Chapter 78 – The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend

The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend

Around the time Ariel was being treated at the temple,
Helion was standing in front of the main gate of Erdas’s mansion located on the outskirts of the capital.

“Erdas!”
With a cold, hardened expression, he opened the door without hesitation and called out Erdas’s name.
Perhaps hearing his voice, Erdas approached Helion from inside the mansion with a kind smile.

“Oh. Helion, you’re alive. I thought you were surely killed by the successful product. I’m truly glad.”
Helion knew. That this man couldn’t have truly been worried about him.

Therefore, instead of responding to Erdas’s words, Helion revealed the reason why he came here.
“Erdas. Where is the Demon Lord? I’d like to see him.”

“The Demon Lord… you say? He’s regenerating well now. You don’t need to worry, but.”
“I don’t need long explanations.”
…After that, silence fell between the two.

Erdas’s snake-like slit eyes fixed on Helion. His face, which had been wearing a kind smile, was now coldly hardened.
Erdas’s atmosphere had clearly changed.

Helion was prepared to strike first if necessary, but at Erdas’s next words, he relaxed his clenched fist.
“Follow me. I’ll show you what you want.”

“…”
He left those words and headed towards the stairs leading to the basement.
…Helion also followed behind him.

As only the sound of their footsteps quietly echoed in the enclosed passage, Erdas opened his mouth.
“Test subject 212, Ariel, was a successful product but was incomplete. It’s the limitation of the human species.”

It was a somewhat abrupt statement.
Why suddenly talk about Ariel?

“When that child went mad and burned down the magic tower, I sensed it. That’s not a god. It’s just a mere mortal. The more I continued the experiments, the more firm my thoughts became.”
Helion, who had been silently listening to Erdas’s words, asked him.

“So, is that why you turned your attention to dragons after continuing experiments on humans?”
“That’s right. Dragons are often said to be the closest beings to gods. Be it lifespan, magic affinity, or awe-inspiring abilities. They’re not at all inferior even compared to the successful product.”

At that moment, words that couldn’t be ignored leaked from Erdas’s mouth.
“And what about the Demon Lord? To begin with, demons are the most heterogeneous among the living beings in this world. I heard that in ancient books, there were speculations that demons were once part of the gods.”

“What…?”
Helion shot a fierce glare at Erdas as the word ‘Demon Lord’ rolled off his tongue.
Despite this, he continued speaking without any concern.

“Actually, the results were amazing when we processed a part of the Demon Lord’s body into a cube, applied magical treatment, and fed it to humans.”
“As you’ve seen, even ordinary people who didn’t know how to use magic could temporarily use powerful magic. Regenerative ability was a bonus.”

“If this doesn’t mean that the Demon Lord is close to being a god of magic, what else could it mean?”
…Not just Helion. Anyone who saw Erdas ranting with eyes full of desire would surely have the same thoughts.

“You’ve gone mad. You.”
While they were having this conversation that wasn’t really a conversation, the two had reached the end of the stairs.

In that space, the iron bars and numerous drugs that Helion had seen the last time he came were nowhere to be found.
…Instead, a strange structure reminiscent of an altar dominated the center of the space.

“That’s…”
On top of it lay a dragon girl with silvery hair close to white, as if dead.
…Also, an arm that was all too familiar to Helion.

Erdas began speaking again.
“So I thought. That the Demon Lord and dragons, these two races, are the key to becoming the god of magic. So, I decided to combine them.”

…Only after hearing those words did Helion understand Erdas’s plan.
“You, you’re planning to fuse the Demon Lord with that girl.”

“Correct.”
Nodding at Helion’s words, Erdas slowly walked towards the altar.
…And looking at the girl as if she was unbearably lovable, he said with a bright smile.

“This child will become the god of magic. Unlike the various minor gods, or Goddess Cael who merely reigns from above, a properly existing god.”
“Do you think I’ll just stand by and watch that happen?”

At Helion’s words filled with clear hostility, Erdas turned his head back towards Helion.
“…Do you think someone like you can do anything to me?”

Then he spoke to Helion with a sneering smile as if he found it ridiculous.
“I’ll tell you now, the reason I took you in was simply because I needed a useful pawn. Not because you were special.”

“You damn human…”
The enraged Helion was about to lunge at Erdas, but he momentarily stopped his movement at a familiar voice in his ear.
“Kyahat. Could you stay still? Helion?”

“…Milene.”
She had approached right behind Helion without him noticing, and was aiming her finger, of which she only had one left as the wound inflicted by Marian hadn’t fully regenerated yet, at Helion’s nape.
“Take care of it. Milene.”

…Meanwhile, Erdas left only those words and disappeared into thin air.
‘…I’ve been completely cornered.’

Helion suddenly realized that he was in a life-threatening situation.
Even if Helion is a demon, unless he has regenerative abilities on par with the Demon Lord, he’ll die if his throat is pierced.
…With Milene’s spell casting speed, she could easily take his life before he could resist.

