Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: To Live in This World
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However, what those clear eyes held was not brightness, but sorrow. The same emotion carried in her voice—sometime ago, she had begun to grieve and suffer. Yet no one knew the reason, and no one could empathize with her. Above all, she herself had not shared that sorrow with anyone. She simply endured it alone.
"So… what brings you here?"
Oddly enough, this time it was the man who fell silent.
He stared at her, lost in thought, standing there blankly.
"Ga…"
"Ah! Sorry about that."
Before Gabriel could call his name, he snapped back to attention, letting her know. She closed her mouth again, having been about to speak. He gave a slight smile of apology and nodded.
"Have you been well? I hear you're still staying inside the temple these days."
"There's no better place than this for sorting out my thoughts and meditating. I like this quietness. You know that, right?"
"I do, of course I do. After all the years we've spent together."
The man smiled, but she did not. It was as if she were telling him to drop the personal talk and get to the reason for his visit. They used to have plenty of such casual chats in the old days, but she seemed to have changed.
"You asked what it was about? Hm. I came to discuss something rather important. In my opinion, you're the most suitable among the three of us."
"…About the fragments of the Fourth Lord, Perlnirn?"
The man was startled. How did she know? They hadn't spoken about the fragments once in the decades since he'd first brought it up. There were plenty of other matters, so could it really be coincidence that she mentioned the fragments? No, her voice held such certainty that it couldn't be a random guess. He made a troubled face, feeling as if his mind had been read. He'd meant to surprise her, but he'd been the one shocked instead.
"Exactly right. You nailed it. Well, if you already know, that makes this easier."
"……."
"Gabriel, as you know, it's unprecedented in thousands of years for a Demon Realm Lord to weaken like this. Perlnirn was the weakest of the seven Lords to begin with, barely hanging on even then—but not like now. That fool did something idiotic. He carved up his own heart—the core of his being, a massive crystal of demonic power—so of course his body's balance shattered."
Perlnirn might be the most dangerous among the Lords, the man judged. Just a few hundred years ago, he was the weakest of the seven, not worth worrying about. But everything changed when he started using the artifacts forged from shards of his own heart.
As if resolved to cast off years of resentment, Perlnirn suddenly tore open a rift to the Heavenly Realm and appeared. Alone, he tore apart countless angels. Only when the Apostles under the Holy King stepped in did they barely drive him back.
After that outburst, the same thing happened in the Demon Realm, or so he heard. But despite causing such a massive incident, Perlnirn went quiet afterward. It would have been ideal if he'd stayed that way forever, but suddenly, he dropped the twenty-four artifacts made from his fragments into the Middle Realm, sparking yet another event.
His illusion appeared across the entire Middle Realm where the artifacts fell.
Anywhere on the continent, looking up at the sky revealed his form. A divine authority truly like that of a god—something even they, the Holy Kings, could do but had never attempted.
Before all who watched, the illusion made a bold declaration.
The number of fragments dropped: twenty-four.
Whoever gathered them all, regardless of race, would be made his successor.
Demons were fine, Celestials too.
Even frail, short-lived humans were acceptable.
Elves, no problem; even unattractive dwarves.
Even orcs faithful to their desires.
As long as they collected every fragment, he'd hand over all his power to anyone.
"He said he'd pass on his power… that he'd choose a successor."
"That's right."
Gabriel nodded, responding to his words.
"Choosing a successor is something those facing death or preparing for it do. Countless high demons have done it, countless races too. Even we angels are no different."
He swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth and continued.
"In other words, a Lord himself—one who's opposed us for thousands of years—is facing death! On the verge of annihilation!"
As if knowing his thoughts, Gabriel spoke first.
"I can guess what you're getting at. But if we leave it alone, Perlnirn will fade away on his own. With his death, the artifacts will become objects of endless conflict and division, never gathering in one place like now."
"That could happen. Ideally, yes. But do you really think that's how it'll go, Gabriel?"
The man smiled. In his long life, he'd seen much. Gabriel had lived just as long, but unlike her, he didn't believe Perlnirn would quietly accept death.
"Do you think that immense power he holds will just vanish when Perlnirn fades? Like a snowflake melting in sunlight? Sadly, I don't think so. If it were that insignificant, we wouldn't care. But Perlnirn's demonic power is like a massive snowball. It won't melt even under warm sun all day. It'll endure, clumped and trampled and soiled, holding its form. It'll wear down bit by bit, sure, but with power to last to the limit."
"……."
"Will greedy demons just watch that power? No, they won't. Someone might devour it, or right before fading, Perlnirn might change his mind and pass it to another. We must assume the worst."
"……."
"The artifacts are the same. Hard for one to become two, but easier for two to become three, and three to four even more so. The current balance will shatter, and soon someone will gather all the fragments. That's my judgment—especially since all twenty-four artifacts revealed their locations."
Gabriel still gazed down at him with sorrowful eyes.
"Gabriel. Even if thousands of years pass from now, this chance won't come again."
