An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

"emerald?"

"...I'm timid because...I understand the importance of life...the most..."

"……Um."

"Even if... it doesn't work now... as long as I can continue, my life..."

That's why Cui fights. She's naturally lazy and actually quite timid. Even so, she fights without hesitation, risking her life. All to protect the future of her people, to preserve their possibilities.

Cui stretched out her scarred fingers and wiped away Qiara's tears.

"...I...hate you...you're cheerful...and cute...it really irritates me."

"emerald……"

"But... you're a good rabbit... second only to Tsuyu..."

If that's the case, your future is surely full of possibilities. So I'm here to pick you up and save you.

"How silly. You should prioritize your own possibilities."

Kiara said this as she placed her hand over Cui's hand that was resting on her cheek.

"I guess I still hate you. You're powerful, handsome, and infuriating. But, I've always admired you."

Hearing this, Cui smiled. This time, there was no sarcasm in her smile, but a proud and cheerful one.

"You must live, Kiara."

"Of course. I will survive, Tsui."

The conversation between the two ended here. Cui's hands went limp.

Kuo, who was standing by quietly, whimpered at this moment, as if mourning for Cui.

"Koo. Take her with you, okay?"

She worked so hard, at least let her rest in peace on the land of her hometown.

Understanding Qiara's intentions, Kuo put his nose close to hers and rubbed it against hers as a response.

"Thank you." Qiara said this with tears and laughter, and hugged Cui's body.

Qiara climbed onto Kuo's back, wiped away her tears, and took off the necklace she used as a disguise.

A pair of rabbit ears appeared on his head, and his hair returned to its original color.

"Let's go, Kuo."

A pair of rabbit ears stretched straight up and the eyes looked straight ahead.

The Bunnymen are powerful—Chiara thought so, holding her head high.

"Oooooh!" Kuo responded powerfully and began running in the dark forest.

──The southern forest of the Beruka Kingdom.

The Selected Demon King Army led by Rasser was attacked in the [frontline area], and only a few people escaped.

The few remaining survivors lurked in the human territory here. They camped in the mountainous forest between the [Lesin Grand Canyon] and the human settlement in the southernmost part of the kingdom.

Why did you go back to the Northern Continent where the situation is so chaotic?

The answer is simple, because the southern continent is also completely unsafe.

"Lord Rasl, please reconsider. Perhaps we shouldn't go back to the Demon City."

Inside the tent, Lesichina said sadly.

Rasl, about to nibble on his simple bread, paused. He turned toward the source of the sound and saw Lesichina, her head bowed. She had looked considerably haggard over the past few days.

"We should first seek protection from the Republic. In the Northern Continent, many places can be moved through the Black Gate. More importantly, if you return to the city now..."

"It's suicide, isn't it?"

"This is."

Lesichina bit her lips tightly and clenched her fists against her thighs, as if she didn't know how to express her excitement.

Lasser could understand her current state of mind.

Because right now, the biggest enemy for Lasser and others is none other than their own people, that is, their homeland itself.

That's right—the ones who attacked the castle were none other than the Demon Kingdom army sent from their own country.

When they appeared, they announced that the nation had witnessed the decisive battle and, moved by the heroic deeds of the liberators, even the extremists within the nation had come to agree with His Majesty's philosophy of coexistence, and therefore had sent reinforcements. Hearing these words from their own people, Lasser and his companions were naturally overjoyed and would undoubtedly allow the troops claiming to be reinforcements to enter the fortress.

As a result, they suffered a surprise attack from inside the city.

"I never thought that the cooperation between humans and demons would come true in this way. The ruthlessness of God is truly admirable."

The Demon Kingdom currently seems to agree with the Church's "rebel suppression" and is providing assistance.

That is an incredible fact.

Could it be that Chancellor Karlm, General Angol, and other high-ranking officials have been brainwashed by fanaticism? Or have they been excluded? Perhaps they are still resisting. Regardless...

"I must confirm the truth. Because, I am the Demon King."

The motherland is in chaos, and as a king, you must face it.

Even if it is tantamount to suicide, we must never escape.

"...I will follow you to the ends of the earth."

Of course, Resichina understood this, so even though she was worried and depressed, she had no other answer.

At that moment, there was a commotion outside. Could it be an enemy attack? Lasser and Resichina's faces suddenly changed, and they hurried out of the tent.

"What's wrong!?"

"Your Majesty! There's a human girl wandering around, and we've just captured her!"

"...Are you here to hunt liberators?"

"No, there were no other humans around. This girl was the only one there. She said her parents seemed strange, and she got scared and ran away."

When the subordinate reported this, other subordinates immediately brought a young girl who looked less than ten years old.

The soldiers, their nerves on edge, treated the girl with brutality, causing her to wail in pain and fear. Clearly, their actions had gone too far. However, under the current circumstances, there was nothing that could be done. In this world, even children have gone mad.

"Hey, stop it! It's just a child!"

Surprisingly, it was Lesichina who spoke up to dissuade the soldiers.

