Not a companion after all!?

Good evening, everyone.

The long-awaited arrival of the Number One Determination Battle in the other world.

The Champion is Administrator Guryuguryu.

The challenger opposing them is the Demon King.

A common setup—God versus Demon King. Yet precisely because it is common, it is a tradition.

Was the victor truly divine?

Or will the Demon King succeed in overthrowing the established order?

Please await further notice.

The demon lord charged before the battle's gong sounded—!

Filthy!

Yet, it remained the Demon Lord.

Filth is a compliment!

Champion—taking that sudden strike full on, sent flying!

A powerful right straight to the face!

Unable to contain himself, the champion stumbles—

How do you assess the current offensive and defensive dynamics? Commentator Spider B.

No, that one was deliberately accepted—just like the commentator Spider A said.

What of it?

The Champion recognized the Demon Lord’s surprise attack with clarity.

Yet, it neither evaded nor defended—deliberately accepting the blow.

This was the Champion’s own form of composure.

Ah, I see.

By deliberately absorbing the challenger’s first strike, the purpose was to demonstrate the gap in rank.

However, the Demon Lord does not stop there!

Collar—collar? Whether that point qualifies as a collar or not, the Demon Lord seized it and dragged the Champion to the ground!

Then immediately mounted!

Mount position established!

“What is this!?”

The Demon Lord demands an explanation!

The Champion remains passive, unresisting—appearing visibly enraged!

Fight!

The Demon Lord pleads, demanding earnest combat!

“…I apologize.”

Yet—

Even so, the Champion shows no will to fight!

What is this?

Has the Champion lost combat resolve?

The Demon King charges at such a Champion!

Hmph.

Tired of commentary.

"Ariel-san! Wait! Stop! We're done!"

Oni-kun restrains the Demon King, who continues striking the black-faced figure, by locking him in a headlock.

The Demon King struggles within Oni-kun's arms, still attempting to strike the black figure, but is forcibly pulled away—unable to continue.

The Demon King has lost most of his strength in battle against Potimas.

Now, as he appears—just a small girl, possibly even weaker than his appearance suggests.

Resisting Oni-kun's grip is impossible.

Oni-kun, good work.

The Demon King is currently no different than a patient requiring absolute rest.

Excessive movement is detrimental to his condition.

Still, some release is necessary for closure. Black should receive a few blows. I refrained from intervening.

Timing is appropriate.

As expected of a man who reads the air.

Huh? Vampire Child?

Staring blankly, frozen in a caterpillar state, unable to comprehend the situation—but what is it?

"What are you talking about?"

"Sorry."

The exchange continues: the Demon King, still restrained by Oni-kun, pressing questions at Black, while Black can only say "Sorry" repeatedly.

I ignore this, and resume reading the diary of Potimas, which the Demon King had been looking at moments ago.

Contact was made with the body currently active outside by Guriédistdies. Unusual occurrence. Questioned about any anomalies. Certainly the sudden drop in MA energy and the dimensional quake that occurred simultaneously. No intention to provide information from our side. Attempted to probe for details, extract information in return. The individual himself appears unaware of the specifics. Ultimately parted without any tangible results. This anomaly, unconfirmed even by him. Information gathering is required.

The hero has been replaced. The new hero is Julius, the second prince of Anareit Kingdom. That detail is irrelevant. The fact of replacement means the previous hero, Dalesmeig, is dead. Given the timing, this is likely connected to the dimensional quake from days past. If Dalesmeig caused the dimensional quake, the conclusion is consistent. The demon lord’s replacement has not been confirmed. However, if he was cooperating with Dalesmeig, he is likely dead as well. Yet Gyriedis Dieus remains alive. Therefore, they have failed. Useless.

The individual I bred as my next primary body began speaking through telepathy. It is impossible for a newborn—whose self-awareness should not have developed at all—to use telepathy. Yet the content of its message was equally impossible. Nevertheless, the content itself was highly intriguing. A reincarnated being with memories of a different world. If one considers where the MA energy vanished after the dimensional quake, it is astonishing that it flowed into another world. Why a being that should have been bound for Gyriedis Dieus ended up there remains unclear. Yet the outcome is undeniably interesting. A reincarnated soul from another world—distinct from our own. If such souls can be utilized, might they provide a breakthrough in my stalled research? The experiment is worth attempting. Therefore, securing a sample must be done immediately. Fortunately, the individual who spoke of reincarnated beings to me—Philimes—also desires protection for reincarnated souls. I shall honor that wish.

U—mu.

This… what is this?

Reading it feels like the mind is being scraped raw.

Those who do evil without recognizing it as evil—this is why.

Even in just a few lines, the detachment toward the teacher—viewing them not as a person, but as a tool—is unmistakable. Not just the previous generation’s hero, nor the prior age’s demon lord. The prior hero and demon lord.

Well, it was expected. Still, truly—absolute trash.

If we examine past records, we might uncover interactions between the previous hero and the former demon lord. But no need to go that far.

Honestly, I don’t want to read too closely.

The general pattern is clear enough.

I knew it from the start.

"Hey… I’ve been treating Gurye as a comrade, as an ally… was I mistaken?"

Oh.

The previously ignored exchange between the demon lord and the black figure has taken a notably serious turn.

The Demon Lord looks like they’re about to cry.

Hitting a little girl like that—Black is the worst.

...That was a joke. Time to step in now.

"Chicken."

Ah. Mistake.

I called out to Black, just like I was thinking.

Oh well.

"Can't get through without proper explanation. Stop stalling and explain from the beginning."

Black, half-raising from a prone position, widened their eyes.

The Demon Lord turned to look, eyes equally wide.

"...Huh? You're saying that, Master?"

The Vampire Child said something odd, so I kicked them, just to be safe.