Months passed, and at last this place welcomed another guest. Golden light spilled over the land, a colossal divine bird.
It was one of Little Garden's most renowned, highest-ranked divine birds: the roc, bearer of one of the strongest fire-type Gifts against gods and dragons alike, the Flame of the Golden Wings.
Back during the Solar War preliminaries, Riku had encountered the roc Karyō; even among the Three-Digits, her strength counted as formidable, worthy of the title "highest-ranked divine bird."
Only, this divine bird was far smaller than the one that had been merely a fledgling.
Now the fledgling flew above the forest, taking in the beauty of the region.
She had slipped out in secret; everything in the outside world sparked her curiosity.
"Hm? A fluctuation of divinity? And strong at that?" The fledgling noticed something amiss within the forest, and curiosity stirred in her heart. Though the might behind that divinity wasn't being deliberately released, as a princess of the roc clan, she had seen much; by her estimate, this divinity seemed stronger even than her elders'.
Driven by curiosity, the fledgling banked toward the source of that divinity. She had to know why such a powerful existence would appear in so sparsely peopled a place.
She did not worry that anyone might harm her. After all, she was a princess of the roc clan; in Little Garden, that status meant something, and ordinary beings would not dare injure her lest they invite the clan's vengeance.
——
"So it begins the reappearance of myth." Riku, of course, sensed the fledgling roc's approach. Gazing toward the distant sky, the corner of his mouth lifted.
"Riku, what is it?" Sun Wukong tilted her head, asking.
"A guest is coming. Let's give her a proper welcome," Riku said softly.
"A guest? Got it." Sun Wukong nodded.
Seconds later, the divine bird appeared within Riku and Sun Wukong's sight, and curiosity glimmered in Sun Wukong's eyes.
At the same time, the roc fledgling also spotted Sun Wukong and Riku.
In an instant, her attention was fixed on Sun Wukong. Though she found Riku vaguely familiar, she did not sense any great divinity from him and thus paid him little mind.
By contrast, at close range, she realised just how overwhelming Sun Wukong's divinity was.
At first, she had thought it merely outstripped some of her elders, but it was far more than that.
And there was this odd feeling: newly born divinity? No, Star Spirit…and somewhat incomplete at that. In other words, a rare half–Star Spirit!?
In a flash, countless thoughts raced through the roc fledgling's mind as she stared at Sun Wukong in amazement.
"Are you my guest?" Meeting the divine bird's gaze, Sun Wukong cocked her head, asking in curiosity.
"A guest? Let's say I am," the roc fledgling replied after a brief hesitation, finally nodding. Her voice was crisp and girlish, very pleasant to the ear.
Before their eyes, the fledgling's body gradually shrank, and she alighted in human form a few meters before Riku and Sun Wukong.
Her black hair was tied in a single ponytail trailing down her back. She wore clothing patterned with roc motifs, and a pair of golden wings seemingly formed of flame arched from her back.
Petite as a little girl, she looked about 15 years old; her features were as exquisitely wrought as the finest artisan's masterwork, her skin snow-white and lustrous, her bearing noble and elegant.
Yet atop that cute face and regal poise lay a touch of magical allure enough to cause those of weak will to sink and to stir the hidden desires within their hearts.
At the very first sight of the loli before him, Riku could only shake his head. He had once read of how an Asura prince, risking the roc clan's wrath, had imprisoned the then 15-year-old Roc Demon King Karyō and tried to lay hands upon her, only for a furious Sun Wukong to storm the Asura clan and thrash that prince, becoming one of the sparks that later ignited the "Six Realms Hell Annihilation Incident."
Seeing her now, it was clear why Roc Demon King Karyō so easily tempted people to sin.
Even Riku, well-versed in women and who had even been with the Queen of Halloween, felt a momentary tug at his heart just now, to say nothing of others.
But it was only for a moment.
"My name is Karyō. And yours?" Karyō planted her hands on her hips and asked with bright curiosity.
Though she had the look of a little girl, she gave off an air of precociousness; the gap was so endearing that Riku could not help but smile.
