Ch.208Chapter 208: The Devourer (3)

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Even if it’s twisted, divinity is still divinity.

It serves as the raw material that can create miracles far beyond the ordinary through will alone.

A benevolent deity uses it to correct the twisted principles of a world distorted by malice.

While an evil deity uses it to wreak havoc in an attempt to establish their own twisted utopia.

In any case, a demon god, as a representative being with twisted divinity, exercises extreme caution when appointing an agent to act as their hands and feet.

What is an agent, you ask?

It’s a being created when a demon god, who possesses transcendent power but is too powerful to directly influence the world, detaches a portion of their divinity to overcome such limitations.

The intelligence to accept the god’s will without the slightest deviation.

The overwhelming power to easily eliminate any interference or obstacles that might arise when carrying out that will.

And finally, unwavering loyalty to the demon god no matter what happens.

At the very least, they select beings who meet these three criteria at a certain level, bestow blessings upon them.

Then they squeeze them dry like a wet rag to build their twisted utopia. That’s what an agent is.

This demon called Rust, who is currently engaged in a tedious standoff inside the restaurant’s banquet room.

He was once known as the greatest and strongest among Desire’s agents throughout history, a magnificent demon.

“Hey! Aren’t you leaving? Get out now!”

…What went wrong that he’s now reduced to secretly hiding in human society, merely exploring culinary delights?

As mentioned earlier, in his dedication to thoroughly understand his rightful enemy—humans—and achieve absolute victory, he began deeply studying human culture and civilization.

Without realizing it, he was influenced by it, forgetting his original purpose and assimilating into human society.

That’s the full story I heard from Desire’s own mouth when she complained to me during my time as her agent before my regression.

Having only heard one side of the story, I was curious to hear his version now that we’d met.

‘No, that won’t do.’

Even though he hadn’t openly displayed killing intent toward us, it was best to avoid such leisurely thoughts when dealing with a great demon who had once been a demon god’s agent.

“This place wasn’t originally reserved for you. Outside, many customers who were eagerly waiting to dine here are still pacing anxiously because of you.”

As I watched Shizu calmly pressuring Rust with logical arguments while he protested that he was a paying customer too, I prepared for any contingency.

Seeing such a composed warning come from her mouth—someone who normally slays demons without question or hesitation—

It seems that even Shizu found this demon, who entered the restaurant without bothering to disguise himself and demanded service, quite peculiar.

[It’s not that she finds him peculiar; she seems to think he’s too pathetic to even be worth swinging her sword at.]

‘Regardless of whether she finds him pathetic or not, if she deemed him dangerous, she would have chosen to swing her sword rather than engage in conversation.’

[If you say so.]

I slowly reassured Paphnir while continuing to observe the situation.

In any case, this unprecedented situation of confronting a demon in the middle of the sanctuary was unfolding with less tension than I had anticipated.

After briefly showing concern and asking for my help when she first encountered this unfamiliar type of demon.

Shizu was now persuading the demon with logically constructed arguments while.

Gradually increasing the radiance of the holy sword in her hand, preparing for any contingency, though so subtly that even Rust facing her couldn’t notice.

And though Rust tried to bluff and forcibly shake off the fear he felt upon seeing the holy sword.

Judging by how he continued talking without noticing the gradually brightening holy light, I sensed that a conclusion was approaching.

“Aren’t you leaving? Aren’t you leaving?!”

Rust still stood before the food on the table, maintaining a bold voice as he continued to threaten us to leave.

Should I call it lucky?

A demon possessing enough power to reduce not just the restaurant but even parts of the sanctuary protected by holy barriers to dust if he wanted to.

“I’m a paying customer here too!”

Was making such a ridiculous excuse because we possessed a holy sword that kept him in check.

It was quite enjoyable to see this demon, who would have actively defended his “right to survive” against ordinary Imperial Knights even without killing them, now unable to move.

[You’re not planning to leave him be, are you?]

As Paphnir’s voice, sounding uncharacteristically concerned, echoed in my mind, misunderstanding my relaxed demeanor.

I composed my apparent nonchalance and prepared to capture the demon who was distracted by the standoff with Shizu.

Even though he had almost completely withdrawn his hostility toward humans out of love for human civilization.

We couldn’t leave him be, as his demonic aura alone placed a heavy burden on ordinary humans.

Though he wouldn’t die easily even if we tried to kill him.

It would be possible to capture him in coordination with other Imperial Knights members who would arrive at the restaurant in response to our report.

‘We must capture him. Even if he doesn’t physically harm ordinary people, his mere presence disrupts their life force. He needs to be confined in a sanctuary to prevent that.’

[…Indeed.]

After calmly dispelling Paphnir’s concerns.

I was about to stall for time while waiting for my fellow Imperial Knights members to arrive in a hurry, but.

Rust’s expression, who had been maintaining a tedious standoff with Shizu while spouting un-demon-like nonsense, suddenly crumpled.

“Tch…”

The moment his regretful tongue-clicking sound echoed through the banquet room.

I had the intuition that this tedious standoff would soon end one way or another.

Not content with just clicking his tongue, Rust’s face clearly showed the impatience that his bluffing couldn’t hide, and what followed from his mouth was…

“This is really impossible.”

It was essentially a declaration of surrender.

