That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Primordial Demon

 ——— Timeskip ———

Guy: 「Stop it! I like you, so I can't bring myself to kill you anyway, and I don't intend to fight you seriously now.

However, to keep the world from falling apart, I will continue to be a demon lord.

That's the promise I made to him, you know.」

Guy liked Rudra in the first place, and if he was a friend of Veldanava, then he was also a friend of his own.

It was inevitable that he could not fight Rudra seriously from the start.

However, he still had to do his job as a demon lord.'

That was the role Veldanava had asked him to play.

As a 'mediator,' he could not allow the scales of the world to tip.

When Guy looked Rudra in the eye and said as such, Rudra also looked straight back at Guy and responded.

Rudra: 「In that case, why don't we play a different game?」

Guy: 「A different game, huh?」

Rudra nodded. He didn't smile coyly as usual but instead began speaking with a serious expression.

Rudra: 「Yeah. You and I won't be fighting directly. This time, we will be using only our pawns to compete for world dominance.」

Guy:「Hmm.」

Rudra: 「To be honest, I don't want to use this 『Justice King: Michael』, but I can't say that now.

Veldanava gave me this power in support of my dream to unite the world.

So I will continue to increase my men and will become stronger along with it.」

Guy:「I'm sure you will.」

Guy nodded, agreeing with that assessment.

Rudra:「I don't want to kill you either. I told you, didn't I? I said that I'd make you accept me.

I want-no, I believe that the human race can be united.

Veldanava wanted diversity, but that doesn't mean we have to fight each other.

People with different opinions should respect and get along with each other.

If one can't accept the other person's opinion, then just pull away.

Different races, different nations, if they are too armed, they will end up in war, but if they become a unified nation, they can settle everything through discussion, right?」

Guy: 「I don't know about that. As far as I'm concerned, people are stupid, aren't they?」

Rudra:「I know. But, you know, you and I get along, right?

Even demon lords and heroes who were supposed to be each other's natural enemies can get along, so it should be easier for the same race to understand each other!」

"There is no need for a mediator," Rudra insisted. However, Guy couldn't agree.

Guy: 「That's naive. Humans are greedy creatures. It's not necessarily an evil thing, and that desire is necessary to pursue greater possibilities.

That's why, as long as interests are at stake, even those who are close to each other will start fighting even amongst themselves.

In this respect, even the monsters without wisdom know better, right?」

The magical creatures that evolved from animals into magical beasts would not kill again as long as their appetite was satisfied.

They were not cunning and resourceful enough.

They would not think about securing food for tomorrow but rather live each day with pleasure.

However, humans were different.

Humans always thought about the future, became anxious, and tried to accumulate wealth so that they could withstand any situation.

That was their natural instinct, and Rudra's vision of the world was a pipe dream.

It was very difficult to lead people with words alone.

In the first place, how difficult was it to convey one's true intentions in words to others without misunderstandings...

Guy understood this, which was why he felt that Rudra's dream would never come true.

Rudra: 「Well, perhaps. I get it, and Veldanava laughed at me for being so idealistic, but... even so, I convinced him, and now he supports me.

He told me, "The probability is close to zero, but just do what you want."

Between you and me, the Justice King has the power of the Army of Angels, 『Armageddon』, and can summon an army of angels to destroy everything.

I will use it to save people. I will destroy only military power and civilization and suppress the growing desires of men.

At the same time, I will unify the world and build an ideal world for sure!

So, cheer me on!」

Rudra asked Guy to support him.

Rudra: 「Stop killing people and value their potential.」

Guy: 「Hah! It's not like I'm into slaughtering people. I just get rid of those I don't like.

I don't care if they're a good guy or a bad guy. If I like them, I let them live. If I don't like them, I kill them. That's all.」

Rudra: 「That's what I'm saying. Just wait for a bit!」

Guy: 「Hmph! I don't have the patience to wait for those who do harm to the world to realize their mistakes.

