Chapter 116: Demon King (3)

“What on earth is happening?

I had planned to seal part of my status window, exercise some restraint, receive forgiveness, and then resume as before. 

But… to think that someone would awaken to become the [Demon King] on their own.

What is going on here?

“…I’m sorry, Master. I doubted you.”

As I blankly stared at Diana’s state, the manifested guide approached me from the side.

“When Master was busy messing around—no, perhaps it’s no longer fair to call it that—I thought it was all just a meaningless farce. Like a boring play.”

Not wrong.

The guide, having repeated many rounds, probably found my portrayal of a benevolent god somewhat lacking.

“But to think all of that build-up was meant to awaken the Demon King. Now, with [Name] awakening and becoming the [Demon King] through your grace, she will surely be loyal to you, Master. Congratulations. Now, as you intended, you can command the strongest Demon King in history. As expected, you are truly impressive.”

The guide was expressing admiration at my side, unrestrained.

No, I don’t know.

What on earth is happening?

The authority that the Demon King Diana called [Fugor] was mysterious. 

This intangible power wrapped in divinity seeped into the community, enveloping all players consumed by rage.

For a moment, I thought it was some form of mind-control power, but soon, I witnessed the miracle of the Demon King’s authority.

Some reclaimed damaged body parts, others achieved higher states, and some even gained missing dungeon coins.

It granted community users what they needed.

It’s a power akin to the miracles I usually bestow. 

However, while my miracles only fulfill what I designate, the Demon King’s miracles provide each person with what they need. 

A truly grand power befitting the community’s manager, entangled with countless human desires.

“I don’t quite understand the situation. Guide, could you explain this to me?”

“Don’t understand?”

The guide tilted his head.

“Isn’t this the situation you intended? …Could it be… did you cause this subconsciously?”

The guide looked shocked.

“Oh, so that’s it… Should I say, ‘As expected of Master’? You caused this without even intending it?”

“Stop admiring and just explain it already.”

Upon hearing the guide’s explanation, I understood what had happened to the Demon King. 

According to her, in this world, a name like [Name] holds a special power.

To think names hold power too.

As expected, it’s indeed another world.

Was that why the system I once encountered was named []?

Names that many people recognize gather enough power to manifest physically.

It seems similar to the divine power I accumulated as the GM or the holy power Dua gathered as Duamutep.

That’s why the title system I added for fun isn’t just a stylish title.

“So that’s why the players went crazy over gaining a title I thought was nothing.”

It makes sense if they could gain power fitting the title they acquire.

“Oh, no. Merely acquiring a name won’t allow them to achieve what the Demon King did. Those guys were genuinely making a fuss purely for that honor.”

They really were just insane fools.

Regardless, unlike ordinary titles, a title only one person can hold grants an achievement worthy of that title. 

I never thought the word ‘achievement’ would come into play for something I limited just for motivation.

If they attain that achievement through their narrative and accomplish feats worthy of it, they can accept [Name] and gain power.

However, the more powerful the name, the greater the achievements required, making it nearly impossible.

Especially in the Demon King’s case, her title was destroyed as her status window was partially sealed by me, making it impossible for her to achieve anything normally.

In that situation, she gained enlightenment.

Though I don’t know what that enlightenment was, she awakened as the Demon King, breaking free from the restraints of her status window and truly becoming the [Demon King].

She overcame a barrier, fully embracing divinity and achieving a higher state.

“I don’t know what that enlightenment was either. But one thing’s certain—it’s linked to her loyalty toward you, Master. Unlike before, she’ll be completely loyal to you now. When a god is born, the thoughts it harbors solidify as its identity. Consider it as having gained a lower-tier follower god.”

So the awakened Demon King is now my follower?

It couldn’t be more reassuring… yet it feels burdensome.

…All I wanted was to add a title feature for fun; how did things turn out like this?

Because it happened unintentionally, I’m starting to get a headache thinking about how to deal with the Demon King.

***

A modern-styled café created directly by Albus.

A guest visited this special resting place allowed only for the GM.

“So, was that why you called me for help? To hear my advice?”

Slurp.

The goddess with shining blue hair, Alia, sipped her bubble tea.

Alia felt her heart tremble.

All my efforts weren’t in vain after all.

Choosing me as the reliable figure to offer advice and calling me to such a secret place…

“Hehe. This sly junior of mine. But still, isn’t it a bit too obvious to call a grown woman into a confined space?”

Various embarrassing imaginations began to flood Alia’s mind.

“… That’s how it happened.”

“…?”

“Senior?”

“Huh? Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment… I was wondering what happened when the heavens started to tremble, only to find out that the Demon King had awakened divine power. That’s quite an event.”

Unlike the people of the continent, the demon race was inherently a bit different, as they were not originally from the continent.

While they had begun freely interacting with the people of the continent as harmony was established, the Demon King, standing at the peak as the subordinate of the Demon God and ruler of all demons, was a being whom the gods of the continent regarded with reluctance.

The Demon King, a being who directly receives power from a god so mighty that even if Alia and Deus combined their strength, they might still fall short, had completely surpassed the mortal limits.

From the standpoint of managing the continent, it was quite the headache.

“… I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Ahaha. It’s fine. I’ve already half let go of continental affairs anyway. The main deity of the continent is you, the master of Rudera, isn’t it? You’re the one who should solve it.”

As Albus put on a troubled expression, Alia moved her chair closer to him and sat down by his side.

She brushed aside his bangs as she continued.

“I’m just kidding. How could I refuse to help such an adorable junior who comes to me for assistance?”

The dense, sacred scent emanated from Alia.

Albus felt his heart calm down.

“I don’t quite understand. Didn’t the Demon King awaken thanks to your grace? Since the core thoughts forming his divinity are bound to you, she couldn’t possibly betray you. Not that she could think of it in the first place. Even if someone manipulated her mind, her divinity would collapse the moment she denied her own nature.”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

Albus explained in detail why things had turned out that way.

“Hehe. So that’s how it happened. Who would have thought that an unintentional act would trigger a divine awakening? No major deity could pull off something so incredible.”

“That’s the thing; it feels like I’ve deceived him. If I had done it intentionally, it wouldn’t matter, but since it seems like I did it under false pretenses…”

Alia watched Albus, who was pouring out his thoughts, with an unwavering gaze.

“Our junior is quite the bad boy, isn’t he?”

Her forehead touched Albus’s.

A warm sensation spread across his forehead.

“S-Senior?”

“Ah, why do the complications keep piling up? Mortals don’t matter since they’ll eventually fade away, but divinity… it’s a bit irritating.”

“…What, what?”

“Nothing. You don’t need to worry about it… Hmm. So, you feel burdened and guilty for creating faith through a false promise? For a deity of virtue, that’s a natural thought. If one expands faith falsely, that god will eventually fall into corruption as an evil deity. If that happens, even their very nature will become twisted. If you want to remain true to yourself, it’s actually commendable.”

These were nothing more than words of comfort to a still immature yet competent and noble god.

“Then, how about this?”

If you feel remorseful for promising a lie to your believer, causing them to achieve an irreversible union, couldn’t you just make it true?