Click—
The starship opened its hatch, releasing hundreds of Angeloids to sweep the battlefield.
After the Demon King and a significant portion of his officers were eliminated, the entire Demon King's Castle fell into utter chaos.
Especially those demon officers tasked with guarding the gates and barriers—they had been diligently holding their posts inside the fortress.
Each layer of the Demon King's Castle had been meticulously filled with all sorts of traps—from curses to teleportation traps.
They had been confidently waiting for foolish challengers to arrive.
But then the Demon King was decapitated by a spaceship.
This was, without a doubt, the most shocking event in the castle's history.
A hero had completely ignored the standard pattern—skipping every trial and trap they had so carefully arranged—and launched a surprise attack using the mobility of a starship.
Whoosh—
"First squad, eliminate remaining monsters."
"Second squad, collect spoils from inside the Demon King's Castle."
"Third squad—Master's orders are to capture some alive. Follow me."
Ikaros swiftly issued commands, leading the Angeloids down in formation as they began efficiently clearing out the remaining demons within the fortress.
"!!!"
Seeing the pure white wings and high-tech weaponry of the angels, the remaining demon officers were utterly stunned.
What… what were these things?
Angels? So many of them at once?!
Wasn't it forbidden for goddesses to descend and attack directly?!
Boom boom boom—
The angels' high-energy weapons intertwined in dazzling streams of light, turning the Demon King's Castle into a radiant display.
Structures once said to be indestructible, able to withstand both magic and heavy armor, were sliced apart like butter before the lasers.
Angeloids specialized in planetary assault and special operations in interstellar warfare. Suppressing these native demons—now leaderless and disorganized—was effortless.
In no time, the remaining demon troops were completely routed.
"..."
With a single strike, Fu Hua leapt back lightly.
She brushed her fingers over the Xuanyuan Sword before sheathing it.
"This Demon King… was weaker than I expected," Fu Hua said regretfully.
She had finally gotten a chance to fight a boss in another world, yet the opponent had been slain with a single blow.
The experience felt… underwhelming.
"You've gotten stronger—and besides, Kyoichi Yasaka was never the durable type," Setsuna said with a laugh.
"His abilities mainly strengthened his army."
After fusing with Chiyou's larval genes, Fu Hua's control over and use of Honkai energy had grown by leaps and bounds.
In the original worldline, Kyoichi being obliterated by point-blank explosion magic wasn't surprising—and being reduced to dust by a full-power Taixuan Eminence strike made perfect sense.
"..."
"Uh…"
Inside the ship, goddesses Eris and Aqua looked as if they had seen a ghost.
Watching Fu Hua and Mio's performance earlier left them both speechless.
A flood of questions instantly filled their minds:
Was this how heroes were supposed to defeat Demon Kings?
Leaving the beginner's town, flying straight to the Demon King's Castle in a spaceship, bypassing all barriers with some unknown form of magic—
And then sending down one person who instantly kills the Demon King with a single sword strike?!
From the moment Setsuna had arrived in this world until the Demon King's defeat, only a few hours had passed.
They had shattered every record in Heaven for the fastest Demon King subjugation.
Normally, by this time, most heroes would still be playing around in the starting village—hunting slimes, running errands, or earning a few copper coins.
Now this was professionalism.
"Actually, we could've done it even faster," Setsuna said casually. "If we had deployed orbital bombardment from space right after arrival, it'd have been instant."
"But since they wanted to 'test their swords' against the Demon King, I gave them some time."
He patted Aqua and Eris on the shoulder.
"So? I told you I'd wipe out the Demon King's Army in three days."
"Looking at it now, it might not even take that long. A day or two should be enough."
After the Demon King's death, the remnants of his army scattered across the land were already growing weaker by the minute.
It was likely that a good portion of the Demon King's forces would soon be hunted down by adventurers, while the rest could easily be handled by Fu Hua, Tohru, Mio, or even the Angeloids.
"Uh…" Aqua scratched her head, and Eris touched the small scar on her cheek.
It was their first time witnessing such an absurd kind of hero.
"Hero, sir… thank you, truly."
"With the Demon King gone, this world can finally develop in peace again."
"We'll be sure to prepare an appropriate reward for you later."
Eris bowed politely to Setsuna.
He really had solved a major problem for her—though, admittedly, in a rather outrageous way.
"A trivial effort," Setsuna replied casually.
"But, the power you used to break through the Demon King's Castle barrier just now… and those angels—what exactly are they?"
Eris's eyes turned toward Mio, curiosity sparkling in her gaze.
That silver-haired girl was extraordinary—her abilities completely defied even a goddess's comprehension.
"The Angeloids are artificial intelligences we created—purely technological constructs, unlike your heavenly kind," Setsuna explained.
"As for Mio… she merely erased the barrier from the level of the world's rules."
He smiled and gently patted the Spirit of Origin's head.
"If she wanted, erasing the entire Demon King's Castle wouldn't be much harder."
Unlike goddesses whose divine power was limited upon descending, the Spirit of Origin possessed authority resembling a simplified god's—within this world of swords and magic, there was only one phrase to describe her:
Absolute freedom.
