Chapter 11: The Man Who Became a God (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 11: The Man Who Became a God (2)
A stern gaze swept across the vast forest of Gehenna along the foot of the mountain. Standing atop a barren tree branch, "he" looked down upon the Demon Realm with his arms tightly crossed.
"(Hm.)"
First Corps Commander Lycan. Though his body had shrunk to the size of a human palm, the majesty he radiated was no less than before.
In fact, it might far surpass his past self. After all, was he not Lycan—the one who had destroyed the false gods alongside Kang Geomma and peered into the very root of the universe?
If anyone attacked him, deceived by his cute appearance, they would be utterly fucked.
Messing with a tiny squirrel would truly fuck you up...
Anyhow.
The territory he once ruled was treading the path of decline. Displeasure flickered in his cute, tiny pupils, but he soon shook his head.
"(...What difference would it make if I intervened now?)"
Muttering bitterly, he moved on. Grayish-white leaves brushed against his curled tail.
Though it shared a long, fettered history with the Human Realm, the decline of the Demon Realm was particularly striking.
Unlike the Human Realm, it lacked a leader—a ruler to guide the demons.
Demons are simple creatures. They prioritize the logic of power above all else. If someone is strong, they follow without complaint.
Therefore, the sole qualification of a ruler was 'overwhelming power.'
Up until seven hundred years ago, Lycan himself fulfilled that role, and even ten years ago, Kuarne carried that mantle.
Currently, Dragon Lord Valerion seemed to have taken on the role of temporary ruler of the Demon Realm by chance, but that was strictly temporary.
In the first place, the Dragon Clan was a neutral faction. Strictly speaking, it was only recently that they became friendly toward humanity. Their continuous interaction led by the next Lord, Hontail, was proof of that.
Because of this, some demon factions reproached the Dragon Lord and his clan. But they did not know.
That it was because the Dragon Clan maintained order and performed self-purification that the demons were able to preserve their lives—that they were benefiting from them.
'When it is the Dragon Clan who protects the Demon Realm from that bastard Kang Geomma.'
Perhaps they knew it but simply refused to admit it. A sigh escaped from between his buckteeth.
Hopping from tree to tree and across winding paths, he spent a long while lamenting the state of the Demon Realm within his walnut-sized brain.
Finally, Lycan reached his destination.
A massive crater, reminiscent of the Abyss. Standing on all fours at the edge of the cliff, he peeked his head over.
"(Following the unusual surge of demonic energy brought me all the way here.)"
Without hesitation, Lycan threw himself into the crater.
'I will no longer stand by and watch.'
Lycan slid down the wall on his plump backside. Amidst the cloud of dust, he vowed to himself:
'I will set things right, starting now.'
Of course, he had no intention of stepping up to the front lines.
For if he did, the demons would proclaim Lycan as the Sovereign of the Demon Realm, and then there would be no turning back.
The demons would be annihilated by Kang Geomma's sashimi knife. That was a fixed future. Having lived glued to his side, Lycan knew this all too well.
Therefore, he intended to rebuild his homeland of Gehenna from behind the scenes. Carrying grand ambitions within his tiny body, he headed deep underground.
* * *
"Squeak, squeak (Long time no see, Metatron.)"
"……." "……."
"Squea-eak, squeak (Have you forgotten me already?)"
"……." "……."
The two men, who had been staring blankly at Lycan, soon turned their gaze to each other.
"Father."
It was Leon who spoke first.
"Why is there a rat here?"
A rat? A raaaat?!
"I do believe it's a squirrel, not a rat. Or perhaps a chipmunk. Well, it's roughly in the rodent family, so you're not wrong, Leon. When you think of a sewer, you think of rats. Truly my son. Hahaha!"
"Haha, it's nothing."
Look at these sons of bitches!
His fine fur stood on end with rage, and his curled tail trembled violently.
'That was a mistake.'
He had gotten so accustomed to his squirrel form that he forgot he could shape-shift.
Damn it. Reverting to his true form right now out of nowhere to establish dominance felt a bit too awkward.
Metatron was the opponent he wanted to face most, second only to the Hero of the Origin, Balor Joaquin. His martial prowess was said to have reached the Divine Realm.
'He is more than worthy to be my rival.'
Yet their first meeting had turned into this pathetic mess.
Even if he revealed his identity, they would act surprised on the outside while sneering inwardly...
'It can't be helped.'
Lycan decided to act. As always, a full-hearted animal performance.
This exact situation was probably what his companion, Kang Geomma, meant when he constantly talked about experiencing a "reality crash."
"Squeak (Sigh.)"
While Lycan was experiencing this existential crash, Leon had drawn near before he knew it. He bent one knee and held out a hand.
