Creator.

The one who first made something that did not exist.

In the world of magic, it was a term often used to refer to someone who had invented a new form of magic that had never been seen before.

“What?”

But why was such a grandiose word being used here and now?

“What are you saying you made?”

[I made you all.]

It wasn't that she didn't understand the literal meaning of the words, but it sounded impossible unless it was some kind of metaphor. Yuru frowned.

“Are you saying you had a hand in creating the humans of today?”

『Foolish one.』

Elhaen stared intently at Yuru.

『Are you truly asking because you do not understand?』

At those words, Yuru was momentarily speechless. Then, her expression shifted to one of confusion, and finally to one filled with displeasure as she spoke.

“Don't talk nonsense.”

She showed immense rejection toward what Elhaen had said.

“You created humans? You’re saying you brought them into existence?”

『That is correct.』

“What does that even…”

Humans were the dominant power in this world. Although the troublesome demon race existed, humans were nevertheless the beings who moved the world forward.

『It seems you find it hard to believe.』

Elhaen said calmly.

『It is not so strange. You people likely know nothing about your own origins.』

He then tilted his head.

『But then, isn't it strange? Your history.』

The first records.

They did not remain in this world. Everything began from a point in time after Elhaen and the ancient gods had fought their war.

People believed it was because the war of the gods had destroyed countless records.

Since it was clear that Elhaen, whom humans revered, existed before recorded history, they naturally believed that they themselves must have existed before that time as well.

『You did not exist in that era.』

But now, Elhaen was completely denying that belief, shattering it to pieces.

“We didn't exist in that era?”

『That is correct.』

“This is absurd.”

Despite this, Yuru quickly regained her composure. After all, even if no human history from that era had been discovered, it didn't mean that no records existed at all.

For instance, some records from the demon race had been discovered.

“If what you say is true, then the demon race must have existed in this world first. Some of what they recorded describes the battles of the ancient gods at the time. You should at least try to make your lies believable.”

『…….』

“Nothing to say? Even after telling such an obvious lie.”

Yuru pressed him. But he showed no particular reaction.

“Speak.”

『Do you not already know?』

His face was expressionless.

『The truth.』

The truth.

The possibility that the race she believed had always existed in this world was, in fact, created later than the beings they considered inferior.

Yuru’s eyes widened.

“This won't work on me, this kind of trick.”

『I do not wish to admit it either.』

Elhaen said with a small sigh.

『The fact that those lowly beings existed before the creations I made. But it cannot be helped. Just because a bug existed first does not mean it is superior to what was born later. I have no choice but to accept it.』

The color drained from Yuru’s face.

‘What in the world is he saying?’

The god from outside this world was a being of immense power. Yuru knew that much. They were said to be so strong that the gods of this world couldn't even properly fight back.

But creation was a different domain. Humans had built the civilization of this world and developed magi-tech engineering.

They had accomplished things that an ordinary species could not.

‘And yet, he’s saying what about such humans?’

He created them? Was such a thing possible, even for a god from the outside? If that were possible, then…

A chill ran down Yuru’s spine, and she flinched.

Even Origin could not be said to have broken through and surpassed the wall.

That realm might just be another stage created by this god from the outside.

“Know your limits!”

Yuru gritted her teeth.

“The fact that you created us was never passed down! If it were true, there’s no reason you wouldn’t have left that knowledge for your followers!”

『Why would I have needed to leave such a fact behind?』

Elhaen expressed his confusion.

『It was unnecessary for humans. If anything, it only had the potential to make them passive in driving the demon race out of this world.』

“You…”

『The demon race was hostile to me. I could not be fond of beings who clung desperately to the power of this world to rush at me. That is why I created them. Beings who could inherit my power.』

The demon race were the original masters of this world. Elhaen was casually spouting such facts.

『Of course, I also made all the necessary preparations so that humans could wipe out the demons without any useless guilt.』

Elhaen looked directly at Yuru.

『Was the ‘Demon King’ a worthy opponent?』

“!”

Yuru’s eyes widened.

The Demon King. The leader of the demon race. A mutation of the demons that was said to have started appearing at some point in the past.

『I made arrangements to influence their temperament to act instinctively, but what’s most important is what the one leading the way thinks. So, I gifted them a being that would be suitable for them.』

“What have you done…”

『I arranged it so that a king of the demons would be born at regular intervals. I made it so that one whose heart was stained by darkness would be selected, allowing the power of the Demon World to gather in him.』

Elhaen wore a slightly troubled expression.

『However, for reasons I do not know, Clay became the Demon King. Despite being human.』

“Elhaen!”

