episode_0028

What is a devil?

Those who are born and raised by consuming the emotions of countless humans.

We call them devils.

Those who live for their own pleasure, willing to do anything to obtain what they desire.

Such devils were always beings that stimulated human fear, but…

“Devils are truly fascinating. It is said that even severed parts can regenerate using divine power… Is this the immortality they boasted about?”

Theracia seemed quite pleased.

Already wanting the precious sample, now having the right to experiment as she pleased, how happy she must be.

…Sorry, Gamagin. You probably came all this way just to see me.

Well, you won’t die anyway, and even if you perish in the human world, you’ll return to hell, so be satisfied with that.

I’ll revive you if you perish.

“Sh-Shin… Ahh… Stop…”

Feeling sorry and embarrassed after seeing the pitiful figure struggling to breathe properly, she left the mansion.

To have a torture chamber and laboratory set up in the basement like this.

How many resources were poured in during that short time?

“The documents haven’t been read by the demon. We couldn’t determine who wrote them exactly, but nowadays, we think the documents were inaccurately written.”

Caesar said while lighting a cigarette outside.

“The documents described the demon as desiring to dominate the world through fear and violence. Of course, seeing the current demon… I doubt the accuracy of those words.”

“The documents you speak of… Yes, they probably don’t align with me.”

Ah, I see.

I should check the documents this time.

“Do you have the documents?”

“We always carry them in the form of books.”

Saying so, Caesar took out a thick book from his pocket.

Although it was a thick book, it had a familiar shape.

[Decaprium – Volume 7]

“The rest of the documents are owned by the other executives. Each one carries them in order.”

A familiar book.

The book I hadn’t seen, the one I had saved to read later, revealed itself.

“Some are deep in the demonology library… Demon?”

“Y-Yeah… That’s right.”

According to the documents these children spoke of, Damian, the demon I had become, reflected my past before possession.

Of course, that would make sense.

There might not be much beyond breadcrumbs, but when describing Damian loving horror, violence, and destruction, it would have been sufficiently detailed.

So these children compared me with the documents.

‘Yes, the fact that the original protagonist died, the effort the children put into preparing the skull chair and the giant airship when they first saw me, what Beatrice said when I first went to the palace.’

An antagonist who seeks power and revels in cruelty.

No, but thinking about it, all of that could have been a facade.

Since the true nature cannot be known, and because the ending wasn’t properly resolved in the original work, this existence called Damian was always mysterious.

“…I see.”

You killed the original protagonist because you read all of this.

That’s why things got twisted up to this point.

But then, why is this novel here, for what purpose?

Damian, was this also part of your grand plan?

“But how did you find this?”

“It was discovered around the time we were born, but no one knows exactly when it was created. Since it was completely different from what we use and paper, experts jokingly claimed it came from the future.”

Yes, that makes sense.

When you were born…there was only one big event around that time.

When I possessed it, it was just discovered at that time.

It doesn’t seem like a simple coincidence.

As I pondered, the night deepened, and the huge sun rose again.

Since I didn’t need much sleep, I could think about it a little longer.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand Damian’s intentions…”

“Ah, Father…have your meal.”

With Veronica’s voice, I finally stepped out of the room.

Well, what else will come out if we think more?

Let’s be satisfied with this for now.

“Let’s go together.”

I enjoyed the meal with the children.

Yesterday, Chanel received documents approving the construction of a branch office for the Black Tower, and Beatrice also seemed satisfied.

It seemed like they had gained something more from the empire’s perspective.

“When it comes to deserts, we should visit the ruins from ancient times. Of course, I have also brought documents so we can enter.”

The documents handed over by the kingdom’s princess were useful as expected.

How could I refuse when Abel asked me to hand them over?

If I refuse, those here will not leave all the people of this desert alive.

From her position knowing such a future, she couldn’t act like that.

“At least we can go anywhere under the jurisdiction of the Ask Kingdom. First…let’s go see that mysterious ruin.”

There must be many things to see in the ruins.

If it has been connected since ancient times, there will be plenty of mysterious things overflowing.

After a simple meal, we moved to the ruins.

“This is…a spirit stone.”

A spirit stone?

That noisy thing that spirits like, right?

“If it’s a spirit stone…even in the market, in the black market, it’s expensive to buy…no, it’s okay to raise spirit mages too.”

“Spirit mages…”

Extremely rare individuals, more talented than magic.

If there is an excellent spirit mage, they can change the course of the battlefield, so their miracles are quite intriguing.

But it’s not like there are spirit mages among the key figures.

Ryu suddenly changed his expression and said firmly.

“W-Well, of course it’s a joke. Evil spirits know that too, but in the cult of evil spirits, there is the best spirit mage, Mari, right? So, please don’t worry about such concerns.”

Mari?

I’ve never seen anyone use spirit magic before.

“In that case, if we raise spirit mages, Mari will…”

“Oh, no! Please don’t! Mari is quite busy too. If we increase her workload, she won’t be able to focus on one thing, and besides, the World Tree…”

“I see. I understand.”

Seeing him hastily continue speaking, I thought he might be worried because we are colleagues.

Yes, as a fellow officer, you are also worried about Mari not being overwhelmed.

For that reason, I can understand enough.

“Phew, I’m glad I survived today.”

He muttered to himself and moved towards the outskirts of the ruins.

“Feel free to wander around as you wish, and let’s meet in about 3 hours.”

“That’s a good idea. Let’s all see each other in 3 hours.”

So we decided to meet again in 3 hours, and I also…

didn’t get to spend some time alone.

“Well, Mari, Adela. Why are you following along?”

“But, even coming here, we don’t know what to do.”

“I wanted to take a walk with the Evil Lord after a long time.”

Alright then.

Although it seems like there are more words added later, I understand for now, Mari.

“Then let’s take a walk together with the three of us.”

The time alone was slightly regrettable, but walking with the children wasn’t bad either.

Mary also didn’t send any particular glances this time, and without any strange signs, she simply participated quietly in the walk.

There were several stone statues, and if you went inside the ruins, you could find primitive tools like savage and primitive window-like objects.

“It certainly is mysterious.”

The most mysterious things could be found inside.

A golem moving with a core of blue spirit stone.

The floating figures around were spirits that were hard to see unless in sacred or clean places.

“I don’t really know why Mary doesn’t deal with spirits, but it’s probably not good to ask too casually.”

Thinking that way, I walked towards the golem.

The spirits all flocked to me.

“Oh my, the spirits seem to be following the shaman.”

“…Seems like they are indeed.”

Rather than following, they just seemed to stick to me, but if the shaman says so, it must be true.

Although the spirits filled my body, they eventually scattered and flew away with the cool breeze that arrived.

“Mother breathes life into this place.”

Seeing her smiling as she said that, I thought to myself, she must be the caretaker of the World Tree.

I petted the golem in front of me and used my command.

“Now rest peacefully. Child.”

Command.

A unique and special power that works miracles with words alone.

Commands echo here, weaving destinies that cannot rise and those that can.

The cool breeze fills this place.

“Well then, let’s go somewhere else.”

There were still many places to explore in the ruins.