Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: 49: Greed (3)
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It was the time of the Fourth Great War.
He had already lost many comrades. Whether to death or betrayal.
Diablo was all but alone.
The war against the 12 Gods could be considered a defeat in all but name. Yet he had no desire to give up.
Having lost so much, he had nothing left to lose. Even if it meant abandoning everything, he wanted to drag down the 12 Gods somehow.
That was when she appeared.
"What a pitiful and lamentable sight."
She was Venus, the master of the Shadow World said to exist behind the veil of the mortal realm, and the King of Darkness Spirits.
She occasionally ventured into the world to wander and enjoy herself, but she had grown displeased with a realm tainted by the 12 Gods.
It was then that she learned of Diablo Volpir.
A human defying the 12 Gods, who wielded absolute influence over the earthly plane.
Intrigued, she observed his actions.
He was remarkable. A so-called hero among heroes. Even among such luminaries, Diablo stood out as a leader.
A mere human, insignificant compared to the 12 Gods—yet at some point, he began to challenge their stronghold.
For Venus, who positioned herself as a mere bystander, it was an utterly fascinating spectacle, and watching him brought her great pleasure.
But reality was cruel.
His assault on the 12 Gods' stronghold ended at just that—an assault.
"Will you give up?"
The Fourth Great War was his defeat.
An overwhelming defeat at that. The forces that once seemed to threaten the 12 Gods crumbled with pathetic ease.
The visage of a loser.
Left alone, Diablo was no different from a ruined wreck.
But his eyes were different. Despite having nothing left, they burned with vibrant life.
He said to Venus,
"I need time."
She didn't know what those words meant, but Venus guided Diablo to the Shadow World.
For a time in the Shadow World, Diablo did nothing at all. It grew boring, but his eyes were fixed on something, so she watched a little longer.
Then one day, Diablo made a single request of her.
"Let me use your world."
Venus was curious about his intentions, but he said he couldn't reveal them yet.
She knew granting such a request from someone like him was foolish, but her life had been idle anyway.
For one who lived eternally, how many such pleasures remained?
The 12 Gods. She wanted to see those petty beings get their comeuppance. So she permitted it.
From that day on, Diablo Volpir holed himself away somewhere and never emerged.
How much time passed like that?
Venus forgot about Diablo. She lost interest in the earthly plane where the 12 Gods' influence had grown stronger and spent her days only in slumber.
"It's complete."
Diablo Volpir suddenly appeared and spoke to her as she slept.
What had he done in her world?
The Shadow World had existed long before she reigned as its queen. It held boundless power as a result.
But wielding that power was another matter entirely.
Even she, one of the great Spirit Kings hailed as the Queen of Darkness, did not fully comprehend the Shadow World.
So she said,
"Show me."
Diablo Volpir was an archmage who had reached an unparalleled pinnacle among humans.
Thus, her expectations were high.
"Thanks to you, I was able to create a new source of power."
A beautiful darkness bloomed from his hand.
Reborn as a mighty black sorcerer, Diablo met her expectations.
"But in the end, he was defeated and slain... or so I thought."
Venus regarded her long-lost friend with an intrigued expression, noting how changed he was.
Having created 'black mana' in her world, Diablo Volpir returned to the surface.
And with his own power alone, he confronted the 12 Gods once more.
Armed with this new strength, he was terrifyingly powerful, driving several gods to the brink of death.
Yet the outcome was defeat.
Diablo Volpir, reborn as a mighty black sorcerer, fell to the 12 Gods again and vanished.
But what was this youthful human form before her?
"What is with that adorable appearance?"
"I'd appreciate it if you put some clothes on first."
Jamie pointed out Venus, who sat cross-legged utterly unashamed in her nakedness.
"It's uncomfortable."
"Please consider your human guests."
"You come to my world and make so many demands. And it's amusing that you call yourself 'human'."
Venus rose from her seat with an annoyed look.
Taller than most men, she boasted a voluptuous figure beyond compare—but this form was merely an imitation of humanity.
She had taken the likeness of the most beautiful human she had seen long ago during her travels on the surface.
Venus reached into the void and drew darkness to her, draping it over her shoulders like a cloak.
"Better?"
"Much."
"Good. It couldn't have been easy getting in here."
Jamie nodded as Venus sat back down and asked.
In truth, he had wanted to come many times. He hadn't forgotten the Shadow World. He simply lacked the materials to open the door.
So when Kiriel said she would go to the Shadow World, he inwardly cheered.
