Rage

Ria was furious.

This wasn't the emotion similar to murderous intent that one feels toward an opponent in battle.

It was pure anger—a simple desire to erase this existence from the world.

"I'm going to slowly cut you to pieces starting from your toes and torture you to death."

Ria said this in a voice that was almost calm.

She healed only the deepest of Carla's wounds.

"Ria…"

She came for me. But Ria's current anger was intense enough to eclipse even that joy.

"I'll finish this quickly."

With just those words, Ria stood up.

Kotetsu was drawn.

That motion filled Ordo with fear.

Fear of an overwhelming existence. Like a dragon, for instance. Back then, he had been saved by the Demon King.

He had felt this same sensation only once before—when he had angered the Demon King.

Did that mean the woman before him was the same as the Demon King?

Impossible.

That guy—that person was supposed to be an absolute existence.

"Aaaaaaah!"

Ordo howled.

It was a desperate roar to escape from his fear.

In contrast, Ria flowed into range, swinging her katana at a speed Ordo couldn't even react to—

And then, it was stopped.

A golden orichalcum longsword.

Between Ria and Ordo.

A man in a golden mask stood there.

His appearance was sudden.

But that didn't matter to Ria.

Those who protect enemies are enemies. That was simply how she thought.

So she didn't bother asking who this person was, but Ordo informed her anyway.

"Your Majesty…"

So this was the Demon King.

Strangely, Ria found herself accepting it. He had easily stopped her strike. One couldn't be the Demon King without at least that much ability.

"Don't interfere!"

Her diagonal slash was caught by the longsword. As they pressed blade against blade, she got a clear view of the golden mask.

"I apologize, so could you please sheathe your sword? I still don't want to lose him."

The Demon King spoke as if pleading.

"No."

Ria replied curtly and stepped back.

The man before her was strong. Probably stronger than any enemy she had ever faced.

But right now, Ria could cut through anything.

"Please. There's no doubt you're stronger than him. But I also want to protect him."

"Don't screw with me!"

That shout came from Ordo's mouth.

"I don't want to be protected by you! I want to stand beside you! I'm not going to be protected forever!"

The Demon King's shoulders seemed to droop slightly. Then, to Ria, he said just one thing.

"I won't let anyone else interfere."

With that, he withdrew.

The outcome had been decided from the start.

Even so, Ordo's pride was protected. He was a man who valued his pride over his own life. Even if that pride was twisted.

This time, Ria swung her katana at Ordo for certain.

Claws came to intercept. Both hands' worth. But they were slow. His technique was fatally lacking.

She deflected them and cut.

His right hand was severed from the middle.

"Guaaaaaaah!"

Before his scream could finish, she severed his left hand from the elbow.

Her rage was overflowing.

She wanted to kill him gruesomely, but she had too much anger to stop herself.

A diagonal slash against the man who had lost both hands.

Split in two, the man's torso fell at an angle.

Having lost all interest, Ria rushed to Carla's side.

She picked up the severed right hand. She wasn't skilled at healing magic, but with Carla's regenerative abilities, it should reattach properly.

"Ria…"

"Don't talk."

Her respiratory system seemed undamaged. Her beautiful skin was torn in many places. Ria slowly healed her so that no scars would remain.

"I'm fine, but more importantly…"

Following Carla's gaze.

The Demon King was cradling Ordo's body, now divided into four pieces.

He slowly approached them. If it came to a fight, Ria probably couldn't win.

Not while protecting these people who were now liabilities.

"I'm sorry."

The Demon King bowed his head slightly.

"And I thank you for giving him a warrior's end."

Behind the mask, the Demon King seemed to be deeply grieving.

When she had taken that life with her katana, Ria's anger had dissipated. But that didn't mean she would choose not to fight the Demon King.

Rather, she wanted to try fighting him.

"Is your name Ars?"

"That is one of my names."

The Demon King confirmed it readily.

"On Earth, I was called Arisugawa Haruto."

"Why do you save humans and hurt them?"

"I want to save everyone. But my power doesn't reach that far."

The Demon King's voice was quiet.

Even though he could probably kill every human here.

"I wanted to save him too."