Hate the sin, not the sinner? Punishment is necessary for sin, asshole. You should be held accountable for your actions!」

Rudra: 「You're right, I agree! But I want them to have a chance to change their ways.」

Guy: 「Hah! Then don't worry. I'll just send the souls of the guilty to the underworld and give them a proper punishment.」

Rudra:「That's not what I meant!」

At this point, Rudra stopped narrating and carefully began to speak his mind once again.

Rudra: 「I'm not trying to be some great king, I just want to make people smile.

If there is a safe place to live and people to talk to, there will be fewer people who will commit crimes, right?

I want to eliminate poverty and inequality and create a world where everyone can live with a smile.

That's what I want! Of course, there will be fools who can't help themselves, but I'm going to try to make as few sacrifices as possible.」

Rudra spoke of his ideals, not knowing that one day in the distant future, similar words would come from the mouth of one of his own opponents.

Guy, hearing this, shook his head in disgust.

Guy: 「No wonder Veldanava was laughing at you. I didn't know you were that naive. But... okay? Just tell me more about this game.」

Rudra: 「Really?」

Guy: 「I was bored anyway. It might be fun to play a game like that.」

It wasn't that Guy had accepted Rudra's point of view.

He didn't want to deny Rudra's ideals. He just wanted to see how it ended. His stubborn friend would never be persuaded by words alone.

Rudra was trying to persuade others with words alone, even though he himself could not be.

It was a contradiction in a sense, and it was only natural that he would fail.

When that happened, he supposed that Rudra would finally wake up.

On the chance that he succeeded, it would only mean less work for Guy.

So, no matter how things turned out, Guy decided that there would be no loss.

There was also no particular benefit, but if Rudra was willing to give up his reckless plan, that was enough for Guy.

Rudra:「Is my ambition just a game to you?」

Rudra laughed. Then he carefully explained the rules. The rules were simple.

"Players keep their hands to themselves and only let their men compete."

That was it. In other words, there was no direct confrontation between Guy and Rudra.

If all of Guy's men fell, Rudra would win. If that happened, Guy would follow Rudra.

But until that happened, Guy was free to do as he pleased.

He was also free to fulfill his role as 'mediator' in accordance with his agreement with Veldanava.

There were few restrictions on Guy, but from Rudra's point of view, this was useful enough.

His original role as a Hero was to stop the demon lord, a threat to humanity and a regulator, from running amok.

Guy's thoughts were calm, but his power was too strong. Once he made a move, the damage would be too great.

Rudra was there to prevent that from happening, but that would not fulfill his dream.

He needed to stop Guy's movements in order to start working towards the unification of the world.

After reading Rudra's intentions, Guy spoke.

Guy: 「Fine. I promise I will not do anything. I'll gather up some demon lords to take my place and leave the direct punishment of mankind to them.」

Rudra: 「And I will stop them. I will unite the world before the demon lords take over!」

Guy: 「But that's a difficult road, isn't it? Even the good-natured Veldanava has given up on some of his ideals.」

Veldanava was not just a dreamer but also a perfectionist.

He had the rationality to perceive ideals as ideals and the unrealizable ones as unrealizable.

Veldanava's desire for change had led him to give up his omniscience and omnipotence, which made it no longer possible for him to realize his ideal society.

But for Veldanava, it was the right thing to do. He believed that a world that was completely at his disposal was not interesting at all.

It was because he understood Veldanava's feelings that Rudra exclaimed.

Rudra: 「Even so! I want to make him feel assured. He is bound by his lifespan and has no more power than a normal human.

And yet, he was so happy that he could even die with Lucia... But... But the truth is, he was worried about the future of this world!

More than anything, he was worried about the future of their children...」

Guy: 「Mm?」

Rudra: 「That's why I need to give him peace of mind and create a world where everyone can live happily, where he won't have to worry at all when he dies.

And I want him to be satisfied that the world he created has matured into a wonderful, harmonious world.」

Rudra swore to Veldanava that he would establish a unified nation.

Waking, he also wished to make his sister Lucia happy and resolved to rid the world of all unhappiness.

Let us decide the affairs of the human world with our own hands. You, who do not have a life expectancy, can be the judge and see things to the very end.

