Ch.241Chapter 241: Ominous Stirrings (2)

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The divine voice commanding to raise one’s head came from Desire, who had just completed her physical form.

The voice, embodying a beauty that could never be associated with the dark red, ominous energy that had constituted her body until moments ago, was an order for her faithful servant prostrated before her to raise his head.

“I shall… gladly obey.”

Needless to say, Adorator’s head slowly began to rise upon hearing this.

Slowly, very slowly.

As Adorator gradually lifted his head—which moments ago had been bowed so deeply it seemed ready to crack the obsidian floor—he exerted all his strength to compose his expression, which threatened to contort with ecstasy in that brief moment.

This was an exceedingly rare occurrence for Adorator, who normally displayed only the extremes of coldness and passion toward beings he considered inferior.

But it was understandable when one considered the long period during which he had been unable to face the great being he would now behold once his head was fully raised.

A thousand years—an expanse of time that could only be measured in terms of generations for ordinary humans whose lifespans barely exceeded a hundred years.

And though modest in power, Adorator had attained divinity through his own efforts.

For this divine being who had proudly escaped the constraints of mortality, it was still a significant length of time to go without facing his lord, having only heard her voice.

Even for someone like him, who naturally suppressed personal emotions in official settings, it was only natural that he couldn’t contain his ecstasy in the current situation.

However, that thousand-year span had also bestowed upon this once-novice demigod an incomparable depth of experience and composure.

“…”

In the brief moment it took to raise his head, his expression—which had been about to shift in countless ways—transformed into a surprisingly composed serenity.

“First, I sincerely congratulate you, my humble servant, for breaking the long silence and finally establishing the foundation to once again exert influence upon this land.”

Adorator’s subsequent congratulatory greeting was expressed through a voice remarkably calm for his temperament.

The demonic beings familiar with Adorator’s usual demeanor—especially Pale Sanguin, who frequently engaged in petty quarrels with him—would have been astonished by this scene.

But it wasn’t a significant issue, as even the absent Sanguin would likely display a similar attitude when facing the one seated on the throne.

In any case, after receiving her subordinate’s greeting after such a long time, Desire’s expression began to change from the colorless, blank look she had worn when first forming her body.

It was a smile—so faint that one would never notice unless looking closely.

“…!!”

It was enough to cause a crack of ecstasy in Adorator’s expression, which he had barely maintained composed just by looking at her.

“Ah…”

Adorator’s expression, which had struggled to maintain the same impassivity as his master, now contorted.

The expression that had initially twisted with ecstasy now remained as clear, transparent tears rolled down from his eyes.

Yes, tears. From a demigod who considered bloodying his hands entirely normal.

Who made his victims weep tears of blood.

Who made cackling at such sights a daily occurrence—now tears of some emotion were falling from his eyes, arousing curiosity.

It was such a beautiful sight that anyone, had the one shedding tears not been Adorator, would have turned away and watched in hushed breath.

And then…

“Hehe…”

A light laugh escaped the demon goddess’s lips as she observed the tears of her faithful servant.

Though it was a very small and faint laugh, too slight to fill this vast hall.

But Adorator, facing that laugh up close, could understand.

He knew that the emotion permeating that faint smile contained both praise and comfort directed at him, who had shed tears upon seeing her.

It was enough. More than enough.

While humans might adhere to the belief that excess is worse than deficiency and always emphasize balance.

In this obsidian palace where desire was worshipped, excess was the most ideal value they upheld.

Adorator expressed the excess of emotion welling up in his chest through tears.

And Desire, seated on the throne, withdrew her outward smile and carefully observed the tears her servant was shedding.

This was partly based on the rational judgment that it would be difficult to have a proper conversation with a servant she was meeting after a long time while he was shedding tears, unable to control his overflowing emotions.

Though she had withdrawn her laughter, Desire continued to look at Adorator with a smile lingering in her eyes, displaying not the aspect of a demon goddess who symbolized greed—who loved the concept of desire more than anyone and wouldn’t rest until obtaining everything she wanted—

But rather the demeanor of a parent steadfastly supporting a child who couldn’t control the emotions welling up at seeing parents they hadn’t met for a long time.

