episode_0059

Pitch-black darkness covered the warrior’s eyes. In the darkness where no light could be seen, the warrior held Astaroth in his arms, pulling his forearms and tightening his fingers so as not to let go of his beloved master. However, nothing was felt in the warrior’s hand. There was no master to protect or sword to lift. The hand that lost what it had to protect has nowhere to go.

“No! Master!”

Even though he looked around, there was only darkness around the warrior without any light. It was darker than midnight, so nothing was visible to his eyes. In an empty space without the sense of stepping or touching the hand, the hero ran around looking for Astaroth. A hand that could not even hold a weapon desperately clawed at the air.

“Where are you! Master!”

The warrior screamed like crazy and looked for Astaroth. But no answer was heard. No, there was no sound at all. I couldn’t even hear his voice shouting non-stop.

“Master! Ugh…!”

Countless hands appeared from the darkness and grabbed the warrior. Shadows in the shape of hands grabbed the warrior’s entire body, including his arms and legs, and did not let go. One of them covered the warrior’s mouth. Covered in darkness, he couldn’t move a single step and couldn’t make a sound from his closed mouth.

“……!”

One by one, lights began to flash in the distance. The appearance of light illuminating the darkness was similar to the night sky seen on a bright starry day. Even the warrior was mesmerized for a moment by its raw beauty. But he didn’t have time to do that. His last enemy appeared before his eyes.

“When I think about it, it was less sweet than revenge. I swallowed it too quickly.”

The golden Milky Way glimmered above her head. A golden eye comparable to the two Venuses turned to the warrior. As a dazzling light illuminated the darkness, the hand holding the warrior fell off.

“Really. I’m glad my revenge doesn’t end.”

Every time dark red lips moved over a white face, a pretty voice rang throughout the space. Part of the night sky clung to Scarlett’s body like a dress. The star-embroidered dress fluttered with every step she took, changing from dark to full-color.

“You evil demon. Is this your fantasy too?”

Instead of rushing at her, the warrior positioned himself so that he could dodge at any time. His judgment was that it was impossible to subdue her with his bare body and no weapon, and it was a wise idea. Scarlett, on the other hand, showed a relaxed attitude without even being ready to attack.

“Of course. Everything is an illusion. Always, I hoped to turn everything upside down into the illusion of my dreams.”

Mongma’s body, without any jewelry, was wrapped in a light more dazzling than any other jewel. Every time Scarlett approached him with slow steps, the stars twinkled and fell in a tail. Countless stars lined the sky like raindrops.

“Then, will you fall into a fantasy from which you cannot wake up…forever?”

At that moment, the ground beneath the warrior’s feet shattered into pieces like glass. The warrior quickly found a ground to step on. However, as soon as the warrior’s feet touched it, it oxidized into fragments and collapsed.

“Pfft…!”

A chilling fear, as if he would fall into the abyss if he fell once, made the warrior move. The expression on the warrior’s face as he frantically stretched out his feet and searched for a place to stand became distorted. When he saw the scene unfolding behind Scarlett, he was astonished.

The meteor shower swirled around in a swirling pattern, drawing a large, layered circle. It was a spectacle like something you would see at the beginning and end of the world. However, he did not have time to enjoy the feast of stars.

“It’s a fantastically shining star, right?”

The meteor that was spinning in a circle lost its light and began to fall. The directions were different, but they had one thing in common.

“Be beautiful even if you lose your light. Hehe…”

The stars were falling within a stone’s throw of the warrior.

‘Left…right!’

The warrior avoided the falling meteor with careful and quick movements. Moreover, I had to keep moving because I was at risk of falling if I stood there even for a moment.

“Really persistent. Please know that I hate persistent men.”

Scarlett gently waved her low hand as she walked. Every time that happened, the falling meteor changed its orbit and headed towards the warrior. Scarlett quickly caught up with the warrior, who was running while dodging dozens of meteors, with slow steps.

“There is no use running away. Astaroth will never awaken again. Everything will be within your reach. In fantasy, everyone will be ruled by me! At the end of the world!”

It was Scarlett’s true revenge to subdue the hero again and regain control of Astaroth. Scarlett, with the sweet fruit in front of her, leisurely stretched out her hand. It was time for her efforts, which had sprouted over many years of hardship, to bear fruit. It was time to rule the world under the feet of Asmodeus.

“Then, is this the end for you?”

