Emperor’s Sword [EN]: Chapter 99

We ran through the corridors like madmen, laughing loudly. We shouted to vent our pent-up frustrations and hurled insults at the glaring demons. But whether it was Lucifer’s command that had been issued to everyone, no one stopped or scolded us as we rampaged.

We sauntered into one place. A few lower-ranking demons, the Rakshasas [a type of demon], were sitting around, staring at us with blank expressions.

“You morons, pathetic creatures who only polish Lucifer’s backside. And yet you act so high and mighty.” Their stern gazes quickly scanned us both. But there was nothing we feared now. We would be grateful if they killed us on the spot, so there was nothing we couldn’t say. We deliberately started to provoke them.

“No matter how hard you try, it’ll all be for naught in the end. It’s all a waste of effort. Do you understand, you stupid, simple-minded fools?” They didn’t seem to understand me, and for a while, they just stared at each other blankly.

“So slow… That’s why you’re always in that state. I pity you, lower-ranking Rakshasa demons.” It was true. There was no satisfaction in venting our anger on these guys. Losing interest, we left and headed towards the Asuras’ [another type of demon] quarters. We found it quickly. They too were furious at our random outbursts, but that was all they could do.

One of them, listening quietly, suddenly shouted.

“Have you forgotten your place so soon! How dare you, slaves, utter such words?” “Oh, look at this guy. He treats Lucifer’s orders like dog poop on the street. Well, you’re very brave.”

Realizing the meaning of my words, he only frowned and didn’t respond.

“Your limit is there. If I had the power, I’d crush you with one hand. Be grateful to Lucifer.” “Ugh, these guys… Have they suddenly gone crazy?” “Well, you’re going to be thrown into the battlefield and fall in a pathetic state, so I should feel sorry for you instead.” “Hey, hey, you!” I tapped the back of the guy’s head, who was scowling, and he couldn’t hold back any longer and jumped up.

“Come on, hit me, hit me,” Cheonma taunted, sticking his face out. Oh, look at this. This is unexpectedly fun.

“You moron, you can’t even hit me, just putting on airs. I wonder what the Great Demons are like?” Cheonma’s face lit up at my words, looking very excited.

“That would be fun. Instead of dealing with these spineless guys, let’s go there. Let’s do some reconnaissance too.” We looked at each other, chuckled, and left the place. Behind us, the sound of innocent objects breaking could be heard belatedly.

“So?” This guy is not easy to deal with. I don’t think I’ve heard him speak much yet. Even Cheonma seemed wary of him.

Asasel.

He was the one who subtly acted as the leader among the Great Demons. A clear image of a snake was engraved on his forehead, but its shape was completely different from the one I had seen on a certain man before. Instead of two snakes kissing, they were intertwined, biting each other’s tails. In a way, it looked like two crushed and overlapping circles.

According to ‘him’, as the unique demonic power of the Demon Realm rises, the shape of the snakes that were kissing would change. If they were biting their tails like that guy, it meant they had reached the extreme limit where they could no longer change. After that, like Lucifer, the shape would disappear altogether, and a new pattern would appear.

His red eyes were calm, but it felt like he could see through my soul. He was known as someone who wouldn’t be easily defeated even if he fought Lucifer.

“It’s just like that.” “You’re Pa-cheon, right? If this is how you can relieve your anger… that’s fine too.” This guy is not very interesting. I thought I shouldn’t have looked for him first.

“If you and Lucifer fought, who would win? Maybe you’re stronger?” At my words, he slowly shook his head.

“No one knows. But there’s no reason for me and Lucifer to fight. Because I am his subordinate.” “Still, don’t you want to know?” While I was saying these useless things, Cheonma was just watching quietly, as if he was intimidated.

“Honestly, I want to know. But… I gave up.” That was an unexpected answer. So, this guy really wanted to fight Lucifer. He wanted to see if he was really strong enough to keep him under his command.

His pride wouldn’t allow him to acknowledge it just because of Metatron’s halo. But it seemed like it wasn’t just for that reason.

