It had been a bad series of recent years for Bashvaza.

　He was supposed to become the Fourth Heavenly King and make one spectacular achievement after another, but all he could do was make blunders.

　Moreover, all the blame for the blunders is placed on him.

　The Mithril Mine was lost because the knockers living there revolted.
　For some reason, Bashvaza is blamed for the wickedness of the knockers who defy the demon king's army.

　It's not just the fact that they are losing the battle with the brave men, it's also the fact that Bezzeria and Zebiantes, who were dispatched earlier, are only weak, but for some reason the trend of 'the four heavenly kings of the day are weak' is prevalent.

''Why do you take the Four Heavenly Kings as a whole.......?　Can't you guess that this leader, me, is far stronger than the other three...?''

　I'm annoyed.

　Currently, Droyer is the third person to hit the brave man.
　To erase the blunder related to Mithril, Bashvaza planned to forcibly replace him so that he could defeat the brave man himself.
　However, Droyer stubbornly refuses to do so, even going so far as to say, "If you insist, I'll ask the Demon King for his approval directly.

　It's not a good idea to have a good time, but it's a good idea to have a good time.

"d*mn it, why...?　Why isn't anyone doing what I want them to do...?

　It shouldn't have been this way at first.
　Everyone respected him as the Four Heavenly Kings and did exactly what he ordered, and he always succeeded without fail.

　Bashvaza couldn't understand why the present and the past were so different.

　.........
　Bashbarza himself couldn't understand, but when he was first appointed to the Four Heavenly Kings, Dariel was there.
　As an assistant.

　Dariel has been the link between the top and the bottom, communicating the intentions of the orders in an understandable manner and giving maximum backup to the field of execution.
　It was also Dariel's achievement to take the recklessness issued by Sergeant Bashverza and milden it to the extent that it was feasible.

　Once that Dariel was gone, it was obvious that the command system of the Demon King's army would collapse.
　The only one who couldn't see it was Bashbarza.

　The elites of the Demon King's Army, who were now directly exposed to Bashbursa's whims, realized once again the importance of Dariel, and at the same time, their hatred for Bashbursa grew just as strong.

　There were no longer any allies of Bashbarza above or below them.

　As expected, he could feel that degree in his skin, and it was one of the factors that strengthened Bashbaza's irritation.

　Then today, another uninteresting event happened to him.

　He had received a call.

　There was only one person, aside from the Demon King, who could call out one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Bashbarza, who stood at the top of the Demon King's army.

　The previous Four Heavenly Kings.

　He was a hero, so to speak, who had served in that illustrious position before the current generation and had made the greatest possible achievements.

◆

　Granbaza, the previous Four Heavenly Kings of Karma Fire, and Bashbaza, the current Four Heavenly Kings of Ayan Fire, are their own children.

　Both of them have the attribute of fire among the four elements, and as the attribute with the highest offensive power, they have been the driving force of the Four Heavenly Kings.

　.........Most definitely.
　Compared to Granbaza, who was the leader of the previous Four Heavenly Kings in both name and reality, his son Bashbaza's name as the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings was a strong element of the Seventh Light.

　He was only inheriting the position of leader by inertia because he was the son of the previous leader more directly because he was the son of the previous leader.

　If Bashbaza himself had the qualities, he might have eventually become familiar with the title of leader that was worn by inertia, but the fact is that he has already passed judgment.

　........Anyway, the previous Four Heavenly Kings Granbaza had already retired after handing over that title to his son.

　The direct cause of his retirement was the legendary fierce battle with his nemesis, the hero.

　The two sides clashed with each other's deadly force, and the two received a great deal of damage, resulting in a face-off.
　Granbaza also suffered a deep wound that left him wandering on the border between life and death for a time, and he is still recuperating from the wound without being fully recovered.
　When he was unable to continue in his position as the Four Heavenly Kings due to his condition, he and his comrades made a plan to retire and hand over to the next generation.

　When Grambarza visited the retreat house that doubled as his sanatorium, Bashbarza saw something unbelievable.

　It was a vortex of fire.

　A tornado of flames so big that it looked as if it might blow up an entire mountain into charcoal extinguishing coals, was undulating in the garden of the mansion.

'Bashvaza. 'You're here.'

　Standing in the center of that fiery vortex, a great man.

　Even in his old age, his muscles and bones have not wavered, and his broad shoulders are as wide as the gates of a castle.
　He is the first of the previous Four Heavenly Kings who were considered the strongest of all time.
The Granbaza of "Karma Fire" had the supremacy of a man who wore a medical gown and looked as if he was going to visit a doctor.

''Father?　Why such a great magic in the garden...?

　Witnessing the huge whirlpool of fire, Bashbarza trembles heartily.
　Although he is a mage who specializes in the same fire attribute, that's why he understands the awesomeness.
　If I were to unleash an annihilation magic on this scale, how much of my life span would I have to cut down on?
　Just imagining it was enough to make Bashbarza cringe.

'It's called rehabilitation. It's not a good idea to stay in bed all the time. It's a good idea to move your body in the right direction to help it heal faster.
'Moderate, sir...?　This is...?

　Not only was it powerful, but the magic control that kept the large flames on an extraordinary scale in the small garden of the mansion was also extraordinary.

