Chapter 23

The Saintess said,

“Lord, I do not pray for an easy life out of presumption for the one You’ve granted. All I ask is for the will to overcome trials and tribulations.”

“What a load of crap. Everyone wants the former. To be rich, to be healthy… Humans just keep praying for those two things all day long.”

“Doesn’t overcoming adversity and rising up lead to true inner growth and health?”

“…I don’t get it.”

I wish for an easy life. And also a fun one. I’m at the polar opposite of what the Saintess stands for.

But I like her. I care for her, I love her. Her existence, no, her future existence makes me whole.

To me, those two syllables “Saintess” represent reverence, respect, an ideal, a goal. When I see someone like the Saintess, I go crazy with the desire to taint them like me. Yet, paradoxically, I want to be tainted by her too.

That’s why she completes me.

There was someone similar to the Saintess in the past… or rather the future. The unparalleled Hero of Justice. He almost perfected me before he broke.

In my previous life, after over a decade, I succeeded in corrupting her, feeling an indescribable thrill, endless void, and utter exhaustion.

Whether I can corrupt this life’s Saintess like that Hero, or if I’ll be reformed as she boasts, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll find out when I go to the Eden Academy she invited me to.

500 years feels so long. Hurry up, establishment of Eden Academy, so I can mess around with God’s daughter.

Until the day I reunite with the Saintess, I’ll just build a playground – the continent as a playground where I can run and play with her. Might mix in some personal revenge while I’m at it.

Squiggly sound…

No matter species, gender, age, or dimension, those who reach a certain level of mastery.

When they stomp their feet, the earth trembles; when they wield swordsmanship, seas part; when they cast magic, space warps – these monsters.

Born as mere mortals yet ascending to divine levels – transcendent beings.

Such beings are called “absolute powerhouses” by the world.

There aren’t many creatures who reach absolute powerhouse status across all dimensions. Like the Five Kings residing in Demon Forest, Archangels, Great Demons, and the Saintess from my previous life who met her end with me in Tartarus.

Of course, aside from the monsters I just mentioned, there are several hidden absolute powerhouses in the world. Like the Demon King or the Four Dukes of the Demon Realm. Even Theseus, the Divine Executioner who escorted me from Babel Tower to the guillotine in my past life, was an absolute powerhouse.

Each absolute powerhouse is comparable to a nation. If handled well, they could even wage war against “the world” alone.

This isn’t drunken nonsense. There was such an existence in ancient times. One who mysteriously appeared all over the world carrying out guerrilla terrorism, eventually bringing about the end of an entire civilization alone.

And the existence I’m currently pretending to be is also an absolute powerhouse.

Not now, but far into the future. I’m impersonating Lilith Clanaein who will become the Western Duchess. She was the one who was distressed upon hearing the news of the Saintess’ death when she came for a visit in Tartarus in my previous life. Our clumsy demon.

Squiggly sound…

I slowly write with a fountain pen in black ink. Not writing it off in one swift stroke, but carefully mimicking a girl’s handwriting.

I like beautiful things. Naturally, I also like artistic ones. I prefer writing elegantly. But art is subjective, so others don’t really understand my taste.

I’m writing beautifully, but society’s narrow-minded views trap these foolish ones.

The recipient of this letter is my older brother Leotabis. I plan to write one for my second brother Leonard later.

“To the esteemed eldest son of the Northern Duke House Lucifer, Leotabis Lucifer…”

Unlike my usual self, I pour delicacy into every single character. Since I need Leotabis and Leonard to mistake me for the young succubus of the Western Duke House Clanaein.

At this point, Lilith hasn’t reached adulthood yet. Since Lilith, myself, and the Demon King are the same age. Still, Lilith has been a prominent figure in the Demon Realm since childhood as the heir of the elite Western Duke House Clanaein.

“I, Lilith Clanaein, have secretly admired your reputation for a long time… Hence…”

Squiggly sound…

High-ranking Demon Realm families enjoy marrying within the same class. It’s obviously not because of any unworthy reasons like alliances, but because doing so increases the probability of producing strong offspring.

