"Hahahaha! So that's how it is So you're the real coward. You already accomplished what I haven'tI see it all now!"
He clearly believed Rei Ao was just like him: a Demon King from another world who had replaced this world's Demon King.
"Hahaha, excellent, excellent! This only proves my logic was right!"
Seeing a living example right in front of him made Trinity Abyss even more excited.
"Sigh."
Rei Ao shook his head with a light sigh.
"It seems you've misunderstood something. But it doesn't matter."
"Because this world will no longer have any reincarnation."
At these words, Rei Ao spread his arms wide.
"!!!"
Trinity Abyss jerked his head up in shock. All at once, he and everyone else vanished from the dark dungeon and found themselves under the bright sun, high up in the sky.
"Aahhh!!!"
Ai Hayasaka let out a cry upon seeing nothing but open air beneath her feet.
"You"
Trinity Abyss started to demand an explanation of what Rei Ao had just done, but the next instant, he fell silent, dumbfounded. A blur moved, and suddenly a hand was clamped around his throat.
"!!!"
He tried to pull away on reflex, to fight backbut he realized his power was trembling with fear, as though paralyzed, refusing to obey him. The arm gripping his neck had a force like it could bind the entire world. In no time at all, he was reduced to a powerless chick, all his former bluster gone.
Rei Ao, his face icy, stared at him from up close.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm not 'the Demon King' anymore. I'm the One and Only God."
"I said this world will have no further reincarnation."
The pronouncement was like a peal of thunder, echoing across the heavens. Trinity Abyss's expression went blank.
He could sense the fabric of reality shifting.
"Impossible Reincarnation gone"
What had just happened? Why could this "Demon King" in front of him erase the cycle of reincarnation with just a few words?
"What have you done?!?!"
He demanded an answer, confused how he and Rei Ao could differ so greatly. Why did Rei Ao have the power to change the laws of the world with a single statement?
"Heh."
Rei Ao, having just taken control of this world's essence to become its sole god, saw no point in responding to something so trivial. Instead, he gestured, summoning the vacant-eyed Lilith to his side.
"Wake up, Lilith."
His soft call seemed to restore light to Lilith's hollow gaze. A moment of confusion later, her eyes locked onto the pitiful sight of Trinity Abyssher father.
Even though she'd lost control of her body just moments before, she could still sense everything that happened around her. She'd heard it all loud and clearespecially the things Rei Ao had warned her about, confirmed by the mouth of the father she'd never met (but whose bond she felt). Lilith's heart felt as if it were being shredded.
"Do you have anything to say to your daughter, as your dying words?"
Rei Ao offered Trinity Abysswho, realizing the vast difference in their abilities, had abandoned all resistanceone last chance.
"Dying words"
Trinity Abyss paused, then gave a grim smile.
"Heh So it seems I can't escape my fate after all. How ironic."
He let out a bitter laugh, then turned to look at Lilith, who appeared deeply upset.
"Hmph. If I'd simply reclaimed your Demon King Factor back then and obtained my full power, everything would've turned out differently. Too bad."
Even in the end, those words were utterly mercilessjust him regretting that he hadn't acted sooner.
""
Lilith bit her lip so hard she trembled. Her last shred of hope for her father dissolved right then and there.
"He's all talk."
Rei Ao could see that Trinity Abyss was, in his own twisted way, trying to make Lilith hate him, perhaps believing that hate could blunt her sorrow. All the way until the end, he was walking the darkest path.
Releasing Trinity Abyss's throat, Rei Ao stepped back.
"Huh?"
Trinity Abyss blinked in surprise. But a moment later, his expression changed drastically as he shouted:
"My power!"
With a simple tug, Rei Ao had extracted all of the Demon King Factorfrom both Trinity Abyss and Lilith's body.
"He's now lost every shred of his Demon King power, and he'll remain an ordinary human. His fate of becoming a Demon King is gone."
"Since he's your father, I'll let you decide how to handle him."
Leaving those words to Lilith, Rei Ao brought everyone else back down to the surface.
~~~
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Chapter 577: Live well, Lilith (Bonus Chapter)
"Ai Hayasaka, Yatogami Tohka, go ahead and explore this place by yourselves for a bit."
After saying that, Rei Ao left with Kasuga Hijiri, Lieselotte, Selena, and Kannazuki Arin.
""
With Rei Ao gone, the one who seemed most at a loss was Yatogami Tohka. She had developed a certain dependence on the first human to help her.
"Where did he go?"
