60
Chapter 60
Long ago, there existed five Great Archangels. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael... and Uriel and Lucifer.
Among them, Lucifer was the angel most favored by the Lord, but possessed of such extraordinary beauty and power, Lucifer harbored pride in his heart.
'I shall sit above the Throne of Heaven!'
It was truly blasphemous pride. No matter how great Lucifer was, he could not compare to the Lord, the Creator of All Things, and having lost his qualifications as an angel, Lucifer fell to Hell with blackened wings.
Unlike Lucifer, the Archangel Uriel served only the Lord for all eternity. Executing justice with a strictness bordering on obsession, she silently performed tasks that other angels shunned, such as the 'Torture of Devils.'
Uriel possessed the authority of Clairvoyance to look out upon the world. When Lucifer, harboring resentment toward the Lord, hid on the surface, Uriel perceived his moves with her Clairvoyance and informed Gabriel, blocking Lucifer's insidious schemes in advance.
Consequently, Lucifer's resentment shifted from the Lord to Uriel.
The Archangel and the Great Demon, who viewed each other with disdain, mobilized every force they could muster to wage a blood-soaked war.
The Divine-Devil War.
A bloody battle of Transcendent Beings on such a massive scale that it was said that the heavens and earth were overturned, rivaling the fight between the First Demon King and the Hero.
When Uriel swung the Sword of Truth, the sky split asunder, and when Lucifer thrust the Inverted Cross, the earth screamed. It was passed down to future generations as a battle that transcended heaven itself.
However, while the great cause was a war between good and evil... in truth, to the beasts and humans living on the land, they were all the same. Whether angel or devil, their homes were destroyed and their food burned by the war.
The three Great Archangels could not stand by and watch the state of the continent. Unable to bear the endless war between Lucifer and Uriel, they descended to the surface cloaked in overwhelming authority, and under the mediation of Michael, the primordial angel, they forced an end to the Divine-Devil War.
But the long-standing grudge between Lucifer and Uriel would not be resolved simply because someone told them to 'Stop!' Though physical warfare was banned by Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, they continued their battle of pride.
One such contest was a wager regarding 'Destruction of Evil' and 'Corruption.'
A somewhat inhuman wager where Uriel would annihilate as much evil as possible and Lucifer would corrupt as many humans as possible, competing later to see who had destroyed or corrupted more. At the same time, it was a bet perfectly fitting of Uriel and Lucifer.
Destroying evil is easy. One only needs to hunt down and kill villains as they are seen.
However, corrupting people is even easier. Especially for Lucifer, the Icon of Corruption.
Thus, the two angels and the devil have continued their wager to this day. Lucifer became the Icon of Corruption, and Uriel became the Icon of Judgment.
Beatrice is also one of the scapegoats caught in their bet.
When I first heard about Lucifer from Beatrice, I recalled the ill-fated relationship between Lucifer and Uriel.
Then, it occurred to me. A truly brilliant idea.
"Which of you four... summoned me here...?"
A Holy Voice rings out. An angel who dominates the space simply by appearing.
I quickly raised my hand before she could misunderstand.
"I summoned you! O most noble angel!"
"For what reason would a cu... a demon, so cunning and despicable, call for me...?"
Uriel scanned us slowly with different eyes. Then, her voice stops abruptly upon reaching Lucifer.
"...Lucifer. This is your doing."
Whoosh!
Hellfire that burns away sin erupts. The flames in Uriel's hand spread to her sword, carving the space with a red shimmer.
Regardless, Lucifer calmly posed a question to me. His heart was pounding violently, but he deliberately hid it, perhaps because Uriel was before him.
Of course, Uriel was equally tense. Perhaps because it had been such a long time since facing her arch-rival, a strange tension flowed between the two enemies.
I dived right into that tension.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down. Summoning you was entirely my own independent decision. Though my assistant, this wolf friend here, helped a little."
"Bark? Why a little? I did it all!"
"What are you talking about? What exactly did you do? Besides putting a fork on a pre-set table, did you do anything?"
"Bark bark bark bark! I did everything! I ran around! Summoned devils! Summoned angels! I recited all the spells! Bark bark!"
"Oh, now that I think about it, you did. But Aru is my possession. If a possession does something, isn't that the same as me doing it?"
"I am not an object! Bark bark bark!"
