580
Chapter 580
WOOOOOONG!
The dimensional rift created above the heads of the three demon princesses began to grow larger with intense vibrations.
Suddenly, threatening plasma arcs emerged from the dimensional rift.
CRACKLE!
SIZZLE!
The multicolored plasma arcs expanded in all directions while growing in size.
Simultaneously, a strong causal storm arose from the dimensional passage, causing space-time distortions.
"UNNNGH!"
Elizabeth and the other three demon princesses endured, pouring out their energy to maintain the dimensional rift despite their pain.
Zeke, who was watching this, reached his hand toward the dimensional rift.
TSSSSSS!
The shadows that surged from his body enveloped the three princesses and eroded the split dimensional rift.
CRACKLE!
SIZZLE!
The plasma spreading in all directions was absorbed by the shadows.
Any plasma that leaked out was caught and swallowed by Raven's beak as it flew from the dimensional rift.
WOOOOOONG!
When Zeke's shadows stabilized the unstable dimensional rift, the three princesses could endure with less strain than before.
However, the causal storm hadn't stopped, and space-time could still be felt shaking.
Zeke quietly spoke while maintaining his shadow power.
[Be stable.]
It was a divine command infused with godly authority.
The causal storm subsided and space-time stabilized at Zeke's command.
The three princesses quickly widened the dimensional rift to create a passage.
WOOOONG!
The widened passage stabilized into a circular shape.
Zeke looked inside the dimensional passage created by the princesses.
A castle resembling Pandemonium's architecture existed beyond the passage.
Zeke slowly lifted his body.
Arataso behind him also mounted his horse to follow Zeke.
As Zeke approached the passage, tremendous aftershocks engulfed the inside of the mansion.
RUMBLE!
But when Zeke raised his hand, the fierce waves subsided and the dimension stabilized again.
Zeke reached out and penetrated the dimensional membrane blocking the passage.
CRACKLE!
SIZZLE!
The laws of karma tried to stop Zeke from crossing dimensions, but it was useless.
His constellation name was 'One Who Crosses Walls.'
No wall could stop Zeke.
WOOOOOONG!
Zeke and Arataso entered inside the passage after crossing the dimensional wall.
It felt as if someone was pulling them, being sucked somewhere.
RUMBLE!
The dimensional passage they had entered completely closed, and Zeke and Arataso moved as if being dragged.
TSSSSSS!
When Zeke felt they had arrived and looked around, the scenery had changed to inside a castle.
'Is this Mephistopheles' domain?'
The castle interior was decorated with classical ornaments.
Arataso beside him exclaimed in surprise.
[Oh! That's a precious porcelain from the Babel era. Oh, that's also something difficult to find these days!]
True to his interest in art, Arataso marveled at the various artworks decorating Mephistopheles' castle.
"For a demon, he has quite classical taste."
Arataso nodded at Zeke's words.
[While Mephistopheles may not be a trustworthy demon, it's hard to deny that he has the finest aesthetic sense in the demon realm.]
As they were admiring the artworks, someone appeared before Zeke and Arataso.
"Welcome. I welcome you to the depths of Pandemonium, the city of intellect and art."
A delicate-looking female maid bowed politely to the two.
Zeke turned his gaze from the artworks and realized the maid was not a living being but a created doll.
He asked his subordinate Arataso telepathically.
―Is this also Mephistopheles' taste?
―I'm not sure about that, but I remember he once created a combat unit composed of similar-looking automaton dolls.
―Why would he make a combat unit of maids...?
―Who can understand the mind of a great demon?
While they were conversing, the maid approached Zeke, bowed her head, and spoke in a polite voice.
"My master has ordered me to escort the Lord. As the castle's paths are complex, I shall guide you."
Zeke nodded at the maid's words.
He followed the maid toward Mephistopheles' location along with Arataso.
At the same time, he tried to gauge the maid's capabilities.
'More sophisticated than the dolls that Germain, the boss of the Nostra family, used as his avatars.'
At first reminded of Germain, he then compared Mephistopheles' automaton with the Nirvana family's golems.
The head of the Nirvana family found clues to create automatically self-repairing golems by understanding the theory of 9th class magic.
While that was also an amazing development, even so, Nirvana's golems couldn't move and act as naturally human-like as the automaton before his eyes.
They could only perform movements according to predetermined commands.
'If armed with magic and artifacts, these maids could probably engage in combat without issue.'
Their delicate appearance could catch enemies off guard, delivering unexpected damage through merciless bombardment.
It occurred to him that Mephistopheles might have designed these automaton's appearance specifically to exploit such vulnerabilities.
While Zeke was pondering, the maid stopped in front of a grand, massive door.
When she extended her hand, magic circles appeared on the back of her hand, interacting with the door's lock mechanism to open it automatically.
RUMBLE!
When the door opened, an astonishing sight lay within.