A hand popped out from above the star-embroidered dress. A beating heart was held in a bloody hand.

“Kk…! You…!”

Red blood flowed from Scarlett’s mouth. Instead of answering, Astaroth burst out the heart in his hand.

“Keuheuk…! Ah… ugh…!”

Astaroth lifted his blood-covered arm with an extremely sophisticated movement. The dark space collapsed and Scarlett was sucked into the hole that had passed through it. The sun of reality rose and swallowed up the darkness.

“Master…!”

The warrior shouted as he welcomed the owner he had been desperately looking for. It was a cry full of joy, unlike when he lost her. Astaroth passed Scarlett and stood in front of the hero. The Demon King looked at the hero with ruby-red eyes and spoke softly. Her voice contained a dignity that no one could match.

“Didn’t my slave sacrifice his life to save his master? I must also save what is mine.”

“This, killing…bitch…!”

Even though her chest was pierced and her heart exploded, Scarlett did not die. She felt extreme pain, shedding bloody tears not only from her mouth but also from her bloodshot eyes. Scarlett, who was collapsing, let out a terrible scream and rushed towards Astaroth.

“What a scum!”

Astaroth turned his head towards the charging former Demon King and exercised his power without changing his expression. Scarlett, torn to shreds, fell to the floor.

Not even a drop of Scarlett’s blood reached Astaroth.

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

Astaroth turned his head towards the hero and smiled as always. However, the warrior’s eyes were blurred and he could not see her properly. All the emotions turned into tears and flowed down the warrior’s face.

“I missed you. Master.”

Astaroth did not show a sad expression towards such a hero. It was impossible to express the Demon King’s emotions with just facial expressions.

“So did I.”

For some reason, the place they were was not the cold floor of the Inquisition but a field. The hero knelt down in front of Astaroth. The dawning day shone on them.

“He is an unscrupulous slave who could not protect his master.”

Astaroth, seeing the hero with his head down, narrowed his eyes and spoke as if it were laughable.

“You are saying something foolish. You’re not protecting me, I’m protecting you.”

Astaroth swung his hand blade at Scarlett, who was struggling to get up without even looking back.

“It is also my responsibility to punish those who are disloyal.”

Scarlett, whose entire body was once again torn apart, tried to stand up while struggling in pain. Such efforts were fruitless, and cracks began to form in her body.

“Wake up. I am the one who should express my gratitude.”

Astaroth patted the hero’s head and helped him stand up. Then he turned and looked down at Scarlett. The eyes of Scarlett and Astaroth, who sensed death, met. The Demon King’s gaze was cold, but there was no contempt. She gave a heartfelt compliment to her most powerful nemesis.

“It was great.”

A gust of wind passed by and Astaroth’s hair swayed like a reed. Scarlet’s shattered fragments were blown away by the wind.

“Not yet. am. Ugh, huh, I… No, no. Uh…”

Scarlett refused to admit defeat. She had to take revenge on Astaroth, who had taken everything from her. Even as his blood-red eyes collapsed, he turned to Astaroth.

“I… am… blessed, blessed… ”

“Hey.”

Katarina came close to Scarlett and lowered herself next to her. Katarina stretched out her thin hand to Scarlett’s disappearing face. Even as it was falling apart, Scarlett was shocked and surprised.

“I have forgiven you.”

A tear flowed from the saint’s eye. The saint shone white in the rising sun. The hero had a premonition that it was not just light. Because the saint’s clothes were not white.

“Forgive everything, too.”

Scarlett’s last voice was somehow calm.

“…woman, sir.”

With those words, the dream demon called Scarlet completely disappeared.

.

A demon king, a warrior, and a saint stood on a peaceful field with no traces of battle. Unlike the warrior, the saintess, who was facing the awake demon king for the first time, hesitated but did not hide herself. Moreover, as a saint who had seen the devil’s depravity before, not the devil himself, she felt a strange feeling rather than fear. Of course, Astaroth, who was unaware of that fact, calmly put his hands on his hips and asked the hero.

“The Demon World will be a mess while I’m gone. I’ll have a lot of work to do when I get back. What will you do?”

The warrior rested his chin and thought for a moment, then made up his mind and opened his mouth.

“I should go see Etrusia. I think there are many things to talk about. …Maybe it’s dangerous.”

“Hehe. Good luck.”

