Chapter 123: Title (7)

I confirmed the disappearance of the unknown entity that had taken over the guide’s body, and caught the guide as he collapsed.

“Apologies, Master. That was unsightly of me.”

“No, Guide. … I didn’t notice anything either.”

I had thought the incident with the world boss who had gone berserk after an unnatural boost, was merely one of the guide’s antics… but it seems it wasn’t her doing after all.

“Thank you, Master.”

I supported the guide, whose legs had gone weak, and helped her sit down in a chair.

“Are you feeling alright? Has your mind fully returned?”

“Heh. Thanks to you intimidating that creature, I was able to recover completely. Thank you, Master.”

I scanned the guide using the GM’s authority.

Fortunately, the unknown entity had left completely, and the guide had returned to her normal self.

“When that creature possessed me, I could feel its emotions. When you froze my body with your power, the creature felt startled. It must have realized it couldn’t stand against you in this world of Rudera, so it fled.”

So that calm demeanor was all just a bluff?

“I’m glad you’re safe. By the way, if you could sense its emotions, do you know who it might be?”

Though it may have fled, recognizing it couldn’t overcome me, it was still a formidable being, strong enough to nearly consume the guide. 

Quick action would be necessary to counter anything it might plan.

“Yes. If the strange energy I felt in its emotions wasn’t fabricated, then it was a demonic aura.”

“Demonic aura… no way.”

“I think it was the Demon God. Menhera, the god of the demon race.”

The Demon God, who was the original master of the Demon King, who now serves me.

If it truly was the Demon God, then the background of that scene I glimpsed makes sense.

But… the most shocking part of what I saw was…

“However, the peculiar, sticky emotion it felt toward you was… unusual.”

I recalled the moment I had inserted my [Eye] into the guide’s depths.

A world warped by obsession for one specific individual.

The Demon God’s mind held only one thought.

“Ah.”

“A deep, lingering affection… Whether that could be called love, I don’t know, but it was something close to love.”

Love? Toward me?

Come to think of it, it did speak as if it were my mother.

But the mother of this body, Albus, is alive and well, the Duchess of Vernier’s estate. 

A mere human like her wouldn’t be capable of such things.

So then, why would the Demon God call itself my mother…

‘Don’t you recognize your mother?’

That strange gaze, as though it was looking at me but seeing someone else.

‘Mother will come to take her son back.’

It considers me its son.

‘But at your current level…’

And then, something about my “level.”

‘I’ll bring your rank up to where it should be…’

Every word left a chilling conclusion.

It calls me “son,” yet it doesn’t consider me it’s true son.

Strictly speaking, I am Albus, yet I am not Albus. 

I’m a reincarnated soul in Albus’s body from another world.

If it considered the original Albus as its son, it would make some sense.

But this isn’t a possession; it’s a reincarnation, so the original Albus shouldn’t even exist anymore, right?

“Master. As I listen to your theory, I recall something.”

“Recall something?”

“Everything the Demon God did when it possessed me—it was all to intensify people’s faith in you.”

By inciting the berserk rampage of the World Boss, the Archdemon, it united the players, consolidating their trust in the GM.

Guiding the liberators of Empress Lea to instill reliance on the GM among the people.

Using the title system to encourage fervor in their faith toward the GM.

“…”

“Yes. My actions towards you in the past were all aimed at making you a god.”

In the future, the guide wanted me to ascend to godhood to counter [System]. 

But with [System] having retreated and the continent now isolated, there was no longer a need, so the guide had abandoned that plan…

But now, the Demon God seems to be attempting the same thing?

Why?

It loves me, but it doesn’t “love” me. 

It wants to make me a god.

Following these two verified facts, I continued reasoning.

And the conclusion I reached was…

“…Impossible.”

If my theory is correct, the Demon God must be stopped at all costs.

“…Huh? Master, wait.”

The guide seemed to sense something, pressing a finger to her ear as she spoke.

“The World Boss has been released.”

***

Somewhere in Rudera…

“Eris! Stop!”

A woman, her hand placed on a massive glacier sealing the Archdemon Meiru, turned at the sound of the call.

“Sister.”

“Why are you doing this? It’s a demon. Why would you release the demon that the GM sealed to unite the players?”

The “GM”?

The evil god who used me as a hostage to brainwash my sister.

Because of that, she now truly respects and follows that god, despite it treating her as nothing more than a convenient pawn.

“No, Sister. This is all for you.”

Right now, my sister couldn’t understand. 

The GM’s mental manipulation was too strong. 

No matter what I say, she wouldn’t come to her senses.

