"You worked hard this time, Frey."
Rin praised Frey a few times. His tone was gentle, completely different from the sharp hostility during their first meeting.
"It is my honor to share your burdens."
"..."
Watching Frey like this, Carrion's eye twitched uncontrollably.
If not for the inappropriate setting, he would have blurted out: What are you acting all serious for, you old woman!
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Frey shot a sideways glance at him.
In that moment, Carrion felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar. His mind went blank, and he quickly collected himself, thinking: A woman's intuition really is terrifying.
"Next, let's talk business."
Rin snapped his fingers, instantly teleporting everyone to Carrion's palace.
Carrion wasn't surprised.
He had already accepted that Rin's strength far exceeded Frey's.
So, doing something like this wasn't strange anymore.
Not strange, my foot!
It's insane!
He, a Demon Lord with 400,000 magicules, had been teleported by someone else, completely unable to resist, not even realizing when it happened.
Just like Frey said...
This guy might look young, but his strength is miles beyond hers.
Looking at how close Velzard was acting with Rin, Carrion understood. The outcome had already been decided the moment someone capable of subduing even a True Dragon appeared near their territory.
Submitting early would at least prevent the Beast Kingdom of Eurazania from suffering unnecessary losses and would preserve their people.
And if what Frey said was true...
"Sit down."
"No, you sit."
Carrion looked at the throne that used to be his.
He wasn't clueless about etiquette, especially with Frey constantly shooting him looks from the side.
"Mm."
Rin didn't bother with formalities and naturally took the seat of honor.
Velzard and Frey stood by his sides.
It wasn't meant to humiliate Carrion.
A Demon Lord needed to project authority and presence.
This was a transfer of power, a shift in identity.
If Carrion still didn't get it now, then he wasn't worth Rin's attention at all.
Fortunately, Carrion might be rough, but he wasn't stupid.
By this point, he had already figured things out.
"One of the Ten Great Demon Lords, Lion King Carrion."
Carrion knelt on one knee, lowered his head, and declared, "I am willing to lead three million beastmen and the Beast Kingdom of Eurazania to submit to you!"
"Ah."
Rin smiled. "You won't regret today's decision, Carrion."
"Frey."
"I await your command."
"Explain to Carrion the benefits of joining the Monster Nation."
Rin added, "But bump it up one level compared to your version."
"Also, your Harpy Queendom can merge into the Monster Nation ahead of schedule."
Undoubtedly, Rin wasn't just increasing the benefits for the newly joined Eurazania, but also rewarding the Harpy Queendom and Frey for their achievements.
Of course, the benefits were nice.
But what truly shocked Frey was that final line from Rin.
Merge into the Monster Nation!
This meant Frey would gain an official position by Rin's side.
"Thank you for your generous treatment. I and the Harpy Race will bring you even greater glory."
After finishing her formal response, Frey began to explain the so-called benefits to Carrion.
"First is naming. All monsters who join the Monster Nation can receive a name from Rin."
"Huh?"
Carrion was still wondering what kind of reward had gotten Frey so excited.
But hearing that, he was stunned.
"No!"
"Wait a second!"
"You're telling me... naming everyone? Frey, are you serious?"
Carrion was floored. "The Beast Kingdom of Eurazania alone has over three million beastmen!"
And that was a conservative estimate. He wasn't even including the other monsters living in Eurazania.
If those were included, it would easily exceed five million.
Naming five million individuals?
That was a joke, right?
How is that possible?!
Even if the magicules required to name each one was only a thousand, that was still five billion magicules.
Five billion!
Did they think magicules were like counterfeit money from some art school where the currency changed value daily?
This was five billion magicules!
It was the combined total of ten thousand Carrions and ten thousand Beast King Spears.
And that didn't even include the B-rank or A-rank monsters.
If they were accounted for, the magicule consumption would easily surpass ten billion.
"Carrion, do not use your ignorance to measure the world Rin-sama lives in."
Frey's response was even more shocking. "And it's not just naming millions of monsters. Don't forget the citizens of my Harpy Queendom too."
"..."
Eurazania plus the Harpy Queendom, how many monsters would that be?
Carrion didn't even want to think about it.
It was terrifying.
"I forgot to introduce myself."
Rin, seated on the throne that once belonged to Carrion, slowly raised his hand.
In his palm, a galaxy rotated, revealing a scene that looked like a miniature universe.
Rin didn't say a word.
But that silence alone sent waves of shock through Carrion.
At the same time, Carrion's mind was racing, full of thoughts about Rin's true identity.
"Cre... creation, Dragon God..."
He didn't know much about the Star King Dragon, only that it was a god said to have created heaven and earth.
But now, faced with the Dragon God in the flesh, Carrion finally understood what terrifying power was contained in those few legendary words.
That galaxy… it's real...
What was even crazier was that Carrion, through sheer perception, confirmed that the galaxy wasn't just an illusion.
There really was a world inside it.
And Rin could create it at will.
Just processing that much information nearly made Carrion's brain overheat.
No wonder...
No wonder that old Frey bent the knee so quickly!
Now that he understood, Carrion felt genuine gratitude toward Frey.
This senior of his, who had known him since youth, had prospered but didn't forget about him. She had pulled him up once again.
The first time was when she helped him join the Demon Lord Conference, making him the ninth Demon Lord.
This was the second time.
This kind of kindness was hard to repay.
The Creation Dragon God, huh...
Faced with the Creator God, what pride could he, a mere Demon Lord, a mere beastman king, possibly cling to?
Everyone lives under the sky and stars.
Is that something shameful?
At least for Carrion, it wasn't.
(To be continued.)