Countless stars drifted across the night sky. Amidst the artificial glare that drowned out their radiance, ships descended toward the harbor today just as they always did.
How many centuries had passed since humanity had reached beyond the stars and carved a path into the depths of space?
Trade between distant systems flourished, and civilization reached new heights of technological perfection. Yet, as automation advanced, the spheres where human effort was required dwindled. The world was saturated with the things it had produced.
It was a world where anyone could obtain whatever they desired without working, where everything was provided without the need to seek it out. A world where jealousy and conflict had become obsolete—it had certainly achieved a magnificent level of development.
However, a world where desire had vanished, where the number of people willing to move of their own accord was dwindling... it looked as if it were slowly, gracefully progressing toward extinction.
An orbital elevator connected the planet to the stars. Managed entirely by magical machines, the facility operated smoothly day after day without a single living employee. In that place, there was a shadow.
A small shadow wrapped in a black robe walked up the sheer wall of the orbital elevator as if gravity did not exist.
Strangely, neither the people living below nor the security machines patrolling the structure took any notice of the figure.
The shadow reached the midpoint of the elevator—an altitude where no biological organism could possibly survive unprotected—and sat upon the wall to gaze at the landscape below.
Blonde hair peeked through the folds of the black robe, and blue eyes stared down at the world. The gaze with which the shadow—no, the girl—beheld the world was frigid, tinged with a deep, lingering sense of resignation.
Since the girl had transformed into a monster that exceeded the bounds of humanity, a period of time so long it was foolish to count had passed.
She had changed her name and appearance countless times. On one occasion, she had fought as a companion to courageous students facing an ancient evil; on another, she had played the villain, acting as a vanguard against agents of justice.
In each era, she had lived as a member of the world, accumulating many bonds... and then, she had lost them.
She had met an exasperating number of people. She had mastered every imaginable craft and technique. She had traveled across the globe time and time again.
But even so, the curse left behind by her best friend still kept her heart bound. The thing she sought remained lost to her.
And she understood why. She knew that what she searched for would never be found in this world. She was already utterly disappointed in this reality.
With the humans of today—who had forgotten how to compete and had grown content merely accepting what was handed to them—they could never become the existence she desired.
That was precisely why she had decided to leave. Since her goal could not be found here, she would search other worlds.
After burning the view from the orbital elevator into her memory one last time, the girl exercised "true magic," an art now lost to the ages.
On this day, the girl who had once saved this world from a powerful evil god and carved her name into its legends simply vanished. She left without witnessing the slow extinction of the world in which she had lived.
In a space created at the boundary of dimensions that only she could enter, an immense number of graves stood in silent rows. They were the monuments of the precious people with with whom she had woven bonds, those who now lived on only in her memories.
She had watched over the world for ages, seeing off the deaths of countless loved ones. Whenever the lineage of those precious people died out or when they were forgotten by the world, she would quietly collect their graves to preserve them.
The graveyard was a result of that long vigil—a collection of the ashes of everyone she had ever called a friend.
"...Everyone, I’m sorry. I’ve given up on this world. Even if I stay, I won’t find what I’m looking for. That’s why I’m going somewhere else."
The girl spoke in a quiet voice to the silent tombstones. Of course, no reply came; her voice simply echoed through the vast, empty space.
"I know it’s a selfish whim, but I want you all to come with me... as a part of me."
As she whispered, several lights were released from her body, stretching out toward each individual tombstone.
"Hecatoncheir... Gather their ashes within me."
The light consumed the tombstones without a sound. With each one, her already immense power swelled further. By the time all the ashes had been incorporated, the magic power she was clad in had increased several times over.
"...Now, let’s go."
With those soft words, the girl activated the magic formula she had spent years researching and crossed over to another world. Behind her, nothing remained but a vast, empty void—a perfect reflection of her own heart.
In a corner of the vast Demon Realm, in the garden of a house so large it could be called a castle, several demons were chatting amicably.
