The confrontation between the God of Creation Shallow Vernal and
Kaito. This has already been communicated to all of Kaito's
acquaintances through Alice, the Phantasmal King. She also reminded
them to keep this away from Kaito's ears…
There are several reasons for this. If Kaito, who is challenging the
undisputed top of the world, the God of Creation, is informed of the
battle outside the board, he may be too worried about his confrontation
against Shallow Vernal.
In addition, since there is a possibility that Shallow Vernal will change
her moves in response to this, they have not told Kaito about the battle
outside the board in order to eliminate uncertain factors.
(The enemy side's estimated strength contains at least 800 Count-ranks
that have the power that rivals the strength of a nation alone, 200 Kingranks that can destroy the world alone, and 3 beings that exceed even
that… One would normally think this is some kind of unfunny joke. So,
what do you think? Do we have any chance of winning?)
(Well, I wonder about that. Even if we say that they're Count-ranks or
King-ranks, that's just a boost in magic power. They also have a
weakness. In the past, the God Realm has lived in a controlled God
Realm, so their combat experience is fatally limited.)
(I see. So they would be just like when I first borrowed your clone. They
wouldn't be able to fully handle the power they were given… However,
that doesn't make it any easier. Since it's you, you've probably already
figured out the development of the battle, right? So, what's the odds?)
On the roof of Duchess Albert's mansion, Alice was having a
conversation with Iris in her mind while guarding Kaito who was in his
room. Of course, the content of their conversation is about the decisive
battle that will start in the near future…
(If it's just stomping all Gods, we have a "90%" chance of winning…
However, I think that winning in that way would be disadvantageous for
the next part, which is to save Kaito-san. If that's the case, then the odds
of winning in the ideal way… including a certain gamble I had, is 40%.)
(…Fumu, I wouldn't say it's low, but the chances are against Miyama
Kaito huh.)
(Unnn. I mean, it really hurts that it's already definite that we don't
have the initiative. As long as Shallow Vernal-sama is the opponent, she
will always have the initiative… and Kaito-san will definitely be taken to
the Sanctuary. No, I might be able to prevent his abduction if I wanted
to but… If that happens, Shallow Vernal-sama may take other measures.
That would be the worst possible situation. I prefer the current
situation where I can still assume what they were planning.)
Yes, Alice had been tirelessly thinking at an extraordinary rate, just as
when she was weak back then, even when she's a strong person now.
She had already predicted the possible situation as much as she could,
and was in the process of preparing to deal with any of them.
She knows. Reality isn't always as sweet as it seems… Even assuming
the worst may be too naive. Whether it's in the worst or best scenario,
even what will happen if the means they have in place fails… Her
thoughts wandered, trying to predict all of it.
(Even Shallow Vernal-sama isn't completely without an opening. The
reason why there were multiple means we could choose is that we're
facing Shallow Vernal-sama.)
(…However, the opponent is a God. It wouldn't be hard for her to read
your thoughts, right? Do you have a plan for that?)
(Of course. I've already planned for that. I've created a membrane
around my mind, and a surface consciousness is thinking different
thoughts.)
(Wouldn't she be able to see through it?)
(Even if she could see through the thought protection, she wouldn't
read my inner thoughts. Shallow Vernal-sama will not devote that much
effort to me. Or rather, she's not interested enough in me to devote that
much effort on me. If anyone should be wary, it should be Kuro-san.
When it comes to us, she'll just read our surface thoughts and be done
with it… That's another one of Shallow Vernal-sama's openings.)
(I see, well then, stop beating the bush already… How about we start
talking about the conclusion already?)
(Unnn… However, I'd still like to have one more "trump card".)
(By the way, you do realize you're back to your old tone, right?)
(Ah, sh*t. When I'm scheming with Iris, I feel like I'm returning to my
former self…)
(Don't call it scheming, this is called a strategy meeting…)
As she thought more deeply about the future, Alice began to think of
other ways to prepare.