"You're lost, aren't you? Let me take you out when we leave later."
"(…….)"
Lycan turned his head aloofly, yet permitted the touch. Hopping onto the palm, he scampered up Leon's arm as if it were a path.
Beside Leon's golden sideburns, he settled onto his right shoulder.
"Leon."
Upon returning near the mysterious egg, Metatron looked down at Lycan.
"A squirrel is still a rodent. They carry plagues like the pestilence. Whatever else you do, make sure to wash your hands when you get back home."
"Ah, I see. I'll keep that in mind, Father."
Fucking bastards.
In any case, I never get along with angels.
'Kuarne was originally an angel too, wasn't he?'
It was just as murderous intent swelled to the brim in Lycan's bright, shining eyes.
Beep-eep-eep-eep—
A sharp electronic sound echoed.
What's that?
Why was a ringtone that belonged in the Human Realm ringing here in Gehenna of the Demon Realm?
As Lycan's face flushed with bewilderment, Leon, the owner of the ringtone, also looked surprised.
"It seems the signal reaches even all the way down here."
"That is quite impressive. I heard the Heavenly Sword and Meain worked together to make Wi-Fi available in the Demon Realm's downtown area, but to think it works even in a subterranean place like this."
...What? Wi-Fi?!
What on earth had happened to Gehenna while he was away from the throne? What in the world did Wi-Fi have to do with anything!
How far has the Demon Realm been contaminated?
"I'll take this call."
"Go ahead."
Whether Lycan was suffering internally or not, Leon answered the phone. The call ended quickly.
Leon slowly lowered his hand holding the phone. Metatron then asked him:
"Did something happen?"
"Yes. A while ago, I asked the Dragon Elder for a favor through Hon. It seems that matter went awry."
"Let us go together."
"Ah, you too, Father?"
"If I am with you, they might be more willing to listen. My presence alone should press upon the demons."
"That's true, but..."
Leon glanced at the egg and said with concern:
"What about this egg? The topography of the Demon Realm shifts every hour, so we might not be able to find it again."
"Leon. In times like this, adaptability is key. You must actively utilize your surrounding environment."
Metatron extended his thick index finger and poked Lycan's nose. Lycan nearly fell backward, but managed to balance himself with all his might.
"Squeak, squeak!! (You bastard!!)"
Despite Lycan's enraged squeaks, Metatron grinned. Tapping the top of Lycan's head with his fingertip, he continued speaking.
"A squirrel living in the Demon Realm must know its way around well. It possesses a degree of intelligence, making it ideal for navigation."
"Aha."
"Even if it can't find it, do not worry. Your father has a keen eye for directions. If this rodent points out the general direction, I will be able to pinpoint the exact location."
"As expected."
So in short... these two bastards were planning to use the 1st Corps Commander, Lycan, as a guide...
Or in modern terms, since Wi-Fi was now active in the Demon Realm: a GPS navigation system.
An angel representing absolute good.
Faced with the sheer evil of Metashitron, Lycan, the overlord of demons, felt like giving him a standing ovation.
"At any rate, let us postpone the investigation here."
"Yes, Father. I'll lead the way."
Thus, the three beings moved away from the egg.
The lingering embers of Lycan's fury hovered at the bottom of the Abyss like a thick haze.
* * *
After they departed.
...The conditions for the end of days have been fulfilled...
A sharp voice cut through the deathly silence. The source of the sound was none other than the giant egg.
Fimbulvetr, the cause of famine and cold, has come to an end, yielding to perpetual spring...
The song continued.
The era rampant with falsehoods reaches its end, leaving only a single God, heralding the advent of the 'Age of Wolves'...
The subterranean depths of the Demon Realm vibrated softly.
As the wolf bearing a single-edged blade in its jaws finally devours the sun and moon...
Thus, the light of the world fades away...
Crack. Cracks spread across the shell.
Finally, when the Angel, the Demon, and their hybrid gather to face the Seed of the Apocalypse...
A slender finger poked out through the broken shell.
Right after the hen of Útgarðr sang of the end.
Ragnarøkkr, कलियुग, Frashokereti……
The crack opened wide to both sides, and a leg extended out. Fluid covering the skin glistened.
May the Four Apostles of the Apocalypse cross Bifröst and manifest in this world...
BOOOOM!
A thunderous roar shook the cavern. The egg shattered into pieces, revealing the newly born entity in her entirety.
It was a naked woman. Her skin was as pale as snow. In this Abyss where light could not enter, she alone radiated illumination.
A luster flowed through her hair. The bodily fluid clinging to her arms dried up in an instant.
The mysterious woman opened her closed eyes.
"……."
Her irises were pitch-black, resembling Avici Hell where she was born. Her hair was equally raven-black.
A moment later.
