After Kuromueina finished talking with her, Shalltear put on a mask she had taken out of nowhere and followed Kuromueina’s lead.

  After hearing what happened from Kuromueina, Ein and the others became less cautious to some extent, and Shalltear was brought into the house where Kuromueina and the others were staying.

  [Well~~ I apologize for the trouble I caused earlier. I’m sorry. Well, in my defense, your side was the first one to direct your killing intent towards me…… though I guess let’s just let bygones be bygones and say that both sides are at fault. I’ve already let the matter go. Ahh, excuse me, cake refills please!]

  Dumbfounded…… They stared at Shalltear with such an expression on their faces as she stuffed her face with one cake after another. Seeing Shalltear being so relaxed at their home, making it hard to believe that they had killed each other just a few minutes ago, they didn’t know what to do with her.

  Kuromueina, the one they could consult what to do about, looks like she had experienced something shocking though, as she had shrunk in a corner of the room, muttering about her “having great sense” or something.

  [Once again, my name is Shalltear. I will be in your care…… Ah, I don’t want the care of that gorilla over there though.]

  [Ahh?]

  [I mean, what the heck is with that vulgar gorilla…… A pet? He’s a pet, right? Kuro-san, I can understand if you want to keep that hundred-feet lizard as a pet, but keeping gorillas isn’t a thing anywhere, you know…… Where the heck could you find anyone who would want to keep a gorilla as a pet……]

  “L- Lizard?”


  It seems that Shalltear is aware that Megiddo is the one who directed his killing intent towards her, as she speaks to Megiddo in a very sharp manner.

  Of course, the short-tempered Megiddo almost boils over immediately, but he is aware that he is the cause of this problem, so he stifles his anger and responds.

  [Y- You b*stard, just because I’m silently listening, you’re yapping all you want…… Listen here, my name is……]

  [Ahh~~ No, it’s alright. I’m not interested. It’s probably just some stupid name like Gorilla Gorilla or Gorilion, right?]

  [Ahh? You wanna fight, midget!?]

  However, the hot-blooded Megiddo could only hold himself back once. However, Shalltear’s eyebrows twitched when she heard Megiddo call her midget.

  [Ahh? Oi, barbarian swine. What did you just say?]

  [I said, you wanna fight!? Midget!!!]

  [……You’ve said it twice huh? Fight? Yeah, if you want to fight, I’ll give you a fight, you freaking muscle daruma. Reluctant I may be, I guess I’ll discipline Kuro-san’s pet in her stead huh?]

  [……Bring it on!]

  Both Megiddo and Shalltear stood up from their chairs at the same time. Megiddo and Shalltear then closed the distance and was about to begin fighting, Megiddo with his fists and Shalltear with her knives…… but before their strikes could reach the other person, both of their heads were smacked by Kuromueina.

  [Gyaaahhhh!?]

  [Guoooohhh!?]

  [……No fighting.]

  [ [ ……I- I’m sorry. ] ]

  Hearing Kuromueina’s calm words, Megiddo and Shalltear obediently retreated to their sides.

  After that, both of them looked a little uncomfortable…… but after a few moments, Shalltear spoke.

  [……Y- Your name?]

  [Ahhn?]

  [Your name, I said. Name. I’ll remember it for Kuro-san’s sake, so tell me your name.]

  [……It’s Megiddo.]

  [Megiddo-san then.]

  [And you’re Shalltear, right? You’re from another world?]

  [Yeah.]

  With Kuromueina’s mediation, the two have a somewhat awkward conversation…… but even though it was a little, their quarrel brought them a bit closer……


  [……Is that why you’re dressed so weirdly?]

  [……Huh? Weird? Which part of me is weird?]

  [No, I can understand how your clothing is different, but what I’m talking about is that mask…… Do people from another world dress strangely like you?]

  [Haahhh~~ For you to not understand how cool my get-up is, you’re really no good, aren’t you? Well, I guess I shouldn’t expect any aesthetic sense from a musclehead like Megiddo-san huh?]

