Showdown [Complete]

"What will they do, then?"

"Or should we take Uncle Mocha and Aunt Rose and leave this world for now, then come back once we've developed enough?"

Annie made the suggestion worriedly.

She only had a superficial impression of things like magic and martial arts. She knew they were powerful, but she had no clear understanding of just how powerful they were.

But after being influenced by technology for so many years, she could better appreciate its strength.

Not even mentioning nuclear weapons capable of destroying the world, even the steel tide formed by conventional weapons was absolutely not something humans could withstand.

Besides, setting aside whether magic could truly rival technology—

Ryan had only been in the other world for ten years. Excluding the initial period when he had been establishing himself, no matter how well he had developed, he probably could not have built up such a massive force. And from what he had just said, his entire faction had been transported to another world three days ago for unknown reasons. The situation was already far from ideal.

Now that the news of Ryan being an alien had been exposed, no good outcome could possibly come of it.

"Leave this world?"

Ryan repeated it, unable to suppress a chuckle.

Annie's expression immediately turned displeased. She had made that suggestion very seriously. Was it funny?

"Sorry, I should've explained it more clearly." Ryan reined in his smile. Seeing the displeasure on Annie's face, he said seriously, "Nazarick is strong—extremely strong! It isn't the weak force you imagine!"

"Against Earth, we hold the overall advantage. Anything Earth can accomplish through technology, Nazarick can accomplish through magic as well—perhaps even more easily!"

"And in terms of individual combat strength, Nazarick is an entire planet ahead of Earth."

"If Earth were not far more complicated than it appeared on the surface, then against the military strength of Earth's nations alone, Nazarick could deploy at full force and destroy more than ninety percent of Earth's military power in three hours, occupy eighty percent of its land in three days, and completely rule Earth in one month."

"Of course, that could only be achieved if all the monsters and demons hiding on Earth did not intervene. So it's just a thought. Don't get your hopes up."

Ryan ended his speech with a shrug. Annie felt thoroughly dazed after hearing it.

Rule Earth in one month?

Ryan wasn't bragging to her, was he?

Though Ryan normally did not exaggerate...

"Princess Annie, Lord Ryan has already been overly conservative. If Nazarick truly regarded Earth as an enemy and used its real trump card, it would take only three seconds to kill every normal living creature on Earth."

Demiurge, who had returned to his original appearance, spoke up at that moment. He adjusted his little glasses and raised three fingers.

"Three seconds?"

Annie, so shocked by the barrage of information that she was nearly incapable of thinking, repeated the words blankly. She even looked somewhat adorable.

"Yes. We only need to alter Earth's rules—for example, increase Earth's gravity a hundredfold in an instant, or turn every substance on the planet into magma. The desired result would be easy to achieve."

Demiurge spoke with a faint smile, as if he could already see that wonderful sight.

Awakened by his words, Annie could not help sizing up Demiurge before her.

A red suit, long ears, small glasses, a face that looked like a born traitor, and a tail behind him that appeared to have been forged from steel—was this really the kind and approachable Teacher Demi who had taken such good care of her?

"You're... Teacher Demi?"

Annie asked in disbelief. Although she had already watched Demiurge transform earlier, she still found it hard to believe.

"Yes, but this subordinate is unworthy of being called Your Highness's teacher. From now on, please simply call me Demiurge."

Demiurge smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

"No, I think it's better if I still call you Teacher. After all, you were the one who guided me across the threshold into the extraordinary."

Annie glanced at Ryan and spoke after a moment of hesitation.

No matter how she looked at it, Demiurge in his original form did not seem like someone capable of loyalty. Perhaps using her connection with him might help Ryan win over his subordinate's loyalty.

"This is this subordinate's honor!!!"

Demiurge glanced at Ryan. After seeing that his supreme ruler had no objection, he let out an extremely excited roar.

He knew exactly what Annie was thinking, but so what?

To become the official teacher of his supreme ruler's younger sister was an honor he could never obtain even if he died ten thousand times!

Startled by Demiurge's excitement, Annie took two steps back. Not knowing the full story, she obviously could not understand why Demiurge was so agitated.

"Alright, Annie." Ryan spoke up then. "You don't need to have the slightest doubt about Nazarick's loyalty. As for Demiurge's claim that Earth could be destroyed in three seconds, you don't need to take it too seriously either. Nazarick can indeed do it, but that is an ultimate trump card that becomes one fewer every time it is used. Normally, it can only remain in storage as a deterrent. So, do you want to go take a look at Nazarick?"

"Oh... Huh?!!"

