The Progenitor's Revelation
The Moon Clan — 5
Nahen, Veronika, and Alberon stared in bewilderment at the progenitor kneeling before them. Yet the one who had thrown all three into confusion spoke in a calm, measured voice.
“What brings the Great One to seek this maiden in person?”
“Er… are you referring to me?”
“Of course. Who else in this place would this maiden need to bow her head to?”
“……”
Nahen had known he was an Archdemon, but he had never expected the title to command such deference from others. The progenitor of the Blood Clan…?
The progenitor of the Blood Clan, also known as the Primordial Moon, had once stood on equal footing with Demon Kings. She was a demon of terrifying power. Yet here she was, kneeling and lowering her head to someone else.
“You know me?”
“How could this maiden not?”
“Then tell me.”
Nahen asked her, “What is my name?”
“A strange question. Still, if that is the Great One’s command, this maiden shall answer.”
The progenitor gazed at Nahen with eyes as beautiful as embedded jewels.
“You are the Great Lord of the Inverted Kingdom… Nahen.”
“…What did you just say?”
“Oh my, this is…”
The progenitor seemed to notice something odd about the words leaving her own mouth.
“Ah… I see.”
She looked at Nahen with a mysterious glint in her eyes, then smiled gently.
“Might this maiden be permitted to ask one question?”
“What is it?”
“Why is there a restriction preventing anyone from speaking the Great One’s name?”
Nahen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He recalled an incident from some time ago. When he had ambushed the demon beside the Pope in the Holy Kingdom, the demon named Lilith had also been unable to speak his name properly. It seemed there was more to it than simple fear. And perhaps this was connected to why Nahen himself could not recall his true name.
“A restriction? Who placed it?”
“That, this maiden does not know. Yet it is strange that the Great One is unaware of it as well… Your golden eyes and the apocalyptic beasts at your side match the one this maiden knows.”
“…Alberon.”
When Nahen called, Alberon stared back with a startled expression. Only after a moment did he regain his composure and answer.
“Yes…!”
“Take Veronika and wait outside. I have matters to discuss.”
“Ah, understood!”
Alberon led the still-shocked Veronika out of the domain. The massive door closed with a heavy thud, and Nahen spoke.
“I know nothing about this matter. I don’t even remember what I was doing before.”
He knew he was an Archdemon who had come from Hell and possessed immense power… but just as his true name remained elusive, so too did any memories of his activities in Hell.
“This maiden thought as much. Did something happen to you?”
“I don’t know that either. That’s why I want to ask you.”
Nahen looked at the progenitor.
“Tell me everything you know about me.”
“…This maiden will answer with all sincerity. There is no need to glare at this maiden so fiercely.”
“…Sorry.”
“Then where shall this maiden begin?”
“What exactly I was doing. And how many Archdemons exist.”
“Could you perhaps tell this maiden how you would like to be addressed?”
“Nahen.”
“I see.”
The progenitor answered simply.
“Lord Nahen is an Archdemon, the ruler of the Inverted Kingdom. In Hell, there are nine other Great Ones of equal standing. However, none of them can compare to Lord Nahen.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means Lord Nahen is an unparalleled existence. Even the ruler of Hell cannot touch Lord Nahen. You were born as such a being.”
“……”
Perhaps because she had lived in the same era as the primordial Demon Kings, the progenitor knew a great deal. If even Hell’s ruler could not interfere with him, did that not make him the strongest being in Hell?
Nahen found that part puzzling and asked, “Are you saying I am the strongest in Hell?”
“At least in terms of raw power, that is what this maiden understands.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“What doesn’t?”
“If what you say is true, then who could have placed a restriction on me?”
“This maiden can only speculate… perhaps you placed it upon yourself.”
“Myself? Me?”
“Even if this maiden asked for the reason, she would not know it. All answers lie with you… Lord Nahen.”
Nahen furrowed his brow. It was not displeasure with the progenitor, but frustration that no memories surfaced despite her words. He let out a weary sigh, and the progenitor smiled softly.
“So, why did the Great One awaken this maiden?”
“How did you even know I was the one who woke you?”
“The scent of this maiden’s blood lingers on your right hand.”
“Ah…”
Nahen scratched his head. Remembering his original purpose, he thought, Right… I should finish this quickly and return.
Meeting someone who knew his true identity had left him somewhat excited. It seemed there was nothing more to learn, and no further questions came to mind. Nahen decided to end the conversation there and get to the main point.
“I came to form an alliance with the Moon Clan.”
“With this maiden’s children?”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“I want an alliance with you, the Primordial Moon.”
The progenitor’s eyes widened slightly. She covered her lips with her hand and laughed, her gesture filled with grace.