"AHAHAHAHA!"
Surprisingly, there was a large pool inside the spacious room where a purple-haired man in swimwear was splashing around with women.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Loud music played from all directions, a female bartender was making cocktails at the pool bar, and other women were playing pocket pool and various games.
Zeke and Arataso gaped at this scene.
'...Wasn't this supposed to be the city of intellect and art?'
It was bewildering to see over a dozen women in swimsuits leisurely enjoying a party.
However, the maid who brought them seemed accustomed as she approached the man playing with women in the pool and whispered something.
The man immediately got out of the pool and rushed to Zeke, still dripping wet.
"Zeke Draker! Welcome!"
A handsome man with long purple hair and geometric tattoos covering his body.
This was Mephistopheles, the demon lord and one of the five great lords, "Master of the unbreakable Contract."
Mephistopheles grinned and placed his hand on Zeke's shoulder.
"I knew you would come here, having qualified as a new lord."
He winked charmingly at Arataso behind Zeke.
"Long time no see, Dawn Commander. You look radiant back in your original form. Buer, that is, 'Clear Green Wish,' might feel a bit hurt."
The first Battalion of Morningstar that Arataso led was commonly known as the Dawn Battalion, hence Mephistopheles called him Dawn Commander.
[The Commander will respect my choice.]
"Well, it was a temporary transfer to begin with. I don't mind."
After saying this to Arataso, Mephistopheles turned his gaze back to Zeke, patting his shoulder while speaking.
"Come, let's go this way. Or would you like to take a dip? Time flies when you're having fun here."
Zeke frowned and shook his head at Mephistopheles' words.
The demon lord hadn't really expected the most strict and diligent human knight to enjoy playing in a pool.
"I thought so. Come, this way. Dawn Commander, wait here for a while. Take off that stuffy armor and rest comfortably."
Mephistopheles led Zeke past the pool into an inner room.
The scenery changed completely after passing through just one room.
A classical library appeared with countless books densely packed on shelves in an enormous room.
Mephistopheles, who had been in swimwear, was now wearing an immaculate suit.
Mephistopheles personally guided Zeke to a reception desk in the center of the library and offered him a seat.
As the two sat down, a maid appeared from somewhere with freshly brewed tea.
Mephistopheles picked up a teacup and savored the aroma.
"I always take a break with black tea at this time. I heard you like tea too, so I prepared a special variety. Have a taste."
Zeke wondered just how far his tea preferences had become known.
But without commenting, he picked up the teacup, appreciated the aroma, and drank.
Mephistopheles asked with an intrigued expression.
"How does it compare to tea from the material world?"
"...The taste isn't familiar, but it's good."
Mephistopheles looked very satisfied with that response.
"I'm pleased to receive such praise from you."
He savored his tea while speaking to Zeke.
"Do you know how long it's been since an outsider besides other lords entered this space? First time in hundreds of years. Please excuse my excitement."
Zeke nodded and asked about the various maids standing around.
"Did you make all these automaton dolls?"
Mephistopheles smiled contentedly.
"Yes, they're all my masterpieces. They move naturally, think independently, and even express emotions. Hard to see them as dolls, isn't it?"
"The ones outside seemed to be automatons too."
The women in swimsuits at the pool - making cocktails, playing pocket pool, chatting - none had souls.
Mephistopheles' eyes changed at Zeke's words.
He said in a self-deprecating, weary voice.
"That's right. They're all beings I created,"
After observing this reaction, Zeke asked,
"Mephistopheles, are you trapped here?"
Mephistopheles' smile vanished.
A great demon's domain where none could enter. Only other great demons could handle its dimensional power.
Even the three demon princesses, high-ranking demons and adopted daughters of the demon lord, suffered causal aftershocks just opening a passage.
Only Mephistopheles could exist in Pandemonium's depths.
He didn't answer immediately. He lowered his head, his shoulders starting to shake.
Suddenly he burst into loud laughter.
"HAHAHA, HAHAHAHA!"
The laughter grew until it shook the entire library.
Zeke showed no reaction to the laughing demon lord.
Mephistopheles abruptly stopped laughing.
Unlike before, his eyes now held a kind of madness.
He brushed back his long purple hair and looked at Zeke.
"Zeke Draker, you really are different. Incomparable to any constellation or demon I've seen."
He snapped his fingers after sitting down.
A hookah device commonly used by desert wizards appeared on the table.
With a languid expression, Mephistopheles inhaled from the pipe.
Exhaling sweet-scented smoke, he said,
"You're right, Zeke Draker. I... no, all lords are trapped in prisons of our own making."
The smoke gradually filled the surroundings.
"Arrogant savior, the only free great lord's soul..."
The smoke enveloped Zeke and began seeping into his body.
Mephistopheles' eyes turned black as his voice changed.
[I suppose I'll have to take that.]