Ultimate Antihero:Volume 2 Chapter 2

Status: Incomplete

6/11 parts completed

   

Chapter 2

Part 1

An envoy from demon world.

The visit of Elfiena that introduced herself as the queen of fairy race.

That notice immediately reached Japan government that managed the Tokyo life sphere with a shock wave along it like lightning.

The prime minister Kinugasa Yoshinori who had continued to haul this dying country all this time since the <Walpurgis Night>, immediately put a gag order in regard to this situation, and then through Onjouji Kai he gave the instruction to the 101st trainee platoon so that they led Elfiena to New Tokyo Sorcery Academy without coming in contact with anyone.

And then, not even a hour since that, Kinugasa himself rushed to the New Tokyo Sorcery Academy.

The one who welcomed Kinugasa who jumped out from his official vehicle as if he was abandoning a crashed vehicle, was two people, Onjouji Kai and Kamishiro Homura.

“What a panicked arrival. It makes your tailored suit messed up y’know.”

“Ha, haha, I’m really in panic here. …After all this is not an evil god, but for a demon of all thing to come proposing political negotiation, this is the first time in the world.”

It was something that was truly misunderstood throughout the world, but evil god and demon was different from each other.

Both of their ominous appearance that surpassed human’s understanding had many points in common, but if the existence of evil god was described in Japanese language, the most appropriate word was [space alien].

They had lived in this world long before human, the existence that was ruling over this plane, even though their existence itself was not of earth, most of them had their origin from any of the end of galaxy.

Therefore, no matter how ominous they were, but till the end they were still an existence of this world.

However, the demon was different.

They were invader that came passing through dimension from an adjoined alternate dimension called the demon world, their origin was not of this world.

In other words they saw this world as nothing more than an object to be devoured greedily.

―The gap between demon and evil god existed in this point.

A century ago, <The Crawling Chaos> that introduced itself as <Man of Darkness> came into contact with the representative of mankind who was ruined by Baphomet, the magician Aleister Crowley, his reason of handing over <Liber Legis> also mostly originated from this.

For them too who were glorified as [god] that reigned over this territory as ancient ruler, the present condition where outsider stepped into their world as they pleased and then acted like they owned the place was unpleasant.

Correct. ..For the evil gods, in actuality they had the warped reason that [the only one who could make sport of mankind was just them], but even so although imperfect they had a reason to cooperate with mankind.

However, ―demon had no such reason.

Such reason supposedly didn’t exist.

But in this occasion, for the first time in human history, a demon of demon world attempted to make contact politically.

In Kinugasa’s heart who had to deal with this situation as a country’s representative, he was filled with shock and impatience, there was also confusion in him.

Truthfully, he didn’t understand at all how he should treat the other party.

It seemed that the other side said they wanted to form an alliance, but was that the truth?

In the first place, was the introduction as the queen of [Fairy race] even true?

―Rather, wasn’t it better to just kill her immediately right now…

Even with many thought crossing his mind, but because this was something without precedent, he was unable to decide which was the best way.

(Sheesh, thinking too much is your bad habit, Kinugasa Yoshinori.)

Kinugasa scolded his brain from thinking all over the place.

Trying to solve something that had no precedent before using one’s own experience itself was a mistake in the first place.

(First her title as the queen of [Fairy race], I guess that’s not fake. If that’s not true, then her coming to human world will only become a stupid meaningless action that just asked to be killed.)

As expected no one would do something that stupid.

Then if she was really a queen, putting aside everything that could possibly happen, he first had to meet her so that they could start somewhere.

After coming to that clean decision, Kinugasa asked Onjouji.

“…So, where is the demon that introduced herself as fairy race queen right now?”

“It seemed that before she crossed over to the human world from demon world, she was swallowed by a kraken and got trapped inside its stomach all along. She said that she wanted to rearrange her attire before the negotiation, so I lent her the bath of the academy. Because of that we need some time before the meeting.”

“Tha, that’s truly…..”

Truly like a human, was what Kinugasa honestly said.

He didn’t even think that demon had the culture of bathing.

Further to want to arrange her personal appearance before negotiation meant―

(By any chance, perhaps this is someone that unexpectedly can be talked to…?)

Kinugasa harbored such expectation inside his heart from this unthinkable common point with human, but right at that moment.

The door at the back of the official car that Kinugasa rode was,

“Hah! Just a vulgar demon trying to put her clothes in order you said?”

Along with a hoarse jeer, the door opened with a force as if it was kicked open.

And then a man with a large body like a bear came out from the door of the official car that was kicked open.

The man was wearing white suits adorned by golden buttons all over it, making it seemed like he was shining.

The large man with muscle mass that could be perceived even with his body covered with thick suit was―

“It’s extremely overstepping itself for a monster to act like human. Drag her naked right now and throw her into cage. That’s what is fitting for a demon.”

The secretary general of China Republic Union・Wan Tairon.

In essence, the man was one of the pillars of <Five Great Leaders> that ruled over the present world, he was also one of the S-rank magicians where only ten existed in the whole world.

And then there was one more person following after that giant body, his figure appeared from inside the official car.

“Haha, well isn’t that fine, secretary general Wan.”

A medium built that was wering a deep blue suits.

It was a dandy with his vibrant blond hair, and his white teeth that sparkled even more than his hair as his characteristic.

“The demon’s appearance is really painful to look at even at the best of time. Our eyes will rot if we don’t at least let it rearrange its attire.”

He was the president of the large country United States of America that once reigned over in the position that could essentially even be called as the supreme ruler on the earth, Joseph Franklin.

Homura bluntly made an unpleasant expression from seeing the figure of the two.

“Hey prime minister. You bring over some really troublesome bunch ain’t you.”

Kinugasa too was in a position that really could understand that grievance of Homura.

Doing something like a diplomacy with demon, just from that it would become a fat that could worsen the position of Japan.

Kinugasa himself wanted to keep this a secret from them and took care of it behind closed door.

However, the timing was too bad.

“When I received the notice, the timing was just when we were having the regulation conference about the <One Year Plan>.”

This was just a bad luck. It couldn’t be avoided in any way.

Especially when the other party was the <Five Great Leader>, there was no way that he could take leave from his seat to accept the notice.

They had the conceit that they were exactly the order of this new world.

And in regard to that order, there was no way they would tolerate anything to be hidden from them.

“…Besides Homura-san and the other member of 101st trainee platoon coming into contact with an existence of humanoid that seemed to be a demon had been caught by the satellite of some country so…. There is no way to hide this.”

“Ah…. Now that you mention that, that’s right huh.”

Homura’s expression turned into late realization from the rebuttal that Kinugasa whispered into his ear.

He forgot that he was constantly put under satellite monitoring.

“That’s depressing. Maybe I should just shot all of them down by pretending about some kind of incident soon.”

“Pl, please be gentle about it if you can…-“

When Kinugasa’s expression paled for real from that joke of Homura,

“Oy you there. What are you bastards mumbling at each other over there? Aa?”

A harsh and rude voice cut in their conversation.

It was Wan Tairon.

Tairon grasped the shoulder of both of them unreservedly before separating them and entered between the two.

And then he held up the collar of Homura―

“By any chance you bastards, are you thinkin’ of doing something. Aa?”

After hanging up Homura’s body with one hand, he brought his face closer while baring his eyes threateningly.

That rudeness was just like a hooligan.

But, ―the coercion that resided in his eye gleam was in different magnitude compared to a mere hoodlum.

Inside the yellowing, stagnating, murky eyes.

The dull light shining slipperily there was―[madness].

Seventeen years ago, he was a dictator that made rain of blood all over the continent under the name of revolution in order to solidify his own ruling body even more. Because he was a man that killed a lot of human in number that couldn’t even be compared with the average demon, he was able to emit this coercing pressure that could even surpass bladed tool in reality.

That eye’s power could even made quiet most people.

It was not something that should be able to be praised, but this man was unmistakably possessing a dominating aura of a [supreme ruler that had reached the extreme].

But even that dominating aura was,

“It’s not like we’re thinking of anything like that y’know.”

In front of Kamishiro Homura it became nothing more than a paper tiger.

Homura was not moved for even a bit against Tairon’s eye gleam.

“Rather don’t get your mug close to me. Your breath stink, geezer.”

He lightly brushed off the thick arm that was like a log constricting his collar.

This casual treatment made Tairon’s voice shook.

“You bastard, it ain’t the place of a chained dog to put on air here. …The other day that senile gramps Innocentius swallowed your bluff whole and released <Aureole>, but I ain’t got tricked here. Thinking of it calmly that’s just something impossible. Just the magic power of a human surpassing the magic power of this star, that’s bullshit.”

“Ain’t that right. Though I think I remember someone that got ready to piss himself from that. That yellow eye looked like it was gonna popped out you know. Looked really cute at you. Can you imagine your face at that time eh.”

“……-!”

Homura’s ridiculing and laughing gaze made a vein protruded out throbbingly at Tairon’s forehead.

