Once the chaos of the ambush subsided, pedestrians began reappearing on the streets that should have been empty. Not only that, but the buildings that were supposedly destroyed had somehow returned to their original states before I even realized it.
According to Sieg-san, it was the result of powerful barrier magic; once the spell was deactivated, any property damage would revert to its pre-activation state.
When Sieg-san suggested we head back to the mansion to regroup, Alice casually remarked, "Right then, I'm heading off. Good work today~" and vanished. We parted ways with her and made our way back to Lilia-san’s estate.
It seemed Sieg-san had sent a Hummingbird ahead, as a visibly anxious Lilia-san was already waiting at the front gates.
"Kaito-san! Are you alright?! Are you injured?! Does it hurt anywhere?!"
"Eh? Ah, no..."
"Calm down, Lili. If you’re in such a panic, Kaito-san won’t be able to answer you."
"Ah, yes. I’m sorry... Just as Sieg says... eh?"
Lilia-san, who had rushed up to me with incredible intensity and was frantically checking my safety, was stopped by Sieg-san with a wry smile. Lilia-san snapped out of her panic and apologized—only to freeze, her eyes widening as she looked at Sieg-san.
"Anyway, we must assess the situation. Depending on what happened, we may need to request aid from the Royal Palace."
"..."
"Lili? Are you listening?"
"Eh, ah, yes... Um, er... Sieg, that... your voice..."
"Eh? Oh, I hadn't mentioned it yet. In the end, I ate the Fruit of the World Tree."
"...Ah."
Apparently, because she had prioritized reporting the attack, Sieg-san had forgotten to mention that her voice had been restored. She explained again to the stunned Lilia-san that she had indeed consumed the Fruit of the World Tree.
Tears of overwhelming emotion welled in Lilia-san’s eyes as she lunged forward, throwing her arms around Sieg-san.
"Sieg!"
"Eh? Wait, Lili?!"
"I'm so glad... so glad your voice is back... truly..."
"...Lili. I’ve caused you much worry as well."
"I'm perfectly fine... compared to Kaito-san, anyway..."
"..."
The voice of her best friend, which she had longed for for years, had returned, and Lilia-san was moved to tears. It was a truly beautiful, moving scene. But why did she have to casually insult me in the middle of it? It was a remarkably natural transition. Regrettably, given my track record, I couldn't exactly defend myself.
Then Lunamaria-san emerged from the mansion and joined them, rejoicing that Sieg-san’s voice had been restored. The tense atmosphere from earlier finally bled out of the air, turning into something peaceful for a moment—
"Master?!"
"Eh? What?!"
Hearing Anima’s shout, I whirled around to see a massive pillar of fire erupting near the gate, seemingly tall enough to pierce the heavens. And from within that inferno... He appeared.
"Yo. Hope I'm not intruding."
He arrived with earth-shaking footsteps—a mountain of muscle covered in fur the color of a raging blaze. Giant, twisted horns sprouted from his goat-like face, giving him the visage of a true devil. He stood well over ten meters tall, larger than any living creature I had ever seen. A genuine monster had appeared.
"...W-War King-sama?!"
"?!"
T-This was... one of the Six Kings, the ferocious monarch who loved battle above all else... the War King, Megiddo Argetes Borgness.
What extraordinary magic power. It was so vast that just being in his presence felt like I would be blown away. Moreover, that wasn't all. Combined with the incredibly bellicose emotions I felt through Sympathy Magic, it felt as though my very body was being scorched.
Following behind the War King were several demons who appeared to be his subordinates, and among them were the figures of "The Three" demons we had encountered a short while ago. Isn't it way too soon for them to be coming back?! Also, is that Bacchus with them?
The War King approached us with leisurely, heavy footsteps and came to a halt right in front of us. Seen from up close, his size was truly staggering, and the intimidation of being looked down upon by that gaze was nearly unbearable.
"You're Miyama Kaito, yeah?"
"...Y-Yes."
"Why the hell'd you turn down my invite? I had a whole welcome party ready and waiting."
"?!"
I was terrified. To be blunt, it was horrifying. His mouth was lined with sharp fangs that looked like they could swallow my entire body in a single gulp. I couldn't stop trembling just by facing him. Perhaps he was angry that I hadn't accepted the invitation, as I was pinned by his glaring gaze. Even so, I gritted my teeth, looked into the War King’s eyes, and spoke back.
While apologizing might have been the wise choice, unfortunately, I couldn't do that.
"...I won't accept an invitation from someone who uses sneak attacks... and hurts Sieg-san, someone precious to me."
To be honest, that anger had not yet vanished. Sieg-san had been injured by Eta. Even if that wound had been healed by the Fruit of the World Tree, I had no intention of responding to an invitation from such people, nor did I wish to be friendly. Even if I were to be killed on the spot, I didn't want to bow my head to this man.
"~~?!"
"Now, Sieg. Consider the situation. Don't make such a happy face."
"I-I’m sorry. I just, instinctively..."
Despite my trembling, I stated it clearly. Hearing this, the War King’s expression grew even more wrathful... and he turned his gaze away from me.
"...Eh?"
"...Huh? A sneak attack? What the hell does that mean, Bacchus?!"
"...May I offer an explanation?"
"Speak up already, or I’ll kill you!"
Surprisingly, the War King didn't direct his anger at me, but at the mummy-like man waiting behind him. Ah, so that really was Bacchus. Ein-san’s strike was truly devastating. Bacchus then proceeded to explain everything that had happened in great detail to the War King. After he finished speaking a short while later, Bacchus bowed deeply.
"...That is all."
"...I see. Well, I know you wouldn't do anything to earn my ire. The problem is those two, then..."
