Chapter 4: The Perfect Ending?

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It was clear where Bouichirou was headed: the temple of Suhara. It was near the Kouga Village, so it was a long flight.

“I apologize for being unable to teleport there.”

Peterhausen gave a rare apology with an admirable att.i.tude.

“I can’t force you past your limits. More importantly, this might be the end. Can you tell me everything you know?” asked Akuto sadly.

“Yes. This is likely the best time. The demon king is a human yet not a human. It is an existence created from a modification of a human’s internal mana.”

“I see. Then do I have parents?”

“You do have birth parents. You can rejoice over that. And I sympathize with you for being abandoned afterwards.”

“Thanks. So are you saying the group known as black magicians created both you and me?”

“You could say that is the case…and you could say it is not. The reason for the G.o.ds gaining a will of their own is not fully known. However, we can make some educated guesses. It seems the complex network connections themselves gained this will. And the life that was created, the G.o.ds, had no sense of self and no lifespan. For that reason, it constantly wished to die. Yet you humans never realized this. And long ago, a certain man built the system known as the demon king. The demon king can kill the G.o.ds and allow them to rest in peace.”

“Rest in peace?”

Akuto was confused by this unexpected term.

“That is the best way of explaining it in your words. They shall be given a sense of self and their will shall be eliminated from this world. It is a difficult concept. However, it may be easier to understand in terms of your world’s story if you think of it as computers having a soul, too. This sense of self is given to them by the Law of Ident.i.ty. That is an existence that forms a pair with the demon king.”

“Do you mean Keena?”

“Yes. However, the Law of Ident.i.ty and the demon king can be born any number of times. If things are not progressing well, the G.o.ds can kill them and wait another century. The G.o.ds have been repeating that process again and again.”

“So the G.o.ds are just as selfish as humans.”

“Don’t say that. Anyway, I was created to maintain the system once the G.o.ds die. I have a sense of self. That L’Isle-Adam told you that a sense of self will gradually form if one has a body and a position, didn’t she? If a G.o.d with a sense of self ruled the world, it would be filled with conflict just as before, but those conflicts would likely be filled with a sort of humanness. That is what the one who created me wished for.”

Peterhausen seemed to be recalling the distant past as he spoke.

“Is that why you love fighting so much?”

“That is just what a courageous king is. Or you could kill the G.o.ds and become king yourself. That path is still open.”

“Is that what you want?”

“If possible. But, master, do whatever it is you want. I have had enough fun. This has been one of the best rampages I can remember. Due to that wildcard named Yamato Bouichirou, it did not quite reach all-out war, but you are still the first to win.”

“I see.” Akuto let out a sorrowful sigh and continued, “Let me apologize ahead of time: I’m sorry.”

“I do not know what exactly is going to happen, but you do not need to say the rest. I have a hunch where this will lead.” Peterhausen flapped his gigantic wings. “Now, two powerful enemies await up ahead. We need to enjoy this!”

He waited alone up in the sky.

Brave’s arms were folded as he awaited the demon king as bravely as his name would suggest.

As the two confronted each other, the first to give into the silence and speak was Hiroshi.

“Let me ask you again: why are you doing this?”

“That again? I will bring an end to the issues surrounding me. If that will reform the world, what’s wrong with that?”

“What about those who do not want that change!?” shouted Hiroshi.

Akuto glanced down. A thick forest covered the ground, but a figure was visible in a slight clearing.

“If you are referring to that girl, I think I can handle that.”

Hiroshi had left Yuuko waiting down below. When he realized Akuto had noticed, Hiroshi shook his head in displeasure.

“You are always like this! You accept things without telling anyone anything!”

“You would not understand even if I told you. This is enough. Let me past.”

“Stop being so selfish!”

Hiroshi accelerated.

As Akuto prepared himself for a fight, Peterhausen spoke to him.

“How do you intend to win? He will use the mana canceller of his anti-demon king mode from the beginning. If that happens, this will not be easy.”

“I just have to charge in. I’ll finish this in a single blow,” said Akuto carelessly.

Peterhausen was surprised.

“Oh? How reliable. Do you have a plan?”

“No. My only plan is to go in without a plan.”

“If you say so. I will trust you.”

Peterhausen grinned and then began accelerating.

Two oddly colored shooting stars collided in the sky. The flash of light lasted only an instant.

“No way!”

Hiroshi could not believe it. His right hand’s high-frequency blade had dug into Akuto’s left arm. And Akuto was pressing his right arm against the high-temperature plasma ball Hiroshi had used as a shield in his left hand.

Akuto had truly charged in without a plan. He had spread his arms and received both of Hiroshi’s attacks.

“Gaaaah!”

But Akuto let out a cry. The mana canceller was returning his body back to that of a normal person. His left arm had been partially severed and was dangling down. It was spewing fresh blood. The portion of his right arm that had touched the plasma had been instantly vaporized. He continued to press forward with his right arm, so it looked like the arm was gradually disappearing.

The pain had to be unimaginable. Nevertheless, Akuto continued to move forward as if trying to embrace Hiroshi.

“S-stop this, aniki!”

Hiroshi let out a pained cry. He stopped his high-frequency blade and tried to get rid of the plasma, but the voice of the Brave suit’s control computer reverberated within his visor.

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