251 Worse than an Oni

What, what should I do?

Ugh. The otherworldly space that sealed Black has a different flow of time compared to the present world.

Therefore, detecting events within that space causes a massive delay.

That is why the signs preceding Black's release from sealing went unnoticed.

What to do?

What should I do?

1. Cute Shiro suddenly has an idea for a counterattack

2. My companions will arrive and rescue me

3. It's hopeless. Reality is merciless

Hmm.

Answer three it is!

No, it really is hopeless.

Black is stronger than me.

Besides, option two is impossible—no companions to rely on!

Hahahaha.

Now, enough fooling around. Let's consider a serious strategy.

Still, the course of action is clear.

If the entity is hostile, eliminate it.

If not, observe for now.

Preferably, it should not become hostile.

Black, having escaped the seal, is heading toward the Vampire Child and Oni-kun.

Hmm.

Is he planning to finish off Oni-kun?

For now, I’d prefer not to involve the Vampire Child.

Better stay ready to move at any moment.

That Vampire Child, though — being carved up at will by Oni-kun.

Unable to parry Oni-kun’s attack, triggered by fury, damage accumulates steadily.

Even the golden combo of future prediction and thought acceleration is useless if the attack speed is unavoidable.

Currently, enduring through Dragon Scale defense, but how long can that last?

Ah — severed.

Then caught midair and reattached.

Incredible!?

Was that even possible!?

What is that, I want to try it too!

Ah — no, better not.

Looks painful.

Still, being cut off at the neck, completely on the defensive.

This might actually be decisive.

Hmm?

The Vampire Child — doing something?

Could it be? You're not actually planning to use jealousy, are you?

You are, aren't you. This one's serious.

Even if it means death, using it like this isn't right.

You'll be punished later.

Still, it won't come to that.

Black arrived before that could happen.

Black descended between the Vampire Child and Oni-kun.

Oni-kun lunged at Black—repelled instantly.

The Vampire Child, for reasons unknown, attempts to strike Black with Crimson Sea.

Hey—idiot, stop!

Black's barrier cleanly erases the Crimson Sea.

Such an attack would never work on Black.

Wait—hey!

Vampire Child, you just used jealousy, didn't you!?

You did!?

What are you doing?

OSHIOKI confirmed.

Black grabs the Vampire Child's head.

Prepared to intervene at once, should anything go wrong.

Yet, despite my concern, Black stops short—merely seizes the Vampire Child's consciousness.

And Black beat Oni-kun into the ground.

It was so one-sided, so thoroughly dismantled, that there are no words to describe it.

A sight not fit for good children to see—beaten into the ground.

The power of the soul was waning. Regeneration could not keep pace.

Ah—anger has ceased.

Ooh.

So that’s how it is.

Anger activates using soul power, so when the source energy runs out, activation stops.

And when activation stops, rationality should, in theory, return.

Assuming rationality hasn’t already collapsed.

But that doesn’t seem to be an issue.

Thinking back to the time spent fighting the Vampire Child, logical thought appeared to remain intact.

"Is this enough?"

Black spoke to my fragment.

Hm?

What’s this about?

"I understand. Killing this Oni will make me an enemy of you and D?"

Huh?

That’s not true.

Oni-kun’s currently occupied with work and can’t come over here.

That aside, this is a victim. The anger I feel—can’t be directed at anyone else. So this is just my venting. Purely a way to relieve frustration. Nothing more.

Hm.

So, the Black has no intention of opposing me at this time.

Good to hear.

Seems like they’ve misinterpreted things quite thoroughly. Convenient for me.

No need to correct them. Let them keep believing whatever they believe.

For now, I’ll retrieve the fallen Vampire Child and Oni-kun through spatial displacement.

After confirming their retrieval, the Black vanished through teleportation.

Destination: likely the Demon King’s location.

I should go there too.

It’s time to inform the Demon King of my ultimate objective—and the means to achieve it.

The Black should also be made aware of part of it.

The reaction of the Black upon learning this will determine its future course.

Either way, I can anticipate that it will ultimately stand before me.

Still, the Black... is strong.

I could not perceive the full extent of its power against an opponent far beneath it, but I witnessed a fragment of it.

The fact that it broke through my seal earlier than expected is not negligible.

This suggests a need to revise my evaluation of the Black upward.

At present, my chance of victory if I were to confront the Black directly is around twenty percent.

Though that estimate is uncertain, given that the Black’s true strength remains unknown.

I am assuming a relatively high level, but even that may be surpassed.

My current strength places me at the lowest tier among lower-tier deities.

In contrast, the fragment of power I observed in this incident suggests the Black’s strength is near the threshold of middle-tier deities—just below that rank.

Normally, victory would be impossible.

The difference between me at level 1000 and the Black just short of level 10,000 is clear enough to describe.

Yet I have trained specifically to face the Black.

I cannot match it in raw power, but my abilities are highly specialized—sharp-edged, unique.

Victory depends entirely on that disparity in compatibility.

As always.

Yes, as always.

Facing superior opponents—this is what I have done since birth in this world.

Each time, I have won using thread and poison as traps.

This time will be no different.

Still, that is a matter for later.

I transfer to the Demon King’s domain.

There, the Demon King and the Black await.

Now, how to begin.