No wonder Roc Demon King Karyō was called "Little Karyō" by so many and loved by so many as well.
"Mm… as for me, I'm Sun Wukong," Sun Wukong said guilelessly, tilting her head and offering her name without a shred of guard.
"Sun Wukong? Sounds familiar," Karyō muttered. Playful as she was, her store of knowledge was lacking, but that name tugged at some vague recollection she couldn't place. "And you?" Karyō wasn't the type to fuss; if she couldn't remember, she let it go. She looked to Riku with puzzled eyes. "Why do you feel familiar? Like I've seen you somewhere before." "Me?" Riku's lips curved as he answered offhandedly, "Riku Dola."
"…!" At that, Karyō's eyes flew wide. She stared straight at Riku, face full of astonishment. "What did you say!?"
"Riku is Riku. What about it?" Sun Wukong asked, puzzled.
"Hah!? You don't know what that name means!?" Upon confirming it, Karyō practically jumped, eyes shining as she looked at Riku, excitement overflowing.
"That's the greatest, coolest Demon Lord in history, my biggest idol!" Karyō cried, dashing over. Owing to the difference in height, she latched onto Riku's thigh, eyes sparkling with glee.
"I didn't recognise you at first, must be because you weren't transformed. But seeing you now, you really are Lord Demon King Riku!"
She looked every bit the real-world fangirl meeting her star.
It wasn't just Sun Wukong who was dumbfounded; even Riku froze. He had never imagined Karyō would react like this.
"Lord Riku, please let me join [Disboard]! Please!" Karyō looked up with shining eyes, full of expectation, and blurted it out without hesitation.
"Uh…" The corner of Riku's mouth twitched.
What was this? Had he just poached someone right in front of Sun Wukong by accident!?
"Demon Lord? Riku is a Demon Lord? What's a Demon Lord?" Sun Wukong asked curiously. She suddenly thought of the Great Demon King of Chaos.
"Uh… you don't even know what a Demon Lord is?" Karyō tilted her head, giving Sun Wukong a strange look with a little huff.
"Sun Wukong lost her mission at birth, so there were… issues. She lacks all sorts of knowledge," Riku explained with a shake of his head.
"I see." Enlightenment crossed Karyō's face. Half–Star Spirits were rare and special in Little Garden; they usually carried out some mission. If that mission was lost, problems like this were… understandable.
"Heh-heh. Since you're so curious, I'll tell you." Releasing Riku's leg, Karyō planted her hands on her hips, lifted her chin at Sun Wukong, and said in a childlike yet oddly world-weary voice:
"Demon Lords are the freest beings in Little Garden: they do whatever they want, awesome and cool!"
"For example, Lord Riku is currently the strongest and coolest Demon Lord in Little Garden! He's defeated the Son of God, Jesus; the Twin Goddesses; and Shakyamuni in succession; led [Disboard] to rout a million-strong legion of gods; and even the so-called most ancient Demon Lord, the Human Final Trial is a [Disboard] officer under Lord Riku! So Lord Riku is a Demon Lord in name and in fact the strongest, the coolest!"
That left Riku feeling a bit odd. He hadn't expected that this future Roc Demon King would idolise him so much.
Besides, the roc clan was nominally in the gods' camp, and yet Karyō adored a Demon Lord in pure rebellious phase; no wonder she'd become the Roc Demon King.
Riku couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"I see," Sun Wukong said with a half-understanding nod.
"Then… I guess I'm a Demon Lord too," Sun Wukong said, pointing at herself with a frown.
"Uh, you're a Demon Lord too?" Karyō had been about to press Riku to accept her into [Disboard], but Sun Wukong's words made her blink and then beam as she asked in surprise.
"Mm. My title… seems to be… Demon Lord, [Great Sage Equal to Heaven] Sun Wukong," Sun Wukong said hesitantly, fragments of memory surfacing in her mind.
"Great Sage Equal to Heaven!? Are you sure!?" Karyō's eyes flew wide as she stared at Sun Wukong.
