episode_0024

XXI.

After a while, I was preparing for the dean’s outburst or anger. Although it may be a bit cruel, I even thought of threatening to not cooperate as God said. But there was no need for that.

“Okay. What you say is irrefutably correct. Self-employed… okay. What I did was self-serving. The misfortunes of my daughter, my son, and my lovely granddaughter all came from me.”

Feeling ashamed? It doesn’t feel that way.

It’s like taking out your own heart and stabbing it with a dagger… ? okay! It feels like I’m harming myself.

“They did not care for their lives. okay. Just like the Caligo Inquisitor. Some people threw strong acid on themselves and rushed at my children. The son was a scholar, and the daughter-in-law was excellent at martial arts, but the daughter-in-law was also in serious condition.”

“Hmm… … .”

After leaning forward toward me, the dean leaned back against the soft sofa with a long sigh.

He lay down and looked at the ceiling, then let out another long sigh as if he couldn’t bear it, put his hand in the air and took out a bottle filled with red liquid.

“I’m sorry. I need a drink.”

I wondered if it was alcohol, but it turned out to be alcohol.

As soon as you open the cap of the bottle, you tilt your head back and gulp down the liquid. It is clearly a high-alcohol alcohol.

If you ask me how I can be so sure, I’ll tell you that it’s because of the strong smell of alcohol that wafts from the Dean to where I’m sitting, as he still cranes his neck and pours. Is it intoxicating just from the smell?

‘Can you call that a drink? ‘Isn’t it just one bottle?’

“Ha! I guess I can live a little now. Do you know what’s even more absurd? The stupidest thing I’ve ever done still remains. Kkkk.”

“??”

“My daughter-in-law suffered injuries in her chest and half of her body melting when hit by acid due to an enemy’s suicide attack. Because it was a magically treated mountain, it was impossible to cure it with magic. My son’s vocal cords were cut off by the Force, and the wound on his neck left a deep scar, so it was best to just barely survive. My lovely granddaughter witnessed her parents bleeding and falling down in front of her eyes, and because of the people who molested her body… … . I locked myself inside myself.”

“Grunt… … .”

What if the man’s appearance was ruined and the woman lost her vocal cords? Anyway, half of the woman’s body dissolved in acid… … . It must have been truly unbearable for a woman.

“I couldn’t admit that I couldn’t cure them. Think about it, the Grand Mage of Circle 9! I am the only great mage on the continent who is revered by all magicians. There is no way there is a patient that I cannot treat! That’s what I thought. So I started researching. But you know what? Assuming a Circle Nine mage fights a dragon, 8 or 9 out of 10 will die. There is no other reason. This is because the magic formula corresponding to Circle 9 has not been passed down to humans.”

“Ah.”

Well, as with swordsmanship, it is not common for people to reach Circle 9 for magic. It’s not for nothing that the two empires just sit back and watch Dean Hu’s actions.

This is because Circle 9 is ‘a being who can do anything.’ Could the magic formulas developed by the magician of Circle 9 be compiled as a textbook and left behind for future generations?

There might be someone like that.

However, the son or daughter of a superhuman does not necessarily become a superhuman. Rather, superhuman beings will live longer than sons and daughters.

The reason why most descendants of superhumans lose their names more easily than those who have never been near the superhuman is because of those who covet that legacy.

Anyway, there may be a formula for Circle 9 left somewhere, but out of respect for Dean Hu, I won’t be providing it ‘for free’.

“Okay. At least Circle Nine’s healing magic was needed to completely repair the damage to the body mixed with the contaminated mana. And it goes without saying that such a formula does not come out right away. So I decided to keep the children alive until I developed a healing spell. They stopped time.”

“Time?”

“Strictly speaking, it is not a magic that deals with time. That’s also Circle 9, but it’s a formula I don’t know. I preserved my body with preservation magic and kept it in top condition with condition magic. By developing slow magic, we slowed down the time flowing through the children’s bodies to an absurd degree, and added many more magics. like that… … . Over 50 years have passed.”

“??”