Astaroth raised the corners of his mouth. To the warrior, it was a smile that seemed somehow mischievous.

“It’s probably okay. What do you plan to do, saint?”

The saintess who was suddenly asked a question was startled, but expressed her opinion cautiously.

“I don’t have a clear goal. But…”

Both the demon king and the hero waited silently for the saint’s words.

“Even though I have no power or power, I want to do what I can in the world. Not a saint with a long name, but Saint Catherine.”

“It is dangerous to travel alone. If it’s okay, how about accompanying me?”

Catherine smiled brightly with joy as her opinion was accepted for the first time since becoming a saint.

“…Yes! Warrior.”

Astaroth raised his arms, crossed them under his chest, and looked at the warrior with deep eyes.

“You humans must have been in quite a mess too. There might have been a battle between the nobility and the Inquisition.”

The warrior who heard those words nodded in agreement.

“It will take quite some time to restore peace. Could you please wait? Master.”

Astaroth spoke to the hero who was making a difficult request as if it were absurd.

“You say something quite arrogant.”

Astaroth smiled warmer than the warm sunlight.

“I will come to you when you finish your work, so please wait for me. The devil’s servant, and my love.”

The lovers embraced each other and passionately locked lips, feeling each other’s body heat. The saint turned her back and covered her eyes. The sunlight shone brightly on them.

.

When I met Etrussia, the noble allied army was already advancing from Ordelappi’s territory toward the capital. Fortunately, it didn’t hit Etrusia, but we couldn’t have a private conversation for about two weeks. Fortunately, two weeks later, we were able to talk about our past. I didn’t expect or hope that she would understand everything, but thanks to the saint’s help, we were able to reconcile.

It was around winter and spring that the Inquisition finally raised its white flag. In Etrussia, the ‘Golden Rider’, there was the warrior myself and Saint Catherine, so there was no other way for them than to surrender as they were pushed back by force and justification. If we had fought, we would have subdued them faster, but we chose a more peaceful method instead. Winning without fighting was a better tactic than winning by fighting. As a result, Etrussia would never again be subject to the shackles of heresy.

After a hard but rewarding day, I returned to my room and sat down on the bed to relieve my fatigue. Then he raised his arm, looked at the ring on his finger, and muttered.

“Master.”

“It took a long time.”

Long, flowing hair as white as snow, contrasting with her dark skin. A superior body that can never be hidden by clothes that barely cover only part of the body. Pointy ears, unlike those of humans. And ominously red eyes.

“Edeline asked me to say hello. One eye has been permanently lost, but all limbs are intact.

What came was the most dangerous guest in the world. A fearsome entity that has been lurking in secret for a long time and brought down countless kingdoms. It is no exaggeration to say that it was Astaroth, the Demon Lord, who was the embodiment of human despair.

“So, did you miss me?”

Just by looking at the figure standing there, there was none other than a being standing in front of me who made countless people tremble with fear. But I didn’t break out in a cold sweat, nor did I shiver and try to resist. I happily welcomed the demon king and my beloved master.

“I missed you. Master.”

The devil loves and rules over me.

-complete-

BONUS: Epilogue

What a man had to do was always the same, without change. Although the work was always the same, he never made a mistake. Even in the midst of the passing world, the man quietly concentrated on his own business. He had no interest in getting married and starting a family.

“Good day.”

The man came to the cemetery every day. Whether it was snowing or raining, he always stood in front of the tombstone and said hello. The tombstone simply had the words ‘Beloved’ written on it. The man’s eyes scanned the tombstone with affection.

“I hope you had a good day today.”

He had shown courage several times in his life, but the greatest courage of all was when he visited Ordelafy’s territory. Surprisingly, Etrusia gave him her body without saying anything. Moreover, not only was the body undamaged, but it was also cleaned up well. The man bent down and placed a flower in front of the tombstone.

“I miss you. I’ll be able to see you someday. Princess.”

The world, which seems to never change, changes rapidly. The saint, who only appeared occasionally to give confessions, actively sought relief. After conflict with the nobility, the Inquisition disappeared and the Inquisition was banned by royal order. All those who had been imprisoned after being judged heretics by the Inquisition were released, and the enormous wealth of the Inquisition was used for their salvation. A new era was now dawning.

“I will come again tomorrow.”

The man left the cemetery with a gait that did not change every day. A single Anastasia flower was placed in front of the tombstone.