Episode 1090 Soul – 4
World Federation Chapter
Verden possessed not only the military power to physically deal with Gareth but also absolute power specifically for this war.
Of course, executing Gareth on the spot would cause significant difficulties in managing Del Harun’s forces.Furthermore, the possibility that those loyal to Gareth, such as the Del Harun Royal Guard, might rebel against the World Alliance itself cannot be ruled out.
Still, it is bearable.
Verden had traveled the wide world and occasionally come across stories about Ifeakarn, but for some reason, none of them were favorable; they were all nothing but negative.Since it was the testimony of Hadras, a Legion Commander who had served the Archdemon of Darkness, it was infinitely close to the truth.
If that is the case, to leave him alone without even taking any other measures, claiming to be the God of Devils? Giving him infinite trust when you have never even properly met him?
It is like leaving a steak to a goblin.
This is as far as I can extend my favor.
The next one is paid.
If Ifeakarn does not comply, I will consider it an act to abandon Gareth, and I will strike his main body through Gareth using the Magic of Destruction, which is in a state of magical rampage.Instant death may not be possible, but I am confident that even a Great Demon will not be able to easily withstand it.
Silence fills the tent.
There was no room for compromise in Verden’s blue eyes. The moment Gareth showed any intention of refusal, he seemed ready to unleash a filthyly painful dark red magical power.
Gareth banged on the table roughly.
“Hey, Alliance Leader. If you’re going to kill someone, you should have killed Ifeakarn, why kill me?”“Because I’m a Contractor.”“Just because you’re a Contractor, does that mean we’re all bound by fate? Damn it, there was nothing like that in the contract. Do you know what a demon is? Ah, tsk. You’d have to have made a contract with a demon to even have a chance of having a conversation with them.”“…….”
To think I’d be scolded for not knowing anything about demons, even though I’m the God of all demons.And by a demon contractor, no less.
As a god, Verden felt bewildered, but naturally, he did not show it.
“You must have made your contract with Ifeakarn right after your defeat by Antias. Since quite some time has passed since then, you must have learned a great deal about demons.”“……There are quite a few things you naturally learn while living as a contractor. At the very least, I am more knowledgeable about demons than the Luas religion.”“A demon expert, huh? Then that experience will be of great help in solving the problem.”
Verden crushed the metal teacup.
“Persuade them. Or just die. It’s collective responsibility.”“Typical Adrian, the way he talks… fuck.”
Gareth let out a sigh after receiving a death threat to his face. As a transcendent being, his dignity was in shambles.However, it was not that Gareth could not accept the situation itself.
The wall of the realm.
After suffering a defeat at the hands of Antias, Gareth clearly recognized his biological limits. There is a boundary that cannot be crossed no matter how much he trains himself.He cannot achieve his ideals like this; he cannot die without achieving his ideals. He needs an opportunity to overcome this damned limit… That is how the contract with Ifeakarn was made.
Complete the contract andmake the power your own.
Gareth was prepared to endure any humiliation or contempt he might face in the process, including meekly admitting defeat and being threatened. After all,everything was brought about simply because Gareth was weaker than his opponent.
Ipeakarn.
Gareth concentrated energy on the edge of his hand and slashed his palm.
Stop watching and crawl out.
Ripples erupted from the dozens of drops of blood that had fallen onto the table.The blood twitched.It squirmed as if alive and began to take shape. Before long, a mass of dark green tentacles rose slightly into the air.
Crunch…
Several tentacles spread out in all directions.The pupils that had been covered by the tentacles were revealed.
[Two years have passed since the Republic of Beldirn. It truly fills me with emotion.]
A fragment imbued with the consciousness of Ifeakarn manifested.
[Oh, Singularity.]
* * *
Singularity.
Verden first learned the true meaning of that word from the host.
───{To borrow Oldarc’s words, it is the singularity of the world.}
───{A unique variable that no one had anticipated. Is it a backlash from a world wishing to break free from the shackles of fate, or is it free will beyond even fate’s control? Or is it merely the product of chance?}
The words spoken by the first Demon King back when he led the resistance forces against ‘you’ were revived from the mouth of the 3rd Great Demon, Ifekarn.
This is the first time I’ve seen such a deceptive presence.
It has a distinctive shape with an eyeball as its body and dozens of tentacles surrounding it.It is about the size of a palm.
It was quite different from the aura emitted by Gareth, who had been demonized in the Four Gates.Was it the difference of the original body’s consciousness manifesting directly?
Ifeakarn’s presence was indeterminate and constantly changing from moment to moment.Like a flowing river, perhaps.Though it may appear similar on the surface, the flow of the past and the flow of the future are not identical… If Ifeakarn were to try to conceal its existence, it seemed that even Verden’s insight would not be able to find it.
Verden said.
“To think the Archdemon of Prostitution was this close. The Luas Cult has been searching for her with blazing eyes. The Saint’s side will go into a frenzy if they find out that Contractor attended the Summit following the World Conference.”
