The Demon God's Arrival

Rebec Palace, Office Chamber.

Yuria standing in front of me, sitting down.

She reports as always, standing there like a proper secretary.

A garbage dump had been built.

Yuria reported it to me.

"Delivered the trial trash to the waste incineration site and tried burning it."

"Trying it out—new ones are always nice. So, what happened?"

The rails weren’t ready, so it wasn’t much—but all of it burned. Afterward, nothing was left.

"Mm-hmm."

Not bad for a test run, I suppose.

"But stuff made with DORECA... it lingers. Takes about twice as long as usual."

"Will it take long? Will it burn properly?"

"do"

Yuria gives a small nod.

"Is that so."

She pinched her chin and thought for a moment.

Don’t know the logic behind it, but if things made by DORECA don’t burn easily, we’d better sort them out properly.

"Sort the trash thoroughly. …Yeah, how about adding some kind of reward instead of just punishment?"

"Make a rule—those who follow it get a lottery draw for a mansion, gift from Master."

She tilts her head slightly, asking, “How’s that?”

"Ah, perfect. Figure out the sorting method yourself."

"Got it."

Yuria nods. A faint smile tugs at her lips.

Happy her idea was accepted, but the magic charge threshold is still high.

Well, she looks happy. That’s enough.

Yuria exits. In her place, Arisa steps in.

"Master."

"What is it?"

"Um… that is… "

She’s frowning, struggling to say something difficult.

Seems like she wants you to guess.

What now?

I stare at her for a while, waiting for her to speak.

Eventually, she locks eyes with me, resolve hardening.

"Master… I heard… the Demon God’s appeared."

"Yeah, they showed up. And it’s the Holy Night, too."

That’s the story, huh.

...So that’s what’s got you all flustered like this?

"Um... I’m...?"

"Hmm?"

"I’m... okay being your slave, right?"

"...Yeah."

I snapped my fingers.

Finally got it. Or remembered, at least.

Fifth slave, Arisa.

Same timing as the first, Risha, when we met—but she was originally a slave of the Holy Night.

The Holy Night died. Became mine.

Then the Holy Night came back to life.

No wonder she’s worried about her status.

But it’s not just that.

Arisa’s face... looks desperate.

Desperate. Clinging to me, eyes screaming, *don’t let me go*.

"You’re always mine."

First, I said it clear, no room for doubt.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I don’t abandon my slaves. I don’t hand them over to anyone. Didn’t I say it clear enough? Becoming my slave means you’re ready to serve me for life. Didn’t you hear that? The resolve to be mine for life?"

"No...!"

Lysa trembled violently, shaking her head frantically.

"I’ve always wanted to be like that."

"Then there’s no problem."

"Yes... I was worried, you know. What if I had to give you back to someone else?"

"Where’d that thought even come from?"

Standing up, I move close to Lysa.

Gently—but firmly—I tug at her collar, lifting her face upward.

"Lysa is mine. Once you’re my slave, no matter what happens, you go to no one else."

"My master..."

"So don’t worry."

"Yes..."

Lysa smiled.

—— Magical power charged: 100,000.

Beamed with genuine, deep joy.

☆

Rebeck Palace, Sveta's room.

Inside the room, three Eternal Slaves were visible.

Svetlana, the Sixth Slave, her daughter Oliga, and Holkina, just awakened.

She was propped up on the bed.

“Heya, long time no see, Akito-chan.”

“You haven’t changed at all.”

“Of course not. Holkina-chan is the most Holkina-chan in the world.”

“Even though that line makes no sense, it’s somehow crystal clear.”

“Haha, you’re the one who doesn’t make sense.”

Oliga hurried over, as if waiting, and brought a chair.

“Thanks,” I said, giving her a nod before sitting down.

I looked at Holkina again, this time seriously.

“Do you understand the situation?”

“Sort of. The bad thing’s back, right?”

Calling it “bad” in one sentence. Simple. Effective.

“That’s right.”

“Wow. So what do we do?”

"Relax. I'll handle him."

"Handle him?"

"Yeah, I'll handle him. The last evil god was one thing, but this Saint Night? We've got history... at least he thinks we do. That's why I'll handle him."

"I see."

"Either way, he's someone we can't just ignore if we're gonna rebirth this world."

"Ah, right. You're so cool, Akito-chan."

"Cut the jokes."

"I'm not joking. I really think you're cool."

"That's why I always say— you need to work on that way of talking."

Svetlana, silent until now, spoke up.

A friend's blunt comment, that kind.

"Haha— sorry, sorry."

She laughed, hand on her head.

Does she even get it?

"Oh."

Her expression changed.

Unusually serious.

"What is it?"

"Right. He said something— 'If he's the king of Eternal Slaves, then I'll receive regret.' So—"

"Ah, that's fine. I already made arrangements."

"Wha—?"

Risha, stunned.

Just then, footsteps came from outside.

They drew nearer, and the door opened, letting in—

“Master.”

It was Yuria.

“Reporting.”

“Well?”

“Scouts from the elite guard. The monster horde appeared at Regret’s capital, just as predicted. We repelled them with two broadside volleys from the main guns.”

“Two shots? That’s quite a force.”

Risha pictured the scene. If the battleship Risha had fired her main guns, the enemy must’ve been formidable.

“Send word to Mira. ‘Well done. Hold the position. I’ll send reinforcements from Kazan’s people—fighting tribe—shortly.’ Make sure she knows.”

“Understood.”

Yuria nodded, then left the room.

Holkina, having listened to the exchange, her eyes lit up.

"Wow, Akito-chan. You just predicted what was coming and sent the guard squad to protect them, right?"

Ah.

"Whoa. Feels like a genius general or something."

“Given how obsessed she is with me, it’s easy to predict she’d do something like that.”

What Risha would probably do.

Destroying the town I built.

Stealing a slave.

And right now—making regret her own.

I figured, if it was that prideful Saint Night who wanted to beat me, she’d probably go after Regret.

And as expected.

...Holy Night.

That said, Holkina’s eyes grew increasingly filled with admiration—almost reverence.

"Hey, hey, Akito-chan"

“What?”

“I’ll enslave you too—”

The words of Holkina were cut short.

A boom—right above, from the sky.

She looked out the window. A few houses nearby had been knocked flat by the shock.

“Whaaat, what’s this? Why’s nothing broken here?”

Holkina alternated glancing between the window and the room inside.

“This palace definitely has a barrier. That’s not the point—”

She flung open the window and leaned out.

A holy night was flying in the sky.

“Come out! Akito! You bastard!”

After that mess with Regret, she’d come raging at me, furious I couldn’t even scratch the palace. Now she’s just… stuck.

I spun around and took off running.

“Master!”

“Stay inside the palace. No matter what, don’t come out. Holkina, keep her contained.”

“Yes!”

I barked orders at Sveta, then leapt into the hallway, heading for the outside.

I’ve already won.

This holy night isn’t anywhere near me yet—not even close. Not when compared to everything I’ve built.

The fact that the palace didn’t so much as tremble? That’s the proof.

So… first things first. Drive her off.