  [……Ahh?]

  A tense atmosphere flowed between the two again. Shalltear, who speaks in a way that agitates others, and Megiddo, who says exactly what he thinks…… They’re completely incompatible with each other.

  Moreover, Megiddo is easily provoked, so in a sense, it’s inevitable that a fight will develop between them.

  [No, no, you don’t have to worry about it. Different outfits suit different people. I think something like hide skirts or cudgels suit Megiddo-san, you know? It stupidly suits you well.]

  [……Ahh, I see. I guess a wacko like you would know if such strange outfits would suit someone huh……]

  [Hahaha, Megiddo-san is quite funny, aren’t you~~]

  [You’re also a pretty great fellow……]

  Both of them are smiling, but their eyes aren’t smiling at all.

  [Ahahaha……]

  [Fuhahaha!]

  [ [ I’ll freaking kill you!!! ] ]

  [……You both want to get hit again?]

  When Megiddo and Shalltear heard that silent, but clear mutter…… The both of them immediately stopped moving, and after Megiddo transformed into a human form, the both of them firmly shook hands with each other.

  [Well~~ It seems like Megiddo-san will get along with each other. I will be in your care from now on.]

  [Yeah. I’ve never seen someone as interesting as Shalltear before. I know I’ll learn a lot around you.]

  The two shook hands so firmly that their grips would have been strong enough to crush a lump of iron to pieces…… and they did such a thing with smiles on their faces.

  Seeing the two of them, Kuromueina nodded her head in satisfaction before speaking.

  [Yes, that’s great. Shalltear is going to be part of our family now, so we should get along well.]

  [……Wha!? I- Is that how it is?]

  [No, to be honest, this is also the first time I’ve heard of this. I wonder where she got that idea from? How strange…… Well, whatever!]

  [You’re too easygoing, oi. You stupid or what?]

  [I don’t have anywhere to go after all~~ Even though I don’t feel like having a pet gorilla, it looks like I will have fun around here.]

  As sparks flew between Megiddo and Shalltear again, the both of them talked to each other with a bright smile on their faces.

  [Ohh, that’s right! Shalltear, after we eat…… how about we go for a walk to deepen our friendship?]

  [Ahh~~ That sounds great. Let’s go somewhere together! I’d like to go somewhere as wide and empty as possible though.]

  [Ohh, leave it to me! I’m familiar with this area after all……. I know a good place “where you can crush trash as much as you want”!]

  [That’s very helpful~~ I’m not familiar with the geography regarding this area…… so it saves me the trouble of “having to look for a place to bury a gorilla’s corpse”.]

  From a distance, they looked like close friends laughing with each other…… but in fact, it was as if Hannyas were materializing behind their backs. Ein and the others were aware of this too, and even though they had a dumbfounded look on their faces, only Kuromueina looked satisfied, mistakenly thinking that the two of them had really become friends.

  “……It seems like another person with a thick character joined the family huh.”


  “Yes, my head hurts just thinking about the future.”


  [……I’m glad…… that the family increased…… Ahh…… Ein…… tea please……]

  [And you’re also going at your own pace huh. Yes, here you go.]

  [……Thank you.]

  And like that, an eccentric girl from another world…… Shalltear joins Kuromueina’s family.

  Thanks to her advanced combat techniques, the fighting ability of the Six Kings as a group later improved but…… other than that, with her appearance, the nature of the Demon Realm itself was about to undergo a major change.

  **********

  Chapter 518 - First Anniversary Extra Chapter ~~ The Visitor’s Beginnings Part 2 ①: The Birth of the Phantasmal King ~~

  In the corner of the Demon Realm, a huge house…… which can already be called a castle stands, where powerful Demons live as a family. Sitting on its roof, a girl clad in a black robe which makes her face obscure from the sight of others…… Shalltear was absentmindedly looking at the night sky, lost in her thoughts.

