〈 216화 〉 Demon King’s Castle (2)

*

“Creator God… did you know all of this?”

Interest flickered in the eyes of the First Demon King.

“Then let me ask the opposite. How much do you know about it?”

What I knew about the Creator God’s Divine Authority and seal? It wasn’t much.

I knew the general identity of the Creator God and that I had succeeded in killing her, but it had come at the cost of the world’s destruction.

To prevent that destruction, I had sealed her Divine Authority first.

And that seal’s durability would soon run out…

“Up to there.”

Just as I was about to say more, he interrupted me.

“I shall speak from there. Until now, it has been a part that I kept hidden from all but a few Demon Kings.”

The Later Demon Kings started to stir.

“Silence, I clearly said I wouldn’t give a double warning.”

The First Demon King silenced them.

“The destruction of the world you have long wished for… Even if we do nothing, it will soon come to pass. The durability of the Divine Authority’s seal will soon fail.”

He was well aware of the seal on the Divine Authority.

However, he had merely kept it hidden until now.

“The reason I didn’t tell you this is simple. Before that, there was a reason to bring about the world’s destruction.”

If he had told the Later Demon Kings this fact, they likely wouldn’t have made efforts to destroy the world.

And that meant…

“The longer the destruction is delayed, the greater the damage it will inflict on other dimensions. Therefore, the initial Demon Kings, including myself, have merely overlooked your eagerness to hasten the world’s demise.”

He seemed to know all of this as well.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere among the Later Demon Kings had turned weird because of that story.

It was like saying all their efforts to bring about the world’s destruction were ultimately meaningless.

They were speechless, perhaps out of shock or perhaps because of the First Demon King’s presence.

On the other hand, for me, the real matter was just beginning.

“I also know that much information. Is there perhaps more you know about the Creator God’s Divine Authority or seal? Especially regarding solutions to extend the seal’s lifespan?”

“A solution, huh…”

He gave a bitter smile.

That smile was clearly significant.

“There isn’t such a thing. However, extending the lifespan a little bit may be possible. The High Priest seems to be aiming for that.”

“The High Priest, you say?”

I thought it might be possible.

Even if it were the case, the problem was her potential failure.

But now, my curiosity was beyond just that.

“Do you happen to know that method as well?”

“I’m not sure about the specific method. However, I do know that human accomplishments like Beron can serve as the materials for the seal. And the High Priest currently possesses a lot of such materials.”

“Materials?”

“I’m talking about the Apostles. You know, don’t you? Most of her Apostles were once renowned heroes.”

Yes, I did know that.

But I had never considered that those Apostles would be used as materials.

“Are you saying she will use those Apostles to extend the seal’s lifespan?”

“Yes, that was the original purpose. The existence of Heroes and Apostles.”

“What does that mean…”

“Were you not aware? Based on your actions so far, I thought you would know.”

I did not know.

No, I actually had a vague idea now.

If the Apostles were materials, then the significance of the Heroes’ existence became somewhat clear.

“So what you’re implying is that Heroes are livestock to extract materials from Apostles?”

“Exactly. And we Demon Kings were merely experience points for her to evolve those Heroes.”

Now it was becoming a bit clearer.

The reason the High Priest wanted to keep the Demon Kings alive.

Experience points.

She aimed to create stronger Heroes through the Demon Kings.

Without natural enemies, the evolution of Heroes would undoubtedly stagnate.

But…

“Are you just going to watch her extend the seal? That would only cause greater damage to other dimensions.”

That’s how it was in Hundred Braves as well.

In the predicted ending of destruction, the Demon Kings did not exactly show their faces in Ice Valley.

If they didn’t know about the seal, that would be understandable, but it was hard to fathom even the First Demon King, who was aware of it.

However, he retorted my concern.

“What would you choose? Minimizing the damage to other dimensions or maintaining this world a few more decades?”

And through that question, I realized.

He, too, was a being living in this world.

Different from the Later Demon Kings.

If I had to categorize him, he would be similar to Luel.

He had inevitably chosen the early destruction of the world.

But now that it had become difficult, he couldn’t help but struggle to live just a few more years.

“I…”

It was hard to answer.

Both this place and Earth.

I knew they were both precious worlds.

That was why I had judged that I would try to save both.

But… perhaps that was an escape.

I might just be fleeing from making a choice.

Damn it.

If saving both worlds was impossible,

what choice should I make?

Of course, I had told Luel that I would destroy the world together.

But could I really do that?

Could I kill Elsie, Sara, and Miss Gwen with my own hands?

Maybe it was better to live together happily for a few more decades…

Damn it.

It was a meaningless thought.

I found myself feeling pathetic for momentarily falling into that reflection.

After all, I already had a piece of knowledge.

“I would stop the High Priest.”

At that, the First Demon King’s eyes widened.

It was the first time I had seen him look so flustered.

“Allen Pleuk, are you serious? You aren’t planning on becoming a Demon King, are you?”

“If necessary, I could become a Demon King. But that is not my purpose.”

The knowledge I had.

It was something I had already repeated in my mind several times.

“The High Priest fails to extend the lifespan of the world.”