Guy:「I see...」

Guy couldn't think of anything to say in response to Rudra's words. In his head, he determined that it was impossible.

However, he could also understand Rudra's feelings, so he hesitated to say something negative.

"What the hell, asshole? Doesn't that just make you the one who has to carry all the responsibility...?"

He hated his mind for being so emotionally intelligent. Guy, although prideful, was kind to those he liked.

That kindness was not enough to stop Rudra's reckless challenge.

Guy was at a loss for words to say to this foolish man who was also his beloved best friend.

"Your challenge is sure to fail."

Guy's brain calmly calculated the results.

The success rate was so low that it was ridiculous to even use the word 'probability' to describe it.

And yet, Rudra, whom Guy considered his best friend, would never give up.

A hero was someone with an unbreakable spirit, and Rudra was a true hero.

One who was willing to bear all hardships in order to realize the ideal world.

That's why, if it was this guy, just maybe-Guy thought so.

There was something about Rudra.

That made him think like that, and Guy bet on that tiny possibility.

 ◇◇◇

Sariel: 「So you and Lucia are... a thing now?」

This question was asked to none other than Veldanava.

Veldanava: 「Yes... Sorry for not telling...」

I looked at him and sighed. There was nothing much I could do.

I was slowly becoming more and more useless in the face of the world.

Nothing much has been happening.

After the first time they met, they started visiting each other regularly, it was I who dismissed it as nothing.

Guy and Rudra never ended their long-time battle.

Rudra would always leave the empire to go against Guy "for the fun of it."

Rose was barely seen due to her spending time teaching Alya.

I barely spent time with the otherworlders. My subordinates were no better.

I was slowly losing the relationship I had built along the way.

It was mostly Velda that I spent time with, but now, he has someone he cares for.

Am I... going to be lonely again?

Am I... going crazy or something?

This has been haunting me slowly as the years passed by.

There were always Kalisha and Raziel-san by my side.

Even so, I'm a greedy person. I don't want to lose others even if there are still people I have there for me.

I don't know whether it's depression that's been after me after the years that passed by.

Do spiritual life forms get headaches? I don't even want to know anymore.

I can only hope for things to get better.

Veldanava, or should I now say Velda Nava, has married Lucia.

It was something I felt was so incomprehensible to me that I felt it was a joke.

I never knew that he would soon marry a high human.

As soon as he married, the time we spent together got lessened.

I'm definitely not jealous or anything regarding that matter, but it still felt unright for me.

Like something bad about the idea of such a thing happening.

Now, the main problem is that they are now having an offspring of their own.

Normally, that would be good news and all, but the remaining power Velda had was transferred to the baby.

His current reincarnation vessel was rather weak.

And that's not an exaggeration. He's currently as weak as a human would be.

His old body was destabilizing, and most of the energy he had was taken away from him.

He used the last of his old body's power to create a new sibling for his unborn child.

A baby dragon that would serve as their baby's companion so that they never had to be as lonely as be initially was.

He now bore a human lifespan.

The truth was too bitter to be believed.

He had tried to hide it from me, but I would have found out sooner or later.

Sariel: 「Forget about it. Let's just hope all goes well.

Since you now reside in the eastern empire, I'm gonna be visiting a lot.

There's also gonna be one of my subordinates around as your bodyguard. I'm also gonna put a 『Multidimensional Barrier』 around this palace to prevent any-」

Lucia: 「Sariel-san! It's all good, alright?」

Sariel: 「But I-」

Veldanava: 「You worry too much. Now I feel like you're my wife.」

Sariel: 「Shut it! I'm just worried, is all.」

Lucia: 「And I said don't worry. We'll be fine. Velda-dear already has his primordial angels on the watch out for us.」

I see. I guess his angels are the best option. They can transfer into the central world without having their evolutionary stage degraded.

They are also stronger than my subordinates, especially if it's Norana or Lunax.

I still can't shake that bad feeling off my mind.

Sariel: 「Fine! If you say so. Besides that, how are you feeling?

It must be taxing carrying a baby all along.」

Lucia: 「Fufufu. Don't worry. I'm still well. Now I get what dear said about you being a worry-wart.」

So the dickhead's already making me a gossip topic, huh?