“Lucifer is stronger than you think. Much stronger than me. That’s an undeniable fact. But I want to fight him once. It’s been so long since I’ve fought… I miss the old days. Boredom. Eternal time makes me tired.” “I guess so. You were such a battle maniac that you were famous even in other dimensions. You must be restless and frustrated.” “Baalzebul, I believed you would rise up and challenge me. If you hadn’t left the Demon Realm and stayed until now, there’s a higher chance that it would have happened. It’s a shame.” “No, I’ve gained much more than that.” “Gained? You?” “Yes. There is no hope in the Demon Realm. There are no living beings. Everyone is as good as dead. There’s no reason to live, so the passage of time is tedious.” “Is the Infinite Realm fun?” “I had clear goals, so it was interesting. All of it. Freedom. I felt that alone was superior to the entire value of the Demon Realm.” “Is that so? Freedom… Well, it depends on how you think about it.” “When the time comes, the Demon Realm will not be able to avoid God’s wrath and will have to live in eternal pain and punishment, deprived of freedom.” “That’s why we’re gathering our strength. This war will end in our victory.” “It must be very hard to deceive yourself. Don’t you know it well? The walls of the Heavenly Palace are high. If you only acknowledge you fallen angels and bow your heads before God and volunteer for punishment, the Demon Realm can be saved. You and I both know that.” “That’s right. But it’s too late now. Now, neither Lucifer nor Metatron can stop it.” “What are you talking about again?” The conversation between the two was so serious that I couldn’t interrupt.

“You don’t need to know that. Anyway, if it were before, I would have admitted that our attempt was reckless. But it’s different now. Maybe… we might become gods.” “Hahaha… That’s interesting.” “Yes, you can laugh at us all you want now. But later, you’ll be able to understand what I’m saying now.” That confidence doesn’t seem like mere stubbornness. Lucifer said the same thing last time. What the heck is it? There’s something there. What is it? What is this variable they’re talking about?

“Stop now. It’s time for training.” “You haven’t changed.” “It’s my only way to overcome boredom and my joy.” “Let’s go, Pa-cheon.” “Like this?” “Yes, if we mess around here any longer, we won’t be able to fight in tomorrow’s duel in good condition.” What Cheonma said seemed to be true.

And among the Great Demons, only Asasel and Mephisto didn’t seem to be afraid of Lucifer. So, it was questionable whether they would absolutely obey his orders like the other Rakshasas or Asuras.

The next place we went to was Mephisto’s quarters. Mephisto was once the ruler of the evil spirits of the Infinite Realm, the Ragon, so he was specially called the ‘King of Ragon’.

This guy also prided himself on being no less powerful than Asasel. Especially in spirit possession and evil magic, he was known to be unmatched.

He, like Asasel, didn’t easily get agitated even when we provoked him. Moreover, he made us shut our mouths as if he was annoyed, so we had to leave the place dumbfounded, like we had swallowed a mute pill.

“Bali is the best for this kind of thing. He’s simple, so he’s fun to play with.” The next place we went to was Britra’s quarters, and he welcomed us so warmly that we even forgot our original purpose.

“Hahaha, so that’s why you’re wandering around like this. That’s interesting, isn’t it? So, how were the reactions?” We had nothing to say in front of this guy, who was one step ahead of us.

“Well, yeah.” I ended up using honorifics again. Aza had a strange charm. The power to make the other person feel completely comfortable. Maybe this is what’s truly scary. He even politely called Cheonma ‘Lord Baalzebul’.

“When I was an Asura, Lord Baalzebul was like my idol. He was the first human to become a Great Demon in the history of the Demon Realm.” “Hmm, I guess so.” “And his personality was so simple that many demons followed him. But once he rose up, other dimensions would tremble. Those were really good times.” “Hmm, it must have been fun.” I was amused at how I was just going along with his words.

“That thorn… it must be uncomfortable, right?” “It’s painful, but I’ve become immune to it, so…” “I wish I could remove it for you… but it was placed by Lucifer… I’m sorry.” When he said that, both Cheonma and I had no choice but to shut our mouths.

“Britra,” Cheonma called cautiously.