That’s how it had always been in Hundred Braves.

Without even a day’s difference, the world meets its demise on that day.

So there would be no variables this time either.

“I can assure you.”

Or perhaps.

“Maybe the High Priest’s actual goal isn’t to extend the lifespan of the world.”

Did the High Priest have another goal?

“Allen Pleuk.”

The First Demon King’s expression was now completely serious.

“On what basis can you be so sure of that?”

He looked somewhat angered.

Well, he had likely dealt with that dilemma for hundreds of years without knowing this fact.

What I had just said was a statement that made his concerns meaningless.

“If that reasoning is trivial, then…”

He raised his spear and aimed it at me.

“You must prove it by embodying chaos.”

Proving it by embodying chaos.

If I did that, I would have to confirm whether I had a conviction to destroy the world, leading to either becoming a Demon King or dying.

Of course, I could not become a Demon King since I had already made a pact with Earth.

But my intention was not that.

“I said I would stop the High Priest, not that I would destroy the world.”

I hadn’t given up yet.

Perhaps I would find a way to prevent the world’s destruction in the upcoming trial near Ice Valley.

But whether I found that method or not, I had to stop the High Priest from doing something.

Whatever she was planning, it would lead to destruction.

And…

“I don’t believe the High Priest intends to extend this world’s lifespan.”

I had a clear piece of evidence to support that.

“Miss Weiss, show me the Snowflake Vision.”

“Yes.”

Then snowflakes began to gather on the conference table, forming a shape.

It was the figure of Schurz.

I requested of Miss Weiss.

“Skip to the part where Freira appears.”

“Alright.”

Then Violet’s voice could be heard.

“Freira, you say?”

I didn’t respond to that question.

After all, she would see it soon enough.

In the reincarnation of the Snowflake Vision before Schurz, a clear silhouette emerged.

“Fifteenth…?”

“Freira?”

As soon as Violet laid eyes on her, she shot up from her seat.

“I want to ask. Why did you send the Heroes towards the Central Sea System?”

“Didn’t Allen tell you that he was going to the Leim Kingdom?”

“What on earth are you thinking?”

The faint voice of Freira mixed with the snowstorm.

“Freira!”

Violet desperately called out to her.

I could guess how close they were, but for now, I had to silence her.

“I’m sorry, but could you please be quiet?”

At that, Violet lowered her head in regret and sat back down.

Thanks to that, I could finally hear the muffled conversation between the two.

“Deviating from the plan… what exactly is that plan supposed to be?”

The plan.

Yes, this plan was the most important thing.

“Do you really want to know? About my plan. Of course, I won’t force you. I simply hope you can empathize with it.”

It was an incredibly hard scene to watch, but I steeled myself and continued to observe the vision.

“Yes, I want to know. What is your plan?”

And the next moment, the High Priest whispered her plan to Freira.

That whispering sound, perhaps replicated from Schurz’s Snowflake Vision, didn’t reach my ears, but one thing was certain.

“You’re completely insane.”

Freira’s expression turned serious after hearing the plan.

And she firmly rejected it.

Even at the cost of her own life.

“This is not such a bad death after all.”

As I watched that sight, Violet finally spoke.

A small voice that only I could hear flowed from her lips.

“Freira… Even in such a situation, you smile… such a fool…”

Yes, she died with a smile.

It wasn’t the smile I had wished for, nor the death I had hoped for.

Damn it.

No, get a grip.

I didn’t have the luxury to get lost in sentimentality again.

I needed to explain to the First Demon King why I showed this to him.

However, before I could speak, he opened his mouth first.

“I believe it. If Freira reacted that way… then the High Priest’s plan is certainly not what I had expected.”

Yes, that’s it.

Now it was time to persuade him.

“First Demon King. I need the power of you and the other Demon Kings to stop such a High Priest.”

At this point, he would likely come around.

…But that thought was a delusion.

“Hmm, well. But do we stand a chance against the High Priest? You’ve already exhausted so much power.”

“We will somehow break through the Apostles. Then you and your fellow Demon Kings will…”

“And while I’m not sure about myself, the other Demon Kings have no reason to help you. Ultimately, what matters to them is the world’s destruction.”

“That’s…”

For some reason, his suddenly twisted attitude was strange, but I had no means to counter it.

“Then just you alone…”

At that moment.

“Allen.”

Luel called out to me.

“Luel?”

“It seems he is testing you. What he believes in now is Freira, not you.”

It was indeed the case.

He had only confirmed Freira’s judgment and had yet to earn my trust.

“If so…”

“No, you don’t need to step in. If I believe in you, then verification is an unnecessary process.”

“Huh?”

“There is already a degree of trust between him and me. We can just make use of that.”

With that, Luel’s tone dropped decisively.

It was her tone as the Water Sage.

“Tel.”

Tel?

That name sounded familiar from somewhere.

She had definitely mentioned it before…

I remembered.

Spearman Tel.

He was part of the party that had defeated the Creator God along with the Water Sage in the past.

But why was that suddenly relevant?

Could it be?

“What? Were you the current Water Sage?”

The First Demon King responded to her summons.

*