The two noble princes of the Northern Duke House and the beautiful noble lady of the Western Duke House – Lilith is known as the strongest succubus in history, and I’m famous for my beauty that can make wyverns fall. This single letter will shake the hearts of two youthful demons brimming with vitality.

Thinking about how my brothers, unaware of having a youngest sibling, will excitedly read this letter already makes me giddy. I can’t wait to shatter their expectations.

“To develop mutual understanding through interaction… I hope… If you are willing to accept my feelings… Please come alone tonight to Endros Cliff…”

The letter is finished. Though the neatly written characters don’t please me much, from the perspective of imitating Lilith’s handwriting, it’s a flawless forgery.

Knock knock…

I seal the letter with glue on the stamp and manually copy another identical one without missing a word, keeping the sender the same but changing the recipient.

This is my handwritten life-or-death script for two people. A letter that will bring closure to the fates of two demons. Joker’s death sentence where no one remembers him anymore.

Though it only took a few minutes to prepare this crude setup, it’s more than enough. After all, you only need a fox trap to catch a fox.

You might think it’s too sloppy to capture the eldest and second sons of the highest Demon Realm family. However, from another angle, being children of a high-ranking family is akin to being greenhouse flowers.

Leotabis is twenty, Leonard is ten. Around this age, lower-level demons are already engaged in survival battles, fighting life-and-death struggles with beasts to secure food, often having their spoils stolen by stronger demons.

On the other hand, Leotabis and Leonard are complete beginners in actual combat. They might have done a bit of sparring with siblings or retainers within the household, but real life-or-death duels aren’t in their vocabulary.

Of course, high-ranking demons naturally grow stronger with age thanks to their bloodline talents and abundant resources building up their magic power, along with techniques passed down through generations. Add experience on top of that, like their older sister Adel does.

However, not yet. Leotabis and Leonard are still gentle lambs nurtured under the protection of the Northern Duke Manor. In fact, in my previous life, they both met their end during a training trip to Demon Forest around five weeks from now.

Which is why I’m rushing after hearing the information from King. I don’t want to lose out to someone else by hesitating. In this life, no matter what happens, I will sever Leotabis and Leonard’s lifelines with my own hands.

I also kind of want to go to Demon Forest in their place…

“Alright, Two-Guy. Go deliver our big brother and second brother my intentions.”

I securely tied the letter for Leotabis to the leg of the homing pigeon used for correspondence. I did the same with Leonard’s letter to another homing pigeon. Afterward, I gave their butts a light smack, and the two pigeons flew up vigorously, disappearing into the red sky of the Demon Realm.

Monsters that dominate the skies float in the Demon Realm’s heavens. Each one would be boasting back on the continent, with Black Wyverns being mere commoners here.

Yet, these delicate homing pigeons strangely pierce through with incredible luck unique to them.

It’s quite amazing. Though nothing was agreed upon, how do most monsters let the homing pigeons pass without hostility? Well, thanks to that, among many birds, pigeons became capable of delivering messages.

While watching the retreating silhouette of the freely flying homing pigeons, I took out Horus’ egg I had kept from Adela before. A semi-circular sphere emitting a radiant glow reveals its majesty.

Who is Horus? One of the five strongest beasts ruling Demon Forest, the Oath King who famously tore open the Demon God’s eye causing it to bleed tears.

The absolute ruler of the skies in the Demon Realm whom no beast dare approach. That’s the Hawk King Horus.

And right before my eyes lies the egg containing the offspring of such a monstrous beast. Of course! Right now, it’s just fried chicken material to me! Hehehe!

Around… ten hours left? Until nightfall?

Considering the travel time to Endros Cliff which will become Leotabis and Leonard’s graves, I have roughly eight hours left.

Within this time, I must completely absorb Horus’ egg to purify my vital energy. There are a few other preparations to make too.