Parent and child…

At first glance, it might seem like an ill-fitting concept to be present in the great hall of the obsidian palace.

But it was irrelevant to the servant composing his excessive emotions while facing his master, and to the master who observed him with seemingly indifferent yet delicate attention.

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Considerable time had passed in the great hall.

When Adorator, who had barely recovered his dispatched spirit after the effective defeat in the eastern battle, had prostrated himself in the middle of the hall waiting for his lord who would soon appear.

At that time, the presence of demonic beasts and creatures venting their anger and passion through howls and roars after failing in the southern expedition had overflowed from outside the palace.

But even such passion had been overwhelmed by the aura emanating from the true master of this place who had proudly revealed her presence, and was now filled with silence befitting the gloomy atmosphere of the demon realm.

Having barely composed his overflowing emotions, Adorator set aside the numerous things he had wanted to say to his lord and said:

“This humble servant wishes to report on the events that have transpired during the time my lord was unable to intervene in this land.”

Desire, seated on the throne, responded by raising her left palm so Adorator could see it.

It was the gesture she used to signify agreement when hearing a proposal from a subordinate.

Seeing this gesture directed at him from his master after a thousand years, Adorator felt the joy he had barely contained rising again to an uncontrollable level.

“Ahem.”

But he simply dismissed it with a single cough.

“First, I shall report on the strength of the humans who have been hindering our ideals since my lord fell into deep slumber.”

He continued with what he wanted to say in a calm tone.

He recited information about the ultra-metal that constituted the outer walls of the fortress humans had built to block their advance into the continent, occasionally expressing subtle anger toward the fortress that had remained unshaken by their fierce attacks throughout the thousand-year period.

And most importantly, valuable information regarding the current human forces defending that fortress.

Although Adorator’s report ended more quickly than the time it had taken to compose the joy that had overflowed upon meeting his lord after so long.

“Hmm.”

Desire’s expression showed satisfaction as she nodded silently at the end of each report, indicating she was listening attentively.

This brought considerable joy to Adorator as he continued his report without pause.

She is listening. This great being, whom one cannot even look at without permission.

She is listening to this humble being’s report with great interest.

That alone brings joy. Enough that I could collapse and close my eyes right here without regret.

…The last statement was somewhat exaggerated, but still.

In any case, as Adorator felt both fulfillment and relief seeing Desire express satisfaction with his report, he heard:

“Adorator, please tell me about the Holy Sword Wielder of this era.”

Desire requested information about the “main enemy” that had been omitted from the reports she had heard.

“I was just about to report on that.”

Adorator began to speak about the Holy Sword Wielder, who could be considered the greatest enemy of this demon realm, in a fluent voice as if he had been waiting for his master’s words.

The Holy Sword—a detestable clan that adhered to straight and righteous values rather than the twisted values that Adorator and his master worshipped.

A sword forged by tempering ultra-metal created by detaching part of their divinity.

The most heinous weapon against them, inflicting irreparable wounds on those blessed by this demon realm with just a touch.

And the Holy Sword Wielder who handled it effortlessly was the main obstacle to the continued existence of their demon realm.

Adorator’s voice, responding to his lord’s request about the Holy Sword Wielder of this era, was draped with anger incomparable to what he had briefly shown toward humans earlier.

His anger peaked when he spoke about the demon realm compatriots who had perished under the Holy Sword wielded by that abominable human woman during the three years since her appearance.

“I see.”

As Desire, who had been listening silently, uttered words tinged with a strange emotion, Adorator instantly withdrew the anger that had permeated his voice and expression as if it had never been there.

“Compared to the abominable Lumen Ranos who thwarted my lord’s wishes a thousand years ago, she falls far short, but among the Holy Sword Wielders I have faced, she ranks among the best.”

He delivered his assessment of the abominable Holy Sword Wielder who would obstruct his lord’s path in a composed voice.

