Ch.162The Day Is Approaching. (2)

Aria’s eyes remained unwavering. Seated, she possessed a kaleidoscopic insight that could read all the divisions and flows of the continent, so she had even anticipated sudden situations like this.

Until now, there was only one thing she had failed to read.

The massacre committed by Olivia.

The only opponent who could match Aria in “wisdom.” That’s why it was all the more incomprehensible. Olivia’s destructive rampage had no logic, no meaning, not even a purpose.

In truth, Aria roughly knew. That there was a hidden purpose behind that destruction, one she simply hadn’t figured out yet.

In her first life, she couldn’t discover it.

Would she be able to discover it in her second life?

As Aria stopped questioning herself and stirred her tea with an elegant gesture, Asmodeus spoke.

“Two Greater Demons have died recently.”

“That’s welcome news.”

“But it wasn’t done by your subordinates. I know who killed them.”

Tap.

Aria set down her teacup.

“So only you, Asmodeus, and Belphegor remain alive.”

“…Hmm?”

“Evil spirits are still running rampant in the southern continent. Based on reports that their movements are more organic, almost like a colony rather than random, it seems Greater Demon Belphegor has settled there and is controlling the evil spirits. And then there’s you, making two.”

Asmodeus’s expression became peculiar.

‘…She’s no ordinary person.’

To deduce this much information from just one statement. No, this had already gone beyond deduction. It was almost like opening someone’s skull and peering inside.

She was more interesting than expected.

No, perhaps this level of ability was necessary to devise an audacious plan to subdue a transcendent being?

If she was at this level…

“I suppose you know why I came here?”

“The Saintess’s side wouldn’t take your side, so you’re planning to join us, as we seem to hate demons relatively less.”

Asmodeus nodded.

“Hmm… please continue.”

He was curious how far this human’s abilities extended.

‘This human is… interesting too.’

Asmodeus licked his lips.

Tap.

Regardless, Aria picked up her teacup as she always did. There was no special meaning in the sequence of lifting the cup, drinking the tea, and setting it back down on the table.

It was merely to measure time.

Like flipping an hourglass, she started counting the moment she lifted the teacup. And she thought.

‘From the moment Devilhunters existed on our side, he must have known I would have to reject any alliance proposal. Yet Asmodeus still appeared here. That means…’

‘He must be confident in his persuasion. But how?’

Tap.

When the teacup touched the table, she stopped thinking.

Five seconds so far.

Using only that fleeting moment to derive an answer was a method Aria had devised to limit her own thinking to the level of a genius, despite her vast insight.

Of course, even with that limitation, she far transcended the level of an ordinary genius.

Aria slowly opened her mouth.

“I thought we had the advantage. Apparently not. It seems the Saintess’s side has hidden forces.”

“…”

“We have seven people, so they must have eight. That would put us at a slight disadvantage, but if two Greater Demons joined us, we could gain the upper hand.”

Despite how easily her logic could crumble with the slightest error, she showed no hesitation.

In a different sense, she was a monster.

“The King of Martial Arts and the Wavemaster would naturally be included… so it seems Olivia has returned alive. Judging by your personal visit, she must have escaped from your grasp.”

“…Hahaha!”

Asmodeus burst into laughter.

She derives answers instantly from virtually no clues.

Tempting.

Momentarily, greed filled Asmodeus’s eyes. With a face full of joy, Asmodeus clutched his heart and exclaimed:

“What kind of human are you? You’re… absolutely amazing!”

The excited Asmodeus slammed the table.

“At first, I planned to test you and then invade your mind to make you mine… but I’ve changed my mind. You’re too valuable to discard like this.”

Aria snorted. Even with the Greater Demon—supposedly the most powerful one—drawing up demonic energy right in front of her, she showed no sign of fear.

“And that courage too! Ah… truly remarkable. If you and I joined hands…”

“That won’t happen.”

Aria was resolute. So much so that even Asmodeus’s eyes widened.

“…What? Did I hear wrong?”

“You’re not talented at acting. You must have known I would reject whatever conditions you offered?”

When Aria responded with an indifferent expression, Asmodeus’s gaze finally turned sharp.

“…Hmm. Then it sounds like the deductions you proudly spouted until now were nonsense?”