"What is she even saying. Whether you search the Demon Law, the Doctrine of the Holy Church, or the Laws of the Human Empire, it clearly states that animals are the 'possessions' of humans."
"R-really? Keu-ooogh... bark bark..."
This is why knowledge is power. What good is using your teeth all day like someone else? It's not like studying is for the benefit of others.
Ah right, now is not the time for this.
"Anyway! My goal is to break the Demonic Contract between Dame Beatrice and my ancestor, and then form a new contract with Beatrice myself. But for that, my ancestor must agree to terminate the contract with Beatrice."
"That may be so, but what does that have to do with summoning an angel you can't stand the sight of?"
"How could it not be related? My ancestor's reason for making contracts with humans and devils is to win the wager against that angel Uriel! In other words, this means..."
I pointed my finger boldly at Uriel as I spoke.
"We just have to kill Uriel! Then naturally, my ancestor won't need to cling to that contract! If only Uriel is gone, everything is solved!"
""......!!""
The eyes of Lucifer, Uriel, and Beatrice flew wide open. A silence born of shock dominated the warehouse. Only Aru, knowing nothing, was depressed by the reality of being a possession, letting out a 'keu-ong...'.
"M-my Lord...?"
My knight, Beatrice, who was piggybacking on my back, let out a dazed sound.
Since she must have served Uriel as a Holy Knight of the Holy Church once, the suggestion to kill Uriel must be a huge shock.
"Wh-what on earth did you just... cough!"
"Ahaha, want me to say it again? Let's kill Uriel! Don't worry! I won't ask for the help of your sick hands! We can handle it ourselves!"
"I-it's not that... cough! Cough, cough!"
But Beatrice had no strength left to stop me.
I turned my head toward Uriel. The great Archangel with three pairs of wings was trembling with indignation, a vein throbbing on her forehead.
"...Are you serious about those words."
A cold, sharp voice that didn't sound like an angel's at all settled over the warehouse floor. Even though the space was filled with flames without firewood, a chilling shiver ran down my spine.
"I mean, are you finished with your last words?"
Cold sweat trickled down my sideburns.
As expected, is this the intimidation of Archangel Uriel?
My whole body felt electric, as if I couldn't even lift a finger. I've grown quite strong over the last hundred years, but against the real deal, I wouldn't even leave a bone behind.
Still, I can move my tongue even if I can't move my fingers.
"Why? Do you think I can't do it?"
"Your energy flows just like Lucifer's. A mere mortal dares to harbor such pride."
"Pride is when you have reckless courage that doesn't match your skill. But I'm confident."
"Arrogant to the end! Even after I gave you a chance!"
Boom!
"...!? Bark bark! What are you doing!"
"Ugh...! That brute of an angel...!"
"Waaaah! Dame Beatrice! Hold on tight! I can't have you getting seriously hurt from being blown away!"
"Ugh...! Nngh...."
The warehouse exploded at Uriel's thunderous roar. Not figuratively, but literally exploded.
Thanks to that, we found ourselves out in the bright light.
Whoosh!
Everything around us was ablaze. The flames spread like a vast sea, dominating the entire area. The corpses of the monsters Beatrice had slaughtered earlier turned to ash as they met the fire.
Uriel stood amidst the widespread fire. Her neatly groomed blonde hair was now shooting up toward the sky as if hit by a storm. Her six unfurled wings covered the firmament.
"This is actually for the best! Here and now, I shall purge you filthy devils and demons! And purify the world!"
"What? Uriel! Why are you dragging me into this!"
"Silence! I heard clearly that this demon referred to you as 'Ancestor', Lucifer!"
Lucifer hurriedly spread his black wings to resist. Hmm, there's absolutely nothing for you to do in this show.
"Summoner! What is the meaning of this! You intend to fight Uriel!"
"Why? Is there any reason I can't? I have you, myself, and our Aru."
"If a few small fry like you were enough to suppress Uriel, we would have done so during the Divine-Devil War!"
"Haha, you're absolutely right. Which is why I'm not going to fight."
"...? What?"
I won't bother saying out loud that I'll just make her destroy herself.
Since Aru has set the stage.
The highlight belongs entirely to me.
If I can't even handle this, I should give up the title of Magician.
Step.
With Beatrice on my back, I took a single step toward Uriel.