He spoke while gazing at Ordo in his arms, now returned to human form. As if lamenting.

"But he chose to fight you rather than be protected by me."

"Want to try fighting me too? Honestly, my woman got hurt, and my anger hasn't fully subsided yet."

"Let's not. I can't afford to fight to the death with you before The Millennium and the Great Collapse."

"Do you think I'll just let you go?"

The Demon King nodded.

"I'll tell you one thing."

As if it were a bargaining chip.

"The Millennium is in three years."

To those who knew what it meant, that would sound like a terrifying declaration.

"Once it passes, the permafrost will melt and the demon race's invasion will begin. You should prepare."

Why was he telling her this?

The Demon King floated into the air. Just as Ria thought she wouldn't let him escape, Carla weakly grabbed her leg.

Without Ria's healing magic, there were people here who would die. She couldn't pursue the Demon King now.

"I want to survive The Millennium."

The Demon King murmured clearly, so she could hear.

"And the Great Collapse that comes after."

There was unwavering conviction in those words.

"You all need to get stronger too. That's the way to minimize the sacrifices."

He spoke with a voice that seemed to carry sorrow.

"Let's meet again."

And then he flew off into the distant sky.

"Ria, Serge and the others—"

Only after Carla spoke did Ria notice the devastation around her.

She covered Carla's naked body with a cloak and hurried to the fallen knights.

Serge had done well. If she hadn't received word through his magic, she might not have made it in time.

Fortunately, he had only suffered a concussion. But he was also sinking into despair over his own powerlessness.

None of the knights had particularly severe injuries either. Other than the initial attack, they had clearly been holding back.

Those who couldn't fight were killed; those who could fight were left alive.

Once again, Ria recognized that abnormality.

"What is… the Great Collapse?"

Far from Cornada, Haruto landed in a forest.

Here, no one would see him.

He cremated Ordo's remains. What should he say to his wife and children? Haruto's head ached. He didn't want to get used to this, but he was becoming accustomed to it.

Even so, he had noticed the pursuer.

"So you were the Demon King."

He had been found out. Leaving the inn in such a rush—of course she would notice.

"Ferna-san…"

"Did you deceive me?"

She drew her sword and pointed its tip at Haruto.

Various excuses came to mind. But they were all just that—excuses.

"I'm sorry."

"I have to—with you!"

She had to fight him. That was how it should be.

"I don't want to fight…"

Ferna murmured weakly.

Haruto removed his mask. There was his usual gentle face.

But unlike normal, there was a somewhat troubled expression on it.

"If you don't want to fight, you don't have to. I've been creating a world where fighting isn't necessary."

"You're the enemy of the world!"

"No. I'm an enemy of humanity, but the enemy of the world is… no…"

Haruto shook his head.

"True, I might be the enemy of the world. But I don't intend to simply accept The Millennium."

Ferna knew well the look in Haruto's eyes at that moment.

The eyes of an immortal, weary of life.

But strength quickly returned to those eyes.

"Do you accept The Millennium? The slaughter between humans and demons to circulate souls—do you accept this system that creates nothing new?"

His gaze held such powerful will that Ferna found herself overwhelmed.

"I don't accept it. I will fight."

Ah, this was anger.

Anger at the world's injustice.

The anger Ferna had already forgotten—no, had tried to forget.

"You're a dangerous person."

Even while thinking that, a feeling welled up from deep within her body.

If it's this person, she thought.

If it's this person who could even tolerate a murderer like that—could he also tolerate the mass slaughter of The Millennium?

"But you might be able to become one of our comrades."

"I've parted ways with the Black Cat. Neither Azel nor Shana would follow me."

The brown-skinned young man and the scarlet-haired girl. Haruto remembered his comrades who had once stood against the Demon King's tyranny together with him.

It was understandable. Natural, even. That was how this world had survived The Millennium—to avoid the Great Collapse.

"Then I will go with you."

Ferna said clearly.

Genuine emotion. Haruto was surprised by the sincere eyes watching him.

"You?"

This girl who should have been raised by the Black Cat. This girl who understood well what The Millennium meant.

"Yes."

Ferna nodded firmly.

"Please let me go with you."