"It’s finally here. So, what’s the plan? You going to ignore it?"
"I will accept, of course. There is no telling what he might do if I refuse."
I handed the letter I had just finished reading to Luciana.
The Demigod possessed Space Magic, a power so blatant it felt like cheating. If his mastery truly surpassed my own, he likely wielded enough strength to obliterate an entire continent. The only reason he hadn't done so was because he had no taste for slaughter; his objective was strictly the dismantling of the Demon King’s Army. It would be unwise to provoke him needlessly.
Furthermore, the Demigod’s whereabouts had been a mystery until now. If he was willing to show himself, nothing could be more convenient. I wanted him dead as much as he wanted me gone. I had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.
"The guy is strong, you know. Do you plan to face him with the whole army?"
"He didn't specify, but I intend to go alone."
The Demigod was likely acting solo. Even if we marched out in force, we would only be providing more targets. With Space Magic, wiping out a crowd in one fell swoop would be a simple task. His power was an immense headache. Even if I brought companions, I doubted my ability to protect them.
Luciana skimmed the contents of the letter, then folded it and tucked it away. She perched on the edge of the office desk and gave me a warning.
"You’ll be fine, I’m sure, but do be careful. Don't get careless and let him slip away."
"I know. I won't show him any mercy."
Heroes possessed a hidden well of strength; they had a habit of surpassing their limits at the most unexpected moments. The Valkyrie was a perfect recent example. The closer they were to death, the more they tended to exceed my calculations. They drew power from their convictions.
"I will strive to minimize the damage, but ensure our defenses are absolute while I'm gone. If the worst should happen, you have my permission to flee."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I can look after myself, so don't you worry."
Luciana responded with a casual wave of her hand. She was always so relaxed—an attitude born from her absolute trust in me. I felt the weight of the need to live up to that expectation.
Just then, the door opened. Grom stepped inside.
"Pardon my intrusion."
Grom bowed and approached me with measured, quiet steps. He carried a solemn air, looking perhaps a bit nervous.
"Hmm..."
Sensing the mood, Luciana slipped out of the room as he entered. In the ensuing silence, I addressed him.
"What is it?"
"My Lord. Regarding the duel with the Demigod... I humbly ask that you allow me to accompany you."
Grom knelt before me and pleaded. It was an unexpected request, and I couldn't quite read his intent. He apparently knew the Demigod had made contact. He must have heard through the spies; with his authority, it wasn't strange for him to be privy to the letter's arrival.
"I had intended to entrust the defense of the Demon King’s Domain to you."
"I have already requested that the previous Demon King, Diera, handle those duties."
Grom answered instantly. To have already made the necessary arrangements suggested he had been planning this for some time. I hadn't realized he was thinking so far ahead. Why he wanted to fight the Demigod so badly was still unclear.
"Why do you wish to go?" I asked.
"I feel that in the moments that matter most, I have failed to be of use to you, My Lord. During the battle with Saint Machia, I was not merely useless—I was a hindrance. In the battles since, I have been little more than a herald, leaving the heroes for you to handle alone."
Grom spoke with an intensity I had never heard from him before. His words were saturated with deep, suppressed emotion.
"It is a matter of utilizing the right talent in the right role, Grom. Your contributions have been more than sufficient. There is no need to belittle yourself."
"Even so, I wish to fight by your side. I am well aware that this is a selfish request. Please, I beg of you, let me join the battle against the Demigod."
Grom pressed his forehead against the floor, repeating his plea. He made his massive frame as small as possible as he voiced his desperate wish.
After a long silence, I finally nodded.
"Very well. I permit it."
"Ah... thank you. For your sake, I shall exert every ounce of my strength to destroy the Good."
Grom looked up, his voice thick with emotion. I felt a slight sense of dissonance at his choice of words.
"...Shouldn't you say 'destroy Evil'?"
"We act with our own sense of justice, but we are undeniably evil. Thus, a Demigod who strikes down evil for the sake of the people becomes 'Good' by default."
Grom spoke with a certain nuance—a phrasing that acknowledged my ultimate goal of becoming the Immortal Evil.
"True. It is exactly as you say."
We were an absolute evil. We sought the world's tranquility as an end result, but in that process, we had slaughtered countless "Good" people. And we would continue to commit such massacres in the days to come.
Grom’s words resonated deeply within me.