"..."
The two goddesses realized Setsuna's team was full of hidden monsters.
"Oh…"
Eris's tone grew even more respectful, though Aqua remained her usual carefree self. She leaned closer to the Spirit of Origin and whispered:
"So, you can change rules and reshape whatever you want, right?"
"Do me a favor—could you convert every Eris believer in this world into Axis Church followers instead?"
"???" Mio blinked, completely baffled.
"Lady Aqua… I, um, can still hear you," Eris said weakly.
"If all my followers vanished overnight, I'd be in a rather difficult position…"
"Bah, you only got followers thanks to your—"
"Aqua!! Please stop!! The Hero is right here!!" Eris yelped, cutting her off mid-sentence.
...
The Angeloids spent some time cleaning up the battlefield.
Roughly an hour later—
Ikaros returned to the ship with dozens of Angeloids, carrying crates of spoils.
"Report, Master. We have completed the full sweep of the Demon King's Castle. Remaining hostile monsters have been purged. Some Demon King's officers have surrendered and await your orders."
"Additionally, Master, these are the recovered spoils."
Click—
One by one, the angels carried up massive crates.
Inside, they were packed with gold, jewels, and magical artifacts.
"These were found in the Demon King's treasury—including the local currency, Eris coins, and other valuables. This is just a portion; the rest are stored in the ship's cargo bay."
"Whoa—!"
"So this is the quest completion reward for defeating the Demon King?!" Aqua's eyes sparkled as she lunged forward for a closer look.
A conservative estimate put the haul's value at several tens of billions in Eris coins—enough to make any ordinary hero live in luxury for a lifetime.
"...Oh. Just stash them in the hold," Setsuna said dismissively.
He had no interest in gold or treasure—such things meant nothing to him.
At a wave of his hand, the Angeloids promptly moved the crates below deck.
"Additionally, we captured several of the Demon King's officers…"
Ikaros snapped her fingers.
Astraea entered, carrying a few individuals bound tightly like cocooned packages, dropping them on the floor.
"Yasaka—the Demon King's daughter. She was dispatched to attack Belzeg's capital adventurers but was intercepted and subdued."
"Her strength has weakened significantly, so she didn't resist much."
"There's also Wolbach—according to the data, her race appears to be divine… a goddess, perhaps?"
"And Seresdina—she seems to be the only human among the Demon King's army."
Ikaros gave each introduction in turn.
"We also captured several other demonic creatures. They've been confined within spatial cages for transport to the Life Sciences Division."
"Well done," Setsuna said, patting the stoic angel's head.
Her efficiency in these operations was improving by the day.
Then, with a small wave, he added casually:
"Right, lock them all in the containment cells for… behavioral correction."
...
Efficient. Far too efficient.
Eris looked up at the sun.
When Setsuna and Aqua had first arrived in this world, it had been around noon.
Now, after slaying the Demon King and purging the entire castle, the sun hadn't even set yet.
Below them, where countless monsters had once gathered under an unbreakable barrier, the Demon King's Castle now lay in ruins—completely eradicated.
The entire fortress was empty, not a single monster remaining.
The top floor still bore traces of Fu Hua's battle with the Demon King, where the Taixuan Eminence had torn away part of the upper structure.
Aside from that, the wreckage of laser fire and missile impacts from the Angeloids littered the site.
The angels had carried off every unknown artifact, weapon, and piece of loot, wiped out all minor demons, and bound the few remaining as prisoners.
"Hm… a few of those Demon King officers might be useful in the future. Perhaps they can be persuaded to turn to our side," Setsuna mused.
He had the captives temporarily imprisoned aboard the ship.
The Demon King's army in the KonoSuba world wasn't nearly as menacing as in traditional fantasy worlds.
Many of its so-called 'officers' were more like comedians.
There was the priest who scammed people inside the Demon King's Castle for donations; the mentor who taught Megumin her Explosion Magic; and even the lich who'd given up evil to open a shop in the starter town…
"..."
Though Eris was normally hostile toward demons, considering Setsuna had already obliterated their leader, she saw no need to intervene—none of the survivors posed any real threat.
"Next up…"
Setsuna pulled out a small notebook and crossed off an item on his to-do list.
"Demon King—defeated. Next objective…"
"Recruit companions. Right."
Shua—
He brought up a holographic map, marking numerous points across the world.
The KonoSuba world was filled with potential allies—many scattered in different regions.
Thankfully, before arriving, he had prepared thoroughly. The starship's sensors had already pinpointed each one's location with precision.
"Eh?" Eris tilted her head in surprise.
"Hero, aren't you going to return home?"
"According to Heaven's rules, once you've defeated the Demon King, you're eligible to return to Heaven and make a wish…"
"I would personally receive you, and Lady Aqua could return as well."
As the overseer of this world, managing its heroes fell under Eris's jurisdiction.
Rewarding those who defeated the Demon King was part of her divine duty.
"No rush on returning," Setsuna said thoughtfully, resting his chin in his hand.
