Chapter 53 - Moving Forward (1)
“Finally…”
Auriel’s eyes glistened with tears of emotion.
For two years since the Heavenly Demon disappeared, she had searched for him while simultaneously advocating for his reinstatement within the Church.
At last, her efforts bore fruit.
“Understood. I’ll gladly cooperate.”
“Lord Juten will rejoice at your devotion, Saintess.”
The messenger bowed slightly in deference.
The two then briefly discussed their next steps.
“In that case, I’ll await the Church’s official delegation here. Once they arrive, we’ll move together.”
“Yes. I’ll return immediately to convey your intentions to the Church.”
After the messenger left, the Saintess excitedly turned to Emily.
“Emily, did you hear? We can finally formally welcome the Heavenly Demon back to the Church!”
“…”
But Emily had remained silent since the messenger stated his purpose, leaning against the wall with arms crossed and an impassive expression.
“…Emily?”
“Ha… really… that’s so like you…”
“Huh?”
“Sit down.”
Emily plopped onto the bed and pointed at her feet.
“Uh… that’s the floor…”
“Exactly. Seems I need to give you a lecture.”
Auriel hesitantly knelt before Emily.
“You. Do you actually believe what they’re saying?”
“Huh?”
“Think logically. You’re the Saintess, and that Inquisitor who was with us—what was his name? Doesn’t matter. Even though you two kept insisting the Heavenly Demon was innocent, they wouldn’t even pretend to listen. Remember how they tried pinning the Cardinal’s assassination on him? If I hadn’t urgently requested our Adventurer’s Guild’s support to investigate, they would’ve succeeded!”
“But…”
“No buts.”
Emily’s tone was stern, like a mother scolding a child.
“Want me to guess their real motives? They issued wanted notices and secretly dispatched Inquisitors everywhere to find him, but failed. Then suddenly—oh? The Empire found him? And they’re trying to recruit him? Now the higher-ups are desperate.”
“That can’t be…”
“Can’t be my ass!”
Emily’s outburst made Auriel clamp her mouth shut.
“If the Heavenly Demon returns to the Radain Church, they’ll wipe their mouths clean and treat him as both criminal and test subject.”
“…”
“See? You can’t even argue. Somewhere deep down, you feel the Church’s leadership has gone astray, don’t you?”
Auriel lowered her gaze, expression somber.
“…Come here.”
Seeing this, Emily softened, taking Auriel’s hand and seating her beside her on the bed.
“And you said it yourself last time—he just wants to live quietly and normally.”
“Right.”
“Then would bringing him to the Radain Church make him happy? Let him live the life he wants?”
“…Probably not. But… I don’t know. His current situation doesn’t seem positive either. I thought if I could bring him back first, this time I’d protect him—”
“Yeah. I get it.”
Emily carefully embraced Auriel, whose muffled sobs trembled against her shoulder.
“Sorry… I was so blinded by finally seeing him again…”
“Don’t be. I understand. So let’s think about how we can meet him properly. Okay?”
“So. How goes recruiting this ‘Heavenly Demon’?”
Badelon lounged on the sofa as he posed the question.
In a reception room at Security Force headquarters.
But Elaine, who should have been hosting her guest from across the table, stood by the window instead, gazing outside.
“…”
“Hmph. Now you won’t even pretend to listen to your father.”
Elaine finally sighed and turned around.
“No progress. He only answers trivial, meaningless questions. Core inquiries about his origins or abilities, or recruitment offers from government officials, he ignores entirely.”
“Hmm. A stubborn one.”
Badelon chuckled, but Elaine’s expression remained unchanged.
‘Father is terrifying.’
That was Elaine’s assessment.
Duke of the Herthe family, war hero, Minister of Internal Affairs.
Even with his current status, few in the Empire dared oppose him—yet Badelon remained insatiable.
Expanding connections, amassing wealth.
—All for the eternal prosperity of the Herthe family.
That was his answer to her childhood question.
‘Father isn’t evil… but I can’t agree with him.’
