Chapter 34
Chapter 34
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Diabolos' Descent
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Deep, deep underground.
In that secretive place,
a group of wizards was conducting a scheduled ritual.
A massive magic circle sprawled across the vast chamber.
At its center, fueled by countless magical beasts offered as sacrifices,
it began to slowly take form.
“Ooh…!”
“Finally, you have descended!”
“Bow before him!”
“Praise him!”
“Praise the great demon of hell!”
The wizards poured out their praises in voices laced with madness.
As if answering their call,
the being unleashed a turbid mana beyond human comprehension, manifesting its utterly depraved flesh.
One of hell's overlords.
A being who, through the sacrifices offered by its followers, was finally stepping back into this world across dimensions.
Its name was…
“Receive the great one! The mighty Diabolos!”
“O Diabolos! Lord of Destruction! The purifier of this wretched world!”
It completed its summoning amid the fervent adoration of its followers.
The great demon Diabolos.
A sinister smile curled across his lips as his robust form emerged through the magic circle.
⟨ Diabolos' Thoughts ⟩
Heh heh heh… Finally… Finally returned… to this speck of a world once again!
Not long ago, Diabolos' carefully prepared summoning ritual had failed due to an unforeseen accident.
Yet even so, he refused to give up and devised a new plan to descend into the mortal realm.
Though one ritual had failed, he still had plenty of devoted followers in this world.
As long as the roots run deep, a tree regrows in no time.
Fortunately, with a stroke of luck here and there, his followers swiftly amassed resources and carried out the ritual to bring him forth.
Moreover, taking the previous failure—where heaven had intervened—as a lesson, he changed the summoning site this time.
A place encircled by his followers, safe from any interference.
Diabolos was certain that even the worst misfortune wouldn't bring him face-to-face with that filthy seraph again.
This was the magic tower, famed across the continent for its impregnable defenses.
Even deeper than the so-called 0th floor, the tower's lowest level.
⟨ Diabolos' Thoughts ⟩
Brace yourselves, you filthy scum… especially that seraph bastard! If you dare interfere this time, give it a try! Just wait… once I recover my power in this world, I'll rip you apart first…
-Pop!
⟨ Diabolos' Thoughts ⟩
Huh? What's thi…
-Kaboom!!!
It was autumn.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Hah… hah… hah…”
“Hurry! We must escape this place as fast as we can!”
“Yes, Captain!”
Eva and the holy knights fled, gasping for breath.
The moment Seraphim's orders came down, they had plunged into the magic tower. Behind them now piled high with all sorts of research materials they'd extracted from within.
Under normal circumstances, even approaching the magic tower—let alone stealing its data—would have been impossible.
But the massive commotion unfolding inside right now…
Explosions rocking the tower everywhere, the guarding wizards vanishing without a trace—this chaos had handed them the perfect chance to land such a huge catch.
They couldn't know the exact circumstances.
All they could surmise was that the great Seraphim had done something to aid them.
Thanks to that, having successfully completed their mission, they now raced forward without a backward glance, following Seraphim's command.
‘Seraphim said not to hesitate for a second—just run.’
‘What could happen if we look back that we can't escape death?’
For now, all they could do was press on, doubts swirling in their minds.
Then.
-Whoosh!!
“Huh?”
“Wha… what…”
A chilling sensation hit them in an instant.
A frigid wind whipped through.
Their ears rang as if deafened.
Several knights pulling the cart instinctively tried to glance back.
That was when.
“You idiots! I told you not to look back! Just run!”
“Ah… y-yes.”
“S-sorry.”
Liv sharply reined them in.
At their senior's biting command, they flinched and snapped their heads forward again.
And then…
-Kaboom!!!!!
“!!”
“Guhhh!!!”
A colossal explosion roared forth.
They could only hunker down against the hellish heat and ferocious gale.
“Damn it! Hold tight! Don't let go no matter what!”
Fortunately, everyone here was blessed by Seraphim.
Thanks to that, they barely protected the materials while keeping their bodies from being flung away.
At the same time, a chill of relief mixed with dread washed over them.
What if they'd mindlessly looked back just moments ago?
They'd have taken the blast head-on—blinded at best, obliterated by the shockwave at worst.
Deeply reflecting on their near-foolish defiance of divine warning,
the holy knights strained to avoid looking back even now and kept pulling the cart forward.
For now,
they never saw the massive mushroom cloud rising behind them…
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The countless angels rescued from Sodom.
Naturally, I planned to raise them all here in heaven.
Clones born from experiments they may be, these children were still angels.
And since their original was my Arcroyal, they were like my own kids to me.
Angels barely surviving hellish conditions.
