Chapter 145
Chapter 145
Chapter 145
Dilmun (1)
"Hahaha, I knew you would defeat Apophis and return triumphantly."
Baal welcomed Rudian with a bright smile.
Since Baal wasn't a demon but had the appearance of a considerable handsome man, anyone of the opposite sex would have their heart flutter at the sight, but to Rudian, who was of the same gender, it only looked like an annoying act.
"Diablo has such a terrible personality too. He was so excited that he mercilessly trampled without any mercy."
Toward the chattering Baal, Rudian murderously gripped Diablo's handle.
Behind Baal, Kirchrus stood blankly, sweating coldly.
Without the Blue World, Kirchrus was just a slightly strong dragon, so if Baal decided to use his full strength, Kirchrus would inevitably be subdued.
"Even though you know that you're the one who pushed that Apophis all the way here, you're still saying such things?"
Even at Rudian's words, Baal remained composed.
"Hehe, but it wasn't an enemy you couldn't handle, was it? Though I never expected you'd do something as crazy as using that Apophis to purify Calesta's magic."
"......"
Well, it was fortunate that the results were excellent, but honestly, it was indeed something planned on the spur of the moment.
Even Kirchrus didn't withdraw his suspicious gaze until the very end.
"But that doesn't make what you did disappear, does it?"
"Ah, of course not. Then, I'll give you some information, so would you let it slide with that?"
'What's this guy plotting?'
All beings live to achieve their purposes.
Rudian knew what Baal's true purpose was.
But that purpose didn't match at all with the actions Baal was displaying right before his eyes.
"...I'll judge after seeing the quality of the information."
"Hehe, you won't regret it."
Rudian decided to accept the guy's proposal for now.
It was because he instinctively sensed that the guy's intention for crawling all the way here lay precisely in that 'information.'
And immediately, an unimaginable story flowed from Baal's mouth.
"North and Garganta are planning to join hands with extraterrestrial forces and seriously intervene in the world."
"......!"
"They're working hard preparing together with two extraterrestrial gods. The price is the southern continent and the eastern continent. The extraterrestrial forces are steadily preparing their invasion to obtain that price."
"...Why?"
Rudian let out a powerless, dumbfounded voice.
North of Darkness. Garganta of Revenge.
In fact, among the characters of , they were the gods most interested in the lower world among the 'Seven Great Gods' positioned at the very top.
But they were, after all, the creators who made this world.
"Even though they clearly know what will happen to the world if extraterrestrial forces invade, they joined hands with them?"
"Hehehe, how could they not know?"
In fact, Chapter 3 Space War was the part where the eighty-three bad endings created by the original author began to appear in earnest.
Since the basic civilization level and power difference were enormous, Chapter 3 was full of endings where just one wrong choice would lead to destruction.
'Even Abel could barely clear Chapter 3 only after being covered with all sorts of convenient developments and protagonist corrections....'
Though Rudian felt somewhat at ease thanks to Yev's existence, if the Seven Great Gods, who were the rulers of this world, opened the door directly, the story would change dramatically.
"North and Garganta plan to bring in extraterrestrial forces to sweep away all civilizations on the planet's surface."
"Is this for real...?"
This isn't just intervention, it's plain chaos, isn't it?
"What's the approximate timeframe?"
"At most, wouldn't it be about a year?"
Originally, North and Garganta were one of the protagonist party's sponsors in the original work.
In Chapter 1 because of the demons, in Chapter 2 because of Maria, an irregular who could even face gods.
It was only in Chapter 3 that they antagonized the protagonist party, asking if they dared to covet the position of gods like the Celestials of the past, but their hostility was only possible when the power possessed by created beings reached a level that could threaten gods.
"They don't antagonize the surface world unless their position is threatened. But why...?"
What could be the reason they suddenly changed their minds?
Then Baal smiled mysteriously and said:
"I think I know the reason."
"What?"
"Of course, it's in the realm of speculation, so I won't say. And it wouldn't be fun if I told you."
"You really...have an outstanding talent for turning people's stomachs."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Just looking at that grinning face makes one want to punch it.
Rudian really wanted to give him one fierce blow.
But knowing that the 'storm of fate' Yev mentioned was an unavoidable 'bill,' unnecessary conflicts with Baal had to be avoided.
Surely that guy also came here because of that.
***
"Let me speak straight to the point."
Baal, who had released the restraints that were suppressing Kirchrus, made a proposal directly to Rudian.
"I don't wish for human civilization to perish. I propose cooperation until we eliminate the two extraterrestrial civilizations targeting this planet, 'Krakar' and 'Ktuna,' or until they lose the capacity to target this planet."
Rudian reacted lukewarmly to that proposal.
"Anyone watching would think you're humanity's guardian."
In fact, in Chapter 1 of the original work when the Demon Gate fully opened and all the Demon Kings poured out, the demons tried to enslave humans, not actually destroy them.
In fact, when the tide had already turned greatly at that time, if the demons had really been determined, humanity would likely have lost at least 99.9% of its population and come to the brink of extinction.
That's why Abel could achieve victory by exploiting that gap...
"I don't want the current situation to change."
Rudian made an expression of incomprehension.
"Can't you just return to the demon world? No matter how powerful you are, you can't handle all the extraterrestrial forces, can you? Unless you can bring the demon world's full military strength..."
"Of course."
The demon world's potential was beyond imagination.
Although several Demon Kings had met their fate at Rudian's hands, there were still at least sixty Demon Kings in existence, and the armies of millions or tens of millions they led were sufficient to compete with extraterrestrial forces.
