The overlord of the gods is interrogating the alien female spy.

　"Yes, he is the Demon King. But over the years, has he made life better for the Sarkaz?"

　"……No."

　If Therese had never left Kazdel, she might have been able to say something like, "If we persevere, life will get better."

　But she had just been bombed by a land-based ship a few days ago, and she had stopped in Letanian towns along the way to replenish her supplies such as food. She had seen firsthand what life was like for the Letanians and the Sarkaz.

　The Sarkaz of Kazdel are lucky to even be alive. The life of those Letanians who have a small musical instrument and spend their free time playing and dancing is simply unimaginable for the Sarkaz.

　"Then why should we worry about such an incompetent monarch?"

　"...So do you think we can change Kazdel by replacing the Demon King?"

　Therese felt that her sister had changed a lot; she had probably really broadened her horizons and had her own ideas.

　"Yes...I think..."

　Theresa glanced at Qilin, and seeing that he didn't react, she continued.

　“My master taught me that as long as there is a true and reliable leader, a large number of Sarkaz who want to change should be able to be motivated. Perhaps that time will be long, but I believe that as long as we can take the first step, our Kazdel can truly begin to get better.”

　"..."

　Therese didn't understand any of this, but... Theresa probably wanted to do something.

　"Then we...we can't...go with us to kill the Demon King."

　Ultimately, they are Sarkaz too. Sarkaz killed the Demon King... so what does that count as? King regicide? Rebellion?

　and……

　"Even if we kill the Demon King, how can we convince others to change the Sarkaz? We two have no status whatsoever; do you think they'll listen to commoners like us?"

　"Hmm. Lamaren?"

　"It's there."

　A response came from outside.

　"Princess Lamaren is a princess of the Banshee Royal Court. With her here, we will have the support of a royal court."

　“…Theresia, Kazdel has ten royal courts, and many other Sarkaz nobles. Even with the help of the banshees… our voice isn’t loud enough. And the other royal courts…”

　“I know. But it’s okay, Therese. We have to try before we know if we can do it.”

　"...It's good that you have an idea. I will support you."

　Moreover, with the protection of the princess of the Banshee Royal Court, even if they fail, Theresa should be alright.

　Therese thought.

　But she saw the Qilin monster.

　"Wait... what about her..."

　Therese remembered that her sister had been treated like a slave by this guy, so what about that banshee outside...?

　“Uh… Ramalen wanted to help me, so she stayed with me…”

　Theresa thought it would be better to give Ramallen some face.

　“…Oh. Well…no, it’s nothing. It’s nothing…”

　Therese understood the implication in her sister's words and didn't press the matter. She looked down at herself... According to these rules, didn't she... also become this Qilin monster's slave?

　"Therese... um... try your best to adapt..."

　Theresa gave her an apologetic look, what could Theresa say... She was simply too weak, and it was a miracle she hadn't been executed.

　...But, slaves...

　"Ahem, Ms. Kal'tsit."

　Lamaren overheard the sisters' conversation. She touched her horned wings and looked at the large lynx to the side.

　"Can you tell me about that Quesatushta? I remember he died thousands of years ago."

　Oh, right, Quesatushta!

　Therese remembered that there was still something she didn't understand.

　“Quesatushta”.

　Kal'tsit stretched her legs, leaned against the carriage, and began to speak.

　"That was thousands of years ago. At that time, the western part of Kazdel was dominated by the Pegasus race. The gods born from the Pegasus led countless Kuranta to conquer all directions, and wherever they went, everything was trampled flat by the iron hooves of the Pegasus. Kazdel was no exception. One after another, settlements named Kazdel by the Sarkaz were destroyed, and the Sarkaz were either enslaved or killed. A vast empire was established on the boundless grasslands, and the glory of the Pegasus shone over this land for hundreds of years."

