Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Episode 80.
The dim light of dawn began to peel back the darkness.
The lakeshore at daybreak remained tranquil—but Siron was anything but.
Her gaze trembled as she looked at Aiden.
"...I'm sorry."
She had seen Gusian's crimson pupils. The ominous form reflected in the lake had undoubtedly been remnants of that creature.
Aiden withdrew his divine power and spoke.
"What are you hiding?"
Siron knew full well that those demonic eyes weren't a trick of the light or an illusion. Though it was her first time experiencing it today, she had studied such phenomena extensively.
A shadow fell over her expression. She answered in a small voice.
"...It seems he planted a seed. There's a piece of Gusian left inside my mind."
Aiden's face twisted. After a brief silence, he spoke again.
"How did you find out?"
Siron lowered her head.
"He was watching me. The Nine-Tailed Fox must have noticed too."
If true, this was an extremely troublesome situation. Extracting it immediately would be difficult.
Gusian's seed was a type of psychic entity—its nature obscure and intangible.
That was why Aiden hadn't sensed it at all. It must have been hiding in the deepest recesses of Siron's heart.
She clenched her fists so tightly they trembled. Her entire body shook.
"I'll report it to the Church and find a way to remove it. I'm truly sorry."
Aiden shook his head.
"In that process, you'd have to expose every last one of your weaknesses."
Gusian's remnants lurked in vulnerability, stoking desires—all to corrupt humans. The extraction ritual exploited this very trait.
It would deliberately push the subject's psyche to the brink, dredging up their weaknesses to uproot the parasitic seed. There was no other way.
Inevitably, Siron would end up wailing before everyone. And the success rate was uncertain at best.
Now that Aiden knew, there was no need for such a brutal method.
Moreover, a somewhat risky alternative had occurred to him.
Aiden slowly opened his mouth.
"Rather than that, why not use it to our advantage?"
Siron stared at him, bewildered.
"Use it... how?"
"A direct contract with Gusian. Of course, I won't force you. The choice is yours."
Siron stiffened. Become a demon worshipper? She couldn't fathom Aiden's intentions.
"M-my lord...?"
Aiden replied calmly.
"There are several benefits. For one, we can provide Yupe with a steady supply of high-quality demonic energy."
An Archdemon bestowed demonic energy upon those who formed direct contracts with it—the most corrupt and vile essence of power. And the source would be none other than Gusian himself.
In other words, it would be the finest feast for Yupe. Siron would essentially become the perfect conduit to siphon that nourishment.
Understanding dawned on Siron, but she couldn't hide her shock.
"B-but, my lord... I won't be able to control myself."
"If the demonic energy corrodes your body, that would happen. But Yupe will always be by your side. You know how voracious she is."
The foal was perpetually starving. If demonic energy lingered nearby, Yupe wouldn't even sleep—she'd gorge herself endlessly.
The chances of Siron losing herself were slim.
Aiden spoke to her, still steeped in conflict.
"I know this is an unreasonable request. Again, you're free to refuse. Don't feel pressured."
This hadn't been part of the plan to begin with. It was merely a spur-of-the-moment idea, unrelated to the grand scheme.
But if Siron agreed, Aiden would be more than pleased.
Yupe's growth—the Celestial Steed.
If they could utilize her by mid-game, the benefits would be beyond imagination.
In the four years since arriving in this world, he had wasted months just traveling. But once flight became an option, such wasteful expenditures of time would vanish.
Of course, these were all Aiden's personal reasons. For Siron, the decision wasn't so simple. A contract with a demon was still a contract with a demon. Asking a holy sword—a divine executioner—to worship a fiend? It was madness enough to split her skull open.
But.
The one making the request was Aiden. Her lord, the hero of the age, a man destined to be recorded in legend. As always, such a demand surely had its reasons.
At the very least, Siron believed so. Trembling, she spoke.
"...I'm not afraid of death. But I want to know exactly what you stand to gain from my survival."
Aiden shook his head.
"First of all, you won't die. The biggest advantage is that, in the future, when we set foot in the Demon Realm, you'll be able to locate his true body."
Siron looked stunned.
"B-but once I form a direct contract with a demon, I won't survive. Even if we slay his true form, practically speaking—"
"I have an indulgence."
The artifact that had saved Deril and Sain. As long as a worshipper retained their will to repent and their sense of self, salvation was possible.
Aiden was certain Siron would endure. He knew her faith and self-control well. With a little help, it was entirely feasible.
Aiden spoke plainly.
"If it weren't you, I wouldn't have made this request."
An offhanded truth—but from her perspective, it carried a different weight. A slight pressure. The need to meet expectations.
After a moment's hesitation, Siron steeled herself. She met Aiden's gaze with unwavering eyes.
"I'll do it."
Aiden tapped her shoulder.
"Thank you. And I'm sorry."
"...Please, don't say that."
Immediately after, Aiden released a pulse of divine energy—to summon Yupe, who was likely somewhere along the first defensive line.
Then he pointed at Siron's halberd.
"Draw it. From what I see, your sense of powerlessness stems from martial weakness."
The basic procedure resembled the extraction ritual. He would push her psyche to the brink, forcing the seed to sprout.
But unlike the ritual, which aimed for removal, this time they needed to forge a contract.
