Published at 25th of March 2019 11:09 pm

Chapter 109: Cosmos

Old man, mum, did that reassure you?

This is the closest place to heaven, but did I reach you? Were you watching me?

I don’t know if I grew up as you wanted me to, but I’m still alive.

“Guh, ga…… ue, disgusting……” (Chirotan)

“Hm? You’re up, huh.” (Velt)

Chirotan woke up while lying down on a cloud.

However, although he did regain consciousness, he probably doesn’t have any more power to fight.

His bright red skin restored its black colour.

“Aren’t, aren’t you going…… to deal the finishing blow?” (Chirotan)

“Ah?” (Velt)

“Don’t…… underestimate me…… if you don’t kill me, now…… I’ll destroy the sky world, no matter how many times it takes.” (Chirotan)

“Kuhahahahaha, you sure are an obstinate demon king.” (Velt)

The finishing blow, huh. Well, it probably would be better to deal it here, even though I’ve never killed before in my life.

“That’s quite a cliche phrase for a demon king. Well, it certainly would trouble me if a problem occurred because I overlooked you.” (Velt)

Defeating this guy and protecting a new life is my tribute to my old man and mum’s souls.

But from here on out, I can decide what to do.

Even if people say I’ve changed…… kuku, just kidding……

“It’s dangerous to bring the child here, you know.” (Velt)

As I tried to move, an angel holding a small life swooped down from the other side of the clear sky.

It’s Eljiela and her child.

“Velt-sama…… thank you very much. Really, I cannot say that enough.” (Eljiela)

“Are you fine?” (Velt)

“Yes. I am able to fly now.” (Eljiela)

“I see.” (Velt)

She looks worn out. I guess it’s only reasonable. She gave birth to a child and became exhausted to the point of almost dying after all.

There’s no way she could be fine.

“So, what’s up? You know, if we were still fighting…… like, there was a chance something could’ve happened if the demon king’s injuries were shallow, alright? And yet you still brought a kid here.” (Velt)

“No. I believed. In you…… who I only met today…… who saved this child. So, it is fine already. There is no need for anyone to shed further blood.” (Eljiela)

I wonder what logic she has behind that.

If I was a soldier, I would’ve preached her about the reality and about the risks, but I don’t have much to say since I’m not.

In the end, no one knows what to do about overlooking Chirotan.

“Demon king Chirotan. We meet again.” (Eljiela)

“…… Tch…… damn ugly……” (Chirotan)

Dangerous~……

Eljiela takes a seat next to Chirotan.

Oi, this baby, it’s so calm it’s sleeping.

However, despite my concern, Eljiela gently started talking.

“Can we both………… make peace with each other, now?” (Eljiela)

…… This princess, she’s still saying these kind things at this point in time.

“Yeah right, dumbass! Are the heads of the sky race completely empty or something? In this exciting warring period, blood washes blood, and there’s no other way of settling things. Kill me! Just kill me! Just kill me right now, rather than make me live in disgraaaaaaace!” (Chirotan)

Even Chirotan became irritated.

However, Eljiela didn’t falter.

“We took up our swords to protect our country. We did our best to make sure you would never harm this world again. But, I saw it. I saw the warped smiles of the beautiful sky maidens who were driven by their sexual desire…… and, I saw that war…… is something that drives both enemies and allies mad.” (Eljiela)

Although they are of a different race, the women who were raised without knowing men, learnt what men were.

They learnt that they were women.

And, they learnt the exaltation you gain from war.

Eljiela learnt that it changed the others.

“That was so tough and painful that I wanted to end this war immediately…… even if I became a devil…… that was what I thought. However…… I realised something after becoming a mother.” (Eljiela)

“Ah?” (Chirotan)

“The part of love that makes you want to protect what is important to you is creating this sorrowful world.” (Eljiela)

“……… Haa?” (Chirotan)

“I will do anything for this child too. Nothing will ever be equal in my mind and I will always prioritise this child, so if anyone were to hurt this child, I would not even mind making the world my enemy. Since I thought that…… I thought you may be the same too…… so I do not want to fight any more than this.” (Eljiela)

Eljiela hugged her daughter tightly with great care.

That pure and innocent life that hasn’t been tainted by anything, was sleeping with a peaceful face.

