The Demon Kings Hubris

Earth!?

Are you insane!?

Ars motioned for the swords moving toward Ria to stop, a troubled look on his face.

Rei and Fernas swords stopped just away from Rias neck.

Assuming Labyrinth is right, we;ll be connected to the 21st century of Earth. Dont you have tons of people you know there too!?

Ridiculous Foremost, the level of civilization between Earth and this world is different. How could we resist nuclear weaponry

Rias hand slowly let go of Ars.

Seeing Ria sit back in her chair, Carla gently placed her hand on her shoulder.

Rei and Ferna also resheathed their swords.

I want to ask you the same. Are you insane?

An existence summoned from Earth to oppose the Demon King.

He felt intimidating, his grave gaze locked on Ars. Even though his spirit had grown old in those two thousand years, he could not allow what Ars was implying. He still had many people back in his birthplace.

Ars smile was weak.

The dice have been cast, theres no going back.

There would be less sacrifices if we continue on how we have, allowing demons and humans to fight a massive war with each other, than this way.

So you intend to continue killing one billion humans, demi-humans, and demons? Moreover, do you intend to repeat that for each Millennium?

Rias thoughts had clouded over. Shed long since heard that the Great Collapse was what happened when two worlds collided, but she never thought that the other world would be Earth.

No, rather, she ought to have taken that into consideration.

Moreover, Valis had said it in the pastthat this world and Earth had once come into contact with each other.

What is Earth? I know that it is the world we summon heroes from, but?

How much war potential do they have? Is it possible for us to collapse their world first?

The one to respond to him was not Ars, however.

In exchange for my life, it is possible to destroy their world.

Closing and concealing her golden eyes, she declared.

Dragons.

The myriad of dragons sleeping within their caves.

If all of those were to dance through skies and overthrow Earth

Moreover, Earths gods.

Would she be purposely fighting against those gods that brought her to this world?

If you were to add up all of the various gods passed through the ages from both monotheistic and polytheistic religions, there would probably be a few million.

Earths gods are weak.

They are existences created through human imagination to start with. They dont have physical bodies and only exist as souls. Us dragons are fundamentally different. If they dont have the humans faith, they cannot weild their power.

Was it like that? The Gift Ria had received from those same gods was a considerably powerful one, though.

Us demons will disempower Earths humans war potential. We should be enough for their weaker gods as well. But I would like to borrow the dragon races power to deal with the chief gods of the primary religions.

Of course, us Dragons exist to protect our world.

Protect the world. In this case, that lead to protecting humans and demons. Ars expected that it would turn into a situation where the Dragons power was necessary.

Ria felt regret.

Ria.

Do not shy away from turning another country into a sacrifice for your own. That is a rulers duty. Even if even if you hurt far more lives in doing so.

If what Ars said was true, this would prevent the world from having to go through quite a number of Millenniums in the future to come.

Father

I am one of the people who reincarnated from Earth

Silence filled the room.

Even so, Neyas voice was hoarse as he spoke.

Ria declared, facing everyone.

The room once again filled with noise. What meaning this held to the worlds kings was something Ria didnt know.

I know that you spent a longer time on Earth than this world, but is there so much value in protecting Earth?

Environmental pollution, population explosion, the disparity between the rich and the poor I think theyd hit their limit soon enough even if we left them alone. In that case, wouldnt it be a blessing for those of Earth to be brought here, a place where there is still land and resources, a natural world free from pollution?

He spoke extremely unilaterally and full of hubris.

(Ah, I get it now.)

This man in front of her truly was the Demon King.

And he embraced an extreme portion of human wickedness.

Were you able to understand?

Facing that Demon King who was even smiling, Ria drew her katana.

She didnt stop her attack just before it landed like Rei and Ferna did, but even so, it was stopped by the Demon Kings invisible barrier.

The Demon King as he raised his hands exaggeratedly. Rei and Ferna had already drawn their swords. Behind Ria, Carla had also drew her sword.

Cease.

Dark Dragon Valis stood up slowly.

She hadnt said that his way was the best one. But Ars had already prepared for this unavoidable crisis well.

Even in its conquest of Cordova, Ogress hadnt had to utilize much of its war potential. This was all as Ars wished.

Valis statement was the de facto end to the meeting.

Ria looked around, seeing only people sighing.

Was Rias only ally Carla?

His attitude the same as ever, Shifaka questioned him. He knew that what sent the hero to another world was the power of Water Dragon Lanna.

That was a bit of a miscalculation. As the Demon King, Id tried to kill him immediately. But, he was putting it simply, he was too strong.

That guys magic that shouldnt have existed in this world and my own magic were polar opposites and started to destroy this world. Clarice-sama, in exchange for her own life, kept the damages to a minimum.

I see, so that was it?

He couldnt bear the burden of mass murder and requested Lanna to let him to run away from this world.

Not having said a word this whole time, Lanna interjected to lay fault on him.

Well, thats how it is. Does anyone have any other questions or suggestions?

An emptiness was born in Rias heart. Everything she had done thus far, had it all been Ars wishes? Had she been playing in the palm of his hand?

When will the Great Collapse happen, exactly?

Knowing when it would come truly was an important matter.

If you want, immediately. If we leave it to the natural course in fifty days. Even if I delayed it with my power, it would be one hundred days at the most.

Understood. Fifty days will be sufficient.

Seeing Alvis nod, Thor asked him a question.

He wasnt particularly trying to suppress his voice either, so the whole meeting had heard him. Alvis responded, looking around to everyone there.

Yes, I will raise the Floating Continent.

The Floating Continent. An existence of legends.

But there were many people familiar with the worlds mysteries located in this place.

Shifaka nodded, the Black Cats members agreeing.

Hearing Azels question, Alvis nodded.

It had a self-maintenance function to start with. If you helped, it wouldnt even take a week.

The Floating Continent really exists?

Yes. I can show you, if you want. Its actually more like a big island, though, its not as large as a continent.

Humans had originally come to this world using it. It had been a military base for the former Imperial Capital, but they landed it in the waters near the Dragon Fang Continent so that they could reduce its mana consumption.

And that was Ria, cursing her own thoughtlessness.

Ria had spent forty-two years on Earth. Shed seen all sorts of emotion, coming into contact with much of it herself.

Ars probably wasnt aware of it.

Fifteen. Its horrible, if they wouldve waited for me to turn eighteen, I couldve put the knowledge Id learned in high school to use here in this world.

Hearing her words, Ars thought with his hand on his chin.

Quite arrogant, this Demon King.

Even though he himself recognized how deplorable his actions were, he accepted it. Was this what a ruler should be?

Ria went silent, the meeting ending on that note.