Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: An Apostle's Offer
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The reason demons eat the heads of their own kind is because a demon's power is concentrated in its head.
This holds true whether a demon possesses a human or maintains its demonic body, like Aul or Mathias.
The same applies to the demons who have chosen a path of coexistence within a single body through human will, like the enemies from the Bersa and Le Dong factions.
A demon’s magical power is said to be proportional to the forces they command in the demon world.
The size of their power is determined by how many lesser demons and beasts they control.
Therefore, eating another’s head meant absorbing their magical power by seizing their forces.
It was meaningless for humans.
Only demons could grow stronger by eating each other's heads.
That was what he had heard and understood. And yet.
‘What is this thing?’
The fact that the creature ate a demon's head meant it was also a demon.
But for a demon, the location of its concentrated black mana was different from the norm.
It wasn't the head.
Like a human who had trained in mana, black mana swirled around its lower abdomen.
There was another peculiar thing.
‘It didn’t stand out when it was with the other demons. Its magical power wasn’t that strong, either.’
Now, even excluding the mana it had absorbed by eating, its power was considerable.
Perhaps it had the ability to conceal its true strength.
Reminding himself once more that those who had reached a certain level couldn't be judged by the size of their magical power or the density of their mana alone, Loan carefully observed his opponent, who showed no openings.
The creature’s magical power had not yet fully mixed with that of the demons it had consumed.
The headless ones were nameless, mongrel demons that had chosen to coexist with humans.
Their individual strength may not have been great, but when combined, they formed a significant amount of magical power.
And that power was rapidly fusing inside the large man’s body.
Soon, a perfect, unblemished dark mana saturated the creature's lower abdomen.
A unique species—a demon with a human appearance that also trained its mana like a human.
The density of its settled magical power far surpassed that of a Union Seeker. And even that might not be all of it.
Judging by its malevolence alone, it seemed stronger than the Dark Priest still floating in the air behind it.
"You're different from other demons."
Loan stated his brief observation.
A look of something akin to admiration flickered across his opponent's face.
"Ooh. You can feel that? You certainly have a sharp eye."
As he answered, sweeping back his black hair, the rings he wore like brass knuckles on his fingers glinted unusually.
He then nodded, seeming quite pleased.
His voice was as smooth as Loan's, making it hard to believe this was a conversation between a human and a demon in the midst of battle.
The feeling was amplified by the fact that no one dared approach the radius where the two faced each other.
The other demons feared both Loan and the creature that tore off and ate its comrades' heads.
The creature spoke.
"Loan. I've heard your name for quite some time. You've interested me in many ways."
"I don't know you."
"Marbas. When I was human, I was called Claude."
"Human in the past, a demon now, is it? It doesn't seem like you were possessed, nor are you coexisting."
"I'm special, you see. And so are you. That's why I want to talk to you. Magic, whether for humans or demons, requires considerable intellect. Your accomplishments are so outstanding, which means you're smart enough to have a rational conversation with us."
Loan glanced at the flow of the battle in the plaza, confirmed the tide was turning in the Union's favor, and then slowly nodded.
"If you're willing to offer information without me having to interrogate you, I see no reason to refuse."
Marbas smiled.
He flicked a finger toward the back, and a chair floated over to position itself behind him.
Only when Marbas sat down did their eyes meet at the same level.
By deliberately taking a posture ill-suited for combat, a highly disadvantageous one, he was demonstrating his sincerity to talk.
But Loan didn't trust him.
Of course not.
Though seated, the creature’s murderous intent and malevolence were far more intense than before.
Loan predicted that the paths of attack it could unleash from that position were endless, and their destructive power would be immense.
It was a tactic meant to lower his guard and keep him within its range.
A demon was a demon.
Loan was suddenly reminded of the words babbled by the prisoners from the Beauvoir Merchant Guild.
He ventured a guess.
"So, what makes you so special? Are you one of those 'Apostles'?"
Marbas's eyes widened in surprise.
"Well now... you know all sorts of things. Did that idiot floating over there tell you?"
"When there are many mouths, stories are bound to leak out."
"True. Whether human or demon, there are always those who love to talk. I happen to be one of them."
Finding his own words amusing, Marbas lowered his head slightly and chuckled.
Loan asked.
"So, your answer?"
"Ah, haha. You're right. We demons who are reborn in human bodies are called Apostles."
"The Dark Priest seemed to want to become an Apostle. Are Apostles the highest-ranking among demons?"
"Not exactly. There is an omnipotent and noble being who stands apart. The Apostles are servants who carry out His will. You could say we are the most evolved form, capable of properly wielding demonic power in this world."
Being reborn as a human likely didn't mean growing again from childhood.
It seemed to be a symbolic turn of phrase, but there were some puzzling aspects.
He thought demons were selfish creatures, yet it seemed they too had a being they followed, a king of sorts.
Another question was how they could properly wield demonic power in a human body.
Wouldn't Aul, a demon who could use his full power in any environment, be the most optimized form?
Loan filed these thoughts away and played along, asking another question.
"It must be quite difficult to achieve that state. Are there about ten of you?"
"Close. Twelve. And the number won't increase."
