Final Battle Start - Opening Salvo
"...."
"What's up, sit down."
I broke in the Demon King's Castle from the sky and made a dynamic window breaking entrance, so the first thing I did was a light greeting.
Next up, I fetched a table and two chairs from Item Screen before putting two lucky sets I bought from a burger joint on the table.
"I had a little party with Kira-san with these burgers once we got back to Japan, y'know. Geezer went off on his own so I bought some more and set 'em aside for him. Have at it."
"...I may be the reincarnated form of Souma Ryuta, yet I am not him. I see no reason to have a meal with you."
"Yeah but, geezer musta kicked the bucket already if you're his reincarnated form. I don't see an issue if you took it instead."
"Do you mean to befriend me. The very person who gouged out and crushed your heart."
Yeah, I'm not doing this by choice.
But what I need more than anything right now is time even a second longer, and I'd rather fake acting friendly like this than jumping straight into battle with this guy.
"Om nom, even junk food makes you think a lot of stuff when it comes from Japan, I tell you."
"I have no nostalgia over such a thing. My home land is this world, this very space."
"Heck, how long you planning to stand around like that. I look like a fool sitting pretty while chowing down in front of the Demon King himself."
"You in fact, do."
Oh shut it. He just had to throw a neat and composed punchline there.
I think he's getting more and more irritated, guess this is the limit of 'eating together' plan.
I chomped the rest of my hamburger and chowed down on fries and cola before standing up.
Taking his chair is a pain, I'll just leave it be.
"To begin with, pray tell how are you alive. I made sure to gouge out and crush your heart, which should be enough to kill you. You admitted as much during the fight against Kyuubi no Kitsune."
"I mean, the only reason I was there is because you almost took me out. I nearly died for real back then, didn't expect I'd come back alive myself."
"What...?"
Ah, this guy must have got the time lines mixed up.
Guess Demon King's Menu couldn't tell the difference. No wait, I guess it can't since I've got Analysis Filter on.
"I was wandering around on Floor 21 to escape detection from your eyes (Menu)."
"...What does that mean. What are you, meaning to say."
"I got back to Japan and then Parallecia after that escapade with Souma Ryuta, but I was already living in this world even before all that. That is to say, I had a run in with Demon King (you) before I met Souma Ryuta. You knew who I was, but I had no idea about you being Souma Ryuta and all."
I purposely made my explanation much more roundabout than necessary to get him think long and hard.
It must sound like a complete nonsense to outsiders.
He put his hand on his chin and got lost in thought for a while, but then his eyes opened wide and glared at me.
Oy oy, it hasn't even been a minute since you started. How about taking it slower?
"...I understand now. What a karmic twist of fate. To think the impetus that enabled your meeting with Souma Ryuta was me all along due to the reversed order of time. Truly befitting the question on which is first, chicken or egg."
"I'm impressed you got that with my explanation."
"Of course. Only you and me will get it."
Uh no, I'd definitely go 'What the hell you're on about' if I were asked to decipher that word salad.
...Ah, crap. He's reaching out for his sword.
He's gonna go for it. Guy shifts gear quick.
"...Allow me to confirm one thing. I do not mind letting you off if you leave this world and go back to Japan where you shall spend the rest of your life at."
"I wouldn'tda be here now if I was the type who'd take that offer."
"I figured... Very well then, you may die."
Uwaa, his bloodlust is getting me all fizzly. Situation critical. No avoiding battle now.
But I'm gonna throw in my final bet to buy time.
"Hold it. Tell me one last thing before we get down to business."
"There is nothing more to talk."
"I've been answering your questions all this time yet you won't even give me one back? What a cheapskate king."
"...Pray tell what is it you wish you ask."
Oh, hook, line, sinker. This demon king is way too easy.
Now then, this has a chance of making thing worse but I just gotta ask him no matter what.
"Err, you won't mind, right?"
"Speak."
"Okay, then there's this note written by Souma Ryuta left at 'Febronia Duchy House'. I wanna ask about the content of that note."
"........What?"
"Did you model 'God Slaying Chainsaw' after a certain RPG's story? Also, I saw a pic of 'Heaven Piercing Drill Lance', this one's a reference to a certain anime too, am I right?"
Demon King stopped moving like he had been frozen over.
...Yeah, I'm not surprised.
"So there's a man who gave up his right as a heir to Febronia duchy after reading that note and getting moved so much he's been trying his hardest to make the content of that note into reality as a weapon smith. But every single drawing is an awfully chuuni weapon that'd kill its wielder long before their enemies, it's painful to look at in so many ways. What do you think about---"
GLANK!!! A loud dull sound reverberated in the Demon King Chamber.
It was produced from a clash between Demon King's sword and my great hammer, creating a sound and a shockwave powerful enough to probably kill ordinary humans.
Demon King has put on a loathsome smile like he's enraged beyond belief. What the hell kind of expression is that.
"I am not Souma Ryuta. Therefore, I care not of the content in a note he has left behind."
"...Is that the truth?"
"However, hearing your words has prompted someone deep inside me to keep iterating, 'Make him shut up even if you have to kill him, now!'. No hard feelings, die."
Oh crap! I knew this was a bad idea!
But I had to ask! This was one thing I just had to ask no matter what! No regret, no repent.
This tells me that Souma Ryuta is not completely gone inside him, but even that vestige is super eager to kill me now.
Ah geez, fine by me! You asked for it, you chuuni geezeeeeeeeeeeeer!!
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
~~~~~~~~~~Hero's POV~~~~~~~~~~~
It's, over.
There's nothing here. Nobody here anymore.
Save for me, Levia and Olivie in the wasteland of a dead planet.
<<I'm here too, you know.>>
Yup, okay. Sorry.
...How did it come to this.
If only I didn't let my guard down, if only I did better, this wouldn't have...!
<<It's not your fault Neora-san. The ones at fault are Demon King... and Kajikawa Hikaru who never said anything even though he knew this was gonna happen.>>
That's the thing. Why did Kajikawa-san stay silent about this chain of event?
He told me, 'I made my plan after receiving an intel from a trusted cooperator who could see the future on Floor 21'.
Did Kajikawa-san kept it to himself because he thought I was a nuisance?
Was I the only one who saw him as my best friend...?
<<...It's all in the past now. No matter how much you worry and regret it...>>
"U, uu...!"
Tears are finally falling down.
Levia and Olivie should be as much in despair as me yet I cried out ahead of them.
"Neora..."
"Neora-san..."
I detest Demon King and Kajikawa-san, but I feel mortified more than anything.
'Don't lose hope even if something goes awry in the middle of your fight with Demon King', he said.
'Please believe in me', he said.
Yet, this is what we got.
I believed in him, until the very end-----
<<Ne, Neora-san!!>>
...What is it now.
I'm tired already. I don't want to think about anything. Just, let me rest.
<<Oh forget about that! Map! Look at your Map! ...I can't believe it...! Why, how is he here...!?>>
No really, what's up with you.
Did you find an artifact left from before this world's end or something?
Eh, huh?
Why, is he, in this place?
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