I didn’t understand why he spoke in a hollow voice. Could it be that they haven’t developed magic?

Or is there another reason?

From the way he speaks, it seems like his son’s family is still alive, whatever the reason.

“It doesn’t happen often, but problems definitely occur. The biggest problem was forcing myself to sleep for that long. The average person forces himself to sleep for such a long time and dreams repeatedly. It’s definitely not easy. So I did something stupid again.”

“What else… there? … .”

“The dreams of three children were connected. It was a combination of illusion magic and mental magic. The three of them are dreaming of a time when they were so happy. Every day, the same day over and over again. But that was my limit. And those children believe that the dream is ‘real’.”

“Why is that?”

“Magic that overlapped several times and became tangled. And the psychological shock that occurs when children who believe their dreams are reality are forced to wake up. I don’t have the confidence or ability to handle it… … .”

“But it’s better than doing nothing… . Oh, by any chance the development of healing magic hasn’t been completed?”

Dean Hu sighed, unable to continue speaking easily, and then poured the entire bottle in his hand into his mouth.

As the red liquid gradually disappeared, the area around Dean Hu’s cheekbones became reddish, as if the red light was moving to Dean Hu’s face.

“That too. I just can’t do it. What mistake will I make again this time? You don’t trust me. Rather then. It would have been wiser to just keep those kids around and take care of them.”

He continued to spit out incoherent words for a long time. I remember hearing somewhere that no matter how skilled a surgeon is, he cannot perform surgery on his own family member. It’s not what I heard, but it’s probably a confessional memory.

Does Dean Hu feel the same way?

It’s not completely incomprehensible, but to be honest, it’s difficult to completely sympathize with and understand. No, would it be more honest to say that I don’t want to understand?

“I was living in hell every day like that. Until he shows up.”

“That… What?”

“Okay. Phew… … . Before that, do you know who received the oracle regarding the final hero candidate?”

“… uh? well? And then I saw… Don’t you know?”

Yes. In the meantime, all the beings who heard the oracle and delivered it, from the ‘first’ to the ‘thirty-first’ testified by the oracle, were all managed by the Caligo Church.

Their names were erected and recorded on a tombstone in the central temple of Caligo in the Sumerian kingdom, and they are treated with the utmost respect by the Caligo Church, as are candidates.

However, even after thinking about Dean Hu’s question carefully, I cannot remember hearing who received the trust for me, that is, for the last candidate.

At some point, the Caligo Church spread the oracle about the last candidate, and the spread reached the gypsy city of Kresti.

“I am the one who received the trust.”

“… Yes?”

What kind of bullshit are you talking about? this?

◈ ◈ ◈

red desert. red sky. And the blazing black sun.

A scenery that makes you wonder if there really is another world like this. Perhaps an abandoned desert or a place reminiscent of a place of exile for sinners is the most common and common sight in this dimension.

Even the wind that occasionally passed over the sand dunes was as harsh and ferocious as the surrounding landscape.

The divine power mixed with the rough wind went berserk, and naturally the natural environment here was harsh for life to survive.

The hot black sun withered all the plants, and the non-stop red sand wind made me lose my way. The divine power was wild and ferocious, and it brought about ridiculous changes in the climate.

The gods call this place, which was the most blessed dimension but eventually turned into the most miserable dimension, the Demon World.

Originally, there was a god who ruled this place, the demon world. She was called a demon god by the gods, and was also the head of the strongest faction in the god world.

Of course, as I spoke in the past tense, the gods who currently rule the Demon World left the Demon World for different reasons.

Above all, Serpens, who was previously called the main deity of the Demon World and the Demon God, now changed her job to the Creator’s ‘Hound Dog’, and most of the gods who followed her were transferred to the hunting dog unit, and the gods disappeared from the Demon World.

But that doesn’t mean no one lives there.

After the Demon God left this dimension, the beings that settled here, no, the beings that were born were a little special.

A red castle built on a barren land. People with a huge presence began to gather one by one into the blood-red castle that matched the demon world.

The interior of the castle is empty, as if it was built simply to block out the light of the scorching black sun, without any of the decorations one would expect of a castle. All there was was an old-fashioned chair shining softly with a black sheen.