Whoosh!
Every time Uriel exhaled, the Hellfire of Sin grew more intense. The flames that burn devils covered the heavens and the earth, staring down at me.
Golden eyes locked onto me. Merciless eyes that must have slaughtered millions upon millions until now. I smiled.
"How bold. To step forward before me. Do you intend to pay for your slip of the tongue with your life? To protect your comrades?"
"Hardly. My own life is the most important thing to me."
"You never miss a chance to talk back. Your energy is pathetic, yet your mouth is alive."
"It's usually people like me, the cunning ones, who survive the longest."
"That is not untrue, but...."
Uriel's flames engulfed both of us. Technically, they engulfed Beatrice on my back too, but since she's unconscious, I'll exclude her.
"That does not apply to one who steps on the tail of an emissary. Will you still speak so when you face Hell?"
"Are you referring to the Hellfire?"
"The Hell that burns devils is its name."
"Hmm, then that doesn't apply to me. Because I'm a demon."
"Being a devil is not defined by race. Those worse than devils, those corrupted like devils, those more monstrous than devils. All are included. The flames that burn sin shall distinguish them."
Bullshit, how do I know if it's just burning the body or burning the sin.
"Is that so? How wonderful. This Hellfire of Sin."
I held out my finger. Index and middle finger first. Toward the wall of fire surrounding me.
I have to keep talking before it's too late. If Uriel swings her sword, I'll die without being able to resist.
Sizzle!
The fire touching my fingers transferred to my fingertips. Since I had taken off Arachne's Gloves earlier, my hand was now bare skin. The flames settled upon it.
It was hot. It was the pain of skin burning. But I didn't let it show. Enduring the pain, I nonchalantly raised my finger.
It's burning quite well. What sin did my finger commit? If you're looking for sin, burn my tongue instead.
"By the way."
"Do you have any last words."
"This 'sin'... who judges it?"
"Why do you ask such a thing."
"I'm just curious. Who are you, and what is this little flame, that allows you to judge another's life as you please?"
"It is simply karma."
"Heh, karma my ass."
Now, shall we begin.
"Let me ask you one thing."
"You talk too much."
"Just because it's a sin doesn't mean every crime deserves death. Do you cast the Hellfire of Sin upon a mere thief?"
"It depends on what kind of thief they are."
"Hmm, that's true. Let me make the example more specific. Once upon a time, there lived a very poor person and a very rich person. One day, the poor person was so hungry that, fearing they would starve to death, they stole bread from their neighbor. At the same time, the rich person stole bread out of curiosity and a mischievous desire to try stealing. Who has the greater sin?"
Uriel's response came immediately.
"The rich one. Because the intention was impure. The poor one, though they committed an evil act, did not do so with bad intent."
"Alright, then let's dig a bit deeper. Next to the poor person lived a boy who was equally poor and sickly. Because the poor person stole the bread, the frail boy eventually passed away that night. Meanwhile, the rich person's theft was quickly discovered, but he had stolen the bread from a nobleman's house. Upon finding out, the nobleman simply reacted indifferently, saying, 'It's just a piece of bread.' In this case, who has the greater sin?"
"...."
Uriel rested her chin on her hand, pondering. After thinking deeply, she finally spoke.
"The poor one. Their circumstances are pitiful, but they caused great harm to another. Consequently, a person died. This is an act that betrays human morality."
Bingo.
Got her.
"In short, results are more important than intentions?"
"If the results are the same, intentions matter, but if they differ, the result must be prioritized. For sin is measured by the scale of the harm caused."
"I see. Then what about the war between the Holy Nation and the Nation of War four years ago? Whose sin is greater?"
"...What are you talking about."
What am I talking about?
I'm talking about your destruction.
"The Nation of War attacked first. The Nation of War, with its firm system of slavery, and the Holy Nation, which advocated for the equality of all, had always been on bad terms. There were also differences in the gods they worshipped. Thus, the Nation of War launched a massive invasion led by Commander Agesiliad, pushing the Holy Nation's forces back all the way to the Holy Emperor's Palace."
"The Nation of War carries the greater sin. For they struck first."
"But in the battle before the Holy Emperor's Palace, the Nation of War was annihilated. Most of the army, including Commander Agesiliad, were wiped out. All by the hand of Dame Beatrice, who is currently on my back. The casualties of the Nation of War were roughly eight times those of the Holy Nation."
