An Exchange

Ria was holding her head in her hands.

It was about the murder case between humans and demons that had started from that hunting incident.

How this was handled could change their future relationship with the demon race.

If this had been between humans, the killers would have received the death penalty or been made into crime slaves.

However, this time the victims were demons — kobolds. Naturally, there had never been any penalties for killing kobolds before.

But that didn't mean they could be declared innocent. Doing so would worsen relations with the demon race.

"So, what are you going to do about this?"

Asuka had come all the way to Jaeburg's government office.

"By the way, what would happen if the same thing occurred in demon territory?"

Asuka silently made a throat-cutting gesture. A harsher punishment than Jaeburg's autonomous territory.

"May I start with the matter of compensation?"

"I don't mind, but… can you even pay?"

"This time, it will be paid from the national treasury. How about 160 gold coins total for the four kobold victims?"

That was an exorbitant compensation by human nation standards.

Even so, Asuka nodded magnanimously.

"And what will you do with the men who committed the crime?"

That was the main issue. Until that was decided, Asuka couldn't determine her stance either.

"Normally, they would pay an appropriate fine and do slave labor, but this time, they will all be executed."

Asuka's eyebrow twitched.

"However, the charge won't be murder of kobolds, but treason against the state. For worsening relations with the demon race and threatening national security."

That was the solution Guinevere had proposed.

The ultimate solution that would establish a stance toward the demon race while also not incurring hostility from them.

Of course, this would likely lower Ria's popularity, but it shouldn't be fatal. That's what Guinevere thought.

But Ria was thinking one step further.

"… That's the official story, anyway."

And then she said something that astonished Asuka.

"We'll relocate the criminals to demon territory."

"… Are you serious?"

"If there's a settlement with powerful demons, I'd like to send them there. Then, after a few years, if they've reformed, they can decide whether to stay there or return here."

"…"

With her arms crossed, Asuka began cycling through various expressions, looking at the ceiling, then left, then right, and finally behind her.

"That's interesting. Maybe I'll have them live in a town with lots of vampires."

Showing her sharp fangs, she rendered her judgment.

Later on, that group quickly adapted to the demon town, and those without families ended up staying there. But that's a story for another time.

"Setting that aside, what's happening with the meeting with the Demon King?"

"Yes, I've received word from Rei. His Majesty will head this way as soon as he's free."

"… But that guy seems super busy for some reason though?"

"… Please don't bring that up."

"If that's the case, how about I go to him? He's probably in Casalia or Lemdria, right? Or maybe the Empire's territory?"

"The Empire's territory. He should be in a place called Falsas, overseeing the construction of a town."

Hearing that, Ria immediately started to rise, and Asuka hurriedly stopped her.

"You might miss each other, so please wait here."

Indeed, a quick-to-act Demon King-sama.

The day eventually came.

In a manner far more brazen compared to when Shifaka had once infiltrated — smashing through the barrier and landing in the courtyard of the Manesh palace — a masked man.

As the guards gathered, he surveyed the area with his single attendant and reportedly shouted:

"So○○mon! I have returned!"

In a reception room attached to the office, four people sat across from the Demon King and his attendant.

The Demon King took his hands out of his pockets and said:

"Ah, here, it's nothing special."

A renowned confection: Demon King Manju.

…

Time stopped.

The first to burst out laughing was Serge, and the Demon King followed suit with his own high-pitched laughter.

Ria smiled wryly. Carla and Guinevere didn't understand what was going on.

Because it was written in Japanese.

"Renowned Confection: Demon King Manju," it read. Moreover, in pointlessly elegant calligraphy.

"So, are you still not going to take off that mask?"

Ignoring the three who kept laughing, Guinevere asked. Her voice was cold as ice.

"Is there any need to take it off?"

"I can't have an equal conversation with someone who won't show their face."

When Ria said that, having finally recovered from her laughing fit, the Demon King let out a deep sigh.

"You already know though, don't you?"

"I want to actually see your face."

On this matter, Guinevere was persistent.

The man she had once loved. And the father of her son.

"Fine, but don't tell anyone else. It's surprisingly fun when people don't figure out my identity."

And with that, the Demon King casually removed his mask.

"That's not him…"

Guinevere murmured. His identity was not that of the mysterious mage, Gonbei.

"But actually, this face is also a fake."

Like a certain phantom thief's grandson, the surface of his face peeled away. Even his voice had changed.

"Still not him…"

The youthful face of a young man was not the one Guinevere knew.

"And when I put this on top of this, the mysterious mage is complete."

When he put on the newly retrieved mask, a different face with sharp eyes appeared.

"Gonbei-sama!"

The Demon King's attendant blocked Guinevere with her body as she tried to embrace him over the table.

She too wore a mask and still hadn't removed it.

"How unromantic of you, getting in the way of a reunion between long-separated lovers."

"Lovers? From what I saw, it was just one-sided feelings on your part."

The attendant — meaning she was a flight magic user capable of following the Demon King here — had a second-rate disguise. Those who had met her before, like Ria, could tell.

"Could you be from Black Cat?"

"So I've been found out after all."

The one who readily removed her mask was Ferna.

"I was formerly a leader of Black Cat. Now I serve as Haruto-san's right hand."

"Haruto? Is that your real name?"

Ria asked. It was a name that also existed in Japanese.

The Demon King removed the mask and returned to the face of a Japanese young man.

"It's Arisugawa Haruto. But I've been called Ars Gahalt over here."

Indeed, that was the name of the legendary hero.

The legendary figure who, in the end, had killed each other with the Demon King in single combat.

"By the way, is there any tea?"

The legendary figure was remarkably casual.

Since they were going to discuss secret matters, Carla brewed the tea herself.

"Ahh～, what a lovely aroma～"

Not a shred of the Demon King's dignity could be found in that appearance as he savored the tea's steam.

"So what was it about him that attracted you?"

Ria quietly asked Guinevere, but was told that couldn't be explained in a single word.

"Now then, Demon King… or should I call you Haruto-san?"

"Ah, please go with that."

"Haruto-san, I'll ask you directly. What exactly happens during the Great Collapse? Both the Holy Emperor and the Dark Dragon were evasive about it. But you know, don't you?"

Haruto crossed his arms with a contemplative expression.

"Um, are there people with past lives among you?"

To the question in Japanese, Ria and Serge raised their hands.

"Then I'll tell you. You can explain it to the others later. But are you sure you want to hear it? You won't regret it?"

Both Ria and Serge nodded firmly. After being strung along this much, not listening wasn't an option.

With a sigh, Haruto finally revealed it.

"The dimensional boundary breaks down, and two worlds collide."

Those words could only have been spoken in Japanese.

"That is the Great Collapse."

Returning to this world's language, Haruto declared.