Siron slowly drew her halberd. She waited briefly, but Aiden didn't reach for his sword.
He merely gestured.
Siron hesitated.
"M-my lord... Even so, I can't just swing my blade at you unarmed."
She had a rough idea of his intentions, but charging at him weaponless felt wrong.
Moreover, the method felt somewhat artificial, making it hard to immerse herself.
Aiden nodded and stepped toward her.
In the same instant, he vanished from her sight. She sensed his presence behind her. The moment she turned, excruciating pain lanced through both her shoulders.
Her bones had been dislocated. Her arms went limp, dropping the halberd uselessly.
Before she could even groan, Aiden reset her joints—then hurled her into the lake.
A geyser erupted into the air. Half-submerged in the water, Siron swallowed her pain and stared at Aiden.
He tossed the halberd back to her.
"As you can see, drawing your weapon was pointless."
Harsh, but true. Siron slowly waded out and gripped the axe.
Gritting her teeth, she spoke.
"I'll take this seriously—"
CRACK!
Aiden drove his palm into her solar plexus. Simultaneously, a towering pillar of water exploded from the lake's center.
Standing at the water's edge, Saya sensed murderous intent—directed at two people.
First, Yuriel, who had yanked her hair.
Second, Siron, who reeked of Gusian.
Her hatred for the latter burned far hotter. Saya remembered vividly how Aiden had been tortured. The vow to tear Gusian apart felt as fresh as yesterday.
She flung Yuriel aside carelessly and lunged straight for Siron.
A streak of blue energy shot forth like a meteor. The moment she brushed past Aiden, a massive hand snatched her out of the air by the tail.
Dangling helplessly, Saya glared.
Aiden glanced back to confirm Yuriel's safety before speaking.
"Don't interfere."
The fact that he checked on Yuriel first made Saya scoff.
"Why not? You're stronger than me now. This has nothing to do with growth."
"Different reason."
Setting her down, Aiden turned his attention back to Siron.
She had lost half her sanity. Divine energy and demonic power swirled chaotically within her, and her eyes were hollow.
But there was no further progression. Her subconscious seemed to instinctively reject Gusian.
Until she saw the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Siron's eyes flickered with madness. She shifted her stance, radiating murderous intent toward Saya.
Saya felt like her patience was being tested to the absolute limit today. First Yuriel, now Siron. Never in her life had she tolerated such insolence.
Aiden spoke calmly.
"You must have tormented her quite a bit. Looks like you can help after all."
"What? Just now you—"
"I take it back. No time—just listen. You need to make Siron feel powerless. But you must not harm her."
Saya wanted to refuse out of sheer spite, but reality didn't allow it. Especially not with a rival now in the picture.
Coldly, she replied.
"If she dies, it's not my fault."
With that, she shot forward like an arrow.
The moment she collided with Siron, a thunderous explosion rocked the area. BOOM! Mud and gravel sprayed outward before raining back down.
Despite the massive impact, Siron's life wasn't in immediate danger. Yuriel finally caught up, panting heavily as she spoke.
"Wh-what is this? Why is Sir Siron emitting demonic—"
"Gusian planted a seed in her."
Before Aiden could finish, Yuriel unleashed her divine energy, urgency in her voice.
"We need at least ten high-ranking priests. At best, I can only buy time. You must go and fetch them."
She seemed to mistake this for an extraction ritual. Aiden gently lowered her arm.
"No. Just watch."
"L-Lord Aiden...?"
"We'll have her contract with Gusian, then use the indulgence."
Yuriel understood—but the method struck her as far too dangerous.
"If her body is taken over, that's the end."
"That won't happen."
Aiden pointed at Yupe. The foal circled him restlessly, suppressing her hunger.
Yuriel had no choice but to accept it. Though Siron's faith and convictions would be disregarded, efficiency-wise, this was far superior to the extraction ritual.
Swallowing her apprehension, Yuriel looked ahead.
By now, Siron's eyes had darkened completely—no distinction between white and black remained.
Her divine energy had been entirely overtaken by inky demonic power, leaving no trace of its former majesty.
Aiden kicked off the ground and closed the distance in an instant. With a sharp chop to her neck, he knocked her unconscious.
Yupe immediately rushed over and began devouring the lingering demonic energy in great gulps.
The essence of the Archdemon Gusian himself. Sooner or later, the fiend would notice and cut off the supply—but for now, he was unwittingly feeding Aiden's cause.
An immensely satisfying result. Just as Aiden was savoring the moment, Yuriel's scripture began to glow brightly.
She flipped it open and read—then couldn't help but gasp.
The Book of Phaidna.
"Thus spoke Saint Vacheksar: 'The divine name is Valenstahl. The flock shall suffer and revere no hypocritical divinity.' — Vacheksar Year 380. New Testament, Vacheksar Gospel, Verse 1."
Yuriel shot Aiden a frantic look.
"L-Lord Aiden! You need to see this!"
Vacheksar had officially recognized Aiden as a god. An urgent matter by any measure—but Aiden had no capacity to respond.
Countless messages were flooding his vision.
Uron, Deril, Sain, Gielran, Randaren, Sistina, Vandel... even names he had forgotten from his memories. Their status windows filled his sight completely.
All who acknowledged Aiden as a god.
Including Zeras.
Aiden's face hardened as he looked up at the night sky.