The Demon Lord Golius was witnessing an unbelievable sight.

A giant made of a mass of metal had descended from the sky.

It was looking down on him, but the metal it was made of was impossible.

It was a mass of metals from legends and myths, who knows where they were gathered from.

There was no doubt it was an existence far superior to himself.

The lump of metal was certainly alive.

It possessed a will and was watching over its master, Liam.

Golius felt that if he were to challenge it, he would have absolutely no chance of winning.

If he challenged it, he would surely be annihilated, never to be revived again.

Even if he could be revived, he couldn't imagine a scenario where he would win.

But the giant didn't matter.

What was unbelievable—what he didn't want to believe—was the katana Liam held.

(I-Impossible. That weapon is impossible. Something like that—something like that shouldn't be allowed to exist in this world!?)

Golius was terrified by the metal faintly mixed into the katana.

It resembled gold, but it was something even greater than gold—a metal that should not exist in this world.

At the very least, he didn't want it pointed at him.

To put it in perspective—it was like 'launching a nuclear missile at an ant'.

It was overkill to an absurd degree.

And the biggest problem was Liam.

(What is this guy!?)

Despite all his talk about being evil and how humans were the true evil—what Golius could see behind him was the will of the tens of billions of people who adored Liam.

The prayers and wishes of the people he had saved up until now were protecting Liam.

They shone like golden particles, lending Liam their power.

He was protected by a sacred power, which he wielded unconsciously.

By obtaining a sacred weapon, that power had materialized and was now empowering Liam.

(This guy isn't human.)

He had never seen a human like this before.

For the first time, he was faced with an existence completely different from himself—and vastly superior.

It wasn't just the living.

The dead, and even the stars themselves, were backing Liam.

As Liam, bathed in a divine light, drew the dangerous katana, its blade seemed to shine with a golden glow.

To Liam and the others, it probably looked normal, but to Golius, it looked like a light that would annihilate him.

In fact, his very existence was starting to fade in the face of that light.

“—What's so evil about me? You're something else entirely—”

However, Liam, as if bored with his conversation with Golius, swung his katana down without hesitation.

“Shut up already. I have nothing more to say to you.”

With a single swing from Liam, even the evil atmosphere that had dominated the Demon Lord's castle was blown away and purified.

Fueled by Liam's will to never let him revive again, Golius was completely and utterly annihilated.

◇

I've disposed of the small fry who called himself a Demon Lord.

“—I was forced to use my favorite katana. On a weakling like this.”

He called himself a Demon Lord, but he was just a small fry.

I ended up using my trump card, my katana, against such a weak opponent.

I'm ashamed of myself.

“An existence that can't be cut, huh.”

I've heard of enemies that are immune to both physical and magical attacks, but in an interstellar nation, they can be easily annihilated with machines.

But that's not good enough.

I need to have a countermeasure myself.

“But, how does one go about cutting an un-cuttable existence—?”

As I was pondering this, Ellen leaped at me from the sky.

“Masterrrr!”

She was crying, with a runny nose.

I must have worried her a lot; Ellen clung to me and wouldn't let go.

“Sorry to worry you. More importantly, who came to pick us up?”

“Sniffle—Amagi-san, Brian-san, and Nias-san—”

“Huh? Why would those two and Nias come? If it was just an errand, there are others with free time, like Tia or Marie, right?”

Wait, Nias is here? She wouldn't be worried about me disappearing.

No, wait, she would. She's the type to make a fuss about her sponsor vanishing.

“This is a pain. Amagi and Brian are here? I just meant for this to be a short break.”

I'm going to get scolded right away.

From my shadow, Kunai appeared.

“Lord Liam, it is the Chief.”

“Hm? Kukuri came too?”

From behind a pillar standing amidst the rubble, a large, masked man appeared.

He was holding a weapon as he approached me, so I stopped Kukuri with my right hand to protect Kunai.

“Lord Liam, I am most relieved to see you are safe. And please, do not interfere with the elimination of an incompetent subordinate. Kuhahaha.”

Kunai knelt, offering her neck to Kukuri.

“I forgive her. Besides, I'm the one who dragged her into this. You forgive her too.”