  Since she came to this world and became a member of Kuromueina’s family…… Several hundred years have passed. In that time, many things have happened, such as the increase in members of Kuromueina’s family and their invasion of the God Realm.

  It’s not that she’s unhappy with her life here. Regardless of how her relationship with them had started, she now has a certain amount of affection for her family, and she’s grateful to Kuromueina for that.

  But even if that’s so…… Shalltear’s heart was still dreadfully empty.

  The reason for this is simple…… As her name implies, Shalltear perceives herself as nothing more than a fragment. She knew that she was a fragment of an illusion that a girl named Alicia once had. She was but a fragment embodying Alicia’s desire to fulfill her best friend’s wish, and that this was all she had.

  She’ll fulfill her best friend’s wish, and then die…… This was the only absolute within Shalltear’s shattered heart.

  It’s not that she’s dissatisfied with her life here…… However, she isn’t afraid to cut down this life if she feels like it is getting in the way of her goals.

  She has a certain amount of affection for her family…… but she wouldn’t hesitate to cut off their necks if it’s necessary.

  She’s feeling grateful to Kuromueina…… but she doesn’t have blind faith in her unlike the rest of the family. At best, she would try to help her out if she can, but that’s about it.

  Shalltear’s only concern is to carry out her own goals…… That’s the only thing that her shattered heart can cling to. She wants to fulfill her best friend’s wish and die soon. That’s the only thing that had always been in her mind, but ironically, it hasn’t progressed in hundreds of years.

  She was so aware that she used to be human that she couldn’t see non-humans as love interests…… No, it’s more correct to say that looking at a non-human as a love interest subconsciously made her feel like she’s “compromising” instead. But ironically, she was unaware of this and was frustrated that no one met her ideal.

  As she gazed at the starry skies for a while to calm her frustration and impatience…… she suddenly heard a voice.

  [Shalltear, what are you doing in this place?]

  [……Megiddo-san. Well, I’m just thinking for a bit.]

  As the humanized Megiddo appeared on the roof, Shalltear let out a small sigh and moved her gaze from beneath her robe.

  [……Megiddo-san, what do you think of the current Demon Realm?]

  [Ahhn? What are you talking about?]

  [The weak becomes prey and the strong survives, the devious and the strong fill their pockets, while the pure and the weak hide and cower, or fall under their control. Every day, skirmishes occur here and there, and many lives are lost…… I just can’t like the current Demon Realm.]

  [……Fumu.]

  As she spoke in an indifferent tone, Shalltear took out two cups out of nowhere and threw one of them to Megiddo.

  After making sure that Megiddo took it and sat down next to her, she took out a bottle of alcohol. As she poured some into her cup, she spoke.

  [What about you, Megiddo-san? Is the current Demon Realm a nice place for you who likes to fight?]

  [No, I don’t like the current Demon Realm either……]

  [Oya? That’s quite unexpected. I thought you were going to say “Fighting is in my blood” or something……]

  When Megiddo spoke over a cup of alcohol, Shalltear replied, sounding a bit surprised.

  [You’re right, I do like to fight. I also like seeking for strong people. But strength isn’t just about fighting power, right? However, there is only one kind of strength necessary to live in the current Demon Realm…… Combat ability. A Demon Realm where only combat ability matters is boring.]

  [I see…… Then, Megiddo-san, do you think that order is necessary in the Demon Realm?]

  [That’s what I think…… but it will be difficult. Things that have been built for a really long time is unlikely to change……Well, that’s unless Kuromueina finally takes her throne as the leader of the Demon Realm, but that’s not going to happen, right?]

  [Kuro-san is kind and overly optimistic about things after all. It’s unlikely that she’ll try to rule the Demon Realm by force.]

  The strongest being in this world is undoubtedly Kuromueina. However, for better or for worse, she is just too kind. She accepts even the current state of the Demon Realm and watches it over, and she herself will not make any move that would bring any change to the Demon Realm.

  So, it was necessary for someone other than Kuromueina to make that change.

  Megiddo has known Shalltear for quite a long time and as they often fight on a daily basis, he knows her personality to a certain extent.