"...What is it you are trying to ask."
"Don't you know? The Nation of War attacked with impure intentions, but they caused fewer deaths than the Holy Nation. On the other hand, the Holy Nation merely defended against the invading army... yet they created eight times more deaths. The intention was more malicious on the Nation of War's side, but the result was more malicious on the Holy Nation's side. By your logic, wouldn't the Holy Nation's sin be greater?"
Come on.
Don't run away.
That absolute conviction of yours—I'm going to tear it down.
"No, theft and war are different concepts."
"Is that so?"
"If the Nation of War struck first, their sin is unconditionally greater. Therefore..."
She's confused. She's conflicted.
She must be doubting herself. Because she just said that results hold more weight than intentions when determining sin.
"The sin lies with the Nation of War."
However, Uriel is one who executes a justice so rigid it borders on obsession.
She wouldn't be shaken by this much.
"Is that so? Then how about this."
So, I turn the blade.
"...?"
"What do you think about the wars where the Holy Nation directly invaded?"
I turn it toward Uriel herself.
"...!"
"The Holy Nation had several precedents of invading the Nation of War. Claiming they dared to harbor heretics. Each time, the Nation of War won, and the expeditionary forces returned in a state of absolute ruin."
"T-that is...!"
"In those cases, the Holy Nation's sin is obviously greater, right? Because they were in the wrong. Or is it the Nation of War's fault again? All they did was defend against an attacking enemy state. Does it become a sin just because they slaughtered the enemy somewhat inhumanly during a wartime situation?"
"The Nation of War are heretics! Heretics must be exterminated! The soldiers of the home nation were merely carrying out that task! What sin is there in trying to uphold the doctrine!"
Yes, that's exactly it.
Asitabi.
To put it in simpler terms: blatant hypocrisy.
"The Lord is the one true God! Those who dare not believe in the Lord deserve to fall into Hell!"
"From what I know, priests don't usually talk like that. You're being quite harsh. Where did the virtues of embrace and mercy go?"
"...! Embrace is...!"
"You say heretics must be exterminated unconditionally? Who says so? We are all equal children of the Lord, yet you say oppression is the only answer just because they believe in a different god. Besides, the Olympian gods clearly exist, don't they? Up there."
"They! Are not true gods! They are merely a lower race forged from petty faith!"
"Petty faith? I guess there's a grade for faith? Wow, I never knew that."
"...!"
A ripple appeared in Uriel's lofty golden eyes. It was the moment her faith began to crack.
"And here I thought you were just being biased because you're on the Holy Nation's side."
"Shut up! This is blasphemy!"
"Blasphemy? You're the one committing blasphemy. You interpret the Lord's doctrine as you please, twist the meaning, oppress people's freedom, and judge others on a whim."
It's electrifying.
This situation where my head could fly off the moment I say one wrong word.
This state of boldly entering the enemy's stronghold and talking my head off, without even having a shield like in my previous life.
It brings a strange excitement to me.
"It is the will of the Lord! That I burn the wicked with Hellfire! It is all guided by the Lord!"
"It's not the Lord, it's your own heart telling you to do that. Have you ever met the Lord? Did the Lord look you in the face and tell you to do that?"
"T-that is not, but..."
"I've met the Lord. And the Lord told me this: you shouldn't oppress or discriminate against people just because they are heretics. Doing so is nothing less than blasphemy that stains the name of God."
My 'Lord' is the Saint. So, it's not technically a lie.
"I-is it true...? The Lord said such a thing...? No, no! Someone like you meeting the Lord! Stop lying!"
"Isn't the Holy Nation and the Nation of War exactly the same? You're just the same. Who are you to judge sin! Who gave you the right to decide who is wicked and who isn't! When you haven't even established a proper, firm method of distinction! your standard for sin changes every time you shift your perspective!"
"...! Shut your mouth! I am... I am... I am the Agent of the Lord!"
"Nonsense! Then why does your standard for sin keep changing? What kind of judge are you! You're just an executioner who carries out death penalties however Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel want!"
"You...! Be silent! Your tongue is truly insidious!"
Sring!
Realizing that something was going wrong during the conversation, Uriel raised the Sword of Truth.
