Chapter 92: Human-Demon Conference

Thus, the Sixth Demonic War reached its final stage.

On the day of that decisive battle, the hero Karl sat alone before the Demon King's army and raised a black cloth.

“What’s this now?”

“Is it some kind of enemy ploy?”

The demons were suspicious of the hero’s actions, but only Demon King Yury realized Karl bore no hostility and ordered the entire army to halt.

Apparently, that black cloth was a symbol of the friendship between the Demon King and the Hero. Seeing it, the Demon King understood that the Hero had come alone as an envoy for peace.

“Demon King, I brought some booze.”

“Very well, I’ll have a drink with you.”

Responding gladly to Karl’s invitation, Yury took a seat.

For the first time in history, on the verge of a final battle, the Demon King and the Hero of humanity sat together and shared drinks.

From this incident, it became widely recognized across nations that an envoy bearing a black cloth signaled a “sign of peace.”

Incidentally, even now, a small number of researchers continue to push a radical theory that “it wasn’t a black cloth the Hero raised, but black panties.” However, let it be clearly stated that there is no evidence whatsoever to support such a claim.

—Excerpt from “A History of Demons and Humankind” by Ike Welmund

---

“So. What did you want to talk about, Karl?”

“Come on, take a seat, Ilyu. It’s been a while.”

The small drinking session took place on a simple setup—just a small cloth laid out over the grass.

All around them, the area was filled with demons radiating killing intent.

“First of all, give me back my panties. Seriously... what is wrong with you?”

“Ah, my bad, my bad—here you go. By the way, how did those come off, anyway?”

“That happened when I overcharged the cannon with magic and it exploded... wait, that doesn’t matter right now.”

“Ha ha ha! So that was your own fault, huh? That’s so like you, Ilyu.”

But even while surrounded by dangerous demons, Karl showed no fear.

Casually, as if visiting an old friend he hadn’t seen in ten years, Karl placed the panties at Ilyu’s feet and poured her a drink.

“Here.”

“...Thanks.”

Ilyu accepted the cup and poured Karl a drink in return.

And thus began the first ever “pre-battle banquet” in history.

“...Well then, let’s drink.”

“Hold up, we toast first.”

“...Fair enough.”

Ilyu looked ready to down her drink in a hurry.

It was clear she only intended to “go along with it” out of formality.

“Let’s just get the toast over with.”

“...Yeah. Let’s pray that the war between demons and humans ends with as few casualties as possible.”

“Agreed.”

Facing Ilyu, who clearly wanted to get this charade over with, Karl said that—

“Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

Quietly, the two exchanged cups and took a sip of their drinks.

---

“Well then, I’ve finished my drink. That’s it for me.”

“Hey now, I’m only halfway through. You said you’d have a drink with me.”

“I never said I’d match your drink. I meant mine.”

As expected, Ilyu moved to leave her seat early.

She had realized that the more friendly she became with someone she was about to fight to the death, the harder it would become.

“...Please. Just hear me out.”

“No. Humanity has deceived us again and again.”

“I’m not trying to deceive you. I’m not here to lie.”

Ilyu had once nearly come to trust this man—Karl.

And indeed, he was not the kind of man who lied. Ilyu knew that very well herself.

That’s why... she decided to listen just a little longer.

“...Make it quick.”

“Let’s make peace. A ceasefire for both sides—let’s stop this war.”

“What benefit would the demons get from such a proposal?”

“No one else has to die. What better benefit could there be?”

Karl spoke with unwavering eyes.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of deceit in them—no intent to trap her.

“We’ll make concessions. We’ll divide the land. A territory solely for demons, where humans will never interfere, as long as they remain within it.”

“...”

“Demons with demons. Humans with humans. We live separately and leave each other alone. We’ll sign a non-aggression pact.”

What Karl proposed wasn’t something he made up on his own.

It was a plan that had already been approved by the king.

In the event that the Hellfire Spell failed and humanity was at risk of losing, Karl had been granted permission in a council to negotiate peace with the demons under those terms.

