The magical pressure was grotesque.  

Souta stood at the center.  

All around him watched in silence.  

The weakest… had already fainted.  

Souta smiled. A sinister smile.  

— “You know what? You don’t fear the Demon King because of his power…  

— You fear him because he dares to use the title of *king* in a world of *queens*.  

— That’s why you want to destroy his nation.  

— To restore your balance… where only women rule.”  

He raised his head.  

— “I want to be important too.”  

In a swift motion, Souta tore off the king’s robes.  

And the nullifying weapon.  

The king stood confused.  

On his feet, in undergarments.  

Souta donned the royal mantle.  

Adjusted the collar.  

Smiled.  

— “These fancy clothes feel good… Do they look good on me?”  

— “You bastard!” shouted the king.  

Souta ignored him.  

— “I don’t want a half-baked king like this one…  

— Who earned the title by marrying a queen.”  

He looked at the throne.  

— “Once I defeat the Demon King…  

— I’ll subjugate the four great nations.  

— And become the king of the entire world.”  

---

A new pressure cut through Souta’s aura.  

Golden aura.  

It filled the hall.  

Souta felt a chill down his spine.  

His smile… almost faltered.  

— “What pressure is this…?  

— Is it coming from the queen?”  

Beatrix rose.  

— “Of all the nonsense you’ve spoken today… this I cannot let pass.  

— You dare threaten me… in my own kingdom?  

— Do you want to die here and now?”  

Souta tried to take a step.  

**!!!!!!!????????!!!!!!!!**  

Creamy appeared in his mind.  

— “Sir, I don’t recommend advancing right now.  

— You’re under the effect of *Protective Smile*. That’s why you’re so arrogant. Consider retreating.”  

Souta kept walking.  

Creamy insisted:  

— “Sir… she is the Queen. Will you really face her?  

— Her power rivals the celestial generals of the Right Hand.  

— She could crush you like an insect…”  

Souta replied, firm:  

— “She may be on the level of the Right Hand…  

— But she’s no match for the Demon King.  

— So… she’s not invincible.”  

The auras clashed.  

Souta’s was clearly at a disadvantage.  

Beatrix raised her right hand.  

**Solar Magic.**  

Magic circles began to form.  

— “Cursed brat…”  

Souta, uneasy, gripped the nullifying blade.  

Ready to strike.  

Even as his body trembled.  

— “Who are you calling a brat?  

— We’re almost the same age. I’ll be 40 next month.  

— Old hag…”  

---

Meliora intervened.  

She held her mother’s hand.  

— “Mother… please, stop!  

— A queen cannot harm a hero.  

— Father is here too…”  

Beatrix looked at Meliora.  

The princess trembled.  

The chief advisor adjusted her glasses.  

Stammered.  

Almost collapsed under the magical pressure.  

— “Y-yes… Lady Meliora is right.  

— It is taboo… for a queen to harm an invoked hero.  

— Kihara Souta may not have a relic…  

— Nor an official title…  

— But his divine powers are evident.  

— He is a Court Drone.  

— Please, your majesty…  

— Let us avoid a tragedy that would destroy millions of years of history.”  

---

Beatrix turned her gaze away from Meliora and the advisor.  

Focused again on Souta.  

**She thought:**  

> “This man… revealed himself too soon.”  

> “He confronted me… in front of everyone.”  

> “He has no fear of death?”  

> “I must admit… he’s interesting. But dangerous.”  

The queen lowered her hand.  

The circles dispersed.  

Souta smiled.  

His aura distorted the air.  

He lowered the nullifying sword.  

— “See, Creamy? Everything went fine.”  

Creamy replied:  

— “If you won’t listen to me… at least try to stay alive, sir.  

— That was far too risky.”  

Souta drove the sword into the ground.  

**DOONNN.**  

— “Listen well.  

— I will not bow to anyone.  

— If you want to kill me… then kill me.  

— But know this:  

**I will be the first… and the last king of this world.**  

**Remember it well.**  

---

Arc Shadow Rise is finished