Episode 144
Veronica appeared with an expression that indicated urgency for some inexplicable reason, closely followed by Seere, who made an embarrassing announcement upon entering. Upon seeing these two, Nahen and Ersha could not help but feel greatly perplexed, blinking rapidly in response.
Nahen asked with a baffled voice, “Exactly… what are you talking about?”
“Auntie! I saw everything, and you’re going to say something like that!?”
“Teacher… Have you already taken care of it…?”
“Take care of what?! What exactly are you two talking about!!”
Unable to understand why these two were acting this way, Nahen suddenly raised his voice, causing Veronica and Seere to, in turn, raise theirs.
“I just saw it! I saw you, Uncle, holding Grandmother with an earnest look before she was about to leave!!”
“Teacher!!! I can’t hold back when you act like this!!”
“Don’t say such strange things! And Veronica, what exactly are you implying!?”
In response to Seere’s dangerous approach, Nahen spoke as if trying to get her to regain her senses, while pondering what scenario Veronica might have witnessed that caused her to misunderstand.
‘Ah.’
Then it came to Nahen. There was a moment in his memory. Although he didn’t recall looking at her with an earnest expression, he did stop Ersha when she was about to leave and asked her to hear his concerns.
“…Is this because I stopped Ersha outside the office?”
“Ah! You know, yet you’re lying now…!”
“Considering that your assumptions are wrong, how is that lying?”
“Wait… No…?”
Veronica looked at Nahen with a slightly confused look before glancing at Ersha beside her. Although Ersha was smiling, it seemed strangely frightening.
Upon seeing this cold smile, Veronica realized that she had completely misunderstood the situation.
“Hi, hiik! I’m sorry!!”
“Not… well… sigh.”
Having realized her mistake, Veronica bowed deeply in apology, causing Nahen to sigh. It was hard to criticize someone who realized their mistake and sincerely apologized.
“Anyway, what scenario led you to bring Seere along?”
“Well… I thought Grandmother Nahen was doing something inappropriate….”
As Veronica began her explanation, Ersha’s expression hardened. Upon realizing she had angered her grandmother, Veronica quickly bowed low to the ground.
“Sorry! I misunderstood from what I saw from afar…!”
“Hmm, understood. Since you’ve apologized, return to your duties. Ersha, you should also return and rest.”
“…Yes, Master Nahen.”
Ersha bowed slightly to Nahen before greeting Seere and walking out of the office first. After observing Ersha leave, Veronica also stood up and exited.
“…Seere.”
“Ah… Thank goodness. I might have not been able to let Teacher be if I didn’t.”
“Not letting me be… What exactly were you planning to do?”
It was unclear what mischief she had intended. Nahen felt a chill.
“Hmph… Aren’t you supposed to trust me?”
“It makes sense given the situation.”
“What?”
Seere slightly narrowed her eyes. While thinking of the appearance of Ersha Scarlet who had recently left,
“Teacher should know that your assistants tend to be exceptionally beautiful?”
“…Have I ever acted on such admiration for women in front of you?”
“Though it’s true that I haven’t seen that…”
Seere, instead of leaving, leaned closer to Nahen and took a seat next to him. Seeing her move closer, Nahen tensed, worried about what she might do next, and slightly shifted his body.
“Where are you going.”
“I’m just changing seats, what’s wrong with that?”
“Hmm….”
When Nahen attempted to move away, Seere lifted her hips and scooted even closer. Nahen looked at her as if telling her to stop but Seere pretended not to notice.
The playful exchange continued. Every time Nahen attempted to distance himself, Seere followed. But the sofa had limited space, so Nahen finally had no choice but to accept.
Seere lightly slipped her arm around Nahen’s, chuckling softly as if enjoying herself.
“Hum-hmm~!”
“…Sigh.”
Nahen decided to just let it be, willingly offering up his arm. Seere moved closer and wrapped her arm around him, allowing him to distinctly feel the softness she provided.
Attempting to ignore the sweet sensation, Nahen brought up a topic that needed to be addressed now that things had settled.
“Have you received the report?”
“You mean about the 45th floor declaring war?”
“Yes, I see you’re aware. What are your thoughts on it? That’s what I wanted to ask…”
“Teacher, why worry about something like that?”
“Hmm?”
Seere smiled faintly. As if telling Nahen not to worry about such things, Seere continued.
“I can manage the situation with Bifrons and the 45th floor myself.”
“…Hmm.”
“Are you feeling sentimental?”