“What is it, Lord Baalzebul?” “Do you know why the Demon Realm is so confident?” “I don’t know much about it. Only Asasel would know the details. Anyway, I’ve only heard that some variable has occurred.” “The demons are more confident than ever… Maybe they’re just saying that to get our hopes up?” “That’s not likely. We share the same fate, so there’s no reason to deceive us. Besides, recently, the dark angels who are said to be guarding Metatron have been visiting frequently. It seems clear that something is going on.” What could it be that they’re hiding even from the Great Demons? I recalled what I had heard from Metatron in the Illusion Zone.

“Do you know about those who exist on their own?” “Huh?” Not only Britra but also Cheonma was startled. I was momentarily bewildered by their identical reactions.

“That’s a term used by the gods. But why are you asking about that?” “Gods?” “I know that there were originally several beings who existed on their own. But among them, only one achieved complete divinity.” “Hmm, then what about the other beings?” “That’s unknown. It happened before humans were created… There were no other dimensions at that time. The angels might know. But why are you suddenly asking about that?” “No… it’s nothing.” Britra looked at me with a meaningful gaze. Then, he asked in a cautious tone.

“Did you hear about it in the Illusion Zone?” “Yes.” “It seems like you’re talking about the secret dimension.” “Secret dimension?” “Lord Baalzebul, you must know about it too.” “That’s just baseless talk. I can’t believe there’s such a thing. No one has seen it, so it’s hard to believe…” “Is that so?” “Secret dimension…” Metatron must have said something similar. If so, there must be some correlation, and the motivation that made the Demon Realm confident might not be unrelated to this.

“Anyway, the current Demon Realm feels like it’s floating in the air. The inside is empty, but the outside is flashy. This invasion of the human realm is something that would have been unthinkable before.

And I don’t understand why Metatron allowed it. Unlike Lucifer, he’s not a violent being. He’s closer to a dreamer who dreams of an ideal world, not someone who would lead such a revolutionary crackdown.

If he had such a tendency, there would have been chaos in other dimensions long ago.” “I agree with that. This matter regarding the human realm seems to be more of a unilateral decision by Lucifer than a direct order from Metatron. Of course, I don’t have any proof of that…” When I talked to Britra, I often got confused about whether he was a Great Demon of the Demon Realm or a key figure in the Heavenly Realm or the Immortal Realm. It was the same now. Seeing him say such things so openly, didn’t he feel closer to our side?

“There is some dissatisfaction, though not very large, within the Demon Realm regarding this oppression of the human realm. The human realm is, after all, like a home to all spirits, and from the Demon Realm’s perspective, it’s the only escape that can wash away boredom.

There are quite a few who are uneasy because they feel like they’re doing something they shouldn’t be doing.” It was clear that not all those who belonged to the Demon Realm were unconditionally aggressive. But that would only be a small part, and it wouldn’t be a force large enough to influence the overall trend.

“Now it’s irreversible. I’m even worried that God’s wrath might come before the time is up…” “They won’t stay quiet until the end. The Demon Realm broke the rules first, so there’s no reason to protest.” “Hoo, in the end, the Second Spirit Realm War will break out. And I’m in the center of it.” “It’s not a war, it’s a rebellion. Why, are you afraid?” “It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t. Everyone is acting calm, but everyone is afraid and uneasy. Even in the midst of that, there are loud voices of hope that there will be some countermeasures.” “The Demon Realm… has crossed a river that it shouldn’t have crossed. Unless time is turned back, this is fatal. It’s possible to deal with other dimensions, but the Heavenly Palace…” Britra, contrary to his usual demeanor, drove a wedge with a sense of opposition to Cheonma’s negative tone.

“But we will win. If we lose, we will lose everything… We have to try it with our fate on the line. And I have the conviction that it won’t be hopeless.” Anyway, it was a reminder that he was also one of the main pillars of the Demon Realm.

“I wish you both good luck.” “Thank you.” “Then, I’ll be going now.” We exchanged simple greetings with Britra and parted ways.

After that, we went to four more places. Dasa, Taruna, Chandra, and even Bali.

Bali showed the most interesting reaction. He clenched his fist, saying to look forward to tomorrow.