There had been plenty of opposition, but the king had overridden it, promising to return part of the region known as the “Former Demon Territory” to demon control.

—If a rebellion broke out there, the political reasoning went, it would still cause far less damage than a final battle right in front of the capital.

“That’s nothing more than a fantasy.”

“It’s no fantasy. And if it comes true, Ilyu—you won’t have to cry anymore.”

Karl was making a genuine attempt to persuade Ilyu.

If she said yes here, peace could truly become reality.

“What you really want isn’t slaughter. It’s safety and peace for your people, right? Ilyu.”

“...You’re right.”

“Then please—will you accept this?”

Karl saw the current situation, with humanity on the verge of defeat, as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

At this very moment, the Hellfire Spell had already failed, and humanity was on the losing side.

It was the only chance for a peace treaty to be forged under equal terms—where the king would recognize demon territory.

“And then, let’s be friends again, Ilyu.”

“...Karl.”

“If peace is made, we won’t have to kill each other. No more reasons to fight. That means we could sit down like this and drink again.”

Gulp. Ilyu’s throat moved as she swallowed.

Even she had once dreamed of a peace like that. One where such a future could come true.

“It’s not just me. Let’s invite all our friends. Have another fun banquet together.”

“...”

“Sing one of your ridiculous, totally made-up songs again. I actually liked those, you know.”

She pictured it in her mind.

Karl and the others—once her enemies, once destined to battle to the death.

If she could talk and laugh with them again... how happy that would be.

“Come on, I’m begging you, Ilyu.”

Karl quietly extended his hand to the Demon King.

“Take my hand.”

...If Ilyu could find the resolve—

If she could grasp that hero’s hand—

Then surely, that vision would become reality.

Yes, a wonderful future surely awaited.

A future where Ilyu could smile—not as a Demon King, but as a friend of Karl and his companions.

---

“...I’m sorry.”

“...”

Smack.

That hand was brushed aside by the Demon King.

“If that future could really come true... how wonderful it would be.”

“It will come true. I swear I’ll make it happen.”

“Karl, I know you’re not lying. I understand that better than anyone.”

She squeezed each word out, one by one.

“But I still can’t trust humanity.”

Ilyu—the Demon King—firmly rejected Karl.

“Ilyu...”

“We don’t need to accept your offer. If we keep pushing forward, the demons will win.”

“But if there’s a path where we don’t have to fight...”

“We’re on the brink of victory. What reason is there to throw that away, just to gamble on a lie?”

The trauma carved into her by humanity led her to that decision.

Ilyu had been betrayed—over and over again. To the point it made her sick.

There was no way she could place her trust in humanity now, not at such a crucial moment, not with the fate of the entire demon race resting on her shoulders.

“Even if you don’t intend to deceive us, Karl, there’s still the chance you’re the one being deceived.”

“That’s not true! The current king is someone you can trust—he wouldn’t lie!”

“I don’t believe that. I’m done being betrayed.”

And thus, the negotiation collapsed.

From the beginning, perhaps persuasion had been an impossible dream.

Ilyu was a kind soul.

To arrive at her decision to fight, she had to overcome countless trials and summon all her resolve.

She hadn’t chosen this final battle lightly, nor with any half-hearted conviction that could be swayed by a single conversation.

“...I still consider you a comrade.”

“I consider you an enemy.”

“I see... That’s your answer. No matter what, it won’t change?”

“No. It won’t.”

—A rejection from the girl who had once been his ally.

For someone like Karl, ever the hopeless idealist, it was unbearably painful.

“I see. Then...”

“Then what?”

“You’re my enemy now, Ilyu.”

Karl spoke the words quietly, his face pale.

“You’re no longer my comrade.”

“I was never your comrade to begin with.”

That was something he had already decided.

If Ilyu refused to listen—if he realized there was no stopping her—

Karl had resolved, for the sake of his comrades, that he would kill Ilyu.

“I’m going to kill you now.”

“I approached you with the intent to kill you from the very beginning.”

“...That’s a shame.”

