Chapter 25: Demon God, My Beloved Disciple

-The Demon King is so pitiful

-To think it was a sacrifice to break the chain of hatred between demons and humans....

-Hmph. A mass murderer is still a mass murderer.

-No matter the greater cause, her actions in massacring so many cannot be justified.

-What's wrong with the people who chose the massacre option?

-Then why don't you suggest a better alternative? How would you break the chain of hatred?

-New. Demon. King

The entire continent engaged in heated debate about one subject.

Countless opinions clashed and conflicted, with no clear answer in sight.

The fact that the subject was a historically significant figure known to all played a major role.

The irreconcilable conflict of values heightened awareness of the subject.

And gathering as one...

"...my disciple."

Awakened the subject.

*

Bang!

I shook off the unidentified being that had pierced through me and created distance.

"...what are you?"

Not something I created.

Then it came from outside the dream world?

[Not a god.]

[A mortal removing the seeds?]

[That's impossible.]

[But the seed of Pride is almost gone.]

[Certainly...]

[An interferer.]

The black shadow tilted its head and muttered something.

I don't know what it's mumbling about but.

"You barge into someone else's business and interfere with their work. I assume you're prepared to get hit."

The world's power gathered and swirled around me.

As long as this world remained intact, I was stronger than anyone here.

Let's start by putting a hole in you like you did to me.

My power formed into a spear of fierce wind.

When I extended my hand, the spear flew toward the being.

As if to block it, it stretched both hands forward.

[Cold Black Aura.]

Black energy seeped out from the being.

Boom!

Its filthy sludge blocked my spear.

I rotated the spear to increase penetration but its filthy sludge swallowed my spear.

"...what?"

The filthy sludge undulated as if digesting something before being absorbed back into the being.

[That's impossible.]

Though I couldn't see its expression on that pitch-black face, it seemed to be mocking me.

[Divine power has no effect on me]

"...what's with all this 'impossible' talk. Is that all you can say?"

I focused my mind.

What I could do in this world was limitless.

My imagination was my power.

Dozens of portals opened behind me.

The strongest attacks I could imagine formed in each portal.

A psionic cannon from a space battleship that could split planets in half

Noble phantasms meant for battles between heroes

The magic power of an archmage who devoted their life solely to firepower

My imagination, having seen countless creative works on Earth, would be ridiculous by this world's standards.

Fire!

Countless attacks targeted the filthy sludge being.

Each one contained enough destructive power to end a story.

I was certain that even a god couldn't block such force in this world, but...

Woong-

A strange wave rippled out from it and blocked all the attacks.

[That too is impossible.]

All the attacks I was certain couldn't be blocked were erased by a single move from it.

This can't be.

This is the world that I created?

It's blocking all the power I wield in this world?

My power that's basically a developer's cheat code?

...this could be really dangerous.

I immediately contacted Lady Constellation.

Ring...

Ring...

What the?

Why isn't this connecting?

Lady Constellation?

Communication interference?

The power connecting Lady Constellation and me feels like it's been neutralized.

...don't tell me

Whoosh-

Black filthy sludge spread out from the being.

[Divine power is meaningless against us]

"...tch."

I blocked the approaching filthy sludge with my gradually diminishing power.

If it can really nullify Lady Constellation's dream power...

This is seriously the worst.

Escape from this world is impossible too.

I have to take it down with just the power in here, but...

I glanced down at the Demon God below.

Though her mind was clear, it seemed difficult to get help from her.

Since she who didn't want this world's destruction couldn't possibly exert her power.

Bang!

I blocked the filthy sludge with my remaining squeezed-out power.

"This is really bad."

If I die here will I be safe in reality?

Is that why Lady Constellation is so obsessed with being a shut-in?

*

The Demon God blankly watched the battle between the two transcendent beings above.

The NPC who called himself the Supervisor.

The Demon God could feel it.

He was no NPC.

The familiar presence of a being within him.

Without doubt, he was an apostle of the God of Dreams.

"So that's how it was..."

When she first realized this fact, she thought he had become the Supervisor just to mock her.

But now that [Pride] was almost washed away, she could understand.

He had wanted to heal her.

He had wanted to help her face the complete truth by washing away this sin that closed her eyes and ears and muddled her thoughts.

To make her realize the truth about her master.

That evil being fighting him must be the one who planted this sin.

It appeared now to attack the Dream Apostle and muddle things again as this sin of [Pride] was about to disappear.

Then what should she do?

She knew.

She needed to unleash the Demon God's power right now.

She needed to destroy that evil being and save her benefactor.

Though she understood with her head...

She could not accept the end of this world.

The days spent with her master.

From her master's childhood until now.

All that time spent together was not false.

She could not lose all of that.

The Demon God swallowed her tears.

I'm sorry.

I am... an unworthy god.

I cannot... betray and kill my master again.

"Lady Demon God..."

The Demon King approached the Demon God who was bound by invisible power.

"It's been... a while..."

The Demon God greeted her with an awkward smile.

The Demon King bit her lip as she looked at her.

"You know Lady Demon God, I actually resented you."

"..."

"Why you left me behind. Why you said you'd stay with me but abandoned me. I couldn't accept it. So I cried every night and resented you."

"I understand."

I know.

I saw it all.