Not satisfied with that, he tried to threaten us by creating flames or tried to shut our mouths by putting various restrictions on our bodies. The more he did that, the more our mouths kept flapping.

“Do you think I’ll be scared by this! I can’t do anything to you this time, but as long as my soul is alive, I won’t forget today’s grudge.” He had been listening quietly to my shouts, but he changed his attitude and began to speak in a subtle tone.

“I heard that your son became the adopted son of the Demon King. I don’t need to listen to the words of a guy who can’t even be a father. Soon, you’ll have your woman taken away and you’ll be trembling with anger, but you’re just talking big.

After today, you won’t have any more chances to babble like this. You’d better pray that the conquest of other dimensions starts soon. Until then, I’ll give you all kinds of pain and humiliation so that you can be faithful as slaves, which is your duty. Hehehe.” I shut my mouth. That’s right. A guy who can’t even be a father…

“Bali, didn’t you used to not even be able to look me in the eye? Now you’re so arrogant… If I return to the Demon Realm… it doesn’t seem like it’s time to relax. What if I decide to return out of anger!” Oh, this seems to be working. Isn’t his face showing a rather complicated expression?

“Hmm, really? Do you have any intention of returning?” He seemed uneasy and was already glancing at Cheonma. This guy is definitely different from the other Great Demons. He’s very different. There was no sense of weight to him. He showed cruelty and reigned over those weaker than him, but as soon as he saw a slightly stronger presence, he would immediately lower his tail.

Besides, when you usually see him, his loyalty to Lucifer is excessive, and he even flatters him, so he doesn’t have a good relationship with the other Great Demons. He was ostracized by everyone, but he was the only one who didn’t know it. He lived in his own world, but he was a bit too much.

“If I can return and make you suffer… I wouldn’t mind doing it.” I also didn’t completely dismiss the idea. If I could see that guy suffer, I would even wish to do it for a while, even though I would feel sorry for Cheonma.

“Hmm, well… Baalzebul, let’s not do this. Shouldn’t we all work together for the Demon Realm? It’s not good to have such disputes when we should be working together. Lucifer will be troubled if he finds out.” This guy was definitely dumber than the Moloch, a carnivorous demon beast.

“I’ll consider it if you do something troublesome for me.” “Troublesome?” “Yes, if you get down on your hands and knees and say ‘woof woof’.” “Woof woof? What’s that?” “Hmm, it’s one of the expressions in the human realm that means ‘I am a dignified warrior, and I respect you as a warrior.’ How about it? If you do that sometimes, for example, even once before tomorrow’s duel, I’ll reconsider.” “Really?” “Of course, you and I weren’t that bad, were we? I’ll even suppress Dasa, who you don’t get along with.” “Oh, you have to keep your word.” “Of course, I’m one of the gods who has survived until now.” “That’s right, I guarantee your faith. Okay, if that’s what it means, it might be cool, getting down on your hands and knees and saying woof woof. Okay.” Huh, I’m speechless. I should have just coaxed him and teased him like this from the beginning. This guy was much dumber than I thought.

This time, I said to him.

“And since there’s a big difference in skill between you and me, it would be more dignified if you took all my attacks and then attacked me in a cool way… That’s the way of the strong.”

“Do you think I’ll listen to you? Right away.” “Huh, what’s wrong with you? Pa-cheon and I are friends. Can’t you do that much for a friend’s request?” “Hmm. Okay, I’ll do it.” “As expected, you’re easy to talk to.” “But when are you planning to return as a Great Demon?” “I should do it soon. I should try to push it forward as soon as the duel is over.” Cheonma said so seriously that I thought it might be real. Bali, of course, didn’t doubt it and nodded his head greatly, letting out a hearty laugh.

This unexpected farce with Bali was something we hadn’t planned. It just happened like this, and as we left his quarters, we couldn’t hold back our laughter. We kept calling him an idiot, a moron, and a blockhead, adding that if the Demon Realm was full of guys like Bali, it would be easy to handle.

Unlike Bali, Dasa, Taruna, and Chandra were difficult to deal with. It was so difficult to even enter their quarters because of the tight security, and even if we managed to get through, we would be scolded and forced to turn back.

