#585 A Friendly Match

We're continuing our story of Demon King Zedan’s visit to the True Demon Kingdom.

After finishing formalities at the port, we make our way into the deeper part of the island. 

“By the way...”

The True Demon King, rocking inside the horse carriage, asks Demon King Zedan a question.

“I’ve been wondering for a while now, but who is this man you’re with?” he asks, glancing at me.

Are you wondering about me?

That’s right! There’s another living, breathing being right here, not just air!

“He is Saint Kidan, one of my friends and most trusted companion.”

“Hello...!” I say, greeting him.

“I asked him to accompany me after consulting with him on this matter. He is one of the most powerful men in the world. Please treat him with equal respect.”

You exaggerate things, Demon King Zedan.

I’m just an ordinary guy who has connections with distinguished people.

“I’ve only heard about it in the folklore, but isn’t that fair-skinned man from the human race?”

“Not exactly. But let’s just say he’s close to one.”

Sorry, I’m just your run-of-the-mill otherworlder...!

“Hm... Legend also has it that the demons have been fighting with the human race for eons. How is it that you treat him as your sworn ally?”

“The Human-Demon War ended long ago.”

Allow me to take it from here.

“It was all thanks to Demon King Zedan. Because of this feat he accomplished, he earned the title of ‘The Greatest Demon King of All Time.’”

“Really now...!”

The True Demon King is speechless by what he just heard.

Goooooood, good. You should be more and more scared of Demon King Zedan.

That’s what we’re trying to do here, after all.

“Saint, please don’t scare him too much,” says the Demon King in a soft-spoken manner. “A ruler must not boast of his military exploits. Protecting the lives of his people and making them happy are a ruler’s priceless deeds. Those who cause war and suffering for all and bequeath their name to history are rulers of the lowest order... True Demon King,” he pauses, shifts his fiery gaze towards the True Demon King, and asks, “As a king who rules over his people, don’t you agree?”

“Yes! Yes, I do!”

The True Demon King is starting to pander to us.

“Therefore, it would be best if you and I could peacefully join forces. I look forward to your wise judgment.”

“Ngh... So high and mighty...!”

“We appreciate your acceptance of our proposal in this regard. I hope that this will be the beginning of a reconciliation between our formerly united nations.”

“Ngh?! ...A-A-Ah, yes, now that you mention it!”

The moment the topic changed, the True Demon King smiled elatedly.  

“My envoy told me you conceived of an interesting event, lesser Demon King! A contest, apparently!”

“It’s not a contest, but a friendly competition.”

“It’s the same thing! The point is to fight to determine who is better, isn’t it? Bring it on!”

Now, what is this “friendly match” these two kings are talking about?

It’s the idea I suggested to the Demon King after he consulted the matter with me. 

I gathered my wits and came up with the idea of a “friendly match” to avoid a full-scale war and join forces peacefully!

How does a friendly match prevent a war?

That will be explained in the later part of this story.

“Brace yourselves! We’re arriving at the execution site that will shatter your pride!”

The carriage stops, and its doors open.

Outside is a large arena filled with spectators.

“What do you think? I have prepared a stage for our decisive battle—the Colosseum, the pride of the True Demon Kingdom!”

“Looks like they have some nice facilities here,” I mutter as we enter the Colosseum.

To be more precise, we were guided to the spectator stands.

“The elites I’ve called for the duel are already standing by! They’ll win all matches and let your inferior group know our horror!” 

Yes, that’s also our aim for this friendly match.

It is of the utmost importance that both sides lose the desire to wage war.

So, how do we do that? We scare them.

If you make them feel that they will surely lose or die, anyone sane won’t dare to initiate a fight.  

I mean, no one wants to lose or die purposefully.

Try to recall. These two nations, which haven’t made contact for five hundred years, know nothing about each other—no intel on their national power, military power, etc.

This friendly match I proposed aims to give them a trial experience.

I hope everything goes as planned and we scare off this so-called True Demon Kingdom and drop their hostility toward Demon King Zedan.  

“We, the True Demon Kingdom, have decided to send out the best of the best for this duel! Behold, the Heavenly Four of the True Demon Kingdom!”

Ooooooooooooooooooooooh!!!

A crowd echoes.

Wait, so they have their own version of the Heavenly Four?

“Nefer, the monstrous warrior! Barrilla, swift as a gale wind! Ramie, the all-rounder! And at the top of the Heavenly Four, my eldest daughter, Shaymiri, the Demon Princess of Radiance! All of them are strong and invincible warriors in the True Demon Kingdom!”

Four fierce personalities enter the arena—all muscular men and alluring women, but you can tell just by looking at them that they’re no ordinary people.

“Now, lesser Demon King, you have my permission to bring out your fighters. The Heavenly Four is the title of the elite from the old Demon Kingdom, so naturally, your nation must have its own, correct?” 

“Of course we do. Belphgamillia the Corrupted as the head, Mamoru the Coveted, Aeshma the Wild, and Leviasa the Malicious. They’re the pride of the Demon King’s Army.”

“Then those people will...”

“...not be your opponents.”

“What?!”

The True Demon King is being led around the nose. 

“Not a single member of the Heavenly Four is accompanying me on this visit. They have important military duties to attend to back in our nation. I mustn’t interfere with that.”

“Don’t give me that rubbish! Then why did you come here? Wasn’t it to determine who is superior to whom by the duel’s outcome?!”

“Of course that’s what I intend to do. Don’t worry, I have brought a worthy fighter.”

I nod at the Demon King signaling with his eyes.

“Don’t tell me, it’s this man...?”

“Oh, no. Not me, Your Majesty.”

I’m not a fighter by nature.

Besides, this is a fight between the Demon Kingdom and the True Demon Kingdom. There’s no point in me, an outsider, participating. 

But, I will be calling in the fitting warrior for this occasion.

“Come on, Ritheseus, boy!” I shout, snapping my fingers. 

As if in response, a shadow comes flying in from the sky.

“What theeeeeeee?!”

As if to further startle the astonished audience, the innocent-looking boy jumps off his horse and lands on the ground.

His name is Ritheseus, a human studying on our farm. 

“Sorry for the wait, everyone!”

He straddled my dragon-horse, Sakamoto, skillfully.

They came in like a bolt of lightning. A remarkable entrance.

“I will represent the Demon Kingdom in this friendly match! I alone will take on all opponents by myself!”

The audience is confused by Ritheseus’ statements, and muttering can be heard everywhere.

“Nonsense!!!”

Then, the True Demon King Azar expresses his anger. 

“Just him?! Are you trying to look down on us, the True Demon Kingdom?! And, judging by his complexion, isn’t he from the human race? You dare to let a human intervene in a sacred war between demons?!”

“I have overthrown the Human Kingdom a few years ago. You were informed of that earlier,” calmly responds Demon King Zedan. “Now that the Human Kingdom has merged with the Demon Kingdom, the humans living there are also my subjects. Therefore, he is fully qualified to participate in this match.”

“Nghhhhhhhhhhh...!”

“Furthermore, Ritheseus is a promising executive candidate. He has trained under Lord Saint and has developed the skills of an established person. He has yet to officially join the army, though.”

“Wha-?!”

“Considering these various characteristics, we thought he’d make the best candidate to represent our nation, so we made him participate in this match. I hope that through your battle with Ritheseus, you will gain a good understanding of the Demon Kingdom.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Not only is he human, but he’s not even a soldier! You’re just underestimating us by sending that brat into battle! I will make you regret your irreverence! My Heavenly Four will destroy that kid!”

True Demon King Azar fell for the taunt.

My plan is going as planned so far.