  Megiddo sensed the determination from Shalltear, who indifferently said that without any jokes or teasing at all…… and gulping down his drink, he muttered to himself.

  [……Shalltear…… What are you planning?]

  [Yes, to be honest, the way the Demon Realm is now is getting in the way of my purpose. I’ve been trying to simulate various methods to achieve this, and it’s starting to take shape…… and I’m planning to make my move soon.]

  [……I don’t get it.]

  [Unnn? What are you talking about?]

  [I don’t know how you’re going to do that, but I’m sure you’ll do it well…… but then, why are you that “impatient”?]

  [………………]

  Megiddo, who somehow sensed Shalltear’s impatience, asked, but Shalltear didn’t answer.

  Megiddo didn’t say anything more though, and they stayed like that, drinking within that moment of silence…… until Shalltear spoke.

  [……Your wild intuition is something to be reckoned with huh. Hey, Megiddo-san. Can I ask you something?]

  [What?]

  [I…… am working hard to die. If I wanted to quickly achieve my goals so that I could finally die…… what do you think?]

  [Ahhn? Nothing much. If you want to die, go right ahead. If that’s a satisfactory ending for you, I don’t care. At that tie, I’ll just bring a bottle of alcohol to your grave.]

  [……Gorilla-san.]

  [Oiii!]

  When Megiddo nonchalantly told her that she can do whatever she wants, Shalltear couldn’t help but smile. She then took off the hood that was covering her face, poured some alcohol into her cup and drank it all at once.

  Seeing Shalltear like that, a smile also appeared on Megiddo’s lips…… “and turned back into his true form, a form that only three other people in this world know”.

  [Uwaahhh!? The heck is that!?]

  [It’s not like I pestered you to tell me, but I’ve learned one of your secrets. Don’t tell anyone about this, okay? I really hate this form.]

  [……For a gorilla to turn into a beautiful woman, what kind of third-rate fantasy is this…… Well, I guess the world is full of wonders huh.]

  Seeing Megiddo’s true form, as expected, even Shalltear was taken aback, surprise evident on her face. Even so, it’s just like her to exclaim things in an exaggerated manner.

  Looking dumbfounded at Shalltear’s reaction, Megiddo filled his…… her own cup and lightly clinks her cup with Shalltear.

  [I’ll say this once again, don’t tell this to anyone.]

  [Yes, yes. Then, I guess what happened today is just a secret……]

  [Yeah…… Well, I don’t know what you’re going to do, but do your best not to regret it.]

  [……Roger that.]

  There was a certain calmness in the air, the kind that only comes from people who are in good terms with each other. Basking themselves within such an atmosphere, the two of them drank their sake.

  [……If the world becomes at peace…… If the world becomes a place where everyone could laugh with each other, holding each other’s hands, what would you do, Megiddo-san?]

  [Let’s see…… I guess I’ll gather subordinates and train them to be stronger.]

  [Fuuu, Instructor Gorilla huh…… Ahaha, that doesn’t suit you at all~~]

  [You b*tch…… Do you have to make fun of me every time you open your d*mned mouth!!!?]

  [What, you want to be called that instead? Teacher Gorilla huh…… Ahahaha, that sounds stupid…… Ah, I’m sorry, I guess that’s really rude of me huh!]

  [Fine, you b*stard! Let me kill you myself!]

  Seeing Shalltear laughing her head off, Megiddo finally snaps. It seems like today too, the conversation between the two developed into a fight…… and they were both severely scolded by Kuromueina, who rushed to the scene after hearing the commotion they’re causing.

  In a way, it could be said that the two of them were the same as usual.

  **********

  Chapter 519 - First Anniversary Extra Chapter ~~ The Visitor’s Beginnings Part 2 ②: The Birth of the Phantasmal King ~~

  A huge mansion built on a low hill. In one of the rooms, Shalltear was looking down at the owner of the mansion who had become a silent slab of flesh with her cold eyes.