Dasa, who refused to even meet us, Taruna, who used his magic to make us miserable, and Chandra, who just beat us up out of the blue—they were all a bunch of ill-tempered bastards. My honest impression after meeting all seven Great Demons was that there are all sorts of people in the world, and the Demon Realm is no exception.

When we returned to Lucifer’s quarters, we found that someone had visited before us. Cheonma tilted his head, looking at him. The man pointed at us and asked Lucifer,

“Are these the ones?” “Yes.” “They are indeed extraordinary.” What did he see in us to say that? The man wasn’t dressed like a demon, nor was he one of the Great Demons. Then who the hell was he?

“You know Baalzebub well, don’t you?” “I know his true form, but… this appearance is unfamiliar.” “I suppose so. Now, you two, come here.” Lucifer’s gentle tone, as if he were introducing his children to a guest, made me feel a strong sense of revulsion, to the point of goosebumps. However, we had no choice but to resign ourselves and kneel before him like obedient children. It was obvious that he was subtly exerting his power.

“Let me introduce you…” “I am one who has abandoned his name, come here.” It was a bit unexpected that he interrupted Lucifer.

Even Asasel wouldn’t do such a thing. Just from this, I figured that he wasn’t someone who belonged to the Demon Realm. Then, Lucifer opened his mouth and briefly mentioned him.

“He is my father’s messenger.” So, one of the dark angels…

Dark angels.

Strictly speaking, they were not beings of the Demon Realm. They were fallen angels who had supported the ancient dragon and Metatron, who had led the first rebellion. They belonged only to Metatron, not to Lucifer, the Demon King of the Demon Realm.

They were said to appear in only one form, and as I saw, it was true. They were covered in black armor, with only their eyes peeking out. The two crossed wings engraved in the middle of their chest were impressive, and the cloak over the armor was also unique.

He was one of the two figures who had recently risen to prominence in the Demon Realm. One was Britra, and the other was Metatron’s messenger, the mastermind behind all the plans that led the Demon Realm to invade the human realm. He was the root of all the current problems, the one who had been pulling the strings behind the scenes.

His eyes were ordinary, even warm, like those of a kind human. Three dots were engraved in his pupils: black, red, and yellow.

“News of the current situation in the human realm has spread throughout the multi-dimensional world. Now, organize the Seonmaek [a spiritual energy network] and completely separate and deal with the humans. After that, you may begin the dimensional conquest.” His tone was quite polite, but it felt like he was giving orders. What was strange, however, was Lucifer’s attitude. He didn’t show any particular resistance, as if it were natural.

“Before that, it is necessary to more strongly convey Lord Metatron’s will to the world through these two. And under no circumstances should you kill them. As humans, they will be put to the test, and the will of God and the will of the Lord will be decided in one of their fates. And before striking the Seonmaek, you must first release the one named Pa-cheon.” “Release him? That’s not going to happen.” “You must. It is the Lord’s will. You wouldn’t refuse, would you?” “Why would my father give such an order? Isn’t this your own unilateral decision? Do you have some other hidden agenda that I don’t know about?” “How could that be? I am merely the Lord’s messenger. I do not possess such authority in the first place. Do not forget that the Lord’s will is always watching over the entire Demon Realm.” “Hmm.” “Anyway, you must do as I have said. Releasing him will not be a hindrance. Rather, we may gain more unexpected benefits.” “Benefits?” I was seized by a strange feeling as I listened to them talking about me as if I were an object. If what the dark angel said was true, I would be released. I would be able to leave this frustrating and tedious place. It was an unexpected decision.

If I could just get out of here, I would go straight to Master Jang San-bong. And I would do everything that the Seon Realm [a realm of spiritual cultivation] told me to do. Now, my goal was firmly set on revenge against them, and this became an unwavering vow.

“If they are indeed cattle, we can use him to foresee the movements of the Seon Realm and the Heavenly Realm, and we can draw out their movements in advance.

From our perspective, it is better for them to move first in many ways. If we strike first, it may end up drawing out the Heavenly Palace prematurely.

