The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing.

Chapter 595 The Beginning of the Covenant
Rick had told the people of the settlement to live on until someone appeared who could end the eternal war, and now that moment had clearly arrived.

Unfortunately, humans cannot touch the Star Cup; their weak constitution means that their bodies will be destroyed by the powerful magic the moment they touch it.

And the machine-type—

After spending a year together, Riku had come to understand that Shubi was on his side. However, Shubi was not human, and if the machine race could force a reconnection, the world would become filled with the smell of machinery.

Then there's Homura, the Creator Kai—the world's first and oldest life form, and also the first self-aware deity. She's not dead yet.

This information was also obtained from Shubi.

Therefore, if humanity wants to achieve a complete victory, the only way is for Zun Zun to become the sole god.

That being said, it is still very difficult.

No, I should say the probability is almost zero.

“But Rick, you might not know this,” the red demon in front of him smiled confidently, “I have enough confidence only in my own luck!”

"Then please bless us."

Rick wore the same smile.

-

Not long after returning from the old city of the Forest Elfs, the moment that had been waiting for finally arrived.

"Richard! Something terrible has happened! We've spotted six dragon spirits and a large fleet of goblin spirits heading this way through our telescopes! If a conflict breaks out like this, the area within ten miles to the east will become a battlefield!"

"...That's what they say."

Upon hearing what the investigators said, Rick turned to Zun Zun and shrugged.

Zun Zun tapped his forehead with his finger and said helplessly, "That crazed forest elf lady attacks like a mad dog the moment she notices something amiss. Most importantly, she secretly lured the goblin race to pounce on the mine."

"Stop complaining, isn't this also part of the plan? It's a good thing that the forest elf got suspicious, otherwise we might have been met with the forest elf's spirit destruction spell."

Rick, on the contrary, said it with relief.

Yes, it's a trap.

Having decided to become a surprise force and intending to upgrade from a pawn to the bottom line, their first action was to lure the enemy into destroying the human settlement.

Because they had been prepared in advance, the people in the settlement began to retreat very efficiently, taking all their luggage and food with them.

Meanwhile, Zun Zun, Rick, Shubi, and Chronie calculated the range of the battle's impact in half an hour. From the 28 dwellings selected after five years of investigation, they decided on a suitable place to settle down.

Eight hours before the start of the battle, complete the evacuation preparations and begin moving.

Then--

Nearly 2000 residents of the settlement watched as their homes were swallowed and destroyed by light. Gazing from the high platform at the settlement that had evaporated along with the rocky mountain, people wept and cried.

Theoretically, it's true that if you lose your home, you can just rebuild it.

Even though they managed to move all the precious telescopes, documents, maps, and detectors out successfully.

But so what?

What matters is not just the tangible things, but the countless labors and sacrifices accumulated to maintain that settlement, the emotions people have lived there to this day, and the wishes and prayers they have entrusted to the future.

They all vanished in an instant.

It would be strange if someone didn't cry, and it would be crazy if someone didn't feel frustrated—you did get a second chance at life, but what good is that life? Do you have to go through the same thing again?
Unable to hold back her tears any longer, Kloni looked at Zun Zun beside her, and was about to throw herself into his arms—

"Oh, I feel so relaxed all over."

“Listen to me, Rick, if it were me, I would have destroyed the settlement even more perfectly. To be honest, I know a great mage who can use explosion magic; she’s known as the best demolition expert.”

“…Shubi…couldn’t do it that…perfectly.”

The three of them seemed completely unaffected.

Not only that, I don’t know if I misheard, but they seemed to have just been discussing what method would be better to blow up the settlement.

"Huh?... Strange? Rick... Venerable...?"

Perhaps it's a woman's intuition.

Kloni reflexively took a step back at Rick's change of heart, who valued the settlement above all else, and Zun Zun's statement that he had long wanted to blow up the settlement.

"Don't be afraid, this is just part of the plan."

Zun Zun had a smile on his face.

However, this smile, which should have made Chloe's heart flutter, now made her heart race wildly.

Rick grabbed her shoulder as she tried to escape, and at the same time shoved a map showing the new settlement into Chloe's arms.

"So, Kron, from today onwards you are the leader of the settlement. I'm counting on you."

"……what?"

"This is the location of the new settlement. We'll be safe once we go through the underground passage over there. It's a bit messy, but we can move in right away. That's what I considered when deciding what to bring with me when I escaped."

He said this to himself.