I turned to look at him in exasperation; he could only look away.

Sariel: 「Aside from that, I'm gonna be gone for a while. I've got some bonding to do.」

Veldanava: 「Ah. I see. You haven't been with your friends for some time. I'm sure they miss you dearly.

Lunax and Norana expressed their desire to reunite with you. They missed you a lot. You're one sneaky thief, aren't you?」

Sariel: 「Yeah, right... there's only one thief I know...」

I turned to look at Lucia, who was smiling too sweetly for my liking.

She turned to look back at me with a victorious smirk, sticking her tongue out playfully.

I wonder how Velda never sees this...

Sariel: 「Alright. I'll pay them a visit soon. See ya'll soon.」

I said as I left them to their own devices.

At least I can meet up with Lunax and Norana.

Let's first head over to Silverion.

——— Raziel-san. ———

「Understood. Activating unique skill 『Space-time Administrator』 successful.」

I appeared in Silverion before I knew it.

With my presence concealed, I won't be identified easily.

As I continued walking through the streets of Silverion, I noticed that everyone in this nation had a smile on their faces.

There was no problem to worry about. They only need to work hard enough to make ends meet.

Apart from that, the nation itself was protected from any form of harm.

The position of the nation made it extremely difficult for invaders to do their job.

It would only make matters worse for them if Silverion decides to strike back.

Not only is the country politically stable, but the military power of this empire is nothing to pass off.

They could potentially defend against a full-forced attack from Guy's subordinates.

That's just how powerful Silverion is.

As I reached the palace gate, I met up with some people I hadn't gotten the chance to see for a while.

Kenneth: 「Hey, Sariel-sensei!」

Kenneth. With his position now, it is quite rare to see him around.

For him to stand in front of the palace gate means something big's gonna happen or something.

Sariel: 「Hey Ken-chan. What's up. How've things been?」

Kenneth: 「Good. Great, in fact!」

Sariel: 「Oh? What's got you all giddy?」

Kenneth: 「Silverion is gonna be hosting its very first festival! I can't wait!!」

Wait, seriously? How sharp of Alya. Must be one heck of a festival coming up.

I could even put in some ideas for it, like games, entertainment, or even fireworks!

「Notice. The necessary data for the creation of such is not available. Research required.」

Wait! So, no fireworks!? Man... what a bummer. I guess Raziel-san can only make use of information already known about.

I never knew the mechanics behind fireworks. Who would even expect me to know about it when I was quite new in college.

I still kinda really looked forward to it, though...

「.... Notice. Raziel will ensure that your wish shall be given. 」

——— Eh? Raziel-san, you'll do that for me? No hidden motive or stuff? ———

「Rest assured. Raziel shall provide the host with detailed information on fireworks before the beginning of the fetsival.」

So, in short terms, you're gonna help me. Even though you try to act monotonus, I know that you are doing this for my sake.

———Thanks a lot, Raziel-san. It means a lot. ———

「....」

*Sigh*

Sariel: 「Well, what can I say? That's good, I guess.」

Kenneth: 「C'mon. What's with the old man tone?」

As he said that, I could feel a tick mark appear on my head.

I suppressed the urge to give him a dirty slap.

Thinking of it, he isn't wrong. With my age, if I ever had a generation, they should've been huge enough to populate a planet.

That all depends on the breeding rate—but that's not the point!

You know what, let's ignore me.

Sariel: 「Whatever. Can I go see the kiddos?」

Kenneth: 「Ah! There's no need to ask!」

I simply nodded and followed behind him as he led me to their location.

It's been so long since we last met. I hope they still remember me.

Wait, they'll definitely remember me. Why did I just think of...

I'm losing it, huh?

I ignored my internal conflictions and returned my do us back to reality.

Before I knew it, we were standing in front of their special training room.

This room was designed by yours truly.

It's called a special training room for a reason.

It has a special energy-draining effect alongside a gravity increase state.

This effect was done with the help of『Soul Lord』.

