episode_0156

CILVIII.

As the high priestess of Santana Arcana, she always stayed away from battle. Of course, that was the role of a priestess, so it was natural and proper for her to do so.

However, because Gray and Arcana were a somewhat unique combination, her presence was infinitely weak. In the first place, Arcanas that were stronger than superhumans and the ‘Grand Spear Master’ who was protected by such Arcanas.

Are you going to get hurt?

Since there is nothing to get hurt, there is no need for her to step in as the one in charge of treatment.

“Nolíte timere.”

The reason she came forward at this critical moment is,

“Nolíte ergo solliciti esse.”

Not only the enemy Iwwart,

“Quaestum… … .”

It was an unexpected event even for Gray and Arcana, his allies.

“Sedátĭo.”

And the change that occurred when she came forward was also ‘unexpected’.

“Huh?”

“Ah… … ?”

“… Sigh.”

People who seemed to have abandoned all emotions and were only covered in ‘anger’ or ‘madness’ began to look around with faces that looked like they had just woken up from sleep.

“Sangtaya… … ?”

“I’m sorry for coming in without permission, my lord.”

The person who actually created this miracle was concerned that he had acted ‘without permission’. Gray didn’t really care about that. He was just curious about what was happening.

“No, no! That’s okay. More than that… . What the heck, what’s going on?”

“Curses that touch the mind, such as madness, excitement, and fascination, are powerless against the priest’s calming spell.”

Santa answered with a confident yet strangely warm smile.

It’s not Gray who doesn’t know that. The Arcanas don’t either.

That’s why they called the Pope. But it was no use. Fortunately, the only ones who escaped were the Master Muwi who were mixed in here and there.

“Hohoho. Hwang, the Pope’s younger brother is a priest who specializes in attack, strictly speaking. I specialize in healing and exorcism. My lord.”

It was a statement that omitted much, but Gray quickly understood. Santa, she was more than just treating the injured.

Actually, this isn’t Gray’s fault. In the past that Gray saw of Santa, she never showed miracles like this. She was always just treating the injured and curing the sick.

In the first place, it was the power and specialty of the Shangta that she was unaware of because there were no battles with undead or demons in the dimension she lived in.

-this.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to her as they heard the lament of the highest-level demon.

And ordinary citizens who hesitate and quickly retreat.

They too had just realized what was about to happen.

If Gray and his group hadn’t performed a ‘miracle’, they would have rushed at the superhumans and Gray’s group like crazy, and would have been killed by Gray, who had been brutally killing people just a moment ago.

‘Of course I wouldn’t have killed him, I would have just knocked him out, but instead… … I would have missed him.’

Gray glared at the top-class demon Iwwart, who had a heartbroken expression. She was a wicked woman. She had said that there was no chance of her escaping, and she was already making plans to get away.

Who wouldn’t say that he’s a demon? Lies just come out so naturally.

―If this happens… … . I’ll go out… … .

“I told you. Give up. Didn’t you hear what I said to the traitor’s family earlier? I told you not to try to live? What kind of effort is a demon trying to make? A demon?”

Gray shrugged his shoulders as if he was dumbfounded and asked, but the superhumans and top-level demons, Iwwart, who knew what he meant, looked at Gray in bewilderment.

-He’s crazy.

“Did I do well enough to receive such praise from the Demon? My efforts paid off. Right?”

“Yeah~! Honey~! You’re amazing!!”

The clown answered positively, hugging Gray’s arm as if he were genuinely happy, like a child watching him.

“You will be a role model, Master.”

Is this clever witch using the word ‘exemplar’ correctly? She is using the word ‘mirror’ to describe the current Gray.

“Yeah! Oppa, you’re the best!”

What on earth?! This is the incomprehensible mind world of the legendary sorcerer of the fox tribe, thought Iwwart.

“The Master is always right.”

Punishment used his usual stern tone, but judging by the reddening cheeks, it seemed like he wasn’t being polite at all.

The superhumans, unable to adapt to the conversation of this strange group, sighed and shook their heads.

Regardless, Gray motioned to the witch while looking at Iwart, who was still rolling his eyes.

“He’s thinking again.”

“I will prepare.”

The witch’s magic that was once displayed at Evergreen’s artifact shop has been manifested.

“Tribulus”

It’s the same spell, the same magic, but it’s smaller than before, and the energy that comes out of the magic that seeps into the ground is more eerie and intense.

“First of all, I have a question. Can I ask it?”

-Well? What should we do?

Even though he was on the brink of death, Iwwart spoke with great composure, as if he had nothing to worry about.

“There’s a hierarchy of demons. Hierarchy.”

-Huh? Rank?

“Uh. Rank. You know, I’ve met some demons, right? Every time, they say, “I’m a certain rank in the demon world!” or something like that?”

―Of course, it is also something to be proud of.

“But by the way. So the top one is one of the Demon Kings? It doesn’t mean anything, I’m just curious. I’m curious. Who is the strongest Demon King?”

―How dare you involve the Demon King in a numbers game like ours! How could you be so blasphemous… …!

Iwwart, who was suddenly angry, seemed quite sincere. Naturally, Gray just touched his ear a couple of times as if it was nothing and let it go.

“Oh, I see. I didn’t know. I apologize. So, if you’re ranked 100th, you’re strong?”

―I don’t know why you’re asking about the ranking, but even if you’re in the top 100, you’re still in the lower tier of the higher tiers. But just being a high-tier demon means that most humans can’t dare to compare to you… …?

“Ahh. If you’re in the top 100 of the Demon Realm hierarchy, you’re in the lower tier even among the upper tiers. Hmm… … . Around 110? 120? 130? 140? Oh! I guess around 120th and 130th place is the boundary between upper and middle tiers? 121st? 122nd? 123rd? 124th? 125th? 126th? 12… … ? 126th place is the end of the upper tier?!”

