Chapter 188

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“Huh? Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

The voice was filled with playful laughter. It was a light tone, as if greeting an old friend, but the recipient of that greeting, Kallad, furrowed his brows. 

His diamond-like eyes narrowed. 

The girl sitting atop the streetlight swung her legs back and forth. Holding an open parasol to block the sunlight, she waved her hand elegantly, clad in a pristine white opera glove.

“Looks like you’re pretty busy, huh?”

Central Highway of District 14. It was the shortest route from District 9 to District 17. They weren’t using vehicles. Moving on their own was much faster. 

Even without traffic congestion, captains of the Celestial Corps were, with some individual differences, generally faster than most vehicles. 

At the point where they could break the sound barrier with their bare bodies, there weren’t many things to compare them to.

The request for backup had come in just a few minutes ago. They had been in the middle of cleaning up the family’s headquarters hidden in the industrial district of District 9. 

The interrogation of the executive, Mackel, was still ongoing, and the search and seizure operation was in full swing. 

However, the two captains overseeing the scene immediately halted all operations upon receiving the backup request. 

They then hurriedly set off for District 17.

A Devil had appeared in District 17.

The Celestial Corps had only directly confronted one Devil so far. The girl in the red fox mask. 

Whether she was superior, average, or inferior compared to other Devils was still unknown to the Celestial Corps.

Thus, they prepared for the worst. They included the Sacred Knight Commander, a captain-level supernatural, in the operation and planned for at least two captain-level supernaturals to move together as a team.

But of course, that wasn’t enough. Since they hadn’t faced any other Devils besides Astaroth, they based their judgment on her. If a Devil appeared in another operational zone, they agreed that all available captains would rush to provide support.

That was why Kallad and Karma were hurrying to District 17 and why they ended up encountering a high-priority target.

No, “encountered” wasn’t the right word.

It would be more accurate to say they were lured.

It would be strange to ignore someone so blatantly radiating energy.

“Both of you are familiar faces. How have you been? I’ve been having such a great time every day.”

“Thanks to you, we’ve been having busy days. Barely had time to breathe.”

“Really? That’s a shame. People should live with some leisure.”

They exchanged words casually, but the air around them gradually grew tense. As Kallad and Astaroth conversed, Karma took a step back to observe the situation. A faint smile lingered on his lips, but cold sweat dripped down his spine.

Despite being in the middle of District 14’s highway, where many vehicles should have been passing, no engine sounds could be heard. Turning their gaze, they saw cars crumpled and stacked like blocks. A mountain of scrap metal. Sticky, dried blood pooled on the ground.

There was no need to guess who was responsible.

They spread their senses, but no signs of life could be detected.

Only traces of what once lived remained.

“Looks like someone was really bored.”

Karma’s faint smile deepened.

It was a smile so obvious that anyone could see through it.

Behind his trembling, narrowed eyes was unmistakable anger.

“Well, yeah? I figured you’d pass through here, but you took longer than I expected.”

“Then why didn’t you come find us? We would’ve welcomed you warmly.”

The flow of the air was unusual. Astaroth let out a snort. She looked at the two captains before her. 

She hadn’t met all the captains, but these two were likely among the top. Well, they’d make a decent excuse. 

Something to use as an explanation to Agares later. Astaroth jumped down from the streetlight.

“Can I receive that warm welcome now?”

Astaroth landed as lightly as a feather, brushing the edge of her mask as she spoke.

◈

First, there was one clear fact.

The woman in the red fox mask was not a devil.

If she was a fellow devil, there would be no reason for her to bow her head so respectfully.

Watching Ereshkigal kneel on one knee, one hand over her chest, and bow her head, Isabella organized her thoughts.

This wasn’t the posture of equals.

It was more appropriate to see this as a vertical relationship between a superior and a subordinate.

In fact, she had suspected as much.

Though they both wore the red fox mask, there was a clear gap between her and Astaroth.

Unlike Astaroth, who had fought three captains to a standstill, the woman before her was someone Isabella could handle alone. 

Of course, that didn’t mean she was an easy opponent. Even Isabella, the captain of the 3rd Division, couldn’t guarantee victory, so her strength was undeniable. 

However, in relative terms, she was inferior to Astaroth.

‘…This is a headache.’

The situation had reversed.

If it were just Ereshkigal, it wouldn’t be a problem.

If it were just Murmur, they could handle it.

But with both of them here at the same time, things had become complicated.

‘If that fluffy-masked brat is as strong as Astaroth…’

Their current strength wouldn’t be enough. 

Moreover, Murmur wasn’t the only one here.

Isabella let out a deep sigh.

‘I sent the backup request earlier. Until the others arrive… I’ll have to buy as much time as possible.’

And buying time didn’t necessarily mean fighting.

Intelligent beings had the excellent means of communication known as conversation.

If things could be resolved with force, that would be convenient, but since that wasn’t an option, they had no choice but to go through the hassle.

At the very least, these beings seemed capable of human speech, so there was no harm in trying.

If things went well, they might even extract some information.

“So, you’re the Devil who opens rifts, huh?”

Isabella tapped her ice spear against her shoulder as she spoke.

She took slow steps forward, glaring at the masked beings from another world.

“Your name was Murmur, right?”

“Hmm…”

Murmur shrugged. 