[When it comes to matters concerning the devil, you are not free either.]
Ife Akarn’s pupils formed a crescent.
[I have come into contact with every existing Archdemon. Even though I did not face Noxias directly, I visited Rivereas, so it is all the same.]
Ifeakarn pointed out that Verden and his party had set foot in the Archdemon’s Refuge.Verden, Adrian, Isabella, and Alpha were able to infiltrate the Black Hour Great Hall by ignoring the spatial distortion through it.
Gareth blinked.
“Who? Meeting with the Archdemon of Darkness? This bastard… was he a devil worshipper all along? Crazy, no wonder. He even brought up devils while revising the Alternate Species Coexistence Representative System at the World Conference.”“Who am I worshipping whom? And is that something a devil contractor should be saying?”“Shut up before I report you.”
Gareth admitted defeat but had no intention of yielding his pride.Gareth snarled that if Verden tried to exert pressure again regarding the demon matter, he would voluntarily report to the Ruas Church and take him along on the road.
[… … .]
“…….”
Ifekarn and Verden stared at Gareth at his threat of self-destruction.
“What, fuck. Go get the Archbishop?”“Forget it.”
[It is done.]
Even a rat will bite when cornered.How much more so for a mentally ill transcendent being?
If you provoke Gareth any further, he might genuinely run to the Archbishop of the Spirit in the Delharun Extermination Corps. In other words, ignoring him is the answer.
Having thus saved face from the Archdemon and the god, Gareth gulped down the cold tea straight from the kettle with half a sense of triumph and half a shitty feeling.
anyway.
It seems Ifeakarn hasn’t realized that I am a god. I did thoroughly conceal my divinity, but I suppose that’s to be expected. Unlike Noxias, perhaps he no longer needs faith.
It is only natural that a being who does not seek God cannot recognize God.
I don’t have much time, so I’ll just get straight to the point.
Verden kept a close eye on the small Ifeakarn and got straight to the point.
“Layla’s Curse, the Mirror of Evil, your plan.”
The curse of Ifekarn dwells in the face of the Blood-stained Sword Layla.Ifekarn is hiding in the Demon Realm.As a Great Demon belonging neither to the Followers of Fate nor the Resistors, Ifekarn must be plotting some sort of scheme on the continent.
These are the three things I want to hear.
That is truly an unreasonable request. However, it’s not that I can’t comply.
Ife Akarn approached.
[I shall propose a contract. The item is a transaction.]
The ultimate purpose is.
[It is a temporary cooperation. To put it another way, it could be called the beginning of a noble alliance aimed at sustaining friendly relations in the long term.]
The pupils, shimmering with a deep green light, narrowed.
[The fishy smell of the sea. Since you attended the Arcadium, you must have obtained various information. You must have traveled the continent and encountered the hidden sides of the world. That is why you do not despise demons. Because you know the background of this demon’s birth. Isn’t that so?]
Gareth listened attentively to their conversation without interrupting, as if he didn’t understand what was being said. It was proof that Ifeakarn was restricting information from Gareth.
He might have simply kept quiet because it wasn’t worth sharing with the contractor.
Ifeakarn is testing Verden with a slurred voice,wondering just how much he knows.
Psychological warfare of information.
Verden agreed as if it were the most natural thing in the world. In order to obtain the information held by Ifeakarn, Verden must also give up a certain portion.
A byproduct of fate.
[─────────]
Ifeakarn let out a laugh as his pupils flashed. A bizarre ringing, like tentacles clinging to the cochlea, lingered in his ears.Gareth scowled violently and slapped his ear with his palm.
[A demon born as a reaction to the creation of destiny, and the worst traitor who destroyed that destiny. Though their essences and purposes may differ, could there be a better relationship to form an alliance with?]
“If you propose an alliance, I will add demands.”
Although Verden did not want to, having experienced this type of conversation quite often, he had learned how to maintain control without being swayed:relentlessly pressing the other person without giving them enough time to breathe.
“The Alliance’s punitive force has entered the Demon Realm to close the Gate of Death. Therefore, provide active assistance. It goes without saying that your contractor must continue to play an active role as a commander.”
The former is excessive.
“Is it burdensome? You were hostile to the Apostles from the start. If you intended to wash your hands of it completely, you wouldn’t have let your contractor into the World Alliance in the first place.”
[Key figures of the Ruas Theocracy are part of the Demon Realm Suppression Corps. I have no intention of revealing my true identity to the outside world yet.]
“You just need to be of meaningful help to the Alliance’s punitive expedition. Whether or not you get discovered by the Priests of Light is, of course, your own business.”
[You are making unreasonable demands on an ally.]
Were we allies just now?
[That is correct. Then… … .]
Ifeakarn supported his eyeballs with his tentacles as if resting his chin on his hand.
[I will adjust the degree. If the Demon Realm Suppression Corps enters my territory, I will assist them. Only then can I also conceal myself in the shadows.]
