As long as you have the drive...."
"As long as you make it obey...."
"As long as you are willing to bear..."
"Then it will definitely lead you to victory."
The sound of the colony echoed inside the cave. Since it was like that, there was no reason to refuse.
Nodding her head, Asuka signed the document.
"Kudou Asuka of [No Name], humbly accept your challenge."
The glowing document flew into the door, leaving a track that seemed like a signpost. Asuka picked up the pace and following it.
Going through the door, there was a dome-like center, where light was shone on it from the distant sky.
A huge red iron giant man that was over 30 feet high stood quietly in the center of the cave.
"Isn't this......the iron doll back in the exhibition?"
The depiction on its armor used light as a fundamental idea for the abstract painting, such a indescribable luxury. It has gigantic hands that were the size of 2 humans, as well as equal width of the head and body. Just when Asuka was speechless due to the sight of the immense giant, the colony said to her:
"In the break time of 7 days, you must make it— [Deen] be willing to obey to your orders."
"This is the content of the gift game. Please use your gift [Oraculum], and light up the iron soul's life!"
At this moment, life poured into the center of the giant.
The rumbling of the giant shook the earth, it's strange monocular shining out radiant light.
Then, the red giant created the first cry that could shock the world:
"——DEEEEEEeeeEEEEEEN!"
Writhing its hollow body, the red iron giant [Deen] roared.
Even if it was infected with a disease it would not fall, the forever functioning magic being will always stand up.
In order to combat the Demon Lord, Asuka began her test.
Part 4[แก้ไข]
—Boundary wall, stage area, day break near the foot of the hills. Art exhibition, exhibition grounds. Headquarters of Demon Lord side.
It was the fourth day after the negotiations. The trio of Pest, Ratten, & Weser were always inside the huge hole that was the exhibition ground. After admiring the beautifully crafted lanterns, candle stands and stained glass, Ratten placed her favorite items in the center of the cave and appreciated them intoxicatedly.
"Ahhhhh.........so beautiful. True to the name of the Floor Master's birth festival, all the creators are particularly motivated. Especially the candle stand that was crafted by [Will-O'-Wisp]! Purposely carving out the provocative attitude of the [Blue Flame Devil]! I really want this smart craftsman to be responsible for carving out the flag of [Grimm Grimoire Hamelin]!"
"Impossible. The maker of that thing is the Jack-O'-Lantern right? Since that guy is not a participant, he would not join even if we win."
The cold tone of Weser made Ratten puff out her cheeks.
Using the advantage of the situation during the break, in the past Jack seemed to have opened a blacksmith shop before his death.
"Ah~ Ah~ How regretful~ Is there no way to let Jack be involved now?"
"Are you stupid? The method Jack used to get into the festival was the same as ours. If we rewrite it, doesn't that mean that we are disclosing the mystery out of it?"
"Although that is true........Master, what do you think~?"
"......I hate the smell of pumpkin."
Is that the main point? Both of them let out bitter smiles because of their master's own policy.
Tidying up her black and white polka-dotted dress, Pest quietly gazed at the dragonfly that was on the candle lantern. She adopted an eloquent tone back in the deliberations, but now, unless the opposite party initiated a conversation with her, Pest will not open her mouth. Perhaps feeling worried about her master, Ratten always tried to find topics to start a conversation with Pest.
"It has already been four days, the symptoms should start showing on the infected."
"Yeah."
Pest coldly replied. Ratten, feeling quite piqued puffed out her mouth.
"Ah~ Ah~ Everything was supposed to be running smoothly, but no matter how hard I try I can't seem to find that missing iron doll and that girl. Even Master refuses to acknowledge me~ So annoying and bored~! If [Snow White] or [Cinderella] were here! Then I order them to act out an interesting and funny opera."
".........? [Snow White] and [Cinderella]?"
Pest who rarely took the initiative asked.
With her whole face lifted up, Ratten happily explained to her Master:
"They are magical book series also written by Brother Grimm, could be said to be regarded as sister grimoire as us. Anyways, they are just a bunch of noisy people, always creating a nuisance in the middle of the night thinking they are a band. For example, a dwarf who wears magic shoes and tap danced on a sizzling iron plate."
"Oh, that is quite funny. Cinderella was quite gloomy but the humour wasn't that bad."
Both of the trusted aides started laughing muzzledly.
And Pest who did not share any memories with them could only tilt her head.
".......Is [Fantasy Magic Book Group] a happy community?"
"Of course! After all, the reason why the previous owner become a Demon Lord was quite stupid!"
"He said: [I am going to be a Demon Lord, replace the lazy gods and decorate Little Garden to be much more gorgeous!]........That kind of person. At first I was very troubled about what I just signed up for .......but to be truthful, even till the last moment, he died just like the way of the Demon Lord."
Both smiles on her trusted aides disappeared.
After repeating the passage of time and recalling the past two years, their mind had already drifted off into the distance.
".......Oh, that's right, Master. There is something important we definitely must tell you."
"What?"
"You have started a gift game as the persona of a Demon Lord. From today onwards, there will be lots of communities that will target you. And the Demon Lord will keep fighting and fighting, until— they are destroyed."
"Certainly."
"............."
"Please understand that in the Little Garden, this is the fate for all Demon Lords. No matter how powerful, how evil, how arrogant...........there will be one day where they will be destroyed by the hands of an opponent. Even if the opponent is a Buddha or a Hero, it doesn't matter."
"After all, to look at it from the upper levels, it is simply a boundless thing. The upper levels of Little Garden are the domains of the Shura gods, and the goal of Demon Lords is to continue rising to the upper levels or they will be unable to survive. In order to make ourselves survive, we will have to pay the price of being destroyed by those guided by fate........uh, these are all theories learned from our previous Master."
Leaning on the iron fence in front of the exhibits, Weser playfully shrugged his shoulders.
"......Both of you really like the previous Master eh."
"Well because he was a good man, even his base was created with just a 'Pa!', Gently hitting the ground and a castle that can't even lose to Schloss Neuschwanstein [2] appears. That's how much of a powerful person—"
The explaining Ratten animatedly stopped.
Seeing Pest turning her face away, Ratten, feeling somewhat surprised probed her face to look at Pest.
Only looking at Pest pouting her lovely cheeks.
".......Master? What happened? It's so hard to see you have such a cute reaction."
"You are like always making me mad Ratten.