Late that night, I visited the World Tree alone.
I stood before the field of crystalline flowers and the majestic tree, idly taking in the cool breeze. The banquet had ended a short while ago. It had been a pleasant time; I believe my subordinates enjoyed themselves as well. Most were likely sleeping off the alcohol by now. I would leave them be. Returning around noon would suffice, as it would be boorish to wake those resting so comfortably.
There was no particular rush. If anything happened, I could simply rush back myself.
I looked up at the World Tree. It possessed a boundless majesty that made me acutely aware of my own smallness.
(I understand well why the Elves continue to protect this land.)
The World Tree was an existence that must never be violated. For those driven by greed to touch it was an act bordering on profanity. It was an object of worship.
In name, this place was mine now. The Forest of the World Tree and the Elves residing within had fallen to the Demon King. Of course, I had no intention of actually treating it as my private property; I planned to leave its management to the Elves.
However, defense against external enemies was my responsibility. There were many nations eyeing this land. Until recently, they couldn't interfere because of the Empire, but now it was a Subjugated Territory of the Demon King’s Domain. They could now invade under the righteous pretense of saving the world. I intended to be thorough not only in the reinforcement and stability of my own domain but in the protection of this sacred land as well.
Just as I was considering specific facilities and reinforcements, I sensed a suspicious presence. I immediately focused my mind and was struck by astonishment.
"Thi—this is...!"
Someone was attempting to invade by shattering the barrier I had erected around the forest. The defensive magic I kept active at all times was being stripped away, layer by layer. I immediately reinforced the barrier and the defensive spells, but they were neutralized in an instant.
Unable to withstand the extreme load, the barrier began to collapse. If this were destruction by simple force, it would be impossible to bypass my measures so easily. To pierce my defenses instantaneously required a power that defied common sense. My opponent was likely using an unconventional method. To face a specialist in subtle techniques here was extremely troublesome.
(To think this would happen right when I resolved to protect this place...)
From the magic I sensed, I roughly identified the opponent's ability. It appeared to be spatial magic. The intruder intended to enter the forest via teleportation. I immediately cast an anti-teleportation spell, increasing the output to block their entry.
"...Kuh."
After a momentary struggle, I realized my counter-spell had failed. I felt a sensation as if the opponent had simply slipped through my fingers. At this stage, magical interference was no longer possible.
The air creaked, and something dropped into the bushes behind me. Pushing through the swaying foliage, a man with tanned skin emerged. He was bare-chested, his skin covered in dense, blue magic formulas. His messy white hair swayed with his movements, and through the gaps in his long bangs, a pair of cloudy eyes fixed on me.
The man brushed the leaves and twigs from his body. Taking a single breath, he murmured in a calm voice, "I’m surprised. My coordinates were off significantly. As expected of the Demon King."
"Who are you?"
In response to my question, the man scratched his white head. He stood in a defenseless posture, yet his eyes observed me with cold, analytical detachment. His gaze was unfathomable. While no strong emotions were visible, something was swirling deep within his pupils.
The man stated his answer matter-of-factly. "I am not someone worth naming, but those around me call me a 'Demigod.' It is apparently a general term for One Who Reaches Godhood. I think it is a title far beyond my station, personally."
"A Demigod..." I repeated.
I possessed some knowledge regarding the term. Though rare, they appeared in myths and heroic tales—referring to those who reached toward godhood, or those who had failed to become gods. Their common trait was the possession of supernatural power. In every story, they demonstrated overwhelming capabilities.
In reality, however, a Demigod in the true sense did not exist. It was merely a term used to praise and fear those of isolated, peerless strength. That was the consensus among scholars, and I had shared that view.
But the man before me calling himself a Demigod was on a different level entirely. The ability that allowed him to invade by shattering my interference clearly exceeded the realm of human knowledge. In the singular field of spatial magic, he surpassed even me.
(...In terms of simple output, I was superior.)
And yet, he had overcome that through miraculous skill and aptitude. Users of spatial magic were rare to begin with, and a caster of this caliber was unprecedented. It was enough to make me believe the title of Demigod.
I kept my guard up as I pressed him. "Why has such a person come here?"
"To kill the Demon King, of course... is what I'd like to say, but this place is no good. The collateral damage would be too great. I don't want to trouble the Forest of the World Tree or the Elves."
The man looked around as he spoke. It was an unexpectedly conscientious answer. It didn't feel like a lie or a joke; he seemed to be speaking in earnest. His true identity was a mystery, but he appeared to be someone who disliked unnecessary destruction.
However, he did intend to kill me. In other words, he was a hero. I hadn't expected someone like this to exist alongside the Valkyrie and the Steel Knight. The fact that my spies had no information meant he had either just awakened or had been kept a total secret. Regardless, he was an existence that could not be ignored.
While I ran through my thoughts, the man continued naturally. "My goal today is only a declaration of war. Eventually, I will challenge you to a duel. I want you to accept it."
"What if I refuse?"
"I will initiate indiscriminate attacks on the Demon King's Domain. It pains my heart to slaughter innocent civilians, but it cannot be helped. This, too, is for the greater cause."
The man made the declaration in an unwavering tone. It wasn't a mere threat. This man had the resolve to actually carry out such a massacre. It wasn't an act of madness; it was the product of an extraordinary mental strength. He suppressed his deep emotions and allowed only his sense of purpose to lead him.
He was a type of human I had never encountered. He was an outlier even among heroes—one willing to commit atrocities for the sake of a greater cause.
It was a philosophy that was strikingly reminiscent of my current self.
Feeling a pang in my chest, I asked, "Do you intend to leave today?"
"Indeed. I wish to reschedule for another time and place," the man replied nonchalantly.
Immediately, I unleashed several spells. Vines erupted from the ground, coiling around the man's limbs. Blades of air manifested in the sky, splitting into hundreds to surround him. An amplified gravity wave struck him, forcing his feet to sink into the earth up to his ankles.
Throughout it all, the man remained passive. He didn't panic; he simply watched me with a transcendent, detached attitude.
While maintaining the spells, I spoke to him. "Do you think I will just let you walk away?"
"I'll ask you in return: is it alright if we fight here? The damage would be immense. This subjugated territory would be reduced to a wasteland. You should understand my capabilities by now."
"..."
I fell silent. The man's logic was sound. A battle breaking out here was a development I wanted to avoid. He possessed extraordinary power and likely didn't have the luxury of holding back to protect his surroundings. Users of spatial magic wielded immense destructive power over wide areas. With a caster of his caliber, the Forest of the World Tree would be annihilated before I could finish him.
Knowing this, the man had banked on the fact that I couldn't attack.
"..."
Just as he predicted, I deactivated my spells. The man glanced at me while checking the condition of his limbs. "Don't worry. I won't engage in useless killing. My only goal is the dismantling of the Demon King’s Army."
"Dismantling, you say?"
"I believe that is justice. That is why I will do it," he stated, his tone flat as ever.
For a moment, an intense obsession flickered in his eyes—a hardened will to see his mission through. But it was hidden again just as quickly. The man turned his back to me and began to push his way into the thicket.
"When we meet again, one of us will die. Please don't forget that. Now, if you'll excuse me."
Having spoken his piece, the man disappeared into the brush. I rushed after him and searched the thicket, but he was gone. He had vanished as if he had never been there at all.