Chapter 351

R&e;âd ​on​ ​Kãt‌R̈e‌аdiｎg​C̀à​f​ê

Can a Demonic Beast defeat a Devil God?

It was a question no one would dare to ask.

To even utter such a thing was to prove one’s own foolishness.

One had to compare to know who was superior, but there were times when one knew without needing to compare.

The strength of demonic beasts was astonishing. Having evolved beyond the category of mere monsters, their power was equal to, or even surpassed, the pinnacle of humanity. 

They were closer to bio-weapons in the guise of living beings. Like Surtr, each action was a disaster, and like Typhon, a mere breath could overturn heaven and earth. 

Even the devil gods, fragments of the ‘Ancient One’, did not underestimate the power of demonic beasts.

In other words, that was the extent of it.

They did not underestimate them, but they did not feel threatened.

The stronghold of demonic beasts was certainly impressive, but it did not reach the level to threaten the throne of a devil god.

‘I’ve done something foolish, even I think so. Did I want to die that badly? I’m not afraid of death, but I wouldn’t consider myself a suicide hopeful.’

Ere knew her place.

If she fought a devil god head-on, the result was obvious.

Even the assessment that she might win once out of 100 tries was an exaggeration.

She could endure.

She could make the battle happen.

She might even be able to inflict injuries.

And then she would die.

She would bitterly realize the price of daring to oppose a devil god.

Why would she recklessly challenge, knowing the ending already? Even Ere had some doubts about that fact. She was not afraid of death. It would be a poor comedy if a death knight feared death. 

But she disliked meaningless death. Not being afraid of death was different from desiring it. A dog’s death was not what she wanted.

Was it revenge? She had received an indelible favor from Astaroth, and in return, had sworn loyalty. From the perspective of loyalty, avenging the death of her master was a matter of course.

But had she been so loyal to Astaroth as to disregard her own life?

…Indeed, she had.

She received her life, so it was right to repay it with her own.

If she had decided to serve as a knight, she should devote her life to loyalty.

…Was that really all?

Ere looked down at her sword. A sharp blade. A sword of death imbued with death energy. How much had she honed the ordinary sword to reach the realm of a demonic sword, swinging it thousands, tens of thousands of times, until it felt like a part of her body? 

Why had I swung the sword so much?

To reach a higher level.

For what?

To fight more powerful enemies.

Why?

Because it was enjoyable.

‘Even so, I don’t like battles with no chance of winning.’

A duel was enjoyable because there was a slight chance of victory.

Drawing a sword knowing she couldn’t win was not like her.

Normally, she would have retreated and planned for the future.

To provoke a devil god head-on and brandish her magic sword.

Why on earth would she do such a foolish thing…?

‘Ah.’

Ere’s lips curved into a smile. She had been unconsciously aware of it, but something she had not realized flashed through her mind. 

She was rational. Ever since she had died once due to carelessness, she had always pursued rationality. She didn’t want to make a mistake again and die in vain. If she had openly chosen battle, there was only one reason.

‘I’m sorry, my lord.’

The truth is.

I don’t care about your death at all.

The favor I received was heavy, so I devoted myself to loyalty.

Because of loyalty, I blindly followed you.

I was even prepared to give my life for you.

…But if the object of that loyalty was dead.

Then our relationship ends here.

Even so, challenging a devil god under the pretext of your death is.

 ‘I feel like I can win now.’

I feel like I can win.

Against a devil god.

It was nothing more than a plausible feeling, not a concrete conviction.

But it was more than enough reason to draw her sword.

The odds were low.

Like finding a needle in the desert.

Like filling the sea with dew.

Impossible. But there was a slight possibility.

‘The cards I have prepared in my hand now are…’

The swordsmanship I trained for the rematch with Johan.

And likewise, what I prepared for the rematch…

“Heh heh.”

“What’s so funny?”

When Ere suddenly laughed, Murmur reacted nervously. Frankly, it was starting to get annoying. She had just come to pick up a sword that had lost its master, but she was being threatened by that sword. She had thought about refusal, but she had never imagined hostility. How on earth did Astaroth win this one over?

“Do you know Lucia?”

At her casual mention, the expressions of Johan and Murmur changed. It was a name they couldn’t possibly not know. Each for different reasons, it was a name with significance. 

For Johan, she was a girl presumed to be a relative of his benefactor. For Murmur, she was a human with an oddly persistent connection. Why bring up that child all of a sudden?

“My lord once kidnapped that child. It was to provoke the boy Eugene, and also to make her a vessel for a devil god. But when she was kidnapped, the girl was too weak. Her vessel was too weak to contain the devil god Belial.”

Belial’s soul was broken, and his power was constantly leaking. Even considering the special nature of super regeneration, it wouldn’t last long. That’s why Astaroth took extreme measures.

“Lucia was tortured. Her arms and legs were cut off, her belly was ripped open and her entrails were pulled out. She was burned with fire and her bones were broken. And then she was regenerated. Once the regeneration was complete, she was disassembled again.”

“What…? What did you just say? Torture? That child?”

“Yes, torture. It was to strengthen her super regeneration. The effect was certain. After repeating disassembly and regeneration for days and nights… her ability increased enough to contain a devil god.”

