Sword of the Philosopher

"Now, one."

Croix utters his voice as he watches the disappearing Widels - the meaning of the word would be that he defeated the corner of the Demon King candidate.

The battle is not yet over, though. Just because you defeated Widels doesn't mean the demons around you disappeared.

Yet there is no sign that the demons he was able to obey will retreat... or even try to challenge Croix, who defeated his master on the contrary.

This is where I... Croix stopped it when I tried to get my foot forward.

"I'll do it."

Shortly after the battle...? I realize one thing, the arrow tip, that I tried to question.

His magic is even greater than it was in battle. What the hell is this...?

"... when it comes to being a Demon King candidate, it doesn't mean you can be anyone at all"

It was Zemun who talked to me there.

"Under certain conditions, this battle is unfolding"

"Conditions…?

"To be Demon King, we will exercise the special covenant technique that exists in this demonic world. Those who used the technique can recognize each other as having used the technique, and they can recognize each other as the person to be defeated. The contractual technique is also carried out through a variety of resources, conditions, etc. … At the time when the technique can be used, it is limited to those who own the castle, so to speak, the territory."

"You mean you're quite qualified to be a candidate"

"Yes, and this is where it matters - when those who have exercised the art of contract fight each other and win or lose is decided, the loser will give power to the winner"

"... give way?

"That's what the contractual description says, but to put it badly, we're going to take power away from each other's users of contractual technology."

- Oh, I see. I had a point. Was this what Croix was saying before the war?

"Nevertheless, the contract technique itself is independently constructed by those who seek to become candidates for the Demon King, so some of them may not be able to take away their power, even though they are exercising contract technique"

"That's why I said a lot before I fought...... so Croix's magic is now increasing. This means..."

Demons approach Croix. In contrast, he flashed his sword.

Then - a magnificent sideburn was decided upon the demons, and he blew away the impending without exception. Plus the sword wind will be a shockwave, blowing all the demons ahead......!

"To deprive Widels of his power, he said he had succeeded"

"That's what happens."

I see... while fighting the Demon King as much as possible, I can be strong with nature.

Moreover, Croix's physical strengthening is made even more powerful by the increased magic... I'm not sure how capable Widels is of being among the Demon King candidates, but he should still have had more power than he had at the corner. If Croix, who had been able to fight with the power of the vegetarian, gained magic and became strong once or twice, it would be possible to fight through to become the Demon King enough.

However, here is one concern… how should we respond to Croix, who is going to gain even more strength from this? It's not that I don't trust you, but suddenly there's no chance they'll say, "You're used up because you've got the power," either.

Is Sophia thinking the same thing, or is she thinking something by looking ahead to Croix's battle? Well, what should we do?

"I also understand Lord Luon's concerns."

So Zemun just opened his mouth.

"But without you, Lord Croix can never be the Demon King... and we are where Lord Croix moves as far as possible to be the Demon King. We'll do everything we can to make sure you can trust us."

... Much more powerful words. I mean, what's the reason you can't do it without me or Sophia?

"You think Croix's power just increases, it's not enough yet?

"Yes... let's talk about that after this fight"

Yes, even while Zemun talks, the enemy is driven away by Croix's hand... he can fully demonstrate the power he has taken away and recognize that the remnants of Widels are not his enemies.

If it turns to the enemy, it is a threat... but its power is also reliable. I put my foot forward to join him, thinking that way.

The battle ended approximately an hour after that. When Widels disappeared, the devil didn't disappear, and he was chased to deal with it... but after time the devil began to scatter in pieces, so I struggled a little bit.

"In the meantime, this is the place..."

I look around the plains where the battle is over and I squeal.

Now the Demons are in the process of looking around to see if there are any other enemies. Me and Sophia were waiting. We rendezvous with Ange, a situation waiting on the plain. And Croix, who was talking to Zemun about something, eventually approached us.

"First of all, let's thank you... it's thanks to both of us that we were able to gain strength in this way"

"There are some aspects of us that we intend to work with, and they're like each other."

"Well... I didn't say anything about gaining power because it was an indeterminate element before I fought, but this time I must have seen my power increase and understood the rules."

"Well... as far as we're concerned, we have nothing to worry about."

"It would be," Croix nodded frankly.

He said, "I might fang to both of you."

"Mr. Zemun said it wouldn't happen."

"That's right. A presence that dominates the eastern part of the demonic world… perhaps his and the showdown will be the last battle. We need both of you to work with him."

"Is there a reason?

"You should also be able to recognize the magnitude of that power in the fact that it dominates the eastern part of the country at this stage... but the demons surrounding that demon clan are also well aligned"

"I mean, we can't deal with it without our help."

"As long as I'm ashamed."

"But what happens after you defeat the demon clan... so far you may be disgusted"

"I think there's no way to be cautious... but the means to get rid of it are floating"

"What's that?

When asked back, Croix cut the words once,

"Firstly, the faces in the endless village… I spoke to them during the negotiations, but offered them the condition that they should be ready for repatriation. I suppose it's true that their presence is sufficient, isn't it?

... Bad way to be honest, but, well, there are certain aspects to that.

"Oh, yeah"

"Then let's change the policy a little bit. Regarding the conditions to be removed from the demon kingdom, but this cannot be done without becoming a basic demon king… but it is also not impossible if you have the 'Guardian' under the command of the demon king on your side"

"Guardian?"

"A demon tribe that protects the castle of the Demon King… and was near the side of the Demon King. He was ordered to wait when he raided the continent and is still at Demon King Castle. If I defeat the Demon King candidate, I can stand in the demon kingdom as a clear and demonic king by declaring that my guardian is the next demon king."

"I mean, if we do something about that guardian, we can go home?

"Probably... there, there. Let's take a different form from when we negotiate. Undoubtedly, the battle between the Demon King candidates will be the last in a showdown against the Demons who rule the eastern strip. By then, secure the means to take off the demon kingdom. Then I will return the villagers."

I see, you mean giving priority to putting procedures in place before the showdown?

"It is unclear how the battle will proceed, but I will fulfill your demands before deciding with the demons in the east... and if I can join your collaborators, you can put in place measures to help me, too, right?

I mean, there's no way to be vigilant, so I'll be ready before the showdown to take action that I can respond to, that's the story.

"Then there will be the possibility that you will not come back from the demonic realm, but we will strive to earn our trust so that we may fight to the end."

... Personally Croix is not belligerent, or at least doesn't look like he's going to wage war on humans. In that sense, it would seem better for him to be the Demon King... but will we observe his trends in the future about this place?

"Okay...... Sophia, is that okay?

"Yes."

"Then Croix, in that way, please."

"Oh."

Croix snorted - there was a demonic figure there who gained strength and great confidence.