Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 403

403.

“Ahaha, but how does Eluien know about guns? Oh, I guess it’s obvious since he’s a god.”

Come to think of it, when he came to save me from the illusion magic, he seemed to blend into the Korean environment naturally. Seeing Lusef recognize the weapon right away, maybe gods possess knowledge of all dimensions. But the answer I got was quite unexpected.

“Guns are also used in Byton.”

“Huh? Really? They use guns there too? Doesn’t Byton use magic?”

“They used to. But after a mage connected the path between the Demon Realm and other dimensions, the use of traditional magic was restricted. Since then, other forms of power and weapons began to develop. Firearms are one of them. Though, they’re a bit different from Earth’s.”

“Hoo, I see.”

I had only heard of Byton, which Eluien oversees, as the Second Demon Realm, and never tried to learn more about it. But hearing this, it seemed like a world with quite a lot of interesting aspects. If only I were a dragon, I could go sightseeing, but being a Spirit King who can’t go to other dimensions is a bit of a shame.

“Anyway, let’s take care of the rest.”

It was when Eluien was about to raise his divine power again.

“Wait! Wait a minute!”

“……!”

I felt a presence from below and then heard a familiar voice. When I looked down in surprise, I saw a familiar figure. Bluish skin and sparkling silver hair stood out.

“Huh? Sibel?”

Looking again and again, it was definitely Sibelius. As I called his name, I felt Lusef flinch beside me. He seemed frozen. Meanwhile, Sibelius took out his wings, spread them wide, and flew towards us.

“El, long time no see! I missed you so much!”

“Sibel! What happened? How did you get here?”

“Well, it’s a long story. I was chasing those demons. I lost track of them midway and was wandering around. Then I saw the gods stepping in, so I was watching the situation.”

“Wow, I see.”

“So, I was wondering, is there a way to save those demons as much as possible? They’re just being used, and it’s not good to just kill them all like that. Well, actually, I don’t care, but there are some who would be very upset, so I can’t just ignore it. Asga says there’s a way to undo the spell.”

“Asga?”

Come to think of it, Sibelius was sent to make a contract with Asga. The fact that he’s here now means that Asga and Deron are here too.

“Godfather.”

I was looking around for my cute godson when I heard a voice calling me from behind. There was no need to guess who it was. Only one person in this world could call me Godfather. But the voice was lower than I remembered. I turned around in slight confusion and slowly opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was long, jet-black hair. Skin as white as snow, and eyes as red as if they held roses. It was definitely a familiar face, familiar features. But the position of his gaze was much higher than I remembered. His build and height were much larger and sturdier. But it was definitely a face I knew. With a hint of disbelief, I forced my reluctant mouth open.

“……Asya?”

To my question, the man, both strange and familiar, tilted his head and smiled. Then, a flower-like loveliness bloomed on his face, brightening it like spring. It was that loveliness that I knew better than anyone else.

“Yes, Godfather. It’s Asya.”

* * *

The child who was once a toddler had appeared as a handsome young man. It took me some time to fully accept the fact that was hard to believe even when seeing it with my own eyes. The last time I saw Asga, he looked to be in his early teens. The period we had been apart was roughly a month. The late spring weather had turned into full summer in the meantime, but it wasn’t generally a period in which a child could grow into an adult.

“How…….”

It was something that I would have dismissed as impossible even in a novel, but it was happening in reality. No matter how much Asga was a demon and had a fast growth rate, it didn’t make sense for him to grow so suddenly. If Deron, standing behind him with a proud face, hadn’t been there, I might have wondered if someone who looked similar was impersonating him. In fact, I wasn’t entirely without such suspicions. But before I could ask for details, the next thing happened.

“I’ll explain later. Godfather, can you help me for a moment?”

“Huh? W-what?”

“I need you to connect me to the Demon God.”

“Huh?”

“I need to have the authority of the king first to undo that spell.”

Ah, come to think of it, Asga said he knew a way to undo the spell. I was so surprised by the appearance of my adult godson that I had forgotten for a moment. Asga was already qualified to be the Demon King, but he couldn’t use his authority. I don’t know the details, but it seems like he needs that to find a way. But realizing that didn’t make the previous request any more understandable. What does it mean to connect me to Kanos?