―This fucking human bastard… Ugh!! Kkaaaak!!

I remember mentioning this before, but the Arcana’s love for Gray is blind.

Even if the superhumans treat Gray badly, he can’t stand it and keeps it in his heart for a long time, but what if the enemy, the highest-level demon, curses Gray with the word ‘bitch’?

You will get the same results you see now.

After being attacked by a ‘group’ that simultaneously experiences the pure brain power of the punishment, the witch’s magic, May’s sorcery, and the Pope’s divine magic, there is no other answer but to suffer.

Oh, there is another answer.

If you are strong enough to overwhelm all of the Arcana, then you can say that.

“So if you count the top-tier demons and the higher-tier demons, there are 126? I’ve caught three higher-tier demons so far… Huh? It’s not three, is it?”

-Profit! I don’t know!

“Hmm… … . The superior bastard that came out first is definitely dead, so there are two in the stick. Which one of them? Huh? They both survived? Wow! That’s great! Let’s see. So one superior bastard died? One of the top bastards died too… . I’m going to catch one more now… … . Are there 123 left? ”

―… … .

When Iwwart saw Gray, he felt like he was faced with a problem he couldn’t understand.

Apparently, until just a moment ago, he was just a crazy guy.

He was never the type to think outside the box, and he was the kind of psychopath who would brutally kill other humans based on their emotions. It wasn’t for nothing that he reminded me of a tyrant.

So, I came to see Gray because I was sure I had the information I wanted and I thought I could get it.

But now look.

Just by asking themselves questions, as if the gods were reading the minds of their servants, the Seraphim, they find answers and are confident in those answers.

‘How? A human?’

Lying is a talent that can be considered a racial trait of the Demon Tribe, but it doesn’t work in front of Gray, so from Iwart’s perspective, it was crazy and he was jumping for joy.

“Hmm… … . There are over 120 of them… … ? Huh? Come to think of it, you demon lords are too much. Are you punks? ”

-What, what!

“No, don’t just get angry. Think about it. Those guys who fight so well, when I faced one of the best guys last time, they could easily take on two superhumans. If they have that kind of record, wouldn’t it be better if they sent a lot of them? Don’t you think so?”

-Shut up!!

“Hey. Now that you’re in this situation, you’re pretending to be angry while actually agreeing with what I said.”

―… … .

Whether that was really his intention or there was another reason, Iwwart soon kept quiet.

Her reaction was out of Gray’s interest. She just made a pleasant expression as if she was imagining something, then opened her mouth as if she was regretting it and licked her lips.

“If that were the case, we could have significantly reduced the number when we got rid of the staff this time. What a shame. Ugh.”

-crazy…….

This time, it seemed that it was not Iwwart, but one of the superhumans who had revealed their true nature without realizing it.

“Top-level Demon Advisor, is that possible?”

Gray asked the Archana Pope just in case. The Pope’s answer was as expected.

In the first place, I used the ‘Light of Purification’ to block the power of the highest-level demon a little while ago, and it was still shining clearly, but it seemed to have no effect at all.

“I can’t help it. Kill me.”

“Yeah~! Honey~!”

The clown stepped forward, holding up his red side with a refreshing smile. At that moment, a gentle hand came up to her shoulder.

“Please wait a moment, Clown Sister.”

It was Arcana Santa. Santa, who had been stepping forward a lot today, stopped the clown and turned his gaze to Gray.

“My lord?”

“Huh?”

Gray couldn’t control his surprised expression because Santa had never been this proactive before and answered the voice calling him.

“Can I have a quick chat with you?”

“Huh? Huh? Huh. Then. Sure!”

“Thank you, my lord.”

Santa, who had thanked Gray, smiled faintly and walked slowly and steadily to stand in front of the prison that resembled a barn, Cheonryo.

“You. I see traces of Seraphim.”

-…joy!

“That’s why our Hwang is less affected by the light, which is the masterpiece of our younger brother. Although it is still weak, I can feel the energy of the Holy Power.”

– So? What are you trying to say? Repent and confess your sins now, is that what you want to say?

Despite Iwwart’s screaming response, Santa still had a smile on his face and shook his head gently, like a mother calming down a child who was throwing a tantrum.

“No, I just said it out of regret. And you can stop acting.”

-What? What the hell are you talking about?

“The reason you came here.”

―… … .

“How is it? When you see it in person?”

―I have no idea what you’re talking about. Are you trying to tease me by saying that you guys caught me?

“Hohoho. I told you to stop acting. You look really awkward. I think it’s because you’re not a strategist but a former field commander who led the army.”

―Even dog whining has its limits… … .

“Actually, I was a bit hesitant. But thanks to our talented husband, I was able to confirm that my guess was correct.”

-Think as you wish and kill quickly.

The superhumans who were watching Iwart’s calm actions while talking about his own death swallowed their saliva in tension, but strangely, Santa showed no sign of worry at all.

“High-level demon. You said you were alive, right? If it was just a simple spy mission, I should have sent a high-level demon. But you came yourself.”

-Fuck! I regret it too! So what!!

“When we ran away earlier. Actually, I thought our sisters would fail. You have it.”

-what!

“That thing hanging on your back.”

Santa smiled, pointing to the thin flap of wings folded over Iwwart’s back. Iwwart’s face, which had been sullen and angry, hardened.

“Are you curious, actually? How do we get information from the demons? What methods do we use? Is it even possible?”

―… … .

“And seeing the strength gathering in your wings… … . Do you think you can escape from this place? That’s because you’re gathering what little Holy Power you have left.”

―… … .

“But did you know that our sisters and brothers are much stronger than you think. You. You will never escape. Oh, and of course. You won’t be able to pass on the information either.”