Time of Choice ⑤

Short Ariel's words, heard by all of humanity "Ah... Yep! That was a pretty lame opening, but I'd really appreciate it if you could forget that part. Please."

"Anyway. So, what was it? My platform?"

"My platform... my platform..."

"But honestly, there's not really much for me to say."

"I mean, I don't have any expectations for humanity."

"Well, duh. What can you expect from a bunch of people who just went about their lives without a care in the world until things got to this point?"

"I mean, Lady Sariel risked her life to keep this world going, and they've forgotten her kindness right up until now."

"You have any idea how many years have passed since then? Just look at the Taboo's history and you can figure out the rough timeline."

"Granted, there was someone who deliberately erased it from history to make people forget, but still."

"But from where I've been standing and watching all this time, I've long since gone past anger into pure disappointment."

"Knowing that Lady Sariel sacrificed herself to save a bunch of people like this..."

"See, humanity chose to sacrifice Lady Sariel to save themselves in the past. So it's pretty obvious what kind of choice they'll make this time too."

"So I don't expect anything from them, and I'm not going to try to convince them."

"But I'll say this much."

"We're the ones who'll win."

"If no one—not even Lady Sariel herself—is willing to save her, then I will save her."

"Even if it means sacrificing more than half of humanity."

"If you're willing to sacrifice Lady Sariel, then you should be prepared to be the ones sacrificed, right?"

"So let me make my declaration."

"I am Ariel—the second Demon King."

"The true Demon King, sovereign of the Demon race—not some counterfeit appointed by the System."

"Inheriting the will of the first Demon King Fodway, who sought to annihilate all of humanity in order to liberate Lady Sariel—I hereby declare war upon mankind."

"Mankind—die for the sake of the Goddess."