Demon King

“How long do we need to do this?”

“Until the dungeons disappear from Earth.”

“Don’t think about quitting.” I could hear the voices of the self-proclaimed warriors. Among them, the only names I knew were of Lane, the leader, and Emily. But, ultimately, it didn’t matter what their names were.

“Myu.”

“Yeah, it’s a spider. Are you hungry? There’ll be a bunch of monsters soon.”

“Emily, that’s the enemy.”

“I’m going to turn him to our side.”

“Shit.” Still, it was fortunate that they recognized that Solas was an enemy, although they revealed themselves so much in front of him, showing their immaturity.

“I can’t get in touch with them.”

“It’s natural that there is no contact, we’re on a mission.”

“What a mess. We are warriors to save mankind!”

“If they’re left alone, humanity will be annihilated…”

“Ohtem, what are you talking about?”

“Is there any reason to give our lives to save them?” When we first met, they had a clear sense of purpose. However, since then, it sounded like the rest of their mindsets, except for Lane, began to change. Disconnecting them from Heaven had an effect I didn’t think of.

“I’m tired of this, Lane.”

“Ohtem, you…!” As the tensions were rising, Emily stepped in.

“But we were saved by them. Shouldn’t that grace be paid back?”

“Yeah, they saved us and gave us strength! That’s enough!”

“Is that really grace?” The other man, who had been listening quietly, responded coldly.

“What?”

“Because we had the elves as partners, we were in danger of dying during the Great Fusion, and then they rescued us. We decided to do whatever they said, but I felt like something wasn’t right. How did they save us? Where did this power come from? I can’t shake those questions.

“Penak…” Emily’s voice trembled. I was trembling as well, but for a different reason. Batsago made it clear that during the Great Fusion, Heaven chose humans with abilities and trained them. Were those humans in the same position as those who had become fallen? The connection to your partner was related to your class and ability, generally speaking. Elves outperformed humans, so only the absolute best humans were connected with them before the Great Fusion. Could they have taken those excellent candidates and turned them into warriors?

“The Great Fusion…was it really a supernatural phenomenon? Couldn’t they have stopped it? Perhaps…what if they were the cause?”

“Penak!” Lane pulled out his sword. Penak and Ohtem readied theirs as well, and Emily stood back while hugging Solas. I decided to step forward before they collided.

“I would appreciate it if you killed each other in your own time.”

“Fate?!” I only told them my name once, but they remembered it well. I laughed as they pointed their weapons at me.

“Myu!” Solas leaped out of Emily’s arm and landed on my head.

“I’m in charge of this dungeon. There are only a few left on Earth, so now you can head on your own way.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t you listen? There are only a few left.”

“What are you up to?” Emily tried to hold Lane back, but he wouldn’t back down. Ohtem and Penak ran in to hold him back from either side.

“You’ll really die!”

“This idiot…!”

“Let go! Our enemy is him! This monster who leads demons and kills humans casually! Not Heaven!” The moment the word Heaven popped out of his mouth, the other three stiffened. It must’ve been an important secret to them.

“You’re out of your mind.”

“Lane, take it easy. Please calm down!”

“You don’t have to be so nervous.”

“What…?” I created countless blackmines, spreading them throughout the dungeon.

“I know Heaven is backing you. Only something like Heaven could have the capacity to do this.”

“…You knew?”

“Look at that! He’s the cause of the Great Fusion, I know it!”

“The Great Fusion was caused by Heaven to destroy the world I belong to: the underground.”

“What…?” Lane’s momentum stopped as he was struck speechless. Ohtem looked resigned, and Fenak had an odd expression on his face. Emily’s face was blank.

“Liar…!”

“I’m not lying. Believe it or not, it’s true that Heaven caused it. Oh, but it’s my fault that you were in danger of dying, as I created the Rookie’s Battlefield.” I drove the elves and angels into the Battlefield, even knowing how catastrophic it would be. Therefore, because I couldn’t repeat that terrible karma of the past, the underground and Earth would never be connected. They listened quietly while I explained why I created the Battlefield. But as soon as I was done, Lane’s patience seemed to be at its limit.

“You! It’s because of you…we were…!”

“If you want to kill me, go ahead…I will grant you a painless death.” I drew my dagger.

“Wait a moment, Lane.” Emily finally spoke up.

“Isn’t the direction of your anger wrong?”

“What are you talking about? This is the guy who almost killed us!”

“…They just wanted to live. Yes, we almost died as a result, but…if you kill him, then you will deserve your own anger.” Lane’s jaw rattled as he listened to her, his sword turning to her.

“It’s all a lie! Heaven didn’t cause it!”

“Do you believe that he created the Battlefield, but not that the heavens caused the Great Fusion?”

“He’s just mixing the truth with his lies!” I understood his feelings. Had I been in the same position, I would have made the same judgment.

“No matter how you listen to me or act from now on, it has nothing to do with me. I have no reason to lie to you, as you can’t do anything to me.” At that moment, a loud bang sounded through the dungeon as it prepared to collapse. A tremendous scream filled the dungeon, that of the boss monster in zone 6.

“I’ve got work left to do, so hurry up.”

“I…I…”

“Penak, Ohtem.” Emily called their names in a cold tone of voice. The two men nodded and immediately attacked Lane.

“Huh?!” Lane hit the ground, unable to defend himself from the instantaneous attacks. He was unharmed but immobile from their abilities.

“Thank you for letting us know. I hate you too, but I don’t want to die.”

“Us as well.”

“If we run away, will you leave us be?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

“But be on guard. If you try to block me, I will have no choice but to kill you.”

“Don’t worry.” Emily nodded as if to say, ‘trust me’. At that moment, the screams filling the dungeon faded away. The pocket watch began to vibrate, alerting me that the boss had been dealt with.

Only

“Are…are you going to try to confront heaven?”

“Yeah.”

“But they’re really amazing. Not only their number of angels, but their leader, Michael…!”

“They’re not a problem. What I care about is the heavenly body itself that creates and directs them.”

“The body…? What is that?” She had said she hated me but was trying to give me information. Perhaps their anger and hatred toward the heavens that used them transcended their feelings toward me. Anger and hatred. I could understand that too. They coincided with my desire to eat the heavens, burning hotter than hellfire. I slowly lifted my hand and pointed beyond the sky far above the dungeon we were in below the ground.

“It’s definitely there. The meal prepared for me.” With that, I left them. The seal of the boss of zone 6 was released, completely freeing the seal on the pocket watch as the dungeon itself was sucked into the underground. The pocket watch began to emit a dark light, opening a gate before me.

A gate to the Black Palace 7th District. Destiny, the pocket watch, the power I had yet to find, and the Black Palace.

I stepped forward, believing that there would be a way to overcome this situation where I was heading. Solas cried cheerfully in the dark beyond the gate.