Zun Zun then chimed in, "That settlement was painstakingly excavated by me. To make it feel familiar to you, I recreated it exactly as it was. You see, didn't some little hamsters die because they were so scared of moving to a new place that they couldn't sleep?"

“Shubi… also helped…”

The machine-type girl followed closely behind.

"Humans aren't hamsters!" Kloni shouted instinctively. "Wait... wait a minute, Rick! Without you, neither I nor the settlement—!"

"No, there won't be any problems with Chlorine around, because—no one else will die." Rick said with a grin.

Such a stark contrast prompted Klonie to murmur involuntarily.

"what?"

"Don't worry, I will contact you at the appropriate time. If it's Klonie, I can entrust them to you with peace of mind."

"Keep it up, Chloe."

"……come on……"

After the three finished speaking, they gradually walked away.

On this day, 180 more ghosts appeared in the world, and the rudiments of the Covenant were formed.

1. No one is allowed to kill.

2. No one should be allowed to die.

3. No one should find out.

4. No method is considered cheating.

5. Ignore those guys' rules.

6. Any violation of the above will be considered a defeat.

"Is this alright?" Zun Zun looked at Rick, who was sitting in the room after finishing his speech. "I thought you were going to say that all those races should be wiped out."

"I'm just a human, I can't do that kind of thing," Rick waved his hand casually.

Deceiving.

This isn't a question of whether it's possible, but rather whether it's desirable. Having identified the advantages of the human race, Rick, standing at the pinnacle of this planet, is arguably qualified to judge other races.

"Or do you mean, Venerable One, you want to get rid of them all?"

"...I don't care. I'm probably the one who benefits, so I don't have much room to ask for more. However, if someone were to kill someone close to me, I would retaliate."

"Isn't that obvious?"

This guy's expression, as if to say "What nonsense are you talking about?", left Zun Zun momentarily confused as to whether he didn't want anyone to die or was adopting a defensive counter-attack stance.

To lure the enemy into a decisive battle and end the war.

Rules that prioritize feelings can be seen as equivalent to a child's whims, but if the goal is to end the war as a human being, then there is no other way.

This is simply a child's willfulness.

Rick seemed to have finally broken free from the constraints of humanity, playing his chess game as if it were none of the others' expressions. This feeling of having everything under his control was wonderful!
Then, Rick, who had just straightened his back, suffered a huge blow.

—His marriage proposal was rejected.

Perhaps he felt the atmosphere was right, and they'd spent enough time together. It was time, wasn't it? Even if he might die as a virgin, marriage would be acceptable, wouldn't it? It was the very end, and it had to end like this…

Wait, with such feelings added on.

Rick proposed to Shubi, who had been by his side for a long time.

However, Miss Kai, who completely failed to understand this behavior, refused without a second thought, under Rick's expectant gaze.

Zun Zun looked at Rick, who was probably at the lowest point in his life in 19 years, shook his head helplessly, and left the secret base.

When he brought Chronie to comfort the virgin, he found that a smug smile had reappeared on the man's face—the same smug smile that Kazuma Sato had after experiencing the succubus shop.

What happened while I was away?
Without Zun Zun's knowledge, Rick, equally bewildered, held a wedding ceremony with Shubi—becoming a newlywed couple amidst the blessings of everyone in the settlement.

"All right."

Klonie took out the gem she always wore at her waist and said, "Then, let's engrave our three names on this, and you will be officially husband and wife."

This is a magic crystal.

The fairy spirit she had contracted resided inside.

“...Since you no longer exist to the outside world, you can’t remain on the documents, right? This gem is something I inherited from my grandfather. If we add decorations to the side engraved with the three of your names…right?”

In that case, no one will be able to see it.

Unable to refuse the kindness, Rick smiled wryly and engraved his name on it with Hugh, while Kloni seemed finally at ease, acknowledging the two as her younger brother and sister-in-law.

"Please... I don't want to lose any more family members, please don't force yourself..."

Klonie held the two of them.

I couldn't see her expression, but hearing her trembling voice, I could tell she was worried and scared.

"Since no one will die, I won't let anyone die either. The only thing I must do is win this game!"

"Leave it to us... Sister..."

It was a truly touching scene.

Just as Zun Zun was deeply moved, Rick suddenly looked over and said, "Hey Chlorine, I know this might sound a bit harsh, but you probably don't mind having another family member, right? To be honest, I really want a brother."

"Shubi...too..."

"……Eh?"

And so, Zun Zun inexplicably engraved his name on the magic crystal.

(End of this chapter)