“I have all the conditions, but the power of the Demon God has become more distant. It seems that the existing order is being distorted because of the Evil God. So I need a place where I can communicate directly with the Demon God. But this temple is already contaminated, so I can’t use the sanctuary.”

“Hmm, I see. I understand the situation. I understand, but can I solve it…….”

“Of course, it’s something only Godfather can do. Godfather also has a temple of the Demon God, right?”

“What do you mean…… Ah!”

At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind like lightning. I quickly looked down at my hand. More precisely, at the blue-glowing glove on that hand. The glove made of mermaid scales had never left my body since the day I received it, as if it were a part of me. It was the same reason I started wearing the circlet. I hurriedly took off the glove, revealing the back of my hand that had been covered for a long time. Along with the Demon God’s mark clearly imprinted on it.

“You mean this?”

A priest is a temple in himself. Eluien had said that to me once. As I reached out to show the mark, Asga grabbed my hand. I thought he was just going to check it closely, but that was the beginning.

“My only god, my great lord, my holy heaven.”

“Your child Asmodel wishes to give glory.”

Before I could say anything, Asga’s calm voice continued in succession. Soon, a flow began to occur from the point of contact. It felt as if a passage had been created between me and Asga, and wind was blowing inside. It was clear that something was being transmitted to Asga through me. What was embarrassing happened after that. The next moment, Asga smiled and bowed his head, pressing his forehead against the back of my hand.

“To the one who has followed the established rules and taken the legitimate procedure, the proof of due qualification.”

The language, like a spell, marked the end, leading to a definite phenomenon. The back of my hand seemed to get particularly hot, and red haze rose from the point of contact. The mark was radiating heat like a heated iron. And it seemed to play a similar role in reality. After a while, a dark red mark that I had seen before was engraved on Asga’s forehead as he raised his head again. The shape of sharp leather wings extending to both sides. It was undoubtedly the Demon God’s mark.

“Congratulations on your completion, my lord!”

Deron’s voice, filled with emotion, rang out loudly from right next to me. Only then could I finally realize the situation that was unfolding. When the mark I had been granted disappeared again, Asga said that it seemed like he needed a little more time. Now was the time. Asga had formally ascended to the throne.

“If you’re ready, start right away.”

However, no time was given to feel the lingering emotion. Eluien’s voice, which followed without any time to celebrate, immediately awakened the cold reality. Without a word, Asga stood straight, facing the demon army, and gathered his hands together. Then, a black aura gathered inside, and something began to take shape. I doubted my eyes for a moment at what soon appeared. But I wasn’t mistaken. No matter how I looked at it, it was a horn made by carving down a long horn.

‘Why a horn all of a sudden?’

I was bewildered, but the others just seemed calm. Then Asga nonchalantly picked it up and blew it. But the sound of the horn, which should have sounded, was not heard. It was questionable whether the wind had even passed through, as if there wasn’t even a hole in the first place. There was no way he would be joking in this situation (Asga wasn’t that kind of person in the first place), and I was about to go closer, wondering if something was wrong.

Crack, with a sound like lightning striking, an amazing thing began to happen before my eyes. Groans were heard here and there, and the demons, who had been tied up without moving, writhed wildly. The thorns that had been tightly binding them were now loose and swaying. It was clear that the restraints were being released. The meaning of that phenomenon was only one thing.

“It’s done! The spell is broken!”

Lusef’s voice, raised to the fullest, explained the whole situation. I reflexively stopped breathing. I had been half-expecting it, but the spell was really broken.

The blood dripping from the demons soon stopped slowly. Around that time, those who were released from their bonds began to fall to the ground one by one. They had regained consciousness, but they weren’t awake, so they weren’t ready for anything. It was over 60 meters above the ground. Even for demons, falling from this height is dangerous. Everyone’s body was not in good condition, so they might die.

Asga and Deron had already jumped in to save them. In a hurry, I raised water to catch the falling people. On one side, branches were growing wildly, acting as cushions. Troel had also stepped in. Thanks to that, everyone except those who fell dead from the beginning could be rescued safely.