But that was only within the demon world.
No matter how much Baal was there, the current demons of the middle world, with their power restricted and manpower severely lacking, couldn't possibly stop extraterrestrial forces that were seriously invading.
The extraterrestrial forces also belonged to this 'middle world' after all, and strictly speaking, this planet was like home ground from the extraterrestrial perspective as well.
"But you know, don't you? When that day approaches, how great an advantage it is to have feet planted on this land. And what the situation in the demon world is like."
"......"
Of course, Rudian knew very well.
Rudian also knew well of Baal's ambition to make this planet, overflowing with abundant resources, into a new demon world.
But would it make sense for a tiger to join hands with a lion just because a lion was invading?
No matter how much the enemy of my enemy is my ally...there are limits to that.
Then Baal, sensing Rudian's dilemma, began to present quite attractive conditions.
"If we form an alliance, there are two forces that will help us."
"One would be the hawkish angel forces including Gabriel...and where's the other one?"
At those words, Baal's eyes suddenly became round.
"Surprising, how did you know that?"
"Hmph, there's no way Gabriel would have missed you crawling in here."
Rudian snorted.
'Actually, there are more reasons.'
It was truly ironic.
That the mortal enemies who fought most fiercely in the First Heaven-Demon Great War were actually joining hands.
'Marbas also knew that angels were coming and going in Baal's palace...'
Because Baal died at Abel's hands in Chapter 1, the details weren't properly covered, but combining the clues so far, it was something that could be sufficiently deduced.
"Actually, I wanted to hide the alliance with angels more, but it became the opposite. Then I'll tell you the truth. The underworld will help us."
"The underworld..."
It was one of the candidates Rudian had been expecting.
The underworld, which was in charge of the middle world's circulation, didn't need to be greatly attached to territory like demons or extraterrestrial forces.
"But there's one problem?"
"What is it?"
"Previously, Rigos hit Baphomet, a subordinate of the King of the Underworld, in the back of the head and trapped him in a cemetery. The King of the Underworld must be grinding his teeth, so would proper cooperation be possible?"
Someone like Baphomet could be considered a noble holding a high position even in the underworld.
Moreover, since it was none other than Rudian himself who killed him, it wouldn't be strange for the King of the Underworld to be grinding his teeth.
But Baal waved his hand, dismissing Rudian's concern.
"Ah, don't worry about that. Persuading the King of the Underworld is my role. Since I brought up the matter, I should take responsibility, shouldn't I?"
"That's true, but..."
If those words were true, naturally cooperating with the demons would be right.
But Rudian was quite reluctant to join hands with Baal.
'That guy is too big a variable just by existing.'
This was exactly the reason why Rudian burned with hostility every time he met Baal.
Though Baal was the final boss of Chapter 1's Second Heaven-Demon Great War, the problem was that the guy exited right in that Chapter 1.
'There's too little information about him.'
Because he exited too early, instead, the massive information and legacy about him had been thrown outside the story of .
After all, the fact that he had crossed over to the middle world long before the Demon Gate opened wasn't even mentioned in the original work.
'It feels like the initiative over the situation itself has passed to him.'
For Rudian, who had somehow managed to seize the initiative and lead the story until now, Baal's existence was truly an unwelcome irregular.
'This guy who's been pulling all sorts of tricks under the surface, why did he obediently fight Abel and give up his life in the original work...?'
Toward Rudian, who was groaning in agony, Baal sent a profound gaze.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind."
"It's not something to decide easily."
"Then shall I release one more piece of information to help with that decision?"
"......"
At that moment, Rudian had a premonition.
The moment he heard that information from Baal that would flow out in a few seconds, he would 100% accept the cooperation proposal.
Grr!
"No, I won't listen."
"Oh...?"
"I'll accept the proposal for temporary cooperation. You handle persuading the underworld yourself."
Baal tilted his head as if surprised.
"Is that so? It's definitely ultra-premium information that would make you burn with excitement if you heard it."
"It seems like it would definitely be information that could give me great benefit, but no matter what, in the current situation it would probably be nothing more than fool's gold."
Rudian brought his face close to Baal's and frowned.
"So I'm saying I won't listen, you damn bastard."
"Heh, hehehe...!"
Baal showed his teeth and laughed as if something was very amusing.
"As expected, you're not to be underestimated. I prepared quite a big card to try to shake you."
"I'll listen when this is over. Tell me next time."
"No, you must listen now."
"......?"
Before he knew it, Baal's expression had sunk quite seriously.
At that sudden change, Rudian also hardened his expression and stared directly at Baal.
"To stop the extraterrestrial forces, we must mobilize all possible means. Surely the aftermath of battle alone could reach a level sufficient to destroy civilization, so to protect humanity we'll need even more preparation."
"......"
He was right.
Though it wouldn't be the god-level scale of Apophis, Diablo, and Yev running wild, certainly the power of extraterrestrial civilizations possessed technology and strength that could blow up planets several times over.
Surely if they were to fight, they'd have to move the stage outside the atmosphere rather than on this land, and for preparation time for that... One year was far too short.
"So, what are you telling me to do?"
"The mysterious ruins that were east of Nevan, the capital of the Morian Empire. And the... 'Core' discovered in those ruins, an unknown artifact."
"......!"
The moment Baal finished speaking, Rudian completely lost his composure for the first time.
"It was I who discovered it and handed it over to Asmodeus. And...while traveling the world... I learned of the existence of another 'Core.' How about it, are you still not interested?"