Waiting in the half-sword room was an old man with a long grey moustache, wearing a robe and leaning on a cane.
Melheys Boran, one of the old seven demon emperors.
Judging by the wavelength of his magic power he’s definitely one of the mazoku I made.
He’s also a survival type that focuses on magic the most.
He’s different from Aivis and Idol. He’s got the power to defeat strong veterans from the age of myths.
Melheys slowly walks over to me, activated his demon eyes and stared into my eyes.
Several seconds later a single tear spilled down his face and he kneeled in front of me.
“I’ve been waiting all this time for your reincarnation my lord demon king, Arnos Voldigod-sama.”
Fumu. This, I did not expect.
“Do you remember me Melheys?”
Melhey’s shook his head.
“I have no such honour. I was defeated by someone and my memorises were erased but my origin remembers you. After meeting you I am finally convinced.”
The same as Aivis and the others.
“I want to check for myself.”
“Your will.”
I place my hand on Melhey’s head and activate Time Manipulation <Lebaido> and Recollection <Evii>.
I explore the outer layer of memories and just like Aivis and the others the memories are gone.
Next, I look into the abyss and confirm Melhey’s origin.
Only one.
Melheys doesn’t appear to have fused with one of Avos Dillheavia’s subordinates. His body hasn’t been taken over.
“What do you know?”
“2000 years ago after Arnos-sama reincarnated I was attacked by someone and my memory was erased. When I regained consciousness I found myself in Ahartherun.”
The great spirit forest?
“Did you cross the wall?”
2000 years ago Deiruheido and Ahartherun were separated by the magic wall.
“Probably. My memory of it is vague but I think I used the wall as a way to escape from whoever was attacking me.”
Even though the wall was a grand magic that used my life force to activate, a mazoku from the age of myths with powerful magic and enough desperation could cross the wall though with significant risk to their life.
I can only think of 20 people from the age of myths that could do that and even then the compensation would have been huge.
“I’m assuming they didn’t follow you because crossing over the wall in pursuit of you would have exhausted most of their magic powers and it would have taken a considerable time for their powers to come back before they could return to Deiruheido.”
“That’s what I believe. It took me over a hundred years to restore my magic power to a level where I could cross back over the wall.”
Unlike Aivis, Melheys had enough power to cross the wall. Erasing his memory would be one thing but it would have been extremely difficult to take over his origin.
“When I returned to Deiruheido the name of the demon king of tyranny had already changed to Avos Dillheavia. Though I had no memories I wasn’t able to wipe out the sense of wrongness with that name. The other old seven demon emperors didn’t seem to doubt the name Avos Dillheavia but I always had my doubts until now”
“Has it changed to belief now?”
“Indeed it has. My origin says that you are the true demon king.”
There’s no strange points in Melheys’ story. I’ve also learnt that Avos Dillheavia existed right back in the age of myths.
There were a lot of people hostile to me 2000 years ago but there were 3 beings who had outstanding power.
The hero Kanon, the great spirit Reno and the creation god Militeia.
Those 3 helped me build the wall and they were all seeking peace, however, it’s not strange to think that they would deem me unnecessary in peaceful times.
Would they do something so roundabout though?
I don’t think any of them wanted the throne of the demon king of tyranny either.
Is it the work of someone else?
“Do you know what Avos Dillheavia is planning?”
“I do not.”
Well, not unexpected. There’s a limit to what you can do fighting alone with no allies.
“Report back to me if you find anything.”
“Your will.”
As expected it’s only possible to follow a trail when it’s close by.
“Let me ask something else. Do you know the aim of the person who recommended me for the sword tournament?”
Melheys thought for a while before answering.
“Does Arnos-sama know the royal faction?”
“Is that different from royalty?”
Melheys nods.
“The royal faction is a group that wants to extend the rights of the royal families. They are making the radical claim that if you are not a pureblood royal then you are not a mazoku.”
Fumu. A group with a few screws loose it seems.
“There are many royal factions in Deruzogedo. I think this is the work of one of them.”
“What’s the purpose of recommending me?”
“It may be a check against the unification faction. Arnos-sama is the main topic of talk between the unification faction and the royal faction due to your trampling of the school system. Arnos-sama is mixed blood yet no royal or even any of the old seven demon emperors can stand up to you. You have become the driving force of the unification faction and the royal factions are taking interest in you now.”
“In other words, by defeating me in the demon sword tournament it will damage the unification factions momentum?”
Melheys nods his agreement.
“The royal faction seem to be unable to ignore you now. As long as Arnos-sama is involved, when you win the tournament the unification faction will tighten its bonds. There are more mixed blooded mazoku than there is royalty. The royal factions are afraid of mixed-bloods.”
“Even so, I’m no fool. They intend to defeat me by any means in the tournament.”
Melheys face took on a determined expression.
“I’m sorry Arnos-sama but could you please not participate in the demon sword tournament?”
“Why?”
“To you, it is a trivial thing but to the unification faction, Arnos-sama is their light. We cannot afford to turn off that light.”
Melheys is the unification faction.
He may be considering that Avos Dillheavia might make a move during the tournament as well.
At his core, he doesn’t think well of the royals who rule Deiruheido.
“I don’t intend to poke the royal faction.”
“You will win. No matter what happens I can never see you losing, however, you may win this one game but you might not win the whole game.”
I see.
“Will they beat me by using the rules?”
“It may seem funny but even if you achieve overall victory, as long as you lose even one match that will be enough for the royal faction………..”
Those who give priority to blood over ability.
It’s no wonder they take such actions.
“The thing is, even if I decline I don’t think they will cancel the recommendation. They may even say I tried to escape.”
“We will do something afterwards if we don’t appear in the match. I plead for your benevolence.”
He is one of the old seven demon emperors. He has the power to do that much.
Yare yare. This has become troublesome.
Well, it’s not like I’m actually bothered if I’m in the tournament or not.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Thank you very much.”
Melheys lowers his head deeply.
(1) I dropped the tempering part of his title and just kept the demonic sword saint part.
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