Letting Go and Accepting. (5)
I had mentioned before that even a game seemingly targeting a specific niche like this had mascot characters.
Things like fairy-like beings floating beside the player, or cute voices providing narration.
This damn game also had such a character.
Rather than offering advice to the Demon King, this character merely said things like, 'That's amazing!'
"...So, you're."
"I am Niyalli, Demon King-nim."
For a moment, my perception faltered.
The name was the same, you see.
Yes, the name was definitely the same, but?
Her appearance was different.
From head to toe, there wasn't a single matching part.
'No, perhaps, could it be...'
If a human and a demon of the same name were to encounter each other, they would merge into one.
It was a bizarre assumption, but since there was already Elli's precedent, I couldn't simply dismiss it as suspicion.
No, she recognized me as the Demon King right away, so there was no need for doubt in the first place.
"By the way, what were you doing here?"
She was giving a long speech about the Hero and something about 'true' this and that.
Perhaps because my eyes were covered, it was hard to discern her true intentions.
She was clearly just a cute mascot character in the game, so how did she end up like this...?
"Have you perhaps been to the Demon God's Temple?"
"I have. I'm just coming from there."
"Then Demon King-nim must also know."
The truth of everything.
Everything, including why the demons were summoned here, and how they were summoned.
"To them, the Hero is merely another enemy to be eliminated. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, so it would be better to use the Hero rather than reject them."
Spreading ominous rumors in the Royal Capital to confuse humans, and then advocating for the Hero in front of those confused humans.
That alone was enough to turn their insides upside down.
Inciting internal strife and causing chaos.
Because the easiest way to bring down humans was none other than suspicion.
"...You've changed a lot from what I knew."
Should I say she became cunning, or more resourceful?
Ultimately, the fact that it all led to the ruin of humanity made it even more malicious.
"I couldn't help but change. The current me is Niyalli, the fairy of the Demon World, and at the same time, Niyalli, the human."
If so, were the things that happened until now orchestrated by the human Niyalli?
There was no way to confirm if they had completely merged into one, or if two personalities now resided in a single body.
What about Elli?
Would she truly be able to maintain her sanity?
"...This human is suspicious. No, something that is human yet not human."
"She is suspicious, but she doesn't seem like she'll cause any harm."
"That's what makes her even more suspicious, Demon King-nim!"
Hallibel poked my arm repeatedly with the tip of her tail.
Despite her outcry, Niyalli merely continued to stare at me.
Indeed, looking at her like that, she does seem suspicious.
"So, what exactly is your goal that you're doing all this?"
"Return to the Demon World. That is my only wish right now, Demon King-nim."
Niyalli said.
Not revenge against humans, nor the resurrection of dead demons, but a return to the Demon World.
She desired only that.
"...I'm sick of this world."
It was a melancholic voice.
Whether it originated from Niyalli the Demon World fairy or Niyalli the human, I didn't know, but there seemed no need to distinguish.
Because the emotions contained within her voice were so dark, they couldn't possibly belong to just one person.
"By the way, Niyalli, do you know why a demon and a human of the same name become like that when they meet?"
That was the most curious point.
I thought I roughly knew about this world, but the knowledge I gained from playing the game turned out to be far more useless than I expected.
After all, all I knew was how the Demon King was humiliated and such.
"Demon King-nim might not believe this, but the Demon World and this world are a kind of parallel world."
A name is proof of existence.
Her explanation was that when identical beings from different dimensions gather in one place, due to the laws of the world, only one remains.
Only one identical being per world.
That was the most basic premise.
"...Then, if they merge into one like that, which one do they become?"
Human, or demon?
Elli, with demon horns on her head, still flickered before my eyes.
Had she woken up by now?
Which one would Elli be after waking?
Perhaps I had run away like this because I was afraid to find out the truth.
"Both. Niyalli can only ever be Niyalli."
Her voice was a little more lively.
Her way of speaking was similar to what I had heard before, and I couldn't help but feel a slight sense of nostalgia.
It was definitely fun back then, so how did it end up like this?
I let out a hollow laugh.
"With our power, there's no way to return to the Demon World. If it's possible, it would be through the power of the Demon God-nim."
Demon God, Demon God, huh...
Since it's a being called the god of demons, it could surely help us.
But I wasn't particularly keen on it.
What I wanted was not to go to the Demon World, but to return to my original world.
"And with the Demon God-nim's power, they could surely restore Demon King-nim's body as well."
"...How did you know?"
"You know, don't you? That I am the one who has been by Demon King-nim's side the longest."
That was certainly true.
Then she must have clearly known the differences between the past Demon King and me now.
So she could easily tell how weakened this body of mine had become.
"So, what do you plan to do next?"
"First, we'll have to make the Demon God-nim descend upon this world."
Hearing her nonchalantly utter those words, I subtly frowned.
Was that truly the only way?
Recalling the sight I witnessed in the Demon God's Temple, I felt a wave of nausea.
I had to do that same thing again?
I was sick and tired of blood by now.
"...Is there really no other way?"
"There is no longer any way for demons to live in this world. Even if it were possible, it would only be to live a miserable life as slaves to humans."
Destroy all information about how to summon demons, and return to the Demon World.
If that happened, there would surely be no more instances of demons being summoned to this world.
"For now, let's, let's think about it a bit."
"I'll be looking forward to a positive answer, Demon King-nim."
Niyalli smiled faintly.
***
"...Ah."
It felt as if she had woken from a long, long sleep.
No, she had been unconscious, so perhaps that was an accurate description.
Elli, who had sat up, immediately clutched her head.
Memories that were still not properly organized were swirling chaotically in her mind.
"Humans were, in the end, just like demons."
That demons were like humans meant, in other words, that humans were also like demons.
An obvious truth that didn't even require comparison.
She only truly understood that fact after becoming a body that was neither demon nor human.
"Ariel-ssi..."
She was merely a victim.
A pitiful casualty, simply swept away by the disaster foolish humans had created.
What had their journey, which had continued until now, been for?
In the end, the war created by demons and humans had only inflicted great wounds upon each other.
Yet, the beings who truly deserved punishment were elsewhere.
"I have to go to the Demon King-nim."
No, to Ariel-ssi.
She tapped her head at the jumbled honorifics spilling out.
Demon Elli-ssi, why don't you step aside for a bit?
She chuckled inwardly and stood up.
A more intense vitality than ever before surged through her body.
Was this the power of a demon's body, or something gained from becoming one?
"Are you thinking of leaving?"
"...Yes."
It was so quiet, she didn't know when he had entered.
As she met his dream-like eyes, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
Perhaps because he was a child who was half-human and half-demon, her sense of familiarity doubled.
"Certainly, your appearance is interesting enough to want to research, but that's not important right now."
"...Is that so."
Her hand reflexively reached out.
Tapping the child's crown, just as Ariel-ssi used to do, she felt the characteristic soft, fluffy texture.
Well then, shall we depart soon?
There was no need for preparations to leave.
With her current body, she felt as if she could arrive at Ariel-ssi's location in an instant.
"Take this, Elli-ssi."
"...This is."
"This should be able to lift the Goddess's Curse. If you meet Mother, please deliver it to her."
She took the small vial the child offered and subtly averted her gaze.
The ornament that had always been on his wrist—a bracelet made from the child's wings, tail, and horns—was gone.
Her eyes widened at this, but the child merely looked up at her with a faint smile.
"Then, please go."
"...Take care, Rin."
Because if something were to happen to you, the person who would be saddest would be none other than Ariel-ssi, so please.
The child, as always, did not answer.
He merely looked at her with a faint expression.