Previously, in the room of the sick-but-handsome man, there were six chairs with their backs to each other, but the seven chairs here were so that the people sitting on them could face each other.

And each of those seven seats had an owner.

“Hmm. Are you ready?”

The being who spoke first asked, tapping the armrest of the chair with his sharp, thick fingernails. Naturally, attention gathers.

A being with a unique appearance, with snake-like eyes and black scales, and contrasting golden decorations on its arms, neck, fingers, head, and even a long tail sticking out from the side of the chair.

“This time, progress is progressing steadily. But why do you speak in such a way that you are being reported to by those below you? Do you think you are superior to me? Mamon!”

The one who nervously responded had a body similar to that of a human, but had a face reminiscent of a dragon. Would you say it’s half human and half dragon? Every time he got angry, yellow flames flickered from his mouth and nose.

“Of course you can. Because this is my castle, Pandemonium, that I built. I can’t say I’m in the same position as you, pitiful and miserable, who has to wait in the cold water for humans to pass by. Levidon.”

Mammon and Levithan.

Greed and envy.

Their fight was like an annual event that happened every time they met. So the others didn’t care much either. Of course, this caused a quarrel, but the beings gathered here are not friendly or kind enough to understand and move on.

“Stop it. Mammon, Leviathan. We’re not here to watch you fight. Since I’m busy, let’s do something quick and break up.”

“Why is this crazy pervert busy… ah! Are you busy making rice cake? What kind of bitch did you steal this time? Asmodeus?”

A man with the appearance of a handsome ‘human’ noble gentleman. With his hair slicked back, his neat clothes, and the smile on his face the entire time, he seemed more suited to being in a noble family’s banquet hall rather than in this desolate and gloomy demon world. This man is Asmodeus of ‘lust’.

“Hahaha. Of course, that also keeps this body busy. Ladies never pass me by. But what makes me busier than that is because, unlike you two, he is a capable man who has never failed so far. Including attractive ones.”

“Crazy pervert!!”

Levidon stands up and growls with a face that looks like he’s about to punch Asmodeus in the face at any moment, but Asmodeus, as well as the others, also look annoyed.

“Sit down. Levidon.”

A cloudy gray wing is sticking out from the back of a man leaning on a chair.

Asmodeus’ face, which was frowning just a moment ago, was also very handsome, but this man’s face could truly be described as a ‘radiant face’. There was an elegance that made those who watched it naturally bow their heads.

Even though he is just wearing a black robe, the fact that the common, shabby robe looks like an artifact or luxury item worth thousands of gold may be due to the man’s aura.

“But Lucifer!!”

Words referring to men came out of his mouth. Lucifer of Oman.

His original name was Lucifer, meaning ‘bringer of light’, but after he fell into the demon world for some reason, his followers called him ‘Lucifer’.

“Asmodeus. Take care of yourself.”

“self-weight? Are you giving orders? Lucifer? you to me What if I can’t do it?”

“Then you will have to live as your true self for a while. Like now.”

Exactly!

As Lucifer’s fingers rubbed against him, the body of Asmodeus, a handsome man who looked like he had come out of a cartoon, began to tremble and change.

And when the change was over, there was a man sitting with a bloated body who doubted whether he could even move.

The man’s bloated, bloated face looked like that of a human or a goat. Of course, goat horns on top of the head are standard.

“Profit!! Lucifer!!!”

“So shut up.”

Lucifer’s elegant atmosphere completely changed and became strange when he said ‘shut up’.

The surrounding air screamed with a ‘Geeing!’ sound, and an atmosphere of goosebumps and fear flowed around Lucifer.

“Mammon, Levithan. Shut up. Asmodeus, stop talking too. And Beelzebub! You stop eating!”

A dessert that looks like a round mini hamburger coated in various colors. The man, who was looking at the so-called ‘Devil’s Macarons’ with sparkling eyes and putting them in his mouth one by one and smiling with satisfaction, pouted at Lucifer’s words.