“Not at all, I just feel you’re capable of handling it entirely.”
Seere’s face lit up in a bright smile. She was happy because Nahen believed in her.
Nahen, too, while trusting Seere, also considered it an excellent opportunity to gauge the strength of the Deva faction after eight years.
‘Must understand the current balance of power…’
It would make it easier to decide the next move. Given so many changes over eight years, Nahen felt stepping back slightly and observing wouldn’t be a bad decision.
“Alright, this time I’ll refrain from interfering. I’ll leave it in your hands…can you do this well?”
“Of course! I’ll show you a perfect victory, Teacher.”
“It doesn’t have to be perfect, but since you’re confident, it’s indeed reassuring.”
As Nahen nodded, Seere smiled. In a tone that promised not to disappoint his expectations, she reaffirmed her dedication.
“Count on me.”
“…Alright.”
Nahen silently wished she’d back off now that he had acknowledged it.
#
“Nahen.”
“What is it?”
“Are you really going to sit this one out this time?”
To Ersha’s query, Nahen nodded. They were still in the office despite the departure of Seere and her battalion to the battlefield.
“Yes.”
“Is that alright?”
Ersha seemed doubtful. Nahen assured her by nodding again.
“Seere wants our trust, and I need to gauge how powerful the Deva faction has become.”
“I think there’s also a possibility for failure.”
“I’m aware that the possibility of failure exists.”
“Then…”
“Even failure wouldn’t be bad.”
Nahen thought that a potential defeat by Seere in battle would also not be a bad outcome. It would possibly stall the Deva forces, but time would settle that.
“Tasting victory too often is also harmful.”
There are lessons to be learned from failure as well. Although a victory would be best, a defeat wouldn’t be bad because Nahen trusted Seere and knew her capabilities well, which led him to believe in her success.
Ersha nodded but still seemed uneasy.
“Even if you agree with that, considering the upcoming Heaven-Demon War, I believe we should conserve our strength. Especially since Belzebut declared at the meeting that they won’t make the Demon World the battlefield.”
“That will be fine.”
“Excuse me?”
“We’ll be sitting this Heaven-Demon War out.”
Ersha blinked several times and then exclaimed in surprise.
“Excuse me? Did you say we will not participate in the Heaven-Demon War?”
“Although totally bowing out will be difficult, we’ll just fight enough to conserve strength.”
“Why? Nahen, if we do this, the Demon Kings of the Equites faction who we’ve befriended won’t take it kindly.”
By withdrawing from the Heaven-Demon War, it essentially meant not engaging aggressively in battle. Naturally, the martial Demon Kings wouldn’t look kindly upon it.
“I’m aware.”
“Then…”
This is why Ersha didn’t understand. Was Nahen going to abandon the steady ally they had created in Barbatos? With this unresolved query, Nahen explained to Ersha.
“The Equites faction will collapse anyway.”
“…What?”
“During this Heaven-Demon War, the Equites faction will be the ones to suffer the most, and this will cause them to lose influence in the Demon World.”
The Equites faction’s collapse due to heavy losses in the Heaven-Demon War led to an alternate interpretation.
“Are you suggesting that the Demon World will be defeated in the Heaven-Demon War?”
“Isn’t that obvious from the start, since we’re entering the human realm as a battlefield?”
“How can you be so certain?”
The reason behind Nahen’s certainty in “the collapse of the Equites faction” and “the loss in the Heaven-Demon War” was unclear to Ersha, as there was no basis for this assurance.
Even though the lack of external magical energy in the human realm was a factor, it wasn’t enough to counter the overwhelming power of the Demon Kings.
‘You must mean there’s another reason…’
When Ersha demanded an explanation, Nahen simply told her in brief without providing much insight.
“Even if I explain, it might not make much sense, so just trust me on this.”
“Alright…? Should I consider this as some form of great foresight from you?”
“Yes.”
Closing her eyes momentarily and then reopening them, Ersha seemed to ponder something before speaking to Nahen.
“So from the beginning, you only intended to use the Equites faction this time?”
“If they were still useful, I would’ve formed an alliance with them.”
Just as he did with Phynox after the conference. Nahen leaned back in his chair and continued.
“Of course, there is a chance that we might have to engage in battle during the Heaven-Demon War.”
“Indeed.”
“This is why we brought everyone along as preparation for that.”
“…Ah.”
Ersha slightly perspired. She spotted the faint black mist swirling around Nahen. Given the ones Nahen had brought along…
“I understand what Master Nahen means.”