  This slab of flesh before her…… was the flesh of a power Demon and the boss of the Demons living in this area. And coincidentally, he was a being that is unnecessary for the orderly Demon Realm that Shalltear was trying to create.

  Having decided to bring order to the Demon Realm, Shalltear began to move in earnest and was trying to achieve her two priorities.

  The first is to get rid of the beings that only fatten their pockets, and those beasts who rage as they will…… to clean up the trash that disturbs the Demon Realm, and the Demon that she had just eliminated this time falls under this category.

  This Demon was extremely cruel, attacking and destroying the settlements of weaker species and those species that didn’t follow his rule, torturing the inhabitants he had kidnapped in extremely brutal ways until they died.

  Therefore, Shalltear killed this Demon and all of his followers without question.

  She could have just wiped out the whole place, together with the corpses and all the traces of what happened here…… Before she left, Shalltear went to the basement of the mansion for his other priority.

  Her second priority is to gather subordinates that would be her hands and feet. No matter how powerful Shalltear is, it is difficult for a single person to establish her roots in the entirety of the vast Demon Realm.

  Loyal subordinates who would work as her eyes and ears…… that’s what she’s seeking for in the basement.

  The basement beneath the mansion is the torture chamber where the Demons that Shalltear had killed torment their preys to their hearts’ contents. And that room was filled with the stench of blood.

  There were bloody torture victims haphazardly littered here and there, while some battered bodies lay at the edge of the room, reeking of decay. If it were a normal person, they would have gone crazy seeing such a sight, but Shalltear looked unmoved.

  [Hmmm, I guess this time’s a miss too huh? They’re all either dead or broken-minded dolls…… I guess these are just idiots who didn’t know how to hold back when torturing people huh. Good grief, it ended up being a waste of time———- Oya?]

  [………….]

  When she couldn’t find anyone sane enough for her to pick up, Shalltear almost let out a sigh, but then, she spotted a Demon in one corner of the room.

  It was a young girl tied in chains…… Seeing her eyes, which were being dyed in gloominess but hadn’t lost their light, Shalltear smiled.

  For this girl, this place was hell. One day, the village where she lived was suddenly attacked.

  All of those who fought were killed, and those who stayed behind are in this house…… and brought into this hellish room.

  There was no one left of her own kind, and all of them died in front of her eyes after being tortured that made her want to cover her eyes. The only reason why she is still alive is because of her beauty.

  Of course, she was subjected to many tortures. However, she wasn’t tortured to the point of death like the others.

  The Demons of this mansion, with their twisted fetishes, couldn’t help but love to watch as the beautiful girl’s expression turned into despair.

  That’s why only the girl was kept alive in this hell.

  The hell that seemed to go on forever though, was suddenly wiped out one day by a single Demon.

  [……Heehhh…… These characteristic shadows beneath your eyes…… You’re a Hell Nightmare huh. Oya? “One of your eyes” had been gouged out huh. Ahh, come to think of it, I did hear someone say that the eyeball of a Hell Nightmare can be used to make a powerful elixir, didn’t I?]

  [……………….]

  When the girl first saw the robed Demon who speaks in a cheerful tone disproportionate to the torture chamber…… “Who in the world is this Demon?” was the first thought that popped out in her mind, which was something that was perfectly normal to question.

  [Ahh, right, right. I’ve already killed all the Demons in the mansion.]

  [!? ]

  The girl’s only remaining eye widened in astonishment at those words, which were said as if she was just making small talk, but her expression quickly changed to one of understanding.

  The magic power that Shalltear wears is so powerful that even a girl with no particular combat experience can tell that it is out of the ordinary. She can certainly understand that the robed Demon would be able to easily eliminate those Demons with her power.

  [And with that, luck is on your side. You can leave this place and be free, you know?]

  [………………..]

  She’s free from this hell…… When she heard those words and understood their meaning, what welled up from within her mind…… was an inexplicable discomfort.