Tohka asked the group.
"Uh"
Yamana Mira's face turned bright red at the question.
"S-surely they went off to do something disgusting!"
"Oh, c'mon, Admiral, that's putting it too harshly."
Fudou Akio joked, "They're probably just doing somethingloving, that's all."
"Huh, a 'loving exchange'? Surprised you could come up with such a poetic phrase, you gorilla brute," Kazama Levi remarked with a sidelong glance at Akio.
"Disgusting? 'Lovey-dovey?'"
Yatogami Tohka looked baffled.
Ai Hayasaka's eyes flickered with understanding.
"You mean Rei Ao went off with them to fulfill the 'body usage rights' part of their deal, right?"
Kazama Levi: "Mm, yeah, you could put it that way."
""
Ai Hayasaka didn't know what to say.
All four of them together?
She felt dizzy just thinking about itthis seemed even wilder than the rumors she'd heard about certain aristocratic young masters.
In Kasuga Hijiri's Dorm
Kasuga Hijiri, Selena, and Lieselotte had no reservations about undressing. The only uncertain one was Kannazuki Arin. Rei Ao needed to clarify:
"Arin, is it okay if I call you that?"
"Yes. Anything is fine, my dear."
Kannazuki Arin nodded earnestly.
"'My dear,' huh I have a question for you, Arin."
"Go ahead."
"Are you really sure you want to be my wife?"
Rei Ao asked seriouslythis was their first time properly meeting.
"Of course," Arin replied with the same seriousness.
"The prophecy says I will inevitably become the Demon King's wife."
"No, I'm not talking about the prophecy."
Rei Ao shook his head.
"I'm asking you, personally: What do you want?"
Kasuga Hijiri cut in, "Exactly. The prophecy's a side issue. Rei Ao cares about what you yourself think."
Selena nodded as well.
"Right. If it's only the prophecy, I won't feel comfortable getting close to you."
Lieselotte eyed Arin knowingly.
"Kannazuki Arin, could it be you have some other motive for getting close to Rei Ao?"
"No! I have no ulterior motives!"
A rare look of panic showed on Arin's normally expressionless face. Afraid they'd misunderstand, she tried to explain herselfonly for a large hand to rest gently atop hers.
"No need to rush. Take your time, and I'll believe you."
Rei Ao's reassurance helped her regain her composure.
After a deep breath, she spoke formally:
"Rei Ao, I really don't have any hidden agenda. In the beginning, sure, because of the prophecy, I even thought about killing you so I could break it."
"What?! How could you even think that?!"
The moment Selena heard "kill Rei Ao," she shot forward, standing defensively in front of him. She stretched out her arms as if her petite body could protect him.
"If you want to hurt Rei Ao-nii, you'll have to go through me first!"
"Hehe."
Selena's stubborn display made Lieselotte burst into laughter.
"Sis, why are you laughing? I'm being seriousmhm!"
She couldn't finish; Rei Ao had suddenly leaned down and blocked her mouth with his own. One arm circled her waist, pulling her against him.
""
Kannazuki Arin watched their intimate exchange at close range, unconsciously licking her lips.
A few moments passed.
"Mmph Rei Ao, that was so sudden~"
Selena leaned into his embrace, her eyes moist, cheeks flushed bright red.
"Haha, sorry. You were just so cute, rushing over to protect me that way. I couldn't resist."
"Cute heh heh~"
Hearing his compliment, Selena buried her face in his chest, giggling happily.
Rei Ao turned back to Arin.
"Seeing that, what do you think? I'm a pretty shameless guy. Being my wife doesn't exactly come with perks, you know."
"I'm aware."
Arin pressed her lips together.
"But after seeing how all of you interact today I'm envious. I want what Hijiri and the others have."
"Could you hug me, too?"
She looked down. "If not, that's okay"
That sudden, humble request stirred something in Rei Ao. He reached out and pulled Arin close. Selena, sensing the moment, slipped out of his arms to give Arin space.
Rei Ao spread his arms wide.
"Want to give it a try?"
"Mhm."
Arin stepped forward carefully, embracing him. He held her in return, the two of them wrapped in each other's arms.
For the first time, Kannazuki Arin felt a deep sense of peace.
"So warm"
She realized she liked this feeling. No wonder Selena looked so blissful whenever she was in his arms.
"Rei Ao, could you kiss me?"
Arin wanted to feel that extra bit of happiness she'd seen on Selena's face.
"Of course."