Right now, she intended to split me, a cunning piece of filth, in half to realize the destruction of evil and judgment.
But it was already too late.
Because the 'truth' had already cracked.
Krak-!
"What... what is this! Why is this happening!"
Seeing her sword crumble, Uriel shouted in panic. She shook the sword and tried to inject holy power into it.
It was useless.
An angel's authority comes from faith in the Lord.
The moment Uriel was shaken by my whispers, her authority shattered.
And then, right now.
Krrrk-!
"Aaaagh!!"
Six angel wings were torn to shreds. Those whose faith has crumbled have no right to power. Neither do they have the right to fly in the skies.
Whoosh!
The Hellfire that burns sin leaped onto Uriel. The woman's body became fuel, writhing in the agony of being burned alive. If it granted mercy, it wouldn't be Hellfire.
"Blasphemy!"
"W-what!?"
"This is blasphemy! Blasphemy!"
"N-no! I am not blasphemous! Hellfire! G-get away from me this instant! Aaaagh!!"
"Ahahaha! Burn, Hellfire, burn brightly! There's plenty of sin here! Burn this insidious apostate to nothing, who slaughtered millions of lives under the guise of the will of God by her own arbitrariness!"
The value of killing differs. Just as it is different for a mere murderer to kill for their own pleasure versus the Church burning a blasphemous villain.
Uriel was the same. Until a moment ago, she was the solemn Agent of God, but as her faith became clouded because of me, she lost her status. She became a mere butcher.
After all, everything depends on one's state of mind.
"Ow, hot!"
The fire on my fingers had almost burned through my skin by now. Before it was too late, I blew on the flames on my index and middle fingers, which had already lost their nails. Phew! As the Lord's representative, I am not something to be burned.
"Screeeagh!"
The scream was pitiful. Her wings were almost entirely burned away. Only one pair of blackened wings remained.
Looking at those wings, I was reminded of someone. I turned my head toward that person.
The Fallen Angel Lucifer, possessing black wings, could not take his eyes off me and Uriel, his expression filled with shock. Uriel, who now had wings like Lucifer's, crawled on the floor, barely breathing.
She no longer possessed any authority.
Pointing to the being who had become lesser than a mere insect, I spoke to Lucifer.
"Want to kill her?"
He still had a blank face. There was no answer. I smirked.
"I guess the bond from fighting makes you not hate her enough to kill her."
"...You...."
"Still, you'll dissolve the contract now, right? There's such a thing as a disqualification in a wager. How can Uriel, in that state, continue the bet? Also, please consider my sincerity. Do you see this? My index and middle fingers are all burned."
"You... what exactly are you...?"
Wait, the way Lucifer is looking at me is unusual.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
Grab.
Lucifer grabbed my shoulders with both hands. So hard that it felt like my shoulders were about to twist.
"What is this...? Pride...? Wrath...? Greed...? Sloth...? No, it's different. The essence is different. You, what exactly are you...? What are you that you could throw Uriel into such confusion...?"
Ah, so you're curious about my identity.
Hmm... well? Can a life be defined by a single word? But if I must define it.
"I'm Oscar. Oscar Lucifer."
"Don't change the subject! Could it be, Chaos? No, that's impossible. How could a mere demon be Chaos? Chaos is not among the Seven Great Evils! What an absurd thought! How could a demon, a descendant of a devil, possess something a devil does not!"
"I told you, I'm Oscar. Why do you keep trying to define me as Chaos or something strange."
"But if not Chaos, what could possibly throw an Archangel into turmoil... Wait, Chaos? Oscar? You said Oscar?"
With his face right in front of mine, Lucifer muttered mysterious words. My shoulders already hurt from his grip, and having a man this close was incredibly burdensome.
Aru, what are you doing? Why aren't you helping your owner?
"Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, Oscar...... Oscha?"
Oh, what is it? Did you figure something out? About my identity?
"Chaos...! You, you're Chaos!"
"...."
What is this senile old devil talking about.
And here I thought he was going to say something impressive. Chaos? He's saying that just to link me to the concept of chaos? My goodness, this is ridiculous.
"Ancestor, I think you're gravely mistaken, so let me introduce myself. As for me... I am a descendant, a younger sibling, a captain, a lord, a magician, a film director, an actor...... and a demon who is a certain human's lover. That's all."
Nothing special about me.
Really.