One Who Will Reach The Limit

Before my eyes, the battle between the demons and the alliance of gods and humans continued.

“Mega Thunder! Guilty Burst! Ragna End!”

Velpher unleashed top-tier spells one after another, vaporizing the Hero Army.

“Kh, what power…!”

“As expected of the King of Demons…!”

Even the four Angels were forced back significantly by his might. He was strong. Compared to the past Demon Lords I had fought in the Nightmare World, he was a level above.

The other demons fought valiantly as well. The dragon breath of the drakin, the miasma released by the undead, the magical assaults from the warriors and mages—each demon army slowly but surely pushed back the combined forces of the Heavenly Host and the Heroes.

Among them was Judas. Just like the Demon Lord, he was firing off maximum-level magic in rapid succession. He, too, was terrifyingly strong.

“They are a bit too powerful, aren’t they?”

“Then perhaps we should have them weaken?”

The Angels exchanged looks.

“O God, bestow punishment upon our enemies.”

In the next instant, a blinding flash covered the area.

What—!?

Before my bewildered eyes, the demons began to collapse one by one. The battle that had been going in our favor was overturned in a heartbeat. Now, the attacks of the Heavenly Host and the Heroes were scattering the demons like dust.

“A curse of weakening!? Curse you all…!” Velpher groaned.

“O God, grant us even greater power.”

“O Holy Weapon that eradicates demons—Divine Gear.”

“Exterminate all demons.”

“Purify all evil.”

Along with the Angels’ incantations, three massive shadows descended from the heavens. Giants, at least thirty meters tall.

“Burn them, King of Flames.”

“Blow them away, King of Gales.”

“Swallow them, King of Tides.”

The Angels commanded.

“Autonomous Miracle Armaments…!?”

No, even so, this was different. It was an overwhelming sense of dread—as if they were crushing the world itself. They were incomparable to the autonomous Miracle Armaments I had swept away before.

The three giants roared, erasing the remaining demons. It was no longer a battle. It was a massacre.

“Stop… the demons, my subjects—”

Velpher wept tears of blood and moaned.

“All who are evil shall be struck down.”

“You have no value in living.”

“Die.”

“Vanish.”

“Perish.”

The giants, the Heavenly Host, and the Hero Army showed no mercy.

Demons screaming.

Demons running for their lives.

Demons paralyzed by terror.

Demons drowning in despair.

One by one—they were killed.

“STOP IT—!!”

I screamed, unable to bear it any longer.

“—It’s useless. This is my dream.”

Judas whispered quietly.

“Events that have already happened. A past that cannot be changed.”

“Dammit—”

Even knowing that, I couldn’t stand the slaughter before me.

“Stop it already!”

I unleashed Mega Fire toward the giants, the Angels, and the Hero Army. Crimson flames dyed the world.

“Pant, pant, pant…!”

Even knowing this was a dream, I couldn’t help but strike.

“…Incredible,” Judas muttered.

“I thought I had mastered all sorcery, but even I don’t possess mana of this magnitude. Perhaps you are the one who will eventually reach the limit of the magical arts—”

“The demons were cursed with weakening in this war. And they were defeated…”

I tried to steady my ragged breathing after unleashing magic at full power.

“Yes. We barely managed to flee back to the Demon Realm.”

Judas let out a deep, heavy sigh.

“I couldn’t protect my friend—Velpher. Nor my comrades… not a single thing.”

“Judas…”

“The demons no longer have the power to oppose the Heavenly Host. We’ve been reduced to pitiful existences, hiding in the Demon Realm, trembling in fear of the gods. A world that doesn’t know when it might be destroyed at a god’s whim—”

Judas muttered self-mockingly.

“That’s why I… decided to spend the rest of my life idling away like this.”

“So you gave up.”

“I suppose. There’s no point in chasing an impossible ideal. Like… the Demon Realm one day being liberated from the threat of the gods.”

The scenery shifted.

