414. Short Life (1)
414. Short Life (1)
- 1 -
『... Ha.』
「O Lord...?」
『Hahaha!』
The divine energy was slowly slipping away from her fingertips.
At the same time, a cold smile spread across 'her' lips.
She had missed her target, Tiamat's life... but an unexpected gain had tumbled right into her lap.
『... A bloodline, was it. Yes, it was.』
A quiet voice, yet one brimming with immeasurable hatred.
In 'her' eyes, she saw the being who had blocked her power head-on and collapsed.
Beasts and insects nearby rushed toward that blood-soaked figure, bracing for a possible follow-up attack.
How laughable.
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
Her laughter, nearly cheerful, echoed throughout the entire celestial realm.
A thunderous sound that felt almost lighthearted.
「Our Lord...!」
「Aah, ah...」
But the angels who heard that laughter trembled with terror.
Because the brilliant rainbow and translucent radiance that always unfurled when their master was truly joyful did not appear.
Instead, black thunderclouds began to gather in the sky.
It was an omen of yet another fury.
Kung —— !
Jjeojeojeok!
The sound of the table being struck resounded throughout the entire world.
The pure white table before 'her' finally split into four pieces and collapsed.
「O Lord...!」
The lady-in-waiting beside her cried out as if shrieking, bringing a soft cloth to wrap around her hand.
Not a single drop of blood had been spilled, but it was a reflexive act born of devotion to her master.
The comfort that had always soothed 'her' fury.
『How dare you, in my world...!』
But now, even such devotion could not soothe her heart.
『Hide one of my bloodline in my world...!!!』
Black hair that seemed to shimmer with starlight and countless beings' 'eyes,' and violet irises swirling with power akin to a black hole.
Recalling that appearance, 'she' ground her teeth and snarled.
『How little you must have thought of me...! How dare... how dare...!!』
Kwaddeudeuk——!!
「O Lord...!」
「Please, calm yourself!」
Centered around 'her' great temple, the entire ground splintered like a spiderweb.
As all the angels spread their wings to flee into the sky, her rage only deepened.
Hwaaa...!
The temperature soared in an instant, and the holy currents flowing through the air grew heavy with heat.
『... I will kill you.』
In 'her' eyes, the image of Libertas formed once more.
The image of the woman who looked exactly like Naiya, surely her young blood relative.
'She' clenched her fist. So tightly that her hand trembled.
『Without fail...!』
As if she were gripping Libertas's slender neck within that hand.
- 2 -
Meanwhile, in the deepest part of the demon realm. The Demon King's palace.
Two archdukes had just completed their report on the surface world and were bowing their heads.
"... That is all. Your Majesty."
Hearing Asmodeus's soft voice, the Demon King nodded slowly.
His face, backlit beneath the 'black sunlight,' was hidden in deep shadow, making his expression unreadable.
『Well heard, Duke of Lust.』
But beneath that shadow, his faintly visible lips wore a clear smile.
One that seemed immensely satisfied.
『However... This is unexpected, Haiden.』
The Demon King's head, which had been toying with the crystal orb containing Leviathan and Asmodeus's statements, turned minutely to the side.
From Asmodeus, to Leviathan.
Despite the rudeness of using his childhood name in front of others, Leviathan showed no sign of protest.
For he was not yet to be called 'Leviathan.'
"May I ask... what you mean."
『You must have guessed why I sent you to inspect Libertas.』
"Yes. That is correct."
The Demon King stroked his chin and continued.
『And yet, your report contains few critical opinions. Far fewer than I expected...』
His question had good reason.
Leviathan was Libertas's potential rival and one of the figures most wary of her.
Yet the harshest assessment this same Leviathan had given of Libertas was merely, 'She has too much affection for her subordinates, which could lead to her downfall.'
His other opinions were filled with a cynical and cold tone, but upon closer inspection, all his words ultimately boiled down to generous praise of her abilities and capacity.
The Demon King could not help but find it puzzling.
Leviathan was silent for a moment, then bowed his head and answered.
"She is truly a person worthy of being a Demon Realm Archduke. Perhaps it would be fine to grant her an even higher position."
『Is that sincere?』
This time, genuine surprise colored the Demon King's voice. Along with even greater amusement.
Because the meaning of what Leviathan was saying was singular.
『She should be given the position of a 'Demon Realm Archduke'...?』
"It is not 'should be given,' Your Majesty. It is merely that she is qualified to be considered."
Leviathan took a step back in attitude, then added the words as if making an excuse.
"... If Your Majesty had witnessed that scene himself, you would have had no choice but to acknowledge it."
[She blocked... that power?]
The final scene of that battle flashed through Leviathan's mind.
The pure white despair that had been crashing down toward the surface, and the figure of the small woman who had stood proudly before it, protecting everyone.
The shock of that spectacle was something that could not be fully conveyed through words or writing.