“—Well, if it is Lord Liam's command, I shall obey.”

“She worked hard. I'll give her a reward as well.”

Kukuri looked down at Kunai.

“Be grateful to Lord Liam.”

“Yes, sir!”

Watching Kukuri sheathe his weapon, I picked up the crying Ellen.

Kunai was bowing deeply to me, but there was something I had to ask first.

“Kukuri, did anything unusual happen?”

Did something happen while I was gone? When I asked, Kukuri tilted his head slightly.

“Yes. The territory has split, other nobles have moved in, and a successor to Lord Liam has been put forward. There have been traitors from the Cleo faction as well, and it seems they plan to join forces with pirates to plunder the Banfield family's domain.”

“—Huh?”

◇

“Those damn fools!”

When I returned to the castle city of the Ahl Kingdom, it had been taken over by mobile knights who had descended upon it.

The spaceships floating in the sky were blocking out the sun.

Even though it was midday with a cloudless sky, it was dim.

Thousands of warships had come to retrieve me, but that's fine!

That's to be expected.

However, what I cannot forgive is that Tia and Marie have risen up.

They've been running around the territory as they please, claiming to be my successors.

“I start to think a little better of them, and this is what happens. What should I do with them?”

Normally, they wouldn't have been able to take advantage of the situation just because I was away for a bit.

But no, my own foolish subordinates had to cause a ruckus, and now it's a huge mess.

And who the hell is this Isaac! I'll never acknowledge someone like him as my successor!

“Tia, Marie, and Isaac—I'll deal with them when I get back. But before that...”

As I walked down the corridor of the royal castle, knights followed me.

It seemed the knights who came to get me had seized control of the castle.

When I arrived at the audience chamber, the throne had been left vacant for me.

The princess who summoned me and the other dignitaries of the Ahl Kingdom were all in handcuffs.

The kingdom's knights were in the same state.

Some of them must have resisted, as they were beaten to a pulp.

It's a pleasant sight.

My subordinates looked relieved to see me, but some among them were trembling.

“D-Don't mess with us! How could such a primitive magic circle break through our barrier! You must be hiding something! Spit it out! If you don't, we'll use every means at our disposal to—”

“P-Please forgive us! Forgive us!”

The mages I employed were surrounding the summoning mage, who was called something like Shitasan, and berating him.

They probably couldn't believe that such a primitive magic circle had pierced their defenses.

They all looked haggard, so I felt a little bad.

After all, in that moment—I could have escaped if I had wanted to.

“You lot, you're being noisy.”

“Lord Liam!? M-My deepest apologies. I will atone for this with my life. So please, I beg you, spare my family!”

To the inhabitants of this planet, all of my personal mages would probably be considered sages.

Seeing such sages prostrating themselves before me, begging for forgiveness, the dignitaries of the Ahl Kingdom finally seemed to grasp the situation.

Kukuri was looking at me.

“Lord Liam, how shall we dispose of them?”

“—There won't be a next time. Re-evaluate the mansion's defenses.”

“Oh, what a blessing!”

Since I managed to get out, executing them for this would be going too far.

When I said I'd forgive them just this once, they all repeatedly slammed their heads on the floor to thank me.

—I was a little taken aback.

I sat on the throne and crossed my legs, and my knights forced everyone to kneel before me.

The officials who came to retrieve me were looking at the people of the Ahl Kingdom with cold eyes.

“Calling it a 'Hero Summoning' makes it sound a little better, but what they've done is kidnapping. Lord Liam, I believe we should make these people understand their place.”

They must have been in quite a panic due to my absence; the officials seemed quite furious.

“You're right. A planet like this, we might as well destroy it. It's a world that would lose to a petty villain like that. It's doomed to fall soon anyway.”

Let's just destroy the whole planet! As I said that, two women stood up.

Queen Enora and—Kanami.

“P-Please wait!”

“What do you mean, destroy the planet! That's going way too far!”

The knights drew their swords, but I raised my right hand slightly to make them stand down.

Facing the lot who had just received their death sentence, I laughed like a true villain.

“You kidnapped me with summoning magic. That is a crime. I want you to atone for it, but what exactly can you offer?”

Enora, though looking down, answered that they would pay reparations.

