Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 598

Side Story. 5

“This is the last time I’ll let it slide. Go back and be more careful.”

The stern warning wasn’t just words. The unicorns, startled by Gaiel drawing his weapon, stepped back in confusion. They bit their lips with resentful expressions, but soon turned away as if they couldn’t help it. Watching their pathetic, retreating figures, Gaiel muttered as if sighing.

“If we had the Rune, purification would have been much easier. They’re just reaping what they sowed by accumulating more sin. How dare they call themselves children of the one who is most sacred and the source of all power, after abandoning that power themselves? Shameless.”

He wasn’t trying to hide his words, so they were loud enough to be heard. The unicorns, provoked, stopped and turned back with hardened faces. Ardan couldn’t hold back either.

“Even if you are an angel of Lusef, your words are too harsh.”

“Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

“We didn’t abandon the power of the Rune! You know very well who made that decision! That vile and filthy traitor…!”

“Ardan, you don’t understand what I mean by ‘abandoned’.”

“What…”

“When you sealed the Rune with the power of the Lord, you had already abandoned it.”

Even when they only knew that the Rune was lost, the unicorn tribe could not escape responsibility for failing to protect it properly. Moreover, they used the power given to them to protect the tribe to abolish their symbol. It was an act of treason against Lusef. His nature was generous, so he overlooked it, but everyone in the divine realm knew how unacceptable this act was. Frankly, Gaiel couldn’t understand how the unicorns, who had committed such an outrageous act, could still shamelessly visit the palace.

“That, that’s because, there’s a reason! That traitor said he would break our wings! So we had no choice…!”

“Why did he even want to break your wings in the first place? Isn’t the fact that it came to that a problem? Even if you had no choice but to seal it to prevent it, you should have confessed that fact to Lusef. But you even lied that he was dead.”

Ardan couldn’t say anything more to the cold rebuke. Still, his expression was still resentful, which made Gaiel even more displeased.

“Don’t be mistaken. It’s not just the sealing of the Rune that’s the problem. You must also take responsibility for making the previous Rune break his wings. If you don’t want to suffer in the afterlife, you should do your best to purify your souls while you still have life left. Even then, you won’t be able to be reborn as a god.”

All the unicorns’ faces contorted with despair at the fact they didn’t want to acknowledge. Ardan was completely collapsed. Staring straight at his pale face, Gaiel opened his mouth for the last time.

“And I warn you, don’t you dare call him, the one Lusef possessed, filthy or vile. If I hear such a thing again, I will take strict measures.”

The vacant face shook greatly. Gaiel sighed again and didn’t bother to add that the unicorn they called a traitor would rather live a noble life in the next life. Instead, he gestured for them to leave. The unicorns hesitated for a moment, then helped Ardan, who was sitting down, and moved away. Then, Ardan’s eyes changed instantly, and he shouted viciously.

“We just wanted to be by Lusef’s side! What do you know, you who can always be by Lusef’s side!”

“We are also gods! We are also a blessed tribe allowed to be with God! If we had lived in the divine realm from the beginning, there would have been no problem!”

The screaming, as if in a frenzy, echoed loudly even as the tribe dragged him away. Gaiel, feeling that they were not worth dealing with, turned around and entered the palace. Another angel, who had come out to check on the noise, followed Gaiel.

“Oh, what on earth is going on?”

“Just unicorns being unicorns, what else.”

“It’s really tiring. Anyone who hears it would think we forced them out. Do they even remember that they wanted to leave the divine realm?”

“They wouldn’t be like that if they did. They think the previous generation’s affairs have nothing to do with them. If they had properly carried on the legacy of the previous generation in the first place, they wouldn’t have treated the Rune that way. Don’t worry about it. I gave them a good scolding, so they’ll be quiet for a while.”

“I hope so. Don’t worry about it either, sister. You need to get ready to go out. It’s almost time for the meeting.”

“Oh, is it that time already?”

Just like there were banquets for the gods, there were also gatherings for the attendant angels. Today was the day of the angels’ meeting, which took place every few years. It had the character of a conference, but it was more like a group outing, so some people looked forward to that day, while others found it annoying. Gaiel clearly belonged to the latter, but she didn’t bother to show it in front of her expectant colleagues.