『Heh heh... heh heh heh heh...!』
The Demon King burst into laughter, as if endlessly amused.
'That Duke of Envy, Leviathan, acknowledging someone else.'
The being furthest removed from the word 'acknowledgment' in the entire world was precisely Leviathan.
That was exactly why he was the right choice for a critical assessment.
And yet, here he was, speaking words that indirectly acknowledged another.
That woman, Libertas... was growing more and more interesting.
『Pfft, heh heh heh...』
At the continuous laughter, Leviathan's brow furrowed slightly.
"... Your Majesty."
『Ah... My apologies. But it is amusing. Amusing.』
He had not experienced such an amusing situation in recent times.
So much so that he could not hold back his laughter, despite Leviathan's quiet protest.
'Libertas.'
He recalled the being who had carved a clear crack into his own ennui.
Black hair that seemed to shimmer with starlight, and two captivating eyes where mana swirled ceaselessly.
A domineering path that was the complete opposite of her seemingly gentle impression.
An ability that had ceaselessly advanced and ascended ever since her presence was first recognized.
It was a bit unbecoming to say this as the Absolute One who must uphold the neutrality of the demon realm...
But truly, the more he thought of her, the more he could not help but dote on her.
So much so that it was regrettable he could not see her right now.
『Right. So, you said she would awaken when?』
At the Demon King's question, Asmodeus answered with a gentle smile.
"She will awaken soon. Before we came here, both her mana and vital signs had already entered a stable phase."
『I see...』
The Demon King nodded slowly.
He leaned deeply into his throne and smiled.
The thought of his lovely 'successor' and 'that pig' who had been squarely struck by her naturally drew forth laughter.
Of course, he had no intention of summoning her right away.
'Regrettable... but I must give it time.'
Her own body, and the chaotic political situation on the surface.
Everything needed time to recover.
- 3 -
Chararak... charak...
The sound of water dripping along a wrung cloth.
Tok, a falling droplet splashed onto Evangeline's pure white uniform, leaving a light ashen stain.
But she did not frown and continued her task.
Normally, this was a task that could be left to maids or servants.
But this task alone, she did not wish to yield to anyone.
For it was none other than nursing her master.
Tok-tok.
"I'm here."
- Come in.
Only after hearing the low voice from inside did she open the door. She met eyes with the two women sitting at the table.
Libertas's promised one, Serica Baritra, the de facto leader of the dungeon while she was unconscious.
And Sonia Medib, who was involved in all major and minor affairs as the Dungeon Lord's disciple.
The two were examining the mountain of stacked documents, one by one. Beside the bed.
"Ah, I'll do it, Unni."
Sonia rose from her seat and spoke, but Evangeline shook her head.
"It's fine."
The two were currently the most important figures in this dungeon.
Because without the fated one and the dungeon's owner, they served as the most appropriate bridge connecting the demon realm and the human world, demons and humans.
They were, in a sense, the core components of the system Libertas had built.
'... Actually, this is an unrelated matter.'
Of course, Evangeline herself knew that this was not simply driven by a sense of public duty.
This was... a small and selfish personal desire, using public interest as an excuse.
The greed to secure just a little more of this time beside her unconscious master, to feel her wholly without anyone's interference.
That was why the five close aides were taking turns standing guard here.
Chararak...
Evangeline carefully wrung out the towel once more and placed it on the forehead of the deeply sleeping Libertas.
A small woman breathing evenly.
But this stability had only been achieved today.
Originally, Libertas had been suffering from a severe high fever.
'How fortunate.'
Her breathing was still faint, but not as precarious as it had been at dawn.
Wiping the cold sweat from Libertas's forehead, Evangeline whispered affectionately.
"It's alright. You pulled through."
Looking at the eyelashes trembling faintly along the subtle currents of mana, she smiled softly.
[It is a phenomenon caused by an overload of power.]
In her mind, the conversation she had had with Esther right after recovering Libertas surfaced.
[What kind of power? A Dungeon Lord is a being in whom power is concentrated. Even if it's a different kind of power...]
[Though she did faint, our Master blocked a god's power and is relatively safe. Do you understand what that means?]
Esther had asserted.
It meant only one thing.
[... Our Master is properly handling divine power. Though she is still inexperienced.]
Namely, that she too could wield 'divine power' — not the power gained as a reward of faith, but the power that becomes the source of faith itself.
That Libertas was a being ready to ascend to the seat of the 'Absolute One.'
That news was both astonishing and worrying even to her closest aides, who believed they knew everything about her.
Because wielding power of a high essence meant drawing the attention of those who knew how to wield such power.
'You must wake up soon.'
She must awaken before the master of this world acts again.
To prepare for all situations.
Amidst worry and affection, Evangeline recalled what had happened before her eyes.
The moment divine power poured down upon the surface, and Libertas confronted that power.
[Everyone, lend me your strength.]
At that moment, she... had been, literally, like another 'Goddess.'