  She should have wished for the end of this hell. She should have hoped to be free. But now, the girl felt no relief. All that’s left are muddy and dark emotions……


  Seeing the girl’s reaction, Shalltear deeply smiles from beneath her robe, as if to say that it was just as she had expected.

  [……Frustrating, isn’t it?]

  [……Eh?]

  [Do you hate the Demons that did this to you? Do you hate your tribe for not protecting you? Do you hate me for coming to your rescue after everything has already happened? Or perhaps…… Do you hate yourself…… “for not being able to kill that Demon yourself”, for being so weak that you don’t have any choice but to give in to their unreasonable violence?]

  [………………….]

  When she heard Shalltear’s words that seemed to agitate her…… she understood the black emotions that had arisen in her heart.

  Yes, the girl was so frustrated that “she couldn’t destroy this hell with her own hands” and that “she couldn’t kill those abominable Demons”.

  Just as Shalltear said…… She couldn’t help hating her weak self.

  [……I hate it.]

  [I bet you do.]

  [I hate myself for being weak! I hate myself for not being able to fight! I hate myself for not killing him! That f*cking piece of sh*t!!!]

  [……Those are good eyes you have. Magnificent.]

  ……The girl fits Shalltear’s criteria. Her mind held madness within it, but clenching her teeth, she doesn’t let the madness control her actions.

  The less mindful they are, the easier it is to imprint your ideals within them. And it makes it easier for them to be dependent on you.

  [……Do you want power?]

  […………………..Yes. I want power.]

  [Fine, if you wish for power, then I will train you! In exchange……]

  [Guhh!?]

  Unhooding herself, Shalltear hooks her finger into the collar around the girl’s neck, pulling her closer.

  The girl screams in pain at the shock, but Shalltear doesn’t care, staring into the girl’s single eye as she speaks.

  [You will be my hand. You will be my feet…… You will by my eyes and ears, and you will serve me with everything you have.]

  [………………….]

  [If you do so, I will give you the power you desire. From the one being deprived of, you can be the one depriving others. Now, what will you do?]

  [………………….]

  The words of solicitation from an overwhelmingly powerful person spread through the girl’s mind like poison. The Absolute, who had so easily shattered the hell she had been placed in…… was telling her “to become hers”……


  At that moment, an unbearable feeling of pleasure rushed through the girl’s mind. Within the girl’s distorted mind…… She was convinced that she was born to be ruled by this person.

  [I will do as you will. As your subordinate…… I offer to you my undying loyalty……]

  She found herself spontaneously saying those words.

  Thereupon, the chains that bound the girl shattered, freeing her limbs. However, the girl didn’t move from her spot even a step. After all, her master hadn’t given her any instructions yet……


  Turning her back on the girl, Shalltear spoke to the girl as she walked out of the room.

  [My name is Shalltear…… Remember it. Well then, let’s go. You are…… “Pandora”. From now on, you are to call yourself that.]

  [Yes, everything as Shalltear-sama wills……]

  The moment Shalltear gave her a name, the girl readily forgot her past name. As if to show that it was no longer necessary and she would never use it again…… She gave it up as if it was a matter of course.

  Then, she stood up and followed Shalltear’s instructions. With intense madness in her eyes, containing bottomless loyalty within it……


  At that moment though, Shalltear herself wasn’t aware that her actions had led to a complete miscalculation, the awakening of Pandora’s sexual fetishes that the person herself had not even realized.

  Moreover, her experience in the hell of being tormented by trashy Demons fused together with her natural inclination of tormenting others in the worst way possible…… giving birth to an incredibly perverted person, both being very sadistic and very masochistic, which would greatly perplex Shalltear later.

  **********

  Chapter 520 - First Anniversary Extra Chapter ~~ The Visitor’s Beginnings Part 2 ③: The Birth of the Phantasmal King ~~

  Near the center of the Demon Realm, six Demons were gathered in a powerful specially prepared for them. At the center of the discussion between these Demons, whose strengths were all near the top of the Demon Realm, is a girl…… Shalltear.

