There's No Point Running Away (9)

"You... what happened to the Demon King?"

'Rest assured. I have her safely protected... within my spatial rift. But what about you? Weren't you going to knock God flying? You're not the kind of man who would fail to realize that the next stage is a means of getting closer to God, are you?'

At Estellera's question, Kagami let out a weary sigh.

"Don't ask me stupid questions. There's no point challenging God if I lose something important in the process, right?"

'Oh...? Even knowing the demons are beings created to be reset, you still consider them important?'

"I don't care how they were born or whether they're created every time there's a reset. What matters to me are the demons who exist right now in this world, with wills of their own."

'As I thought, you are an interesting man... Knowing how this system works, you still worry about the demons.'

Estellera smiled with satisfaction at Kagami's answer. Seeing his demeanor, Kagami couldn't help pointing out, "Wait, you're a demon too," even though he knew Estellera was a special existence.

"Kagami-dono... I'm moved! Though I serve the Demon King-sama, I, Menou, promise to risk my life to protect you if anything happens to you, Kagami-dono!"

"Oh, then keep running the casino for me from now on."

"Where does risking your life come into that?"

The tension from the battle had faded, and the Dark Dragon looked confused by the sudden change in the atmosphere. But it soon sensed the murderous intent hidden within Kagami and immediately steeled itself.

'Well, Dark Dragon? Don't you think he's an interesting man? He can set aside his killing intent for a time to suit the situation, but he won't give up fighting until he achieves his goal, no matter what happens to him. You've never seen a human like this, have you?'

'I understand that he's interesting, but what have you two been talking about? You seem to know each other... And what do you mean, you have the Demon King under your protection? What did you mean when you said he was nothing but lies?'

'I haven't explained yet. ...This man never defeated the Demon King-sama.'

'W-what do you mean? I can't sense the Demon King's presence.'

'It would take too long to explain, but no one had reached this point for so long that I thought the time had come. About two months ago, I set Messiah in motion to make humanity feel threatened and spur them to grow... but this man defeated Messiah.'

'Defeated...? A Villager defeated Messiah?!'

'You still don't know this man's true strength. He still has a trump card up his sleeve.'

As he spoke, Estellera turned to Kagami with a smile. Kagami sighed and said, "Don't give that away," then chuckled as he realized that was the reason behind the Demon King's Army's attack.

'Despite having all this power, this man is as unusual as you know. He didn't just refuse to defeat the Demon King-sama—he tried to save her. So I created a new rule: no one could kill the Demon King-sama for a year, but if he failed to collect 10,000 gold within that year, I would use her to launch another attack. I thought that, not wanting the Demon King-sama to die, he would desperately gather the money. He had the potential to collect that much, after all.'

"Wait, so what? You lied to make me hurry up and come here after all?"

'It wasn't a lie. We couldn't wait forever for someone to arrive. If a year had passed... I would have used the Demon King-sama as planned to spur the birth of a new powerful person.'

"I mean... since you're a demon too, wouldn't you get reset?"

'You know by now, but like the Dark Dragon, I am an existence meant to maintain this world's functions... I won't be reset. However, I am not as powerful as the Dark Dragon. My role is to serve the Demon King-sama, who is born with every reset, and maintain balance as a demon. Well... this is a good example. When nothing new happens for ages, wouldn't it be a problem if someone like me weren't around?'

Hearing that only left Kagami even more confused. Why did this world have these functions in the first place? But he could practically hear the answer already: 'Only those who have reached the next stage can know.' Realizing that, he said nothing and fell silent.

'Wait... then hold on. This man collected 10,000 gold in such a short time?'

'Unfortunately, no.'

'Then how on earth did he get here?'

'He dug a hole from the surface and made it here under his own power.'

'...........................................?!'

The instant he heard Estellera's words, the Dark Dragon froze with such a blank look that it showed even on its imposing dragon face. It remained completely motionless for several seconds. At last, seemingly understanding, it let out a long breath, murmured a quiet 'Hmm,' and—

'Forgive me. Could you say that one more time?'

it asked, wearing an expression of disbelief.

'I never imagined anyone would reach this place under their own power. Even I was surprised. He dug through the earth as it regenerated, faster than it could recover.'

'Impossible... That is one of the mechanisms created by God! Even a hero above Level 500 shouldn't be able to get through...!'

'That man can temporarily exert power equal to or greater than that of a Level 999 hero. Perhaps even God never imagined a Level 999 hero would go to the trouble of digging through the ground to get here.'

At those words, the Dark Dragon shouted, "A Level 999 hero?!" It rushed its face toward Kagami at tremendous speed and began scrutinizing him from every angle, as if trying to make sure.

'He seems to be good at exploiting loopholes in the system. Between that and the cloth that suppresses the demons' mana... he's never boring to watch.'

'Then... this man meets neither of the two conditions God set for proceeding to the next stage?'

'That's right. But... with strength like this, is there really any need to make him take that path? Couldn't we treat him as having met the conditions?'

'...No. That cannot be done. If you, too, were created by God as I was, you should understand. We cannot defy the rules, no matter how strong this man may be.'

'But, Dark Dragon, you saw it in that battle, didn't you? This man's extraordinary power... and the hope he represents.'

At Estellera's words, the Dark Dragon fell silent, looking troubled. The sight struck Kagami as deeply strange.

It was as if both the Dark Dragon and Estellera were bound by the workings of this world... as if they were pleading for help.

The word the Dark Dragon had used—hope—echoed in Kagami's mind. And with each echo, he found himself more and more curious about the next stage.

'Aside from the fact that the conditions for receiving a Skill are tied to one's role, the details are unknown, and it's fair to say they're mostly determined by luck... Gaining that Skill at that exact moment can only be called incredible luck. But luck is part of strength. Isn't the one we truly seek someone who, even by luck, can turn everything around at the last moment and see his convictions through?'

'...Hmm.'

'Besides, as long as the Demon King-sama hasn't been defeated, there's no need for a reset... That man would have no reason to resist, and everything would fall into place.'

A tense atmosphere hung between the Dark Dragon and Estellera as they spoke with grave expressions. Menou couldn't help holding her breath.

"Um... can I say something?"

But amid that tense atmosphere, Kagami raised his hand and cut into the conversation between the Dark Dragon and Estellera in his usual cheerful voice, calling out, "Yeah, yeah!"—

"Either way, I don't feel like going to this next stage or whatever right now, so could you send me back to the surface?"

With a carefree attitude, he cut straight through the very premise of their conversation.