Episode 1200 Reorganization (6)
The devil basically has no fixed destiny.
That is generally the characteristic of heterologous species.
As demons continue to exist as long as they do not die, the Ruas Theocracy was extremely wary of this and never relaxed the intensity of its extermination efforts.With the passage of time, the power of demons and demon worshippers on the continent weakened, and they marched toward destruction.
Light shall dispel darkness!
As long as the religion of Luas remains firm, there will be no room for the devil to run rampant in this land.In the not-too-distant future, the species known as the devil would be dismissed as a legend passed down through records.
This is the conclusion of the story that began in the past… … .
Even before the founding of Luasism, all religions were hostile to demons.Demons bewitched and corrupted humans, writing a history of all kinds of cruelty; thus, their inherent danger was greater than that of the undead, who hate all the living. Thiswas because demons had the potential to collapse the human system itself from within.
Old times.
Demon hunters ran rampant across the continent.Witch hunts took place in cities and villages.
A person could be legally killed based solely on testimony linking them to the devil. Furthermore, this served as justification to seize what that person possessed.
───Devil! The author made a pact with the devil!
When a local nobleman gained considerable popular support by caring for the weak, a jealous Margrave framed him with false demonic charges and stripped him of everything he possessed.The nobleman was torn to shreds by the very weak he had helped and murdered as a devil worshipper.The nobleman’s son, who barely survived the massacre of his family, made a genuine pact with a high-ranking demon and, driven by a thirst for revenge, swept through the border region with a plague.
───Devil! That bitch slept with the devil! I saw it!
A loving, handsome couple from the countryside had their family shattered after being denounced by the ugly son of the village chief.The wife, dragged away, was subjected to unspeakable torture before being impaled on a stake and burned; her unborn child became food for pigs; and the husband, accused of being in league with a witch, had his genitals and both wrists severed by the villagers and was hung from a pole.Just before dying, the husband made a pact with a blood demon and was blown up along with the entire village, including the chief’s son.
───Burn all the demons!
In modern times, the Luas religion does not officially permit guilt by association, and with verification methods highly developed, indiscriminate witch hunts have ceased… butin the distant or recent past, detailed charges did not matter. To those in power, branding someone as a devil was an invincible means, much like a divine revelation.
And when those unjustly framed sought revenge by borrowing the power of the devil out of desperation, religions distorted the process and exaggerated the results, creating a world where the demon race was despised and hated even more.
He judged a noble family that had made a pact with the Whispering Demon and attempted to sacrifice their villagers, and released the innocent young son of one of the nobles, but in the end, even the son offered his soul to another demon and became a plague demon on the frontier.
When the wife who committed adultery with a succubus and conceived a little devil was punished, the husband, who had long been consumed by lust, made a pact with the devil and massacred the village.
A time of sin, accusation, and divine punishment.
Hanged corpses were a common sight in cities, villages, and outdoors. The screams of humans burned at the stake echoed in the ears.Although the demons that seduce humans were being killed, society was ironically seething with darker, filthy desires and corruption than ever before.Just as if burning down a house to catch a bug, the demons found among the corpses of innocent humans were executed one after another.
The continent became hell.
The great demons watched the continent that had become hell.
Who is the culprit?
The Archdemon of the Legion was furious, declaring that not only the rulers of fate but also the ignorant masses being used by them must all be slaughtered.The Archdemon of Parasitism twitched its tentacles in displeasure while keeping a close eye on the method of domination.The Archdemon of Darkness, harboring hatred, pondered how the demon could survive.
However, having already been defeated in the battle of destiny and merely clinging to life in silence, they dared not prevent the demons from being brutally slaughtered.
Even when the witch hunts eventually subsided, the demon was captured and killed.Six or seven centuries ago, the Archdemon of the Legion could no longer endure it and waged war, but he fell and his remnants died en masse.
Due to such long massacres and persecution, a generational change also took place among the demon tribe.
Now, hardly any demons remain who remember the landscape of the Battle of Destiny. So many that even the combined forces of all existing Great Demons would not amount to ten…
That’s right.
It is dying as the neck is slowly strangled.