　"At that time, General Pegasus led a thousand elite divine beings and several thousand Kuranta ancestors, along with an auxiliary army composed of slaves, to expand eastward. They encountered a newly built city. He besieged the city, determined to flatten it. The Sarkaz within the city fought desperately, but were no match for the divine army's offensive. Seeing that the city was about to be destroyed, at dusk that day, a group emerged from the city, led by a young Sarkaz with white hair and white horns, who challenged General Pegasus to a duel on the battlefield. If he won, Pegasus would leave the city."

　"The Pegasus General, arrogant from his repeated victories in war, readily accepted the Sarkaz challenge. In his eyes, such an unknown Sarkaz would easily die under his spear, and the city before him would be flattened."

　"But that Sarkaz's swordsmanship was exceptional, and his magic seemed capable of cleaving through the twilight. General Pegasus was slightly outmatched and was killed. With their commander dead, the army of the gods was restless, but the remaining lieutenants still prepared to continue the siege and sent men to besiege the Sarkaz's army. In the midst of this life-or-death crisis, a black crown appeared above the Sarkaz's head, and another Sarkaz demon king was born. Under the demon king's leadership, the Sarkaz repelled the army of the gods."

　"Quesatushta is thus famous throughout this land."

　Chapter 86 A Brief Discussion on the Second Wave

　"Looking at it this way, he's still a hero."

　But both the Qilin and the lynx in front of them seemed to be filled with disgust and contempt for it.

　Lamaren knew a little about the attitude of the Kirin Overlord. He truly treated the inferior equally, and from his 'outdated' perspective, there were too many despicable people in Tikkaz.

　So what is the lynx sage's view?

　"If time were to stand still at this point, the Demon Lord Quesatushta would indeed be considered a heroic figure. In fact, most Demon Lords were renowned heroes of that century. Whether it was the Bloodstained Prince or the Elegy Singer, they were heroes first, and then chosen by the continuation of civilization, which you Sarkaz call the 'Broken Crown,' to become the leaders who would guide a civilization to survive on this land."

　Kal'tsit took a piece of candy from her pouch and popped it into her mouth, then continued speaking:

　"But as Quesatushta's body gradually aged, he began to fear death and was afraid to face the souls. So he tried to deceive the Black Crown's mechanism, attempting to maintain control of the Black Crown and become a true, eternal demon king."

　"Um……"

　It seems to be just a story about someone who doesn't want to give up power and pursues immortality.

　"Don't think that what Quesatushta calls eternity is just the eternal lifespan of the material world."

　Kal'tsit used the information she obtained from the shapeshifters and the data she had to deduce Quesatushta's true intentions.

　"He wants to replace the souls, become the source of the Sarkaz, and become the god of all Sarkaz. That is the eternity he seeks."

　"what……"

　"There's nothing to be ashamed of about this; everyone has ideals they want to achieve."

　Kal'tsit does not look down on people with ideals. No matter how outrageous or exaggerated the ideals may be, as long as they work hard for them in a normal way, they will always be recognized by people.

　"Quesatushta deceived his descendants, promising the Sarkaz who followed him that when he reached the eternal throne, he would pardon all the sins of the Sarkaz, that the Sarkaz would be free from suffering, and that the Sarkaz civilization would enter a perfect utopia. But what he did was beyond description, even by the word 'violation of human ethics.'"

　"Can he really succeed? What's his method?"

　"What is the Sarkaz's crime?"

　What is utopia?

　Three people, three questions.

　Kal'tsit shook her head and answered them one by one.

　"He hasn't succeeded yet. His so-called legacy... is not just a name. Those descendants who inherit the name of Quesatushta will also offer their bodies to carry his soul. So no matter which generation of Quesatushta it is, the soul inside the body is the original Quesatushta."

　"Uh……"

　Therese shut her mouth.

　She simply couldn't fathom what this situation was. What exactly was this Quesatushta she knew?

　"The sins and suffering of the Sarkaz stem from the war ten thousand years ago. The Outcasts, single-handedly, transformed the struggle for survival between two races into the chaos that plagues this land."

　"Sharing the common suffering of all living beings... Originium."

　"Is it... Oripathy?"

　Theresa touched her stomach. Although she had only been infected with Oripathy for a few hours, the pain was still fresh in her memory.

