Chapter 320 – Truth

Re&a;d ‌&o;n KatRẽadi&n;ｇC‍&a;fe

“…No n-no, there’s no way.”

Eugene immediately denied it.

Belief is only possible when there is trust towards the other party.

He had no reason to trust Astaroth whatsoever.

She is a devil god, the ruler of otherworldly monsters, and a monster who has massacred countless humans. Can he be sure that that face is her real face? There were many devils with special abilities. 

For example, the lizard monster he fought in the field training was a unique individual capable of resurrection from death. Even more so, Astaroth, a devil god, it wouldn’t be strange for her to have the ability to disguise her face.

As for Yui, she could have found out about her by investigating his background.

It’s a deception to cause agitation.

She is only insulting him and Yui.

“Ahaha.”

Astaroth laughed playfully. It was familiar. That melodious laughter, that mischievous smile like a naughty child thinking of a prank. 

It was exactly like Yui in his memory. The only difference was that she had grown up a bit. She walked closer with her hands behind her back. Eugene instinctively held out the Scarlet Blade to block her approach.

“Why? We’ve reunited after so long, haven’t we? I’m hurt, big brother~”

“You… can’t be Yui… there’s no way… Yui is dead…”

“Was there any trace of my corpse left? There was only a severed arm, right? So why do you think I’m dead?”

“But back then… you were attacked by a monster and had a hole pierced through your chest… I saw it clearly…”

Eugene had thought about it too.

The thought that Yui might still be alive.

Because there was no corpse. Because there was no proof of her death. Only a severed arm remained. Since there was no definite proof of her death, there was a chance she might be alive. 

Maybe she was. However, Eugene knew. That such thoughts were escapism. Before losing consciousness, he saw Yui being attacked by a monster. It was a fatal wound that even Supernaturals couldn’t survive.

Realistically, surviving was impossible.

Unless a miracle happened.

And miracles were miracles because they didn’t happen.

“Then how did big brother survive? In the midst of a great disaster swarming with monsters.”

“That’s…”

Eugene couldn’t answer rashly. He himself had been wondering all along. How did he survive even after Yui died? He only made vague guesses. Maybe Yui squeezed out her last strength and perished together with the monster? Or maybe I unconsciously did something after awakening my Supernatural ability…

“You know, I was scared.”

Astaroth gave a bitter smile, looking at Scarlet Blade pointed at her.

“I was scared of dying, and I was scared of what would happen after I died. Because if I died, big brother would die too. There’s no one to protect big brother anymore. My death doesn’t end with just my death. I have to protect big brother. I have to protect at least big brother. 

At that time, when a hole was pierced through my chest and my consciousness was fading, I desperately yearned for the power to overcome this situation. The power to protect big brother.”

I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die yet. I want to live. I want to live a little longer. I’m scared. I’m afraid. Well, I was young back then, right? I was 10 years old, right? But what I was truly afraid of was the situation after my death. 

If I die, even big brother will die. I can’t allow that. I have to live. Not for my sake, but to protect big brother, I have to live. By any means. Definitely. Absolutely.

“That obsession reached a devil god.”

The 29th-ranked devil god.

The Executor.

Astaroth.

“Astaroth, who descended with the Great Catastrophe, was looking for a vessel to inhabit. Astaroth, who sensed a strong obsession at that moment, judged Yui to be a suitable vessel.”

Human desires exuded a sweet fragrance like honey.

Drawn by that sweet fragrance, Astaroth descended.

Using Yui as a vessel, she performed the ritual of incarnation.

The devil god Astaroth inhabited the human Yui.

The devil Astaroth was born.

“How do you think you survived, big brother? It’s because I ordered the monsters. To not even approach big brother.”

Thanks to that, Eugene was able to remain safe until the Great Catastrophe ended.

Eugene’s lips trembled. His wrist shook like an aspen tree, and his thighs began to spasm as if his muscles had broken down. The questions he had were being answered one by one.

Let’s say Yui perished together with the attacking monster. Then what about the other monsters after that? That place was the hell of the human world. Hell where monsters rained down like rain. 

He was unconscious at the time, so he couldn’t even run away. Even if he had awakened his Supernatural ability, there were limits. Could he have survived in the hell swarming with monsters with only the power he wielded unconsciously without will? Especially with the weak power he had just awakened?

“…”

If so, really.

No, I can’t believe it.

Still, it makes sense.

Evidence is lacking.

What more evidence do you need here?

Even if that’s the case, the words of a murderer.

If it’s really Yui.

The opponent is Astaroth.

He’s already seen a case where a devil god possessed a human body.

Lucia was also taken over by Belial.

If Astaroth has taken over Yui’s body.

That girl is Yui but not Yui.

Astaroth but not entirely Astaroth.

Then I.

What should I do now?

“You seem confused. Yeah, I understand.”

“…Don’t, come closer.”

He stops Astaroth from approaching again.

Eugene gripped Scarlet Blade tighter.

His grip was slippery with cold sweat.

