585
Chapter 585
Zeke couldn't help but reasonably doubt Beelzebub's surprisingly moderate and rational conditions.
'Are those really the only conditions?'
Those gathered here were grand dukes among demons.
As Zeke, he had to suspect there might be hidden intentions.
Just then, Beelzebub's voice echoed in his mind.
[You doubt my words, Zeke Draker.]
Zeke looked at Beelzebub and nodded.
"Yes, it's truly hard to believe. I vividly remember when you joined hands with the abyss and sent an immortal army to the physical world."
Even now, some of the undead legion summoned from Abaddon remained in front of Thermo Fortress.
At Zeke's words, Beelzebub clicked his skeletal jaw and continued.
[I won't deny that. At some point, the physical world began to ban dark magic and persecute necromancers. I lamented this fact. That's why I cooperated with the abyss to correct this through force, but I realized it only caused greater damage.]
Zeke knew through Richmond that five hundred years ago, necromancers had been forced into hiding due to persecution by the Holy Empire.
Before that, dark magic had been proudly recognized as a branch of magic, with active research conducted in the Mage Tower and the Nirvana family.
Because of this, Zeke slowly nodded after hearing Beelzebub's words.
'Certainly, dark magic is a field worth researching.'
Zeke was already investing astronomical funds to establish an academy in the Southern Islands, gathering talented individuals to revive forgotten disciplines.
Nurturing necromancers in the light, like Nirvana did in the past, rather than in the shadows, was a meaningful endeavor.
After considering, Zeke raised his head and spoke to Beelzebub.
"If I accept your conditions, will you recall your minions from the physical world?"
At those words, Beelzebub clicked his skull again and said:
[There's no need for recalling; I'll order them to stop attacking. Additionally, I'll make them envoys alongside Nebilos for our alliance. You may use them as you see fit.]
Zeke thought that Beelzebub's sincere rhetoric, unusual for a demon, was in some ways superior to Mephistopheles.
'They say he was once a constellation full of love... he's quite tricky to deal with in unexpected ways.'
Zeke glanced at Mephistopheles, who was frowning behind him, and then nodded.
"Very well, Beelzebub. I accept your conditions."
At his words, Beelzebub seemed pleased, clicking his jawbone repeatedly, and the flames wrapping his skull blazed more intensely, shooting upward.
Mephistopheles watched the alliance-forming process between Zeke and Beelzebub with discomfort, then turned to the other grand dukes and said:
"Well, anyway, it seems we're done. Let's recognize Zeke Draker as a Demon lord."
The other Demon lords also had sour expressions, but they didn't object to Mephistopheles' words and nodded.
As Mephistopheles extended his hand forward, Baal and Beelzebub also silently extended their hands like Mephistopheles.
Agares extended his hand with a deeply furrowed brow, while Asmodeus did so with an expression still full of doubt.
The insignias representing each of the five grand dukes rose from the backs of their hands.
WOOOONG!
Light flowed from the insignias and merged together above the table.
The merged light gradually took shape, transforming into ancient demon realm characters.
Zeke read the ancient characters floating above the table and interpreted their content.
'Ancient Babel language. An agreement written in the common script of the early demon realm.'
It detailed how the five grand dukes would manage their territories after the disappearance of the Arrogant Savior and the fall of Babel.
And at the very bottom of the agreement, new text was added.
It stated that they recognized Zeke Draker as the successor to the Arrogant Savior, elevating him as a new grand duke of the demon realm, and acknowledging the physical world as his territory.
When the text was complete, light rippled from the characters.
WOOOONG!
The characters transformed back into light and returned to the backs of the grand dukes' hands.
Then a new stream of light appeared and approached Zeke.
Mephistopheles said to Zeke:
"Zeke Draker, extend your hand."
Zeke followed his instruction and extended his hand.
TSSSSSS!
The light seeped into the back of Zeke's hand, and with it came a burning pain.
'KUGH.'
Zeke being Immortal recovered without even feeling the pain.
However, the pain rising from the back of his hand now was on a completely different level than physical pain.
It was like pain of engraving a pattern on the soul itself with a branding iron.
Zeke was enduring the pain when he suddenly felt the five Demon Lords quietly watching him.
'Is this also a test?'
As he wondered, the pain soon subsided, and a new form of seal appeared on the back of Zeke's hand.
WOOOOOONG!
The seal symbolizing the Demon Lord of the demon realm was complete.
At the same time, messages appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[You have been recognized as qualified to be a Demon Lord by the five Demon Lords of the demon realm.]
[Your divinity increases due to an amazing achievement.]
[You acquire the title 'Demon Lord'.]
[A new constellation name is bestowed upon you as a Demon lord of the demon realm.]
[You acquire the constellation name ‘Guide of Fair Pain’.]
[The new constellation name ‘Guide of Fair Pain’ is updated in the Akashic Record.]
[Your divinity increases with the acquisition of your second constellation name.]
It was clearly felt that his divinity had risen with the acquisition of the title Demon Lord and the second constellation name ‘Guide of Fair Pain’.
Zeke tilted his head looking at his newly acquired constellation name.
'Why did I get this constellation name?'
His first constellation name, ‘One Who Crossed Walls’, contained the meaning that he was a being who resisted predetermined fate by crossing the wall of time.
But he couldn't grasp what meaning was contained in the constellation name ‘Guide of Fair Pain’.
At that moment, the expressions of the other Demon Lords watching Zeke changed subtly.
"Hmm, for a human to acquire such a constellation name. Quite impressive."
The other Demon Lords also seemed to have confirmed what constellation name Zeke had acquired.
