Ch.13946. I Have Never Yearned For It

Venus sensed it instinctively.

That was truly gold.

Gold.

…Even he, whom Venus had looked up to.

Hadn’t she often reproached herself that compared to that gold, she was like a torch before the sun?

The so-called Demon King of Wisdom.

By another name, the Golden Demon King.

It was not human.

But if it were to take human form, perhaps it would look like that.

So terribly attractive and alluring.

…It made her want to gouge out her own eyes.

‘Right. She did brag about being under the protection of something like that before.’

Or not? Is it different from that one?

Who knows.

In the end, the reason Venus herself came face to face with that damned being was probably due to the guidance of that cursed golden woman.

If it weren’t for that.

That damned holy sword she had still considered Elbatra wouldn’t have been drawn so dramatically, dramatically placed in someone else’s hands, and used so arbitrarily.

Perhaps even at this moment, Venus herself might still be stupidly wasting time trying to draw the sword.

In the end.

What caused his death was that woman’s scheme.

And what defiled his legacy was that damned Demon King’s machination.

Venus understood this well enough.

Anyone in the Salvation Knights would have known.

Many had left ostentatiously after realizing this fact, turning their backs on it all.

The fact that Grandeus was a commander in the Demon King’s army.

Where did that rumor originate from?

And why did Rueld have to kill him specifically?

…Why did something that could have ended with just defeating him escalate to taking his life?

If you think about it a little, doesn’t something smell ominous?

No? Just a coincidence?

Who knows.

With such a result, does the truth even matter? I’m not that smart or rational a person, you know?

“Whatever people say, I’m the type who doesn’t easily believe anything unless I see it with my own eyes.”

That’s why.

Even when Cariel was enthusiastically ranting about Demon Kings and whatnot toward that insane commander trying to kill him in Someren.

Venus never questioned or reproached him for it afterward.

Whether those words were true or false, it was beyond her immediate concern.

And she didn’t gossip about it to others either.

If a situation truly arose where it became an issue.

She would dig into it then.

“But it seems certain now.”

The golden girl was utterly composed.

Why was this visible to her eyes?

…The answer wouldn’t be far off.

“Is it you?”

-Of course.

The shabbily dressed man turns his hidden face toward Venus.

He spoke.

-Ordinarily, it would be impossible for a trivial being like you to receive me even if the heavens fell.

“What are you babbling about—?”

-Nevertheless, having already received me, I shall no longer tolerate your insignificance.

From now on, you must either transcend your limits or cast them aside.

-Otherwise, you will die and die again in agony for all eternity.

“Who are you to tell me what to do?”

-You seem like a fool who shamelessly displays and flaunts your ignorance without embarrassment. But I acknowledge it. For that is your ugly essence.

And to guide, lead, and test such beings as yourselves.

-That is my rightful privilege.

“What are you going on about…”

-Despite having the honor of receiving the rightful master and honest emperor of all things in the world, you remain ignorant of that glory. Nevertheless, you have been chosen. So praise that your life has not abandoned you.

Though he calmly and nonchalantly uttered words of immense grandeur and magnitude.

There was not a hint of dissonance in his appearance.

Like the sea is the sea and the earth is the earth.

It sounded so natural, so obvious.

“……”

By this point, even Venus seemed to feel some pressure, holding her breath as if being crushed, her facial muscles severely contorting.

-Your desire will be fulfilled in its rightful form.

From this moment on.

Then the golden figure, hovering in the air with one leg tucked under, gave a small chuckle.

-What a spectacle.

“……”

And Cariel merely observed Venus intently.

Whatever choice he made was his decision and a matter of his will.

Therefore, there was no need for unnecessary provocation or pointless words.

…It’s not like he would listen anyway.

“I wonder if you’re giving up too easily.”

When Cariel said this to the shabby man.

He slowly shook his head.

-As I know myself, I know you better than anyone.

What choice you would make was quite obvious.

“……”

Though invisible to the eye.

Somehow, it felt like he was smiling.

He continued.

-Naturally, I only reveal myself to those who will certainly reject my offer.

The reason others cannot receive me is.

…Because none of them could dare to reject my offer.

Not a single one, without exception.

But wouldn’t that be undignified?

Only those who can somehow shake off my offer are qualified to receive me.

If not at least that much. Why would I personally step forward?

Moreover.

Breaking those who refuse is my rightful duty.

And to add weight to my words.

Everything that follows is the trial you rightfully must endure.

I am the warner and the supplementer of advice.

I am the one who traverses past, present, future, and even worlds that are here yet not here, measuring even eternity that originates from it.

-Most of the many primitive beings dream of immortality and eternity. Yet while they speak of such things and dream such dreams. The sight of them desperately clinging to this worthless mortal realm never ceases to amuse me.

Even those who believe in it, teach it, and are enlightened by it.

Yet in the end, they cling to the shackles of the flesh and fall into decay and degradation.

…And yet to yearn to ascend to heaven and covet that position is nothing but a miserable delusion and farce.

Is it not unacceptable?

To have to make such beings my people, it is not fitting.

So I filter them out.

Rightfully filtering out such beings and dragging them down to the bottom is also my proper duty.

O you who do not recognize blessing as blessing.

My existence and meaning are your greatest trial.

I look into the abyss of all of you, just as heaven embraces all of you.

If even that were impossible, how could I proudly claim to stand in for the Father?

Overlooking and turning away from what you could understand with just a little thought.

It is all your ignorance and delusion.

So you must rightfully pay the price for it. Don’t you agree?

-Hey. How long are you going to keep babbling? How long are you going to spout this insane nonsense? Do you think anyone here is going to applaud you for trying to sound impressive?

The golden girl poured out mockery and derision, overcoming her irritation.

Indeed.