''You've come a long way. How is the work of the Four Heavenly Kings progressing?
Yes.....
Do you listen well to Dariel?
Yes...........!

You're not going to be able to do that.

　The parent-child meeting was held in a room in the mansion.
　Although there is a set of tables and chairs in the garden as well, the place was moved because the air outside is still an obstacle to Granvasa's wounds, which are not fully healed.

　Father and son facing each other.
　The air is somewhat distant.

"When we decided to retire, the people around us made a good deal of noise.
Yes.....
Is it a reaction to being hailed as the most powerful in the world?　The youthfulness of your successors was also used as a source of anxiety. It was Dariel who held it back.

　Even if the previous Four Heavenly Kings retired en masse, Dariel, who served as a perfect assistant under them, would remain.
　That was a guarantee, and it helped to stem the flow of objections to the replacements.

'The best encounter of my lifetime was meeting Dariel. I consider it my way of congratulating you on your inauguration as the Fourth Heavenly King to pass that good fortune on to you.
Yes, of course, father.
''Yes, I said the same thing when I handed over the title of Four Heavenly Kings to you. I also told you to take Dariel's words as my words and obey them well...

　The father brought the tea on the table to his mouth.
　The child did not touch it at all.

'How is ... how is Dariel doing?　He came to visit me once, but I scolded him and turned him away. Now he has a great role to play in helping the Four Heavenly Kings, and he has time to visit an old man?　And.....
Yes.....
You're not ready for this. You can't stand still without Dariel. Are you taking care of Dariel?　Are you sure you haven't embarrassed Dariel?
No, no, father!

　Bashvaza told a perfunctory lie.

'Dariel is doing a fine job as the Four Heavenly Kings Assistant!　There is nothing for your father to worry about, so may he rest easy and concentrate on his recovery!
..........
...Father?
'Kuh!　Kukukukukukukukukuku...!

　Glamberza suddenly started laughing.
　It was a laugh that sounded as if she was suppressing pain or anger that was coming from deep inside.

　But soon the tag was off.

　A huge fist flew into Bashvaza's face and stabbed him squarely in the face.
　The entire table and sofa were blown away, and he rolled to the wall behind him and stopped colliding.

''Gubey........?　Chi, father.........?

　This was the first time Bashbaza had been hit by his father.
　The heat and pain left on his cheeks was somehow unreal.

'Petitions are coming to me. Numerous...!

　The former mightiest of the Four Heavenly Kings shakes his fist and says.

"I beg you to intercede for my son, my nephew and my brother, who have been relieved of their posts as the Fourth Heavenly King, to forgive them.

　Bashvaza appointed a new assistant to the Four Heavenly Kings soon after the ousting of Dariel, but he was unable to surpass Dariel's work and dismissed him again as soon as he was displeased.
　However, he was unable to surpass Dariel's work and dismissed him again as soon as he was displeased.
　He was not the only one who did so, and the Four Heavenly Kings' Assistants have changed over and over again, with new appointments and dismissals.

　So what happened to Dariel, the first assistant to the Four Heavenly Kings?
　It was impossible for his perceptive predecessor not to notice.

''I didn't think you were this stupid.......!

　His father had told him exactly the same thing that the demon king had told me.

You have thrown away the treasure of Dariel without a second thought, and now you are trying to mend it with a makeshift lie. What stupidity, what stupidity, what stupidity, what stupidity. You have no right to call yourself the Four Heavenly Kings...!
Well I beg your pardon, father!

　The only thing Bashbursa could immediately refute was the unfounded pride he held.

'You are the one who misunderstood, father!　I'm a son of Grand Barzah!　He's the son of the strongest Four Heavenly Kings of all time!　With my talent, I'll be able to serve as the Fourth Heavenly King without the help of such an incompetent!
''What's the result of that?　Aren't you cornered to the point of receiving a direct scolding from the Demon Lord?

　Bashbursa was frightened when the facts were pointed out to him.

'Did you think I would stay in recuperation and not know anything about it?　You think you can be the Fourth Heavenly King with such a naive outlook?　You're a disappointment to everyone. Upstairs, downstairs, and me too.

　It was the first time Bashvaza had been told so clearly the reality of the situation.
　At this moment, a full-blown sense of danger finally grew in his heart.

''There is only one way for you to continue to be the Four Heavenly Kings in the future. I've called you here today to teach you that.
What is it?
Find Dariel.

　Bashvaza heard the sound of his own pride cracking.

'You must find Dariel, rub your forehead against the ground and beg his forgiveness. Then you will be reinstated as the Assistant Four Heavenly King and you must never disobey him again. ........If you can do that, you won't step down from your position as the Four Heavenly Kings in disgrace.
I don't want to.

　Bashvaza disobeyed his father.
　It was also the first time in his life.

'Relying on that scum to be the Four Heavenly Kings is what it's all about!　I'm going to make my mark on the world with my skills, and my name will be remembered for years to come!
You....
"Father, please look at this!　I am the son of the mighty Grandfather!　Let's prove that the lion's boy is also a lion!

　Discarding, Bashvaza left the room.

　He had nothing but pride.
　Even though he had no ability, wisdom, or humanity, he had more pride than any other person.

　That pride was the only thing that motivated him now.
　But perhaps the destination driven by pride is the precipice of nothingness.