Zeke asked Mephistopheles.
"Is there a problem with my constellation name?"
Mephistopheles smiled and shook his head.
"No, not at all! Rather, it's a wonderful constellation name that suits a Demon Lord of the demon realm perfectly!"
Zeke felt even more uneasy when Mephistopheles responded this way.
As if comforting Zeke's anxious heart, Baal rose from his seat, patted Zeke's shoulder, and said,
"Guide of Fair Pain is a magnificent constellation name."
"...May I ask why you think so?"
Baal grinned and said.
"It contains the meaning of giving pain fairly without discriminating who the opponent is, so it can be said to be a constellation name that suits a lord of the demon realm perfectly."
After hearing Baal's words, Zeke finally realized why he received such a constellation name.
'...Is it because I torture every demon I see?'
Zeke had impartially inflicted pain to extract information he wanted from not just demons and demonic beings, but also angels and constellations if they threatened the physical world.
Zeke's actions, which were more demonic than the demons themselves, had even led to his constellation name.
Zeke realized why the Demon Lords had admiring expressions when they saw his constellation name.
'...Well, whatever works.'
Having been recognized as qualified to be a Demon Lord, he went to the table where the other Demon lords were sitting and took a seat.
Mephistopheles looked at Zeke with sparkling eyes and an interested expression.
"Come now, how about saying a few words since you've been recognized as a new Demon Lord?"
At Mephistopheles' words, Zeke looked at the Demon Lords and slowly opened his mouth.
"I know why you accepted me as a Demon Lord."
His words caused a glint to appear in the Demon lords' eyes.
Zeke continued, looking at them.
"You recognized me, a human, as a Demon Lord and declared the physical world as territory to reduce the consumption of causality when ascending to the ground. Plus, if you see an opportunity to stab me in the back and devour my soul, you can take over the physical world more easily."
Baal and Agares didn't hide their expressions at Zeke's words, pulling the corners of their mouths into smiles.
Such things were very natural in the demon realm, which was a world of the strong where predator became prey.
Zeke looked at each of the Demon Lords one by one and said.
"But you must remember one thing. You're not the only ones who can stab from behind."
The Demon lords' expressions changed curiously at his words.
Although he had been recognized as having Demon lord status, Zeke was essentially still their prey.
The delicious prey, housing the soul of the arrogant savior, had bared its teeth at them first.
Then Agares, emitting blue flames from his body, said to Zeke.
"Insolent human. Do you think you're a real lord of the demon realm just because you have a seal? Don't be mistaken."
Looking at Agares, Zeke said.
"I have no desire to become a filthy demon. I've merely used you all as well."
Asmodeus, who had been silent, looked at Zeke and asked.
"Guide of Fair Pain. What is your intention in bringing this up now?"
Unlike the easily excited Agares, Asmodeus tried calmly to understand Zeke's intentions.
Zeke looked the Demon Lords and slowly opened his mouth.
"I will permanently annihilate the soul of the Demon King sealed on earth."
At his words, Asmodeus's pupils dilated.
Simultaneously, Agares and Baal jumped to their feet.
"You crazy human!"
"Complete annihilation of the Demon King! That's impossible!"
Asmodeus extended his hand toward the agitated Agares and Baal to calm them, then spoke again.
"Annihilating the Demon King's soul... That's an inappropriate statement for a Demon Lord of the demon realm."
Zeke shook his head.
"No, it's the opposite. A Demon Lord who wishes to protect the demon realm should follow my will."
Asmodeus wore an expression showing he didn't quite understand Zeke's words.
Zeke continued.
"There is someone trying to summon the Demon King's soul in the physical world. His name is Arthur Draker. He's plotting something using the Demon King's soul."
Asmodeus narrowed his eyes and said.
"Arthur Draker, your father."
Mephistopheles, who was beside him, shook his head.
"Ah, technically he's not his biological father."
Ignoring Mephistopheles's words, Zeke continued.
"I don't know what purpose Arthur Draker has, but it's likely connected to the constellations of the celestial realm."
When the constellations of the celestial realm were mentioned, the expressions of the other Demon Lords hardened.
After all, the enemies the lords of the demon realm were most wary of were none other than the constellations of the celestial realm who held the wheel of fate.
Zeke spoke again.
"Whenever the constellations of the celestial realm wanted to intervene significantly in the physical world, they broke the Demon King's seal and disrupted the balance of causality. The absolute law of karma created by the primordial light cannot be defied."
The Demon lords, once constellations of the celestial realm themselves, were not unaware of this.
They were trying to summon the Demon King to break that absolute law.
But conversely, the constellations of the celestial realm would use this to create a justification for intervening in the physical world.
Asmodeus looked at Zeke and said.
"Guide of Fair Pain, then your goal is to annihilate the Demon King's soul to completely block the constellations of the celestial realm from intervening in the physical world?"
"That's right. It means I will no longer allow the physical world to be reduced to a plaything for the constellations."
At those words, Asmodeus furrowed his brow and said.
"Guide of Fair Pain, there is a clear problem with your words. This is a choice only for the physical world. If this happens, the demon realm will also be unable to intervene in the physical world and won't be able to maintain its already unstable territory."
Karma was a sensitive issue directly connected to the survival of the demon realm.
Zeke slowly opened his mouth.
"You're right, Asmodeus. The unstable demon realm will likely disappear."
At his words, killing intent rose from Asmodeus's body.
"Are you playing word games with me...?"
At that moment, Zeke's eyes flashed as he said.
"Not the demon realm, but the celestial realm. I'll help you return there."