"...Alright, that should do it. Zwei, you’ve gotten quite strong, haven't you?"
"Yes! Thank you for your guidance, Megiddo-sama."
"Are there any abnormalities in your body? Megiddo is rough, so I was a little worried."
"I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, Lilliwood-sama."
They were a family centered around a single demon.
"...Zwei... you’ve really... grown."
"It is so. She is young, so her growth is rapid."
"Hmm, personally, I’m just surprised Boss Megiddo was able to give actual guidance," Ozma teased.
"Hey, you say something, Ozma?"
"No, no, nothing at all!"
They happily discussed the growth of the youngest child, the magical doll Zwei. This place was incredibly peaceful, a rarity in the Demon Realm where the law of the jungle and constant conflict were the norm.
"Everyone, the black tea is ready."
Ein, who refused to be called anything other than Kuromueina's servant, brought out tea for everyone present—excluding Magnawell, whose physical size made it impossible for him to partake.
"...Come to think of it... Ein... where is Kuromueina?"
"Chrome-sama left to suppress a large-scale conflict in the Southern Region. I expect she will return shortly."
"What!? Hey now... she should've asked me to go."
"If you had gone, the damage would have only been worse..."
The head of their family, Kuromueina, possessed strength that made her undeniably the most powerful being in the Demon Realm, yet she had no interest in ruling it.
Fundamentally, she respected individual will and stayed out of power struggles. However, she had headed out this time because a minority race caught in the fighting in the south had begged for her aid.
With Kuromueina's strength, ending a conflict was trivial. Her family members continued their day as usual, not feeling the slightest bit of worry.
However, that peace was suddenly shattered.
"!? ...What is... this magic power?"
"I-I don't know! It appeared suddenly inside the barrier I set up!"
"To think even Lilliwood could not perceive its approach... and this magic power..."
"Yeah, I can feel it. It’s strong... this one is damn strong."
They were all powerful beings in their own right, which was why they realized it instantly. Someone with extraordinary magic power had just appeared nearby.
"...It is unclear if they are hostile, but we cannot overlook this," Ein stated.
At her word, they all rose from their seats as one.
"Ozma! You stay here and protect Zwei!"
"I would’ve liked to join in, but... understood. Be careful out there."
"Yeah!"
Leaving Ozma to guard the less-experienced Zwei, the six demons, including Ein, raced toward the source of the massive magic power.
They reached the destination in an instant, finding a large plume of smoke rising as if something had crashed into the earth. The massive magic power overflowed from the center of that smoke, confirming their target was inside.
"...I’m looking forward to this. With magic power like that, they’ve gotta be a monster, right?"
"Megiddo, suppress your bloodlust... Don’t provoke them needlessly."
"What does it matter? I don’t care how they did it, but if they bypassed Lilliwood’s barrier, they’re an intruder, aren't they?"
Megiddo, a true battle maniac, released his killing intent as a challenge. The others watched the smoke with narrowed eyes.
In the midst of a tension so thick it felt like it would sear the skin, an incredibly casual, relaxed voice echoed.
"...Haa, why does it always end up like this? Should I be happy that it worked, or should I lament that there’s nothing here but things that don't look human? Since I’m a former human, I really can't see anyone but humans as a romantic interest..."
"——!?"
The voice had come from directly on top of Megiddo's head.
Before anyone could react, a blonde girl in a black robe was standing atop Megiddo's head, muttering to herself with an exasperated expression.
"...You, who the hell are you?"
"..."
"Tch!"
Ignoring Megiddo's question, the girl vanished and reappeared before them, crouching low in a battle stance with knives in both hands.
"So, you're looking for a fight?"
"..."
Maintaining a cool, indifferent expression even in the face of Megiddo's murderous intent, the girl silently held her ground. Then, the battle that shook heaven and earth began.
Serious-senpai: "My... TURNNNN!!"