Was this great demon, who had once been a demon god’s agent, finally submitting to the holy sword in Shizu’s hand and the majesty of the holy swordswoman who could draw out the weapon’s full potential?

[That’s not it.]

‘…What?’

[He’s noticed presences approaching from beyond your spiritual perception range and is preparing to flee.]

‘Ah….’

After Paphnir pointed out my misconception, I expanded my spiritual perception range.

I could sense a platoon-sized unit of knights approaching this location with unusually intense and rapid movements.

I was glad I had instructed the manager who guided us to the banquet room to contact the Imperial Knights’ demon specialist platoon beforehand.

They’re fast indeed. Well, it would be problematic if they weren’t, given that a demon who couldn’t even be bothered to disguise as a human had appeared in the middle of the sanctuary.

Judging by their approaching momentum, they would arrive here in about five to ten minutes.

While their arrival was certainly swift.

The actions of Rust, who had already noticed and felt his small happiness was being interfered with, would likely be even faster.

“Damn it! Of all people to run into, it had to be a holy swordswoman! Can’t persuade her! Can’t subdue her! And when I try to buy time by staying put, more annoying humans start coming! Nothing’s working!!”

With irritation clearly displayed on his face as he continued grumbling, it was certain.

Though what action he would take remained uncertain.

According to my prediction, he would probably…

“Ah, whatever. I’ll just visit another time.”

Choose to flee, without a doubt.

It was now a race against time.

With that thought, I moved faster than anyone else in the room.

Whoosh-!!

I swung my dragon sword, which I had already drawn to intimidate him, but.

Rust avoided it with elegant movements as if he had anticipated such an attack, causing me to.

“Tch!”

Make the same tongue-clicking sound that Rust had made earlier.

Shizu was also slightly startled by my sudden sword swing, and the holy light she had been steadily increasing momentarily faltered.

Rust seemed to consider this a golden opportunity.

Despite my preparation for a counterattack that would naturally come from an enemy I had just attacked, Rust made no move to attack me, instead shrugging his shoulders with a regretful expression.

“See you again.”

With these parting words to Shizu and me.

He vanished without a trace.

It seems I misjudged him when I first saw him.

I thought he was weaker than when I had encountered him before my regression, making it difficult for him to flee from Shizu and me, which was why he had been stalling like this.

In reality, he could have escaped at any time but had been trying until the very end to get a chance to sit here and have a normal meal.

When he realized that wasn’t possible, he left without lingering attachment.

Despite the Black Obsidian Palace’s execution order, this experienced demon who had lived for ages disappeared along with the unique negative energy that had been filling this place until just now.

And all the food that would have accompanied his happy time had we not interfered—showing how much I had misjudged his power.

…He didn’t forget to take the food with him, though.

[Wait, if he had the leisure to take the food, why did he make such a fuss arguing with your woman about wanting to eat? He could have just grabbed the food and left.]

‘It’s because he’s a demon who really enjoys eating delicious food in a nice restaurant. He held out until the very end, and when he realized it wasn’t going to work, he just took the food and ran.’

[What nonsense…]

‘Believe me.’

After hearing my concise response conveying near-certainty.

[Sigh….]

The deepest lamentation I had ever heard from Paphnir erupted in my mind.

Paphnir must be quite shocked to react this way.

It’s hard to believe that such a clearly skilled demon would engage in such childish behavior just to eat a meal and then flee.

[Siiiiigh…]

He’s exhaling like soldiers returning from border duty at Night Haven, letting out smoke and sighs while smoking tobacco.

[And that’s supposed to be a demon? Did I and Lumen destroy so many during the Great War that only such idiots remain?]

His lament, heavy with the weight of ages, continued to echo in my mind.

His dejection was so palpable that I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

I wanted to say a few words to comfort him, but.

“W-we’re alive!”

As soon as the demon’s aura that had enveloped the entire restaurant disappeared, the manager who had maintained a tense expression throughout our guidance exclaimed in relief.

“Hurray!!”

The employees who had been preparing and serving food while suffering under the demon also cheered in unison, turning the restaurant into a festive atmosphere.

Thanks to the employees’ jubilant cheers, the restaurant interior took on a celebratory mood, but.

There was one person expressing a sentiment completely detached from this situation.

“He… escaped?”

It was Shizu, muttering to herself in bewilderment after watching Rust flee before she could do anything.

Deciding to leave Paphnir, who was forcibly immersed in old memories, alone for now.

My priority was to comfort Shizu, who was shocked at letting a demon escape right before her eyes.

Carefully extending my right hand, which had just been swinging the dragon sword, toward the top of her head.

“Good job.”

I gently stroked her head while saying those words of appreciation, helping to soften her expression that was about to contort with confusion.

Though it was regrettable to let him escape, it was entirely Shizu’s achievement that she had intimidated and forced the retreat of a great demon who could have left clear marks of destruction on this sanctuary if things had gone wrong, so such praise was only natural.

However, despite receiving this well-deserved praise.

“K-Kalr? W-wait.”

My shy fiancée instantly shed her serious expression and couldn’t hide her embarrassment at my touch.

Hmm, have I been too stingy with compliments lately? I thought she would accept this level of praise with composure.

[…Sigh.]

Around that time, another weary sigh from Paphnir, who had been lost in reminiscence, echoed in my mind.