Chapter 20
Chapter 20: I'm a Loner!
"Granill, what are you doing?"
Alcyone glared at Granill.
(Alcyone-sama has informed everyone about her defeat.)
It seems that the fact that Alcyone lost is unbelievable to the demons, so she is contacting various demons.
I felt a sense of incongruity in that scene.
"...How are you contacting them?"
My [Telepathy] is a unique skill that allows me to communicate with gods and demons.
So if Granill is currently contacting other demons, it must be through a different method.
"Just through the status, I contact and talk to those who are registered as friends."
Alcyone answered curiously.
...Huh!
What is that function?
I've been a loner until now, so I didn't have a chance to use it, but I didn't know about such a function.
When I checked the status, there was indeed a symbol at the bottom right that looked like flipping a page.
When I pressed that symbol, it became a list of registered friends.
Of course, it was completely blank with no registered users.
...Huh?
Do I have to start making friends?
Having no registered users doesn't affect my "MP" or "HP," but somehow it feels like a big blow.
"Alcyone, I am your favorite, right?"
"Yeah, I like you the most because it feels good!"
"...You can be my first registered friend."
I thought to myself, what am I saying? Moreover, the other person is the Demon Lord!
"What did you say!"
Alcyone was delighted and immediately started the registration process.
In front of me appeared the text "Friend registration request from Alcyone (Yes/No)."
Without hesitation, I pressed "Yes."
I have become friends with the Demon Lord.
I'm happier than I expected.
"From now on, you can call me Al!"
Is this like a nickname as proof of friendship?
"Yeah, nice to meet you, Al!"
However, if there is a certain level of intelligence, it means that demons can communicate with each other!
***
"Hey, by the way, what exactly is a Demon Lord?"
I asked, curious.
The term "Demon Lord" refers to the collective consciousness of certain demon clans. When the demons start becoming aware of fear and respect towards a specific entity, that collective consciousness influences the world, giving rise to a new Demon Lord.
Once someone becomes a Demon Lord, their status title becomes "The Xth Pillar Demon Lord," indicating their rank.
...I vaguely recall something about a "title" in the status, but I'm not sure.
The connections between Demon Lords aren't particularly strong.
Alcyone, Nero, and Rosso have long reigned as the first three Demon Lords.
The remaining three Pillars have changed with the passage of time.
Alcyone and Nero get along well and frequently communicate with each other.
I can't quite grasp the Demon Lords' sense of time, though...
Both of them are fundamentally self-centered and indifferent to the state of the world as long as it doesn't harm them.
Rosso is also on good terms, but they have secluded themselves deep within the dungeon, so she haven't seen them in several hundred years, except for occasional contact.
The previous transmigrator eventually became the fifth pillar Demon Lord and went on a rampage together with the sixth pillar Demon Lord.
It's said that they were judged by the "High God," but the truth is that Alcyone and Nero, who received a request from the "High God," defeated them in exchange for gaining benefits.
Could it be that they have acquired many unique skills because they have been doing this for so long?
Alcyone and Nero, despite being called "Demon Lords," essentially also act as the "Guardians" of this world.
They themselves probably don't feel that way at all...
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"Al, I'm counting on you."
Instead of relying on Granneil for transportation, I opted for Al's "Transference."
In an instant, we moved from the "Forest of Bewilderment" to near "Gond Village."
So, this is "Transference"! I was amazed.
The girls were astonished.
"Thanks!"
"It's a friend's request! Don't hesitate."
In this case, who does "friend" refer to? Is it about Kuro, or is it about me?
Since pursuing that would be a slippery slope, I decided not to ask.