Ch.267Chapter 267: Those Who Gather, Those Who Plan

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When Rust revealed himself, his gaze first turned to where the human woman had been just moments ago before suddenly vanishing from her spot.

At first glance, it seemed as if he was trying to follow the trail of a woman who had demonstrated movement so swift that even his eyes—born with power counted among the greatest in the demon realm—had difficulty tracking.

“I should describe it as particles of death floating about. Ha!”

In reality, he was tracking the remnants of the tremendous fighting spirit that still lingered after the woman had unleashed it and departed.

To his eyes, golden fighting spirit was drifting through the winter sky like ash.

Judging by the color of these remnants, ordinary humans might find them quite beautiful to behold.

But Rust, taking in this sight fully, had an intuition.

“Weaklings would die just from touching these ash-like particles…”

He knew that for those who weren’t great demons born with immense power like himself, but merely ordinary beings blessed with demonic baptism, merely being near these remnants—let alone touching them—could pose a serious threat to their existence.

“While I can handle this much without issue, I still find it rather unpleasant.”

With a faint mutter expressing his negative impression of the visible fighting spirit, Rust’s right hand was already busy brushing off the golden ash-like particles clinging to his suit.

Despite his exaggerated tone earlier, the golden glittering remnants of fighting spirit were having no effect on Rust whatsoever.

Thump- Thump thump-

As he lightly brushed them off, the remnants fell from his suit with surprisingly loud sounds and scattered into the sky.

At that moment, the dark red demonic energy that had been rippling from Rust’s body and spreading outward suddenly lost its momentum.

This was caused by the golden ash-like particles that seemed to absorb his dark red energy, overlaying it with their golden hue.

“Hah!!”

Shortly after, Rust let out a battle cry and burst the demonic energy dwelling in his body, causing the particles to dissipate instantly.

“Oh my, how frightening.”

Despite easily brushing off all the golden ash-like particles with feigned nonchalance, a bead of cold sweat ran down Rust’s forehead, and his expression was filled with tension.

This tension appeared on his face because he understood what it meant that he had to deliberately unleash his fighting spirit just to eliminate mere remnants of golden ash-like particles.

Hoooooo-

Drawing the cold air into his lungs with a deep breath to cool his head, Rust’s mind ran through complex calculations.

Had there ever been such a case before?

Had there ever been an opponent who caused him this much tension with mere remnants of fighting spirit?

Memories of countless battles with powerful beings since his birth rapidly replayed in his mind.

It didn’t take long for him to realize there had never been an opponent who caused him tension in this manner.

“…None.”

Rust quickly acknowledged this fact and completely withdrew the demonic energy he had been releasing back into his body.

The air in the area, now completely cleared of the golden ash-like particles, was quite clear due to the unseasonal heavy rain that had fallen the night before.

“…Regardless of the era, there are always powerful beings with formidable strength that one cannot let their guard down against.”

Rust’s expression was deeply furrowed, unlike the clear sky, as he trembled at the overwhelming fighting spirit that Lillian Shiz had demonstrated earlier.

How should one describe Rust’s frown, so ill-suited to the clear sky?

Irritation? Fear? Confusion?

“…Well, the greater the thrill when gaining the upper hand against such beings.”

…It was none of those.

Khuhuhuhu

Instantly smoothing his furrowed brow and letting out a faint laugh, Rust’s expression was simply that of a predator’s delight upon spotting appetizing prey.

It would be a perfect moment if this delight could continue without anyone stopping him.

“Ahem…”

Soon, Rust cleared his throat to cool the heat of excitement that had risen within him, and his halted footsteps slowly resumed.

His determination to move forward seemed as strong as his previous pause.

“Enough with the pathetic display, let’s get going now.”

Though Rust’s footstep, taken with a voice that had regained its composure, was clearly just a single step.

Yet his body reached a point that would take ordinary people hundreds of steps to reach.

No one could deny that this was a marvelous movement.

“Ha! This is ridiculous.”

Yet from the mouth of the one who had accomplished such an amazing feat came an impression filled with bewilderment rather than pride.

“I thought this would be enough to follow while maintaining some distance…”

Despite moving at a distance that he was confident would allow him to follow the Sword Saint heading toward the demon realm with appropriate spacing.

“Distance my ass, she’s gone without leaving a trace.”

Seeing that the gap had widened to the point where he couldn’t even follow her, he couldn’t help but react this way.

He had expected to at least see her back from a distance, but now he would have to track her by footprints alone.

Was he impressed by the Sword Saint who had demonstrated movement beyond his expectations?

