The words that Chronois-san told me. The story of Kuro being the one
who once caused the battle between the Demon Realm and the God
Realm didn't enter my mind at all.
[I can understand your bewilderment, but for now, let's move on with
the story.]
[…Yes.]
Chronois-san quietly told the confused me.
I can certainly think about this later, but for now, let's not miss out what
Chronois-san has to say.
[Well, even though I'm telling you what kind of being she is, I haven't
seen the entirety of that battle either. I've seen it up to the point where
Kuromueina, who had invaded the God Realm, confronted Shallow
Vernal-sama, but when I was on my way to the scene, Ein stopped me in
my tracks.]
[…I see, even Ein-san was there…]
When she mentioned that, I can understand why.
It's not surprising that she was part of the battle at that time since Einsan is a maid serving Kuro and I also heard that she's been in Kuro's
family for the longest time.
[We've fought many times since then, but vexing it may be, we still
haven't been able to conclude that fight. Anyway, one of the reasons
why you should be wary of Kuromueina is that "that" is the one who
once attacked the God Realm.]
[…you saying "one of the reasons" means that there's still more to it
than that huh.]
[Umu… The second reason is that… since that battle, "that demon has
been hiding her true form and power".]
[Her true form?]
Come to think of it, I remember Kuro saying that she can change her
form at will.
However, the only form I've ever seen was the usual little girl form, so I
assumed that form is her most basic form but… It seems like I was
mistaken.
[You may already know about this, "that" can change her appearance
and gender. Although she's under the so-called "indefinite" demons, as
long as one is a living being, we would have a true form in which we can
exert our strength the most. "That" may be acting based on her form of
a little girl right now, but when she attacked the God Realm, she had a
different form.]
[A different form?]
[…Yeah, a monster made of jet-black smoke, as if it was a gathering of
all the darkness in the world. That is that demon's true form… I'll be
honest with you. The moment I've seen that form of hers is the first
time in my life I felt the feeling of fear. It was to the point that I thought
she might be equal to the god of this world, Shallow Vernal-sama… In
fact, I'm still having that thought since after that battle with Shallow
Vernal-sama, she's still calmly living in peace.]
[......]
Shiro-san is the God of Creation, the being who created this world. She
is the closest one the the word "omnipotent" that Ein-san, someone
who had equal abilities as Chronois-san, says that she can't oppose, and
she should have been the strongest being in this world.
Kuro fought her and survived. I don't think Shiro-san is the type of
person who would consider the thoughts of someone that she had just
fought against.
[Shallow Vernal-sama only said one word about that battle, that it was a
"draw", and though she didn't say anything else… You should be able to
understand how unbelievable that is, right?]
[…Yes.]
In other words, Kuro has the power that was on par with Shiro-san, the
God of Creation, or that's at least, in terms of just the aspect of their
combat abilities…
I see, if that's really the case, it's natural for Chronois-san to be wary of
Kuro.
The reason being is that Kuro is the only person who can possibly kill
Shiro-san… Then, Chronois-san, who is absolutely loyal to Shiro-san,
would be wary of her.
["That" is undoubtedly the strongest among the Six Kings. However, to
the best of my knowledge, she hasn't shown her true form since that
battle.]
[I see… So that's why Chronois-san is so wary of Kuro.]
[…The two reasons I've mentioned up to this point certainly are the
main cause why you should be wary of that demon… However, those
two weren't the most important reason.]
[…Eh?]
What does she mean by that?
So far, Chronois-san has talked about the battle between the Demon
Realm and the God Realm, and that Kuro holds an immense amount of
power, and both of those reasons should have been enough to convince
me, but the most important reason seems to be something else.
[The most important reason why I'm so wary of the demon named
Kuromueina… is because her existence itself is too much of an enigma.]
[An enigma?]