“This big mouthed shitty brat…. Then let’s just try talkin’ again after I cut open you bastard’s neck right here!”

Tairon’s temperament raised in proportion with the loudness of his voice.

But in inverse proportion with that, Homura’s tone was lowered down in an amazed voice.

“Even though I just crushed more than half of your country’s army you are already starting something like this again, what a fanatic geezer huh. Just stop it. You are gonna lose anyway, this is just pointless waste of life whether for you geezer or for me, most of all the air of you geezer are gonna be pitiful in front of your underling like this.”

“Youuu….-“

Tairon grinded his teeth in frustration.

But even so he didn’t go as far as grabbing his hand at Homura.

No, he couldn’t do anything like that.

One couldn’t become a king of a country with just violence.

Laying out trickery with the cunning like a fox was also this man’s nature.

That was why although he put on air, he wouldn’t brave risk.

Homura too understood that, so he was merciless at Tairon.

Like that, Joseph who couldn’t just watch at the two who were being like that made a deep sigh.

“A fine adult won’t get provoked by a kid’s talk. Please calm down Wan-kun. We are not coming here in order to have this kind of quarrel. We are the representative of <United World Government>, therefore as the consensus of mankind, we come here in order to face the new threat.”

“…Chih. I got that even without you tellin’ me.”

Tairon said that reluctantly while drawing back his threatening attitude.

However surely inside his heart he was actually relieved.

With his character, it was hard for him to draw back the threat that he let out himself.

He acted violent. That was because he understood how to personify his own dominating aura.

That was why, he was waiting for third person’s interference as a chance to withdraw his threat.

…Really, what a small man that was too cunning.

After Homura glared at Tairon being fed up from the bottom of his heart, he looked at Joseph behind and said.

“Oi you geezers. I’m gonna be present at the discussion too.”

Both of them opened their eyes wide in surprise from that sentence.

“Aaaa!? You bastard, what are you sayin’?”

“There is no need for that right? Haven’t you heard yourself from the demon that introduced itself as fairy that its business is to [form a friendly alliance with mankind], that’s the report that Kinugasa-kun received isn’t it? Then for you who have no connection at all with [mankind] to be present is unnecessary―”

“Shut up.”

But Homura forcibly cut down the objection of the two with a sharp voice.

“ “-……!” “

“This is my decision that I decided myself. You two got no right saying this and that about it.”

From the start he was not looking for permission or anything.

Homura was just telling them straight his decision, to that the two grinded their teeth in frustration.

These men who were standing at the top of their country were at their wit’s end.

And then Homura didn’t even pay attention at them anymore.

He walked ahead by himself,

“Then, gentlemen, follow me. I’ve opened the board chairman room as the place for the conference.”

After that, Onjouji’s voice called out to the three visitors.

And then like that the three people were showed into the school from the guest gate,

“Aah, dirty shoe is strictly prohibited. There are slippers for the use of guest over there, so please change into that.”

Before Tairon and Joseph who were going to enter still wearing their shoes got warned.

Part 2

A little before the arrival of Kinugasa and others.

Both Sumika and Chikori moved through the school in a stealthy way and guided Elfiena to the public bath in the female dormitory that had been reserved by Onjouji’s request.

“This is the public bath that we are always using you know~”

With a rattling sound, Chikri opened the door noisily and then she pulled Elfiena’s hand to enter into the bath.

The public bath of New Tokyo Sorcery Academy was designed in the style that matched the appearance of the academy that looked like an old western castle, its size was vast enough for students of two classes to use at the same time.

“My, how lovely! This is the first time I see a hot spring this big!”

“Is that so? Right now it’s being reserved, but usually there are several dozen people using it at once so it feels cramped though―”

Chikori started to run in pitter patter while saying that, then she took hold one of the shower that was lined up beside the mirror.

Then she twisted the shower knob as much as she could and hot water burst out nicely on her head.

“Aah―. My body is sticky all over from the sea water so this feels good~♪”

“Hot water come out from that kind of place…”

Elfiena blinked her green eyes looking at that happening while murmuring in wonderment.

(I wonder if there is no shower in the demon world by any chance?)

It was not something impossible.

It was hard to imagine the demon bunch to build scientific culture that was similar with human.

Sumika who was standing beside Elfiena thought so,

“E, err…”

As if to support her thinking, Elfiena was beginning to get nervous in front of the shower.

It seemed that she understood that hot water would come out from the shower head from looking at Chikori’s action, so she was following what Chikori did, yet from there she didn’t know what to do next.

Elfiena shook around the shower head left and right, then she took a peek inside it while in the end she tilted her head with a confused expression wondering of the puzzle.

“…If you twist that knob, water will come out.”

Sumika who couldn’t bear to watch, sit in front of the mirror beside Elfiena while pointing out, then

“Ah, thank you very much for your kindness. …Kyawa-!?”

Elfiena said her gratitude while turning the shower knob fully open with all her strength.

Naturally, powerful water stream mercilessly burst out from the shower head.

And then that water hit Elfiena’s face directly.

The girl screamed strangely from great shock while falling back face up.

Stark naked.

Looking at that figure that was too unladylike even from the view point of the same sex, Sumika unintentionally let out a wry smile.

“A, are you okay?”

“I…I’m fine. I just fell over from a little surprise. I, I show you something embarrassing.”

She really looked like she was embarrassed.

Elfiena’s whole face turned bright red even until the tips of her pointed ears, while the wings on her back were busily flapping repeatedly.

But it seemed that she somehow grasped the way to use the shower from that painful expression, she began to properly adjusting the water amount by opening and closing the knob.

“So it’s no good to turn it over too much. Somehow I understand it. …But even so, to not needing to scoop up hot water frequently, the world of human is really convenient isn’t it-“

“…, …yes. Well.”

The smiling face of Elfiena that looked innocent was turned at Sumika.

On the other hand, Sumika reflexively averted her gaze to the side.

―In reality, Sumika was harboring a strong alertness toward Elfiena.

After all, although her appearance was really looked like human than demon to this degree, the girl was still the same demon like baphomet or Typhon and Jambure.

She was one of the existences that had inflicted severe harm to human until this much.

She couldn’t let her guard down at a moment notice at all.

No matter how her appearance looked really close like a cute girl, she mustn’t let herself got tricked.

In place of Chikori who wasn’t being alert at all, Sumika had to pay attention of every single thing.

(…Is she do something strange, I’ll quickly stop her breathing.)

That was her duty as an S-rank magician who was the protector of mankind.

While Sumika persuaded herself like that, she began to wash her hair that was a little damaged from the salty wind.

She pushed out shampoo from the shampoo bottle for communal use and made it foamed in her hand.

Then, looking at that,

“Haa, ..................”

“……”

Sumika noticed Elfiena who was looking at her hand with intense concentration.

“E, err. Is something wrong?”

“Ah, forgive me. That, those foamy bubbles completely caught my mind.”

Elfiena pointed at the white foam at her hand made Sumika understood what was this about.

“By any chance there is also no shampoo in demon world?”

“I wonder about that. …In the end I’m nothing more than the head of [Fairy race], so I’m not really that detailed about the culture of other race, but at the very least it doesn’t exist in the culture of us the [Fairy race]. Because of that the meaning is also not really transmitted that well through the [Concept Translation]…”

“[Concept Translation]? What is that?”

“My. Is there nothing like that in the human world?”

“Yes. I’ve never heard of it.”

“What is called [Concept Translation] is a sorcery for the sake of exchanging words with every living being.

There are several thousand of demon race in the demon world, among them there are those whose body construction cannot make some specific pronunciation, there are also those race that in the first place doesn’t even speak, so most races possessed their own characteristic language or method to transmit their thought.

Because of that the majority of races in the demon world differ in the word that they used, in the first place a conversation between race cannot be established, we cannot make a proper communication between each other.

What we make use of to solve this problem is the sorcery called [Concept Translation].

By using this sorcery, our own word will be converted into the concept possessed by the other race and we can have them understand the meaning of what we say, it also can convert the other party’s word into a concept that we know so we can listen to what are they talking about. ―Although, the more powerful a demon become, they seem to think that there is no need to match the inferior race, so there are only few who use this [Concept Translation] though.”

“Aah, so that’s why we can talk normally like this.”

“That’s right. …But, a culture that we of the [Fairy race] doesn’t possess in the first place, things that we don’t know, namely words where the concept to explain cannot be established, the concept to deal with things like that doesn’t exist in our side so it cannot be translated. And so…that, my apologize but, that-, shampoo? Is that what you called this thing? Can I trouble you to teach me what is this thing used for?”

Being asked that, Sumika was lost for a moment of what she should do.

Because it was not Sumika’s intention to become intimate with a demon.

…Especially because Elfiena was really human-like, so she didn’t want to be attached to her.

If that happened then when the time came, ―it would make it harder to kill her.

But―

(Doing a kindness just that much should be fine.)

Rather if she bluntly refused here, she got the feeling that she would hate herself a little.

