Chapter 244
Let’s probe the Demon King a bit more.
“I heard there was a three-way battle among the Demon Kings in the Felhemstein Duchy? Who won aside, hasn’t their power significantly weakened? Are you sure you can afford to waste your subordinates?”
“Ah, yes. We suffered significant losses due to that Carpheios bastard.”
For the first time, anger flickered across the face of the refined and composed Rule-Setting Inferinos.
It’s strange enough for Demon Kings to get along, but the 2nd and 3rd in rank were particularly arch-rivals, desperate to tear each other apart.
Inferinos looked down on Carpheios as a ‘savage demon who camps outdoors without a decent fortress,’ and Carpheios disparaged Inferinos as a ‘gloomy swindler who lives stuck in a hole, never seeing moonlight.’
In the last three-way battle, they must have engaged in a fierce war of attrition, whittling down each other’s forces.
“But why? Even if it’s tribute for the Chaos Evil God, isn’t this too much of a strain on your limited resources? You’re already 3rd in rank, aren’t you?”
Surprisingly, Inferinos was unfazed by my provocation.
“Such matters are of no concern.”
“……”
“We merely follow the grand will of that entity who forms the very foundation of our existence.”
It was a voice that felt more than plain; it was almost reverent.
That wasn’t the end of it.
Instead, Inferinos seemed to discern my intention to glean information, and leisurely began to explain.
“You must have caught on to two facts from my words just now. Yes, that’s right. This Pit of Solitude was created in accordance with the revelation of that entity, the ‘Newly Born Chaos Evil.’ A considerable amount of power was irreversibly expended.”
The revelation of the Chaos Evil God.
Those words imprinted themselves deeply in my mind.
“And another thing. As you might have guessed when I mentioned ‘we’ just now, the other two Demon Kings are also undertaking great endeavors, each having received their own revelations.”[‘Heavens’ Secret Overseer’ is focusing on developments not present in the original work.]
[‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ senses an ominous sign.]The information gained from Inferinos’s words was clear.
Reed is orchestrating something by moving the three Demon Kings.
Something that will surely destroy the world.
“Evil’s Bane Executor, aren’t you curious as well? What that entity is plotting.”
“That means you, Inferinos, don’t know either.”
“There’s no need to keep probing. I am generous with questions. I merely wish you to remember whose possession the Bible of Truth is.”
“So?”
“Shall we speak openly with each other?”
Ah, yes.
I had vaguely suspected it ever since she, uncharacteristically for a demon, displayed the courtesy of having me sit on a chair and wait.
Inferinos wants something from me.
“What you want isn’t a conversation, but a deal.”
“You are correct. Indeed, you are the kind of talent the former Marquis Levant desired.”
I briefly flicked my eyes to glance at the current Marquis Levant. I could roughly guess the face behind the mask.
Around that time, Inferinos cast her gaze to the distant bottom of the pit and spoke.
“Actually, I had intended to offer you a deal, staking the lives of humans. But…”
“……”
“There’s no need to hold hundreds of hostages. Not when I saw your eyes change at the words ‘Silver Sacred Mark’s Young Lady’ offering to sacrifice herself.”
Her words effectively hit my weak spot. It seems directness is required.
“Tell me what you want from me, Rule-Setting Inferinos.”
“Straight to the point, good.”
The beautiful Demon King, reminiscent of a lapis lazuli sculpture, wore a pleased smile.
She held out her right hand before my eyes.
Her palm faced upwards, as if expecting an escort.
“Give me your hand.”
I frowned and extended my right hand, as if supporting a ruler’s hand.
Even without touching, an unpleasant sensation seeped into my skin.
Sliiiip.
An distorted blue crescent moon imprint was carved onto my palm.
[
Inferinos, the Demon King obsessed with rules, formalities, and knowledge. She is currently extremely curious about what revelations the ‘Newly Born Chaos Evil’ has given to the other Demon Kings.
While information about Abyssinis has been uncovered, nothing about her arch-rival Carpheios has been learned, other than that he is constructing an ‘Unidentifiable Structure.’
That uncivilized Carpheios, who until now lived camping out on bizarre rock cliffs, would suddenly awaken to civilization deeply bothers Inferinos.
Therefore, your mission is to satisfy Inferinos’s curiosity.
Infiltrate Sanarak, Carpheios’s Demon King territory, and gather information about the ‘Unidentifiable Structure.’
Success Reward: Tesillid Argent’s Survival
Failure Penalty: Tesillid Argent’s Death]
[
After reading through the contents, I couldn’t help but ask.
“You must have prepared a method for infiltration before assigning a task like this, right?”
“Of course.”
As Inferinos withdrew her right hand, something small appeared in the air.
It immediately landed with a soft thud on my palm.
“A black-purple color would suit you well.”
I immediately recognized the object given to me.
It was a Deadly Bloom seed.
✠The random Dungeon Sink that had covered Pan-El, the capital of the Theocracy, had ceased. The ground, which had been like a sea of black vortexes, regained its original solidity.