Annie had been listening attentively, but the sudden change at the end left her stunned. Her slightly parted lips and blank expression were so adorable that it was the first time Ryan had seen her like this in all these years. Whether as a child or after growing up, Annie had always looked cold and aloof. Even her acting spoiled was rare.

Well, ordinary Annie was adorable too.

"You said you want to take me to Nazarick—to another world?"

Having recovered, Annie asked excitedly. Ryan, who had been regretting not taking a picture to preserve that moment, reluctantly put aside his disappointment and nodded. "That's right. Do you want to go?"

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't, but aren't you sending me away because you have some dangerous plan you want to hide from me?"

Annie, who had been about to agree excitedly, suddenly calmed down and asked suspiciously.

"Of course not! I've already established a stable World Portal on Mars. As long as you want to come back, you can return to Earth anytime. But for the next couple of days, it really isn't suitable for you to appear on Earth. After all, I just issued an ultimatum to every country in the world. It's not impossible that some idiots with water in their brains might try something against you."

Ryan was somewhat speechless. He had only invited her because he wanted to show off. Why did there have to be so much to hide?

"An ultimatum? What was that?"

Although she was also curious about the World Portal on Mars, Ryan's ultimatum concerned her more.

"Didn't I say?" Ryan was a little embarrassed. It was all because Annie had interrupted him then. But seeing the expression on her face that clearly said, As if you did, he described what had happened.

"You're joking, right, Ryan? Destroying Earth and all that..."

Annie was somewhat flustered. She had grown up on Earth, and so had Ryan. He had to be saying it merely to scare those people!

"I'm sorry, but I'm serious. This is a promise made in my capacity as Nazarick's Supreme Being!"

"If they cannot give me a satisfactory explanation this time, I will send forces to attack Earth—a full-scale attack!"

Ryan's expression had never been more serious.

A promise made was a promise that had to be kept. Since he had said those words before the leaders of every nation in the world, he had to carry them out completely. Otherwise, if his words became no more than empty talk, who would take Nazarick seriously in the future?

Even if it was only for pride, for Nazarick's pride, he had to fight—and make Nazarick's name known through that fight!

Even if he ultimately halted the attack because of the system's Influence Value and the hidden powerhouses on Earth, he could not simply do nothing. At the very least, he had to show his stance.

He had already prepared himself mentally to abandon Earth and gather Influence Value from other civilizations in the universe.

If that was possible, then everything would be fine. But if it was not, if Influence Value could only be obtained on Earth, then Earth had better be prepared to face the most terrifying villainous faction in history.

Even Hydra, an organization built by some trash mutant, had endured for a thousand years. Could the mighty Great Tomb of Nazarick, a terrifying super organization that even housed the Demon King's true ancestor, possibly be inferior to trash like Hydra?

That would be utterly laughable!

"But Earth is our home planet, and there are our friends, our family..."

"When the time comes, I'll take Uncle Mocha and Aunt Rose away. Besides, even if we attack, we won't truly destroy Earth. Earth is territory watched over by Asgard. If a real fight breaks out, Asgard will intervene, and Earth's hidden mage organizations will act too. At most, there will be some casualties among the armies of various nations. I'm not insane enough to attack civilians."

Ryan gently comforted Annie.

Although he believed that as long as the leaders of Earth's nations still had functioning brains, they would never choose resistance, he needed to reach an understanding with Annie just in case.

He hoped Annie would always stand behind him and support him, rather than stand against him.

"I need some time to calm down, Ryan."

After a long while, Annie said wearily.

No matter what, she could not bring herself to oppose Ryan. But the environment she had been exposed to all these years made it impossible for her to accept Ryan's decision immediately.

"No problem. How about going to Nazarick? You can see the scenery of another world and formally introduce your identity to everyone in Nazarick!"

Ryan agreed without the slightest hesitation and made the suggestion.

After hesitating for a moment, Annie nodded. Perhaps she truly needed an unfamiliar environment to relax, and she wanted to see another world too.

The instant Annie nodded, Ryan used the system to summon a portal leading to Nazarick. "Demiurge, accompany Annie there. Explain the situation here to everyone, and notify Alva as well. Have him use the Tower Spirit to produce all the resources needed for war."

"Yes, this subordinate guarantees the mission will be completed!"

After giving his assurance, Demiurge led Annie into the portal. Once Ryan closed it, he sighed.

He had always wanted to follow the path of a righteous protagonist, so why was he gradually becoming more and more like the ultimate villainous boss?!

It was all that one-eyed bald bastard's fault!

Thinking of Nick Fury, Ryan ground his teeth.