With divine perception in the accelerating flow of time in this world, I missed none of the elements within.

The girl's sadness, loneliness, fear, inner conflicts.

I saw and felt all that pain together.

"But... but I didn't know. That you were continuing to fight too."

The divine beings fighting fiercely above and the bound Demon God.

So the Demon God had been doing her best fighting in unseen places.

Compared to that, how childish was I.

"Eek!"

The Demon King began trying to cut through the power binding the Demon God.

An extraordinary power created by this world's creator.

Not something a mere creation could dare to harm.

"This time... I won't lose you. My Lady Demon God."

The girl's power shone from her hands.

Hiss-

Lava flowed out and tried to melt the Demon God's bindings.

"This time! This time I won't lose you!"

The girl poured out power until her hands were blistered and her power depleted.

But the bindings remained completely unchanged.

"Reino..."

The Demon God bit her lip hard.

With just her will, she could cut through bindings like these.

She just needed to break the dream power.

But...

'The dream power must not break.'

To accomplish what the girl was doing required destroying the girl and her world.

The Demon God was not yet ready to accept this.

"Why won't it cut! Why! How can I meet Lady Demon God again but! Whyyyy!"

So she could not grant the wish of the girl wailing before her.

Even if her benefactor who fought for her above died to that evil being.

"I'm sorry... Reino."

The Demon God closed her eyes and shed tears.

"Still a crybaby I see. My cute disciple."

...?

Warm hands cupped her cheeks.

Though she should not be able to feel such sensation in her soul state, the Demon God felt warmth.

When the Demon God opened her eyes again, the girl was caressing her cheeks.

"It's been a while. My disciple."

"...Reino? M-Master?"

"Yes. Have you been well?"

The Demon King smiled brightly, filled with the warmth of the master she had longed to see.

"My disciple has grown so much, even acting as master to this master."

"Ah, no that was to try to resurrect master...! I-I mean I didn't want to be master's master! Really!"

When the Demon God flustered and rambled, Reino giggled.

"My disciple. Still cute even after becoming a Demon God."

"...Pfft. Always teasing me."

The Demon God's cheeks puffed up with air.

"Why didn't you tell me what you were trying to do, master? That you were trying to break the chain of hatred through your sacrifice."

"Would you not have stopped me if I had told you?"

"...Well, that's true."

Reino hugged the Demon God tightly.

"I'm sorry. I left you with too heavy a burden. It must have been hard."

"...Yes. Reino was bad."

"Heh, it was my fault. I'm truly sorry. ...and you did well."

Reino stroked the Demon God's head.

"I never imagined you'd do this well. Breaking all hatred and bringing an era of peace."

"...There's so much I want to tell you."

I want to show you everything.

How this world changed through master's sacrifice.

How such a peaceful era opened and everyone could live with smiles upon your sacrifice.

"I want to hear it too. ...but you know?"

"Reino. No."

"The Demon King has something she must do."

"No."

"Though I'm not in a position to advise since you're already a splendid Demon King."

"No!"

"As one who rules and protects, there are things that must be done. You know this."

"No! No! Please! Reino! I don't want to be separated from you again!"

Pat- Pat-

"I'm so sorry. For making you bear such a burden again."

"Stop it Reino. I... I...!"

Rather than become Demon King again based on master's sacrifice, I'd rather just throw it all away and-!

"Ah ah, tut."

Reino sternly raised a finger to stop the Demon God's words.

"You're... Lady Demon God, aren't you? The great protector of demons far beyond a mere Demon King."

"Reino..."

"Reino believes in our Lady Demon God. That you'll destroy evil and uphold peace and justice. That you'll become a Demon God like none other in this world."

The Demon God bit her lip.

Blood flowed thickly from lips torn from biting too hard.

"Reino I..."

"You'll do it, won't you, our Lady Demon God?"

What kind of omnipotent being am I.

I am not an omnipotent Demon God.

How dare I claim to be the strongest when I can't even save one loved one.

What I can and cannot do.

The final strand of [Pride] binding the Demon God shattered.

Guooooooo-

Divine power exploded out around the Demon God.

"Reino."

There's so much I want to tell you.

So much I want to show you.

Tears clouded my vision.

I didn't want to accept this.

Another farewell.

How can we part right after meeting.

"I love you, Reino."

I couldn't continue speaking.

If I did, my barely maintained resolve would scatter.

Kwaaaa!

The Demon God flew high into the sky.

She couldn't look back.

If she did, she would immediately collapse crying like a child.

She had to find someone to unleash these uncontrollable emotions and rage upon.

If only to tear apart and kill this evil being who made me choose with my own hands to send my master to another death.

As the Demon God's overflowing power was released, the dream power forming the surroundings was cut away.

The false dream that had felt more real than reality to the Demon God was cut away.

Like waking from a dream, each element gradually blurred away.

"Me too."

The demon girl at the very center smiled.

The dream world blurring and erasing away around her.

The girl looked up one last time at her proud disciple's back.

My beloved,

Though I’m sorry for not treating you better,

You’ve grown so wonderfully.

That’s why, more than anything, you’re my proud disciple,

My master,

My companion,

And my one and only precious child in this world.

"I completely love you, my Lady Demon God."

With those final words, the Demon King vanished from the world.