　"More than that. But for you, Oripathy is just the simplest part of the suffering accumulated by the Sarkaz. Unquenchable hatred, endless war, and undying discrimination... any one of these is more serious than Oripathy. This is a chronic disease that has accumulated over ten thousand years and cannot be easily cured."

　"...That's it."

　Kal'tsit glanced at the banshee beside her.

　"If we consider only the way sirens live now, Utopia would be a peaceful, undisturbed paradise. It would have beautiful scenery, a comfortable life, and be free from the effects of disease, war, and hunger. People would spend their days greeting friends and family, singing, and gathering. Day after day, they would live carefree until they passed away."

　"Isn't this just my daily life?"

　Lamarle's words stunned the two sisters.

　"But if we expand this scope to the entire Sarkaz community, to this entire land, the road to enabling everyone to live this kind of life is long and arduous."

　Only after Kal'tsit finished speaking did she begin to criticize why Quesatushta's utopian dream was not approved by her.

　"If he could continue to reincarnate through centuries, striving for this ideal in every generation and making progress towards it, he could be considered a hero. But he has long since become... decadent, and perhaps he has forgotten this ideal, with only the pursuit of eternity remaining in his heart."

　"It seems so."

　Ramalen looked up at the distant sky. That direction led to Kazdel.

　But as the vehicles drew closer, it was as if they were stepping from civilization into a wilderness. It was far from a beautiful utopia; even the same living conditions as ordinary people in other countries were not widespread.

　"Right. Therese, isn't she?"

　"Um……"

　The swordswoman heard the question and snapped out of her complicated thoughts to answer.

　"How did Quesatushta tell you the purpose of his trip?"

　"Him? He said he wanted to avenge his family."

　"that is it?"

　"...That's all. By the way, Theresa, do you remember... Luna?"

　"Luna. Do you remember her? That little girl. My master and I even rested at her house. You saw her too?"

　When the little girl was mentioned, Theresa's eyes lit up.

　“Hmm… I asked her about your whereabouts, and later I saw Quesatushta and the others find her.”

　"Is she okay?"

　"Quesatushta got the information about your whereabouts from her. Before I left, I told her to go to Kazdel... I don't know how she is now."

　"That's it..."

　Theresa looked at the Qilin, but the Qilin Overlord did not react, seemingly unconcerned that the little girl had revealed her whereabouts.

　"I see."

　Kal'tsit then knew Quesatushta's purpose.

　"Quesatushta came for Ashu. In this era, the advantages brought by the bloodline of the gods or the Sarkaz have been weakened to the extreme. Although the pardoners that Quesatushta brought had a large number of Sarkaz royal bloodlines mixed in, they were ultimately just some relatively powerful grunts compared to ordinary Sarkaz. He probably discovered through some means that a pure-blooded god had appeared in Kazdel, and wanted to 'hunt' him in order to use the god bloodline to create new experimental subjects."

　"..."

　Unfortunately, Quesatushta, relying on his thousands of years of experience and strength, fished with explosives in the shallow waters of Kazdel every day. He thought this would be another fishing contest, but he ended up becoming the fish instead.

　Chapter 87 It's Time to Make a Move

　"call!"

　Sarkaz from the White Corner staggered off the bed and rolled onto the floor, then struggled to get up. He lay on the sink and saw himself in the mirror, finally letting out a long sigh of relief as if he had escaped death.

　“What powerful people…far surpassing any other overlord I know…so strong…so domineering…hahahaha…that’s it…that’s how it should be…I really am…hahahaha…”

　Laughter, loud laughter, manic laughter.

　But there was no joy, only fear and panic.

　Only through such laughter, this frantic laughter, could he escape the oppressive feeling emanating from that figure.

　"This person...I want him...I must...have him!"

　He slumped down next to the sink, clutching the body's hair, his golden-brown eyes, like those of a sunset, revealing a hysterical, morbid state.

　"I must be... tsk... useless thing."

　Looking down at the wet patch between her legs, she showed a displeased expression.