That was why Sumika couldn’t help herself to answer Elfiena’s request.

“Err, shampoo is a chemical to wash the hair and the skin of scalp.”

“My. So human make use of medicine when they wash their hair then?”

“Yes. Using this will wash away the oil and micro-bacteria. If you push at the top of that pink container, it will let out the shampoo solution from the tube inside, so first please take that with your hand.”

“Like, this?”

Elfiena who did as she was told pushed at the head of the shampoo bottle for the communal use.

Thereupon, milky white liquid spurt out on Elfiena’s small palm that was held under the tube,

“Kyaaa!?”

Elfiena instantly screamed and shook away her hand.

“For, for some reason what came out from the inside in not something foamy but something slimy instead! What came out is something liquid like the gooey droll of orc you know!?”

“Please don’t give such a disgusting example. That is the solution of shampoo. After you take a proper amount on your hand, please try rubbing it between your hands like this. If you do that it will foam up.”

“Uu, I understand.”

The shampoo was compared to a droll of orc.

She seemed to dislike the sensation of the shampoo very much.

But Elfiena still obediently took some shampoo even while being nervous just like Sumika told her, and then she rubbed it between her hands.

Thereupon,

“Wa, wawawa-! Amazing…-!”

Similar like with Sumika, bubbling foam was produced from between her fingers.

The more she rubbed her hand, the bubbles kept coming out one after another.

Just from a handful of drops of shampoo liquid, it created bubbles that overflowed from her hand.

The expression of Elfiena whose eyes turned bright from that sight was truly innocent―

(…Uuu, it’s just making it harder to do it.)

Whether Sumika wanted it or not, her alertness was being shaved.

That was why Sumika tried to not look at Elfiena’s direction.

“Next you only need to wash your head with that foamed hand. Stroke your hair until its end and also massage your scalp sufficiently. And then after finishing washing your hair moderately, please wash away the bubbles with the shower. Do it as properly as possible, because if there are some shampoo that remained in the hair it will damage the hair.”

After giving the detailed instruction of how to wash the hair, Sumika too began to wash her own head.

With a detailed instruction like that, then surely there would be no more need for her to supervise.

But―that thinking was immediately betrayed.

(……Eh?)

Bubbles that were continuing to multiply endlessly in burble were reflected at the corner of her view.

When Sumika turned her gaze wondering what was going on,

“Wh, what are you doing Elfiena-san!?”

There was Elfiena there with her whole body covered in foam instead of just her head.

“Ahahahaha-! This is really fun for some reason! The more I kneads the more bubbles are going burble burble~, it’s so fun~!”

It looked like what made the bubble increased was filled into the bottle, so Elfiena seemed to have squeezed out the shampoo many times over and made more bubbles.

“You push out too much! I told you already that only take proper amount!”

“Uwaa-, …that looks fun―. Yosh, I’ll do that too!”

“Please don’t get provoked Chikori-san!”

Sumika remonstrated Chikori and also washed away the hands that were the source of the infinitely multiplying bubble.

However Elfiena continued to laugh like a child even while she was being washed by hot water,

“Ahaha, forgive me. It’s my first contact with this culture so it feels fun for some reason. The townscape that I saw in the way here is also like this, there were various things there that seemed like fun places. Human world is so interesting.”

Elfiena showed a pure smiling face without any trace of shadow at all.

“…….....................-“

From that…Sumika recognized her own defeat.

She let out a deep sigh in resignation,

“…I’ll wash your hair for you, so please don’t do anything strange anymore. We are going to be late to the important negotiation like this.”

Saying that, Sumika returned a smile where even civility couldn’t be seen from it.

That was the moment Sumika let go of her vigilance toward Elfiena.

Although she was a demon, but for Sumika who had a kind nature, she was unable to continue holding her tension even to the point of assuming [murder] toward someone that showed nothing but good will until this much toward human.

Part 3

“Hafuu~…”

The three that had finished washing their body soaked their body inside the tub lining at each other’s side.

The fatigue had been piling up from watching over the children since the morning.

Sumika and Chikori looked as if they had completely forgotten that there was a demon right beside them and soaked in the hot water with a face without tension.

But more than the two of them, Elfiena that was between those two was completely melting.

In the middle of crossing over from demon world to human world, she met an accident of getting eaten by a kraken that met her completely tired.

Elfiena murmured with an entranced voice from the feeling of the heavy fatigue that had been piling up at her body’s core like a pile of lead melting out.

“…The goodness of hot spring is the same whether in human world or demon world isn’t it?”

“Speaking accurately this is not a hot spring, but if the [Concept Translation] transmitted it like that then that means there is no culture in demon world to heat hot water by yourself and everyone only use hot spring then.”

“I think so. Everyone in the village use the hot spring inside the forest. We the [Fairy race] live alongside trees and flowers, so we never really use fire.”

According to Elfiena’s story, it seemed that these females called as the [Fairy race] usually resided inside tree or flower.

In other words the nature itself was the town of the fairy race, their home.

That was why, these females didn’t really like fire that had the possibility to considerably damage their home.

What a really fancy story.

―However, when Chikori heard about the hot spring of the demon world, she thought of an unpleasant imagination.

“…By any chance, is it a hot spring of blood?”

Sumika herself didn’t said it loud, but the image depicted in her head was also similar.

After all for human, the demon was merely terrifying invader that attacked human earnestly, that made their image of the demon world from where the demon crept out was the hell itself.

However, here Elfiena shook her head left and right in overly big motion in denial.

“We, we would never soak ourselves in something so terrifying. It’s just a normal hot spring where underground water warmed by the geothermal heat gushed forth.”

“Tha, that’s right isn’t it. Sorry. That’s because I imagined demon world as horror place that’s more like hell. …I wonder if it’s actually really similar with earth?”

“Looking as far as possible from the demon world, there is not much difference between demon world and the human world. There is land, there are trees and flowers, and there are lives that live here in the human world. The demon world is the same with that. No, by any chance perhaps there is a lot more of that kind of nature in the demon world.”

“Haa~. For some reason the image is far too different from what I imagined that it shocked me.”

Listening from the story of Elfiena, their images of demon and demon world that they believed until now was broken down one after another.

And then Sumika realized.

That they human really didn’t know anything about demon.

Well, a method to cross over to the demon world from human world’s side was never established, so it was also something that couldn’t be helped.

(…Perhaps through this encounter, it will be profitable for mankind if we can obtain information of demon world even for a little.)

Like that, Sumika was thinking of serious thing that was really like her.

“But if that place is really that full of nature, then it’s a place that is really comfortable to live for El-san and the others right~”

“……”

The exchanged conversation between Elfiena and Chikori beside her suddenly stopped.

When Sumika became concerned and turned her gaze at them, Elfiena’s expression that looked happy until just now had completely changed, her lips thinned with a sorrowful expression.

Looking at that Elfiena who suddenly turned quiet, Chikori tilted her head wondering if there was something wrong.

On the other hand Elfiena, she moved her trembling lips,

“…Yes. It’s as you said, but. But, the current demon world is already, become a place that we the [Fairy race] cannot live in anymore.”

Elfiena murmured so with a thin voice as if grieving of someone died.

―It became a place they couldn’t live in, she said.

Just what in the world,

“What do you mean?”

When the concerned Sumika asked, Elfiena answered without hiding it.

“A war began. A really great war, so great that it swallowed the whole demon world.”

―Right now, just what was happening in the demon world?

“In the first place, the demon world is a brutal place that where power is everything.

It feels like conflict happened somewhere everyday, there is not a single day of a time of peace.

However even so, there are barely gap for those like the [Fairy race] that doesn’t like conflict, and also races that doesn’t have sufficient power for conflict to live.

But, ―in the recent year a big political disturbance happened in demon world.

Due to the death of a certain demon king whose name was famous through all over the demon world, a conflict for hegemony began due to the powerful clans of various places.

This struggle is extremely severe, in the blink of eye the whole demon world was swallowed in the fire of conflict.

Most of the demons that once invaded the human world, was the [fleeing soldier] of this conflict.

Whether it was Jambure or Typhon―

They were defeated in this conflict and lost their territory, so they aimed for the new land called the human world.”

The current condition of the demon world that for the first time was exposed to the mankind, and the other side of the invasion to the human world.

Hearing that detail, Sumika and Chikori were both dumbfounded.

“Tha, that Thyhon was…fleeing soldier……you said!?”

“Exactly. He was defeated in the struggle for hegemony, he was nothing more than a loser that escaped to the human world barely with his life.”

“…What, a thing.”

Sumika felt faint from Elfiena’s reply.

It was a too shocking fact.

The <Demon King class> that messed up the earth surface until that much was, that symbol of despair was―

Nothing more than demon world’s, just a mere loser there.

(If that’s true……)

The power of the demons that drove off Typhon and Jambure to the human world…just how great it could possibly be?

She couldn’t even imagine it.

Elfiena continued her words toward Sumika who was in a lost for word from such too despairing reality.