The stories were dizzying. They were not things one could simply hear and accept immediately.

But one thing was certain. Yuru could not stand him uttering Clay’s name.

“Don’t you dare say that name so freely!”

She only needed to know what was important. The mastermind who had planned all of this was, without a doubt, Elhaen.

『Not to say his name freely?』

Elhaen let out a slight laugh before his lips tightened.

『That child was meant to become my new vessel. He is mine.』

“You’re the one who made Clay like that!”

Even if he hadn't intended for Clay to become the Demon King, if he had pushed him toward such a fate for his own purposes, there was no need to consider the details any further.

“I will make sure to eradicate you!”

Origin.

A state that transcended the limits a normal mage could reach.

In this world, she should have no equal, but the story was different if her opponent was a god from the outside.

There might still be a limit she had yet to overcome. But Yuru decided not to worry about such uncertainties.

Perhaps even the god before her had not foreseen the possibility of that state.

Didn't he just say he hadn't imagined Clay would become the Demon King?

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

Her mana ran rampant. The Halo of Existence spun wildly, scouring every space that held the mana she could gather.

KWAAAAAAAANG!

It wasn't a special kind of magic. She let the mana she had gathered immediately run wild, radiating it in all directions.

As a result, a mana storm instantly formed where she stood. To face a calamity, a disaster was needed—that was her conclusion.

Kwarreung! Kwareureung!

The mana, transformed into the form of a disaster, shot directly at Elhaen. He enveloped himself in light.

A veil of light, like armor, protected him, but it could not block all the attacks.

KWANG! KWAKWAKWANG! KWAANG!

Lightning bolts rained down on his body. The veil of light partially shattered, and he took a hit, his body staggering.

『I have told you the truth, yet you pitifully do not know how to accept it.』

“Shut up!”

Yuru shouted, her eyes glowing with a menacing light.

“I never wanted a truth like that!”

『Whether you want it or not, the truth is something you cannot deny.』

“I don’t want to hear it from you!”

How could she unconditionally accept everything he said as truth after he had ruined the entire situation?

Elhaen was merely toying with her. Trying to shake her heart to get through this situation.

“Whether you’re a god from the outside or whatever, right now you’ve only manifested a part of yourself!”

In Neville’s body, not even Clay’s, there had to be a limit.

All the blessings and authorities engraved on Neville's body were a desperate measure to compensate for that lack.

If so, then settling this here and now was the right thing to do.

“I’ll make it so you can never send even your consciousness here again!”

Yuru charged. Toward where Elhaen stood.

Realizing what she intended to do, he spoke softly.

『Remember this.』

His gaze turned to her face.

『That everything was decided by me from the very beginning, and all you can do is struggle for a moment.』

“Disappeeeeaaar!”

In that instant, her hand gripped Elhaen’s neck, and the space filled with exploding mana.

***

### ♧

After some time had passed.

Clay arrived in Barungenia in the Demon World.

“The-the Demon King has returned!”

The remaining demons rushed out in surprise. They looked at the exhausted Clay with tense expressions, wondering if he had been defeated by Krata.

But when the Demon King's army that returned with Clay announced the fall of Krata, Barungenia turned into a festival.

“Long live the Demon King!”

“Finally, those thorns in our side…!”

“Now no human will ever be able to ignore us!”

Entrusting the cheering demons to Geshkafor, Clay went into his office and immediately gave instructions to Syltanaro.

“I know you need to rest, but I’m afraid I have a favor to ask. Could you please call Lin and Golche?”

“I understand.”

Before leaving, Siltna said to Clay.

“Your Majesty, your condition is the top priority right now. Please do not worry about anything else.”

“I will.”

After Clay’s calm reply, Siltna left the office. She soon returned with Lin and Golche.

“Demon King! Are you okay?”

Seeing Clay panting for breath, Lin shouted in surprise. Siltna glared at her, but Clay raised a hand.

“It’s alright, Siltna. She’s just surprised to see my condition.”

“I-I heard about it, but it’s gotten worse. You should have asked for help sooner if it was going to be like this.”

“There were too many eyes watching, so I could not.”

“Ah, seriously!”

Lin made a troubled face and then looked to her side.

Golche was there.

“This is… terrible.”

After carefully examining Clay’s condition, Golche said to Lin.

“It’s been erased.”

“What?”

“What we made.”

Startled once more, Lin checked Clay’s body. Then she swallowed dryly.

“What… what happened?”

A lamentation.

Seeing his body, with all the brands gone and now overflowing with divine power, Lin lamented.

“He’s returned… to how he was as the Hero.”

(End of Chapter)