A relatively small but well-kept and clean room. Could this be the
reception room? Thereupon, the explanation to us which had been
interrupted by our movement and mealtime resumed.
[Now then, about this world… The topic has been raised a bit earlier, so
I'll explain it to you with the story of the First Hero-sama.]
When Lilia-san said this, Lunamaria-san put what looked like a map on
the table.
First of all, the shape of the continent gives the impression of an
enlarged map of Europe, and on the lower left part of the continent—–
around what would have been Spain, is marked in black and white, with
a red circle around the center of the continent a little away from it.
[The one enclosed in red is the Symphonia Kingdom where we are now.
To the north is the "Arclesia Kingdom", and to the south across the sea is
the "Hydra Kingdom"… These are the three main countries that we call
the Three Major Powers and "until about a thousand years ago", they
were everything we knew about the world.]
[…Are you saying that it's different now?]
[Yes, that's right, Aoi-san. This world map is mainly inhabited by
humans, elves, and dwarves—- It's the realm where many "Humanoid
races" live and is collectively known as the "Human Realm". In addition
to this, there's the "Demon Realm" where the "Demon Race" lives and
the "God Realm" where the "God Race" lives.]
After saying so, two new maps are placed on the desk. One of them is
more than twice the size of the map I was just looking at and looks
similar in shape to the Australian continent. The other is a small map of
the continent in the shape of a ring, or perhaps it would be closer to a
donut?
[The large map is the Demon Realm and the small map is the God
Realm. I guess it would be easier to understand if you imagine the
shape of a sandwich, piled up on top of another? The three worlds of
the God Realm, the Human Realm, and the Demon Realm are separated
by an invisible dimensional wall and yet, they exist side by side. And
that's what this world, "Trinia", in the true sense of the word, is all
about.]
[…It's turning out to be terribly magnificent story huh.]
[Fufufu, yeah, for those of you who came from another world, it may
seem that there are three different worlds, but for us, these three
worlds are located in different parts of the world, and we can enter and
return freely at the gates. It's a bit of a different perception from places
like where Hero-sama and everyone lived, where you can't interfere
with other worlds with anything other than a summoning circle.]
[I see.]
A different world would have a different set of common sense.
Compared to us who felt that these dimensional walls are mysterious
and strange, it is said that the people who have been living in this world
don't think that it's that much different from the oceans and mountains.
Yes, I think we just have to be aware that this is the way it is.
[As for the government system of the Human Realm, I've heard from the
past heroes that it's close to the world you've been in but… What do you
think? Can you think about a country around back in your world that
works the same way?]
[…Hnnnn. I think this would be a system where there's a king and
nobles with domains of their own?]
[Yes, there's no mistake recognizing it like that.]
Yuzuki-san replied to Lilia-san's words with a bit of confidence. That's
how I envisioned this world too, but I guess I'm not wrong. The only
thing I'm curious about now is that Lilia-san has gone out of her way to
say "the government system of the Human Realm", does that mean that
the God Realm and the Demon Realm are different?
Thereupon, Lilia-san nodded her head towards us, letting us know that
Yuzuki is on the same page as her.
[Now then, let's talk about how the three worlds formed a friendly
relationship later… Let's talk about the God Realm and the Demon
Realm first. The God Realm is a world where the Creation God stands at
its apex… Or to put it in another way, it's a world with only one nation,
and the God Race only recognizes the Creation God's will as an absolute
thing without exception.]
[The Creation God doesn't appear in the public outside of the onceevery-ten-years Hero Festival, so I don't think we'll be seeing him for
the moment. In the first place, the Creation God doesn't interfere with
the world but watches over the future of the world. According to the
legends, other than the time of the great war against the Demon Realm,
he has never even wielded his absolute power.]
Lunamaria-san added to Lilia's explanation.
In other words, the God Realm can be said to be in the pinnacle of a
vertically structured society. And the Creation God, who is at the top,
basically keeps the stance of watching over the others… if it's exactly
just as I imagined.
[Next is the Demon Realm, isn't it? It's the vastest of the three realms
and home to the most diverse species. Although they are generally
called "Demons", there are countless variations in their appearance. The
Heroes often thought that they're equal to monsters, but in the Demon
Realm, the monsters are defined as beings with less than a certain level
of intelligence.
Unn, to be honest, I also had the same image regarding demons and
monsters, but I guess they have a clear standard for themselves? I guess
it would be hard for me to tell until I see them in person…
[The Demon Realm is a meritocracy that's easy to understand. You
could say that the person having the greatest power stands at the top.
This is just one of those things that you should understand, but just
because they're in a meritocracy, it doesn't mean that the demons are
violent beings. In fact, most demons are rational, don't use violence
without reason nor look down on the weak. It's just that it's a realm
that emphasizes individual ability, not their bloodline.]