Now, they were settling into various spots around heaven, catching their breath.
The vast expanse of heaven still felt somewhat empty compared to its full potential,
but the eerie loneliness of just the two of us had eased a bit.
However…
[Are you alright?]
[!... Seraphim… sir.]
Arcroyal replied, shadows still clouding her face.
Gazing at her, I spoke in a quiet voice.
[I told you, this isn’t your fault. You were only used. The sin lies with those who have fallen into hell at this very moment.]
[Yes… but…]
[…Hmm…]
Even words of comfort couldn't shake Arcroyal's guilt.
It was only natural.
Unlike those scum who could commit such acts without remorse, the Arcroyal I knew was kind and pure-hearted.
She couldn't easily turn a blind eye to the tragedy sparked by her own actions.
Gazing at such an Arcroyal,
I spoke in a calm voice.
[For now… let's do this.]
[Pardon?]
A way to alleviate her guilt.
Mere words of comfort from others weren't enough.
Helpful as they were,
what mattered more was repaying the debt in her own heart.
For that,
I made one suggestion to Arcroyal.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[….]
A lofty place where a blue world unfurled beneath her feet.
Heaven.
There, the great angel Arcroyal silently gazed down at the earth for a moment.
The scenery was much the same as always.
But her heart as she beheld it was utterly changed.
The ‘mission’ born of her stubbornness.
It had lasted mere days, yet it delivered a shock greater than any in her eternal life.
The rivers of blood spilled due to her naivety.
And right after learning the truth,
she'd lost control, rampaging on the verge of crossing an irreversible line.
Though merciful Seraphim comforted her, Arcroyal had to admit it.
She had failed.
Far from aiding Seraphim, she'd only hindered him.
However.
Beyond the bitterness of failure,
another heavy emotion weighed on her heart now, for a different reason.
That reason was…
{Um… Lady Arcroyal…? Why did you call for me…?}
[Sigh…]
The voice coming from right beside her—identical to her own.
The difference: slightly lower-toned than her higher pitch.
Hearing it, Arcroyal turned her gaze back to harsh reality.
Toward her ‘child’ standing beside her.
[For now… let's fly a bit.]
{!... Okay.}
Switching from polite speech to casual—unlike before.
This was her own effort.
An effort tied to the ‘responsibility’ to come.
Whether the child before her recognized it, who could say.
Anyway,
Arcroyal slowly rose, floating into the air.
Following her, the child…
Angelculus No. 562, whom she'd first encountered.
spread her wings and lifted off as well.
Clone or not, flight was as natural to an angel as walking.
Thus strolling slowly through heaven's pristine white expanse,
Arcroyal cautiously spoke.
[How's life here…? The other kids.]
{It's fine. They're still a bit confused… but at least they're content knowing they no longer have to kill or be killed by each other.}
[…Good.]
Heaven, once empty save for her and Seraphim.
Now filled with countless souls.
The surviving angels rescued from Sodom.
From those mature enough to briefly hinder Arcroyal with their strength,
to tiny girls not yet even developed, fresh from birth.
Totaling 1,273 in all.
And among them,
one named Arc-562.
Gazing at the child with whom she'd shared a brief connection,
[Um… listen.]
Arcroyal opened her mouth, tension in her voice.
Recalling his words once more.
[First… I want to apologize. For putting you through this. Because of me… because I naively trusted those humans…]
A flash of that hellish scene.
Innocent children slaughtering one another.
Even now, in relative calm, it stirred visceral revulsion. Suppressing the rising emotions, Arcroyal continued.
[I'm truly… truly sorry.]
Her apology.
And.
[And… even at this age, even as a foolish idiot like me. Could you give me a chance? A chance to atone for this sin… to take responsibility for you all who remain?]
{!...}
A plea to let her make amends.
To Arcroyal's request,
No. 562 stared at her face, stunned for a moment.
And then.
{…Sob… sob sob…}
[!... Ah… um… s-sorry! D-did I upset you or something…?]
{Thank… you…}
[Huh?]
Tears streaming down her face.
Flustered, Arcroyal faltered—
but No. 562 spoke in a trembling voice.
{Thank you… truly… for accepting wretches like us… thank you so much…}
Wiping tears with the back of her hand, the child smiled.
Relief and joy shone in her expression. Seeing it, Arcroyal choked up, hand to her mouth.
Then, wordlessly embracing the child.
Leaning into that warm embrace,
the child quietly thought, heart pounding.
‘Thank… you… Mother… our… mother…’
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
{Mother FXXX!!!!}
-Kaboom!!!
A thunderous divine roar echoed massively.
With it came a tremendous explosion-like boom, shaking the pantheon violently.
```