I understand her feelings about doing anything for that child too.

“So…… demon king Chirotan-sama, please…… please, could you end this war here as the king?” (Eljiela)

“End…… you say?” (Chirotan)

“Yes. I, princess Eljiela of the Sky Kingdom Holaiend, would like to make a peace pact. Your people who were taken as prisoners will be promptly released too.” (Eljiela)

Oi…… isn’t this too naive?

“I do not want…… to hold this baby in hands that were soiled with blood.” (Eljiela)

It’s not like I don’t understand where she’s coming from, but like, this is a demon king you’re talking to.

And although I probably shouldn’t say this, he’s not really an intellectual demon king.

Considering the future, killing him here is probably……

“…… Name……” (Chirotan)

“Pardon?” (Eljiela)

“What’s…… that kid’s name?” (Chirotan)

Eljiela was surprised by Chirotan’s unexpected question for a moment, but she immediately answered with a smile.

“Cosmos………… with the wish of this day not just being the end of the war…… but for today to be the day a new world of harmony was made.” (Eljiela)

Cosmos…… that’s the name of the child who made me resolved.

And in a way…… it could be the name of the child who changed this world.

“Damn it…… sleeping so carefreely…… she’s so cute, damn it! What kind of angel is she!” (Chirotan)

Everything that had piled up in Chirotan probably disappeared when he saw Cosmos fast asleep, as he lied down and looked up at the sky.

Then, I feel like he smiled just a little.

“Let us return to the town, Velt-sama. We can treat demon king Chirotan-sama there too.” (Eljiela)

“……… It’s not my problem if something happens.” (Velt)

Seriously. If anything else happens, it’s not my responsibility, alright?

I floated Chirotan with levitation as I said that and flew with Eljiela.

“Hey, sheetty brat.” (Chirotan)

“What do you want, demon king.” (Velt)

“This is a crummy conclusion to our flashy battle……” (Chirotan)

“Yeah, a mother’s love and a child’s cuteness is the strongest thing ever.” (Velt)

“Keh……” (Chirotan)

Mid-flight, Chirotan faced me to grumble and complain in a powerless voice.

And, I just answered normally towards this king of another species.

Well, I’m used to these kinds of VIPs though.

“Hey, sheetty brat…………” (Chirotan)

“Yeah okay, what do you want?” (Velt)

“It’s not just us.” (Chirotan)

“Hah?” (Velt)

“I’m telling you that it’s not just us. We just found it by chance, but the world will eventually realise this sky world’s existence.” (Chirotan)

“Yeah, maybe. Well, everyone seems to be way more interested in the war on the Divine Being Continent rather than their dreams of reaching the sky world.” (Velt)

Chirotan and I talked in a small voice so Eljiela couldn’t hear us.

This pact might be fine for Chirotan.

However, it’s too naive to think this will resolve anything from now on.

“Sheetty brat…… did you know…… that there’s a monster hiding in this world?” (Chirotan)

“Monster?” (Velt)

“Demons, demi-humans and humanity are all possessed by that monster. Even after hundreds of thousands of sacrifices, it’s still not enough. It covers the world in pitch black darkness and taints the land with bright red blood. That monster has existed since long ago in the past. Do you know what it is?” (Chirotan)

“………… No……” (Velt)

“That monster is a piece of sheet called『hostility』,『hatred』and『justice』.” (Chirotan)

“Ho~, that’s a pretty good way of putting it coming from a demon king that even has muscles for cells.” (Velt)

He might be right……

Hostility, hatred and justice are breaking this world.

And it’s not just this world.

It might’ve been the same in Asakura Ryuuma’s world too.

“I only know how to destroy things. With just my hostility and hatred, I’ve always sent people flying if they were annoying. I took everything I wanted.” (Chirotan)

“You’re saying you were seized by hostility and hatred?” (Velt)

“Yeah, that’s right…… what about you?” (Chirotan)

What about me? I half-heartedly participated in a war, but ultimately, all I did was protect who I wanted to protect and knock down the guy I wanted to knock down.

Although I received a formal medal, I didn’t want to gain anything more.

“War was the one thing I kept running away from. If I don’t get involved with war, I wouldn’t have to do anything more than just hate the people I hate. I haven’t reached your extreme thoughts of destroying whole countries.” (Velt)

That’s right. I don’t feel like saving the world or humanity, and I don’t want to gain honour either. So, I don’t feel like participating in war as long as I don’t have any special reason behind it.

