Volume 9 Chapter 17 (1/2)

We had broken the crystal and thus ended the [War].

Immediately after, I was being Transferred.

Which is it going to be? Am I being returned or am I being summoned?

◇

I slowly opened my eyes.

I found myself sitting at a round table.

It didn't seem like I was in the [Pig] Demon Lord's dungeon anymore, to say the least.

”I know this place. I've been here before…”

It was the same place I was brought to after my [War] against three Demon Lords.

Suddenly, at what seemed to be the designated head of the round table, a light shined brightly and then formed the outline of a person. After a while, the light faded and revealed calm-looking old man.

The Creator had no fixed form, merely taking on the form of whatever the observer imagined the former would have. In my case, he was like this, an old man.

”[Creation] Demon Lord Procell, you've entertained me today as well. I haven't seen a child of the celestial bodies as strong or as brilliant as you. Why, instead of being a child of celestial bodies, you might have ascended into being one yourself.”

The Creator, who had a coarse voice and a good mood, praised me so.

Even if I asked him what he meant by me ascending into being one of the celestial bodies, he might just dodge the question. If anything, to see how I would react might just be why he mentioned it and made it sound important. He was the kind of individual to enjoy such things, after all.

So, I decided to just ignore it.

”It's an honor to have entertained you. Is it safe to assume that the reason why I've been summoned here is to receive your kind words?”

I chose to be respectful. This was the being that made me, after all.

”Indeed, but it would be stingy of me to give you just that. So, like all children of the celestial bodies that have managed to entertain me, I would be giving you a reward. But before that, it seems you still haven't used the reward I've given you before. That saddens me, you know.”

The Creator was talking about the reward he gave me when I won against three Demon Lords.

Actually, because of the advice I got from Marcho, I had been doing the best I could to avoid using the reward that he gave me. According to her and my own experience thus far, the Creator was someone that enjoyed the suffering of us Demon Lords.

A power given by him was fascinating and powerful, but at the same time, it always came with some kind of trap.

If the reward was purely detrimental, us Demon Lords would resent him more than we have and be plunged into pure agony, which apparently was something the Creator didn't find entertaining.

So, the system in place was one where we could potentially avoid the trap in the reward so long as we made correct judgements. If we make the tiniest of mistakes though, we would suffer for it deeply, maybe for the rest of our lives even.

And yet, even knowing that, I had used [Rebirth] two times. For I had not, I would have lost Duke and Marcho. I would rather suffer the cost for the rest of my life than lose them.

Fortunately, I haven't been put in any dire situation where using the other reward I received was necessary.

”I just want to avoid overreliance on the Creator's powers. Instead, I want to win using my own strength as much as possible.”

It wasn't like I could say I don't want to use your so-called reward as much as possible because it has a built-in landmine, now could I?

”How admirable. Sadly, it's also boring. So, how about this to give you a reason to use [Rank Up]: if you don't use it within two months, starting now, something unpleasant would happen.”

The Creator said such an unreasonable thing. Worse yet, he didn't specify what he meant by something unpleasant.

[Rank Up] was the aforementioned reward I got from my [War] against three Demon Lords.

Just as its name would imply, one of the effects of this ability was to increase a monster's rank by one. That much was plenty strong enough, but it also had the effects of healing the target monster's wounds and restoring the monster's magic power.

Because of that, I had decided to reserve it for when one of my monsters was on the verge of death. In those situations, on top of being restored to perfect condition, they would also grow stronger, allowing them to challenge in better terms a previously unbeatable enemy.

It was an ability worthy of being called a trump card. However, that only made me even more vigilant against the trap it had.

”Understood. I'll use it within two months.”

I didn't want to use it, but the threat of not using it gave me little choice.

The next question then was on whom to use it. I was curious what would happen when used on an S rank monster, but I had no desire to use it on Kuina and the others. They were my precious daughters and I was not willing to put them at risk.

”Umu, prudent choice. Now, to congratulate you this time, I'm giving you a new reward.”

One of the Creator's fingertips shined with a light. That light then slowly floated toward me until it hit my forehead.

Like that, I received a new ability. At a glance, it seemed very useful, but…

”Thank you very much.”

”Umu, I'm glad you liked it. Just make sure you don't sit on this one. I haven't imposed a time limit on it, but if you take too long again, I will.”

”Yes. I'll make use of it as soon as an opportunity presents itself.”

It seemed very useful, but like all of the Creator's rewards, I first had to think hard on it.

Until now, I had the luxury to not use the rewards. For that reason, I had an inclination to acquire as much of them as I could, saving them up in case of a rainy day. There were the traps to be mindful about, sure, but knowing I had insurance made me feel better.

However, now that I was forced to use them, it might be necessary to win in such a way that it didn't entertain the Creator.

”Then, [Creation] Demon Lord Procell, who shines noticeably brighter than the other new children of the celestial bodies, you may now return. I expect you to shine brighter still.”

My body was then overcome with the floating sensation of [Transfer].

In a sense, this meeting with the Creator has tired me out more than the [War].

I just want to return to Avalon and rest already.

◇

The [Transfer] was over and I found myself on a plain.

This was where the [Pig] Demon Lord's dungeon would have been if his crystal was still intact.