We are at the opening of the third arc.

Arc 3: Deep World

(Kurokiri POV)

I am now at the cemetery at night.

“Alright. Looks like not a soul is here.”

After I have searched for any signs of life around me, I approach a certain grave.

That grave is the newest in the cemetery, and it is immaculately maintained and bedecked with flowers.

“Let’s do this.”

With my body of fog stretching thinly, I gradually scrape away the wall of the tomb through the power of the black fog, and my extended body eventually reaches one of the urns that has recently been placed there.

From there, I continue to scrape the sides of the urn to retrieve what is inside.

“Alright. Here comes, ?Mist Plosion?.”

I put the object removed from the urn into a small box, freeze the surface of the box with ?Mist Plosion?, and seal it thoroughly.

There is no telling when the contents of this box will be utilized. Furthermore, there is a likelihood that it will not be used at all within my lifetime.

Besides, regardless of whether it holds the key to overthrowing “that,” uncovering a grave, like what “that” has been doing, is an abhorrent act by nature.

“Nonetheless, I am left with no choice but to do it.”

With the frozen box in my hand, I proceed to the area that is off-limits to all but me, open the heavy door at its deepest section, and place the box in the vault inside.

“I will defeat the God of Calamity?for myself. For that purpose, I will exploit everything. Those who love me, hate me, or do not care about me, I will maneuver all of them.”

After closing the door, I return to my private room.

(Fox Princess POV)

“Thank you for your long service, O Mugi.”

“I appreciate your kind remarks, which are far more than I deserve. Fox Princess-sama.”

Before me kneels Shiranui Mugi, one of my kin who left the “Fox City of the Beasts of War” more than ten years ago to follow the two Kirijin to the continent.

“Even so, notwithstanding the reports I’ve been receiving from you, the continent’s technology is truly fascinating, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I think some of those could be of use to us.”

From the possibility of launching a ship even if the current control of the sea has been lost to the way of combining the ingredients of monsters that inhabit different dungeons to new dishes, as well as knowledge about the God of Calamity.

All of the information that Mugi brought to me is beneficial rather than harmful, and depending on how I make use of them, further development can be expected.

“Well, I will dwell later on how to actually put it to good use, O Mugi.”

“What is it?”

“Perhaps in the future, I may need your help again. For now, you should take it easy and rest.”

“Yes!”

With these words, Mugi rises and leaves me.

“Hahaha. Things are going to be rough in the future. But the one who will survive will be me. Not anyone else.”

All alone, I break into a burst of hysterical laughter.

(Priest POV)

“Phew.”

At the end of today’s prayer, I step out of the shrine.

The sun is hammering down so intensely outside the shrine that if I didn’t possess a body like this, I would get sunburned and possibly scorched in a couple of minutes.

But my body is not normal. Therefore, it is only at moments like these that I am grateful to have a physique capable of operating in locations that are difficult for normal humans.

On the day I became a Demon King, I was told that the One I was supposed to believe in had already left this world.

Of course, I initially dismissed this as nonsense and carried on with my prayers until the day I encountered the God of Calamity in person and realized that the One who I believed in had genuinely left the world.

I take a stroll through the city, which also serves as my dungeon, and observe the scene.

Children are playing around, their mothers watching them and conversing amongst themselves, while the men tending to their own business.

The ambiance is very peaceful.

I then contemplate.

They do not know that God has abandoned them. Yet they continue holding on to their faith as if God is present.

What shall I do to ensure that this sort of tranquility continues and for them to preserve their faith in God?

And the conclusion that emerges is:

“Fight. Is that the only path, O God..”

I lift my gaze to the heaven.

For the sake of protecting them, I have to respect peace, and yet the contradiction is that I have to engage in combat that disrupts the harmony.

However, since I am already defiled by the God of Calamity, I would originally not be allowed to serve God. Even though I am such an individual, if I can be a cornerstone for those who bear true faith, then that would be a joyous thing for me to do.

It is my hope that our God will return to this world after the death of the God of Calamity.

(Third person POV)

“Is the preparation done?”

“Everything is in order. Those who have finished their preparations are departing now.”

Here is a cave constructed of boulders, illuminated by blue lights.

Two shadows are wriggling there.

“More specifically?”

One of the shadows, a giant, multi-limbed shadow on the side that occupies the back of the cave, addresses the other, a man in human form with something pointed at him.

“To the east, we’ll seize parts of the coasts of both the north and south continents from humans and utilize them as a base, with an army of roughly 1,000 monsters on each side to keep things running. About 500 large octopuses will be deployed as a diversionary force in Antarctica. The other 500 were dispatched to Southeast Asia and the Australian continent as a diversionary strategy too. And for each of the four Demon Kings of that country, we have sent about 2,500 demons that are capable of descending to the land, which is our target this time.”

The man drops to one knee and speaks indifferently.

“Are additional demons needed?”

“There’s nothing to be concerned about. That country will undoubtedly be presented to you, our king.”

The man bows deeply.

“Hahaha. I see. Then I shall take a short rest. You will be in control of the operation while I am sleeping. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes!”

And with that, the giant shadow drifts off to sleep, and the man exits the cave.