We Can Never Go Back
"What is this?"
"Press the numbers, and it takes you to whatever floor you want."
A hunk of machinery powered by magi. This massive building—the Demon King of Greed's castle—must have looked entirely alien to them. A device that wasn't even magical, yet moved freely on its own, was a source of dread born of the unknown.
"..."
"Don't be so anxious. It's fine."
"Right. Those demons are bastards, but they're smart."
Rowen paid no mind to Sirayunsul's suspicious glare. He casually pressed the button. With a surge of unpleasant magi, the metal box descended and slid its doors open. These were things he had experienced plenty of times at least a thousand years ago. He had spent years loitering in Pandemonium; there was no way he wouldn't know how to use an elevator.
Then again, a thousand years have passed, and their technology hasn't advanced at all? He wanted to say, Good for us, but humanity had at least developed magic further in that time. There were even a few spells he didn't recognize.
"Just get in. If it opens on the way up, it'll be the demon cultists, so we'll just kill them."
"Don't worry about shields. I'll keep you fully buffed."
Insane confidence. It wasn't empty boasting; Rowen and Mio were notoriously infamous in Pandemonium. Granted, no demon would ever like a hero, but the infamy of Mio, Lian, and Uba was on another level. It was likely because whenever Uba charged, Rowen sliced them down, and Mio backed them up. That was why they could afford to be so self-assured.
Arahan didn't worry in the slightest. She simply stood quietly by Rowen's side, wiping her blood-stained pitch-black sword. Whether she lacked fear of this new technology or simply had no interest in it, it was a choice that was quintessentially Arahan.
"I guess we have no choice but to trust it."
"Lucius, it's not a matter of trust. This is literally the only way up."
"Is... is there no staircase?"
"Of course not. The building is over fifty stories tall. You want to walk that?"
"Sigh..." Indeed.
"Shut up and get in. We don't have time."
"Ugh!"
Arahan grabbed Lucius by his wing and dragged him inside. He tumbled in with a loud crash, looking utterly pathetic, but she only offered a mocking smirk. Chuckling softly, Arahan turned her gaze back to Rowen.
"You haven't changed a bit."
"My, did you expect me to?"
"Forget it, forget it. Why do I even bother talking to you?"
"Fufu."
But the banter was short-lived. The doors slid shut, and as the metal box ascended, a sharp *ding!* echoed, and the doors slid open.
"Kieeeek!"
"Ice Shield."
They immediately smashed its skull and entered combat stances in unison. It was a high-ranking magical beast. It possessed some intelligence, but not enough to accelerate its thoughts or attempt communication. Thus, it was simple and powerful, like a wild beast. No matter how strong someone was, they would die if their heart was pierced or their throat slit. That was why beasts like this were the most dangerous.
"Hahaha! I can feel the impact! Lian, this feedback is absolutely the best!"
"Fuck off! What do you want me to do about it?!"
I didn't ask!
"Om Garajiya Sabaha..."
"Oh, look at you, being all quiet at a time like this."
"As long as Kaliaarun is with me, I am never loud!"
"That's exactly what being loud is, you dumbass."
Woof, woof! Beastly hounds bared their claws and began to bark. Vibrating red magi erupted from the hands of the Demon Humans standing with them. They wielded Demonic Blades and wore skull-patterned robes.
"The demon cult."
"Just kill them. This is a fight that only ends when one side is dead anyway."
"Leave it to me, Rowen."
A red dragon's breath incinerated them. Scales transformed into thorns, piercing skulls and bursting brains. *Squelch, bang!* Slicing and exploding repeatedly, it was a scene of pure carnage, but Rowen felt no disgust. If anything, it was exhilarating. He's using the dragon's power quite freely now, Rowen thought in admiration as he swung his blade of ice. Blue flames flickered alongside black sword energy. An unmelting, freezing fire began to burn in this literal hell.
"Ice Burst."
A storm of ice shards erupted, detonating the flames around them. *Crash!* The windows shattered, and the howling wind of the high altitude rushed in. The air pressure was intense. It meant they had ascended at least twenty stories.
Arahan's chains bound several enemies at once. Sirayunsul's lion-like holy power ripped their throats apart.