“And then, before long our village of [Fairy race] was also swallowed into that war. Our village was burned, the forest was trampled down…many of our brethren were abducted. As the ration of the demons…”

“Ration……, wait, you mean they were eaten?”

Elfiena returned a nod toward the taken aback words of Chikori.

“The body structure of us [Fairy race] is an energy body that is made from magic power of high purity, so the absorption efficiency of magic power from our body is high, as food we are the most suitable seeing the circumstance where magic power is constantly consumed in large amount in war. The [fairy pill] made from the minced meat of fairy, just from a pill it can make you obtain vast energy to the degree that a <General class> demon can continuously exercise sorcery for three days and three nights.”

“Ho, how cruel…-“

Chikori closed her mouth with a pale expression.

Most likely, it was because she imagined the figure of fairy being processed into mince meat while still alive.

And then it was not just Chikori’s imagination, even now it was a scene that was happening in the demon world.

The effect of [fairy pill] right now had been known all over the demon world. Causing the powerful clans to search for them in a frenzy.

“We the [Fairy race] don’t wish to fight.

However, the other demons don’t care of that and come to capture us.

And then us [Fairy race] is excellent as food but, …our fighting ability as a race is the lowest of the low even in the demon world. Even I who possess the strongest magic power among our race, only has strength in the level that was easily swallowed whole by a single kraken, …our body size too, those that possess the size around your average human are only those to the extent like me, most of our people only has the size that can be put atop the palm of human.”

If they were attacked, they could do nothing other than got trampled down.

In these few years since the war started, even the fairy race that was numbered almost a billion, became reduced to only a number of two million, Elfiena talked of that with a heartbreaking expression.

“…The demon world, is already turned into a place where the powerless [Fairy race] cannot live in anymore.”

“El-san…”

Surely the current condition of the fairy pained her heart.

Chikori whose grieving expression looked as if even now she was going to cry snuggled up to Elfiena and she hugged Elfiena’s body tightly.

It was an action that was really like the kind Chikori.

Although Sumika couldn’t take a honest action like Chikori, she felt an emotion as if her heart was squeezed from Elfiena’s story.

But that emotion―

“That’s why we resolved ourselves. We are going to abandon our birthplace the demon world, and negotiate with human…,

―to let us live in the human world.”

“Wha……-!”

Changed into cold shudder from the following words of Elfiena.

“But, that’s……-“

After Sumika reflexively let out her voice like that, she shut her mouth in panic from having done that.

Saying it was [impossible], was not a word that she should say as someone who wouldn’t participate in the negotiation.

But, it was a little too late. Elfiena was also not an idiot.

She immediately understood, what was the world that would come out from Sumika’s interrupted speech.

“Is that, impossible?”

“…I, I’m sorry……”

“No, that’s fine. I too understand how hard this is. The story of what the demons that once visited the human world did here, has been circulated so I know…”

“Even knowing that…you are going to rely on human?”

On the other hand Elfiena nodded without any hesitation.

“Because, we already don’t have any other choice. In order to survive, there is nothing that we can do except to do what we can. Because that’s, …the duty of those that still live.”

“―-“

In order to live, they needed to do the only thing they could.

The words that Elfiena said shook Sumika’s heart greatly.

It was exactly Sumika’s way of life―

Because it was just like what she believed in front of the despair called Typhon, the way those who still live ought to be.

(…We are the same.)

Whether it was herself and also this girl.

Whether human, or fairy.

To continue to fight the unreasonable desperately in order to live.

There was no difference at all.

That was why, surely human and fairy could understand each other.

Just like right now, where Sumika understood Elfiena.

―However,

(That’s, only if talking about individual…-)

Elfiena didn’t understand.

No, she might actually understand, but she was looking at this naively.

The fear and hatred in human society toward the existence called demon that seeped right into the morrow of their bone.

Different with Sumika and Chikori who had a chance to talk directly with Elfiena like this, human society could only comprehend the fairy race as nothing more than demon.

Even Typhon and Jambure, for human those two were nothing more than the same demon.

There was no way, the human race could accept such thing.

Elfiena’s wish, …would never be realized.

Far from that…if Elfiena ever said things like wanting to migrate to the human world in front of those people of the <United World Government>, surely they would never let Elfiena return home alive.

She would be killed. Cruelly. Unreasonably.

When she imagined such sight, Sumika’s chest was burned in unpleasant feeling.

And then that detestable feeling, made Sumika decided a single thing.

“…Elfiena-san. Will you mind if I also attend the negotiation meeting?”

Elfiena was making a shocked face for a moment toward this request, yet

“Yes-. That will be very reassuring if you would do that for me-“

She readily consented toward that proposal with happiness.

Surely it would be reassuring for her to have a human that could understand the fairy even for a little attending the meeting.

However, …that wish couldn’t come true.

It was impossible to shake the mankind’s decision with only Sumika’s backing alone.

Because Sumika understood that, she returned a bitter expression at Elfiena’s ready consent,

(For Elfiena-san’s sake, …there is only one thing that I can do.)

For the sake of this girl who faced the unreasonable with all her might similar with herself once before, Sumika swore to herself that she would do that much.

Part 4

Thirty minutes after that.

The first diplomatic negotiation between human and fairy, between mankind and demon was opened.

The place was the board chairman room of New Tokyo Sorcery Academy.

With a table between the two sides, each representatives of the two camp faced each other.

The representative of fairy race didn’t even need to be said, Elfiena who had finished changing her dress.

The representatives of mankind was Kinugasa Yoshinori, Joseph Franklin, and Wan Tairon, three names from <United World Government>.

Behind those three names, the <Evil God User> Kamishiro Homura was standing by with his arms crossed. Similarly behind Elfiena were the members of 101st platoon that the same as Homura knew about the arrival of the fairy on the earth, Hoshikawa Sumika and Ichinotani Chikori standing by. And then at the left and right of the only entrance of the room were Onjouji Kai and Onjouji Shiori with their back to the wall just like the door guard. The representatives of both camps were staring at each other wordlessly.

The atmosphere was extremely strained.

It couldn’t be helped. This was the first time for everyone.

As it were this moment could possibly become the turning point of human history.

In such a time,

“For Japan to share its time during such busy time, truly I give you all my deepest gratitude for that.”

Knowing that it was her role to break the ice as the one who dearly wished for this conference, Elfiena first expressed her thanks.

“My name is Elfiena. The person in the position that governed one race called the [Fairy race] at the demon world.”

She displayed her position.

The one who responded to this was Kinugasa who sat at the center of the three human representatives.

“Thank you for your courteous greeting. Elfiena-san.

I am called Kinugasa Yoshinori, the one who is entrusted with the administration of this country called Japan.

These two at my side are similarly like me the people in charge of two human countries that exists in earth, United States of America and China Republic Union, Joseph Franklin and Wan Tairon.

And then the one behind me, is the greatest battle power of us human race, the <Evil God User> Kamishiro Homura.”

With a truly tactful behavior, Kinugasa finished the introduction of all that gathered here.

But, Elfiena’s eyes turned wide open in shock from those last words of Kinugasa.

“My-. So the one who kindly helped me before is that <Evil God User> you say-?”

“Nn? How unexpected. You know about me?”

“Of course I know. The hero of human race who control <evil god> and removed the valorous warriors of demon race, Typhon and Jambure. The fame of <Evil God User> is well known even in the demon world. However…, I never thought that such a person will be a young gentleman like you, it surprised me a little.”

(…Hero of human race, huh.)

For some reason it seemed the degree of his power was also circulated at the demon world, but Homura discerned that Elfiena didn’t grasp as far as the more concrete information of his appearance or the complexity of Homura’s distorted relation with the human race.

Well, though that was only something trivial in this place.

“<Evil God User>-sama. In this occasion you have saved me from danger, thank you very much.”

“No need for thanks. Saving you was mostly just by chance by anyway.”

And then when Elfiena and Homura was exchanging greetings like that―

“Gahaha-!”

Tairon raised a loud laughter with his hoarse throat that was offensive to the ear.

“What’s with that <Evil God User>. So you bastard is also famous at the demon world huh. Ain’t that great. You can just live at that side. That’s what suited you bastard.”

“Haha. Isn’t that a wonderful proposal of great with from you. How about your seriously consider that, Homura-kun.”

Hearing Tairon’s words, Joseph too also agreed to that while making a sarcastic smile at the corner of his mouth.

“……”

But Homura didn’t even meet the eyes of those two.

The side of his face told that it was stupid to listen to them.

“Both of you. Please leave picking a quarrel with him for later. The talk won’t move forward like this.”

In place of Homura who decided to ignore the two, in the end it was Kinugasa who warned them.

In regard to that Joseph said “Excuse me for that” and shrugged his shoulder provocatively before drawing back.

But―, Tairon was different.

“Keh!”

Along with a spitting voice, *GAN-!* he struck the reception table with all his strength using the heel of his white enameled boots.

“-……!”