Nahen nodded and looked to use the wisdom Ersha, who was serving as his counselor.
“Ersha.”
“Yes.”
“When the Heaven-Demon War begins, start planning what we should do post-war immediately.”
“Then, what exactly should be Nahen’s goal after the war?”
“The Heaven-Demon War will change a great many things. Heaven, the Human Realm, even the Demon World; they’ll all undergo significant changes. Amidst all that, my desire is one thing.”
Nahen voiced his desire.
“Getting Seere ranked within the top 31.”
Rank 31. The last line of the upper echelons of Demon Kings. Demon World ranks 31 to 13 are referred to as the Upper-Tier Demon Kings.
“In that case, many Demon Kings will need to lose their power or die in the Heaven-Demon War.”
“I believe you understand the implications.”
“Nahen, you’re cruel. I’m not confident in these under-handed tactics.”
Nahen chuckled.
“False modesty.”
“Mother! That’s a harsh word.”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it. Why you were banished from the Demon World and why your blood was scattered everywhere by the Primeval Demon Kings…do you think I would remain utterly unaware?”
Ersha’s eyes widened. Then she slightly curled her lips upward, revealing an expression she had never shown Nahen before. With a smirk, Nahen could see a hint of irony on her face.
“I get scared of Nahen sometimes.”
“I’m scared of you acting the way you’re behaving.”
“Haha, you’re pretty good at joking around.”
“Still, how can you remember such things when you forget the others?”
“Hmm.”
When Nahen dodged, Ersha smiled.
“That’s why you were searching for my blood even knowing this?”
“That’s our deal.”
“And you know what I would do having regained my power?”
“Would you betray me? That’s laughable.”
Nahen scoffed. The origin of the Great Demons, Ersha Scarlet, in the knowledge he had, could never betray him.
“You’re not the kind to betray a Great Demon. You’re not the type to take impossible challenges, are you?”
Ersha laughed lightly and responded.
“Hmm, you said you forgot everything, yet you remember things like that so well. You are quite an interesting figure.”
“Would I bring you as my counselor without knowing these things?”
“That makes sense indeed.”
Ersha respectfully bowed her head.
“I, Ersha, obey the order of the Great One.”
“…I trust you.”
“I shall diligently work to meet your expectations.”
#
At the top of the towering sacred tree.
This spot was the highest place in the world and also a place where the greatest goodness resided.
Encased within a room covered by magnificent wings, there rested a woman in a pristine lace dress. She was deep in thought and raised her hand to lift her veil slightly.
The beauty hidden below her pure white veil was even more stunning once the veil was lifted. Long and straight eyelashes above piercing platinum eyes, a well-defined yet perfectly proportionate nose, a beautifully shaped pinkish mouth, snow-white cheeks, and a graceful jawline. Her long, flowing white hair completed her appearance.
If there were a goddess, she would look exactly like this. In fact, since humans also refer to her as ‘the Celestial Being’, the comparison was not incorrect.
“Are the preparations done?”
She removed her veil not for any ordinary occasion, but to welcome the noble guest who had come to see her. A soft voice inquired, and an angel entered the room.
Surprisingly, this angel was strikingly similar to the woman in the room. Not just the eyes, nose, and mouth, but even the facial structure and physique were alike. However, there was a clear difference in hair color; while the woman had white hair, the guest’s hair was black.
“Mostly.”
“It’s not okay to prepare just ‘mostly.’ We’re going to destroy it definitively this time.”
“I know. But I don’t feel motivated.”
“…You too.”
The woman rose gently from her seat. She walked towards the angel who bore some resemblance to herself, her expression somewhat vacant, and with both hands tenderly touched the angel’s cheeks.
The touch was affectionate, as if caring for someone precious.
“Nevertheless, preparation must be thorough. Unexpected issues can arise anytime.”
“Since we have Mikael and Camiel anyway. They’ll manage things without ‘him’ around… In a pinch, Gabriel could go as well…”
“You going would be the most reliable, right?”
The angel slightly puffed her cheeks in response to the Celestial Being’s words, indicating unwillingness. The Celestial Being, observing the state of her look-alike, decided to step back a little.
“Alright. If the situation allows, you can rest without going.”
“Okay, sister.”
“Still, you must promise to step in if necessary.”
“Okay, I promise.”
“…Good. I trust you.”
The Celestial Being gently patted her head while calling out her name.
“Sandalphon.”