After roughly securing the safety of the demons, we had also completely descended to the ground. Seeing it up close, the situation at the place where the spell was being performed was clearer. The place where the demons had been dripping blood until just now was filled with a thick red blood mist. The black mass lurking inside was clearly visible. It was several times larger than the last time I saw it. I felt a chilling aura that made my chest cold in the stench that seemed to pierce my nose. But even as time passed, it still showed no signs of moving. Since the spell had failed, I thought it would burst out in anger or attack someone, but it was too quiet. That was an unsettling feeling.

Then, I felt a presence and someone stood next to me. Eluien was frowning and staring at the mass.

“The seal has already been released. Has it entered awakening?”

“Huh, Kanos’s seal has been released?”

“It’s okay. It hasn’t finished awakening yet. We can stop it.”

Lusef, who followed next, said something reassuring to me, who was panicking at the shocking news. Of course, he too had a stiff expression as he glared at the black mass.

“Still, my weapon won’t work. Eluien, use the Inquisitor. You have to cast a spell to bind it, so transform it into a bow instead of a gun.”

“I’ll cooperate, but don’t call me so familiarly.”

“Geez, you’re so prickly. Usually, in these urgent moments, we exchange names and build affection together, you know?”

“I have no intention of building anything like that with you.”

“You’re really cutting me off?”

Lusef, who had been grumbling, paused for a moment and then turned to me the next moment. No, to be exact, he seemed hesitant to turn to my side. Sibelius was there.

“Oh, um, well…… it’s not the time to say this in this situation, but I’m really g-glad to see you.”

Unlike his cheerful face until just now, his expression was stiff and awkward when he said that. His voice seemed to be trembling. Anyone could see that he was perfectly aware of it, but Sibelius had a puzzled expression. At first, he didn’t even realize that he was talking to him (this was natural since he didn’t make eye contact), but after a while, he tilted his head.

“Do you know me?”

“……Well, I know you better than anyone else.”

Lusef finally looked at Sibelius slowly. He had a slightly sad smile on his face.

“I probably know you better than you know yourself.”

“……Excuse me?”

Sibelius, who was reflexively frowning, was examined by Lusef with a slightly slow gaze. He couldn’t even make eye contact a moment ago, but this time he seemed to be exploring in detail, as if he were going to examine every detail one by one. Then, a ripple soon began to form in Sibelius’s eyes, which had flinched. It was an expression that he had intuitively realized something.

“You look a lot like your brother now that you’re all grown up.”

“…….”

Now Sibelius’s eyes were clearly revealing his agitation. It was clear that he had recognized Lusef’s identity with that one word.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you all this time. But I’ll protect you no matter what this time. Um, so…… what I want to say is, it’s dangerous here, so stay away.”

Sibelius didn’t say anything. Lusef scratched his head awkwardly, smiled bitterly, and turned around. Then he started to prepare something in earnest, talking to Eluien about this and that again.

“I wondered who it was, but it’s the God of Justice, Lusef? I can’t believe I’m standing in front of the famous guardian of the divine realm.”

Deron, who had approached nearby, lowered his voice slightly and said. Next to him, Asga, whose face was flushed as if he had seen a celebrity, asked.

“That god is the guardian of the divine realm? The creator god of the unicorn?”

“Yes, he’s a really scary god even though he looks like that. I know that that god killed all the demon lords during the Great War. That’s why Kanos put a curse on the bloodline of the runes, which are his creations.”

“Ah, I see.”

Even then, Sibelius was silent. I approached him, who seemed to have lost his mind somewhere, and gently checked his condition.

“Sibel, are you okay?”

“Huh? Ah, yeah.”

“You must be very surprised. I didn’t expect to see the God of Justice here, but you must be even more so.”

“……I see.”

“Yeah?”

“……It’s really, Lord Lusef.”

Sibelius, who was muttering, looked a little choked up. His slightly distorted face was filled with longing and resentment, yet also affectionate feelings. Thanks to the suddenly encountered creator god, he seemed to have recalled the memories that had been buried in the past. I didn’t want to disturb him, so I just watched quietly, and he soon awkwardly smiled with a face that had come to his senses.

“Ah, sorry. I was a little surprised as El said. I’ve seen the God of Punishment and met the Demon God, but I never imagined I’d be able to meet Lord Lusef. It’s kind of…… very unrealistic.”