"…You want to retrieve all the fragments."
"Yes."
He looked up at Gabriel. She met his gaze with unwavering eyes.
"We could retrieve one or some to hold ourselves. Preventing a successor until Perlnirn fades is one option, but on second thought, that's risky. The other Lords aren't fools; they won't sit idly by. They might aid a successor to start a new war with the Heavenly Realm, or step in claiming Perlnirn's interference. Hell, maybe that's why he dropped them—to create a pretext for war. Saying it out loud, that mad bastard might actually do it. Scary thought."
Mid-sentence, he nodded, disparaging Perlnirn.
"…Anyway, retrieving one or some means it's better to take them all at once. Celestials aren't incapable of using those artifacts' power. Or we could grant 〈Qualification〉 to a talented, trustworthy good soul, make them the successor, and bring them to our side. If we hold the successor who's gathered all fragments, and Perlnirn honors his word, they'll inherit the Lord's power. And if that new Lord turns to us… perfect."
"Such an ideal scenario won't happen. Not without the Creator's help. We so-called gods lack the power to interfere with fate."
Gabriel spoke with what seemed sincere conviction. But the man either didn't sense it or ignored it, pressing his point.
"Of course, that ideal is unlikely. But if they do turn to us, I'd gladly give the seat of a new Holy King to whoever retrieves Perlnirn's fragments."
It was a unique chance to weaken the Demon Realm and strengthen the Heavenly Realm. If successful, the balance shattered by Perlnirn's heart-shards could reverse—maybe even restore harmony, though unlikely. Gabriel slowly nodded.
"I understand what you're saying."
"Then?"
"Let's find someone to grant 〈Qualification〉 to."
The man nodded, a satisfied smile spreading.
"Good thinking. I've got just the child in mind. I'll recommend them. A kid with talent and potential rivaling the Apostles—more than worthy of 〈Qualification〉. In Serenia Citadel, a boy named Cain. The one who visits Yophiel's Temple every Sunday."
"Yes."
Gabriel nodded indifferently.
"Oh—and be careful when you go to Serenia Citadel. Sian showed up there."
For an instant, Gabriel's eyes—until now emotionless—widened in shock. She seemed utterly stunned.
"Sian… him?"
"Yeah. Weird, right? That I noticed his presence. Not sure if coincidence, but no doubt. He appeared briefly, then vanished. He'll probably keep his bystander stance as always, but caution never hurts."
The man shrugged. Gabriel fell silent, visibly shaken, but soon nodded.
"…Understood."
"Handle it soon. I'll take my leave."
"I won't see you off."
At Gabriel's curt words, he chuckled.
"Figured as much. Wasn't expecting it anyway."
The man turned and retraced his steps.
…….
…….
…….
Gabriel closed her eyes in the now-silent temple. Moments later, light wrapped her bare form, clothing her in silk-soft fabric, with gossamer veils draping from her back over her arms. The toes hovering above the spring's surface touched the water, sending ripples. Feeling the water against her feet, she spread her wings wide, opened her eyes, and murmured softly.
"Sian."
The First Lord and ruler of the Demon Realm. Possessor of transcendent authority over space and a sturdy body to match—a true supreme being. Stronger than the combined might of the other six Lords, stronger than the three Holy Kings and all their Apostles together.
A being close to a true god.
He seemed keenly aware of how vast and dangerous his power was, always cautious of himself. He'd never once intervened in the war with the Heavenly Realm, maintaining strict neutrality. Unless Sian chose to reveal himself, no one could find or meet him. For such a being to be spotted by another—unbelievable.
For the first time in who knew how long, a smile touched her lips. Her once-still heart began to beat with faint vitality.
This time, it was different from 「before」.
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#Setting 1. 「Sian」
Sian—the name signifies the first Lord of the Demon Realm and its true ruler, a great title.
A supreme being wielding powerful authority over space, matched by a sturdy body. With three heads and tails, three pairs of wings, and a massive yet agile frame, he resembles a dragon at first glance.
This has led to theories that he's the progenitor of dragonkind, though most dragons deny it. Unlike the other Lords, he is revered by all Demon Realm beings in a truly divine sense.
His presence is so overwhelming that, unlike Bell-Terza, he never leaves his domain—for different reasons. Knowing full well how immense and perilous his power is, he has sealed his true body—part of his very existence—in sub-space, living through a frail human vessel.
Yet none dare challenge him.
Some say he's the decisive reason other dimensions, including the Heavenly Realm, hesitate to unite against the Demon Realm.
Despite this might, his life is remarkably ordinary.
Loving freedom unlike other Lords or Holy Kings, he disguises himself as a common adventurer and travels the Middle Realm. He seeks out famous eateries to enjoy food, and when bored, appears before chess enthusiasts for matches. Once done, he vanishes like a dream, earning the moniker 〈God of Chess〉.
Rumors persist—half-believed, half-dismissed—that those who meet him see their chess skills leap a level overnight.
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