“Hmm…”

Having heard everything about the Holy Sword Wielder, Desire raised her right hand from the armrest and lightly scratched her right cheek.

It was a habit she displayed when deeply contemplating something.

From showing her left palm to lightly scratching her right cheek.

Each gesture she displayed evoked longing and nostalgia for the lord he hadn’t seen for so long.

If time permitted, he would have liked to indefinitely expand and reproduce that nostalgia in his heart, giving rest to his tired body and mind.

“The Holy Sword Wielder remains troublesome, I see.”

But after hearing the brief impression expressed by his great lord after the report, such leisurely thoughts had to be postponed.

“There is no need for my lord to soil your hands. I, Adorator, will bring the Holy Sword Wielder’s head before you even at the cost of my life.”

Adorator boasted after briefly raising his head and body for the report, then returning to a prostrated position before his lord.

“While it pleases me to hear that, I cannot allow you to waste your precious life on a mere Holy Sword Wielder.”

It seemed his boast would not be easily fulfilled.

In the past, his lord would have ordered him to eliminate the Holy Sword and its wielder by any means necessary.

Perplexity filled Adorator’s mind.

Not only was she preventing him from taking the Holy Sword Wielder’s life.

Her demeanor, treating their arch-enemy so lightly, was enough to raise questions in him.

“Hehe…”

Rather than providing a direct answer to her loyal servant’s question.

“There are plenty of ways to eliminate obstacles without dirtying our hands.”

His lord only increased his confusion with an indirect manner of speaking that was both clear and unclear.

“Well, you’ll know soon enough.”

She did add this clue, indicating she would provide an answer soon.

But that alone was not enough to resolve Adorator’s doubts.

“Hehe.”

Seeing curiosity she had never seen before appear on her subordinate’s face, Desire’s lips once again curved into a light smile.

After obtaining a physical form that could exert influence in this material world after so long, every little thing Desire encountered was a rare and joyful sight.

It was particularly enjoyable to see her subordinate turning over each of her words in his mind.

But as a goddess who was infinitely generous to those who entered her embrace, she did not wish to see her servant continue to suffer in prolonged contemplation.

“I said you would know soon, but I suppose I could leak a little information to you.”

Desire told Adorator she would provide at least a minimal hint.

“Ahem. No, how could I question the grand plan that must be well-formed in the mind of such a great being?”

Adorator, showing a slightly surprised look, displayed humility and tried to prevent his lord from leaking information to him.

But disregarding this, from the goddess’s lips came:

“Guilt.”

A single word whose intention was difficult to discern just by hearing it.

And toward Adorator, who was about to express incomparably greater doubt than before:

“Do you know when humans, who always distance themselves from and exclude desire while considering it a virtue, collapse most easily?”

Desire continued the conversation by posing a question in response to her subordinate’s doubt.

“…”

Adorator seemed to be pondering something but couldn’t find a pointed answer, briefly losing his composure.

“As I said earlier, it’s guilt. Guilt stemming from the thought that someone was ruined because of oneself is the most perfect weapon needed to break and kill a being.”

From the lips of Desire, who provided the answer:

“Hehe… Ahahahahaha…!!”

She burst into laughter, incomparably louder and clearer than what she had occasionally shown since revealing her physical form in the great hall.

Even this transcendent being, who displayed the aspect of a goddess rather than a demon goddess when dealing with those in her embrace.

The laughter she emitted when sensing that the time to pursue desire true to her nature was approaching contained a demonic energy and distortion that could rob an ordinary person of their reason.

That laughter, beyond the great hall and even beyond the obsidian palace where they resided.

…!!

Gr…growl….

It was enough to instill fear in the demonic beasts and creatures that had been rampaging in the demon realm, unaware of how high the sky was.

Such eerie laughter took quite some time to end.

“…This time…”

Until a self-muttered phrase filled with incomparable thick greed toward something emerged from Desire’s lips, who had been laughing for a long time.

What could that muttering be wishing for?

It was a sight that would raise considerable questions in all who heard and faced it.

“Certainly…”

But from just observing Desire muttering to herself, the answer seemed far from reach.