Someone emerged from the mist.
"…!"
"I never thought we'd meet again like this. It seems we're quite fated, aren't we?"
I was speechless.
After being surprised by unexpected events one after another, telling myself to get used to it, and even accepting that I had become the Demon King, this was beyond my expectations.
"This turn of events was unforeseen, but it's a welcome one for me."
"…"
"But to think that you were the Demon King... It's a small world, don't you think, Crow?"
"Zelanium...!"
The Majin that appeared before me was an entity that could potentially surpass even the Hero and the Demon King.
This man, who lived for five hundred years, plotted the annihilation of humanity, incapacitated Shion, and didn't flinch even when facing all the saintly sword wielders, was Zelanium.
"Why did he become a Majin?"
"Because you killed him."
"I didn't directly kill him."
"Well, he perceived that you killed him, so it doesn't really matter."
It's the worst possible situation.
He was a genuine maniac who lived in flesh for five hundred years and tried to kill all of humanity.
His residual consciousness materializing is something that should never have been allowed. Almost certainly, he'd become an extraordinarily abnormal Majin.
"Maris, having him as a Majin is inconvenient even for a Demon King. The Demon King's purpose is to reduce the number of humans, not to kill everyone. But Zelanium is different. He truly wants to exterminate every single human. If he realizes the true purpose of the Demon King or that I'm trying to get killed by Shion soon, everything will be over."
"Why am I, even as a Demon King, still being tossed around by others?"
"How come, Crow? Having all saintly sword wielders as allies and then making me your ally seems like a very ordinary development."
"It's not ordinary. Everyone else has turned into enemies."
"Ah, it seems you haven't changed much from when you were alive. There's indeed a fate between us. I was hoping to talk to you more, and it seems my wish will be granted."
"I'm not dead."
"As a Demon King, you're dead as a human. Turning all of humanity into enemies isn't something a human can do, right?"
Zelanium seemed genuinely happy.
For him, who aimed to annihilate humanity, becoming a subordinate of the Demon King might feel like a dream come true.
"You're definitely going to betray me later."
"Hardly. Do I look like a man who would betray his best friend?"
"Who's your best friend!"
"To me, the Demon King has always been an object of worship. I lived my life with the goal of being killed by the Demon King along with humanity. To be able to serve the Demon King even after death is truly a joy."
"You hate me, don't you?"
At that moment, Zelanium did not affirm or deny.
He could have lied, saying that wasn't the case.
He's not capable of that.
In a way, he was too pure, which is why he went mad.
"You and I will never get along. I think we're completely opposite in everything. I've seen many types, but I've never felt as incompatible with anyone as I do with you."
"Ha ha ha. You're honest, Crow. Then I'll be honest too. I didn't think we'd get along either. Your way of living was something I could never understand. I couldn't understand someone who leaves everything to others and entrusts his fate to them. Normally, one tries to determine their own fate, whether they can actually do it or not."
Listening silently to our conversation, Maris nodded thoughtfully.
"This extermination plan of humanity is full of unexpected events, huh? Such a Demon King and Majin, I've never seen before. All the others had no ability to speak. You two are quite unique."
Seeing Maris making comments like Holly, I sighed.
The cause of this unusual battle between the Hero and the Demon King, everything can be attributed to Zelanium.
He is to blame for everything.
Even my birth was in his palms.
"Zelanium..."
"What is it, Crow?"
There are countless things I want to ask him.
Though I didn't want to meet him, now that I have, I'll hear everything.
So,
"You can play chess, right?"
"Eh?"
"Play with me. Maris, prepare a chessboard, pieces, a table, and chairs. You can do it, right?"
While tilting his head, Maris complied with my request and prepared everything necessary for a game of chess right before us.
Zelanium seemed puzzled for a while, but then,
"As you wish, my lord," he said, bowing respectfully.
"I heard from Amaranth that you were running a breeding farm for saintly sword wielders, right?"
"Yes. I gathered men and women with a high compatibility rate for the divine swords and bred them."
Zelanium and I talked while playing chess.
By the way, I was overwhelmingly better at chess.
He wasn't even close to Holly's level.
I could beat Holly, so he was no match for me.
"I heard I was one of the kids raised in that facility?"
"Eh? Really?"
"Don't you remember?"
"No, because we disposed of all the children with low compatibility rates. We kept the ones with high rates."
"…You're a piece of work…"
"Hehe. However, if you're a child I don't remember, then you must have been one with a low compatibility rate. That you would become the Demon King later is quite moving."
"So, my birth wasn't something you intended?"
"Your birth was your own destiny. Just like Amaranth's birth was his own destiny. After all, whether or not a child inherits their parents' talents is completely random. Though I managed to achieve my goal by producing a genius like Amaranth, it was nearly impossible to intentionally create saintly sword wielders."
"It's about not playing with people's lives. What happened to that facility?"
"After Amaranth was born, everyone was released."
"…Is that so…"
"But you're strong. I can't even touch you. No wonder I lost to you."
Zelanium said, looking at the chessboard, as if conceding the match, and then knocked over the pieces on the board.
"You've played with Holly, right? Not much to show for it, though."
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just a human, you know? How could I possibly win a battle of wits against a spirit or a Demon King?"
"I can't agree with you just being 'a human.'"
"Hehe. By the way, it seems you've also played against Holly. How did it go?"
"I was losing all the time, but recently I've been unbeaten."
"…"
Zelanium furrowed his brows and stared at me.
Why is he so surprised to find out I'm the Demon King?
He's surprised at the wrong times.
"Did Holly throw tantrums and flip the chessboard when she lost?"
"…Really…"
"And she'd get mad if I let her win, too. I couldn't do anything without getting scolded."
"…You two were close, huh?"
"I wonder. It's because this time's hero wasn't a man. I was just a substitute."
"…Hey, I might be wrong, but you're not intentionally trying to lose to the hero to protect humanity, are you?"
"Do I look like it?"
"…"
Zelanium didn't answer my question.
Well, actually, I am trying to lose on purpose.
Realistically, even if I go all out, losing to the hero is inevitable due to the power dynamics between the Demon King and the hero.
I don't want to waste my effort.
However, Zelanium and Maris here are in the way for that.
I have to deceive them and buy time until Shion and Holly come to kill me.
Luckily, Holly has once come to this Demon King's castle.
Though the castle is now floating and constantly moving, it should be possible to guide Shion here.
Ideally, the hero could appear right now, but the problem lies in Shion and Holly's psychological state.
For some reason, those two's affection for me is maxed out.
Considering part of the reason is the desperate situation brought about by Zelanium here, it's frustrating, but essentially, I've been squeezing my brain to save those two from their predicaments, and now it's backfiring.
But eventually, those two will abandon their personal feelings and come to kill me.
So, until that moment comes, I have to make sure not to kill any humans.
I need to deceive Maris and Zelanium.