“How amusing. The Great One wishes to ally with this maiden… This is quite a novel experience.”
“I’m not forming it alone. Do you know Seere von Devata?”
“I know of Devata, but who is Seere? Was there such a name in the Devata clan?”
It seemed the progenitor had been asleep even when Seere was born. When Nahen explained Seere’s identity, the progenitor’s eyes grew round.
“Seir is dead?”
“Seven years… no, it’s almost eight years now.”
“Oh my, how terrible…”
But the progenitor’s next words left Nahen wondering if he had misheard.
“You must be deeply saddened.”
At first, he thought she was referring to Seere. He quickly realized that was a mistake. The progenitor was speaking to Nahen.
“…Me?”
“Yes.”
“I’m saddened by Seir von Devata’s death?”
“…Oh my?”
The progenitor looked slightly surprised again. Then she asked in a tentative tone, “Could it be that you do not remember that either?”
“…I’m not sure.”
“Yet you are still looking after that child?”
“That sounds like it’s related somehow.”
“Of course it is. As far as this maiden knows, Seir and Lord Nahen were…”
The shocking words that flowed from the progenitor’s mouth made Nahen let out a hollow laugh. So there was this kind of hidden backstory I didn’t know about.
Nahen finally understood why an Archdemon like himself had gone to the lowest floor to become Seere’s teacher. An Archdemon lacked for nothing—power, authority, territory, wealth, honor, or appearance. Even Tiamat, the ruler of Hell, had to yield to him. He possessed terrifying strength and the cunning to build and rule the only “kingdom” in Hell. His appearance was so striking that even Gamaliel, another Archdemon and Tiamat’s lover, secretly obsessed over him.
For an Archdemon who had obtained everything, the only thing missing was someone to fill the emptiness in his emotions and heart.
“So that’s how it was.”
Seir von Devata had been the only one who could ease the loneliness of this Archdemon—the one and only close friend. Then why, knowing the truth, had Nahen not sought revenge for Seir? Nahen himself knew the answer all too well. Seir’s revenge was not for him to carry out, but for Seir’s only blood relative. For that purpose, and to fulfill Seir’s request, Nahen had posed as the teacher of the weakest Demon King.
#
“So, what do you intend to do about the alliance? I haven’t heard your opinion yet.”
Having roughly grasped the situation, Nahen began discussing the alliance proposal in earnest. The progenitor smiled gently.
“How could this maiden refuse when the Great One extends a hand?”
“You’re surprisingly positive. I was worried because your race dislikes the rule of Demon Kings.”
“In truth, my children developed that tendency because of this maiden’s existence. Fundamentally, they are still demons. They will adapt quickly. However, please do not oppress this maiden’s children too harshly. That would cause resistance.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Nahen took out a document—the treaty for the alliance. The progenitor’s eyes widened slightly at the sight, then she laughed lightly.
“How curious to see the Great One carrying a treaty document. I have witnessed many strange sights today.”
“It’s only natural when forming an alliance between groups.”
“If you simply revealed your identity, the children would have no choice but to obey.”
“They mustn’t follow me. They must follow Seere.”
“Aha… You are quite sincere, Lord Nahen.”
Nahen chuckled at her words. Since possessing this body—and even before—had there ever been a time when he was not serious about this game? “I have always been serious about this.”
He had never been anything but serious, even when playing the game. That was why he had been able to see all seventy or so endings.
After observing Nahen’s expression, the progenitor smiled softly.
“I see.”
“Then let’s begin the alliance oath, Ersha Scarlet.”
“…Oh my, you know this maiden’s name.”
“Would I come without knowing the name of the one I’m allying with?”
“You are correct. This maiden was foolish.”
When Nahen snapped his fingers, quills appeared in both their hands. Ersha spoke with mild admiration.
“I never thought I would see magic from that era again.”
“You can use it too… No, of course you can.”
She had lived alongside the primordial Demon Kings. Naturally, she would be skilled in ancient magic.
“But this maiden cannot cast it with a simple gesture like Lord Nahen.”
“Is that so.”
Nahen had come as Seere’s proxy, so he had the authority to sign on her behalf. He wrote Seere’s signature and handed the treaty to Ersha. Without hesitation, Ersha wrote her own name, then bit her finger with her sharp fangs. Strangely little blood emerged.
“Is it all right to use so little blood?”
“This will be more certain. This maiden does not know when she will awaken again, and the children might rebel if there is only a signature.”
“I see.”
“Lord Nahen. This maiden hopes that by following the Demon King chosen by the Great One, my children will gain glory.”
Her jewel-like eyes looked at Nahen. In a gentle voice, she asked, “Can you grant that?”
“Glory?”
Nahen laughed lightly.
“Of course. Those who follow Seere will become a race that follows the Demon King who rises to the highest position in the Demon Realm.”