“I’ve decided.”

As Rust moved his footsteps hurriedly to follow her even a little, a quiet statement left his lips.

“After that red-haired half-blood, I’ll take down that woman next.”

He had decided on his next opponent after the one who had made him set foot toward the demon realm he had wanted to avoid if possible.

It might have seemed excessive to be so pleased merely from deciding on an opponent.

But a subtle smile was drawn on Rust’s face as he stepped over the mountain range toward the demon realm.

Though the smile created by his rather handsome features was beautiful.

The dark red gleam in his eyes that accompanied his smile, born of burning emotion, was overflowing with madness that would instill chilling fear in countless people who might observe him.

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“Hmm…?”

“…My lord?”

“Indeed…, indeed.”

“…My lord?”

“Ah, it’s nothing, I just think we’ll have a guest here soon.”

“A guest…you say?”

“Yes, a guest you know as well. That foolish one who left so heartlessly despite this body’s earnest plea not to leave.”

Desire, after finishing his words, glanced sideways to observe Adorator’s facial expression as she listened attentively to his words.

And he could easily confirm it.

At first, she showed pure doubt in her expression, not knowing who he was referring to.

But it was only momentary before Adorator quickly grasped the identity of the guest he mentioned, and her face took on a ferocious malevolence that Desire had ‘observed’ over the years but never seen directly before him.

Well, it was very brief. She changed her expression as quickly as it had appeared.

And she didn’t just change it.

“I apologize. My emotions got the better of me…”

Knowing what expression she had made, she immediately apologized to Desire.

She seemed to blame herself for her lack of emotional control.

Desire silently raised his hand to quickly accept her apology, then.

“Huhuhu. You still dislike him, I see.”

He probed the heart of Adorator, who was still bowing her head, unable to meet his eyes due to lingering remorse despite having already apologized.

Perhaps it was because she couldn’t completely shed her negative perception of the approaching individual even after apologizing to her lord once.

“…If my lord would permit it, I would like nothing more than to rip out that bastard’s throat with my own hands and present it to you here.”

From Adorator’s mouth, still with her head bowed, came words that felt savage just to hear.

Due to her bowed head slightly distorting her voice, her low growling voice reverberated particularly fiercely throughout the great hall where the two were present.

Ordinary people would have been terrified by the thick killing intent Adorator was displaying, but.

“Ahahahaha!!”

Despite Adorator’s killing intent growing increasingly dense, Desire laughed heartily, seeming to welcome it.

“Excellent confidence.”

While praising Adorator’s attitude, which might have seemed somewhat disrespectful depending on the situation.

“Still, don’t kill him. Even though he ran off like that, he’s still someone who hasn’t outlived his usefulness to me.”

A rather gentle request not to harm someone who still had some use came from his lips.

Adorator, who had no desire to go against her lord’s wishes to the point of upsetting him, completely withdrew her taut killing intent as if it had never been there.

“…I shall obey your command.”

She said she would gladly follow the orders of her lord, who was like the heavens to her.

Perhaps pleased by Adorator’s willingness to follow his words as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Hehe.”

Unconsciously letting out a light laugh, Desire slowly rose from the obsidian throne that had been supporting his body.

“Mmmmm…!!”

Stretching inappropriately, he infused vitality into his stiff body.

As if hurrying to prepare to leave this place for somewhere else.

Why would he be doing this when he had just awakened from sleep and desperately needed time to recover his strength in the great hall?

“Adorator.”

Desire’s voice, calling Adorator as soon as he finished stretching, was calm.

“Guide me quickly to where the vessel is.”

The moment he mentioned the ‘vessel,’ Desire’s demeanor revealed an undisguisable fervor.

To fulfill her lord’s wish to savor the moment he had longed for over many years, now realizable so soon after awakening from sleep.

“I will guide you.”

Adorator immediately raised her bowed body and moved toward the entrance of the great hall.

Like lord, like servant.

Adorator’s footsteps were just as light as those of Desire, who was immersed in delight, considering her lord’s joy as her own.

“Today will be a most pleasant day. I’ll be able to show the fulfillment of my long-cherished wish to the guests who will be arriving.”

Was it responding to Desire’s emotion as he expressed incomparable joy while watching Adorator leading the way?

Grrrrrumble-!!

The dark red atmosphere covering the obsidian palace roared with a thunderous sound that would normally only be heard during a lightning storm, churning violently.

It was as if it foretold something that would bring unparalleled joy and pleasure to Desire.

Yet it was filled with ominous foreboding, suggesting something akin to calamity for all beings except her and those around her.