A massive army of monsters marches through the forest, gathered to ravage human towns under the command of the demons they revere, and now, under those same demon's instructions, they are on their way back to where they originally were.
While monsters originally from the Boundary Forest don't consider this much of a march, the monsters who came from the depths of the demon continent have a long way back home. Perhaps because of that, the expressions on the monsters’ faces seemed somewhat melancholic.
In a section of the Boundary Forest, where the monster army is marching, Luvius, leaning against a suitable tree, sits on the ground, facing Izayoi, who leans casually against a tree.
Izayoi had brought Luvius here from a battlefield mixed with humans and monsters, a place where they could talk calmly.
The atmosphere surrounding the two could be described as extremely hostile. After all, Luvius was openly displaying a hostility towards Izayoi that bordered on hatred.
A heavy, oppressive silence flows between them as they glare at each other for a while. Surprisingly, Luvius is the one who finally speaks.
"I never thought you would still be alive, Demon King."
Izayoi shows a slight expression of surprise at the disdainfully uttered word 'Demon King.'
He hadn’t expected that any demon who remembered his face would still be alive. However, it made sense given their strength.
While Izayoi was internally agreeing and trying to recall if the demon before him was in his memories, Luvius continued to speak.
"I thought for sure you had lost your life along with the crumbled castle, but you survived. You're sturdy, just like a weapon."
"A weapon?"
Izayoi reacts to the unexpected word that came out of Luvius's mouth.
"Yes, a weapon."
Luvius speaks, his face contorted in distaste.
"You're a weapon summoned by humans to counteract the hero."
Casually, as if explaining common sense, Izayoi is shocked by the reality presented and widens his eyes.
He himself, a weapon—simply called upon to counteract the hero. That fact didn't significantly shock Izayoi. What startled him was that he was just now learning that he was seen by the demons as a weapon.
Even when he had fought as a Demon King, not once had such words entered his ears. Ilm and Lem, Gynos and his close associates, and many of the demons working in the castle. None of them had ever referred to him as a weapon.
However, the demon before him naturally scorned him as a weapon, as if it was ordinary common sense.
Confused, a rarity for him, Izayoi contemplates, but without caring about his emotional state, Luvius, his voice tinged with hatred, continues.
"But you ruled not as a weapon but as a Demon King. Silencing those who objected with force, protecting only those close to you, ruling as a mere dictator who doesn’t care about us demons!"
Luvius, nearly snapping with his fervor, lays into Izayoi, releasing all the resentment he'd been harboring up until today.
"Do you realize how many of our brethren fell because of you? Do you know how many of our comrades fell while you, having lost your close ones, secluded yourself in the castle!?"
His eyes bloodshot, foam at the corners of his mouth, Luvius still has more to say, roaring out his words.
"All of this was invited by you—if only you had cared more about the demons, none of this would have happened...!"
Luvius grinds his teeth in frustration, clenching his fist.
Luvius truly loved the demons. He had many he wanted to protect. He had comrades with whom he fought side by side. But all of them were utterly destroyed by the hero.
Had Izayoi not secluded himself in the castle and instead faced the battle with the hero, there were lives that would not have been lost. That was something Luvius just could not forgive. He hated the hero, but he hated Izayoi even more, wanting to tear him apart here and now if possible.
However, suddenly dispersing his hostility, Luvius revealed a resigned smile.
Given that he had fought fiercely against Yuka and was significantly worn down, even landing a single counterattack would be difficult. Rather, in this situation, Izayoi held the power over Luvius’s life and death. Considering what might happen after verbally attacking Izayoi so much, Luvius was not so foolish as to not be able to imagine the outcome.
Yet, even so, Luvius spoke.
"After all, you were a human who was summoned... even though you are a demon..."
As if he’d said everything he wanted to say, Luvius threw out his limbs in resignation.
Izayoi looked down at him for a while, but as if suddenly realizing something, reached for the hilt of his sword.
Drawing the sword and displaying it menacingly, he approached Luvius, who sat against the tree. As the distance between them slowly closed, step by step, the surrounding bushes rustled unexpectedly.
"Please wait, Your Majesty!"
An shadow darted between Izayoi and Luvius. Followed by several more shadows emerging to shield Luvius from Izayoi. Even without confirming their appearances, it was clear they were all demons.
The demons all knelt respectfully before Izayoi. Their demeanor was precisely that of subjects toward their king.
"We sincerely apologize for the repeated disrespect committed by Luvius this time. Please, sheath your sword with our heads, Your Majesty."