This effect constantly drains the energy (magicules) in the atmosphere until the atmosphere is ridden of any type of energy.

Once this happens, the effect will start to absorb the target's energy until their energy quantity drops to a dangerous level.

Well, that's when Raziel-san gives me a heads up to deactivate the skill.

I can't make the skill deactivate automatically based on the condition, so that's how it is.

All the energy absorbed is transmitted over to gravity to increase its gravitational force.

Hence, the longer you stay, the longer your energy gets absorbed.

Well, for the math, let's just use the unit "Energy" (J).

Now, imagine a human with an average energy capacity for their kind.

Let's say an average human possesses an energy quantity of 80 Joules (80J).

My skill is capable of draining an energy quantity of 40 joules per minute.

This Meaning, an average human can only spend two minutes in this simulator.

That's just how crazy the special room is, not to mention the gravity active in the room.

Kenneth: 「They're inside.」

Sariel: 「Okay.」

I opened the door to the room and was met with a wonderful sight.

Alya: 「Take this!」

Rose: 「Yeah right. That's never gonna work.」

Alya and Rose were having a little spar.

It's just that I've never gotten the opportunity to meet Alya fight up close.

She was already so skilled. Well, I wouldn't expect less from Rose.

Sariel: 「Hey guys. Long time no see, eh?」

I said this out loud, grabbing their attention.

They turned to look at me with a shocked expression.

Unsurprisingly, Rose was the first to speak for up.

Rose: 「Sariel? Where have you been all this time? Do you know how bored I've been without you? How dare you abandon me.」

She bombarded me with a lot of unnecessary questions that required no answers.

Sariel: 「Geez. Chill out. I was just inactive for a while. Busy with my dude and stuff. Get it?」

Rose: 「Ah. I see. So I'm that worthless, huh?」

Sariel: 「Oi! I never said anything like that! C'mon, quit being such a sleeze ball.」

Alya: 「Hey Sariel, why did you suddenly vannish? That's really unlike you.」

Sariel: 「Ah, you see, my friend was going through a difficult time, so I decided to accompany em a little.

That aside, I heard there's a festival taking place in a few weeks.」

Alya: 「Ah—yes! We decided to host a big festival. Neat, right?」

Yeah, that's really gonna make trade easier, along with making relationship establishments easier.

Sariel: 「Hm! You did pretty well this time, Alya.」

Alya: 「Hehehe~.」

Looking at her childish behavior and comparing it to the suffocating aura she has during negotiations made me smile and shake my head.

Sariel: 「It seems like you've grown stronger, Alya. You mind if I take a look?」

Alya: 「Hm? Go ahead.」

——— Alright. Raziel-san. ———

「On it.」

Name: Alya Wardin

Race: 「Enlightened Human 」

Blessing: Sariel's Protection

Title: Silverion Empress

Magic: Holy Magic, Dark Magic, Elemental Magic.

Skill:

Unique Skill: 『Editor』

Resistance: Pain Resistance, Physical Attack Resistance, Thermal Fluctuation Resistance, Poison Nullification, Holy-Demonic Attack Resistance, Spiritual Attack Resistance.

——— Uuuuum... what's with her defense. Not that it's bad, in fact, quite the opposite. She's got excellent defense. But it's too good for her stage. ———

「Notice. From the analysis, it could be said that the individual Alya acquired all these due to the intense training provided by the individual Rose.」

Now hold on. Does that mean she's been testing out poison along with other extreme conditions!?

「That could be the case.」

Sariel: 「.... Rose... from now on, I'll handle Alya's training sessions. Got it?」

Rose: 「Eh!? Why!?」

I didn't bother answering and left them to their own devices.

Considering Alya's magic set, I could probably teach her my 『Chaos Magic』.

This is easily one of the most terrifying magic to ever exist, considering the effect it has.

I know it's gonna be extremely difficult for someone of her caliber, but I still believe in her.

With the upcoming festival, I can only hope that everything goes well.

—————————————————————————————————

「Note: I have an important question to ask you wonderful readers. Here is my question.」

Question: Can normal demons evolve to reach the evolutionary stage of Devil Lords?