The citizens of the Theocracy, released by the rule of Atonement, had exited to the Litniel Plain near Pan-El.
Among them were Hestio, Ash, Hilde, and even Iphail, who had barely managed to keep his hair.
The four of them were shocked to hear what had happened from the citizens of the Theocracy.
“The Holy Sword’s Master said he would take the punishment alone?! Is that true?!”
“Tesillid, that madman! Does he think he’s a saint!”
“What? What did you just say, ma’am? My brother is evil? Come on, the scales must be broken. If he were evil, he would be called the Demon Sword’s Master, not the Holy Sword’s Master.”
“What about Sister, Holy Saint-nim? Has anyone seen her?”
Though their hearts were distraught, there was nothing the four of them could do immediately.
The Dungeon Sink had already ended. The Demon King’s territory dungeon and the human world were sealed off, making it impossible to return.
Above all, they would only hinder Aillet and Tesillid.
“L-let’s go to the Pontifical Palace first. Report the situation and formulate a plan…”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Brother Iphail.”
Ash subtly gestured upwards.
The disaster was not yet over. As proof, a triple moon still hung in the starless night sky.
✠Pan-El, the capital city, bathed in the eerie moonlight of the Demon Realm.
Naturally, the Pontifical Palace did not lower its guard.
Even if the outside had quieted down, the sacred barrier fortifying the Pontifical Palace showed no signs of dissipating.
Someone was observing this from a nearby clock tower.
A man clad in tight black garments adorned with gold bias, and a black cloak embroidered with constellations in gold thread.
Beneath his long black hair, left to flutter in the wind, his features were so exquisitely beautiful that even angels would covet them.
He was a handsome man who simultaneously exuded multiple intense auras: that of an elegant gentleman, an arrogant mage, and a charming demon.
He rumbled a languid baritone whisper.
“A siege is in order.”
His booted foot stepped into the void beyond the clock tower without hesitation.
The man’s body plummeted vertically. Yet, his landing on the ground was as light as a feather.
Reed’s measured steps leisurely crossed the ruined city.
His destination was the Pontifical Palace.
The massive gate of the Pontifical Palace, visible straight ahead, was tightly shut.
However, he did not slow his pace, as if there were no obstacles.
Swooosh!
When he was ten paces from the main gate, dozens of aura blades materialized around him.
The flying blades gathered and coalesced.
“Go.”
A massive siege ram made of aura struck the gate.
Craaash!
The barrier withstood the force, which would have been more than enough to penetrate an iron gate. This was thanks to the Holy Ground Construction deployed with 8th Divine Power Tier.
“Quite a useful artifact.”
Idly complimenting, Reed repeatedly slammed immense destructive power into the gate.
About a dozen times.
KWAARGH!
At the end of his rude knocking, the Pontifical Palace finally allowed the uninvited guest to intrude.
As the gray dust cloud settled, a wide courtyard was revealed.
Due to being pierced by the siege ram, the area around the main gate had turned into a burning ruin.
Casualties lay scattered, seemingly swept up along with the citizens of the Theocracy who were nearby.
“O-oh my god…”
“Hic, hiccup!”
Fear and horror descended upon the faces of the crowds gathered in the courtyard like refugees.
Step, step.
Reed took a step, his face devoid of any emotion regarding the calamity.
Belatedly, the Holy Knight Order swarmed in.
“Who goes there?!”
“A-a demon?!”
“A-a demon couldn’t possibly enter here…!”
“Identify yourself!”
Duke Hispenril and Marquise Lekandro, who had been bound to the Pontifical Palace due to the Holy Ground Construction, also prepared to engage, sharpening their vigilance.
Of course, Reed completely ignored their presence.
His only interest was Muriel Philise, who stood directly in front of him.
No, more accurately, it was the flag-shaped artifact stuck at her feet, the Holy Ground Construction.
“Who on earth…”
Saintess Muriel, rooted to the spot, scrutinized Reed, beads of sweat forming on her brow.
Meanwhile, the sound of elegant, measured footsteps continued to approach.
The safety of the precious Saintess was threatened. The approach of this unknown individual could no longer be tolerated.
“Execute the intruder!”
It was the shout of Clovis, the captain of the Holy War Knights, charged with Muriel’s escort.
But no one could carry out the order.
Whoosh!
A circular shockwave, centered on Reed, swept through the area.
At that moment, an invisible hand pressed down hard on the knights’ shoulders.
“C-cough, my body…!”
“H-heavy…!”
The intensified gravity commanded those who worshiped the Chaos Evil God to prostrate themselves.
All the Holy Knights awkwardly prostrated themselves, their foreheads pressed to the ground.
Even the Cardinals were humiliated into kneeling.
Only the Aura Masters and those who had awakened to the 8th Divine Power Tier remained standing on two feet.
“Lawless Demon Swordsman, why do you commit such deeds?!”
Duke Hispenril and Marquise Lekandro charged with all their might.
Privilege for the Possessor