Elaine had never cared for power. So the moment she came of age, she left the family for the military.
Relinquishing succession rights didn’t bother her. If anything, she felt guilty burdening her younger siblings.
Thus distanced from Badelon, Elaine focused solely on duty and training.
Until days ago, when he sought her out again.
‘We need this “Heavenly Demon.”’
He informed her she’d handle the Heavenly Demon’s transport and interrogation—tasks meant for the Imperial Guard.
Though reluctant, Elaine accepted, curious about the man who’d single-handedly slain three Fallen Deities and captivated her sister.
“…Have you tried personally requesting him?”
Elaine’s shoulders twitched imperceptibly.
“Why do you ask?”
“…I met with him again yesterday.”
“Oh? And?”
“…”
Elaine unconsciously hugged her arms.
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t know?”
“He’s… unlike anyone I’ve met.”
Recalling yesterday sent chills down her spine.
It was nothing major.
Following orders, Elaine faced the Heavenly Demon in the interrogation room to persuade him.
The atmosphere wasn’t bad. He’d even faintly smiled at her joke.
But the moment Elaine mentioned defecting to the Empire, his demeanor shifted.
An alien energy radiated from him.
Sinister like demonic mana, yet deeper, darker.
She quickly channeled mana, wrapping herself in Aura—but it wasn’t enough.
‘I let my guard down.’
Gasping for air, her mind plunging into despair, Elaine could only regret.
Though his reported feats were extraordinary, meeting him these past days made her doubt them—he seemed utterly listless.
Not metaphorically. She sensed nothing from him. Not even her Swordmaster instincts.
But when he revealed his true nature, Elaine felt as if she faced not a man, but a portal to an endless abyss.
“…If my presence discomforts you, I apologize. Please set aside your displeasure… and let us…”
Only then did the Heavenly Demon withdraw that ominous energy.
“…Hm. My bad. Hearing the same spiel repeatedly… got under my skin.”
His face returned to its usual apathetic disinterest.
“Ho? He subdued you—ranked among the Empire’s top swordsmen—with sheer presence alone?”
Even Badelon was genuinely surprised.
“Then we must eliminate him before he becomes a threat.”
“If that’s possible.”
Recalling their encounter, Elaine estimated the forces and sacrifices needed to subdue him.
‘Starting another conquest war might be easier.’
“Troublesome. Refuses to join us, yet too formidable as an enemy.”
“—Then we can only pray Parmela succeeds.”
Badelon remained undeterred.
Silence.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, hands folded before my Dantian, eyes closed—I cast my consciousness into the stillness.
How long since I last meditated?
To find my path forward, I observe my inner self.
What surfaces from the calm waters of my mind are memories from just before clearing “Heavenly Demon Simulator.”
Back then, I was utterly broken.
An endless cycle of death and rebirth—inescapable hell.
My final resort was seclusion.
At the start of the run, I left a note—“Quitting as Heavenly Demon”—and fled the Demonic Cult for remote western lands.
—This should do it.
That’s what I’d thought.
I ran from the martial world’s bloody conflicts between righteous and demonic factions.
The Demonic Cult probably fell to ruin, but that wasn’t my concern. At least this way, I’d survive.
But no.
Years into hiding, assassins from the Cult found me.
Deeper into seclusion, and the Martial Alliance Leader himself came.
—“I’ve come to avenge the heroes slain by your Demonic Cult!”
Having trained no martial arts that run, I stood no chance and died.
Waking in the Heavenly Demon’s bedroom at the run’s start, I lay still, lost in thought.
Then came realization.
Hiding isn’t the answer.
Neither is fleeing.
To avoid drowning in the sea of worldly grudges, I must row forward.
Thus, I steeled myself and marched toward clearing the game.
Boldly into the martial world’s bloodiest conflicts—but without killing, vowing to end that endless war with my own hands.
I open my eyes.
“…Right. That’s how it was.”
Having forgotten that epiphany, I repeated the same mistakes in this world.
I rise.
“Hoo…”
Shall I make a move?