“Will they be coming from there at this meeting too?”

“Where?”

“The new Archdemon’s palace, I mean.”

“They replied to the invitation that they would attend, so I guess so.”

“It’s surprising how cooperative they are. During Kanos’s time… um, let’s just skip this. Anyway, no one expected it. I heard there’s only the first angel yet, so is that why? Aren’t you curious about what kind of person they are?”

“I guess. I’m curious.”

She responded indifferently, but in fact, Gaiel was also very surprised. The gods from Elquines tended to be uncooperative in group activities, so their angels were also like that. The angels of Kraze, the god of hell, only attended when they felt like it, and the angels of Eluin, the god of punishment, only attended the last meeting after the chief begged and begged every day. Even that was only made possible because the youngest angel said she wanted to go.

The angels of the previous Archdemon, whose explanations were omitted, had never attended even once. Since this Archdemon was also from Elquines, everyone was somewhat resigned. However, they couldn’t not send an invitation, so they just sent it as a formality. But suddenly, they received a reply that they would attend.

“The new Archdemon must be a sociable person. I thought they would be scary, but maybe I was wrong.”

No, it couldn’t be a misunderstanding. He was from Elquines, and even a god who oversaw war and destruction. There was no way a person with a normal personality could become an Archdemon. Gaiel barely swallowed the feeling of wanting to point that out. She could only hope that today’s meeting would not end in disaster.

* * *

This angels’ meeting was held for the first time in seven years since the last meeting. The group outing, which was held after a long time, had a bright atmosphere from the beginning. The attendees sat in seats marked with their respective palaces and enjoyed the refreshments prepared by the organizers. However, their eyes were constantly directed towards one seat. The seat, which was still empty, was prepared for the angel of the new Archdemon, Croahen.

“There really is a seat prepared. I guess it’s true that they’re attending.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I wonder what kind of person they are?”

As the murmuring sounds grew louder from all directions, one of the gods, who had elegantly put down the teacup she had been sipping, opened her mouth.

“I was really surprised that Luminel came out today. Until recently, she said she wasn’t interested.”

The speaker was a high-ranking god with four wings. The eyes of those around her were immediately drawn to her.

“Jewel, have you met her?”

“Yes, as you know, my master, Pelma, is the god of strife, so she’s in the war god line. Among the same demon attributes, you can say she’s more direct. So I accompanied her on her way to greet her superior, Croahen. Since then, I’ve been visiting her often while delivering letters.”

“Oh, then did you happen to see Croahen too?”

“Of course.”

All sides were buzzing. The new Archdemon, Croahen, had never properly revealed his face until now. According to rumors, he was being dragged around by the god of punishment and working while imprisoned. The god of punishment was also very mysterious, so it was regarded as a related joke, but recently, rumors spread that Kraze, the god of hell, barely escaped from the place of imprisonment and cursed, adding credibility to the situation. Anyway, no one had seen the face of the new Archdemon until now. In the midst of all this, someone who had seen him for the first time appeared, so everyone couldn’t help but be excited.

“Is he a male god? What does he look like?”

“He’s really, really amazing. He’s so handsome that your mouth drops open.”

“Oh, really?”

“The moment I saw him, I thought I was going blind. High-ranking gods originally have a strong presence, but he’s really on a different level. In my opinion, he’s as handsome as the god of punishment.”

“Oh my!”

The god of punishment, who had been misunderstood as looking like a monster because he had been reclusive, had long been re-evaluated through that incident 300 years ago. Now, the name Eluin was known as the synonym for the most handsome male god in the divine realm. The gods were even more excited to hear that a god as handsome as the god of punishment had been born.

“I’m so jealous of Jewel. I want to see him too.”

“Why isn’t my master in the war god line?”

Everyone expressed their envious feelings with half jokes and half seriousness. Thanks to this, the shoulders of the high-ranking god Jewel, who had received attention, were puffed up.

“What is his personality like? Is he very scary?”

“I only greeted him and waited outside, so I don’t know what he’s like. But if you look at his angel, Luminel, he’s a little blunt, but he’s not that scary.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I guarantee it, since I’ve seen him often. I even told him that I wanted to be like sisters with him, and he said yes.”