“…Hey, don’t joke around. There’s no way torture can strengthen abilities. It only mentally exhausts you. It should weaken you, not strengthen you.”

Supernatural abilities were honed like muscles as they were used. A regenerator supernatural would be trained by repeating regeneration, but… there was a limit to that. Torture was an act that destroyed the mind. 

Considering that supernatural abilities were based on the mind, such an act would only weaken the ability. Red veins appeared in Johan’s eyes. The hand holding the holy sword began to tremble.

“Logically, there’s no way torture can strengthen abilities? Unless you’re some kind of crazy masochist who likes being hurt!”

“Is that so? That’s strange. Lucia’s ability was definitely strengthened. Was Lucia a perverted masochist who liked being hurt? To think she hid such desires beneath that pure face. Truly amazing.”

“What are you talking about, you corpse bitch!”

There’s no way the daughter (presumed) of Lucille would be like that!

If she inherited her bloodline!

Surely, that thing.

She must be incredibly kind, sacrificial, caring, motherly, and, um…

Anyway, she must have an incredibly noble character!

Just like the saints recorded in the church’s bible!

At Johan’s fierce protest, Ere shrugged.

“That’s not important right now, so let’s skip it.”

“What do you mean it’s not important? Hey, say it again. I’ll pay you back the same way, so say it again!”

“Good expression. I can feel deep anger in your eyes. It would have been nice if you had that face from the start.”

Overwhelming momentum descends. It was a suffocating fighting spirit. She would have been happy if it was a little earlier, but now it had to be put on the back burner.

“After disassembling Lucia, my lord did not dispose of the remaining scraps. She collected the child’s flesh.”

Because it was useful. Lucia was the ‘Needle of Causality’ and a Blessed Saintess, and her flesh was suitable for use as a catalyst. If Astaroth consumed Lucia’s flesh fragments in the form of a price for her authority, Ere had a different use for it.

“It was a suitable vessel. Lucia’s flesh. If it was a vessel to contain a devil god, it could embrace anything.”

Death energy.

The aura of death.

The source of Ere and the other Death Knights.

No matter how much death energy she gathered, it would be useless if she didn’t have a vessel to contain it.

Therefore, Ere filled Lucia’s flesh with death energy.

Although it was only a part of her body, that part was excessively large.

“No matter how much I poured in, it never filled. The vessel I’m using now was also excellent, but Lucia was on a different level. Frankly, I was even envious. If I had used that child’s body as a vessel…”

At least I wouldn’t be suffering from these unnecessarily voluptuous breasts like I am now. They’re so big I can’t even grab them with my hands, it’s so uncomfortable. 

They shake so lightly even with the slightest movement. I couldn’t even swing my sword unless I tightly wrapped them with compression bandages. 

And yet they’re incredibly sensitive, and even a slight touch makes my lower abdomen…

Ere quietly swallowed the rest of her words and continued speaking.

“I couldn’t fill it all with my own strength alone.”

Shamefully, she even had to borrow the help of her lord.

Astaroth was a collector.

She stored countless collectibles in subspace.

Among them, there was even an item that shocked Ere.

‘…Astaroth’s corpse.’

Her lord said it was ‘herself from a previous iteration.’

To fill the fragments of Lucia’s body, she even used the corpse of a devil god.

“Thanks to that, I am more than fully prepared now.”

In the fight against Johan, she only used a small portion of Lucia’s flesh. If possible, she wanted to fight with her own strength. But if the opponent was Murmur, the premise was different.

“In short, you’re challenging me because you have something to rely on?”

“What if I am?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

Murmur let out a deep sigh that crawled up from the bottom of his chest. The white cloud mask began to tremble. Fine cracks appeared on the mask, unable to withstand the shock.

“Just how lightly are you taking me to provoke me while revealing your hidden cards? Huh?”

“Ah, there might be a misunderstanding in that regard.”

“What?”

“Do you think I’m crazy enough to just reveal my hidden cards? If the opponent is a devil god, I should hide at least one. Don’t you think?”

Ere turned her gaze to Johan. 

Should he cut down Ere right now, or should he hold back for now? 

Ere smiled at Johan, who was agonizing over the decision. Although it was hidden behind the red fox mask, it was a very kind smile.

“I learned it from you. I’m learning another thing from you. You might be like a teacher to me.”

“?”

“Attracting the opponent’s attention with conversation. It’s a pretty good method.”

How much trouble had she suffered from Johan, who had distracted her with nonsense back then?

“…Ha, look at this?”

Murmur’s voice turned cold.

Several times colder than when Ere had pointed her sword at her.

Hidden within that coldness was, paradoxically, a hot heat that melted ice.

“Right now, you’ve taken control of the space in front of me?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

The demonic sword digs into the floor.

Preparations were already complete.

While she was rambling about Lucia’s story, keeping Murmur’s attention.

Like turning a key, Ere twisted the demonic sword.

“Now, from here on out… it’s my space.”

The gate to the underworld, opened.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Ere had access to the truth, more than anyone else.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Get beaten up, and beaten up again, till you become a masochist, just like the ‘mother’ of life.