That would be a gamble at this stage. So, by drawing the Seon Realm and the Heavenly Realm through him, we can make them advance toward the main world first, and then, when we simultaneously seize the dimensional realms, we can tie down the movements of the Heavenly Palace for a while.

Moreover, those behind the curtain are also extremely interested in this one for some reason. So, you must do as I say.” I couldn’t understand why Metatron’s messenger was telling them to release me, and I also couldn’t understand why they were so openly revealing their secret intentions in front of the person they were about to release.

It seemed like there were many hidden agendas, but I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Anyway, if I could get out of here, I would welcome it. I was focused on whether Lucifer would agree.

“Hmm, I was planning to keep him by my side forever and use him as a slave… but if that is my father’s will… I have no choice.” “You have made a wise decision. And Baalzebub is still very useful, so keep him. There will be a time when he will be of great use. And the subtle conflicts within the Heavenly Realm can only be known through him.” “They have already broken the contract. There is no room for compromise.” “No. There is something else behind them that we do not know. It seems that things are not as we initially predicted. No matter how much we analyze it, there is no way they would have made a proposal to us first for such a simple reason.

This could be a trap, or it could be a high-level scheme that predicted our actions.” “But where is my father now?” “He is traveling throughout the universe, observing the will of God. He is in this Demon Realm and in many other places at the same time. The outline of what the Lord has in mind will become clear in due time.

Before that, the Demon King only needs to quickly and accurately carry out the Lord’s instructions. Glory will descend from the Lord to the Demon King.” “That’s right. I am also eagerly looking forward to that day.” “Do not worry.” “By the way, I have arranged for him to duel with one of the Great Demons tomorrow. Do I have to cancel that as well?” “Hmm, that shouldn’t matter. Then I will stay here until then.” It was the moment when my expulsion from the Demon Realm was decided.

To summarize what they said, although I didn’t know the details, it seemed like they were thinking of using me as bait, and they also seemed to be planning to observe me to judge the overall movements of other dimensional realms.

“The Ghost Realm is almost organized, and the forces of those who are gradually agreeing with our will are growing stronger. We expect good news soon.

The Heavenly Realm is so deeply rooted and solid that it is difficult to absorb, but if we divide it properly, we can subdue it without much effort.

And the Seon Realm and the Infinite Realm do not exert much power, so we can just leave them as they are.” “That’s not entirely true. The Seon Realm is not to be underestimated. I don’t know about an all-out war, but if they merge their resources with the Infinite Realm or other dimensional realms, it will become quite troublesome. That’s why I suggested subjugating the Seon Realm at the same time when we attacked the human realm.

And the Infinite Realm is also full of annoying bastards. They are quiet now because they don’t have a central figure, but if they all join forces, it will be quite a nuisance.” “After considering various aspects, it has been revealed that it will not have a significant impact on the long-term trend. The part we need to watch and pay attention to is the intervention of the Heavenly Palace and its timing.

Delaying the intervention of the Heavenly Palace is the biggest key. For this, it is necessary to properly mix simultaneous offensives and phased mergers. As of now, any hasty speculation about what decision the Heavenly Palace will make is unnecessary.

Even if the worst situation comes, we must remember that what we have to do now, such as the moves we have to make, must still be carried out. And then, by gradually expanding the number of variables, we will be able to overcome the Heavenly Palace.” “Hmm, okay. Let’s say it’s all good to release this guy and observe him, and it’s all good to get what we can from these two. And it’s all good to accept the demands of those behind the curtain. But there’s something I don’t like.” “What is it?” “The scope of activity of the dark angels, that is, you guys. Let’s be honest. You still don’t fully acknowledge me. I am the one who was chosen and raised as my father’s successor. Yet, you don’t even accept the minimum authority, let alone respect me.” “How could that be?” “I am Lucifer, the Demon King of the Demon Realm. No one can raise their head in front of me except my father, Metatron, isn’t that right? How would I know how many of your lackeys are in the Demon Realm?