"So, since you're one of only twelve, you can speak for all demons?"
"Speak for them? No, that's not what I mean. But now that you mention it... that has a nice ring to it. Perhaps I could represent them? Haha."
Marbas laughed out loud again.
His laughter was quickly swallowed by the din of battle.
Sienna, having completely dealt with the demons, Berthelot, and the Le Dong forces, had moved on to the Bersa side and was now engaged in a chaotic melee not far from Loan.
Loan said.
"Soon, you'll be the only one left. Whether you're a representative or not, you'd better say what you have to say quickly."
Marbas nodded.
The smile hadn't completely vanished from his face.
"What I want to say is simple. Isn't there room to stop this meaningless fight, for both humans and demons?"
He spoke as if they were the victims.
The words were utterly absurd.
Anger flared inside Loan.
"None of this would have happened if you hadn't started it."
"That's not entirely true. Demons are all different, but it was humans who woke up and incited even those who had no particular intentions."
"Are you talking about Le Tell?"
"Yes. The true beginning was with humans. Now the roles are reversed. Of course, people like me don't follow their words, but it's true that I received their help. Thanks to their steady research, I was able to establish myself like this."
"Of course, they deserve punishment. But in the end, wasn't it your own free will to accept their help and harm humans?"
"Yes. I won't deny that. It has been that way until now. Other demons are still doing so. But just as there is Le Tell and the Union among humans, not all demons think alike. There are skeptics like me, and those who don't welcome the deaths of the innocent. Some were swept up in the atmosphere, and there are even demons who see it as a mistake."
Nausea rose in his throat, but he suppressed it.
How could the creature that had just torn off and eaten its comrades' heads say such things so shamelessly?
Trust a demon?
No matter how they packaged it, demons were demons—creatures that could never be trusted.
The creature continued with its speech.
"That's why I want to propose that we stop. Ah, or you could call it a warning."
"There's a huge difference between a proposal and a warning."
"They're the same thing, but it depends on how you take it. What I'm doing is making a proposal, but once you learn what's happening, you'll likely perceive it as a warning."
"What's happening?"
"No matter where humans are, demons are everywhere, and we're always one step ahead of you, aren't we? No matter how hard you try to stop it, what's meant to happen will happen. But things could be different from now on, depending on what you do."
Judging by its words, the creature was implying that their atrocities were continuing across the continent even now.
Of course, this wasn't a new development, but the way it was said suggested something out of the ordinary.
Perhaps incidents like the giant magic circles in Schwerin or Ferrara were happening elsewhere.
"So, if we don't attack you, you'll ensure that the 'things that are meant to happen' you speak of won't occur?"
"Huh?"
Marbas tilted his head slightly.
"Ah, you seem to have misunderstood. My proposal isn't to stop attacking. It's to surrender and cease all resistance."
"..."
Loan was so dumbfounded he couldn't even open his mouth.
Seeing this, Marbas seemed to feel that persuasion was needed.
"The fiercer the resistance, the greater the damage. I'm telling you to give up and prevent the deaths of innocent people. The Union exists to protect the lives of ordinary people, doesn't it?"
"If we stand down, will you also stop your attacks on people?"
"Ah, deaths for our purpose are unavoidable. We need sacrifices, the land must be sufficiently soaked in blood to create an environment for us to live in, and we also need humans to create possession or coexistence vessels. But..."
Marbas paused for a moment, then continued with a bright smile.
"The way things are now, if five people must die, your pointless resistance is causing ten to die instead. I'm suggesting we seek a more peaceful, efficient path to coexistence. For example, someone as smart and skilled as you could survive and even hold a high position in the future. What do you say? With a mind like yours, you should be able to see reason."
There was no reason, no need, to talk any further.
All demons had to be eliminated, along with those who served them and those who sought to achieve something by borrowing their power.
This conversation only reaffirmed that. He was satisfied with confirming the existence of the Apostles and getting a sense of their strength. He thickly cloaked his entire body in Convection.
He had to be prepared for both offense and defense, leaving no room for carelessness.
As Loan levitated Sheville into the air, he spoke.
"I've heard you out, but nothing has changed. The Union does not compromise with demons."
Marbas shook his head.
"Tsk, tsk... I gave you so many chances."
A mix of contempt and pity could be seen on the creature's face.
Simultaneously, its murderous intent coalesced into countless lines and shot toward Loan.
The creature was also quick to switch to an offensive stance.
Within his domain of foresight, Loan observed its next moves.
If he entered its range, it felt as if his head would be smashed by its fists and kicks, and a hole would be punched through his chest.
But he wasn't afraid.
Whether they were evenly matched or he would be pushed back, he didn't know, but the fact that he had to face it and win felt more important.
And so.
He foresaw the most effective trajectory, one that would be quite powerful if it landed, and toward that spot—
*BOOM!*
He shot forward, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Sheville, having taken up positions in twelve directions, was already rushing toward the creature a step ahead of him.
With its movements thus restricted.
A head-on collision was now unavoidable.
No, it was as if his opponent had baited him into it.
"Was he an idiot?"
Marbas wore a dumbfounded expression.