversation.

“Mirinae!”

“I was wondering when you would call.”

That was something we would only know after putting it to the test.