Again, exclamations of envy erupted. Although not as much as in human societies, connections were very important in the divine realm. In particular, the more friendships you built with high-ranking gods, the better.

“It’s probably a bluff.”

A low-ranking god, who had been sitting quietly in one corner, whispered to the person next to her. It was the angel of Shurei, the god of stability. The gods who knew that their masters didn’t have a very good relationship laughed awkwardly. Jewel also heard the sound. She also knew that she tended to exaggerate a bit. She would have been angry usually, but this time she didn’t care.

‘Because this time it’s real.’

To be exact, he said, ‘Do whatever you want,’ but he didn’t refuse anyway. It was when Jewel was confidently raising her head.

“What is it? Are you talking about me?”

“……!”

The gods who had inadvertently turned around at the sudden voice all flinched. A god they didn’t know when he had come was looking down at them. With gray-blue eyes and purple hair that became darker as it went down, he was so beautiful that they swallowed their breath. He was even a high-ranking god with six wings.

‘Why is a high-ranking god here….’

Because there were so many attendees, the meeting place was divided into groups according to the rank of the god they served. This side was mainly for the angels of mid-level and low-level gods.

“Luminel!”

The gods were startled again by the sound Jewel shouted at that moment. Luminel was the name of the Archdemon’s angel that Jewel had mentioned until just now. Only then did the crest on his forehead, which had been hidden by his appearance, come into view. The spider crest, with its legs sharply extended downwards as if aiming for a chance to prey. It was the crest of the Archdemon Croahen.

Even more attention was focused on the space that was already receiving attention. Jewel felt like she was flying as the murmuring filled all sides. It was really wonderful that such a famous being was acknowledging her.

“Did you just arrive? You surprised me by suddenly appearing.”

“It sounded like you were talking about me.”

“The Archdemon is such a mysterious person. Everyone is curious about him. I hope you’re not upset?”

“Maybe.”

“I only said compliments. It’s true.”

The Archdemon’s angel—Luminel, who had been staring at her with an affectionate tone, smiled. A smile spread across his picturesque face, and there was no other sight like it. All the gods around him grabbed their hearts. Meanwhile, Shurei’s angel was whispering with other gods who were on the same wavelength.

“There’s all kinds of things happening.”

“What should we do? I guess it’s not a bluff this time. It seems like they’re really close?”

“Well, let it go. I guess that person doesn’t have an eye for people.”

Jewel, who was not affected at all this time, ignored them. Rather, she felt even better thinking that it was the loser’s struggle.

“But I’m really surprised that Luminel is attending. You said you weren’t interested in the meeting.”

“Ah, I received a special order.”

Luminel, who answered indifferently, had an expression that the situation itself was annoying. Thanks to this, Jewel, who couldn’t ask what the special order was, carefully looked at him. The only one who could give orders to him, a high-ranking god, would be his master, Croahen, but she wondered what he, a god, would be trying to find out at the angels’ meeting.

At that time, laughter was heard from one place. It was the sound of welcoming the gods who had just arrived from the upper group.

“Look over there, it’s the angels of punishment.”

Someone exclaimed. The angels of high-ranking gods generally had a high rank of gods, but the god of punishment was the only palace where all of them were high-ranking gods. Befitting the name of the beautiful god, the angels’ appearance was also beautiful, so everyone had a warm expression.

“Luminel is much cooler.”

Jewel, who had been distracted, grumbled, but she was also busy looking over there. She hadn’t been able to attend the last meeting, so it was her first time seeing the angels of punishment in person. As expected of Eluin’s angels, they all had a great presence. But there was one strange thing.

“Only that person has a different appearance?”

Because they were formed under the influence of their master, the angels of one palace generally had similar appearances. The angels of punishment who had appeared now also had a mature and elegant atmosphere. But there was one person who had a cute appearance like a girl. Is that person not on the side of the god of punishment? As Jewel was about to wonder, one of the gods nearby interjected.

“Ah, are you talking about Nadel? Jewel, you couldn’t come to the last meeting, right? That’s what I heard.”

“Ah, then maybe?”

“Yes, that person has a different disposition. It seems like there was an accident in the process of being born.”