Elfiena’s shoulders jumped in surprise from the sudden barbarous act and her wings trembled.

Tairon glared with bloodshot eyes sharply at Elfiena who was being scared like that.

“Just where is the need to move forward the talk with demon as your talk partner. There ain’t even a need to politely introduce yourself. Everything will get settled if I just rip off the head of this bitch right now. Yet even so you bastards and that Innocentious gramps just kept prattling, try to listen her story or whatever, ain’t that too sluggish. We ain’t going to respond to whatever demon try to negotiate anyway. Then what we gonna do won’t change. It’s only a matter of doing it sooner or later.”

“Secretary general Wan. Please put down your foot from the table. It’s an act that is just too lacking in dignity.”

Joseph presented a candid advice while looking amazed toward Tairon’s unreserved attitude, but

“To be thought as undignified by vermin like demon, that’s just too humiliating for a human.”

As expected he too didn’t try to hide his hostility toward demon.

Well, after all these two were the representatives of the human race that had been thoroughly harmed by the demon starting from <Walpurgis Night> until now.

It was inevitable for them to be unable to come into contact with demon in good will, but

―As expected it was really childish for them to so frankly let out their emotion until this far.

Even though this meeting had been arranged after great trouble, but only kept getting rejection like this wouldn’t result in anything productive.

That was why Kinugasa was,

“Elfiena-san.”

“Ye, yes-“

“I beg your pardon for my compatriots’ behavior that are lacking in decorum. After all until now human and demon is mutual sworn enemy until now. There had never been something like a demon that come wishing for peaceful dialogue, so they too are judging based on their position as human with position of responsibility what kind of manner they need to take in regard of you. Please forgive their behavior somehow.”

Saying that he apologized for the two’s impoliteness.

But even while apologizing courteously, at the same time Kinugasa was also clearly alluding of the stance of human race and the animosity that they held toward the being called demon, the way Kinugasa was taking distance was ingenious.

“…Yes. I understand. After all I too know clearly what the demon that crossed over from the demon world to the human world until now had done to all of you human. It’s only natural for you all to hold hatred toward the resident of demon world.”

Elfiena also showed her understanding toward Kinugasa’s words that was measuring their distance.

But on top of that,

“And then it’s exactly this hatred, that I think is the emotion that can connect us [Fairy race] and [mankind] together.”

Elfiena closed this distance saying that.

“What could you possibly mean by that?”

“Because us the [Fairy race] too, had our residence burned by the demons whose eyes were blinded by desire to rule, driven out from our birthplace, our brethren killed, they are [invaders] that we hated.”

And the Elfiena talked.

About the current condition of demon world that she had told to Sumika and Chikori inside the public bath just now.

“Several years ago, a powerful demon with strong influence all over the demon world died.

And then following that event, the powerful clans in every place began a struggle for hegemony where they wash blood by blood.

With Jambure who appeared in this side the other day and Typhon as the beginning, a lot of demon were defeated in this struggle for hegemony and unable to stay in the demon world any longer, and so they searched for a new land in the human world and invaded into this world.”

“…So the reason for the increasing frequency demon’s appearance since a few years ago is because of something like this.”

“Really, what a bother. No matter what demon will be nothing more but harm for human.”

Joseph who now understood the reason for the increase in demon’s appearance rate in the recent years leaked a deep sigh from being fed up.

But in regard of this,

“But even though we are all demon we cannot be lumped together.”

Elfiena immediately put a denial of that comment.

“Demon race that is not interested in war or territory like [Fairy race] also exist.

For us too, demons like Typhon and Jambure who trample other people underfoot only for the sake of their greed are also enemy.

…But, while unfortunate the [Fairy race] is not a race that is strong in battle.

The sizes of most of the fairy race are nothing bigger than the size to the degree they can be put on top of the palm of human, even I who has the strongest magic power among our race has the size that is at best the same with human. To face an opponent like the gigantic <Demon King> whose size completely covered and hid the sky itself, there is nothing we can do. …There is no other choice available to us [Fairy race] other than being trampled down. For that reason, we want to form a cooperation system with the human race who is in the same position with us.”

“And there is where the alliance come in, is it?”

Elfiena nodded toward Kinugasa’s words.

From there she started to talk again.

“Yes. Saying it more concretely, ……we the [Fairy race] want to be accepted, as the compatriot of human race.”

She was saying, that she was wishing for they the [Fairy race] to live together with human in the human world.

But in regard to that, the three names from the <United World Government> who sat in front of Elviena opened their eyes wide.

“I’ll confirm it again but―, you saying ‘accepted’, in other words you want to migrate to the human world?”

“Yes.”

From that affirmation, the expressions of the three were clearly showing agitation.

That was natural.

Even though they had already been surprised from a demon bringing up a proposal for alliance, but to go as far as wishing for [coexistence] was just―

It was a talk that just couldn’t be possibly accepted.

“Oi oi oi oi. Don’t shit with me you bitch. Talking whatever you pleased while I’m stayin’ quiet. Askin’ for demon to get welcomed to earth, ain’t no way such thing is possible huh―. Beside what merit is there for us human to do such thing!?”

There was more or less a problem in his choice of words, but that question of Tairon filled the mind of everyone present in this place.

That was why both Joseph and Kinugasa didn’t warn off Tairon and waited for Elfiena’s answer.

And then surely the side of fairy race had also assumed that this question would be thrown at them from the human race’s side. An answer was returned back without hesitation.

“Of course we are not thinking of having this favor given to us without any compensation. The [Fairy race] intent to offer [production cooperation] and [military cooperation] as the compensation to be given to the human race.”

“…Hoo.”

The merit for the human race’s side from the alliance that Elfiena suggested.

Hearing that, Homura leaked out an admiring voice that couldn’t be heard by anyone.

(She was careless about the relation between mankind and me but, …it looks like she properly investigated any beneficial information for her negotiation with the <United World Government> before coming here.)

That was because the two point that Elfiena presented accurately caught the weak point that the current human society held.

As expected, Joseph immediately bit at the bait.

“―[Production cooperation] and [military cooperation] is it? How deeply interesting.

Both are matters that the human race feels uneasy about even now.

Only human that can handle magic power can become magician that is able to oppose the demon.

In addition with the attack of demon that continue everyday, that number is chronically insufficient.

And then from the lack of magician’s number, we are unable to expand the <life sphere>, because of that we are unable to perform large scale agriculture so our food supply circumstances is always pressured.

This negative spiral might be able to be resolved, is that what are you saying?”

“Yes. Exactly as you said.”

“Interesting. Let me hear your story.”

Joseph showed a listening attitude to Elfiena’s words for the first time since the talk began.

Although he didn’t say anything, Wan Tairon also pricked up his ears.

Toward those two, Elfiena explained the merit of the alliance that fairy race’s side proposed to the human race’s side.

“First in regard of the [production cooperation], in the first place we the [Fairy race] are existences that are truly close of being nature spirit, dwelling within nature like tree and flower, soil or water. And then in exchange of providing us with dwelling in [nature], we promised abundant harvest from plant, fertility in the land, and purity in the water.

In other words, with us the [Fairy race] residing in the land, the harvest will become abundant to that extent, and the land will be able to produce crops with extremely high nutritional value in large amount.”

“In short, it will become possible to produce food using less land and time, is what you are saying?”

“Yes. I have confidence that our power that fertilize no matter what kind of land, and grow in abundance whatever kind of crop, will surely become assistance to all of you human.”

“I see, that’s certainly valuable, and extremely worthwhile. I understand about the [production cooperation] now. …Then, next, I wonder what kind of [military cooperation] you can offer? It’s impolite but, from listening to the talk from just now, I cannot think of you [Fairy race] to be generally useful in combat though.”

Elfiena honestly returned a nod toward Joseph’s words without hiding anything.

“It’s exactly as you said. We are not specialized in battle. That’s exactly why we were driven out from demon world. Because the body of fairy is really small, we are disadvantaged in battle no matter what. ―However until the end that’s only in the case if it’s the fairy itself who fight.”

“What you are saying is?”

“Just as I said before this, we are existence that lives inside material of nature as spiritual body.

In other words…similar with living inside plant, we can also live inside weapon.

And then if we reside inside weapon, the weapon will not only be a mere lump of iron, it will become magic sword or magic spear clad in magic power that make it possible to hurt demon.”

“So you’re talking about <Magic Power EndowmentEnchant> ―”

Suddenly Tairon vigorously stood up from his chair while raising loud voice.

The displeased expression in his face from before had disappeared somewhere, now he was being really excited.

The reason was, because <Enchant> was a technique of dream for the mankind.

It had been said before, but the battle power of human race was constantly insufficient.

The reason was mainly because of the devastating damage from <Walpurgis Night> but…, the most fundamental reason was, the fact that the great majority of human race that couldn’t control magic power.

Those who could opposed demon was limited to the extremely small part of human race that could control magic power.

Due to that, the battle power of mankind was always pressed for more.

