Chapter 162

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on February 8, 2025

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Geez―

Keeeek―

My heart’s going wild.

It’s been far too long.

That… terrible sensation I thought I’d forgotten forever.

It’s choking me.

Freezing my chest rock-solid, stabbing into me.

That sensation.

Keeek!

Keek―!

Grrr!

Gr!

……….

…….

My consciousness drifts through the void.

I can feel myself slipping away.

Like sinking underwater.

Droplets keep welling up endlessly.

Before I know it, my body is wandering through darkness.

There, small fingers touch me.

“Come here. Carriel.”

A familiar voice.

Alluring, yet somehow fleeting.

Faint, yet for some reason, crystal clear.

“Come closer and prove your faith to me.”

If only I could.

“You will be saved, and so will we. In the end, it’s for all of us.”

…….

So, who exactly are you?

“How slow-witted of you.”

A sigh laced with regret echoes softly.

“I’ve been called many things… but if we’re talking about what they call me where you are… well, call me this:”

Glaucopsis (Γλαυκωπις).

“If that doesn’t sit well with you… you can use a name you’re more familiar with.”

Asherah (אֲשֵׁרָה).

…It sounds familiar, but I just can’t place it.

“It’s not about the name anyway. What matters is me—and us. You and/or me.”

…This guy’s cryptic as hell too.

“Yourself. Trapped in the cycle of existence, mistaking it for your true self out of bias. Only by shedding that can you truly understand us.”

Still, probably unnecessary worry right now.

“You’ll come to know everything eventually.”

In the end, it’s just me and you.

And the world that holds us.

And the story that unfolds within it.

Yeah. The world is no more than that.

“Will it be me? Will it be you? Will we become the fertilizer supporting the world or the unique star illuminating and shaping it?”

We’ve been here for that all along.

====

The moment I opened my eyes, cold sweat poured down from an unknown agony.

My whole body was soaked like I’d just emerged from water.

“Cough!”

My throat felt raw, and my lips were chapped, tingling with a sharp pain.

“You slept like the dead, but you’re awake now at least.”

A familiar voice.

“…How ’bout you?”

“I’m not the type to take a hit from losing one Spirit Demon.”

Boastful, sure, but also a subtle way of saying there’s no need to worry.

“What even was that?”

“…Don’t know.”

There’s stuff I do know, but there’s plenty I don’t. And I’m not naive enough to spill everything about the Sacred Tree of the Demon Realm here.

“Have you ever heard of the name Glaucopsis?”

“Glaucopsis? Hmm….”

He seemed to ponder for a bit before furrowing his brow, clearly annoyed at wasting the effort.

“You mean Athena?”

“Athena?”

“If you translate it, it means the goddess with owl-like eyes. Around here, owls and gods symbolize Athena—what else?”

“…”

This is unexpected. So she was Athena?

“…Then what about Azenia?”

“Azenia?”

Showing him the characters since just saying it would be ambiguous.

“What kind of letters are these?”

אֲשֵׁרָה

“Does anything ring a bell?”

Zora asked, and reluctantly, I filled her in.

“This feels strangely familiar.”

“Hmm? Let me think.”

After much deliberation, Zora snapped her finger.

“Azenia, isn’t that the entity mentioned in the Holy Text of Irene’s Doctrine?”

“…”

Now I get why it felt familiar. Still, nothing comes to mind.

“Do you at least know this?”

Astarte.

Or Ashthoreth.

Or Ashtar.

“Those are all names of demons, aren’t they?”

“One-sided definitions by Irene’s Order. They demonized everything outside their own faith while hypocritically absorbing elements they found useful. Did you know the Lord and Heaven you worship originated from the Celestial God Jeupse of your continent?”

“…”

That’s news to me.

“Historically, religions have always absorbed or merged with others to evolve. Irene’s Doctrine is especially disrespectful and reckless in that regard.”

Though its foundation lies in unconditional love (αγάπη), which makes it unique.

“Anyway, I personally don’t harbor ill feelings. Religion and doctrines to me are merely knowledge, separate from faith. Not everyone in the Demon Realm worships the Demon God, especially those like me who walk the path of magic.”

“…Then what does the path of magic believe in?”

“In the road we’ve walked, the road we walk, and the road ahead. We trust in our journey.”

Magic.

And those who walk the path of magic carry their own answers within them.

But the key point is, it’s not about someone else achieving something for us—it’s about us achieving it ourselves. Be it mana, nature, the principles of the world, or any cosmic order—it all depends on how we approach it according to their beliefs.

That’s why they’ve often been rejected and labeled as heretics and apostates.

…Had it not been for the Pope of Irene’s Doctrine and various state officials accepting magic as a tool during the era of the Demon King…

…Mages and Magicians would still be shunned, unable to reveal themselves freely.

And the world would have openly opposed them. After all, hiding and suppressing such things doesn’t make them disappear.

“Anyway, are you okay?”

“…What do you mean?”

“That thing.”

Zora’s gaze shifts toward my shoulder.

“…”

I’m fine for now.

But deep down, I know this wound won’t heal easily. My intuition proves it.

This is like a shackle.

