'I know. So, just share Shion's magical power. Shion can only fight for an hour a day, but apparently, she has more magical power than she can use in that hour. If she shares it with you as you deplete yours, you could fight every day.'
'…!'
Being able to fight every day, instead of taking months-long intervals, would be like having a different dimenshion of strength.
Well, the saintly sword wielders are here to be allies of the hero, so it makes sense that cooperating with the hero would enable them to fight more effectively.
'…Lord Crow. It seems you've decided on everyone else's roles, but what do you intend to do yourself?'
At Platanus's words, all the saintly sword wielders fall silent.
Everyone stares at me intently.
Why, though? What I’m going to do should be obvious.
'If I may speak my true feelings, I believe you are the one most suited to be the king of this country. I wish to support you as chancellor if you become king.'
Platanus's statement prompts Heath, who had been silent, to speak up.
'If that's the case, I want to be king and make you the chancellor! I don’t want you as my chancellor!'
'It seems we agree, Your Highness. I would prefer not to be chancellor in a world where you are king.'
The future king and chancellor candidates start to argue.
This scene signals dark clouds looming over the plan I had laid out.
In an instant, I slammed the round table hard.""Don't joke around! Don't prioritize your feelings and blabber!"
With my outburst, Heath and Platanus fell silent.
"I'm asking you two because you're the most suited to be king and chancellor! Heath has grown through defeat and setbacks despite being from the privileged class! He even experienced death! Who else among the royalty has gone through that? A king who knows the taste of defeat and failure won't become a tyrant who oppresses the common people! He's the most suited to be king! And Platanus! There's no one more competent than you! Support Heath with all your might! As chancellor, change the world to one where people are judged by their abilities, not their status! That's your dream, isn't it?"
As I spit out this absurd reasoning, Heath and Platanus both sparkle in their eyes.
That's kind of creepy, so I'll leave them be.
"As for what I'm going to do..."
Crossing my arms and closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and then shout with all my might,
"I'm not doing anything!"
"I'm done doing things! I've done enough! Honestly, it should have ended when I delivered the Holy Sword to Shion! It's ridiculous that I ended up gathering the Saintly Swords, why should I face death over and over again? I'm the grand discoverer of the hero, right? Isn't that enough? I've worked hard enough to not have to work for the rest of my life, haven't I? So why do I have to deal with all these hassles? It's absurd! And more so, all the Saintly Swords have been gathered! All of them! Normally, getting even one would be tough, but all of them are here! From just three, to all twelve! That's enough, right? I shouldn't have to do anything more! I don't want to do anything! I don't want to work! I don't even want to think! My goal is to live a leisurely slow life without working ever again! I'm not doing anything more! Absolutely nothing! You all take care of everything! The heroes chosen by the Saintly Swords can solve everything! What are you trying to make an ordinary person like me do now? I've done my part! I'm done with nearly dying! So, see ya! The rest is up to you guys! Conquer the world after defeating the Demon Lord! Don't bother me! I don't need reports, contacts, or consultations! You all handle it! That's it! Dismissed!"
Leaving those words behind, I left the round table room."Phew. I'm tired."
Returning to my room, I sat down on a chair and sighed.
I really wanted to dive into bed and fall asleep right away, but the long conversation in the round table room had me too wired.
Sleep didn't seem likely just yet.
Well, at least my role in all this is finally over.
The only concern now is that, with Holly always by my side, I won't be able to handle unexpected accidents since she'll be sticking close to Shion. But that's a minor issue, and frankly, I don't care much about it.
"My life doesn't matter much, anyway..."
As long as Shion, the hero, is safe, nothing else matters to me.
With such strong and unique individuals on our side, everything will be okay.
We've got a perfect mix of brains and brawn, as well as those who embody both purity and corruption.
"My part is all done..."
I muttered to myself, trying to dispel the lingering unease in my heart.
For some reason, I couldn't shake off this sense of foreboding.
After a series of unexpected events, I felt confident that nothing could surprise me anymore, yet that made me feel even less secure about the future.
Was I worried about being attacked by an assassin out of the blue?
Or was it the concern that Geranium might still be alive and could appear suddenly?
Whatever happens, even if I were to die, everything should be okay now.
Shion has eight Saintly Sword wielders by her side.
With such talent gathered, it's hard to imagine losing any power struggle against humans or a total war against the Demon Lord.
"I don't need to do anything anymore... I have nothing to worry about..."
"Really think so?"
"Do you seriously believe that after such a tumultuous life, you can now live peacefully and comfortably?"
"I don't think so."
"Right. You should have learned by now. Nothing surprising about your life, except that nothing happening is the only thing that's impossible."
"Yeah, seems like I was born under that kind of star."
"I do feel sorry for you, but it can't be helped."
"Right... So, um..."
"What is it?"
"Who are you?"
I turned to face the woman who had been speaking from behind me.The person speaking to me had a voice similar to Holly's, but it wasn't her. Though she looked just like Holly, her hair and armor colors were different. Unlike Holly, who had silver hair and silver armor, this figure had black hair and wore black armor.
"I am Maris, the holy spirit residing in the Dark Sword."
"...What's the Dark Sword?"
"It's the divine sword wielded by the Dark Hero."
"There are only supposed to be thirteen divine swords, right?"
"Actually, there's a fourteenth, the Dark Sword."
"I exist to teach the chosen wielder of the Dark Sword how to use it. Only the owner of the Dark Sword can see me."
"...Huh. And why can I see you?"
This conversation mirrored the one I had when I first met Holly, who had simply replied, "Who knows?" But Maris answered differently.
"Because you're the owner of the Dark Sword."
The owner of the Dark Sword. The Dark Hero. What's that?
"...So, where is this Dark Sword? And what's a Dark Hero?"
"The Dark Sword has always been inside you. Unlike the Holy Sword, the Dark Sword doesn't have a fixed form. Each Dark Hero has wielded a Dark Sword of different shapes and powers. Though there are some common abilities they all share."
"Past Dark Heroes?"
"Yes. And you're the modern Dark Hero."
"I've never heard of such a thing... Two heroes?"
"Oh, that's right. Humans don't call it the Dark Hero, do they?"
"...?"
"Humans refer to the Dark Hero as the Demon Lord."
"...?"
"So, you're the modern Demon Lord. Let's get along, shall we?"
I thought I wouldn't be surprised by anything anymore.
My life has always been full of the unexpected.
"Shall we start planning humanity's demise then?"
"...What?"
But this? This is a bit too much to not be shocked by.
The adversary Shion must face.
The enemy of all humankind.
The sole entity capable of destroying the world, the king of evil.
It seems I am that Demon Lord.