But, a technique that made magic power resided inside weapon―if there was this <Enchant>, this premise would be overturned.

Even human that didn’t have magic power, if they made use of weapon that was enchanted with magic power, they would be able to fight equally against demon which couldn’t be injured except by magic power. In short, humans that until now couldn’t be counted as fighting strength would be able to make use as fighting strength from then on.

That was why in this one century, the whole mankind had striven for the research of <Enchant> until now but…this technique was still couldn’t be established yet.

Although mankind had reached the stage where they could create <Sorcery Machine> that assisted sorcery operation of the magician using electronic circuit, the way to made magic power that didn’t have substance to stay for a long time inside substantial material still couldn’t be established yet.

But, Elfiena said.

That they the fairy could do that.

That they possessed the method to resolve the difficult problem that mankind encountered.

“Currently the remnants of the [Fairy race] are two million fairies. Even if we generously filled a weapon with ten fairies each, it will be possible to increase the manpower of mankind by two hundred thousand at maximum.”

“I wonder if this enchanted weapon can chant sorcery in the place of the one equipping it?”

“Of course it’s possible. That’s right. I think any fairy can use sorcery without trouble until the <third grade> sorcery in human standard.”

“…That’s, amazing. Not just a mere enchant. That’s already reaching the level of Stand-alone Sorcery ArmamentIntelligence Device. Furthermore, even among human there are many magicians that cannot use <third grade> sorcery to satisfaction from its difficulty. Form the view point of mankind, this battle strength augmenting…has a really large merit.”

“―Gahaha, then it’s decided.”

It was a term that would made mankind watering in the mouth.

Joseph and Tairon showed a positive reaction that they hadn’t showed until now from this compensation for alliance Elfiena presented that was great beyond their imagination.

Like this, wouldn’t the talk go well with this development?

Such tinge of hope was born inside Elfiena’s heart.

But,

“Yosh! Let’s captured this bitch alive right now and dissect her thoroughly!”

―Such thinking was just too naïve.

“Eh……?”

“Good idea. Let’s quickly finish the arrangement for the research lab and the researcher. If we just understand the mechanism of fairy’s Enchant, we have no need of anything from this filthy demon.”

“That’s how it is! Oi you magicians over there, capture this demon right now-!”

“……-!”

Elfiena was astonished from listening to the words that Joseph and Tairon spouted out while they were wearing fiendish smile.

But the two were serious.

Joseph was the head of United States of America―the large country that once reign over calling itself the justice of the world.

From the beginning he was not a human of a country with a quality that would compromise with enemy.

After all since the founding of their country, they were a nation that removed all obstacle standing in their path.

And similar with them, Tairon too was a man that cleared open his path using only his own strength for his whole life.

He didn’t even respond well when talking with fellow human, he was a politician that crushed ideology and force that opposed him with strength.

In the first place he was not someone which one could negotiate with.

Pushing away Kinugasa who tried to stop them in panic, Tairon deployed his own <Arms> that was a large halberd. He approached Elfiena just like that.

But against Tairon’s barbarism,

“Wha…! Yo, you must not do that do you know!”

Chikori jumped over the sofa and stood in front of Elfiena blocking Tairon’s path.

Looking at this act of Chikori, Tairon’s eye gleam that was like a wild beast became even more severe.

“Haaa? What is it you brat? You bastard, you are plannin’ to become an ally of demon even though you are a magician?”

“I, I don’t plan to do something like that, but”

“Then why ain’t you acting like what I commanded huh you trash-! Just who the hell do you think I am! I’m the secretary general of the great China Republic Union, one of the S-rank magician that protect mankind, the great Wan Tairon-sama! Incompetent underling bastard like you just need to follow my decision-!”

Tairon opened his mouth loudly that even spits were spewed out with his rough voice.

Most people would completely wither down just from facing that scary look of Tairon.

However, Chikori didn’t back down.

Her face paled and her eyes projected fear, yet

“No, no way…-“

Because this petite girl, possessed a gentle bravery.

And then as if to back up such a girl,

“Then maybe you should face the same S-rank magician like yourself.”

Sumika smoothly went through Chikori’s side and declared that to Tairon while looking at his eyes.

The same S-rank magician.

With the entrance of an opponent that would be difficult to subdue with just his violence, Tairon grinded his teeth in vexation.

“What d’you say?”

“I’m saying that I cannot approve of such extremely savage decision. Even if what is behind me is a demon, but apprehending a person that visited as emissary and killing them is not something that a civilized person will do. Secretary general Wan. Do you not have this thing called dignity?”

“Now you really said it <Grim Bullet>. Then what? You are sayin’ to accept the fairy? That they can live in this earth!? Are you thinkin’ something like that can be just DONE―!?”

Sumika shook her head toward that question.

“…No. That’s impossible. We human has too many of our brethren killed by the demon. After all even I still sometimes see the <Walpurgis Night> in my dream…, at the very least, while our generation who had experienced that night still live, harmony between human and fairy is surely impossible.”

Even though inside her heart she felt sorry toward Elfiena for saying this, but that was Sumika’s point of view.

“But, capturing the unresisting Elfiena-san, then treating her like a guinea pig…such behavior where I cannot understand which side is actually the demon, there is no way I as a human cannot approve of that.”

“……-!”

Using strong words, Sumika rejected Tairon and Joseph’s method.

In the first place this was the reason why she attended this meeting.

In this negotiation, no matter how attractive the term that Elfiena presented, there was no way the human race’s side would accept her demand, Sumika understood that.

The gulf that existed between human race and demon was just that deep.

And then in that case, surely the <United World Government> wouldn’t let Elfiena live.

They would undoubtedly tried to harm Elfiena.

Well, such development was only natural in a certain meaning.

After all human and demon was a mutual sworn enemy.

Even Sumika, if it was before she had met Elfiena then she might not stop Tairon’s act here.

But, ―Sumika had already met her.

Elfiena, who for the sake of her comrades was desperately fighting the unreasonable reality.

And then Sumika knew.

Elfiena’s smiling face that had no difference at all with human.

Sumika was already unable to lump all demon as one and considered them all evil.

She didn’t and couldn’t have any intention to overlook Elfiena being killed unreasonably.

That was why Sumika attended this meeting.

For the sake of protecting Elfiena.

In order to let her get back home to the demon world safely.

(For that sake―)

“Prime Minister Kinugasa. Elfiena-san. I have a proposition.”

Sumika talked to those two.

“This encounter between mankind and fairy, can you treat everything as never happened?”

Part 5

“Treating it as never happened, just what do you mean by that, Sumika-san?”

Elfiena asked Sumika’s true intention in confusion.

On the other hand Sumika, she replied with a strong expression and slow speaking tone.

“It’s exactly as I said. …I think Elfiena-san has understood already, but unfortunately the human society won’t accept you fairies that are demon. The dread carved inside the mankind against the demon is just that deeply rooted. I think Elfiena-san who know about Typhon and Jambure’s barbarity can imagine, just how much that dread is.”

“……”

“Even if you can temporarily win over an alliance in this negotiation, mankind won’t tolerate the existence of demon.

There is no doubt that first, there will be an uprising of movement that tried to remove the fairy with violence.

…It’s an impossible talk in the first place, something like alliance between demon and human.

The mankind will never tolerate the existence of demon that is thinking of migrating to earth by any means.

But, if it’s right now then it’s still not too late, the human that know about Elfiena-san’s existence are only the people here.

That’s why if we all just forget everything, then this encounter can be made to never exist.

Elfiena-san can safely return home to the demon world. Isn’t that…the most beneficial compromise for both human and fairy at this point of time?”

―This thinking of Sumika was correct.

Even if for argument’s sake Elfiena could talk down the three representatives of the <United World Government> here, the humans who had their parent, child, lover, killed at <Walpurgis Night> were all over this world in great number.

They, the general public wouldn’t tolerate the existence of Elfiena and the fairy.

…It would become tragic event without fail.

Such outcome was clearly visible.

That was why Sumika thought.

The very best outcome to come out from this place. The method so that no harm would come to Elfiena.

That method, there was nothing else but to make this encounter between human and fairy to never exist in the first place.

But, naturally Joseph and Tairon snapped at this.

“Do, don’t shit with me! You gonna let a demon get away right under your nose!?”

“I firmly object! To let go a clue of <Enchant> slip away from our hand, that’s idiotic! Besides even though this girl has the appearance of human in a glance, but she is a demon, a monster! There is no human that will say any complain of handling her violently, they will even sing our praise instead!”

It was the obvious reaction.

<Enchant> was a technique that could control mankind’s destiny.

To let go of such unique chance that could solve this problem by their own hands, it was absurd.

It was unthinkable for these two who took a stance closer to mankind’s side to just let go of Elfiena. However―

“―I am in favour of Hoshikawa-san’s idea.”

There was just one person among the <United World Government> that agreed to Sumika’s idea, it was Kinugasa.

“Kinugasa, you bastard…!”