The sight of Beelzebub, which looks like a small and cute little child, would probably urge the average person to eat more.

“Don’t act cute. A big guy who plays with a titan in his palm.”

Beelzebub of gluttony.

His true appearance is much grander and larger than the Atlas that holds up the planet. Although he now looks like a squirmy child attending kindergarten.

“Belphegor. Wake up.”

A woman with a drowsy expression who was sleeping soundly regardless of whether people around her were talking or not.

As if to demonstrate that there is danger outside the blanket, a woman who was sleeping with a thick cloak wrapped around her body and her legs pulled up on a wide chair wakes up to Lucifer’s call.

“Can’t you do anything about being in female form? It’s disgusting.”

Belphegor of sloth.

The way he obtains ‘male’ slaves to do his work is a bit unusual. Or should I say it’s creepy?

Obviously, you can brainwash her with power and manipulate her, but she turns into a beautiful woman and seduces a strong, long-lasting man and manipulates her.

So she, no, he is not on good terms with Asmodeus of Lust.

“Satan. Why on earth did you ask us to gather when we are so busy?”

A being that has remained silent all this time.

Unlike the other six beings who were young and beautiful, young and handsome, young and courageous, or had a youthful appearance, the man called Satan had the appearance of a gracefully aged old man.

Gray hair, wrinkles all over his face, and wrinkled old hands. He even holds an old cane in his hand, giving him the appearance of a seeker who is tired from the ravages of time.

Although his appearance does not fit his nickname of ‘The Satan of Anger’, it is important to understand that Lucifer does not treat him just because he is an elder or a remnant that has existed for the longest time.

When he was angry, or when he was truly engaged in battle, he was such an incredible being that you could see why he was given the nickname ‘Fury’.

“The divine world has moved.”

“Haam~. What is that? It’s always busy there. Also, are there a lot of monsters there? Not to mention the newborn gods of time, space, life, and death. Also, the new god of battle is pretty… … .”

“The god of magic has stepped forward.”

Satan resolutely cut off the sluggish Belphegor’s muttering as he stretched out his crouching body and mentioned one person. Then, the languid aura that had been flowing from Belphegor’s face until now disappeared.

“… ha ha ha. no way. ah… , Is there a new being on the throne of magic? Well, it’s time for that faction to increase its numbers… … .”

“There is only one god of magic. Yes and now.”

“Ah… … . shit. Satan, I hate everything about you, but I hate being needlessly honest the most! We are called ‘remnants’! In times like this, I just lie a little! That’s it!!”

Belphegor jumped up to the point where he wondered if it was right for the nickname ‘Sloth’ to be given to this being, and got angry as he ran around on the spot.

So much so that one wonders whether ‘anger’ might suit Belphegor better than the serious Satan who is not showing any signs right now.

“I’m asking just in case, about that magic god bastard. Are you the guy who gave up on cause and effect?”

“Okay.”

“Yeah, really? Still, there could be two people like that… . No, there can’t be two of them. Still, there might be someone similar. In our previous ‘game’, when we were winning, he suddenly appeared at the last minute and said to me, ‘Sloth Belphegor is too diligent. ‘This is a foul.’ Are you that bastard who talked bullshit and turned the battlefield around?”

“That’s right. That’s it.”

“Ah… … . Should we just give up?”

Belphegor was particularly regretful, so he took the lead in his anger, but the other beings also clearly showed signs of disapproval.

“Don’t worry. Because He ‘promised’. He said that if we don’t break the ‘rules’ first, monsters won’t materialize like before.”

“Yeah, really?! It was great! I guess I’ll have to make more slaves!”

“You cannot let your guard down. The worst in every dimension. He is, of course, a fool who has given up on cause and effect. Fortunately, I won’t have to do anything special this time, but it’s still a one-of-a-kind thing. Further train the demon lords under you.”

The beings who had been growling at each other at Satan’s remarks nodded as if they had made a promise.

“It is said that the divine realm issued its last oracle some time ago. The devil is coming. The game has begun. Have the demons under his command prepare as well. The Demon King descends as scheduled. Not one, but seven.”