Just as a cold sweat ran down Helion’s spine, Milene suddenly started saying something out of the blue.
“Hey, Helion. Do you have parents?”

“…What?”
Helion, who reflexively turned towards Milene out of disbelief, was momentarily taken aback.
…Because she was wearing a sad expression he had never seen before.

Ignoring his surprised expression, Milene continued speaking in a bitter voice.
“I had them. I even remember where I lived. But, I can’t remember my mom and dad’s faces. What should I do? Until my head was pierced by the successful product, I didn’t think much about it, but now I kind of want to see them.”

“…Have you gone mad? You.”
“Kyahat. I guess so. By the way, Helion. Goodbye.”
…Feeling the magic stirring around Milene, Helion quietly closed his eyes.

To accept the death that was about to befall him.
In his closed vision, the face of the Demon Lord he had seen for the last time in his life briefly flashed by.
‘I’m sorry, Demon Lord.’

“Bang!”
Her voice rang out, and Helion’s consciousness began to fade… not.
“Kyahat. Surprised you, didn’t I?”

When he opened his eyes, Helion found himself standing in a forest. Not in that basement.
‘Teleportation magic…?’

“Take care, Helion! No, should I say goodbye? Anyway.”
To Helion, who was confused and unable to grasp the situation, Milene waved her hand that hadn’t fully healed yet with a mischievous expression and said goodbye.

“Wait. Where are you going?”
Helion asked Milene, who was about to turn her back and head somewhere again.
…Then, she answered him with a bitter smile.

“…I just decided. I’m going to see my mom and dad.”
Leaving those words, Milene disappeared.

“Anyway, I survived, huh.”
Left alone in the forest, he muttered to himself with a hint of relief and then looked around.
And he realized one thing.

“…This place is near Ariel’s house.”
Helion wondered why Milene had teleported him near her house. But of course, there was no answer.

After much deliberation, he decided to head towards Ariel’s house visible at the edge of his sight.
‘After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’

…And now, three days later, Helion and Ariel came face to face.
“You’ve finally come. I thought you were killed by Milene.”

“Did you come here wanting to die? Sorry, but I’m in a really bad mood right now.”
“…As expected, you’re not welcoming me.”

When I raised my hand slightly after hearing his words, Helion hurriedly tried to stop me.
“Wait. You’re too hasty. Please listen to what I have to say.”

“What story. Were we that close?”
If it hadn’t been for him in the first place, I wouldn’t have been helpless against that Milene person. In other words, he’s largely responsible for Saya being kidnapped.

This is perfect timing. He crawled to me on his own, so I guess he’s prepared.
…I should use whatever means necessary, be it brainwashing magic or memory magic, to extract information from him, regardless of whether he becomes an idiot or not.

Just as I was about to subdue him with that resolve, he opened his mouth.
“I know where Erdas and the dragon girl are.”

“Of course you do. You’re about to tell me.”
I’ve hardly ever used confession magic, but I have the knowledge. Probably if I do it like this…

“They’re in the capital. By now, they’re probably nearing the final stages of their plan.”
‘Huh? I haven’t used it yet.’

Before I could use the confession magic, Helion voluntarily revealed the location of Erdas and Saya.
When I blinked in confusion and looked at him, he shrugged as if to say ‘What’s strange about that?’ It’s a bit irritating.

“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing in particular. By the way, could you put away that ominous magic? It’s making my hair stand on end, which is a bit uncomfortable.”

“Shut up.”
“My, you’re very angry.”
Is he trying to provoke me right now? If so, he’s succeeding. I feel the urge to shove a fireball into his mouth right this instant.

“What do you want? What are you trying to do, crawling out lazily like a homeless person from an empty house?”
“I was waiting for you. …It seems you were beaten quite badly by Milene. To only come today.”

“You were waiting for me?”
Helion erased the smile he had been wearing and stared at me.
…His gaze, which I couldn’t guess what he was thinking, seemed sad at a glance, and also seemed angry.

He continued speaking.
“I’ll be blunt. Cooperate with me.”

“Cooperate?”
“…I intend to kill Erdas. At that time, I want to borrow your strength.”
‘Does he think I’ll believe his words?’

It’s not even funny. Can a person change so suddenly overnight? Well, to be precise, he’s not a person, but still.
“You think I’ll believe you?”

“…Of course it’s hard to believe. After all, these are the words of someone who was trying to kill you just a few days ago. I understand. Use whatever you want, be it brainwashing magic or confession magic. I won’t resist.”
After saying that, Helion spread both arms and closed his eyes. An attitude that said ‘Do what you want if you’re going to, I won’t resist.’

Seeing his behavior, my mind became even more complicated.
‘Is it a trap? Or did he really betray them?’

Feeling a whirlwind of questions in my mind, I spoke to Helion in front of me.
“Let me ask you one thing. Why are you trying to betray Erdas?”

At my question, Helion spoke with a bitter smile.
“…Well. I guess I’ve finally realized. That the Demon Lord I loved is already dead.”