"There are still things left to handle in this world. Recruiting new allies will take time, and I might be too busy alone… maybe I should summon some people from base to help."
"They've been wanting to explore new worlds anyway."
"???"
"You're not in a hurry, but I am!"
Aqua's voice rose sharply as she grabbed Setsuna's shoulders, shaking him back and forth.
"I want to go back to Heaven now!!! Can't you just say yes to Eris and have the angels send us home?!"
Her emotions had swung wildly all day.
First, she was curious when she met Setsuna—then terrified when he brought her to another world.
She'd spent the whole journey worrying he might die or fail against the Demon King, trapping her here forever.
Then, when he defeated the Demon King in record time, she had expected to finally return home—only for him to decide to stay longer.
She felt completely played.
"I know you're impatient, but calm down first."
Setsuna gently pressed down on her shoulders.
"???"
"Once I finish my work here, I'll take you back myself."
"Actually, we can return to Heaven anytime we want—because I have this."
As he spoke, he tossed a device toward the remains of the Demon King's Castle.
[Teleportation Anchor established. Linked to primary node.]
[Node #22: Blessings to This Wonderful World (Alternate World I)]
"?"
"What is that…" Eris asked curiously, her eyes wide with fascination.
"Teleportation Anchors can perform interdimensional transfers," Setsuna explained. "When I first met Aqua, I casually dropped one in her room."
He opened his holographic interface, displaying a list of nodes.
[Node #21: Blessings to This Wonderful World (Heaven)]
[Node #22: Blessings to This Wonderful World (Alternate World I)]
In a multiverse setup, multiple anchors were needed to bridge each world.
"Eh? So if I use this thing, I can return to Heaven right now?" Aqua's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Yes," Setsuna nodded. "It's unaffected by your divine rules—you can freely travel anywhere, even to the Starsea Empire's capital."
"—As long as I give permission."
"Oh…"
"That's… a divine artifact, isn't it…" Eris murmured in awe.
Even for goddesses, bound by Heaven's rules and trapped in repetitive routines, this kind of tool—capable of bypassing all restrictions—was unbelievable.
"If that's the case, then I'll head back to Heaven! Goodbye—" Aqua cheered, preparing to leave.
But Eris spoke softly, stopping her.
"If the hero wishes to stay a while longer, that wouldn't be a bad thing."
"Beyond Axel, there are other places worth visiting—like Belzeg's royal capital."
"You were the one who defeated the Demon King's army that tried to invade it, correct? I'll inform the believers there of your deeds, so you'll receive the honor you deserve."
Her gaze lingered on Setsuna. Even while inhabiting her mortal form, her divine aura was unmistakable.
"Wherever there are followers of the Eris Church, I'll deliver an oracle declaring that you've slain the Demon King and restored peace to this world…"
"Your deeds will be sung in every city. Bards will compose songs about you. Adventurers will look up to you as their ideal—and when the time comes, I shall personally bless you in the name of the goddess."
"Ah…"
Eris was truly amazing.
Setsuna couldn't help but think so to himself.
Gentle, considerate, and elegant—no wonder she'd consistently ranked first as the 'Most Desired Boss in Heaven.'
"Wait a second!!!"
Aqua suddenly jumped up.
"Are you trying to flirt with him?!"
"Eh?"
Eris blinked, momentarily confused.
"I just think this is the treatment a hero rightfully deserves…"
Then she lightly touched her face, smiling faintly.
"Though… if the hero is interested in the Eris Church, I could personally teach you more about our faith…"
"???"
"No! Stop right there!!!" Aqua yelled, flailing her arms.
"Oh! I just remembered something!" she exclaimed, slapping her forehead.
Standing tall in front of Setsuna, she spread her arms dramatically and declared:
"Hero, join the Axis Church!"
"Through faith in the Axis Order, you will receive ultimate salvation!"
Shua—
A radiant beam of holy light filled the entire ship, blinding everyone inside.
"???"
Tohru, Griseo, and Fu Hua were completely lost as the atmosphere abruptly shifted.
The starship had just turned into a full-blown missionary battleground.
Even the three Angeloids stood frozen in confusion, unsure how to react.
"Ah, I see now…"
Mio closed her eyes for a moment, then spoke in realization.
"These goddesses draw power from the faith of their followers."
"The stronger their believers' devotion, the more powerful the goddess becomes. Without followers, a goddess could even fade away entirely."
"Aqua's constant hostility toward Eris probably stems from jealousy—Eris has more followers and higher standing in this world."
For the deities of this world, divine strength depended on belief. Without faith, they would lose their power and eventually cease to exist.
Thus, they valued their believers deeply, granting blessings and miracles to sustain that devotion. Eris even descended occasionally to personally aid her church.
Now, standing before them was a hero unlike any other—a being capable of erasing Demon Kings and their armies at will.
A man who ruled over a vast interdimensional empire with countless populations.
"We're doomed," Tohru groaned, covering her forehead.
"I can already see it… once the Commander goes back, he's going to be swarmed by missionary goddesses."
"Heaven's goddesses are about to become the Commander's simps."
—
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