Chapter 13: That the World's Destruction Would Come Faster than a Hiatus
That the World's Destruction Would Come Faster than a Hiatus
And so, Seraphiel's terrified piss-fountain spectacle came to an end.
"Remove the mouth restraint."
Click.
"Y-Yep..!!"
With her face still drenched, Mia snapped her fingers. Her young secretary pressed a button on the remote.
Bzzzzzzzt—!
"Hahh... hahh... You uncivilized humans... Who do you think you are, looking down on me from above?"
"What's wrong with looking down on an omanko-dancing nun?"
Clank.
The Black Knight thrust his helmeted face right into Seraphiel's nose as he asked.
"Uughh... I-I'm sorrryyyyy..."
"Majin. There are things I must ask you. I hope you will comply readily."
At Mia's words, Seraphiel stared at her with pure revulsion.
"Though I may have ended up in this state after facing an unforeseen disaster, you've grown far too bold."
"You clearly possess the power to collapse the world. It was a miracle we could restrain you once you lost most of your magic power after being defeated by the Black Knight."
Wipe. Wipe.
Mia spoke as she cleaned the urine from her face with a handkerchief.
"Even while restrained, I can sense enough magic power in her to have sustained this city for three years."
Azaria studied Seraphiel with keen interest.
"The only one whose magic reserves exceed this level would be 'that guy' among the 【Disaster Slayers】."
Koret's comment made Seraphiel raise a small smile.
"Oh? Are you talking about me?"
"As if. Why would I ever praise a bastard like you?"
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH...!!
In an instant, every flame in the room was snuffed out.
"To think you have time for idle chatter in my presence. Truly, you are an incurably uncivilized breed."
The immense magic power pouring from Seraphiel flooded the mayor's office in the blink of an eye.
"Oi. Spill. You've gotten me curious now."
"...Excuse me?"
The Black Knight's command flustered Seraphiel.
"About these so-called Majin. If they're all about as strong as you, then they're nothing but small fry."
"...To be frank, I currently possess only a fraction—a mere husk—of my prime power, due to... circumstances."
"...???"
Everyone present was uniformly stunned by Seraphiel's admission.
"I'd appreciate it if you continued your explanation."
At Mia's words, Seraphiel began—
"Know your place! How many times do I have to—"
"Spill."
"Yep."
Before she could even refuse, the Black Knight shut her down.
Sweep.
Seraphiel slowly scanned the gathered individuals before opening her mouth.
"We vanished from the world long ago. Because your ancestors risked their lives to overthrow us."
She continued calmly.
"But we were never truly finished. There is only one being capable of annihilating us completely. Humanity can never bring about our absolute destruction."
"One?"
Seraphiel's explanation prompted a dubious look from Corte.
"..."
Azaria remained silent, her expression stiff.
"As time passed, the world recreated us. Thus we were reborn and descended upon this world once more."
A smirk spread across Seraphiel's lips.
"However, our reborn bodies and powers were incredibly unstable. Likely a backlash from being born far earlier than the intended time."
Clank.
"But we soon found a way."
She raised her bound hands slightly.
"Contracts. Granting power to humanity, we could receive something far greater in return. Through this, we are slowly reclaiming our strength."
As Seraphiel flashed an evil smile, Mia's expression gradually hardened.
Seraphiel snorted upon seeing her reaction.
"You're truly a laughable race. You know it's dangerous, yet you cannot refuse the extended hand."
Seraphiel's voice turned even colder.
"We grow our power by taking a contractor's magic, life force, emotions, or memories. Given time, we shall acquire a might that surpasses even our primes."
Once Seraphiel finished, Corte asked:
"Does that mean you also have a contract?"
"..."
In an instant, Seraphiel's expression stiffened at the question.
"Oh? Don't tell me you don't have a contractor?"
Azaria reacted with surprise.
"So that's why you described your power as being at the dregs level."
Mia looked as if everything made sense now.
"So you're just hazardous dead stock."
Pick. Pick.
The Black Knight spoke while digging a pinky into his helmet's ear area.
"D-Don't call me hazardous deead stooockk—!!"
Seraphiel's eyes lit with rage as she screamed at the Black Knight.
"Then how many of these reborn Majin are there in total?"
"Seven in total. That's all I know. The rest were completely exterminated by 'that being,' so it's certain."
"Seven...!!"
"..."
Mia and Azaria's expressions darkened at Seraphiel's answer.
"Wait, should we be believing everything this wench says?"
At Corte's doubt, Seraphiel let out a derisive snort.