“I’m fine from just defeating my enemy and protecting my own world, like my family, friends and women. Well, recently those friends and my woman have been taking the initiative to participate in the war, so it’s troubling.” (Velt)

“Just your own world? Well, you’re a small bastard.” (Chirotan)

“It’s none of your business. Who cares, those small things are my everything. But, if my world is threatened, I’ll fight against the whole world if I have to. I made that resolution today.” (Velt)

It’s not like I have hostility or hatred, and even if I try to think about it, I still wouldn’t know what justice is.

So, I’m fine like this. I kept thinking I was fine like this.

“Guhahahahahahahahaha, you make me vomit!” (Chirotan)

“You’re vomiting blood, you know?” (Velt)

Chirotan laughed while spitting out blood and glaring at me in displeasure.

“You don’t understand anything. One of these days, if you keep thinking it doesn’t matter to you, you’ll lose everything. Everything! Afterwards, you’ll regret it, curse this world, bare your hostility and hatred, and then rampage with a mad sense of justice!” (Chirotan)

The demon king seemed like he was lecturing me for being naive, and I couldn’t respond.

“Guhahahahahaha, you should learn the reality! Learn the depth of war that has no bottom! Harmony? Peace? Heart? Learn that those things readily break! Guhahahahahahahahh!” (Chirotan)

It happened in an instant.

“Wha!” (Velt)

Chirotan mustered all his remaining power to break out of my magic binds.

He did it the moment I felt hesitation from the words he said.

“Y, you asshole! You don’t know when to give up!” (Velt)

“Velt-sama!” (Eljiela)

I moved without a moment’s delay to make sure Eljiela and the child are safe, rather than to capture Chirotan.

However, Chirotan took an unexpected action.

“Dispelling grudges at this point in time is impossible! I won’t do as you want me to!” (Chirotan)

Chirotan mustered all his remaining power to fly far below the sea of clouds, rather than to us.

Did he run away?

No, he’s trying to settle things his own way because he can’t stand living in disgrace!

“Guhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Eat shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!” (Chirotan)

A large explosion occurred between the clouds and the sea.

The light and vibration of that explosion reached the sky world.

However, the sky world was still safe.

Of course it is. Chirotan didn’t cause an explosion to end it as a tie.

“You, you idiot……… why are you so extreme! Committing suicide because losing left a bad aftertaste!? Why do you have to die because you lost!?” (Velt)

However, Chirotan didn’t answer my shouting.

Let alone that, I can’t even see his figure anymore.

Did Chirotan die? There’s no way to check that.

Finding him in these fumes from the explosion is impossible.

Eljiela and I felt disconsolate as we gazed at those fumes.

“Eh, eu, ho, hogyaaaaaa! Hogyaaa!” (Cosmos)

Cosmos, who was sleeping peacefully, woke up and started crying.

We were just as frustrated.

“Why can we not understand each other?” (Eljiela)

“It can’t be helped, some people in this world are just like that.” (Velt)

“But, but……… his eyes when he looked at Cosmos……… were very gentle.” (Eljiela)

Yeah, I think so too, but this is the result.

This is『war』. Even though it can’t just be settled with that one word, that was the only word I could think of.

“People will definitely be able to understand each other someday if they connect with love……… he should have love, too………” (Eljiela)

Concerning this result, Eljiela and I might’ve been naive.

However, it can’t just be settled with the one word, 『naive』.

“Eljiela. The world definitely isn’t so sweet that it can be saved through kindness. But you know……… there are pieces of sheet who reconsider themselves from being saved by kindness too.” (Velt)

“Velt……… sama………” (Eljiela)

“Just like how the stupidest creature wants to become a much better human.” (Velt)

I thought that much was certain.

Then, Eljiela muttered with eyes that seemed like they were looking far away, even while she gazed at the fumes from the explosion.

“I really do not know anything about this world.” (Eljiela)

And, those eyes seemed like they had decided something.

“I would like to learn more about this world. I would like to see more of it. And, I would like to…… teach this child about this wide world.” (Eljiela)

Eljiela muttered that while soothing Cosmos.

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