If only I had a gun, things would be easier, but alas.

Though using a sword feels good, I’m still technically a nine-year-old demon. I don’t feel comfortable with uncertain matters.

“Still, it is exciting to live on the edge.”

While psyching myself up mentally, I quietly left the room and headed to the kitchen. To cook Horus’ egg nicely and prepare the “stage” for tonight.

I didn’t forget to put the Saintess’ rosary in my pocket while wearing gloves.

***

“Oscar…! You little bastard I’ll tear apart!”

Leonard, the second son of the Northern Duke Manor of the Demon Realm, ground his teeth in uncontrollable fury.

Crunch…

The uniquely sharp canine teeth of demons clicked together like gears turning, though something was slightly off.

Throb…

Leonard covered his gums with his palm due to the pain felt in his teeth. Just yesterday, he was brutally beaten by his younger brother Oscar Lucifer.

Though the wound wasn’t a significant issue for the marvelous yet somewhat repulsive longevity of demons, it was enough to irritate his mood.

“From birth, you’re just a lowly maggot…! Maggot, know your place…!”

What irritated Leonard the most was the fact that he couldn’t resist Oscar at all and got beaten up. More than irritation, it was humiliating.

Even though he’s only ten years old, Leonard is destined to devour even the adult Leotabis and become the Northern Duke someday. Getting beaten by a mere nine-year-old younger brother was a humiliation he didn’t want to recall.

“Exactly what trick did that guy use…? Until the other day, he was just taking beatings helplessly from me…!”

Anger clouds judgment. Emotions skyrocket instead. Leonard was exactly in that state right now.

Uncontrollable murderous intent surged. The humiliation of being trampled by something he once looked down upon, the shame of wanting to forget that memory, the ugly desire for revenge spawned from the twisted relationship that should have been clearly hierarchical.

All of these dyed Leonard’s rationality with violence.

“There’s no doubt he used some cowardly trick…! Isn’t he poisoned by Scattered Demon Toxin and unable to use magic…?”

The memories of the previous day consumed Leonard. The powerful club coming towards him. It wasn’t infused with great strength nor was it fast enough to be invisible. Yet, Leonard couldn’t block any of the raining clubs.

All his movements were read, and except for a lucky hit on the head, he got thoroughly beaten without any countermeasures. Like a Cerberus getting beaten before entering the pot on a hot day. Of course, prideful Leonard refused to admit that point.

Rather, he believed that Oscar beating him was just luck. The conclusion drawn from clouded judgment due to paralyzed rationality.

“That damn brat…! I was planning to kill him slowly when I grew up, but he’s speeding up his own demise…!”

Every time his teeth wobbled, waves of pain assaulted Leonard. His murderous intent grew like a rolling snowball.

In the Demon Realm, killing young demons is strictly prohibited. Due to their intense competitiveness and ambition, combined with their long lifespans, there were frequent cases in the past where adult demons killed young demons out of fear that they would threaten their safety when they grew up.

Naturally, the population of demons decreased, and the Demon Realm was oppressed by the self-inflicted threat of extinction. Eventually, the Demon God established a strict rule: young demons in infancy or adolescence must be protected unconditionally.

Starving or dying from illness couldn’t be controlled entirely, but intentional killings were absolutely forbidden, punishable by life imprisonment.

For the inherently aggressive demons, spending thousands of years in prison was one of the most terrifying punishments.

Of course, this law applies to killings among young demons as well. To prevent some talented demon from eliminating all peers as rivals. This very law allowed Oscar, who lacked any backing, to survive until now.

Of course, there’s one unchanging rule in every law in this world: it has no effect as long as you don’t get caught.

“Soon, I’ll kill him in an accident… Feigning food poisoning and poisoning him or whatever, I’ll cut off his breath soon…”

A perfect crime is equivalent to no crime. Leonard was devising plans to deal with Oscar using this classic and well-known legal principle.

Tap tap tap…

The sound of something blunt and solid tapping against the window came precisely at that moment.

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