“Are you saying that you are betraying mankind, you!”

“I don’t have such an intention. …Just even in the case that the other party is a demon, but to capture an unresisting emissary and dissect her, no matter who will forgive such an action, I myself won’t forgive myself. If I do such a thing, the girl’s death will become a bitter memory that will torment me forever. To have a nightmare every night, that’s something that I want to avoid.”

Kinugasa calmly, but firmly declared with a voice filled with resolve.

There was no lie in those words.

There was no lie but―, he supported Sumika’s idea in this place was not only because of the beautiful excuse that he had just said.

If Elfiena was captured here and the technique of <Enchant> was established in the future, the national power of the <Five Great Leader> which was already higher to begin with would leave behind the other country including Japan more and more.

If that happened than the obstruction of the <One Year Plan> would become extremely difficult.

It was a decision made from including such calculation too.

But, no matter what kind of thinking he had in his heart, a support was still a support.

For the opinion of the people of the <United World Government> to be split, was a support that Sumika was extremely thankful to.

What was left was―

“Homura-san, what do you think?”

If she could make Homura as her ally here, then they would be able to overcome this situation.

This happening might be taken up as problem in the future, but if they could just suppress this place and returned home Elfiena back to the demon world quickly, at the very least her life would be saved.

(It’s fine to think of what might happen in the future later on.)

Anyway if they couldn’t overcome this place, they wouldn’t be able to save Elfiena.

That was why Sumika looked straight at Homura’s eyes who was standing behind Kinugasa and asked.

Surely if it was Homura who was kinder than anyone else, she believed that he wouldn’t participate in Tairon and Joseph’s plan to capture Elfiena and dissect her.

However―,

“……That’s no good.”

Her expectation was betrayed.

Part 6

“Wha-“

“Ma, Master!?”

This answer of Homura made not only Sumika, but also Chikori who was beside her raised a voice that sounded like a scream.

The girls didn’t even imagine this.

For that gentle Homura to oppose this proposition.

“Then Homura-san, are you saying that it’s fine for Elfiena-san to be captured and dissected!?”

Sumika pressed her question at Homura with trembling voice that didn’t hide her agitation.

But in contrast with Sumika who was being that agitated, Homura returned his words with expression that was completely calm.

“I ain’t saying that.”

Of course, Homura noticed Sumika’s motive that tried to return Elfiena back to demon world safely.

To stand up desperately for the sake of demon that was supposed to be her enemy, such thinking was really like this girl who was worried for him who was the <Evil God User> that was hated by the world, Homura even felt admiration.

But at the same time, Homura also understood that her thinking was just a pipe dream.

As for the reason,

“But Sumika, your idea just won’t go through. After all, Elfiena herself ain’t planning to draw back from this.”

“Eh…”

Getting that pointed out by Homura, Sumika once again turned her eyes at Elfiena, …and noticed.

That Elfiena was glaring at her with threatening gaze.

As if, right, it was as if,

―As if Elfiena was enraged saying, don’t say anything unnecessary, at Sumika with her gaze.

And then as if to proof that premonition,

“Sumika-san. My apologize but, I cannot accept Sumika-san’s proposition.”

Elfiena said out a decisive sentence.

“I am still, not giving up of forming alliance with human race yet.”

“Tha, that’s-! Elfiena-san! Do you still not understand!? No matter how attractive your proposal is, there is no place in mankind’s mind that can accept demon…! Even if you persistently force yourself here, you will only die a dog’s death in the future!”

There was only ruin awaiting Elfiena at the end of her choice.

Sumika knew that so she tried to persuade her with all her might.

However―

“No. It’s not impossible.”

Elfiena declared so.

With a certain confidence, ―with an expression that made one felt some sort of determination.

Just from where in the world she could get that kind of confidence?

Elfiena added her words toward the confused Sumika.

“Because, I still have resource left that can persuade all of you human.”

“What d’you say?”

Tairon narrowed his eyes from these words of Elfiena.

Was this girl bluffing, Tairon was trying to ascertain that.

But, Elfiena’s expression and tone, there was no falsehood in them.

The girl really did have something like that.

A material that was even more beneficial for this negotiation.

“…In truth, I don’t want to do this kind of negotiation. This is a topic that I was thinking of dealing with together after the alliance is formed. But if human’s animosity is deeply rooted until this much, then it can’t be helped.”

“What are you doing putting on airs? Talk quickly!”

Against that hurrying of Tairon, until the end Elfiena moved on her own pace.

And then after taking a deep breath, …she took out her last ace for this negotiation.

“―I think I have talked about the current situation of demon world before this.

That currently, the demon world is thrust into warring states era due to the powerful clans.

However, this information is already a little obsolete.

The war situation has advanced, many powerful clans were eliminated and absorbed by the victor, such process was repeated many times until now, where there are four great forces moving the war situation into extermination war.

These four great forces are each a robust army led by the best demon kings of the demon world, where the battle was in a stalemate for a long period. …However the other day, finally one of the four great forces was dropping out from this struggle for hegemony.”

“That’s why what’s that got to do with anything huh? It ain’t our problem whatever happened in the demon world.”

“Can you still say that, even after hearing that this strong army of demon world that dropped out from the war is now aiming for the human world just like Typhon and Jambure?”

“Wha…, WHATT!?”

Being told so suddenly of that worst situation, shudder ran at the expression of all people present in that place except Homura.

“You are saying, that <Demon King class> is going to attack again!? Even though Jambure has just come here the other day!?”

The atmosphere became coldly tense.

Inside that tense atmosphere, Elfiena stroked her long ears and detached the gem that was attached on her earlobe’s piercing.

And then she put that gem on top of the table and filled it with magic power.

Thereupon, above the table…a three dimensional hologram was projected from the gem.

“Thi, this is……-!”

“This is the image that I filmed at the dimension boundary before coming to the human world.”

What was projected in the filmed image was a wasteland where there was not even a single grass growing.

There an army of demon was lining up in size to the degree that they completely covered the horizon.

In the scene, not to mention <Soldier class> and <Knight class>, <General class> demons starting from baphomet were taking position with three giant humanoid as the center.

“What is, this number…-“

Chikori spoke tremblingly with a pale face.

But it was only natural.

Even the army that Jambure previously led was a threat that was enough to make mankind fall into despair.

Yet despite so, what was projected right now was an army in the scale that could possibly be several thousand more than that.

They understood just from a glance.

The force of the enemy far surpassed the mankind’s ability to deal with.

But, ―the threat of this army was not in this army,

“They are one of the four great forces, the <Giant Army>. These remnants numbering one million in total are led by three <Demon Kings> that are <Gyges> <Kottos> <Aegaeon>, a large army of demon world’s best.”

“Th, three demon kings you said…-!?”

Correct. standing in the center of the army, there were three bodies of humanoid devil with robust physiques so big their head pierced the cloud. That was exactly the true threat.

Each of them had size that rivaled Typhon and Jambure…

No, that was because they were <Demon King class> demons that possessed power far excelling even the previous two.

“Is, is it really true that these guys are trying to come to the demon world!?”

“Yes. The place that they are currently deploying their troops are a place that is called the <Field of Interstice> in demon world, it’s a place that is like the entrance to the human world. By using dimension teleportation sorcery in that place, we demons are able to come to the human world. Saying it in reverse, there is no reason for them to come to that place other than to come to the human world. ―Most of all, because the <Giant Army> is a large household, it will take time for them to invoke the teleportation sorcery though. But it’s really only a matter of time, there is no change to the reality that they are going to appear in the human world. Calculating it in this side’s measuring, …after seventy two hours of earth time, I guess they will manifest all at once in the Australia continent of earth.”

Elfiena indifferently answered the question of Joseph who was asking with a pale face only with fact.

The sight in front of their eyes was reality.

They would appear in earth in a few days.

And then―

“And then, if the <Giant Army> manifest in earth, surely the human race will perish for sure this time.”

It was the only fact.

“You really said it huh. So even I cannot win against them then.”

Elfiena nodded without any hesitation toward Homura’s question.

“Yes. I am informed that <Evil God User>-sama is possessing an overwhelming power even against Typhon and Jambure, but even so you cannot win. They who were nothing more than a head of small force even though they were the same <Demon King>, compared to the strength of <Gyges> <Kottos> <Aegaeon>―they the <Hecatoncheires> who is one of the full-fledged four great forces that divided the demon world into four, the dimension of their strength is different.”

“Well, I can understand that even just from seeing this projection.”

“Besides most of all…they are possessing extremely peculiar body structure.”

“Peculiar structure?”

“I expressed that vaguely but, please think of it as them possessing an extremely powerful [immortality]. They, the demon king of three body, no matter what kind of attack they received, they are able to immediately recover their damage. As long as they are not attacked using a certain method, they cannot be damaged at all.”

“―Something like that is certainly troublesome. Honestly, the small fries under their feet ain’t a big threat no matter how many billion there are, but for something this gigantic to have immortality on top of that, it might be too much for me to take them on even with <evil god>.”

