4 My Son Ayanokouji, the Strongest in History
By this point, the Demon Race no longer believed this light-screen broadcast was something created by humans. Even they understood that the content being shown was a secret of utter humiliation; clearly, a third-party power was at work.
To this, they expressed a warm welcome—the more humans made fools of themselves, the more comfortable the Demons felt.
As for the few "pure streams" in the Kingdom—the two or three lords who actually cared for the people—they, like the Sword Saint, were already preparing to seek out the Second Princess to sanction the First Princess Flare. They remained loyal to the Kingdom, believing that only the First Princess was a disappointment; they felt that once the Second Princess took the throne, everything would be refreshed and the wicked would be purged.
「Meanwhile, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was thinking.」
「The humiliation inflicted by Flare was not worth mentioning to him. As long as he did not die, he would continue to grow stronger; therefore, the ultimate winner would inevitably be him. As long as he achieved final victory, the process was unimportant—it was enough just to win.」
「No matter how many things or how many people—including himself—had to be sacrificed along the way, they were merely necessary bargaining chips.」
「He was simply considering: was it necessary for him to stay alive?」
「The desires for survival and reproduction are the most fundamental chains encoded in the genes of all living things; thus, anyone is born not wanting to die, refusing to die.」
「But Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's self-awareness transcended the physical body, sufficient to preside over all things. The shackles of the survival instinct did not exist for him. If he chose to live, it was not because he refused to die, but simply because there were things he somewhat wanted to do.」
「On Earth, he lived to try the life of an ordinary person, to see if he could evolve emotions, and it seemed to manifest to some extent as a way of piquing his father.」
「Perhaps "piquing" wasn't the right description, but regardless... those two goals could no longer serve as his motivation for living.」
「He had already obtained "emotion" because of Hikigaya Hachiman, and as for his father, since they were now separated by different worlds, there was no need to keep him in mind.」
「So, what necessity was there to remain alive? This other world was truly boring enough that it failed to spark his interest.」
「...In his reflections, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka once again thought of the man who had bestowed emotion upon him.」
「Because part of his soul had dissipated before entering Keyaru's body, his memories had leaked away. He only remembered that he had gained emotions because of Hikigaya Hachiman, and he remembered some of Hikigaya's schemes and friends.」
「Beyond that, he remembered nothing of those matters.」
「He thus tried to recall them. With his memory, he could easily retrieve any memory no matter how long it had been forgotten or how deep it was buried—but how can one restore something that no longer exists?」
「In the end, he could only think over Hikigaya Hachiman's maneuvers again and again... the more he reviewed them, the more he felt a certain emotion, a desire, a goal that was about to burst forth.」
「He wanted to see Hikigaya Hachiman. He wanted to sit and discuss with him. He wanted a tense and stimulating game of wits with him. His interest was piqued, his desire burned bright, and his heart and mind were refilled with a longing as vast as the sea.」
「He wanted it.」
「He wanted, he wanted, he wanted he wanted he wanted—he wanted Hikigaya Hachiman. He wanted to experience everything and anything with Hikigaya Hachiman; his interest in Hikigaya was unprecedented.」
「Once this goal was set, he was so excited that his adrenaline, androgens, dopamine, and endorphins surged, overflowing continuously within his body!」
「Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was still that same Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Even though he possessed emotions, those emotions were negligible and practically nonexistent when dealing with anyone other than Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「But when the target was Hikigaya Hachiman...」
「Then it was entirely different!」
「To play the game against Hikigaya Hachiman, he had to return to Earth. And to return to Earth, perhaps only the rumored Philosopher's Stone in this other world could manage it. To seize the Stone, one person alone couldn't do it, and all other knowledgeable people were enemies.」
「Which meant, to be safe, in order to seize the Philosopher's Stone, he first had to complete a small goal.」
「Namely: destroy the Human Kingdom, destroy the Demon King, become the sole Hegemon of the world, eliminate all potential enemies, and mobilize all subordinates to serve his quest for the Philosopher's Stone.」
「He, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, starting today, would begin his arrangements to become King!」
"Clown! Lowlife! What boastful talk, utterly arrogant!!"
A priceless vase was slammed heavily onto the ground by the enraged Flare, shattering with a metallic ring. Her face was livid with rage.
This commoner dared to openly contemplate rebellion—and looking at his attitude, he clearly felt that once he made the decision, success was merely a matter of time; the possibility of failure didn't even exist. The position of World Hegemon was already in his pocket.
This attitude was what made Flare tremble with rage the most. Because she didn't want to admit it—looking at that certain, indifferent Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, she actually felt a faint sense of wavering. She smelled a scent from him that made her fearful.
How was that possible? She was the First Princess Flare!
"Send people! Quickly send people to capture that commoner Keyaru! I want to make him and that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka wish they were dead!"
"Kill! Kill kill kill kill kill kill!!"
"Ha... ha, hahahahahaha—hahahahaha!!"
At the same time on Earth, a certain man held power as great as Flare's.
He paused for a moment, then his lips curled up. First came a smile, then an uncontrollable laugh, and finally a wild, refreshed, and overjoyed roar of laughter.
As Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father, being able to see his "Masterpiece" ignite his fighting spirit—potentially using that bottomless power to its full extent—within his lifetime meant he could die without regrets!
Whatever dreams or desires he originally had, whatever goals he wanted to achieve using his son, he now threw them all to the back of his mind. He was satisfied. Because the power, wealth, and other things humans pursued could not compare to a single word, a single fundamental thing:
Strength.
And now, he could see just how strong his Masterpiece truly was!
"My son, let even the heavens fear you, let even the gods be afraid of you, let you become the strongest, let you manifest the ultimate strength!
—Whether it's Reinhard or Hikigaya Hachiman, I believe in my Masterpiece. You will never disappoint~"
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