"Ha. You underestimate a Majin. Why do you think I'm even giving you this information?"
Sweep.
Seraphiel smiled, her face alight with madness.
"Even if I tell you every scrap of truth, your annihilation remains unchanged. I simply want to see the looks on your faces as you struggle, knowing the truth."
She was a Majin.
A being born to destroy humanity.
She openly flaunted her desire to enjoy a front-row seat to their desperate flailing.
"You once called us disasters, but now it is you who nurture our power. We merely extend our hand."
Her crimson eyes gleamed coldly.
"You can't tell us who the contractors are?"
To Mia's question, Seraphiel answered as if annoyed.
"I don't know myself. All connections were severed during our reincarnation into the world. However, I can tell that other contractors are quietly growing their strength after meeting their own Majin."
"...I see."
BANG—!!
"Ah, come on—!! Open the damn door gently—!!"
The Black Knight had a seizure at the sound of yet another door suddenly opening behind him.
"Majin...!! I think I know...!!"
It was Bella.
"Why the hell are you here?"
The Black Knight was baffled by her presence.
"I called for her. She's also a victim who suffered harm from the Majin, after all."
At Mia's explanation, the Black Knight threw back a question.
"This brat?"
"You... I explained it to you yesterday, didn't I? About the bastard who seized control of 【Maginova】."
"Did you?"
"Next to that guy was this black, worm-like thing I'd never seen before. That's when he suddenly started going on a rampage."
At Bella's explanation, Seraphiel's face hardened.
"What? I've never heard of any such..."
"You piece of shit. You bullshitting me?"
When the Black Knight questioned her, Seraphiel frantically shook her head in denial.
"Th-That can't be—!! I was telling nothing but the truth—!!"
"Whatever the case, our course of action is now decided."
Sweep.
Mia looked into the eyes of everyone assembled and spoke.
"From this moment on, we will summon the S-rank Magicians and search for the Majin's signatures. And with the 【Disaster Slayers】, we shall completely purge the Majin from this world."
"It's going to be a bloodbath."
Koret spoke quietly. Mia bowed her head for a moment before continuing.
"Black Knight, you are the most critical element in this Majin subjugation. You need to learn how to wield your power at Azaria's Garden."
"I listened to you yammering on by yourself for two whole episodes, and in the end, you're just using me."
The Black Knight arrogantly leaned his head back against his chair.
"This concerns the fate of the world. Please cooperate."
"What happens to the world is none of my business."
"...!!"
Everyone present—including the Majin Seraphiel—reacted with shock at the Black Knight's declaration.
"It's no longer any of my business, I said."
CLANG—!!!
"Ah, shit."
At that moment, a crisp metallic sound rang against the Black Knight's forehead.
"Right...!! I'm sure this whole situation means nothing to you..."
Bella clenched both fists and stared at the Black Knight with trembling eyes.
"But... my friends'... my family's lives are at stake—!! These people are the same—!! The daily lives of people precious to them could be shattered in an instant—!!"
"And what does that have to do with..."
"Are you telling me you don't have a single person like that?!"
"..."
The Black Knight fell into thought for a moment, then—
"It's... none of my concern anymore."
"Don't lie—!! There's no way you don't have at least one person—!!"
"He does. I haven't told you everything about your household android. Don't you want to hear the rest?"
"..."
At Azaria's interjection, the Black Knight turned his head.
"The magic power signature coming from that android is absolutely not something an android can produce. I don't know how it was roaming around the city, but the magic reaction hasn't faded. It's highly likely it was retrieved and taken somewhere."
"So?"
"If you cooperate, I will dedicate the full power of the Valentine family to help you find it. I swear on the Valentine name."
Sweep.
Azaria placed a hand over her heart and spoke with an unshakable voice.
"I don't understand. Isn't that attitude a first for you?"
Corte was deeply displeased with Azaria's actions.
"..."
But Azaria only fell silent at Corte's remark.
Rather, she seemed lost in thought.
"If you hump the floor, your penis will be ruined. How many times must I say it?"
His only family who knew his past, May.
"Haah... Fine. If it's just a bit of grunt work, I'll play along."
The Black Knight ultimately accepted with reluctance.
"Then that's settled~!"
Sweep.
"Now, Corte and Azaria. You two stand by at your respective posts until orders come down. This meeting is adjourned."
Mia gave detailed instructions to Corte and Azaria before declaring the gathering over.
"We will now wipe the Majin from the face of the world entirely. I hope you all have steeled your resolve."