So shouldn’t we do something before we are helplessly defeated?
At this, the Archdemon of the Legion led his entire army and rammed into the world, while the Archdemon of the Parasite plotted a scheme without leaving the continent.
On the other hand, the Dark Archdemon fled after witnessing the death of the Legion’s Archdemon. He sought to survive by creating a shelter. You could call him a coward.
Because a savior will come someday.
The Archdemon of Darkness prayed in the abyss and continued to wait as always… … .
… … .…… .… … .… … .… … .… … . … … .… … .… … .… … .… … .
[Beriel, Gorgo.]
A captivating and beautiful female demon with three pairs of wings on her back, and a massive demon emitting a gloomy aura from her entire body, trembled.
[The time has come.]
* * *
Darkness where no light enters.
The Archdemon’s refuge in a third dimension different from the first world (continent)───Libereas.
This place is a world created by the Archdemon of Darkness who severed one of his own hands, a sanctuary where the demons who follow him can rest in peace…In the city built upon the Archdemon’s palm, the demons formed a society, and the community of refugees has been maintained for hundreds of years, building a history.
However, compared to the time the Great Demon of Darkness has existed, it was merely a fleeting story.
The demon of Libereas was no different from a child nestled in comfortable darkness.A generation that had never experienced the Battle of Destiny.They understood only a part of the suffering of the Great Demon of Darkness through primal emotions and the knowledge of the past that had spread throughout Libereas.
[……light?]
[Gray. Light. Gray.]
[What is it? What is it? What is it? What is it? What is it? What is it?]
The demons, who were going about their daily lives as usual, sensed a presence crossing the center of the city and swarmed in quickly as if possessed.
A faint radiance suddenly shining in Libereas.
Farnium, who had originally been leading the way, was now walking right behind Verden. The Shadow Demon, born in the Desert of Silence, stood beside him.Their low footsteps echoed all around.Countless demons followed closely, gazing cautiously at Verden like moths chasing the moonlight.
Cayman was so agitated that his pupils trembled even as he walked beside him.
‘What is this… what’s going on…?’
I had visited Rivereas many times, but this was the first time I had seen demons gathered like this. Moreover, to think that they were all keeping a close eye on just one person.I knew from Parnium’s mention that Verden was a very important figure to the demons, but this was far too different from what I had expected.
Demons joining the procession in hushed silence.Farnium showing an attitude of loyalty.
Isn’t that practically the attitude they have toward their own rulers?
What on earth happened to Verden while he was away in the Demon Realm? Besides the fact that his level has risen to a point where it cannot even be compared to that Darkmoon Dahit, there must be something else.
A little more, a little more fundamental… … .
Cayman had felt a sense of unease for some time.He could not understand why.Perhaps he would learn at least a little of the truth at the end of this journey.
Kugugugugugugu───!
The Temple of the Great Demon of Darkness, situated in the center of Rivereas, began to open. A mist-like darkness poured out silently from within.
Cayman took a step back without realizing it.
“……no way.”
[Oh, the deepest darkness… … .]
The other demons could not hide their astonishment either.
The Archdemon conveys his will only through his closest aides, and the last time he appeared outside the temple was as much as 180 years ago.
Faceless demons wearing red robes were lined up on both sides of the only path leading into the temple.
[O bastard of false sin.]
[O byproduct that hates the cradle.]
[O benevolent abyss, knowing solitude.]
The true form of the Archdemon is sealed away to avoid ‘your’ gaze.All Archdemons were like this.Although they would not be detected in worlds other than the continent, the Archdemon of Darkness has nevertheless maintained its seal even in Rivereas.
It wasn’t a complicated reason.
For outside contractors like Cayman, who were among the few permitted to visit Libereas, would be helplessly overwhelmed by his presence.
There was only one way to break the Great Demon’s seal.
Calling out the Archdemon four times by different names in the Archdemon’s realm.
[I pay homage to the great evil of the night.]
For a moment, silence seemed to fall, then an unusual current arose throughout Libereas.A widely dispersed intangible force surged upward and converged once again at the center, strongly crushing all beings and objects beneath it.
thud!
The city was in turmoil.