Quick to judge. She must have decided to hold off on fighting for now. 

Was she trying to extract information, or was she just buying time until backup arrived… well, it didn’t matter. 

Honestly, I’m not too fond of fighting either. It’s just a hassle and makes me sweat.

‘…I blocked it, but that last strike was a bit sharp.’

Murmur frowned at the sensation in her palm, hidden in her sleeve. If it was just a human she could crush, she would’ve done so, but the captains of the Celestial Corps were different from ordinary humans. 

Even Murmur would have to exert some effort, and that would be quite troublesome. Her goal was to buy time for Belial anyway. 

The means didn’t matter. If a fight wasn’t absolutely necessary, there was no need to go out of her way to suffer.

‘Sigh, what a pain. What is Astaroth even doing? If Belial’s going to change bodies, he should’ve done it earlier or later. Why now of all times…’

The timing is truly fantastical.

Anyone would think it was done on purpose.

Murmur grumbled internally as she glanced at Ereshkigal. The red fox mask. So, she’s Astaroth’s subordinate. I’ve sensed her energy from afar before, but this is the first time seeing her in person. 

Looks like she’s reached the level of a Demonic Beast. Impressive that she managed to recruit someone like this. Though I have no idea where the actual person is or what she’s doing.

But well, since those humans don’t seem to be in a hurry to fight right now, I can just stall for a bit and then leave. 

It’s not like it’ll take Belial long to take over Lucia’s body anyway. At most, a few minutes, or maybe a few dozen minutes at the longest. That much should be fine…

『■rmu■』

“Ah.”

Murmur unconsciously swallowed a dry gulp. Her gaze slowly drifted upward. Being small like a child, she often had to look up at things, but this time, she tilted her head all the way back to stare at the sky.

『The ■aptains of the ■elestial Corps ■ave become a ■hreat to ■s. Eliminate ■hem when ■ou have the ■hance.』

Murmur was glad she was wearing a mask.

If her furrowed expression were visible, she’d definitely get an earful.

‘How sneaky, spying like this.’

Agares.

She mouthed the name silently.

She had planned to take it easy, but the young master wouldn’t allow it. Static filled parts of the message, making it hard to catch every word. 

As a consequence of meddling with the flow of time, Agares was rejected by the laws of the world. His ability to interfere with the present was limited. The static was a result of that.

She didn’t catch everything, but it wasn’t hard to figure out the gist. Murmur scratched the back of her head. 

So, the captains of the Celestial Corps are dangerous, and I should eliminate them when I have the chance? 

Not wrong. Even if one isn’t a threat, a group of them could be dangerous even to a Devil.

But Agares. Once our plan is complete, it won’t matter if there are seven captains or several times that number. 

Even the chosen ones won’t be able to stand against us, so why the rush?

She wanted to argue, but this was Agares she was dealing with. There was no one more stubborn than him. 

The 2nd-ranked Devil God. A man who stood close to the 1st rank. 

In terms of rank and authority, Murmur couldn’t defy Agares’ will. 

Even Astaroth, who ran wild without a care, tread carefully around Agares. What made her any different?

In any case, the order had been given.

So, she had no choice but to follow it.

Annoying, but unavoidable.

“…Sigh.”

She let out a short sigh and lowered her gaze from the sky.

Her eyes were hidden behind the white cloud mask.

But Isabella instinctively realized.

Her plan to buy time through conversation had failed from the start.

“I never gave you permission to call me by my name, vermin.”

Murmur spat out the words sharply.

There was only one human to whom the child in the white cloud mask had given permission to call her by name.

Lucia.

She had never allowed anyone else to address her by name.

Hmm, now that I think about it, I must’ve really liked Lucia. I even told her my name. I approached her first at the exhibition hall in District 6. 

I didn’t understand why Astaroth kept talking about a human she liked, but now I think I get it a little. 

Thinking about it, I feel a bit regretful. The Lucia we’ll meet again won’t be Lucia anymore.

“…”

An intangible wave spread out from Murmur. It was like a pebble dropping into a calm lake, creating ripples. 

Space itself rippled. 

At the bizarre sight, Isabella and Angelica immediately prepared to respond. They gripped their spears and took stances as if ready to charge at any moment. 

A freezing cold wave and a solid, rock-like aura covered the ruins of the hospital.

The situation was at a breaking point.

The slightest movement would bring about the end.

If either side took even a single step, a storm would erupt.

“We’re here! Is this the place? I heard there was a hospital…?”

But before the heightened tension could explode, an uninvited guest intervened.

A boy with jet-black hair fluttering stepped into the ruins.

Angelica’s eyes widened in surprise.

Then, in a voice filled with shock, she shouted.

“Eugene?!”

And he wasn’t alone. Half a step behind Eugene, a small girl was walking. Angelica sighed. 

She came back after all. Despite her request to Coloss, Alice had returned to this deadly place on her own.

“You guys…”

Murmur frowned.

Those faces… I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere…

Then, a memory suddenly surfaced, and she tilted her head.

They were the ones she had encountered during the cherry blossom festival.

Lucia’s friends.

Tsk, she clicked her tongue.

You guys really have the worst luck.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
I don’t have time to write comfortably these days.

It’s too hard…

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Author, fighting!