"...Tsk. Disgusting texture."
"I agree."
"These fucking bastards. If they're weak, they should just stay in their lane. Why the hell are they acting so tough?"
Sirayunsul spat out her complaints, clicking her tongue. Rowen briefly wanted to ask if she washed her mouth with a rag, but seeing how Arahan's language got rough whenever she teased him, he realized they were two of a kind.
"This side is cleared."
"Clear here, too."
Rowen shook the blood off his icy blade. With a sharp flick, droplets splattered against the stone corridor. Numerous rooms lined the hallway, but he sensed no presence within them. They had killed every last one.
"The fact that they stationed troops here in advance means they already know we've arrived."
Whether it was Cain or Barbatos remained to be seen. But whoever it was, the fact that they had to die remained unchanged.
"Let's keep moving. Upward."
"How much further?"
"We're close. The throne room will appear soon."
With their preparations complete, the party resumed their ascent.
This is an old, distant memory. A memory from before Brother Kael died. A memory of picking a fight with Rowen, only to get beaten up instead. A memory of Father's pitying gaze and Mother's benevolent eyes.
"Hey, bastard!"
"What."
"Spar with me."
"Why the hell are you acting up so early in the morning?"
That had been Rowen's response. I can still vividly picture him rubbing his eyes and stretching, looking utterly annoyed. He rubbed his eyes and threw off his blanket. I must have flung his door wide open, staring down at him with a menacing grin. He probably wondered what the hell was going on, getting woken up by my loud shouting so early in the morning.
Clatter! I threw a wooden sword onto the floor. Then, I sneered at the bastard.
"You've never even held a sword before, have you? Your big brother is going to graciously let you hold one today."
I shouldn't have done that. Back then, I had no idea how much effort he was putting in.
"Is that why you woke me up?"
"What, not interested?"
"Just get lost."
He pulled the blanket back over his head. A low, boiling sound began to rise... though it was probably coming from inside me.
"Aaaaargh!"
I began to throw a tantrum. Rowen sighed, tossed a pillow right into my face, and lightly picked up the wooden sword.
"You're barely a day older than me, yet you throw a tantrum demanding to be treated like a big brother. How childish."
"Are you done talking?!"
"Do you know what I'm thinking right now?"
"N-no, what?"
I really hadn't known.
"I'm thinking about how to beat the crap out of a brat who woke me up with a noisy tantrum first thing in the morning."
"Hey! Is that any way to talk to your brother?!"
Back then, I thought I was in the right. I was born before him, so no matter what, I was his older brother. But he flatly denied it.
"Brother Kael is one thing, but you're no brother of mine."
"Then what am I to you?!"
"Do I have to define the meaning of your existence for you? Think about it yourself."
"You... you're dead meat today!"
I hated his tone. He was just a kid like me, yet he spoke with such an adult-like air. Fighting back tears, I pointed my wooden sword at him. Then, with a face flushed with anger, I swung. Whoosh!
To be honest, it was pathetic. I had been taking swordsmanship lessons from Biden, but I couldn't even perform the basics properly.
"Yaaah!"
It was clumsy. Beyond clumsy.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
Why can't I hit him!
It was pure resentment. Looking back, that childish, selfish resentment was hideous. I had learned how to hold a sword from the instructor. Unlike Kael, my talent was practically zero. All the good genes had clearly gone to my oldest brother. If Kael was a genius, I was utterly incompetent. Charging blindly with a sword in hand, I must have looked incredibly ridiculous. What could I possibly do in this tiny room? Could I even land a single blow on Rowen's head? Not a chance.
Rowen lightly swung his wooden sword.
"Ouch!"
"Too weak. Come back when you've actually gotten stronger, kid."
"You bastard! I'm going to tell Father that you held a sword!"
"Then I'll tell him that you forced a sword into my hand and then beat me up."
That damn bastard of a half-brother.
"That's not even true!"
"And I didn't pick up the sword just to beat you up, either. Go back to your room, 'brother'."
"Damn it... just you wait! I'll get you back for this!"