"Great Sage Equal to Heaven" isn't a title just anyone dares to claim; in all Little Garden, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone bold enough to take so arrogant a name.
Great Sage equal to Heaven!
"Sun Wukong's title really is 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven,'" Riku said at the right moment, ruffling Sun Wukong's golden hair with a smile.
"If Lord Riku says so, I believe her," Karyō said in admiration. As expected, the girl before her wasn't ordinary at all. No wonder Lord Riku had his eye on her.
"In that case, I'll be the [Great Sage Who Roils the Heavens]. I'll stir the sky into a stew!" Karyō's dewy eyes sparkled; she raised her little hand in excitement.
At that, Riku gave a wry smile.
"Since we've got our banners and titles, Lord Riku let us join the strongest 'Demon Lord Alliance'!" Karyō's gaze returned to him, face full of eager expectation.
"No," Riku said without hesitation, one brow lifting.
"Ehh? How come?" Karyō's little face scrunched up at once; she glared at Riku, pouting in frustration.
"Riku… I can't either?" Sun Wukong asked, pointing at herself, troubled.
"No. You have your own paths to walk. The time hasn't come yet," Riku said casually, stroking his chin.
"Ah, I get it!" Karyō's eyes flashed; hands on her hips, she sniffed. "Lord Riku thinks we're not famous enough yet, no qualifications to join [Disboard], huh."
"What nonsense are you spouting? Do I look like that kind of person?" Riku tapped Karyō lightly on the head, half exasperated, half amused.
"Then… Lord Riku just doesn't want us going in now as nobodies," Karyō said, eyes spinning with quick wit. "And I don't want to backdoor my way in as an officer anyway, so when I've made a name for myself, Lord Riku, you're not allowed to refuse me."
"..." At that, black lines practically filled Riku's forehead. Oh, loli, your imagination…
He didn't intend to explain. Since Karyō had supplied a reason for him, why bother clarifying and making it messy?
"Welp, pleased to be working with you from now on, Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong!" Karyō then turned, brimming with enthusiasm, and grinned at Sun Wukong.
"Mm. Pleased to be working with you, Great Sage Who Roils the Heavens Karyō," Sun Wukong said with a smile, touching her cheek and nodding.
For her, today was a fine day; she'd made another friend.
"Though there was a minor detour, things are finally back on track," Riku murmured, giving the scene a slight shake of his head.
Seems I can't be too high-profile. If I stick by Sun Wukong's side with my true face and title, a butterfly effect is inevitable.
Riku stroked his chin, pondering.
"Right, right! Since we've got our titles and banners, shouldn't we do something a Demon Lord ought to do?" Karyō piped up then, eyes glittering with impish light.
"Something a Demon Lord ought to do?" Sun Wukong asked, curious.
"Heh-heh. Sun Wukong, you don't have a divine weapon or divine armour yet. That won't do at all. Wearing ordinary clothes won't show a Demon Lord's majesty, not cool in the least," Karyō said with that same precocious air.
"In that case, what we need to do is obvious, let's go 'liberate' some divine gear from a few places," Karyō said, eyes blazing with interest. "And we can proclaim our meteoric debut to Little Garden at the same time!"
Now this was what she wanted: unrestrained, doing whatever she pleased. Being a Demon Lord was the best!
"In that case, I happen to know a place that fits your requirements," Riku said at last, as if after some thought, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"Lord Riku, tell us!" Karyō urged at once, plainly itching to pull a job.
"The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea ever heard of him?" Riku glanced at Karyō, smiling with narrowed eyes.
"The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea?" Karyō blinked, then her eyes lit up.
The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea had some renown even in Little Garden.
He had learned the divinity of dragons in the abyss of stars and become a god; in human myth, he is the embodiment of calling wind and summoning rain. Thanks to that achievement, his strength isn't bad at all. Of course, that's not the important part; the point is that the Dragon King is a famous collector, hoarding all sorts of divine armaments. The most famous of all is the Sea-Calming Divine Needle!