In an arena in the corner of the Demon Realm, two Demons were
quietly standing, facing each other. On one hand was Ozma, a Countlevel, High-ranking Demon who was one of the Five Generals of the War
King and Megiddo's oldest subordinate.
On the other hand was Pandemonium, one of Phantasmal King's
subordinates' leaders, is a Count-level, High-ranking Demon who is
feared as the Doomsday-Invoking Plague.
Both fighters were quietly waiting for the other to make a move, but
suddenly they both stepped in at the same time and started attacking
each other with tremendous speed.
When Ozma's fist was released with air-splitting speed, Pandemonium
would catch it and counter it, but it was also caught by Ozma. It was
truly a battle of experts.
These two have been rivals in hand-to-hand combat for a long time, and
they occasionally train together to improve each other's skills.
Their rivalry, however, was limited to hand-to-hand combat. If it comes
down to all-out combat, making use of all of their weapons, including
magic power, Ozma will undoubtedly win.
Ozma's power is such that he could be called a King, possessing
strength that doesn't fit into the Count-ranks.
However, no one knows Ozma's true strength, except for the War King
Megiddo. Yes, even the Phantasmal King, who is said to know all the
information in this world, has never seen Ozma's true strength.
This is because Ozma hasn't seriously fought in a battle since the time
he fought Megiddo before the Phantasmal King… Alice came to this
world.
Alice guessed from his behavior and Megiddo's story that Ozma was as
powerful as the Six Kings… but she still hasn't had a chance to see his
power yet.
As for the reason why Ozma has never fought seriously before… The
reason for this is simple. Despite his usual aloofness, he has a strong
sense of loyalty.
Ozma only fights seriously when his one and absolute "king's
commands" it… But that king has not awakened yet. His king is still
sealed by the hand of his king himself.
Therefore, his loyal knight still doesn't draw his sword. He just quietly
waits for the time when the king's order will be given.
The largest forest in the Demon Realm. Deep in the forest, a woman was
quietly praying. On her long, pale golden hair, there were two large,
light red flowers blooming like hair ornaments, indicating that she was
a flower spirit.
Within the very quiet nature, as the woman continued to pray without
moving, a childish voice broke the silence.
[Lillie-sama! Lillie-sama! I'm sorry to interrupt your prayer.]
[…No, it's no problem.]
[Actually, you see…]
[Lillywwod-sama called me, is it? I see… About the war against the God
Realm huh?]
[Ayaya? As expected of Lillie-sama.]
[I'm just reading your surface thoughts, Tirtania.]
(T/N: / Tirutania.)
The woman called Lillie stopped her prayer posture and stood up, but
her eyes still remained closed… Yes, she was born blind, and no light
reflects in her eyes.
However, she has the ability to sense the faintest magic power in the air,
which even allows her to read the minds of others… She possesses
power that can be described as a more flexible version of Kaito's
Sympathy Magic, which allows her to walk through the forest without
hesitation.
[I can't say that I want to fight but… It's a fact that this battle is
inevitable. It's something that can't be helped with.]
[Tir really welcomes this opportunity where I could fight alongside Razsama!]
[…She was the first Fairy King, wasn't she?]
[Yes! Raz-sama is a very, very amazing person! Tir hopes that one day,
she can be a fairy like Raz-sama!]
The one who follows Lillie, fluttering her small wings, is Tirtania, a fairy
with short yellow-green hair… and is the current Fairy King.
She respects Razelia, the First Fairy King, from the bottom of her heart.
To the extent that she even imitates her tone of voice and clothes…
Thus, for her, the battle against the God Realm was a welcome
opportunity to fight together with Razelia, whom she loves and
respects.
[It's better than being dwarfed by the enemy, but don't get too far ahead
of yourself… Also, make sure to assist Lillywood-sama.]
[Of course!]
[…Well then, shall we go now? To where our king is.]
[Yes!!!]
These two are famous in the Demon Realm for being beautiful, noble
and strong beings. They are two of the seven that were given power by
Lillywood herself, the executives among the World King's subordinates.