But, you see, it’s a problem if things continue like this. I have to find out about your comings and goings later, and you are monitoring the Demon Realm’s movements as if you were watching an enemy camp, and you are still exerting influence over the Great Demons, and you are instilling fear in the Asuras…

If my father, Metatron, had come and done that, I would have accepted everything, but not you. It’s been a long time since I saw my father. Shouldn’t I know where he is, what he is doing, what he is planning, and what he is promoting? But…” “That’s different…” “I’m not finished, so listen more. But you are putting me aside and using me as you please, saying it’s my father’s will. You are making me, the Demon King of the Demon Realm, a puppet. I understand your loyalty to my father, but I cannot forgive you for ignoring me.

Do you understand? Consider this a warning. I’m letting it go now because I don’t have any proof, but if I catch you making a mistake or intentionally trying to isolate me, I will wipe you out without hesitation, even if it means being punished by my father.” “We will keep that in mind. We will deeply remember your warning. However, there is one thing we would like to say. We were angels who were the Lord, Metatron’s, hands and feet even before Lucifer was born.

To us, Lucifer is nothing more than the Lord’s son. As it has always been, our Lord is only one. Metatron, that is the only one.

Lucifer, please remember this as well. Do not try to put us under the authority of the Demon Realm. The entire power of the dark angels is equal to the power of the Demon Realm.

If we deepen our differences due to a small misunderstanding and come into conflict, it would be much wiser to scrap all plans and kneel before God. We will never betray or ignore Lucifer first, so please do not worry about that.” Listening to them, they were nothing short of brazen. Who would dare to speak so boldly in front of Lucifer?

The dark angel, Metatron’s messenger.

He had said everything he wanted to say without any hesitation and was calmly accepting Lucifer’s intense gaze. He was no less impressive than the Great Demon Asasel. No, he was even more confident. From my perspective, it was an interesting psychological battle that was taking place in front of us.

This didn’t seem to be something that had just started today. Old grudges start from differences in positions facing a small understanding, but sometimes they lead to an unconditional emotional confrontation where you would give up everything just to resolve it.

Based on my experience, this was almost certain. The fact that I, a human, had discovered such a clue in those who seemed like absolute beings was a fresh shock to me, and it also gave weight to my position, which should be on the opposite side of them, in the name of hope. It seems that I’m not just meant to die.

The sudden appearance of Metatron’s messenger had given a glimmer of light to the greatest crisis of my life, and I had discovered the possibility that even in an unwavering, solid wall, there could be a tiny crack.

“If you have nothing more to say, I will leave now.” “So be it.” “I would like to have a conversation with these two for a moment. Would that be alright?” “…Do as you wish.” “Thank you, then.” He stared at us for a moment, grabbed the chains, and walked out.

This guy and that guy are the same when it comes to grabbing and pulling chains.

When he reached his quarters, he sat on a chair and enjoyed the silence for a long time. Then, he looked at us with a deep gaze and opened his mouth heavily.

“Baalzebub, I am the one who directly negotiated with the Heavenly Lord, whom I asked and suggested to you.” “Is that so?” “You are a major variable for us, for the Demon Realm, and for other dimensional realms. This is because the secret you hold will have a significant impact on many figures. How about it? Would you be willing to exchange all the secrets you hold for your freedom?” “No.” Cheonma said immediately, as if it wasn’t worth thinking about for long. He was resolute.

“Then, can you tell me who was the last person you met?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “There is no such thing as an eternal secret. Even we, who have come to glimpse even the secrets of God, would not find it difficult to unravel something about you.” “Then try to unravel it yourself.” “Hmm, so there’s no room for compromise.” “That’s right. You’re smart, as expected.” “Then, let me ask you one last thing. I believe you can answer this. Did you really leave the Demon Realm?” I quickly turned to look at Cheonma, wondering what he was talking about. The temple on his face twitched, and he couldn’t speak for a while. Then, he said in a dumbfounded tone,

“Now you’re using all sorts of tricks. Don’t you know that better than anyone? You won’t gain anything by cornering me. If you were trying to make things difficult for me through Pa-cheon’s mouth, that’s a bit too presumptuous.” “So, you want us to find out ourselves. Fine, we will peel you off one by one, even if it takes time. The fact that you went to the human realm was not our will, nor was it the will of the Heavenly Realm.