What is the exact range of the area?
[Impossible. This is beyond the authority of the Alliance.]
The refusal was firm.
[If you desire more than that, you must become my contractor.]
Ifeakarn was mindful of the possibility that Verden might turn into an enemy. Therefore, it made only sense to conceal the territory.
Is this the upper limit of the demand?
Verden took a step back halfway with a large stride as if to show off.Immediately afterwards, he moved his hind leg.
I will accept the offer if you promise not to deceive me, such as by reducing the scope after accepting it.
[I assert that there is no deception in the contract itself.]
That would be best.
All demons value contracts.
As the leader of the World Alliance,I recruited a dangerous ally known as the Great Demon of Parasitism for the Demon Realm Extermination Corps.
“Then I’ll make up for the missing parts with something else.”
[If you desire answers to the three questions, I will answer concisely, corresponding to the facts you have perceived. Truly. Only then will the mutual balance be maintained as a preliminary alliance.]
I will listen and judge.
[It is a way of conversation that brings to mind tentacles seeking knowledge.]
Ipeakarn expressed his displeasure, yet he did not distance himself from Verden. The sight of Verden and Ipeakarn exchanging words as if engaged in a negotiation.
They are absolute devils.
Gareth took to heart the unknown secrets he heard from their conversation, yet inwardly he was disgusted. The way they glared at each other, trying to extract even a single more piece of information, was utterly vicious.
and.
The exchange between the Gray God and the Archdemon took place.
First question.
“Why aren’t you heading to Noxias’s Refuge and instead still using the Demonic Mirror as a hideout? The Demonic Mirror where the Red Dragon Sarkandra resides.”
[Noxias has done nothing more than flee from reality. If you truly care for the devil, it would be right not to leave the continent.]
It looks like you’ve compromised with the Red Dragon.
The Red Dragon is one of the Fourth Apostles.
‘Your’ apostles are individualists, and unlike hosts, there are also beings who became apostles for their own individual purposes rather than blindly following ‘you’.
The dragon would naturally fall under the category of a host.
As Verden spoke indirectly about the characteristics of an Apostle, Ifeakarn’s pupils formed a crescent again.It was the manifestation of a sincere smile.
[The Demon Realm is the best place for operating in the shadows.]
* * *
The Q&A session with Gareth, the owner of the tent, as the audience continued.
Next, the second question.
“Is Leila the Nameless One who sealed the Pandella of the Six Great Legends—the Burning Stone?”
Pandella was the cause that created the Demonic Realm by maximizing his obsession with life. It was the Nameless One who prevented it from running rampant in the world.So long ago that hundreds of years would seem laughable…
[Did you hear from the host? I obtained a considerable amount of information from a single arcadium.]
Ifeakarn looked straight up at Verden while greatly admiring him.
[I am nameless, and yet not.]
That was the end of the answer.
‘Affirming that Layla is a figure from the distant past, yet leaving room for doubt… … It is ambiguous. It seems obvious that leaving a curse on Layla is one of the reasons Ifeakarn stays in the Demon Realm.’
Verden calmed his curiosity and did not try to uncover the full story all at once. Impatience is futile. After all, he is getting closer to the answer.
It was the turn of the third and final question.
“Ipheakarn, what do you want?”
[A future that is neither fate nor resistance.]
Ifeakarn whispered.
[I am seeking a third choice. And, finally, I am aiming for fruition.]
“……!”
Verden fell silent. Ifeakarn’s answer had certainly succeeded in eliciting shock.For ‘you,’ whom he faced through Akand, had stated that there was no third option.
[That alone is more than enough reason for us to form an alliance. The Devil and the Destroyer of Fate. I belong nowhere, and you seek to belong nowhere. The soul shall be our path.]
“…….”
[I trust that this has been an attractive answer, O Singularity.]
Ifeakarn moved its tentacles.
[Now that the Q&A has concluded, a cooperative relationship has been established, and the contract is deemed fulfilled the moment the Demon Realm Suppression Corps closes the Gate and departs the Demon Realm. This cooperation shall be reborn as an alliance. Furthermore, to commemorate this… … .]
The archdemon of parasitism, who had given Verden a parasitic problem in his mind, winked his eyes in a creepy way as if to say that he would surely like it.
I will send a gift at the appropriate time.
* * *
“……what.”
One of Ifeakarn’s contractors suddenly looked up, feeling a shiver for no reason. She glanced around, then recalled Ifeakarn and narrowed her brows in annoyance.
I feel bad.
Xenia Deiros.
A survivor of the mansion burned down by Croden Olentias, the first disciple of the former Lord of the Bohemian Magic Tower.
The younger sister Isabella Deiros had been searching for so desperately.
Zenia stood in the middle of a small village filled with corpses that had been swept by a horde of the undead and had failed to heed the World Alliance’s evacuation order.
The screams of souls were heard.