"“?!”"
Having finished listening to Bacchus’s explanation, the War King turned his gaze toward Eta and Theta, and the two of them snapped to attention, their spines stiffening in fear. Then, the War King grabbed both of them together in one hand and lifted them effortlessly.
"U-Aaaah?!"
"Gaaaaah?!"
They were being squeezed with immense strength, letting out agonizing screams, but the War King showed no sign of loosening his grip as he spoke with a voice filled with rage.
"You lot... you’ve got some nerve messing around! I told you to bring him! Who said you could use a damn sneak attack?! Are you trying to shame me?!"
Perhaps that was the War King’s aesthetic of battle. To fight fairly without sneak attacks... Eta and Theta had broken that code, and as a result, they had incurred the War King’s wrath. A sickening creaking sound echoed, and after a moment, Eta and Theta went limp.
The War King returned his jet-black fur to red once more and turned toward me.
"...Miyama Kaito. I’m gonna call you Kaito, alright? My bad."
"Eh?"
"My idiots pulled some nonsense. A sneak attack is indeed an act lower than garbage. It’s only natural you’d refuse my invitation!"
"Ah, no..."
"I’ll overlook the fact that you turned me down. And here, consider this at least a bit of an apology. You settle the score."
"What?!"
After saying that, the War King threw Eta and Theta down in front of me. I thought they might be dead, but they were still breathing. Then, the War King took out a sword with a red blade from nowhere and thrust it into the ground before me.
"Here, use that. With that, even a human like you should be able to lop their heads off."
"?!"
I was shocked. In other words, the War King was telling me to kill them with my own hands. What should I do? It was true I was angry at Eta and Theta for hurting Sieg-san, but I never wanted to kill them. However, the War King was silently declaring that refusal would not be permitted.
I gripped the hilt of the sword, slowly pulled it out... and threw it back in front of the War King.
"...What’s the meaning of this?"
"I won't kill them."
"Huh? I told you to kill them, didn't I?"
"...?! You just said, 'You settle the score.' If so, then forgiving them is my way of doing that."
To the War King, who spoke as his rage intensified once more, I replied that this was one thing I would not back down on, even as I shook.
"...Even if I say I’ll kill you if you don't kill them?"
"Yes!"
"..."
The opponent was one of the Six Kings. I could tell that his threat was no bluff, even without using Sympathy Magic. Even so, I couldn't kill anyone. Even if I’m called soft, or called a fool, I simply can't do it.
"Ku, ha, hahaha! Ahahaha!!"
"...Eh?"
"You’re right! I did say that! I told you to settle the score! Hahaha, I certainly didn't say to kill them!"
The War King didn't bring his powerful arm down on me; instead, he began to laugh cheerfully. After laughing for a while, he spoke with a ferocious smile that was chilling to behold.
"You... you’re strong."
"Eh? N-No, I’m..."
"I’m not talking about physical strength. Your heart is strong! Not bad at all! There aren't many people who can talk back to me like that to my face! I like you!"
"...Huh?"
"Hey, Kaito... let's fight!"
"Hah?!"
With that same vicious smile, the War King spoke joyfully—telling me to fight.
"I’ve taken a liking to you! If that’s the case, we have to fight!! Living creatures can only truly understand each other through battle!!"
Magic power like a scorching wind raged, turning into a tremendous gale that blew around us. What kind of muscle-brained logic was this?! As expected, this person was impossible to reason with. There was no way I could win. I felt like I was about to be blown away by the mere aftereffects of his magic power; I couldn't land even a single scratch.
However, the War King had already made up his mind, and he approached me looking truly happy. In the midst of this situation, which was the greatest desperation I’d ever faced, four figures stepped quietly in front of me.
"Huh?"
"...I-I don’t care if you are the War King-sama... I-I will not allow you to harm Kaito-san!"
"...I agree with Lili. Even if we know we stand no chance, there are times when we must take a stand."
"My mission is to protect my Master; I have no intention of fleeing, even from an opponent I cannot defeat!"
"...Good grief, it was a short life. Well, I suppose this too is a matter of fate."
"Lilia-san, Sieg-san, Anima, Lunamaria-san..."
The four of them stood firmly in front of me, each readying their weapons to face the War King, even as their legs shook.
"Ho... Interesting! You’d challenge me? Fine, this is the best!!"
"“““?!”””"
As the War King shouted in high spirits, his muscles expanded even further. We absolutely could not win. Releasing a pressure so powerful it felt like the end of the world, the War King slowly raised his fist.
However, that fist was never swung down.
"...Lower your fist, War King. Consider any attempt to harm those people as an act equivalent to baring your blade against me."
"Huh? Why the hell are you here... Chronoa!"
Quiet words echoed through the space, and Chronoa-san approached, cloaked in an air of immense magic power.
"Is it not obvious? Lilia, who stands there, is one who has received my blessing. Therefore, I have a duty to protect her."
Chronoa-san spoke those words as she walked slowly, positioning herself to shield Lilia-san.
"Forgive me, my detection was late and so was my arrival. You must have been frightened? But do not worry, Lilia. Now that I have come, I shall not allow so much as a single scratch to befall you."
"C-Chronoa-samaaa..."
Chronoa-san was so incredibly cool. Her lines, her actions, and the timing of her arrival—everything was just too much of a hero. Honestly, it was a waste that she was a woman.
Dear Mother, Father—Just when I thought the attack was over, the War King himself raided us without giving us a moment to breathe. And then Chronoa-san appeared gallantly in our moment of absolute despair. How should I put it—shouldn't Chronoa-san just be the protagonist already?