Despite her disheveled appearance from the inexplicable pressure, Venus was still glaring at the shabby man with wide eyes.

Meanwhile, Cariel calmly, without the slightest ripple of emotion, listened to what it was saying without any antipathy.

Normally, one would have their mind flipped and fainted at a single word from “him.”

Or they would shed tears and snot like fanatics who had received a god, continuing their fervent worship and adoration…

-Good.

There is not a single such person here.

How delightful.

In a world full of those who kneel, worship, and bow their heads, it’s rather refreshing to occasionally experience such novelty.

This must be why one occasionally ventures out.

-You, star who calls yourself a dead star. Are you still resolved not to bow your head?

“……”

-I see. Understood.

He no longer looked at Cariel.

Instead.

-That hound over there seems to align with my intentions for now, so stake your fate on it.

Please provide an entertaining spectacle.

“What have you been going on about…”

Just as Venus, with a flushed face, finally managed to speak and was about to unleash a torrent of abuse and curses.

The shabby man vanished as if he had never existed in the first place.

And what remained were Cariel and the Demon King.

Along with Venus and… the sprawled, half-deranged Mage King.

No, somehow that deranged mind had returned to sanity.

And it convulsed as if about to go mad from witnessing all this.

“Ugh…”

Yet it was lucid.

Without the thread of sanity breaking or slipping away.

Everything was too clear.

What would normally be quickly forgotten still vividly shook the mind.

Had there ever been a time since birth when the mind was so clear, distinct, and sound?

“……”

Just by looking at the eyes, Cariel could roughly guess the child’s condition.

‘That is…’

Cursed.

Perhaps it might be a blessing, but.

That must be nothing short of a curse.

A collapsing mind forcibly held together.

That child now could neither go mad nor lose sanity until the day of death.

…Who indeed had done this?

[Nevertheless, having already received me, I shall no longer tolerate your insignificance.]

Apparently.

His words were not a sentence directed only at Venus.

When he said “your,” Cariel thought it included himself as well.

“Do you know what that bastard just now was?”

Judging by Venus’s expression, she seemed to have a rough idea, but she didn’t appear entirely certain.

“Something both you and I know well, I suppose.”

A demon.

An archdemon.

…A being that could create even these as mere types.

If one were to classify the ranks of demons.

There would be well over dozens of grades that could be called demons.

That would be more like types rather than ranks.

And a being that transcends those limits over and over would qualify to be called an archdemon.

Even this could be torn apart and split, leaving room for the standard of “archdemon” to be compromised.

As yet, it is something that hasn’t been granted the qualification to establish selfhood.

And moving up from such archdemons, one finally reaches the level of commander and ranking.

At this point, there’s room to establish selfhood and existence, wasn’t that it?

And above them, the only one. The unique (有一) and unparalleled (無二) tyrant.

That is him.

The one who tempted Irenis, the only begotten son of the unique and unparalleled Lord of Heaven.

Among those classified as demons, probably only he could look Irenis directly in the eyes.

“Trigrammaton.”

Just as the Demon King of Wisdom is not called by name but degraded as the Golden Beast.

He was the first to be designated as “one whose name should not be spoken.”

“So, were you desperate enough to appeal to it?”

“Appeal? No. I think you misunderstand… I’m just trying to follow what I learned from you.”

…From me?

Cariel gazed at Venus with half-open eyes.

“You’re right. If you want to achieve your goal, you need to throw yourself beyond desperation.”

In that sense, I still wasn’t enough.

Thinking so myself, and others thinking so, actually had no meaning at all.

In the end, to change the world, you need overwhelming power that cannot be resisted.

And to obtain it, you must throw away everything you have and still endlessly pursue more demands and desires.

Mine, others’.

Everything that can be mobilized.

All of it, without leaving anything behind.

Everything!

“Originally I was planning to devour that archdemon or whatever, but things got a bit strange?”

“Will you be alright?”

Was that concern?

Or just unnecessary compassion from a well-off human?

“Just as you live as you please, I’ll live as I please. Is there a problem with that?”

You also struggled so desperately to gain power for that purpose, didn’t you?

“Isn’t it the same thing? Am I right or wrong?”

“……”

Cariel didn’t deny it.

Not out of respect for his choice, nor to negate it.

“…Yes.”

Couldn’t he have lived a little better than Cariel himself?

If not happiness, then something similar to it…

That was the only thing that bothered him.

However, Cariel had to shake his head inwardly.

The fire Venus harbored inside was probably vastly different from his own.

The fire he harbored wasn’t just a spark or ember that would flare briefly and then extinguish.

“So, what will you do with that now?”

“Are you playing dumb while knowing? It’s obvious, isn’t it?”

Venus pointed her sword at the Demon King, then redirected it toward Cariel.

“I was really upset about how things ended so ambiguously last time.”

We didn’t even get to properly fight before it ended in a neither-here-nor-there way.

By the end, the fight couldn’t even be established, and there was no room or opportunity for it.

And until yesterday, that was something untouchable.

“I see.”

Though she might seem emotional, Venus is neither stupid nor reckless.

That’s why she asked for training rather than recklessly confronting him.

The fact that she could suppress even her fiercely high pride to do so was truly remarkable.

So.

Then as now, she was always seriously pointing her sword at him.

Just like now.

“Are you ready?”

At Cariel’s question, Venus approached with her sword raised.

“Where’s the preparation in real combat?”

She charges.

‘Just go for it!’

No time for words, no room for leisure.

Now just.

Clang!

Just swing!

Just strike!

…Just drive it in to the end!

Slowly yet nimbly.

The straight collision of sword against sword.

With an unbelievable collision sound and shockwave for mere metal friction, sparks flew and a weak gust scattered.

It resounded grandly throughout the surroundings.