World King's Chief Subordinate, "Magic Flower Princess" Lillie and
"Fairy Princess" Tirtania… Yes, the World King's beautiful executives
known as the "Seven Princesses" had also begun to move towards the
decisive battle.
(T/N: Mahanahime, so there's a chance that it's not actually Magic
Flower Princess, but Demon Flower Princess)
In a rocky mountain in the southern part of the Demon Realm. At the
top of one of those mountains was a dragon. She has scarred red scales
that give it the appearance of having fought in many battles, arms that
are conjoined with its wings, and a body that is about five meters tall,
which is considered small for a dragon.
The dragon, which is classified as winged dragon, stood upright atop a
sharp rocky mountain with her arms that were conjoined with its
wings folded, making her look imposing.
The dragon is known as the "Sky Dragon of the Extinction Flames" and
is one of the "Four Great Demon Dragons", the Dragon King's
executives… Nidzveld.
(T/N: / Niizuberudo)
Wyverns were originally monsters that did not have the power to be
called a Dragon, making them classified as "winged beasts". However,
the red-scaled wyvern "Nidhogg", a Special Individual of this race, has
risen to become a Super-Ancient True Dragon, which can even be called
as the pinnacle of dragons.
As a Dragon, it can be said that she has risen from the bottom of the
pyramid after many battles.
[So you are here, Nidzveld.]
(…Fafnir huh.)
Nidzveld is unable to speak. She was originally born as a wyvern, and
her vocal cords are not designed for complex pronunciation.
Therefore, Nidzveld makes use of telepathy to communicate with
others. However, that's originally something that should only be
understood by monsters but…
[For you to not be training, how unusual.]
(I was just thinking for a bit.)
[…Thinking?]
(I don't know about the battle 20,000 years ago, so I can only imagine
the power of the God of Creation. However, the God of Creation is
definitely stronger than Magnawell-sama, right?)
[…Yeah.]
With her arms still crossed, Nidzveld turns to Fafnir with one eye, her
only remaining eye after she lost her other eye in a past battle.
(I have lived a life of battle. I've always challenged those who are
stronger than me, and with each wound I've received, I've grown
stronger. I've lived up to this day after eating many strong beings.)
[...]
(Challenging someone stronger than you is terrifying. My body
trembles and my heart tightens… It takes a tremendous amount of
courage to overcome this.)
[Fumu.]
Without interrupting Nidzveld's quiet mutterings, Fafnir silently
nodded and waited for her to continue.
(A Human is challenging the world's peak… I wonder how he feels
about this? He's standing before a towering wall piercing the heavens,
where the end isn't in sight. And yet, that Human… He's gonna
challenge such a wall?)
[…Yeah. Definitely.]
(…What a wonderful person. His soul is like blazing flames. Ahh, those
who challenge are always great. I will always be on the side of those
who challenge… and if that Human wants to go to the top, I'll gladly be
his fang, opening up his way.)
[That means, you'll be participating in the battle against the Gods huh.]
(I was originally going to participate. I will follow Magnawell-sama's
will. However, the zeal dwelling within one's body when one is ordered
to fight is different from when one chooses to fight. That's why I was
just reconfirming it like this.)
After saying that much, Nidzvled unfolded her arms and with a wide
flap of her wings, she flew to the air.
(Miyama Kaito… A great challenger. I may be doing this on my own, but
I swear it here. I will bring you a battle that won't bring your blazing
soul to shame…)
With a fiery oath in her heart, the mightiest winged dragon silently
stares at the skies. Thinking of the Human who will challenge she who
was up there…
There isn't much time left before the battle between the God Realm and
the Demon Realm + Human Realm Coalition, which will occur in
conjunction with the battle between Kaito and Shallow Vernal.
War King's Five Generals, Phantasmal King's Ten Demons, World King's
Seven Princesses, and Dragon King's "Four Great Demon Dragons"… the
famous Count-ranks began to move, and preparations for the battle
were quietly held underway