Not only Ra'l, but the soldiers' eyes widened in surprise. After all, Resichina was a demon supremacist at heart, having joined the coexistence faction solely out of loyalty to Ra'l. It was surprising that she would actively dissuade him.

Anyone would be surprised, even Leskina herself.

Resichina's actions were probably a subconscious impulse. The girl he had saved in the capital during the last decisive battle came to mind.

──Thank you for saving me, beautiful big sister!

The girl actually said this to Resichina, a member of the Demon Clan, and gave her the heart-shaped stone that she regarded as a treasure.

It was just a small stone of a somewhat odd shape, something given to her by a foolish human child.

But for some reason, Lesiqina just couldn't throw it away, and even tied a strap around it and wore it as a necklace.

This means that the girl's words and a small stone slightly changed Lesichina's deeply rooted values.

However, given the current situation, the soldiers' response was the right one. Resichina's thoughts began to lean towards coexistence, causing her to let down her guard at the worst possible moment.

"Hmm!? Wait, Reskina...!"

"Little girl, stop crying, get treatment immediately..."

At the same time that Rasl spoke to stop her, Resichina knelt down and said this to the girl. At the same time, the girl opened her eyes wide and looked into Resichina's. The next moment -

“Eh!? Ugh, Aaaaaaa!!”

The entire camp was engulfed in a searing red.

Resichina's inherent magic, "Red Heat," was activated, turning her entire body a fiery crimson, the flames spreading to the surroundings. Naturally, the girl and the soldiers beside her were reduced to ashes.

"Leskina!"

"No, Your Majesty! Please retreat!"

A tornado of flames erupted from Resichina, wiping out the surrounding vegetation in an instant. The people who had withstood the first wave of attacks with their shields were gradually broken through by the overwhelming heat and engulfed in the flames.

──Don't let the rebels go, hunt them all down.

Everything is God's will. Obeying God's will is the greatest happiness.

──Eliminate heresy for the sake of important people!

The voice of faith reverberated fiercely in my head, gradually filling my mind. My thoughts were filled with the single, unwavering "rightness," and even my own personality and consciousness gradually faded...

Because Resichina's will was only slightly inclined towards coexistence and not firm enough, the vicious spell took advantage of her weakness and dominated her principles. The reason she was still able to barely control herself was because...

(Larsl, sir...)

Loyalty and respect for the master. In her gradually blurring vision, she saw Rasl setting up a barrier and walking towards her.

Perhaps it was a side effect of her fanatical brainwashing, but Resichina's power completely lost control, exerting a power beyond her limit. Even she herself didn't know what would happen. Therefore, she desperately prayed in her heart that Rasl would not come any closer. But...

(Alas, you won’t stop, will you?)

Resichina was certain of this. After all, the master before her had returned to his homeland for his compatriots, knowing it would cost him his life. He would never abandon those who believed in him.

In a scene dyed red by the raging flames, Lesichina drew her sword.

I lost count of how many of my companions had died at my hands. Perhaps this was the fate I deserved for being so careless.

"Lasil, sir..."

"Leskina! Just wait! I'll save you right now!"

Lasser might actually be able to resolve the current crisis.

However, if he failed, there would be irreversible consequences. That was a consequence that Resichina could not tolerate no matter what. Therefore...

"Good luck."

"Huh!? Stop it, don't do anything stupid! This is an order!"

Leskina tried her best to smile and put the blade against her neck.

"Farewell, my beloved (my master)."

“Stop it, ahhhhhhhhhh!”

For love, she disobeyed her master's orders for once in her life.

Resichina collapsed in the sea of ​​fire. Rasl stretched out his hand toward her, but could only stare blankly.

The few surviving soldiers desperately extinguished the flames, calling out to Rasl, still at the center of the blaze. However, Rasl remained unresponsive. Meanwhile, roars rose from all around them: the fanatics who had spotted their prey. Their numbers were extraordinary.

"Your Majesty, please flee from here! If this continues, it will be the end!"

A soldier shouted. He couldn't get close to Rasl due to the fire. At this moment, a large number of frantic people emerged from the depths of the forest. Seeing this, the soldiers' faces turned pale. At this moment—

"elder brother!"

The downdraft, carrying a strong chill, extinguished the blaze. Lasser slowly raised his head.

"Now's not the time to be stunned!? Come up quickly!"

The crazy crowd is approaching.

"Please forgive me!" said a soldier, picked up Rasl roughly, and followed several other soldiers to jump onto the back of Bandu in ice dragon form.

Bandu flew upwards, erecting a wall of ice to block incoming attacks from spears, arrows, and magic bullets.

A heavy atmosphere filled the scene. No one knew what to say to Lasser.

Looking at him kneeling on Bandu's back, lost and bewildered, perhaps in his mind, Resichina's position was not just a "trustworthy subordinate." Just like how Resichina viewed Rasil.

Slowly, Lasser looked up at the sky, gave a wry smile, and sat up straight.

"...Thank you, Ben. I'm saved."

"...I'm sorry I couldn't make it."

"No, you made it. The Demon King is saved."

Ra's tone regained its composure. Even if it was just a show of strength, even if his subordinates were few and far between, as long as he was still the Demon King, he would never surrender.