276 BBA, don't push yourself!
Monitoring Yamada-kun through his fragmented state, as expected, reveals that Yamada-kun has become the new Hero.
No doubt about it—Yamada-kun himself has confirmed this as a teacher.
Delegate the fortress assault to Wald-kun, and transfer to the Demon Lord’s location.
There is no progress without consulting the Demon Lord first.
Upon arrival at the Demon Lord’s main camp, the atmosphere is unusually grim.
"Arrived at a good time. I have questions."
The black figure accompanying the Demon Lord leads both me and the Demon Lord to a secluded spot.
Bart stared at us intently, but said nothing. He simply watched us leave.
Likely learned via telepathy that Broo has died.
"Was it necessary to deploy that?"
"What's 'that'? I don't know—what exactly are you talking about?"
The Demon King interjects, deflecting the question directed at me.
Black glances at the Demon King for a moment, then immediately returns gaze to me, eyes locked, lips parting.
"Queen Talatect."
"Ah, that big spider, right? What a coincidence. Suddenly teleporting onto the battlefield like that."
"Stop daydreaming."
"Black-chan, scary! Shiro-chan, help me!"
The Demon King answers the question meant for me. Black, not looking at the Demon King, stares at me with unblinking intensity.
In that peculiar atmosphere, I remain silent.
I have no intention of informing Black about this.
"Shiro-chan, at least give some response, sister thinks you should."
"Change the subject."
Black turns back to the Demon King, having sensed my refusal to answer.
From there, a verbal exchange between the Demon King and Black unfolds.
The Demon King likely does not know the reason behind Queen Talatekt's massacre, yet shows no intention of commenting on it.
Indeed, hints of repressed resentment toward both humans and demons leak through the words.
Perhaps he believes that, after enduring so long, a little more killing is acceptable.
Regardless of the Demon King's true intent, if he defends me, I have no objections.
"Isn't it true that bottomless kindness is just one step from bottomless foolishness? Don't you think so?"
"Think not."
After observing the exchange between the Demon King and Black for a time, the Demon King uttered something unbelievable.
His tone suggested he knew exactly what had occurred.
And it sounded like condemnation of the goddess’s actions.
Black immediately rejected the Demon King’s words, but did he even comprehend how absurd it was for the Demon King to say such things?
“Yeah. But you’d do well to remember this—nothing is saved by kindness alone. The limits are clear.”
“I was saved by that kindness. And that, in turn, negates us all.”
“Exactly. That’s precisely why we are at odds.”
“No intention to back down?”
“None.”
“…Understood. I’ll endure this for now.”
“Wow, Black-chan! You really get it!”
“But if I ever fail to accept it, I won’t hold back.”
“Got it. I’ll just hope that day never comes.”
Black turned and left with a sullen expression, as if the matter were settled.
The Demon King watched the retreating figure, then exhaled deeply and slumped forward.
“Man. I thought I was dead for sure.”
Even the Demon King, unquestionably the strongest being in this world, could not rival the Black, who existed beyond the world’s fundamental laws.
He had spoken boldly, yet his inner state suggested considerable tension.
“Demon King.”
“Don’t say it.”
He was halted mid-sentence by the Demon King.
“Actually… I’d rather you didn’t. My resolve might weaken.”
He turned his back.
Even with his back turned, I could read his expression.
He still wore that familiar, smirking grin.
Yet beneath it, I could see he was on the verge of tears.
He understood.
Why I had acted outside the plan.
The meaning behind it.
That his actions—intended to save someone—were now being rejected by the very person he sought to save.
Even knowing it, hearing the truth from my own mouth is frightening.
Once heard, I will want to stop.
And if I stop, the Demon King will surely be unable to move forward anywhere.
That is why I believe the Demon King refused to hear it—because he understands.
But that also means he has no intention of stopping.
Even if denied by the goddess, he still intends to advance.
Strong.
The Demon King is strong.
Regardless of gods, status, or any such measure, among all the individuals I know, he is the strongest.
So strong it is blinding.
That strength is envious.
The Demon King possesses pride unlike any other.
I do not yet have a belief I can stand tall with.
No pride.
Perhaps that is why I wish to serve him wholeheartedly.
Embracing the Demon King’s body, still turned away.
“Alright.”
I’ve never comforted someone like this before—but I think I should now.
“I’m with you.”
There is the contract with D, but beyond that, I wish to see the Demon King through to the end, driven by personal sentiment.
Therefore, until that moment comes, I will remain the Demon King’s ally.
“Funny—now it’s hard to tell who’s the older sister.”
The Demon King says, half-joking.
The Demon King’s appearance is that of a young girl.
To an outsider, I’d seem far more like the elder sister.
My actual age is far younger than the Demon King’s, though.
“Not sister, more like grandmother.”
I was born as a child of the Mother, and the Demon King, who gave birth to that Mother, is my grandmother.
Thus, the idea of ‘older sister’ is fundamentally incorrect.
“Aha. True enough.”
BBA laughs.
“Thank you.”
And thus, BBA bowed in thanks.
Nah, nah—.
I’m a grandma’s child, that’s me.
All dialogue between the Demon King and Black is contained in "The Hidden War of the Human-Demon Conflict."
Shiro's "Heart" Combat Power Ranking
Demon King > Teacher > Goddess = Pope > Oni-kun >>> Unpassable Wall >>> Vampire Child > Black (Wimp)
This is purely Shiro’s subjective assessment. Disagreement is acknowledged.