episode_0002

It’s been three days since I’ve been among these believers.

Fortunately, it seemed they weren’t intentionally keeping me from ascending.

They just seemed to know what I liked.

“Father, have you enjoyed the sap of the corrupted World Tree? According to ancient texts…”

Thinking about Abel’s words like that, they simply discerned what I liked based on ancient records.

Conversely, things written as dislikes were thoroughly regulated.

Typically, hypocrisy, peace, and such… well, being an evil spirit, that could happen.

In reality, I’ve just been watching life dramas of key figures from above, seeing how they grew up and what lives they led.

It was just a feeling.

“Come to think of it, there wasn’t anything like an evil spirit war when I looked…”

Well, maybe I missed it while looking at other things.

Thinking that, I gnawed on some jerky.

Maybe it was because it had been a while, but it tasted better than when I ate it before possessing someone.

“It’s been a while, Evil Spirit. I don’t know how long it’s been, but I hope you’ve been well?”

“You even gave up your gift, yet you still rely on medicine.”

“Oh, isn’t that a bit harsh? If you’re a god, show some leniency. I can’t bear it without this.”

A man who helplessly took medicine after his younger brother was robbed and killed.

The big shot in the slums who earned money for this evil sect.

The king of the underworld, a casual psychopath despite committing numerous crimes and murders.

Our evil sect’s drug dealer, Ryu.

“Ryu, I gave you a chance to save your younger sister, but it seems you don’t want to use it.”

“I thought about it alone in my room, but saving my sister in this way is something she wouldn’t like either, I suppose. Memories should be buried as memories, right?”

He said coldly with a smile.

Well, that part wasn’t my concern.

I simply offered him the opportunity to save his sister as a repayment for what he had done so far, and he refused it.

“Acts that go against fate are not very good… Oh, no. That’s not it. Teresia has returned from abroad and is looking for you. So, I brought her here. Is that okay?”

Teresia.

When I was summoned, she was one of the key figures who couldn’t come personally due to a mission.

I remember she was an alchemist.

As far as I recall, this time she was dispatched to the Garcia Kingdom.

“Yes, anyone can come here whenever they want.”

“Oh, it’s better not to say that in front of others. They have opinions about you… Oh, no…”

He shivered slightly, then suddenly smiled broadly and left.

Come to think of it, Ryu, his medicine was also made by Teresia.

That must be why he seemed so pleased.

And outside the door, a stoic woman walked in.

Long flowing robe, long black hair, and eyes of a surprisingly deep blue.

“Teacher, we finally meet.”

And the woman who never once called me a god, the evil spirit.

Alchemist, Teresia.

“Yes, child. Have you received my gift well?”

“I treasure your gifts in my laboratory. I didn’t expect you to give me a gem with magical power comparable to that of a demon lord, but coincidentally, it was exactly what I needed for my research.”

She seemed even brighter than when I saw her on TV.

Could it be because she met a god, described as an incomprehensible pinnacle of the unknown and beyond comprehension, directly?

“Therefore, in this study, it may be possible to present an excellent item that the teacher will be satisfied with. Please make sure to come.”

She handed him a teleport scroll that could instantly transport him to her laboratory and then disappeared abruptly.

Fortunately.

Although there was an unfortunate past, she tortured her family and even conducted human experiments with their corpses.

If I had made a mistake, I might have been torn apart first.

As an alchemist who explores mysteries and seeks truth, she would naturally be curious about the existence of gods.

Of course, there were no signs of such curiosity, so perhaps it was really fortunate.

“So now the only key figure sent out is… the assassin Caesar.”

A mercenary who lost his family to nobles.

Since then, he has assassinated countless nobles and received full support after joining the cult.

He… was already the cult’s only assassin, so his deployment was quite long.

“There’s nothing to do.”

In the original space, besides watching TV, there wasn’t much else to do, so most of the time was spent reading books placed in a corner of the room or watching TV.

Thinking about it now, there wasn’t really anything special going on.

“Demon, it’s time to eat!”

Of course, it’s strange for them to knock on my door wearing dragon scales.