Will you deny that? It must have been the will of the last person you met. And you are moving according to that person’s will. No one can predict your actions, but I can figure it out soon. Was it a god?” “I don’t know. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” “It’s no use denying it. If it wasn’t a god, was it the Demon King? Or an angel of the Heavenly Palace? It must be one of these three?” “It’s no use trying so hard.” “I know that you are tight-lipped. All your actions from the day you left the Demon Realm until now must have been according to that person’s will. And the same goes for your other helper in the Heavenly Realm.

I’m curious to see what will come out of the gradually narrowing net. I’ll start by identifying your helper in the Heavenly Realm. And then I’ll hear it directly from your mouth. Until then, you’ll have to suffer a bit here in the Demon Realm.” “Honestly, I acknowledge your abilities, but it won’t be that easy. That’s because there are those who are several levels above you. I only realized everything after entering this illusionary zone.

My conviction has become even stronger. I will carry out this task without wavering, and you will carry out your tasks in your own way. It would be good to compete to see who reaches the goal first.” My head was in a mess with confusion. I knew that Cheonma had a secret, but I didn’t know it was of such importance. And the fact that he had such deep trust in the person who had given him that secret, to the point that he had to hide it from me.

I, who didn’t want to be second to anyone when it came to using my head, felt like a fool for a moment. The tense confrontation between the two immediately shifted to me.

“Pa-cheon, you go your own way. And do what you have to do. Many attempts will be given through you. Don’t think too complicatedly, just go straight. Whether it’s revenge on the Demon Realm or to solve your questions, it doesn’t matter. At least in the Demon Realm, we won’t stop you for the time being.

However, we cannot stop you from being attacked elsewhere. It must be confusing. Who is the enemy and who is the ally. Shall I give you a piece of advice? Even when the time comes when you think everything is over, don’t be relieved. Your enemy may be lurking in an unexpected place.

If we or the Demon Realm are leading all the phases, you can rather simply go towards your goal. If not, it would be good to suspect your surroundings. The conspiracy surrounding you will not be easy either.” This guy was again distinguishing between themselves and the Demon Realm. My head was spinning. He said that if the Demon Realm was leading, it would be simple, but if another place had the upper hand, I should suspect my surroundings? Should I take this at face value?

Well, I don’t have to worry about these questions yet. I haven’t left this place yet, and it’s not something that’s right in front of me. But the mental shock I received now was quite significant.

“Then, you two, go out now. I wish you good luck in tomorrow’s duel.” Cheonma said to him.

“Just as you have prepared, there are those who have predicted and prepared for your movements. And it won’t be as simple as you think. Watch. See how quickly the situation changes. See what form the variables that will squeeze into the small gaps will take.

If I didn’t have that hope, I wouldn’t have been able to endure until now. The one who laughs last is the winner. That will be us.” The man didn’t respond to Cheonma’s confident words. He was just smiling with his eyes.

After coming outside, Cheonma and I went to a place where no one was, as if it were natural.

An awkward silence flowed. It wasn’t that we were trying to deceive each other, but it was because we had kept considerable secrets.

I had never mentioned ‘him’ to Cheonma, so I didn’t want to blame him. And I didn’t want to press him to ask. There must be a reason why he didn’t share it and kept it to himself.

The truth that we would share flows in one direction despite the changes in the situation. The truth does not require many words. Excuses only make each other more pathetic. The feelings and judgments that we felt were closer to the truth for us, and this was based on trust. That was enough.

“Cheonma, I’ve been thinking lately.” “What is it?” “If our meeting wasn’t a coincidence… if it was a relationship formed by someone’s intention, what was he thinking when he created this relationship?” “What are your thoughts on that?” “It must have been an intention to fill in the missing parts. To rely on each other. It’s too daunting to look at alone, so to rely on each other and endure.” “That’s also true.” Now, I am going to leave, and Cheonma is going to stay?

“You said there was a way to escape?” “Yes, so you don’t have to worry about me. Don’t worry too much.” “I’ve been thinking, if you’re talking about that…” “There’s no other way anyway. If we hesitate, we won’t even be able to seize the last chance.” I stared at Cheonma, who was saying those words. I can’t go alone. You’re the same. Yes, we’re going together. Together.