Step—
The naked woman took a step forward with her bare foot. It was the first step of the apocalypse toward the world.
* * *
People tend to think that living with two wives under one roof means getting tossed back and forth, living like duckweed on water.
...It isn't entirely wrong, but anyway.
It's not like I feel like I'm walking on thin ice every single day. We're getting along decently well.
The three of us sit together and chat over meals.
Today, we came out to eat again.
Near Joaquin Academy.
In a Korean restaurant that catered exclusively to the most elite of VIPs—where getting a membership took five years, and the prices naturally elicited a "Holy fuck."
"Ryozo, is something troubling you lately?"
Abel asked worriedly in the middle of the meal. Ryozo picked at her food as she replied.
"Well... it's nothing much."
"Don't be like that. What's the point of being family otherwise?"
"It's just that the Princess of the British Empire has been bothering me lately. It's a bit stressful."
Princess Victoria.
A royal princess of the British Imperial Family, the highest noble among nobility. A woman whose status placed her as an absolute authority, someone even Abel—who dominated high society—had to be careful speaking around.
"...That's strange. Princess Victoria doesn't seem like the type to interfere like that..."
"I know. She was probably pressured by the nobles to act as their representative."
Ryozo put down her chopsticks and leaned back against her chair. I listened quietly to their conversation.
"The adults are truly pathetic, using a girl who hasn't even reached adulthood as their front. But what can I do? They came to the Academy Principal's office glaring with anger, so I have to mete out punishment... to an appropriate extent..."
She stopped mid-sentence and glanced sideways at me.
"Do you have something to say?"
"No, nothing. You just eat with such relish."
I tilted my head, then resumed using my chopsticks.
"Anyway, it seems the nobles' dissatisfaction is quite something these days."
"Well, it's understandable for them to be anxious. The initiative was completely snatched away by Joaquin Academy. Lately, there's even talk among them about establishing a new academy."
"Another academy?"
I cut in with a chilling voice. Just then, the dim lightbulb burst with a pop. The soup bowl boiled ominously, froth bubbling over.
Ryozo and Abel flinched. Then they snapped their heads toward me.
"G-Geomma."
"……."
"That can't be right. Hey, unless they've gone completely crazy, would they really do that? No, no. Let's calm down, calm down."
"……."
"Mmm! Wow, this place is really delicious. It definitely lives up to the high price!"
"……."
The two broke into a cold sweat and forced awkward laughs, discreetly exchanging glances back and forth.
"Sorry."
I scratched near my eyebrow with my thumb.
"I ruined the atmosphere of our meal."
"Ruined? Not at all. Just eating together like the three of us makes me happy. Three really feels like the perfect number. Don't you think so, Ryozo?"
"R-Right, I suppose?"
"See? Bringing anyone else into this would be—"
Roollin~
"I meant to turn my phone off. Sorry about all this."
"If it's an urgent call, you should take it. I haven't turned on Do Not Disturb mode on my phone since becoming Academy Principal either."
I asked for their understanding and answered the call.
Snap!
At the same time, I snapped my fingers to reignite the dead lightbulb. Lightning-attribute magic could be used in ways like this too.
"……."
The call ended. The light flickered precariously, adding weight to the silence. Ryozo spoke with a tense expression.
"...Did something happen...?"
My expression must have stiffened enough to be read immediately. It was a rare day for us to dine together, so I felt ashamed in many ways.
"It seems a riot broke out in Gehenna."
I hesitated for a moment before admitting it.
"Then you should go."
Abel said.
"Go on, Geomma. But make sure to come back before the soup gets cold."
Ryozo chimed in.
I felt a bitter taste in my mouth. Between public duties and personal matters, I was so busy that having a simple meal proved this difficult. If I followed my heart, I'd throw everything away... but.
"Thank you, both of you."
Nodding, I got up from my seat. Ryozo and Abel saw me off without showing even a hint of disappointment.
Forcing a smile, I left the room. Soon, the door closed behind me. I could vividly feel my stomach churning.
Leaning my back against the door, I stared at the ceiling like a stone statue. Taking a step forward felt unusually difficult today.
Soon, I pulled my back away from the door frame.
"It's about time I whipped them back into line."
I stepped forward, pressing down the thick currents of electricity clinging to my shoes with the tips of my feet.
* * *
As they stared quietly at the door he had just stepped through, Abel suddenly spoke up.
"He looked angry, didn't he?"
"Yeah. Quite a lot."
Ryozo nodded, her eyes still fixed on the door.
"Do you think a bloodstorm is about to hit Gehenna?"
"I know, right..."
Kang Geomma's women sighed in unison, a sigh coming from the very bottom of their hearts.
"To think the day would come when I'd feel sorry for the demons."