Volume 7 Chapter 4 (2/2)

”It's only natural to help your parent.”

”Not really. In fact, I would say wanting to kill your parent is the norm for Demon Lords and that you are just an exception.”

”Then, how about Stolas? You knew that Stolas and I were on friendly terms and threatened me by saying you would annihilate her and her dungeon. You practically manipulated the [Blade] Demon Lord and used him to kill her!”

I dread to think how much damage Stolas would have suffered if we weren't there. After all, had Duke not helped out, Enlil's rebirth wouldn't have happened.

”I have no idea what you're talking about. I did threaten you, yes, but it was just a means to get you to come, Procchi. I didn't actually do anything.”

”As if! Moments before his death, the [Blade] Demon Lord told me who was backing him. And it was you!”

After being used and manipulated, the [Blade] Demon Lord was killed by a curse placed on him to silence him. Moments before he died though, in perhaps an effort to redeem himself, he used his own blood to write the name of the one who masterminded the whole ordeal. According to that, it was the [Black] Demon Lord.

”Hmm, even if you tell me that, I have no idea. Surely you can imagine that there are other Demon Lords who want to bring me down. Unfortunately, they're the same Demon Lords that are very, very scared to see the two of us join arms because it'll make us even stronger. I mean, if we team up and the three nations I have under my command were to receive your Avalon's technical support, what do you think will happen?”

I thought about it for a while, but only a scene straight out of a nightmare crossed my mind.

Through my [Creation], I had access to [Memory of the Planet] and knew what would happen if humans were to obtain outrageously dangerous tools.

”The answer, you see, is that we would have the strongest and greatest empire. An empire that would quickly devour all other countries. Think about it, we would be able unify all countries into one. And with only one nation, there would only be one state religion. Complete world conquest! I would be the god of this empire, and you will be its emperor. No one would be able to defy us. We would be able to gather emotions and DP a million times over than we currently do! Amazing, don't you think?”

The [Black] Demon Lord was visibly enjoying telling his ambitions.

”You seem to enjoy ruling humans, don't you? You have a complex or something?”

When I said so, a crack wedged itself into his smile.

It seemed like I had poked into a subject he didn't want poked.

”Yeah, well, rather than calling it a complex, I'd say I'm just opposing the fate imposed on us Demon Lords. Have you ever thought about it? We Demon Lords are so much more superior than humans, and yet we can't live without them. The more you think about it, the more you will realize that we are born for the sole purpose of developing the humans. We are but mere tools made for the sake of the humans.”

”I had heard something similar from the Creator.”

Apparently, the meaning of our existence was to gradually guide humanity back to the level of an ancient and lost civilization.

We were there to advance the planet. Hence, why the Creator referred to us Demon Lords as [Children of the Planet].

”And what a load of bull that is. We are fantastic beings called Demon Lords and we are not the humans' playthings. I will not suffer it! And so, my objective is to have all humans be corralled like the pigs they are. I won't let them grow and develop any further. I will keep them indolent. While I will keep them from any harm, it is only so that I could feed on them. I will bring things back to order.”

His emotions were clearly conveyed by his voice.

The [Black] Demon Lord was obsessed about using and manipulating the humans. It was some kind of creed of his.

”I have no interest in those kinds of things. Whether our actions benefit the humans or not doesn't matter to me. So long as I can live my life however I choose, it's fine.”

So long as all parties—humans, Demon Lords, and monsters—were happy, there was nothing else to say.

Personally, even if I was made for the benefit of the humans and that my every action improved their lives in some way, as long as I could act purely of my own will, I wouldn't think I was dancing in palm of some god.

”…Tsk, you talk just like the [Dragon] Demon Lord.”

”Well, I do respect that person.”

His irritation grew. Upon calming himself a bit, he looked at me and continued to talk.

”Here I thought Procchi would understand and join me.”

”Like I said at the start: you are my enemy. Play dumb all you want, but that unfair war on Stolas and now the royal family members coming to Avalon, I'm sure these are all hostile acts done by you.”

It wasn't an argument in a discussion, it was just a statement of facts.

”Then, [Creation] Demon Lord Procell, are you going to war against me? In the attack against the [Beast] Demon Lord, most of my forces remained intact. You, on the other hand, have used your trump card and shouldn't have enough time or resources to replace it. Oh yes, I'm aware that you currently don't have your magic power.”

At that, I laughed inwardly.

So, it's as I thought? He's still not aware that my magic power has returned?

Though I used my [Storage] in Stolas's dungeon, it was only in her crystal room. For him, it should still appear my magic power was gone.

Also, it seemed like the information that Marcho became my monster still hasn't reached him.

”If you push, I will push back. I don't like fighting, but I will do it if I must. Also, don't think that the MOAB is the only ace up my sleeve. If anything, I'll have trouble choosing which one to use on you.”

I said so and then looked at him threateningly.

I was just bluffing here though. If it was limited to the battlefield, I had no greater trump card than the MOAB.

”Oh, I'm so, so scared. But Procchi, you're underestimating me too much. If I really wanted to, the three kingdoms under my command can bring ruin to your city easily. In other words, I can kill you without even fighting directly.”

”That is scary too. But if I see you doing something like that, I'll crush your base with all my might before I get killed. I guess I can also get the three strongest Demon Lords you hate so much to cooperate with me.”

The two of us then glared at each other. After a while, [Black] Demon Lord Balam raised his hands as though to say he was giving up.

”I lose. My, what an unappealing junior you are, Procchi. If we do end up fighting each other, it would seem both of us would be reduced to nothing. I don't know about you, but I'd like to avoid that. So, I have a proposal. Let us form a pact. Don't worry, don't worry, it's just a contract promising that we wouldn't attack the other.”

”…That doesn't sound bad. I would rather pass on the opportunity to crush you than fight in the first place.”

After I said so, Balam took a piece of parchment from a bag and then wrote something on it. Once done, he bit his finger and pressed it on the paper.

After reading through its contents, I did the same.

Interestingly, there were a lot of loopholes purposely put into this contract. Those loopholes would justify us ignoring the contract and attack the other pretty much whenever we wanted.

”And so, this meeting is over. It's a shame you didn't even taste the [Black Demon Lord], Procchi. It's very delicious, you know.”

”Even so, I value my health more.”

I replied so, stood up, and left.

This pact was merely a pause. I was sure that he would be doing things behind the scenes that would help him crush me.

Earning time was the sole reason for this pact.

Which was fine by me because I wanted to buy time as well.

Like so, once our preparations were done, we would be at each other's throats.

I guess whoever finishes their preparations first, wins.