[Yeah, no matter how powerful the members of the Six Kings are, they
too have lives and a will. For example, the Death King is a being born
from the gathered magic power of the dead, while the World King is the
spirit born from a large tree, the World Tree… But no matter how much
I investigate, Kuromueina is the only one I can't figure out.]
[...…]
[That is a being filled with a complete enigma, whether when she
appeared or where she appeared, and even her purpose is almost
completely shrouded in mystery.]
[Her purpose?]
[…Yeah, it's completely unknown. We don't know why "that" invaded
the God Realm, or even why she's raising so many demons and humans
like they're baby birds, we don't have any idea why. However, despite
her child-like personality, she's a being holding superior intellect and
ability. There has to be some kind of purpose in her actions, but I don't
see it at all.]
Kuro has indeed reached out to many demons and humans and held out
her hand to them, and those people she saved adore her.
Until now, I had only thought it was simply because of her good-natured
personality, but Chronois-san seems to think that Kuro has some other
goal in mind.
[…It seems that even the one who has served her the longest time, Ein,
doesn't know what her purpose is. However, Ein had heard Kuromueina
say a few words once after she finished raising one of her baby birds…
That "this one is no good too."]
[...…]
This one is no good too… Does that mean that Kuro is raising demons
and humans for some kind of purpose?
I don't know. I don't even know what she's trying to achieve.
[…That's all I'm going to say. Well, I've been telling you all these
threatening matters… In the end, I don't know anything about that
demon, so I also don't know the truth. I may just be thinking about it
based on my own convenience, but reality isn't something you can just
pass by without any thinking, it's unstable, like the fleeting clouds in
the air.]
[…If you're certainly basing it on that, as only Kuro would know
something like that, I don't think you would get the answer and just
think of all possible reasons for your own convenience.]
[Umu. As I said before, I don't think that demon's evil. Well, I may have
also said that she's not that pure of a being either but… I don't think
there's any person in this world who is truly pure aside from Shallow
Vernal-sama.]
[...…]
No, I don't think that airhead goddess is that pure of a being too… but
she'll probably get angry if I say this, so I'll just keep this thought to
myself.
[Miyama. This is just an advice. I'm not going to tell you what to do from
now on. However, this is just my thought… But if it's you, perhaps, you
would be able to understand the mysteries hidden deep within
Kuromueina's heart. These mysteries that neither Ein nor I could ever
reach.]
[…The mysteries hidden within Kuro's heart…]
[Trust is a beautiful emotion, but it can also cloud a person's eyes. So, I
have decided to tell you about one of that demon's aspects that I have
seen with my own eyes… Keep this in mind, but don't think about it too
much. Just be yourself, and judge her true worth based on what you
feel.]
[…Yes.]
It's certainly as she said.
The figure of Kuro that I just heard about is only one aspect of the
Underworld King, Kuromueina from Chronois-san's point of view.
What is Kuro thinking and what does she want to achieve… That's
something I'll have to think about in the future as I interact with Kuro.
For the time being though, I'm glad to know a little bit about Kuro, a
side of her which I never had the chance to know before.
[…Ah, come to think of it, there was also that person. Another one of the
Six Kings, who I don't understand in a different way from
Kuromueina…]
[Eh? A person you don't understand in a different way from Kuro?]
[Umu. "The Phantasmal King, No Face". A being whose purpose is easy
to understand, but I don't even know where and what that demon
usually does, let along what that demon's real name and appearance is.
That demon is quite the eccentric one, a demon that can't be seen aside
from the Festival of Heroes.]
[Heehhh, I wonder what that person's like?]
[…A boisterous and irritating fellow.]
Saying that with a wry smile on her face, Chronois-san began heading
towards the mansion, as if to say our conversation is over.
The Phantom King, No Face… The King without a face. Perhaps, I may
also meet that person one day.
Dear Mom, Dad—— I was shocked by the various things that Chronoissan told me, but looking at her from another person's eyes—— I've
learned a lot about another side of Kuro.