  [……And with that, it’s pretty much just as what was written on the documents.]

  Shalltear was talking about the documents she handed out prior to this discussion. Only Magnawell wasn’t able to read what was written on the documents due to his size, so Shalltear had to read it aloud and explain it to him.

  And now, other than Shalltear, the five people gathered here…… have stunned expressions on their faces, frantically trying to understand what Shalltear had said.

  The contents of this document contain what can be called a major reform of the Demon Realm……There are a wide range of changes, which also includes the means on how to achieve this change, but the two biggest changes written on it was the clarification of power in terms of rank and the selection of the king that would be the center of the Demon Realm. Looking at the documents, they can already assume why Shalltear gathered the five of them in this place.

  But even so…… they still couldn’t believe it. Even the normally calm Ein couldn’t hide her astonishment.

  However, that astonishment isn’t about “whether or not what was written here can be achieved”. They were astonished by how they felt that the current Shalltear “would definitely be able to achieve this”.

  It’s been about a hundred years since Shalltear started working to reform the Demon Realm…… Yes, in just a hundred years, Shalltear had gained enough power to be able to take root in the entirety of the vast Demon Realm.

  The people Shalltear directly invited to join her group became the upper echelons, who then added more people to their ranks. And so, after a hundred years, the number of subordinates Shalltear had was already close to a billion.

  Furthermore, most of the beings that could have interfered with her plans have left this world. Yes, to put it in another way, Shalltear has seized the vast magical world in just a hundred years.

  Thinking about Shalltear’s peculiar…… or perhaps, demonic ability to achieve such a thing, Ein and the others shuddered.

  [Well, I’m sure you’ve already guessed what I’m going to say, but I want all of you to become kings. Including Kuro-san, I guess we’ll call ourselves the “Seven Kings” eh? I’ll negotiate with Kuro-san, so I hope all of you will positively consider it.]

  No one responded to Shalltear’s words. Their minds couldn’t keep up with what’s happening at all.

  In such a situation…… It was Lillywood who finally managed to squeeze out her words.

  “……Shalltear…… How many Demons have you killed?”


  [I dunno? I don’t remember how much trash I dispose of.]

  “……You……”


  Words that are spoken too nonchalantly…… Words that make one feel like she doesn’t care about the lives of others…… Thinking about how Shalltear would be willing to commit genocide if it was the most efficient way to achieve her goals, Lillywood’s eyes were filled with fear.

  [Well, it’s not like I’m in a hurry to receive your answers. I’ll go ahead and instill the concept of High-ranked Demons in the mind of others first…… By the time I finish doing that, you should be able to think well about it. Well, I don’t think it will take more than a year doing that though.]

  Leaving those words, Shalltear disappeared. The people remaining in that area…… went through their thoughts in silence.

  Except for Ein, who later refused, saying that “she would be Kuromueina’s servant for her whole life”, everyone, including Kuromueina, accepted Shalltear’s proposal.

  But unfortunately, Shalltear is unaware of Kuromueina’s wishes at this point, and as a result, she feels guilty when she realized that her decision to establish Kuromueina, the person she owes so much, as a king had hurt Kuromueina’s emotions…… but that’s a story for another time.

  Their encounter was just a coincidence. Lillywood, who was feeling inexplicably uneasy after witnessing Shalltear’s unfathomable eeriness, met an eccentric person near her house.

  “……You are, if I’m not mistaken…… Pandora, right?”


  [If it isn’t Lillywood-sama. Good day.]

  Pandora, Shalltear’s retainer, was personally trained by Shalltear, and she was one of the people who carry out Shalltear’s orders in various parts of the Demon Realm.

  Because of this, she rarely came to the house where Lillywood and the others lived, and they never talked to each other much.

  All Lillywood knew was that Pandora was the closest confidant Shalltear had, and that she had lost one of her eyes in the past.

  However, was it because she’s Shalltear’s confidant, and that’s why she made such a decision? Lillywood, as if her actions were guided by an unseen hand, took a certain action.