“We will pay in gold and silver coins. So please, we beg your mercy.”

“Fine! Prepare enough treasure to fill this castle. If you do that, I'll consider it.”

“What!? Th-That's impossible.”

“Are you saying my value is that low? Hey, what do you all think?”

Fill the castle with treasure.

I demanded it knowing it was absolutely impossible, but the reaction of my subordinates around me was—

“That's not nearly enough.”

“In the first place, their sense of guilt is far too low.”

“To say it's impossible before even trying to gather it. I question whether they are repentant at all.”

—Getting such deadpan replies puts me in a tough spot too.

I thought this was a scene where I should laugh like a villain, but the reaction from my usually quiet subordinates was too unexpected.

They were quite seriously angry, and it didn't sound like a joke.

“Well, whatever. In that case—”

“What in the world are you doing?”

“—Ah, Amagi!”

Just as I was thinking about tormenting them some more, the doors to the audience chamber opened.

I instantly straightened my posture and sat properly on the throne.

The one who appeared before me was Amagi.

—And then, a crying Brian came running towards me.

“Lord Liaaaam!!”

“D-Don't come near me! A grown man's tears are disgusting!”

“You are safe! You are truly safe! This Brian has spent many a sleepless night!”

As I tried to push him away, Amagi approached my side.

The surrounding subordinates were staring intently, their gazes shifting between Amagi's face and mine.

“Master.”

“W-What is it?”

“When you were being summoned, you deliberately chose not to leave, did you not?”

“—Yes.”

“It is not a commendable method, but these people were also driven to this action out of desperation. Furthermore, you knew we would come for you, didn't you? —Please end your games here.”

Everyone around me was waiting for my response.

If I were to defy Amagi's words and order the planet's destruction, these people would carry it out without hesitation.

But if I do that, Amagi will get angry with me.

This planet isn't worth that much.

But to call it off just because Amagi told me to is shameful for a corrupt lord.

Tch, what should I do?

Brian wiped his tears and straightened his posture.

“Lord Liam, it is the law of the Empire to keep contact with intelligent lifeforms incapable of space travel to a minimum. We must not engage in actions that would interfere and harm their diversity. This contact was an unforeseen event due to the summoning, so let us please end this peacefully.”

If I changed my policy just because Amagi scolded me, I'd lose face.

But here, I'll use the lifeline Brian threw me.

“Y-You're right. If it's the Empire's law, it can't be helped! Alright, withdraw!”

Hearing my command, my subordinates saluted in unison and began to move hastily.

Seeing them obey without question, they must understand that I have a weakness for Amagi.

It makes me feel a bit pathetic, but the fact they obey without a word shows they understand a lot.

That's what I like about you guys.

Amagi bowed her head to me.

“Thank you very much for heeding my opinion. However, once we return, let us have a talk with Lord Brian.”

“Don't be angry. —I'll apologize.”

Faced with the accusing gazes of Amagi and Brian, I fled the audience chamber as if escaping.

◇

Queen Enora was witnessing an unbelievable sight.

The otherworldly army, which had been so arrogant, had obediently followed the orders of a single woman who had just appeared.

She looked just like a goddess.

She wore strange attire, a beautiful dress.

The woman removed Enora's handcuffs and then took her right hand in both of hers.

Her red eyes were so beautiful, it felt like one could be drawn into them.

“I am terribly sorry. Please allow me to apologize on his behalf.”

“N-No! U-Um, may I ask your name?”

“—It is Amagi. Also, for your future reconstruction, I have prepared some supplies. Please use them as you see fit.”

“Y-You would do that for us?”

“We have caused you trouble. However—it would be best not to perform the Hero Summoning in the future. The magic circle is too unstable. There is a possibility of an accident like this one occurring again.”

Hearing Amagi's words, Enora could only nod.

“But, if the Demon Lord appears again, there is nothing we can do.”

“That Demon Lord was vanquished by my Master—Lord Liam. He will never revive. And from now on, you must overcome challenges with your own strength.”

To Enora, Amagi truly looked like a goddess.

And so, with a pleading heart, she begged for help.

“We are weak. Please, I beg you. Please help us!”

However, Amagi shook her head.