“Even if the body you’re using is the real Yui… you are Astaroth. Don’t pretend to be Yui. It’s disgusting.”

The tip of the sword wavered. The blade wavered. Eugene’s blue eyes also wavered.

Astaroth stared at Eugene for a moment, then blurted out.

“Then, are you going to stab me with that sword?”

“…What?”

“Cut off my arms, cut off my legs, cut off my head, stab my heart. Are you going to drive me out? From Yui’s body? Because I’m a monster who stole Yui’s body?”

Astaroth took another step forward. Eugene held out Scarlet Blade, but Astaroth ignored it and continued to move forward. The blade grazed Astaroth’s neck. The sound of flesh burning echoed eerily. The wound burned instantly, and not even blood flowed. Astaroth grabbed the blade of the Scarlet Blade with both hands, then pushed it even closer to her neck.

“What are you…”

“Do you want to kill me, big brother?”

“I-I’m going to save Yui…”

“How? By driving out Astaroth? Like you did with Lucia. Is that even possible for me?”

Sadness spread across Astaroth’s face. Eugene couldn’t tell if that expression was genuine or acting.

“A devil is a being born from the combination of a devil god and a human. Naturally, the devil god has the lead. The human consciousness is assimilated by the devil god and disappears. Yui’s consciousness is the same. At first, her will to save big brother was so strong that the two souls were on equal footing, but after saving her big brother and the Great Catastrophe ended, the scales tipped towards the devil god. Yui was absorbed by Astaroth and vanished.”

Originally, that would have been the end.

Yui’s body would have remained, and her mind and soul would have been absorbed by Astaroth.

If only a variable hadn’t occurred.

Repeated regressions.

Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands.

Or more.

Even if she doesn’t remember, she is aware that she is regressing.

Astaroth decided to gamble on the continued defeats.

“Astaroth’s power is theoretically omnipotent. She can do anything if she can pay the price.”

She paid the price.

What she wanted was the memory of the regression.

If she could only maintain her memory, she might have a chance of winning.

She offered many prices, but the memories she could obtain were extremely limited.

With only fragmentary memories, she could not change anything.

More prices. More sacrifices. More trades.

She offered everything she could, but no meaningful results came out.

Then, a price that would inevitably yield results.

“Astaroth put everything on the scales. What is most important to a devil god. No, not just devil gods, but what is most essential to all intelligent beings. Even the ego.”

Because Astaroth sincerely hated them. Humans. The Four Seasons. Those who ruined Paradise.

Power is not allowed. Strength is not allowed. If she loses her power, she can’t do anything. But the ego can be faint. As long as the desire for revenge against the Four Seasons remains intact.

That’s how Astaroth was able to obtain some of the memories from before the regression. In the process, she also learned the truth she didn’t know. The more the deals continued, the more the ego faded as the price was paid, but the desire for revenge remained intact. Because she never paid that as a price.

“The weaker Astaroth’s ego became, the more Yui’s ego emerged.”

The two wills mix. No, strictly speaking, they were mixed from the beginning. It’s just that Astaroth had firmly taken the lead, so Yui’s will was buried. However, as Astaroth’s will faded, Yui’s will grew stronger, and Yui took over Astaroth’s vacated position.

“From some point on, Astaroth and Yui became indistinguishable.”

Astaroth and Yui.

Yui and Astaroth.

The desire for revenge as a devil god remains intact.

Astaroth sincerely hated humans.

The desire for revenge as a human burns.

Yui sincerely despised the monsters.

I hate humans. I want to kill them.

I hate monsters. I want to destroy them.

I want to get revenge. I must get revenge.

Let’s kill humans and monsters.

Since everyone is burdened with original sin anyway.

Let everyone pay a fair price.

“I am Astaroth. The 29th-ranked devil god, Astaroth.”

“I am Yui. A Supernatural and Eugene’s younger sister, Yui.”

“Both are me.”

“Both are me.”

“The cases of Belial and Lucia are completely different, human.”

“Because they didn’t mix perfectly, big brother.”

“So, saving Yui is impossible.”

“Driving out Astaroth is also impossible.”

“Taking ‘me’ out of ‘my’ body.”

“It’s impossible.”

The Scarlet Blade slipped weakly. 

Clang. 

The Scarlet Blade, which fell to the floor, cooled down, making a loud noise.

Yui smiled brightly. Just like in the old days, when she lived with her brother.

“I missed you. big brother, I really missed you.”

The girl hugged Eugene.

She hugs his waist and buries her face in his chest.

Eugene couldn’t push her away and remained silent.

“Ehehe, this warmth. It’s been a while. I thought I would never feel it again.”

Astaroth peeked up. She looked at Eugene, who was stiff but filled with all kinds of emotions, and said in a mischievous voice.

“Big brother, please.”

Be with me.

I protected big brother.

This time, you protect me.

…Can you do it?

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Astaroth hated humans.

Yui hated monsters.

As they merged, they hated both.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Kill everything!