Published: March 21, 2026
"W-what are you saying..."
I sensed Sato turn to look back at me.
I slid my notebook into my pocket, clenched my fist, and glared at the horizon.
"What do you mean, 'what'? How we're going to get back to our original world, of course. We learned we can't return unless we deal with the Demon King. So I've been thinking this whole time about how to stop him. If talking can't make him understand, the next step is fists. If fists can't change him, then it's killing. That guy—the Demon King—won't give up until he's dead. Then there's nothing left but to kill him."
I'm sorry, Lattice Nail and Yoru, but I've given up on saving the Demon King.
If this were a story or a game world, maybe there'd be a way to avoid killing him, or he'd give up if he lost. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be room for such miracles.
"Not just 'the Demon King' but 'the Demon Clan'?"
Kyousuke asked quietly, and I nodded.
"Yeah. I'm going to wipe out the Demon Clan, Demon King included. I'll bury their absurd ideas and everything so they never lay a hand on my family again."
"You don't have to kill them all!"
"The Demon Clan— the Ten Demon Lords' Council—are agreeing with and aiding the Demon King's plan. Even if we defeat the Demon King, can you swear they won't carry on his will, or resurrect him, or end up doing the same thing? Can you guarantee they won't?"
"That's..."
Sato's protests trailed off as his gaze wandered at my words.
We were the ones who actually talked with the Demon King; we know. His charisma, his pull—it’s real. Mahiro and Noren might not have been like that, but it's not unreasonable to think there could be a zealot or two among the others.
"To stop the chain of tragedy and revenge from starting, eradicating it from the root is best. If we defeat the Demon King and return to our world, are we supposed to live in fear—always wondering if someday another invasion will come from this other world?"
Right now, we don't even know if an invasion from another world is actually possible. But the fact that someone said they would do it means we have to be on guard. And if we leave it half-done, we'll be on alert our whole lives. If there's no peace, can we really call returning 'going home'?
"It's a trolley problem. You've heard of it, right? Since the Demon King won't budge an inch, if we intervene, the residents of this world—where the fighting will happen—will suffer casualties, and our families in the other world are being targeted. On the other side, the Demon Clan is one of the least populous races in this world. Which do you choose? It's obvious. At least, I've decided."
He tried to hurt my family. If that happened to you, you couldn't complain either, right?
Still, I might regret this choice later. Even if I wipe out the Demon Clan, other races could reach the same conclusion as the Demon King. If that happens, will I end up killing everyone in this world?
"That's impossible! The Demon Clan doesn't have distinctive looks like the Human race, so if they hide in the Continent, you can't tell them apart. And even if they are the smallest race, with ten or so towns, considering what Morte said, their total population would be over five thousand. Maybe even ten thousand. You expect one person to go around and kill all of them? The Demon King and you—this is totally unrealistic! Also, what about Lattice Nail?"
Sato had turned his body to face me, his expression twisted. At some point Kyousuke had also turned and was watching me intently. The three of us each staring at different seas atop this narrow lookout was odd, but the sight of the three of us facing each other was pretty strange too.
I mulled that in the corner of my mind and answered Sato. I thought I'd explained the World Eye when we were searching inside the Ogre's entrails, but then I realized Kyousuke and Mr. Zeal were there—Sato wasn't.
"Didn't I tell you? My extra skill, 'world eye', lets me view other people's status boards. It shows their race, so even if a Demon is hiding among Humans I can tell. As for Lattice Nail, that's on hold for now."