“There’s no more intuitive way to demonstrate my abilities.”

“…”

“You merely came to verify whether I was worth using as a ‘pawn’.”

How dare you.

Aria’s tone implied such meaning as well.

“I don’t form alliances with demons. I merely use them as variables.”

“…You’re testing me instead?”

“I’ve shown my value, so it’s only natural for you to show yours.”

Aria lifted her teacup again.

“The premise of 7 versus 8 was wrong from the start. To balance against Olivia, a truly extraordinary force, you should have brought at least a Demon Lord as a counterweight.”

“…”

Asmodeus’s anger subsided. She raised a finger and tapped the table.

At first, she had simply admired Aria’s insight. But now… she wasn’t sure.

Recognizing Olivia as an “extraordinary” force wasn’t difficult.

But specifically mentioning the Demon Lord as a method to counter her was different.

‘…Does she somehow know the caliber of the Demon Lord?’

But how?

The only way to counter an extraordinary force is to recruit another extraordinary force. If the opponent can’t be recruited, devise a way to use them in the most positive direction.

‘…Ha.’

Even she, a Greater Demon, couldn’t gauge how far the human before her could see.

But it didn’t matter. The current situation was so interesting it was maddening.

“Did you say Demon Lord?”

Asmodeus smiled.

“Let me tell you an interesting fact. Do you know about the hierarchy battles among Greater Demons?”

She knew.

A battle where lower-ranked demons challenge higher-ranked ones to steal their power and position.

“Among them, the four highest-ranked demons are given the title of Greater Demon… but that’s actually slightly incorrect.”

Among the Greater Demons, Asmodeus, the strongest, ranked second.

The first-ranked bore the title of Demon Lord.

“…I’ve never been interested in the position of Demon Lord before… but I’ve changed my mind.”

Terrible fickleness.

Having lived longer than anyone except the Demon God, she was inseparable from the word “fickleness.”

Living for countless ages inevitably leads to madness.

The only reason she hadn’t become a mindless monster was that she clung to fickleness itself as a purposeless purpose.

“This time, I’ll concede.”

Asmodeus smiled.

“Let’s have our sincere conversation another time.”

*****

“Listen carefully.”

In the middle of the forest path leading to the Holy Kingdom, Olivia spoke.

“If you kill anyone without my permission from now on, I’ll kill you.”

“…What if they try to kill me?”

The Serial Murderer asked with a tense face. He had clearly received severe mental training, as he was even kneeling.

“Then…”

She couldn’t just tell him to die.

“Try your best not to kill them. I’ll help you.”

“…That’s too difficult.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than electricity crackled from both of Olivia’s hands. The Serial Murderer, who had experienced this once before, flinched.

“Hmm, on second thought, I think I can do it.”

“Right?”

“Yes.”

The Serial Murderer smiled painfully.

Kiel, who had regained his senses by now, watched the scene with an expressionless face before addressing Olivia.

“…Do you plan not to announce your return?”

The path they were currently walking was essentially a shortcut—a path not known to ordinary people, only to the high-ranking officials of the Holy Country.

“It would cause confusion. I’m sorry, but I’d like everyone to keep this secret.”

“Even from the Saintess and your disciples?”

“Yes.”

Olivia smiled bitterly.

“Actually, I was planning not to tell them anyway. I don’t know what happened to you during those five years with the Greater Demon, but some people might be suspicious precisely because there’s no trace of demonic energy on you.”

Meaning it would be more natural to have some demonic energy mixed in.

In truth, an even greater being was sleeping inside her, but Olivia didn’t show it.

Rumble!

A thunderous sound nearby.

Monsters pouring in from the northern border were clashing with the holy knights. Watching the scene from a distant mountain, Kiel spoke.

“Much has happened in these five years. Everyone senses that all-out war with the demons is approaching.”

Kiel was looking at Olivia with infinitely clear eyes.

“Perhaps the same thing was happening somewhere in your previous life too. I just didn’t know because of my ignorance.”

“…”

Olivia’s silence was itself an answer.

Kiel smiled brightly.

An expression too dramatic for someone so mechanical.

“At last, you can lighten your burden.”

“…”

Feeling familiar magical power in the distance.

Turning away from the magical power of her three disciples, Olivia slowly walked toward Melina’s residence.