While I was keeping tabs on Yamada-kun with a clone, sure enough, it was confirmed that Yamada-kun had become the new Hero.
He was testifying about it with his own mouth to a teacher, so there didn't seem to be any mistake.
I left the fortress conquest entirely in
No matter what, nothing could get started without consulting the Demon King first.
When I teleported to the Demon King army headquarters where the Demon King was, the atmosphere was unusually hostile.
"You came at the right time. There's something I want to ask."
Kuro, who had been with the Demon King, led the two of us to a spot where no one was around.
He probably already knew about Blow's death through telepathy.
"Did you really need to deploy that thing?"
"Deploy what? I have no idea what you mean~"
The Demon King cut in and deflected the question directed at me.
Kuro glanced at the Demon King for just an instant, but immediately locked her gaze back on me and spoke.
"Queen Taratect."
"Oh, that big spider lady. What a crazy coincidence, right? Teleporting right onto the battlefield like that~"
"Drop the act."
"Kuro-chan, you're scary! Shiro-chan, help me~!"
The Demon King answered the question that was meant for me, and Kuro ignored her entirely, staring intently at me.
In the midst of that bizarre atmosphere, I kept my mouth firmly shut.
I had no intention of telling Kuro about what happened this time.
"Shiro-chan, I think you should at least give some kind of reaction, you know~"
"Stop changing the subject."
Sensing that I had no intention of answering, Kuro turned back to the Demon King.
From there, it was all arguing between the Demon King and Kuro.
The Demon King didn't know the reason for the massacre carried out using Queen Taratect, but she didn't seem inclined to criticize it either.
If anything, hints of frustration toward both the Human race and the Demon race crept through the edges of her words.
Maybe after putting up with everything for so long, she figured a little extra killing was justified.
Well, regardless of the Demon King's true feelings, as long as she was shielding me, I had nothing to complain about.
"Do I really have to spell it out? Hey, don't you think bottomless kindness and bottomless idiocy are separated by just a hair's breadth?"
"Not really."
After watching the exchange between the Demon King and Kuro for a while, the Demon King said something unbelievable.
It was as if she already knew about what had happened.
And as if she was condemning the Goddess's actions.
Kuro immediately denied the Demon King's words, but did she even realize how absurd it was for the Demon King to say something like that?
"Oh well. But there's one thing you should probably keep in mind: there's only so much that kindness alone can save."
"I was saved by that kindness. And wouldn't saying that also negate us?"
"Exactly. That's precisely why you and I are butting heads right now."
"You have no intention of backing down?"
"Nope."
"...Fine. I'll play along for now."
"As expected of Kuro-chan! You really get it~!"
"But the moment I can no longer accept it, I won't hold back."
"Sure thing. I'm hoping that moment never comes, though."
As if to signal the conversation was over, Kuro stormed off in a foul mood.
The Demon King watched her go, then let out a big sigh and deflated.
"Ah... I thought I was dead for sure."
The Demon King was without a doubt the strongest being in this world, but she was no match for Kuro, who existed outside the very laws of the world.
She'd put on a brave front during the exchange, but she'd apparently been quite nervous inside.
"Demon King."
"It's fine. Don't."
I tried to explain what had happened, but the Demon King stopped me.
"Actually, I'd rather you didn't tell me. My resolve might waver."
With that, she turned her back to me.
Even with her turned away, I could read her expression.
The Demon King was wearing that same carefree grin as always.
But I could tell that beneath it, she was on the verge of tears.
The Demon King understood.
Why I had taken actions beyond the plan. What the reason was.
What meaning lay in it.
That the very person she was trying to save was rejecting what she had done.
Even knowing all that, hearing the truth from my own mouth was something she was afraid of.
Because once she heard it, she would want to stop.
And if she stopped, the Demon King would never be able to move forward again.
I think that was exactly why she refused to hear it.
But in a way, that also meant she still had no intention of stopping.
Even with the Goddess condemning her, she still intended to keep going.
She was so strong.
The Demon King was strong.
Setting aside things like divinity or Status or whatever, among everyone I knew, she was the strongest.
So strong it was blinding.
That strength was something I envied.
Because the Demon King possessed an unparalleled sense of pride.
I didn't yet have a conviction I could stand tall for.
I had no pride.
Maybe that was exactly why I genuinely wanted to help this proud Demon King.
I wrapped my arms around the Demon King, who still had her back turned.
"It's going to be all right."
I'd never been good at comforting someone who was feeling down, but I felt this was the moment to do it.
"I'm here with you."
I had a contract with D, but beyond that, I wanted to personally see the Demon King through to the very end.
So until that time came, I would always be on the Demon King's side.
"Standing like this, it's hard to tell which of us is the big sister," the Demon King quipped.
The Demon King had the appearance of a young girl, after all.
From an outside perspective, I'd probably look far more like the older one.
Though in actual age, the Demon King was way ahead.
"More like a big sister—no, a grandmother, really."
I had been born as Mother's child, and the Demon King was the one who had given birth to Mother. That made us essentially grandmother and grandchild.
So regardless, calling either of us the "sister" was wrong either way.
"Ha. That's right."
The old lady laughed.
"Thank you."
And with that, the old lady expressed her gratitude.
No need, no need~ I'm a grandma's girl, after all~ The full conversation between the Demon King and Kuro can be found in "Behind the Human-Demon War."
White's Subjective "Heart" Strength Ranking: Demon King > Teacher > Goddess = Pope > Ogre-kun > >>>> Uncrossable Wall >>>> Vampire Girl > Kuro This is purely White's subjective ranking, so dissenting opinions are welcome.