‘But if I use the power of this demon…’

A power so immense, even the GM couldn’t completely seal it, needing all of Rudera’s players to lend their strength.

If I can harness the power of this archdemon, a being that has reached godhood, I can break the GM’s rule and free my sister from this curse.

“So please wait just a little longer, Sister.”

Hexagonal magic circles formed around Eris’s hand.

Countless hexagons combined geometrically, forming a cylindrical structure around the glacier.

The glacier that sealed the archdemon began to tremble as though experiencing an earthquake.

Despite the aid of the liberators, she was able to break even part of the system’s binding, a testament to her magical talent.

“No, Eris!”

Kuwaaaaaaang!

When the tremors reached a certain level, the glacier emitted thick smoke as it exploded.

-Who has freed me?

A terrifying aura exuded from the smoke.

“Archdemon Meiru. I am Lakrimosa. I am the demon who released you.”

Two large, blood-red eyes looked down at Eris.

“I propose a contract!”

-A contract, is it? What do you seek?

“The annihilation of the evil god GM! And the liberation of my sister!”

-Payment. A price must be paid.

“What do you require?”

A demonic hand stretched out, pointing at her.

-Your soul. That should suffice.

“…”

My sister sacrificed herself to the evil god to save me.

If it’s to save her, I’ll gladly offer my soul.

But why?

Why am I hesitating?

My sister didn’t hesitate the way I am.

Tears streamed down from Eris’s eyes.

So this is it.

If I disappear, my sister will be sad.

That’s why this is so painful.

Crunch.

But… it’s all my sister’s fault.

She was the one who sacrificed herself to save me first.

So my sacrifice is only fair, isn’t it?

“No, Eris! Please!”

The sound of her sister’s pleading voice from behind was almost unbearable.

Ignoring it with difficulty, Eris slowly walked toward the demon’s outstretched hand.

The demon extended its palm downward, allowing her to step onto it.

• It’s a contract.

“I, Eris, offer Lakrimosa as the price. In return, I wish for the eradication of GM and my sister’s freedom.”

• The contract is sealed.

Woosh.

The demon’s flames engulfed Eris’s body.

Goodbye, sister.

Thank you, sister.

I’m sorry.

Please, be happy.

The demon’s hand reached out and touched Eris’s soul.

!!!

At that moment, she felt the demon’s intent touch her soul.

“You! You never intended to keep the contract!”

• The demon honors the contract.

“Lies! You said you’d set my sister free! But you plan to kill her!”

• Isn’t that true freedom? How tedious.

“You—!”

• Muhahahaha!

The tears that had been streaming down Eris’s cheeks turned blood red.

I’ve been deceived.

How foolish of me.

I believed absolutely in the demon’s commitment to the contract and took action.

What was I thinking, releasing a demon that could easily crush me and my sister?

Eris felt as though something had possessed her up until now.

I’m sorry, sister.

Because of me, you’re going to die, too.

What have I done?

I… I…

But it was already too late to regret.

The contract was sealed, and even if it weren’t, there was no way she could defeat a demon that even GM couldn’t overcome with her own power.

Eris could only watch as the great demon prepared to devour her soul alive…

Slice.

“…Huh?”

In the next moment, the demon’s gigantic arm was severed.

• Kyaaaaah! My arm! My arm!

Thud.

Along with the fallen arm, Eris plummeted downward, but something soft caught her from behind.

“S-sister?”

The sister I know, the sister I love.

But now, dressed in black latex-like clothing, her presence was somehow different.

…

Without a word, Eris’s sister, the saintess Marfa, gently set Eris down and rose into the air.

The sight before Eris was beyond belief—her sister had severed the arm of the creature that the united armies of the entire continent had only managed to seal, unable to inflict any real injury.

Woosh.

Flames ignited in Marpha’s hand.

Crack.

When she hurled the flame at the demon, it transformed into a spear and pierced the demon right in the chest.

-Curse it!

-You mortal!

-What kind of attack is this?!

The great demon began writhing in agony, the flame spear lodged in its chest.

-Aaaaargh!

The scene was so surreal.

Eris could only stare up at her sister in a daze.

[Title: Saintess]

Crackle.

[Title: XX]

Crackle.

[Title: Queen]

Moments later…

“What is this…”

-I am but a lowly swine succumbing to the ecstasy of Her Majesty’s punishment. Oink oink.

Though it was a genderless demon, the great demon had somehow been subdued by her sister, crawling on the ground.

In the face of this scene that defied all logic, Eris abandoned the very notion of trying to understand.