"A human wanted to come here, and you just happened to have the materials ready, so you brought her along as a bonus..."
"You're as sharp as ever."
"Dealing with weaklings like you."
Venus clicked her tongue and rose from her seat. Her throne dissolved like bubbles.
"What happened? What went down?"
To Jamie, Venus was one of the few beings he could trust at present.
More precisely, it didn't matter if she knew his secrets. She took no one's side. If anything, she was closer to him and harbored mild disdain for the 12 Gods, but that was the extent of it.
To Venus, ruler of the Shadow World, events on the surface were mere entertainment.
"I don't know the details. They sealed me away, and when I came to, I was resurrected in this body. That's it."
"Sealed? I thought they killed you."
"They failed to kill me."
"Intriguing."
Venus approached Jamie, placed a hand on his shoulder, and circled him once. Then she brought her deep red lips to his ear.
"So, what now?"
Her voice brimmed with excitement.
Jamie knew Venus's personality to some degree.
She developed intense curiosity for things that piqued her interest and loved to spectate.
Now, Diablo Volpir—the object of her greatest fascination—had returned to the world.
Learning this, Venus was more thrilled than ever.
Jamie replied leisurely,
"First, I need to recover my power at its peak."
"True. You're far too weak right now."
Her wine-colored hair tickled his nose.
With Jamie on her back, Venus walked forward. Darkness rippled with her steps, enveloping her like a guard.
The darkness formed a black dress over her violet skin. Holding the flared skirt lightly, Venus turned and said,
"Watching leisurely should be fine."
She had grown bored over endless ages.
Sleeping had lost its appeal. Spectating the dull surface world had too. She was weary of everything.
What to do? Declare war on the Spirit Realm? She pondered such things.
"Don't disappoint me this time."
"Did I disappoint you back then?"
"Heh. You made my world's power your own, yet failed to claim even one of those gods. Quite pathetic."
Venus was not on Jamie's side.
He was merely her source of amusement.
Jamie knew this and smiled. He preferred this simple dynamic over tangled interests.
"Anyway, you permit it?"
"Hm. Why does that human want to come here?"
"She wants to go to the afterlife."
"Hah."
Venus let out a hollow laugh.
"To think there's still a human chasing such vain greed."
"Her choice is her own."
"With my long-lost pleasure returned, I'll allow that much. It won't be a bad show for me either."
A delighted smile spread across Venus's lips as she spoke.
Jamie nodded and turned to leave.
With the Shadow World's queen's permission, Kiriel should have no trouble reaching the afterlife.
'What she plans to do there, I wouldn't know.'
It was all Kiriel's choice.
"Come in."
"...This is really happening?"
"Before the queen changes her mind."
The master of the Shadow World was a woman?
Kiriel found it intriguing, but far more important matters occupied her now.
She could enter the Shadow World. Through it, reach the afterlife.
Her mind was filled only with thoughts of seeing her son.
Years? She didn't know. No time to even think of it.
She followed Jamie through the door.
Jet-black, murky darkness greeted her.
"So this is the Shadow World..."
"Keep going straight, and you'll arrive."
"You're not coming?"
"Only you have permission, Lady Kiriel."
"...I've left Evolve Avalon under the counter."
"Understood. Farewell."
As Jamie bowed and turned to leave, Kiriel called him back.
"I'm grateful to you. Though it was per our contract, you made entering the Shadow World much easier."
Her words halted his steps.
He let out a low sigh, deciding to say what he hadn't planned to. After all, thanks to her, he had reclaimed All Might.
Kiriel walked in the direction Jamie indicated.
Addressing her back, he said,
"Don't get greedy. Absolutely."
Kiriel either didn't hear or was entranced by something, walking away without reply.
Jamie shook his head and muttered,
"The moment greed takes hold, you'll never escape."
Hoping she heard, Jamie exited.
The door linking to the Shadow World closed.
Opening it from inside wouldn't be hard—as long as Kiriel wasn't blinded by greed, she could return.
But Jamie knew.
'Kiriel won't come back.'
The afterlife.
The world known by that name was not truly for the dead.
It was a paradise that blinded the living and held them eternally. Only by grasping reality without being deceived could one escape; otherwise...
"Let's go."
Jamie retrieved Evolve Avalon and left Ars Magna.
Siegfried waited, leaning against the wall.
"Contract concluded neatly?"
"Yes. Very neatly."
"The details... never mind. You can't say anyway. Let's leave this tiresome Saint-Deremain."
"Right."
The two figures vanished.