[Rather, they are much more temperate than the human race. Both My
Lady and I have been to the Demon Realm and toured around a few
times. The people there have been very kind to me.]
[Yes, I'd like to have some time to visit there again. There is no country
in the Demon Realm, but it's divided into 6 territories. And the 6
demons who reign at the top of each territory… commonly known as
the "Six Kings". "Underworld King-sama", "War King-sama", "Death Kingsama", "World King-sama", "Dragon King-sama" and "Phantasmal Kingsama"… Each of them is a demon that has lived for thousands of years,
and their power is said to be capable of destroying the world.]
The most outrageous six kings… just hearing what they're called is
enough for me to bring back the black history of my youth, but it seems
that they are beings that must not be crossed in this world.
However, there's one thing that bothered me about the explanation she
just gave. Both Lilia and Lunamaria-san said that demons are basically
benevolent beings, but hadn't the humans fought against the demons in
the past?
[Umm, can I ask you a question?]
[Yes, go ahead.]
[…You mentioned earlier that most demons are quite gentle, but a
thousand years ago, those six kings? Is it okay to say that there was a
demon king among them that attacked the Human Realm?]
[Unn. I don't know how to say this… It seems that the "Demon King"
who swung his fury around the Human Realm back then was actually
just a mere rogue in the Demon World.]
[Eh?]
In response to my question, Lilia-san wrily smiled as if she's also at a
loss for words. It was pretty much lined up with the image I had in
mind, but I never expected that the Demon King was actually just a
small fry… That's too earth-shattering.
[As I mentioned earlier, the demons are basically gentle. The Demon
Realm itself is vast, their food is abundant, and the six kings standing at
the top are on good terms with each other and often mingled with each
other. It was said that the only time they fought in time immemorial,
even though there was a skirmish in the Demon Realm, was against the
God Realm which has only happened once. In the first place, until the
Demon King and the First Hero-sama appeared, for Demons, they only
knew that Humans exist, but they've never seen it. They apparently
recognized the Humans as beings that they have no particular reason to
fight with.]
[Well, no matter which world it is, there are those people who don't see
the good in living in peace, living with ambitions held in their hearts.]
Lunamaria-san added with a sigh. Even after 1000 years, the First Hero
is still respected, but I felt like the image for that "Demon King" has
been getting lower and lower.
[Yes, it was that "Demon King" who gathered all the bloodthirsty
demons and tried to overthrow the six kings in those days to rise to the
top of the Demon Realm. In the Human Realm, they would be
something like bandits… Well, you could also say they were like rebels.
However, because the number of demons is so large, the "Demon
King's" army seems to have become a large army of over a million
demons as a result. Even so, I heard that it was just a small-scaled army
in terms of the entire Demon Realm…]
The more the denominator increases, the more sympathizers
appeared… To be honest, I can't imagine an army of millions appearing
right away, but I heard that it was how the "Demon King" apparently
appeared. In that case, why didn't it try to overthrow the six kings and
came to the Human Realm instead?
[…I heard that the "Demon King's" army had challenged Underworld
King-sama to a battle in order to gain control of the Demon Realm.]
[Ah, you mentioned that there was a war that happened in the Demon
Realm earlier.]
[…And so, what happened?]
I think it was because I was interested in their attack on the Human
Realm, but because we were concerned about something, Yuzuki-san
and I asked for her to continue on that topic a bit more.
[It was a battle of a million against one, and Underworld King has
beaten them down in a matter of minutes.]
[…Errr…]
[That is… How should I say this…]
[…I can't help but feel pity him for what happened.]
The fact that they were overwhelmingly crushed even made Kusonokisan inadvertently feel pity for the Demon King. Either the Demon King's
army is too weak, or it's just that Underworld King is too strong… Just
like Kusonoki-san said, I'm somehow starting to feel sorry for the
Demon King. I mean, in just a few minutes of engagement, most of them
were probably wiped out in just one or two strikes…
[However, Underworld King-sama is a very kind man. He didn't kill
anyone, but he just warned "It's good that all of you are pretty lively, but
you shouldn't bother people around you." and let the Demon King's
army go.]
Not only did he went easy on them, but he's also even treating them just
like troublesome neighborhood brats!? That's enough already! The
"Demon King's" image inside of me has already crashed down, you
know!?
[And after that incident, the Demon King realized that he was no match
for the six kings… So, he decided to invade the Human Realm, which the
six kings had decreed not interfere with back then.]
[ [ […] ] ]
He ran awaaaaaaaay!? That Demon King ran away from the Demon
Realm!? I don't really have any particular attachment to him, but you're
not very good at this, Demon King!? I felt like he suddenly turned into a
kid who was scolded and ran away from home…
This is… Honestly… How am I supposed to react to this?
Dear Mother, Father—– They were saying that Demons are rational and
gentle. And the Demon King—- was just a small fry