Spouting lines fit for a third-rate villain, I ran out into the hallway. I was so embarrassed. I didn't need memories like this.
Rowen, on the other hand, couldn't help but smile, feeling a strange sense of victory. A look of satisfaction lingered on his face... Damn it.
"Ah..."
To be this happy over beating a mere child. How childish. Rowen wiped the smile off his face and began to tidy up his messy room.
I was no fool. That damn bastard treated me like an idiot, but I was certain I wasn't one. Even Father had told me I had talent—it just hadn't awakened yet. ...Or so I thought. I really was an idiot.
"Bullshit."
"What?"
"Your talent hasn't 'yet to awaken.' You just don't have any."
That must have been the moment. The moment my talent was completely denied.
"When did you even follow me here?"
"I've been behind you the whole time."
"What? I didn't hear you at all. That means you're lying to me!"
It was nothing but useless pride. Or perhaps, the very fact that he had masked his presence so perfectly made me realize the vast wall between our abilities, leaving me utterly disheartened.
"Sigh. The moment you fail to sense a mere kid following you, you're already out, dumbass."
Yes, just like that, the verdict was handed down: I had no talent. I was filled with resentment, but what could I do? It was the truth.
I trembled violently. I absolutely hated that bastard's attitude. He was always picking fights with me. No, actually, I was the one who started them. Those complacent thoughts were just the pathetic delusions of my childhood self. He didn't even look manly, yet he spent the whole day nagging and talking back.
"You need to pee?"
—Just like that. Rowen was always teasing me.
"No, I don't!"
"Then why are you shaking?"
"Because you're so damn annoying! Why did you follow me all the way to my room anyway?"
"Want me to tell you?"
Seeing his smug, rotten smirk made my blood boil even more. That bastard hadn't always been like that. Once, he used to listen to me quietly. But as time went on, his attitude grew unbearable. I didn't know if he had just gotten slyer or if my tolerance for him had plummeted, but I hated everything about him. A guy born later than me acting like...
It was all complete bullshit. It was so pathetic that I wanted to travel back in time and beat my past self to a pulp.
"No, don't tell me."
"You're the one who asked."
"Ugh... that was then, this is now! I'm not curious anymore. Just go back to your room."
"I don't want to."
"Why, you—!"
Why, what? Rowen's silent pressure weighed down on me.
"Hold still."
He swiftly swung his right arm, channeling a tiny fraction of his pressure. A crisp, echoing slap rang through the hallway.
"Ow!"
It was a blow strong enough to leave a massive lump on an adult. For a normal child, it could have caused a fatal injury. But as obnoxious as I was, I was still a member of the Valenos family. A strike of this caliber would only result in a lump. A rather large one, sure, but nothing more. Sure enough, a huge bump began to swell on the back of my head.
That was the first time I had ever hit Cain of my own volition. The distinct impact and the rush of sheer euphoria that followed made me feel as if I had ascended to heaven. What was heaven, anyway? If it made me happy, then this very spot was heaven.
"I only came here to give you a good smack."
"Sob..."
"Whoa, wait. Are you crying? Seriously?"
"Waaaaah!"
"I really hate the sound of kids crying."
Yes, I hated it too. I wanted to ask why this memory refused to end.
...Isn't that right?
...You bastard.
— Stop crying like a baby.
— You're the one who hit me!
— Then hit me back.
— ...Damn it, you're just going to dodge anyway!
— Glad you know.
We fought constantly, but those days were peaceful and full of joy. We can never go back to those times. We have abandoned our brotherhood. We have walked too far down separate paths. Isn't that right?
"...Cain."
"Welcome, Rowen."
I missed you. —I wanted to see you.
I yearned for you. —I wanted to kill you.
Let's go back. —Let me end this for you.
A storm of conflicting emotions raged within them. Even though they had only exchanged a few words and locked eyes, a dull ache throbbed in Rowen's chest. Surely, Cain, who had tasted corruption, felt the same. At least, Rowen hoped he did. If he did, then Rowen might feel at least a shred of guilt when he finally killed him. But if he didn't...
"...Let's begin."
"Come at me."
Then he would fully savor the sensation of slaying a Demon Human, not a brother.