The one thing I can do...
Is borrow the strength of others.
"I don't have my own Sword of Darkness. Instead, I can borrow the power of others."
Behind me floated countless black swords.
They seemed familiar, yet each sword, with its unique shape and function, floated not just behind me but all around.
"I can use all the Swords of Darkness wielded by past demon lords. That's my unique ability as a demon lord."
"Wha...?"
Geranium, possessed by Kris, was comically flustered.
As if he were seeing something unbelievable.
"Killing you wasn't quite accurate. After all, I have no power of my own."
Using the demon lord's ability to create matter, I conjured the throne of the demon lord's castle behind me and sat upon it.
"Kill."
In an instant, the surrounding Swords of Darkness simultaneously flew towards Geranium.
"Ugh, aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
He must have tried to dodge.
To defend.
To counterattack.
To heal.
To deal with it in some way.
However, the hundreds of Swords of Darkness, each with their own unique abilities, allowed Geranium no action and brutally pierced him from all directions.
The demon, potentially surpassing even the hero and the demon lord, was unable to do anything and was unilaterally trampled.
Sitting on the throne, I watched Geranium screaming in agony.
Geranium seemed to be trying to use some incomprehensible ability to move to another location, but the countless Swords of Darkness did not permit it.
The Swords of Darkness surrounding me attacked Geranium with abilities not even I was aware of, protecting me.
Well, it's the usual scenario.
I live by relying on the talents of someone else, not my own.
Just as I lived with my father's help when I was a child, I'll continue to pass responsibilities onto others.
"You, monster...!"
"It's not my power."
"Damn youuuuuuu! How dare someone like you! The creator of meeeeee!"
"That's what I'm saying, it's not my power. It's all the abilities of the demon lords you created."
My ability is actually the weakest.
Having the ability to use all the powers of the past demon lords might seem strong if there were hundreds of them, but what if I were the first demon lord?
I wouldn't have been able to produce a single Sword of Darkness in this situation.
This is the result of the powers of demon lords who have been defeated by heroes over the years converging.
That power even surpasses the creator of both the hero and the demon lord.
"It's not over yeeeeeeeeeeet!"
Spitting blood and screaming, Geranium charged at me.
Pierced by countless Swords of Darkness, almost all of his abilities neutralized or interfered with, he still approached me at an unbelievable speed, directly targeting me.
Geranium closed the distance between us in an instant,
"Dieeeeeee! ...Eh?"
This time, he was truly at a loss for words.
Stunned by the single Sword of Darkness I held.
Despite being pierced by countless Swords of Darkness, Geranium, who had approached me without breaking his spirit, was dumbfounded by the single Sword of Darkness I stood holding.
The Sword of Darkness in my grasp had the same shape as the Sword of Holy Light wielded by Shion.
"I told you I can use all the powers of the past demon lords. That includes the powers of Shion, who has just recently transformed into a demon lord. I can also use the Sword of Holy Light and Shion's sword techniques."
"Wha...?"
"Shion tried to save me. That's why I gained this power."
Black light emanated from the Sword of Darkness I held.
The light began to erase the bewildered Geranium.
"Such... nonsense... I... how could this..."
Then, I saw it.
Kris, who had emerged from Geranium's body, disappeared.
And Geranium, released from Kris, smiled briefly.
"What's up?"
Inside me, Maris seemed puzzled.
"You... are definitely the strongest demon lord..."
"No, I'm the weakest."
I picked up the Timeflow Sword that Geranium, now vanished, had kept with him to the end.
Again, I had ended up killing Geranium.
And again, by using the strength of others.
This is always how it's been for me.
For now, I'll take the Timeflow Sword as a memento.
"Maybe this is for the best. With the creator gone, there will never be heroes or demon lords again."
"...?"
Maris just said something strange.
Never again heroes or demon lords?
Looking at Maris, who had appeared outside my body,
"Maris...!"
Her body was disappearing from the feet up.
Quickly fading away, her whole body becoming translucent.
"Well, if Mother is dead, it's not strange for us, who were created, to disappear too. It seems Mother was maintaining our spirits."
"That can't be..."
Had I, in effect, killed Maris and the others?
"It's convenient, isn't it? You no longer have to become the demon lord... Besides, you don't have time to be with me. There's someone else you need to say goodbye to, right?"
At that moment, I felt as if all the blood had drained from my body.
My mind couldn't grasp what was happening too suddenly, but Maris's disappearance also meant,
"Holly...?"
The disappearance of that sharp-tongued spirit I had shared so many hardships with.
"...Holly..."
I called out to Holly, who was possessing Shion and healing his wounds.
"It's alright, Crow. Shion's wounds are completely healed."
As she spoke, Holly emerged from Shion's body.
Her figure was already as faint as Maris's had been.
"Holly! I...!"
"You were really a strange man, weren't you?"
While gently placing the unconscious Shion on the Pegasus Sword, Holly muttered.
"I never imagined you would actually save the world. A world where the demon lord will never resurrect. A world where humans decide their future. To create such a thing..."
"Holly..."
"I've fought against many heroes before."
With a full smile on her face, Holly's body became thinner.
"I really did fall in love with the heroes, time after time, without ever getting bored."
"Ah..."
"I know you might not believe this coming from me, but I liked you the most."
"...I'm not the kind of guy who should be told that."
"Even now, you say such things. Well, it's just like you."
Holly looked away from me, gazing off into the distance.
"But... I'm relieved, in a way."
"What are you relieved about?"
"I've always been scared. Despite repeating this cycle many times, this time I was truly frightened."
"...?"
"Of being the one to watch over you."
"…!"
"So, this is for the best. For the first time, I went from being the watcher to the watched. And I'm truly glad it was you..."
"Holly!"
I reached out to Holly.
Because I didn't know how to respond.
Because I didn't know what to say.
Why does it always end up like this?
Why can't I do anything when it matters the most?
"...Holly? Brother...?"
At that moment, Shion, who had been unconscious, woke up, looking at me and Holly with wide eyes.
It seemed Shion realized Holly's state was far from normal.
"Tch! Can't you just sleep quietly when we're saying our goodbyes, you brat?"
"Uh..."
There was no need for curses at such a time.
Had Holly and Shion's relationship not changed much, even after spending a long time with me since my transformation into a demon lord?
"...Holly! What's happening!? You're fading away!"
Shion hurried down from the Pegasus Sword and rushed to Holly, trying to touch her, but his hand passed through the air.
Holly's strength had weakened to the point where she couldn't materialize.
"Holly?"
"Shut up. I'm about to disappear."
"Eh!?"
"It's convenient, isn't it? After I'm gone, you and Crow can get along just fine."
"Holly..."
Even at the very end, Holly was snapping at Shion.
This being their last conversation, she didn't even try to look at him, turning her back instead.
Shion, watching Holly's back, trembled slightly.
"No, no... I don't want this, Holly..."
"Don't disappear, Holly! Stay with me! Stay with me until I die!"
Shion spoke those words to Holly, who was fading away, tears streaming down his face.
"You promised you'd stay with me until I die!"
"Don't disappear, Holly... please don't disappear..."
At that moment, Holly turned around and embraced Shion.