The demons, with the exception of Parnium, knelt.
Cayman was also deprived of his freedom.
“……?!”
An incomprehensible presence forced submission.Not even a voice came out.The Devil’s Contractor could never escape this domination.
The Three Great Demons that the Luas Cult was so wary of…
Isabella merely hesitated for a moment. She grabbed [Einber]’s sleeve. She had not made a pact with a demon and was less affected by it thanks to Verden’s protection.The same was true for Alpha and Beta.However, they could feel the intimidation emanating from Noxias. Isabella recalled the fear she had felt when the Red Dragon Sarkandra stood before her.
Only Verden stood motionless, facing the darkness within the temple, and gauged the power of Noxias based on his experience.
Is it truly a being born of ‘your’ destiny, even if unintended?
Comparable to an Apostle of Destiny.
In the current Eon, no one can stand against you except for Verden. Without hearing the reason, I felt I could understand how you had survived against ‘you’ for such a long time just through your presence alone.
A new presence was felt in the temple.
Click, click, click.
A female demon inside the inverted building with three pairs of wings came out and stood on the left.
Thump, thump, thump.
A massive demon, emitting an aura so intense that even Alpha and Beta felt depressed, revealed its distorted form and took its place on the right.
Silence and stillness followed.
It was so terrifying that I felt I absolutely could not open my mouth. Even the higher-ranking demons watching this trembled with extreme fear.
Then Verden said.
Test me.
[Three questions, three answers.]
The voice of the Archdemon from the temple seeped into everyone’s ears. It resonated within. It felt as if it were whispering directly into their souls.
[Do you not hate us?]
For me, there is no difference.
First question and first answer.
[… … Are we sinners?]
There is no fate.
Second question and second answer.
[… … … … Who are you.]
It is your waiting.
Third question and third answer.
The conversation between Verden and the Archdemon consisted entirely of simple questions and answers. It was as if a child were asking an adult a question. Once again, Rivereas was plunged into silence, and only after a long while did the Archdemon ask.
[Can We Be Saved?]
It was the fourth question without a promise.Before I knew it, honorifics had permeated his speech.
You did that last time.
───[It will take time to find out about him and a way to lift the curse. We do not know how long it will take, but… … when ‘that time’ comes, we will come to find you first. Please wait for us.]
Noxias once said this through Geruas, a high-ranking demon.
When exactly is ‘that time’?
Verden merely waited for Noxias to be ready, but that was not his true intention. ‘That time’ was to be decided by Verden, not Noxias.The moment when Verden needed the forces of Libereas and Noxias.
“I will save you.”
Now was the very time.
|Noxias|
Divine word.
Verden’s blue eyes turned gray. Ashy tears flowed from his right pupil, which held the demonic eye. They were tears that demons could not shed.A divine being akin to the Absolute completely stripped away the presence of the Great Demon.
All the demons, including the highest-ranking ones, completely folded their knees and bowed their heads.It was instinct.Cayman, too, ended up sincerely submitting without even a chance to resist. Not only his body, but his soul as well, was effectively captured.
Although Isabella, Alpha, and Beta knew about Verden’s realm, it was the first time they had seen Verden’s true divine power.
Come to me
As the darkness settling on the floor gathered and took shape, the boy manifested.With a deep and vast shadow cast behind his back, he knelt and slowly grasped the hand Verden extended with his one remaining hand.
[Please take me away.]
Archdemon of Darkness – Noxias.
Commander of the Void – Parnium.Commander of the Corruption – Beriel.Commander of the Despair – Gorgo.
The demon rulers who survived the battle of fate shed tears. Then, as if by prior agreement, they all raised their voices in unison.
[Oh, our God.]
The wait is over.
* * *
The Rift of the World───Land of the Devil.
Trapped in a closed gate and falling into the abyss, Yurion and his party unexpectedly encountered demons and were also unexpectedly welcomed.
And then, once again, I heard a story that was completely, utterly unexpected.
“No… I mean, what is it?”
Yurion pondered the question in his head and forced himself to continue speaking.
“Verden is a god? The god from ‘Oh God’?”
He trembled slightly.
“Even the Devil’s God?”