Rei Ao didn't hesitate, lowering his head to kiss her.
"Mmm!"
Hijiri, Selena, and Lieselotte exchanged glances at the sight, their faces full of different reactions. Lieselotte couldn't help but smile.
"Looks like we've gained yet another sister~"
Meanwhile
"Father, where are you going?"
Asami Lilith didn't know how to speak to the father she'd never met until now. All she saw in his eyes, after losing his power, was a new kind of loneliness. As a regular human, Trinity Abyss seemed filled with confusion, as though seeing the world for the first time from a weaker perspective.
"?"
And the fact that Lilith had just referred to him as "Father" felt almost mocking.
"Heh. You were just a pawn for me to use. There's no need for you to call me Father. You should justhate me."
Trinity Abyss made a final attempt to get Lilith to despise him. But Lilith only shook her head.
"Sorry, but I can't make myself hate you. Hatred only twists a person and drags them into the abyss."
"I may dislike you, even resent you, but I can't deny that you're my father."
She understood the difference between hate and dislike, and she didn't want to become twisted by hatred.
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't exist. And if I didn't exist, I wouldn't have met everyone I wouldn't have met Rei Ao."
""
Trinity Abyss stared at Lilith, speechless. After a long moment, he looked away and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
Lilith asked once more.
His footsteps paused. At length, he replied:
"As an ordinary man, I guess I should go live an ordinary life. That's probably my final fate."
"Lilith live well."
"Mhm, I will Father."
~~~
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Chapter 578: Just Right...
"Where's Rei Ao?"
After saying goodbye to her father, Asami Lilith wanted to find Rei Ao and thank him. Not seeing him anywhere, she turned to Kazama Levi and the others for information.
"Rei Ao? He's probably at Hijiri's dorm right now."
"Alright, thanks!"
Upon hearing this, Lilith immediately spun around and ran off toward Kasuga Hijiri's dorm.
"Wait"
Yamana Mira tried to say something, but Lilith was already gone.
"Umm we didn't tell her what Rei Ao's doing there. Think she'll be okay?"
Fudou Akio scratched her head.
""
Yamana Mira's lips twitched; then she let out a cold huff.
"Whatever. Not our problem."
"Um does that sort of thing really feel good?"
At that point, Kurata Yui raised her hand with a timid question.
"???"
Kazama Levi eyed her warily.
"Why do you want to know that?"
"Well Rei Ao helped me so much. I was thinking I should repay him somehow," Kurata Yui said, blushing.
"But II've never tried anything like that, so I'm not sure"
Hearing that, Yatogami Tohka recalled that Rei Ao had also helped her. She, too, wondered how to "repay" him.
"Huh?"
Yamana Mira found it unbelievable.
"What kind of 'repayment' is that? What on earth are you thinking?"
"Eh? So that's not a thing?"
Kurata Yui tilted her head in confusion.
"Of course it's not!"
"Well, not necessarily," interjected a thoughtful Fudou Akio.
"Offering one's body in gratitude is an actual trope sometimes, you know."
"Huh?"
All eyes turned toward the person who'd just spoken: Ai Hayasaka, who had been silent until now.
"You're kidding, right? There's no way people do that!"
Yamana Mira was baffled, suspecting Ai was joking.
Yet Ai Hayasaka remained serious.
"I'm not joking. In the world I come from, there's a fair number of literary works and historical tales depicting exactly that sort of repayment."
She herself found it pretty outlandish, though.
""
Yamana Mira went silent. She didn't really understand otherworldly culturesor even normal human culture in her own world. She couldn't exactly prove Ai wrong.
"Oh my, so that kind of repayment is possible."
Fudou Akio blinked curiously.
"Hey, Admiral, we've also been helped by Rei Ao before, right? Shouldn't we repay him, too?"
Kurata Yui's eyes lit up.
"That's perfectthen we can all do it together!"
"R-repay him t-together?"
Yamana Mira looked like she'd just heard something world-shattering, her mind blank.
"What on earth are you all talking about?! That's obviously not possiblenever possible!"
"R-right, Levi?"
She cast a desperate look at Kazama Levi. Mira was convinced that Yui and her senpai must've been brainwashed by lust or something. Only Levi"the calm one"would save the day.
However
Kazama Levi frowned thoughtfully, then said, "It's not entirely out of the question." Because she did have positive feelings for Rei Ao. He was strong, had saved her life, and was also a Demon King. He was worthy in her eyes as a man who could stand beside the "strongest ninja."