A descendant of the dragon that almost led the world to destruction, Adele possessed the strongest power in the cult as a half-dragon.

She was born between her mother, a dragon rider, and a dragon.

Come to think of it, why did she join the cult?

Adele, a half-dragon, and Mari, a high elf, had not seen each other until they joined the cult.

Their lifespans were so long, estimated at only about 20 years.

Therefore, I don’t really know what kind of life they lived.

“Demon, did you sleep well?”

“Yes, did you receive your gift well?”

“Yeah yeah! With the gift I received this time, I’m probably stronger than most dragons, right?”

No.

You were originally stronger than most dragons.

Now, you are much stronger than dragon lords or ancient dragons.

“This time, the saint completely destroyed the empire. Still lacking in wealth or something, but that was my prey!”

She was quite innocent and talkative.

So, since I couldn’t see everyone at once, I told her many things that I didn’t know well.

Well, I often didn’t see properly because I was either reading a book or checking other key figures.

Especially in the beginning, I focused on the original protagonist.

Now that he’s dead, his life story has become utterly useless.

“Still, it’s fortunate that the Holy Empire accepted it. The saint from that side is a bit picky, though…”

“Can you bring that child back without killing her?”

“Huh? Oh, do you need it? Then I’ll bring her. I’m also curious about saints of different faiths… This time, I expect a fight with a saint who bashes heads with a mace…”

Her story seemed endless, and soon we arrived at the restaurant with some small talk.

Upon entering the restaurant, everyone was standing instead of sitting at their seats.

“Children, you still have a lot to eat… Sit down quickly and eat.”

One by one, they sat down and began to eat leisurely.

I sat in the largest seat in the center.

It looked like a throne… No, it was just like the throne where the demon lord sat?

“I utilized the demon lord’s skull and the ribs of victory to satisfy your father.”

“Hmm, I see. I like it.”

No.

It’s a lie.

Wait, did you kill the recently appeared demon lord, who had a strange skull where the arm should be raised?

This is the former demon lord’s skull.

What? Spare me. I’m scared here.

They were so cute when they were young, but after turning ten, each of them went through tragedies and ended up gathering here.

So in short, they have succeeded in dominating the world just a little over ten years, showing unbelievable competence.

“Oh, your tone is oddly fixed, making it unnecessarily difficult.”

No, I’m not showing you any mercy; I’m evil.

It would have been more comfortable if I had just been arrogant from the beginning.

It’s really uncomfortable.

“Father, about the results of this meeting. I would like to ask if it would be okay for you to participate in the meetings periodically. If you are planning to stay in the future… we shouldn’t allow emperors or kings, or tower lords to rise, right?”

When they say “meeting,” they are referring to the continent-wide meeting held once a month.

Usually, Abel goes out personally and gives orders.

This is how kingdoms and empires act, issuing commands on how towers should behave.

It is also a place where you can see how overwhelming the authority of the demon religion is.

“If there is something that pleases you, we will do our best to obtain it, and if there is anything that bothers or displeases you, we will find a way to remove it.”

You guys are the most uncomfortable, you brats.

I said this after deeply embedding those words in my heart.

“Do as you wish. I am happy every time you do what you want.”

It was sincere.

Perhaps because I had seen them since they were young, they felt like my own children.

I had a deep desire to support them, give them more.

Since I couldn’t ascend and was bound here, I wanted to see what the kids wanted to do, watch over the liberated ones.

“So, can I kill all the dragons?”

“…Sure.”

“Oh, by any chance… may I call you Father…?”

“Yes, feel free to.”

“Evil One, may I explore your body?”

“…No.”

Damn.

What kind of talk is that, Maria?

I had a sense of it from the moment she mentioned corrupting the World Tree for me, but really…

No.

Oh.

Ah.

I really can’t say anything.

“Haha, just kidding.”

As she laughed, a chilling sensation crept up my spine.

What’s this, feels like a pain in the ass?

After finishing a meal that didn’t go down well due to various unsettling and chilling feelings, I shivered and thought, “When can I ascend?”

Mom, I’m scared here…