At his confident smile, Ersha was able to smile as well.
“This maiden will believe in you.”
“Good.”
Nahen nodded and spoke to Ersha.
“In the process, gather the Blood Moons as you find them.”
“…Pardon?”
“What? Isn’t it written in the treaty?”
“Ah…”
In truth, she had not checked the contents properly. She had thought that if it was a request from the Great Archdemon Nahen, she had to comply, and that it was worth doing.
“Once you collect all the Blood Moons, won’t you be free to act as well?”
“…That is true. But why would you go so far for this maiden?”
“We’re allies. If there is something coming, there should be something going. Because of me, your children will be conscripted into Seere’s wars from now on. I should at least repay you that much. I cannot provide only secondary, abstract things like glory or honor.”
“……”
When Ersha stared at Nahen blankly, he tilted his head.
“Are we done?”
“Ah, yes. Here it is.”
“I am truly grateful that you formed this alliance.”
“It is this maiden who should be grateful. To have been of help to the Great One is an honor.”
Nahen carefully put away the treaty bearing both signatures and Ersha’s blood seal. He scratched his cheek and said one more thing.
“Ersha Scarlet.”
“Yes?”
“It’s a shame to say this after forming an alliance, but I killed three of your Lords.”
“…Pardon?”
“When you awaken next time, it would be strange if the number of Lords had decreased. So I’m telling you in advance. But I want you to know this.”
Nahen spoke sincerely.
“I only dealt with those who insulted Seere. I did not touch the others.”
“…Pfft!”
Nahen felt puzzled by Ersha’s reaction. He had killed three of the seven strongest among her children, yet she was laughing?
“Lord Nahen, this maiden does not care much about the life or death of each individual child.”
“Is that so? That’s unexpected.”
“Whether they are Lords or not, they are all equal children to me. I only hope that my children are not driven to extinction. Honestly, even if you had hidden it, nothing would have happened…”
Ersha smiled gently.
“Seeing you confess so honestly, it seems the Great One’s personality has softened considerably.”
“…What was I like before?”
“You were truly cold and cruel. Nothing remained in the places Lord Nahen passed through.”
“……”
“Ah, now that I think about it…”
Ersha tilted her head.
“This maiden has one more question.”
“What is it?”
“Do you remember the three apocalyptic beasts that originally followed Lord Nahen?”
“Three?”
Nahen tilted his head. Because right now, only one—Leviathan—was at his side.
“There were three?”
“Yes. Besides the beast at Lord Nahen’s side, Leviathan, there were two more. They were the three apocalyptic beasts alongside Leviathan.”
“But now…”
When Nahen revealed his mana, a small white whale appeared with a pop. Seeing it, Ersha looked flustered and broke into a cold sweat.
“Could you please not summon it?”
“Ah, sorry.”
When he told Leviathan to return, the creature looked at Nahen as if reluctant. Only after meeting Nahen’s gaze did it disappear.
“It only responds to Leviathan.”
“Something must have gone wrong. Originally, besides the Leviathan of the Great Ocean, the Behemoth of the Great Land and the Ziz of the Sky followed Lord Nahen.”
“Behemoth, Ziz…”
As Nahen seemed to ponder, Ersha offered some advice.
“If you investigate why Lord Nahen placed a restriction on yourself, there might be something there. This maiden thinks it is related.”
“…Thanks for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Not at all. More importantly, this maiden is starting to…”
The progenitor’s eyes, which had been sparkling with intelligence moments ago, began to close as if it were a lie. Seeing this, Nahen supported her and laid her back in the coffin.
“Thank you… Lord Nahen.”
“It would be nice if we could talk a little longer next time.”
The conversation with Ersha had been extremely informative. There was a great deal of new information, and because she had lived so long, she had recalled things Nahen had not considered. It felt like having an excellent strategist by his side.
“…Oh my, is that so.”
Ersha’s eyes slowly closed as she spoke one last short sentence.
“Then this maiden will be looking forward to it as well.”
With those words, the progenitor fell asleep once more. Perhaps due to insufficient Blood Moons, she closed her eyes and stopped breathing in less than an hour. Watching Ersha’s complexion turn pale again, Nahen felt a strange emotion.
Ersha Scarlet. The progenitor of the vampire race and a being born from the “First Chaos” alongside the primordial Demon Kings. Why had such an existence hidden her blood throughout the Demon Realm and gone into eternal slumber?
I don’t know.
Nahen did not think any deeper. He was curious, but he had no time to ponder such matters. If it was not necessary…
He had to return quickly…
…Should I buy something before going back?
He felt that Seere would sulk otherwise. Nahen left Ersha Scarlet’s domain while worrying about what to buy.