“The Demon King must’ve really put effort into this mark. It won’t fade easily.”

“….Did I just hear something ridiculous? Was that a mistake? No, right?”

“If only it had been, I wouldn’t have any regrets.”

And that Demon King, with the full support of the Sacred Tree of the Demon Realm, is trying to hold me back. How absurd can the world get?

“So what? If the Demon King has already been chosen… does that mean an invasion might happen soon?”

“…”

I don’t know. Honestly, I know nothing about this.

====

“Betestus.”

At Ellie’s call, the ash-haired Caucasian slowly opened his pale white eyes.

“What is it?”

“Good work.”

“Hmph!”

The childlike figure stared at the vast, uninterrupted night sky.

Even the heated sands have cooled by now, leaving a bone-chilling cold in its wake. It wasn’t a long journey, but it certainly wasn’t easy either.

Even with the help of a Dragon’s wings, both the Dragon itself and its passengers endured great hardship under the scorching sun—even with magic aiding their convenience to some degree.

Still, after a few days, they grew somewhat accustomed to it.

Splitting the half-day into three flights barely got them through, so escaping the desert wasn’t immediate.

The Scorching Land.

Just beyond the typical desert zone, despite looking visually identical, the atmosphere drastically changed.

Only the most perceptive would notice the unsettling difference.

They set up a temporary camp, lit a fire, and waited briefly. While gathered, Geoffrey decided to speak up.

“From here on out, different rules apply. Here, instead of mana, you need to manipulate aura to cast magic or do anything similar.”

“Aura?”

Never heard of it.

“This doesn’t concern you non-mages much… though, the Holy Maiden over there might be slightly different.”

“What makes her different?”

Despite switching to protective armor, giving off a different impression and vibe, Alesia’s friendly and sociable demeanor remained unchanged.

“Using divine power here will be harder than before.”

“Why is that?”

“…Under normal circumstances, none of us should have ventured anywhere near this region.”

Geoffrey leaned forward dramatically, as if making a grand revelation.

“Because the entity governing and presiding over this place is different.”

“…?”

“God. God.”

This sparked curiosity, prompting Drake to glance around nervously before asking.

“But why does it matter to us… oh, wait…?”

The Legacy of the Great Demon King.

Meaning, the power gained from it isn’t magic, nor is it divine power borrowed from a god. So, are we unaffected?

“…”

Given Minette’s lack of curiosity, she might’ve already figured it out from Geoffrey’s hints. Quiet as she is, she’s deeply thoughtful.

“…”

Right. This is the issue. Excluding Drake, everyone here is female, which feels a bit awkward for him.

…Dragons aren’t human, so they’re excluded.

Of course, Drake, being an experienced traveler, wasn’t overly conscious of it. But Ellie is here, after all.

‘Haa.’

Not that Drake is naïve enough to reveal such inner thoughts. For his age, he’s exceptionally mature—often described as a seasoned expert. He’s faced life-threatening situations multiple times and even experienced adventures worthy of myth.

Still.

No matter how prepared, the mention of gods makes this situation unavoidably perplexing.

Just as curiosity rises about whether this journey might be part of another myth, a small question surfaces: What about Carriel earlier?

“Can you tell us about that?”

Dragon Betestus sharply questioned Geoffrey with a cutting tone, causing Geoffrey’s expression to crumple instantly.

“Hey! I’ve lived hundreds of years longer than you, punk!”

“So what? Grass-eating Longevity Tribe woman.”

“…”

Is that an insult or a reminder of his identity? Geoffrey hasn’t bitten her tongue like this in ages.

“Teacher, it wasn’t meant maliciously, right?”

“Yeah, it’s just youthful arrogance sticking to him. He lacks worldly wisdom, hence manners.”

“If you have something to say, say it to me directly. Why talk about me while looking at someone else? Don’t you know basic courtesy?”

“Me, me…!!”

Hamren struggled to calm Geoffrey, who was clutching her head. Meanwhile, Alesia approached Ellie to ask.

“Did you already know about this?”

“Leaving out subjects makes conversation confusing.”

“That this place is governed by a different god.”

Geoffrey could’ve explained it simply like this instead of complicating it unnecessarily.

Thinking that mana and divine power are the same is probably unavoidable for Alesia, given she’s a Maiden of Irene’s Order.

“More or less.”

“More or less?!”

Why does he casually know such monumental facts?

“I am the Imperial Princess. If I wish to know, there’s no reason I shouldn’t.”

“…”

With that statement, there’s nothing left to say. Whatever excuse they give, claiming to be a princess solves everything. She’s practically omnipotent.

“…”

But.

It wasn’t something she originally cared about.

She only considered it because of practical reasons related to traveling here.

And the one who informed her was Betestus, after all.

…Before ascending to inherit the Legacy of the Great Demon King, she traveled extensively and met many people.

“Who knows, maybe someday. Just in case, I stored everything in my mind as preparation.”

“Wow, you really are impressive.”

Alesia genuinely marveled. What else is stored in that woman’s mind?

“Yeah. It was all just a dream within a dream.”

Ellie whispered faintly, almost mockingly.

Like a breeze that fades with sleep.