Joseph snarled as if screaming at Homura who was murmuring those words with small voice.

“Wh, what are you doing saying something weak like that! Against something like those, yo, you are not troubled at all aren’t you!”

But in contrast with Joseph who was in panic, with a cool expression Homura was,

“Well, just calm down. What I just said is only in the case that I got no information about this three demon kings at all. If I just understand about that certain particular method, I’ll kill them surely. …And then, the one that broached this story in this place is, ―Elfiena. You know it right. This three demon kings…<Hecatoncheires>’ weakness.”

Homura calmed down Joseph while directing the question at Elfiena.

Correct. Elfiena had said that.

That she had a material that could persuade the human race.

And that led to this talk. ―Then, the material that the fairy race’s side was going to present was,

There was only one that could be thought of.

This assumption of Homura, was correct.

“It helps me that you quickly understand. It’s exactly as you said.”

Elfiena strongly nodded and then she gazed at the three people of the <United World Government> lining in front of her, and said.

“We of the [Fairy race] are thinking to put this information on the table of the negotiation for alliance. Based on that term, I wish to ask all of you one more time to consider your acceptance of the [Fairy race].”

Indeed, certainly, this information had a really great value for mankind.

No, it was something that they had to obtain no matter what.

There was nothing more valuable than this as a negotiation term.

―But, simultaneously with that,

“You bastard…-, you are planning to use the lives of us human as shield to advance the negotiation-!”

Exactly as what Joseph was being indignant about, Elfiena was aggressively negotiating by taking hostage of the life of the other party.

Naturally, the atmosphere of the place turned dangerous drastically.

But even sensing that atmosphere,

“I don’t mind if you perceived it like that.”

Elfiena didn’t draw back.

That fact distorted Sumika’s expression.

She understood.

(There is, no taking it back anymore……-)

Right now in this moment, Elfiena had already stepped over a line that she mustn’t cross.

As expected―

“DON’T SHIT WITH ME YOU BITCHHHHH!!!!”

Tairon threw away the table put between the two parties in rage.

“Three days…-, in just three days you said-! You’re full of shit! It ain’t the time for this kind of farce anymore! We are tying this woman right now and make her spit out the information! Don’t tell me that there is anymore idiot that gonna protest this now that it has reached this point, aaaah!?”

In regard to this, even Kinugasa who supported Sumika’s proposition before this also nodded.

“…I guess. Certainly, after listening to th.

is kind of story, …my apologize, but there is no way we can let you go back to the demon world anymore.

The card that you put out right now is too excessive.

If you didn’t just do that, we can make this encounter today to never happen.

Yet, your unnecessary words cut off your own escape route.

We the mankind cannot let you go back to demon world safely anymore.

Whether what are you saying are true or just a bluff for negotiation, it make us has to take away that information by all possible means. No matter what kind of inhumane method that we have to use.”

Correct. This method of defeating the demon king might be just a bluff of Elfiena.

But, it couldn’t be overlooked just because of that.

The three people here were not in a position that could do that.

They had to obtain that information no matter what even if they had to use inhuman method.

They the <United World Government> was shouldering a responsibility toward the sake of mankind.

Therefore, Kinugasa’s words was like a death sentence for Elfiena.

But, even now after hearing those words―

“I don’t mind. Because I too, don’t have any intention of returning back to the demon world.”

The girl’s dignified stance didn’t crumble, she stared straight to the eyes of the three people in front of her.

Sumika and Chikori could only be perplexed toward that truly imposing behavior.

“Tha, that’s no good, something like that-! If that’s happened then El-san will…!”

“Elfiena-san, why…”

She should have understood already.

That mankind wouldn’t respond to a negotiation with demon.

That even profitable negotiation term was useless, that just by showing it made her fell into danger.

If the negotiation table was kicked flying and she was threatened by violence, Elfiena who was just alone couldn’t do anything.

She could only got trampled down at someone’s mercy.

Even though all of that were something understandable if one just thought about it a little, yet why―

“Just why, you are being this reckless……-“

…Toward Sumika and Chikori who were in such a confusion, …Elfiena suddenly turned her gaze at them.

And then, she showed a bright, ―a smiling face so bright that it looked out of place with the current situation.

“―Sumika-san, Chikori-san. Thank you very much.

To worry about I who is your enemy a demon until that much.

I feel really happy from you kind feeling.

But―, I’m sorry.

Just like these gentlemen here who shoulder the responsibility toward the human race, I too have the responsibility toward all two million of fairy race’s, ―no, toward even more future and life of those who will be born from now on too.

Even now in this moment my comrades, in their fear where they don’t even know when they will be eaten in the demon world that has been turned into hell, they are waiting for me believing that I will return after ensuring a new place to belong for us in this world.

Failure cannot be forgiven.

For that reason, I must use this card.

I understood, that if I use this card all of you will come to capture me.

I don’t think of that as cruel. After all in their position I will also do the same thing.

But, I think that’s fine.

The reason is that because I will never speak of this information by any means even if I am to receive any kind of humiliation or pain.

If I do that, with each day that passed the situation will became even more beneficial for the [usFairy race] in this negotiation.

It’s a matter of course. The time remaining for human is not much.

Because just as I expressed before this, the demon army will appear in this world without fail in three more days.

…Before long you will have no choice but to fold.

You will become unable to not answer my wish.

Then, to be captured is not that bad of a choice for us. Isn’t that right?”

―That was Elfiena’s thinking.

The girl was not challenging the human with this reckless negotiation thoughtlessly.

From the start, even before she had arrived in the human world, she had already seen through this development.

For that reason, she didn’t even bring a single escort with her.

From the beginning, she was planning to be captured.

She made mankind to stand in a dilemma, because she understood that if she didn’t corner them until barely the limit, then there was no way a negotiation between demon and human could be established.

“It’s not our wish to let this negotiation breakdown peacefully.

If we are sent away with a gentle smile, then we will remain in the seat of negotiation even if we have to cling at it. I have such responsibility. The responsibility of all the lives of the fairy race that are entrusted to me.

Do you now understand?

Before this you said that I cut my own escape with my unnecessary words, but that is mistaken.

I, in this negotiation, didn’t prepare any escape since the beginning.

I have no intention at all to go back home to the demon world with empty hand.

―I, came crossing over to this human world with the intent to die.”

“ “ “…―――–,” “ “

Those words that could even be taken as Elfiena’s demonstration of determination made most of the people present in that place swallowed their breath.

Even the hard-faced Tairon.

They were overpowered by the feeling that this girl wagered in this negotiation.

And then at the same time Sumika also understood.

She had misread this demon girl.

“…I, understand. It seems that I have willfully underestimating your existence as the <Fairy race’s Queen>, seeing you as nothing more than a girl of my age based from your appearance. Forgive me for my impertinent behavior. If Elfiena-san has resolved yourself until that far then, …there is nothing more that I can say.”

This was not something where she who didn’t have any resolve could say anything.

If Elfiena had said that she had resolved herself even for death, then her wanting to bring back the girl without harm to the demon world was nothing more than meddlesomeness.

Sumika withdrew herself after understanding that.

“Thank you.”

Elfiena expressed her thanks toward Sumika who respected her will.

“We the [Fairy race] is also an oppressed race. We know very well about fear and hatred toward the oppressor. Therefore, I also understand just how hard a decision it is that all of you human are being pressed with. That’s why, I don’t think that I can receive the answer for this alliance that simply. By all means, until all of you of the human race can understand, please make use of all means at your disposal. I’ll cooperate with all of that.”

Declaring that, Elfiena offered both her hand in front of Tairon.

A gesture that was asking for a handcuff. A message that she wouldn’t rersist.

Toward this,

“-……Uu, guh…!”

Tairon’s face sweated and warped in a way that was never seen before.

(This girl, is no good……-!”

Tairon who was a pro in violence understood.

These strong green eyes, staring at him straightforwardly, without the least bit of hesitation in it.

The strength of will that resided in it.

A person with this kind of eye, wouldn’t break under violence.

It was not the eye of a person that would yield from fear and pain.

No matter how much severe torture she would be put under, this girl would never give out the information that they needed.

Even if she had to exhausted her life to the end.

No matter what kind of act was done toward this girl, it would only end as wasted effort.

Tairon was convinced of that. ―Butm

“Br, bring it on! Let’s make sure whether your face can still look that prim when I drag out your intestine-!”

But the current them couldn’t acquiesce to a demon’s demand just because of that.

Since they couldn’t do that, even while knowing that it was Elfiena’s tactic, they couldn’t do anything except taking such action knowing that it was meaningless.

While grinding his teeth from indignation and frustration, Tairon grasped Elfiena’s arm…

“―Wait a sec.”

But at that moment just when Tairon’s thick arm was going to catch Elfiena’s slender arm.

The <Evil God User> Kamishiro Homura who until now didn’t say anything unless being asked from him, actively let out his voice for the first time in this place.

Translator's Notes and References

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