307 33 Days

307.

Epsilon’s eyes first turned to Riel. That gaze lingered on Riel for a moment, then indifferently passed over Celina and Blade.

And when it came to Rene, he frowned as if something was bothering him, and lingered quite a while. After going through his companions one by one like that, Epsilon looked back at me and opened his mouth.

,I said I came to talk. To be precise, I came to give you notice. Your world will be destroyed in 33 days.”

,…What did you say?”

It felt like a dump truck suddenly popped up in front of me.

Destruction? What are you talking about?

,In 33 days, I, along with my castle, Lustia Pandemonium, will appear in your world. On the ruins of the city once called Faiz. This is an unavoidable fate.”

,Appear? You mean appear in our world? Then what happens?”

Epsilon smiled and answered my question. Smiling leisurely, as if a winner were giving their victory speech.

,The gods have limited influence on the mortal realm. At best, they can lend strength to those with potential or deliver prophecies. The same goes for me and the goddess Yustea.”

From Epsilon’s words, I was reminded of Overdrive. No, not just Overdrive.

Overdrive, the High Priestesses’ red wings, the Archfiends’ black wings, and the Holy King and Rene’s power of prophecy-all these were means by which the gods were trying to intervene in the human world.

,But I have found a way to transcend those limitations and descend into the mortal realm with the original power of a Demon God.”

Hearing those words, something flashed in my mind. Why Faiz of all places? What Celina brought back from there…

,Could it be the Black Barrier Stone…?”

,That’s right. Did you only realize it now? I thought you had seen through my plan and dispatched that mage to Faiz, but it seems that wasn’t the case. My Lustia Pandemonium, which will appear in the mortal realm, is itself a giant Black Barrier Stone. Within the barrier it creates, I will be able to use the power and will of a Demon God without restriction.”

The Black Barrier Stone we obtained back then is still entrusted to Eldritch. Who knew that object would be directly related to the world’s crisis…

,This is the Dungeon Master’s subspace. Here, there are not as many restrictions as in the mortal world. The fact that I can talk to you in this corporeal form is thanks to that. Do you understand? Hero, the reason I called you here is to announce this fate of destruction.”

,Epsilon…!”

What Epsilon desires is a world full of desire. There was no need to ask what a Demon God with such an evil will would do when he came into the world with his original power.

Destruction. Epsilon’s words were probably not an exaggeration.

But if so, why is he telling us all this?

,Why bother summoning us to the Dungeon Master’s domain to tell us that? It’s not just to brag, is it?”

,Of course not.”

Epsilon smiled faintly. It wasn’t very obvious, but he looked quite pleased.

,You are weak, Hero. And so are your companions.”

Hearing those words after my sword was broken by an invisible blow and I embarrassingly knelt, they stung even more. Epsilon continued.

,So, for the remaining 33 days, struggle to at least catch up to the hem of the Demon God’s power. I will be happily watching your desperate struggles. And on that day of destruction, I will invite your Hero party to my castle. As the only chance to stop the Demon God Epsilon.”

,33 days…”

Epsilon’s power is terrifying. Even that blow that easily overwhelmed me didn’t feel like he was using his full strength.

Can I catch up to that even a little in 33 days?

Seeing my complicated expression, Epsilon smiled contentedly. It was a smile befitting a Demon God.

,Then I will wait with joyful anticipation, Hero, and your companions. For the day I welcome you to Lustia Pandemonium in 33 days…!”

With those words, Epsilon turned into black light and disappeared.

Leaving us with a huge task.

=======================================

Holy King Grace had been suffering from sleep deprivation lately.

,Another dream…”

The cause of the sleep deprivation was a dream. A terrifying nightmare was constantly tormenting Holy King Grace.

It was a dream of something huge and evil appearing in the magic city of Faiz. The evil something that came with the black clouds soon turned into a black storm that engulfed the entire world.

Sometimes the goddess Yustea conveys the world’s crises through dreams like this. This one was definitely a prophetic dream.

But it was different from the usual prophetic dreams. She had never had the same dream so many times. The degree of ominousness felt more vivid and intense than any previous dream.

It even felt like the goddess Yustea was desperately asking for help. Anxiously, repeatedly, fervently, fearing that she might not be heard or noticed…

The huge and evil thing in that dream first appeared near the Odelossa Mountains. Right there, where High Priestess Rene and the Sanctuary of Origin are located.

,Could it be that Rene, that bitch, is plotting something?”

Most of the priests of Hwaris did not look kindly on Rene, who took an independent path rather than following the authority of the Order and the Holy King. The fact that she was called a Saintess but had one foot in magic also contributed to that view.

For that reason, not only in the streets but even high-ranking priests were not ashamed to insult Rene with sexually lewd words and chuckle in private. It was fortunate for Rene that the news that the Saintess had offered her virginity to the Hero had not yet reached Hwaris.

Of course, the Holy King, known for her noble character, would be the kind of person who would not engage in such vulgar acts.

But Rene was a real threat to Grace simply by her existence.

In addition to her authority as a High Priestess comparable to the Holy King, she even possessed the power of prophecy, which was considered exclusive to the Holy King. It was not unreasonable to worry about her forming an independent faction.

,Maybe it was a mistake to let her be free from the beginning. I should have thoroughly controlled her so that she couldn’t leave Hwaris…”

As Grace was heading to her office with such thoughts, a priest of the Holy Palace spoke to her.

,Your Majesty the Holy King, the Hero has come to see you. Along with High Priestess Rene-nim and High Priestess Riel-nim.”

,The Hero? I’ll go right away.”

In Grace’s mind as she headed to the audience chamber, various thoughts were intricately intertwined.

=======================================

,Demon God Epsilon, huh…”

The Holy King looked very serious after hearing my story. It was only natural. A crisis that could lead the world to destruction was coming in just 33 days.

The descent of Demon God Epsilon. For the decisive battle in 33 days, I needed to become stronger than ever.

That’s why I came to see the Holy King.

Demon God Epsilon’s goal is to steal this world’s constellation from the goddess Yustea. If so, then the goddess Yustea, and the Order, including the Holy King who serves Yustea, would surely cooperate.

Yustea had given me Divine Iron through the Island of Trials before. Whether it’s equipment or information to become stronger, like then. Someone like the Holy King should be able to provide a clue to becoming stronger.

,I understand what you mean, Hero-nim.”

The Holy King looked much more tired than when I had seen her before. I had heard that Holy Kings have historically had short lives. Thinking about it now, it might be because the burden of accepting the will of God with a mere human body is too great.

,But it’s not easy to believe.”

,What, what did you say?”

I doubted my ears. The Holy King looked at Riel, who was bowing her head next to me, not at me.

,High Priestess Riel. Your transformation as a demon has progressed much further than before. You can no longer be called human. Hero-nim, can we trust the words of someone who brings demons as companions? Especially such a preposterous lie that an evil Demon God is inviting the Hero and his companions.”

,Your Majesty the Holy King! That’s not true, I’m…!”

,Your Majesty! Please listen, Riel is…”

Riel and Rene protested, but the Holy King ignored them as if she couldn’t hear. When the Holy King gestured, countless priests rushed in and surrounded us.

Honestly, I was a little sensitive.

I was shocked by the difference in skill between me and Epsilon, and I was in a state where I couldn’t help but feel impatient because I only had 33 days to close that gap.

In other words, my flashpoint was quite low.

,Cut it out, Holy King! In this crisis of the world, you’re…!”

I glared at the Holy King, filled with frustration and anger. Because I unconsciously put strength into my legs, the white marble floor of the Holy Palace broke with a sound like shattering pottery.

The Holy King frowned slightly and looked down at me.