Facing each other head-on, the Hero and the Demon King exchanged words.

Their eyes now carried unmistakable hostility.

“...Then I’m heading back. You all, wait about half an hour before you resume your attack.”

“Oh? You’re telling us to hold off our assault until you’re back, Karl?”

“Well, anything else would be unfair, right?”

With that, Karl averted his gaze, bent one knee, and stood up.

He picked up the empty bottle of apple liquor and the cup he’d brought, then casually waved at the demons, shooing them aside to clear a path.

“The next time we meet... will be when I kill you.”

“Well, aren’t you confident.”

Ilyu gave a mocking smile.

Karl was, without question, one of the strongest fighters on the enemy side.

Among the warriors who had guarded Irine, he stood out as the most powerful by far.

“Is there any reason to let an enemy go free?”

“Hey now... That’d be crossing the line, don’t you think?”

“Actually, I hold your skills in very high regard, Karl. So much so that I’d like to finish you off right here.”

After all, Ilyu had done as Karl asked—she’d shared a drink and even listened to his proposal for peace.

As far as she was concerned, she’d already conceded more than enough.

She had never promised to let him go back unharmed.

“In my opinion, the one at fault here is you—for waltzing into enemy territory all alone and not expecting this outcome.”

“You’ve got it all wrong.”

Ilyu had planned to kill Karl here.

Now that they had openly declared themselves enemies, the emotional burden of doing so had significantly lessened.

At this moment, she could kill Karl without too much guilt weighing on her.

“I’m sorry, Karl. But at the very least, I promise to savor you properly. Now then, everyone—let’s finish him he—”

“You’re underestimating me way too much, Ilyu.”

—

—

In the next instant—

—

—

A greatsword severed Ilyu’s head.

“...!?”

“I told you—I thought that would’ve been unfair.”

He was fast. Far too fast.

Karl’s movements were specialized solely for one purpose: slaying demons.

No matter how many surrounded him, he slipped through their ranks with ease, each slash delivered with artistic precision.

Surrounded by goblins, charged by trolls—he cut through all of them without breaking stride.

And in that blur of motion, he lopped off Ilyu’s head.

“Using the guise of ‘peace talks’ just to get close to the Demon King and launch a surprise attack—yeah, that would have been low.”

So why had Karl remained so calm, so composed in the middle of enemy lines?

It was simple: he had absolute confidence.

“...Gah! E-Everyone, kill Kar—!”

“But if you guys want to start this right here, right now... I’ve got no complaints.”

That’s right.

Karl hadn’t stayed relaxed among the enemy because of some plan.

He just believed—knew—he could carve his way out of there, no matter how many demons stood in his way.

“Let’s get this started, demons!!”

“...!”

His words froze the surrounding demons in place.

A mere human—someone supposed to be far weaker—had unleashed such overwhelming pressure that it made them hesitate in fear.

That man stood tall, gripping a greatsword as long as he was.

He glared down at the slowly regenerating Ilyu with a look that could kill.

At his hip hung the empty bottle of apple liquor. On his shoulder, two cups swung loosely.

His whole body was splattered with demon blood, and a strip of black cloth was tied around his elbow.

“Huh...?”

“You’re too slow.”

Before Ilyu’s newly-regenerated head could even chant a support spell, he sliced it clean off again.

“Seems that without your support magic, we humans can go toe-to-toe with demons just fine. Until my comrades arrive, I’ll be keeping you locked down—Ilyu!!”

“Gh—Karl, damn you...!!”

No one could stop Karl.

Any demon that tried to rush in and save Ilyu was instantly cut down.

This was underhanded. Karl knew it.

That’s why he had tried to leave peacefully.

But it was Demon King Ilyu who made the fatal mistake—she chose the worst possible move:

Refusing to let Karl walk away unharmed.

“Why the hell are my panties wrapped around your arm!?!”

“...Come on then—bring it on!”

And so, at some point without her noticing, the panties Ilyu had taken back had ended up tied around Karl’s arm.

Realizing this, Ilyu let out an involuntary scream.