  “……If I remember correctly, weren’t you missing one of your eyes?”


  [Yes, I lost it a long time ago…… What of it?]

  “If you want, you can have this…… If you eat this fruit, it will heal back your missing eye.”


  [………………..]

  Lillywood handed Pandora the Fruit of the World Tree, which heals all wounds except those that the person themselves doesn’t want to heal.

  Lillywood herself didn’t know exactly why she had suddenly taken such action.

  Did she simply want to heal the painful wounds of someone she knew, or did she want Pandora to feel grateful to her so that she could somehow get information about Shalltear, or perhaps…… Because she was getting so creeped out by Shalltear, she wants to diminish the unspeakable anxiety she’s feeling, even though it may be indirectly, by confirming that Pandora, whom she has taken under her wing, is a normal person……


  Pandora stared at the Fruit of the World Tree handed to her for a while, and then, without any particular hesitation, she brought it into her mouth.

  [……Thank you very much for your concern, Lillywood-sama.]

  “No, please don’t mind it. Even though we haven’t had much chance to talk with each other, I still consider you as part of our family———– Eh?”


  Lillywood was relieved that Pandora had obediently accepted her generosity, and tried to calmly tell her they’re family with a gentle smile but…… the relief she felt was soon shattered.

  After all, Pandora, whose lost right eye was healed, without any hesitations…… “gouged out her right eye with her own hand”……


  “W- What are you…… What are you doing!?”


  [……Ahh, with this, I finally feel perfect……]

  “……Eh?”


  Seeing Pandora’s sudden actions, Lillywood exclaimed in astonishment, but she stiffened when she saw the deep smile that Pandora had immediately afterward.

  [The wounds that trash has given me has finally disappeared…… “and I’ve also finished crushing the right eye that Lillywood-sama gave me”. With this, my body is entirely “composed of only the things given to me by Shalltear-sama”! Ahh, how wonderful! Now, my body, my soul, my everything! All of it now belongs to Shalltear-sama! Ahh…… This happiness…… I feel so happy…… as if I’m about to climax.]

  “……Wha……”


  [Thank you very much, Lillywood-sama…… Now, I can truly and completely be “Shalltear-sama’s servant”. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.]

  “……………….”


  Lillywood had no idea what the being in front of her was talking about. She couldn’t understand what Pandora was thinking when she stomped out her gouged out right eye, blood flowing down her face and smiling like a mad woman.

  Watching Pandora’s back as she deeply bowed and left, Lillywood looked pale as she muttered.

  “……Servant? Shalltear…… What did you do to Pandora…… For you…… is that your ideal soldier?”


  Her voice reaching no one’s ears, her voice slightly trembled as she muttered. At this time, Lillywood clearly felt that Shalltear was terrifying.

  She had raised a subordinate with a loyalty that could even be perceived as madness. She was too rational and cold-hearted that she would want beings who would willingly die for her…… Thinking of Shalltear as such a person, Lillywood became afraid of her from the bottom of her heart.

  Incidentally…… This was just Lillywood’s complete misunderstanding. Among Shalltear’s subordinates, the only one who had this outrageous amount of loyalty is Pandora. In fact, even Shalltear is holding her head at Pandora’s loyalty, wondering how the heck it came to this.

  But to Lillywood, who didn’t know about this, it was as if Shalltear had intentionally raised Pandora to a mad woman.

  It was going to take her a really long time before she could clear up this misunderstanding.

  Just like that, despite some miscalculations and misunderstandings, things proceeded generally as Shalltear had planned…… and five years later, the “Six Kings” has been established as the pinnacle of the Demon Realm.

  With her demonic skills, Shalltear took control of the Demon Realm…… calling herself the nameless king, the Phantasmal King No Face, she finally began to move towards her true goal.

  However, her plans had only managed to get her this far…… and Shalltear’s true purpose hadn’t progressed until an astonishing amount of years later passed…… and the otherworlder Miyama Kaito appeared.

  **********