It was a small workshop. A boy with silver hair and charcoal skin was making something. Countless magical artifacts. He had the innocent smile of a child playing with toys. Judas did nothing but create magical tools. Occasionally, a demon who looked like a Demon Lord would visit, but he would coldly turn them away. Then he would immerse himself in his work again.

As if playing.

As if enjoying himself.

Is this what he called a “lazy life”?

But—

“No, that’s wrong.”

“Eh?”

“You’re lying about having given up.”

I stared at Judas. Because his eyes weren’t smiling. Even with that innocent grin—I felt the wail of Judas’s heart. I felt his true intentions.

“You’re actually looking for a catalyst, aren’t you? That’s why you keep researching sorcery here. Hoping that one day, the day will come when it’s useful. Hoping for the day when the Demon Realm is liberated from the threat of the gods.”

“…!”

Judas’s expression changed slightly. I realized my words had hit the mark.

“This dream… you showed it to me on purpose, didn’t you? Because you wanted that catalyst.”

“You believe you are the vessel that can liberate the Demon Realm?”

“I seek that power.”

I removed my mask and looked at Judas once more. I exposed the face I had when I was human and stared straight at him.

“I want you to lend me that power.”

Silence followed.

Judas didn’t answer immediately. He didn’t nod.

But he didn’t reject me either.

I waited for his response. I felt like his answer was already decided.

“—With your mana, perhaps…”

Judas whispered with a deep sigh.

“The liberation of the weakened demons, and the repelling of the divine threat—you might be able to achieve both.”

“Not me,” I said, shaking my head.

“Us. We’ll gather even more powerful warriors and bring peace to this world.”

I gave Judas a smirk.

“I’ll make it happen—”

“Heh, so this is Judas? He’s way too pretty for my taste.”

Back at the Demon Castle, I introduced him to Feria, the Demon Commander. This was her reaction. She looked completely uninterested. By the way, Regal was away in the human world looking for Zegart. I wondered if he and Judas would get along?

Probably not… yeah.

“We’re comrades as of today. I’m counting on you. Oh, and I don’t have much motivation for work, so thanks in advance for the backup.”

Judas’s reply was casual.

“Let me introduce him properly. The new Demon Commander—Judas Lugis, the ‘Master of Sorcery’.”

“I want you to work together for the sake of the Demon Realm.”

“Well, I’ll do the bare minimum,” Judas nodded.

Feria smiled enchantingly.

“Me too. As long as the Demon Lord protects me properly, I’ll do whatever I can. If you want, I could even handle the Demon Lord’s nighttime needs—”

“Hey, Feria.”

Stella glared at her.

“I’m kidding, Stella. You’re such a jealous one.”

“I-I am not jealous! I am simply saying don’t behave so frivolously toward the Demon Lord!”

“A maiden in love, truly~.”

“I told you that’s not it! I’m just, well, I…”

Stella’s face turned red, and she kept stealing glances at me.

Hm, what was that about?

“Alright, Judas, go handle the takeover from your predecessor. You’ll be leading the mage-type demons that Ziraam used to command.”

After the introductions were over and Stella and Feria had returned to their duties, I gave Judas his orders.

“Roger that.”

Judas said airily and left.

Then, before any significant time had passed, he returned.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“The takeover is finished. I went ahead and reorganized the subordinates while I was at it.”

“…Not even thirty minutes have passed.”

“I can tell everyone’s aptitude just by looking at them. The high-ranking officials were surprisingly incompetent. Ziraam was great at research, but he didn’t have a good eye for people.”

Judas spoke nonchalantly with his usual smile.

“Instead, I found a few demons in the lower ranks with some interesting talents, so I promoted them. I’ll organize the new roster and give it to you later.”

“O-oh…”

For someone so lazy, he’s a fast worker…

“So—do you have a moment, little Demon Lord?” Judas asked.

“I’d like you to come with me.”

“Come with you?”

“You have all that mana, but you haven’t learned how to use it properly yet, have you? I thought I’d give you a little training.”

Judas laughed.

“I’ll teach you. The true essence of sorcery.”