“You must overcome it. That is the trial that has been given to you.”

◇

As I was about to head back with my luggage, a woman spoke to me.

It was Kanami.

“W-Wait!”

“What is it?”

“Well, um—those people are saying they're going to send me back?”

I've ordered my personal mages to send Kanami back to her original world.

If I leave her in this world, nothing good will come of it.

She'll be happier if she goes back.

“It's free of charge, so don't worry.”

“—I don't want to go back.”

“Don't you want to see your beloved Papa?”

At that, Kanami let out a wave of anger.

My guards around me reached for their weapons, but I silenced them with a look.

“Not Papa! The only one who loved me was my father! —Though, he's dead now.”

It seems she has a complicated family situation.

It's none of my business, but it would bother me if we parted ways here, so I'll talk to her.

I set my large luggage aside and sat down on the stairs to talk with Kanami.

“I'm not interested in your family situation. But people have a world they're meant to live in. Go back to your homeland.”

I'm sure her dead father would want that too.

He wouldn't want his daughter to remain in such a blood-soaked world.

“Even if I go back, my mother will just sell me off. I'd rather stay here and help with the reconstruction.”

“You're an idiot. Now that the Demon Lord is gone, this world has no need for you. In fact, a powerful human like you is nothing but a nuisance.”

“Enora wouldn't do that.”

To trust that queen... this girl really has no eye for people.

“Even that queen will do it if those around her tell her to. No, the people around her might just act on their own and kill you. In the end, it won't be a good outcome for either of you.”

“N-No way...”

Looking at Kanami's shocked face, I can't help but want to look after her.

It's probably because her name is the same as my daughter's.

—Well, a lot happened in my past life, but my daughter wasn't the root cause of my suffering.

I came to hate her at some point, but thinking about it, she was just a small child back then.

I still can't bring myself to like her, but it wasn't to the point of hating her.

The ones I should hate are the woman who abandoned me and the man who made her do it.

Kanami reminded me of that.

“You may think you've become friends with that queen, but she seems weak-willed. Eventually, she'll fear you and push you away. If you part ways here, you can keep the memories beautiful.”

She's the ultimate weapon brought here to defeat the Demon Lord.

Once the Demon Lord is gone, she'll naturally become an obstacle.

Kanami hid her face, pressing her forehead to her knees.

“Haha... In the end, I have nowhere to go.”

“Make your own place in the world.”

“I can't. If I go back, I'm just a normal high school student. I can't do anything.”

Looking at Kanami, I can't help but see her overlapping with my daughter from my past life.

Her last name is different, and it would be a miracle if we were reunited here.

She's definitely not the same person.

I think they're similar, but that girl is surely living happily with her real papa.

—Abandoning me, they're probably enjoying themselves.

That's infuriating.

I hope they all end up miserable.

However, we met by some twist of fate.

I'll help her out a little.

I took a bag of gold coins from my pocket and handed it to Kanami.

“Huh?”

“These are gold coins I got from the Demon Lord's castle.”

“—Are you really rich? What were you doing at the Demon Lord's castle? Stealing gold coins, what were you thinking?”

Her goody-two-shoes way of thinking makes me want to laugh.

“The Demon Lord's treasure belongs to me, the one who defeated him. More importantly, gold is valuable in your world too, right?”

Kanami nodded, so I gave her the gold coins.

“Use those coins as you like. You can start your life over, or you can waste them on having fun. It's up to you.”

Kanami clutched the bag of gold coins.

“Can I really start over with this money?”

“That's up to you. Now, hurry up and go back.”

The mages, their preparations seemingly complete, were waiting for Kanami.

I gave her a push on the back, shouldered the large luggage I had set aside, and headed for the warship.

Kanami called out to me.

“You know, you're nicer than I thought.”

“—Here's a piece of advice while I'm at it. You should learn to be a better judge of men. You're terrible at reading people.”

“W-What was that! I just complimented you, you don't have to say it like that!?”

That's why you're an idiot.

This was just a whim.

And I am a corrupt lord—a great villain.

You were lucky to be saved by me on a whim.

Brian (´；ω；｀): "It pains me that Lord Liam is so cold to this Brian."