The demon woman who raised her face slightly as she spoke was at the front.
"You are..."
Izayoi slightly widens his eyes as he looks at the advising demon.
She was the assistant of the Trade Association branch chief Genova. Although he had been cautious because her movements and demeanor were not ordinary, Presumably, the intrinsic abilities were the reason the demons and Izayoi hadn’t noticed [something]. Indeed, she could now sense the presence of her true kindred.
As Izayoi breathed a sigh of relief, having resolved one of his long-standing concerns, intruders suddenly broke in, prompting Lyuvius to yell in tremendous fury.
"Why have you come out, damn it!? I told you explicitly not to!!"
"Silence, Lyuvius!"
Even when faced with a man as angry as Lyuvius, the woman did not falter; rather, she reprimanded him sharply, silencing him instantly.
"Your Majesty, please forgive us. This man is stubborn, clumsy, and rigid, but he loves the demon kind more than anyone. If he perishes here, the demons will truly be finished in every sense!"
The woman’s words gradually gained weight and passion. And the demons kneeling behind her nodded in agreement.
"So please, spare at least Lyuvius!"
Once again, the woman bowed deeply, and those behind her also prostrated themselves, nearly rubbing their foreheads against the ground.
"You fools... What a ludicrous act...!"
Witnessing the demons, ready to sacrifice their lives for him, Lyuvius gritted his teeth in frustration at his own powerlessness. Blood oozed from his tightly clenched fist.
Seeing him like this, Izayoi scratched his head with a slightly bewildered expression.
"I hate to break the tragic atmosphere, but I don’t intend to kill that man. So, lift your heads."
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
The demons, all present, lifted their heads in unison, releasing foolish voices at the unbelievable revelation. Even Lyuvius looked up at Izayoi, as if to say, "What is he talking about?"
While basking in the demons' puzzled gazes, Izayoi spoke with a sigh.
"I told you. It was Yuuka who defeated you, not me. Therefore, I have no right to kill you."
"Then, why did you draw your sword?"
Tentatively, the woman at the forefront asked.
"The reason is simple and clear - to draw out someone who has been watching us all this while."
"You bastard...!!"
Lyuvius instantly brimmed with murderous intent. He must have thought Izayoi was using him as bait to draw out other demons and eliminate them.
Izayoi restrained Lyuvius, who looked ready to pounce, with his hand, sheathing his sword to show he had no intention to attack.
"I’m not thinking of eliminating anyone or anything. I just wanted to give a warning to everyone here."
With that, Izayoi once again looked down upon the kneeling demons.
"This is a warning. Do not obstruct our path. As long as you comply, do as you wish afterward. However, if you obstruct us again..."
"――!?"
Boom! A magical, oppressive aura released from Izayoi engulfed the demons.
An incredibly heavy pressure applied, preventing even a scream. Exposed to pressure that felt like it would crush them if they let their guard down even for a moment, the demons all realized something.
If they obstruct Izayoi's path again, they will be killed without mercy. Their lives will be extinguished in an instant, without even a moment for pleading.
Izayoi had demonstrated a clear, overwhelmingly despair-inducing difference in power. The thought of opposing him did not even cross their minds. Aligning themselves in a collapsing, subservient pose, they swore in unison.
"We vow here never to obstruct your majesty’s path."
Satisfied with their oath, Izayoi gave a small nod and turned his eyes toward Lyuvius, who was still glaring at him.
"You... you don’t need to say it, it seems."
"What do you mean...?"
Lyuvius frowned in puzzlement at the unexpected response.
"I don't think you would expose those who adore you to danger. Besides, even though you resent me, you didn’t seem to harbor hostility towards Yuuka."
Lyuvius grimaced, perhaps because Izayoi had hit the mark.
Lyuvius, who loves the demon kind from the bottom of his heart, would never expose those he loves to danger for his own selfishness. Izayoi, who had read this psychology, gained a mental upper hand through his successful read.
Lyuvius sulked in silence. As he turned on his heel, ready to leave, Izayoi paused as if remembering something.
"Lyuvius, was it? You were right."
Wearing a fragile, somewhat broken smile, Izayoi confessed as if repenting.
"I'm not fit to be a king. I'm just an ordinary fool who happens to possess power. So, I’ll leave leading the demons from now on to you."
Having unilaterally declared this, Izayoi left the scene.
Left behind, Lyuvius and the others could do nothing but stand in stunned silence for a while, reeling from Izayoi’s words.