Chapter 157

Chapter 157

“Advice?”

Seere looked at Ersha with surprise. With a childlike curiosity in her eyes, Ersha offered a light smile.

“Yes, advice. As you know, Nahun has lived quite a long time, right?”

“…Yeah.”

Although she thought to herself that ‘quite a long time’ was an understatement, Seere didn’t voice it. In the past, she might have blurted it out, but Seere had grown in many ways.

“Because of that, I know the ‘original’ Nahun well.”

“The original Teacher? What was he like?”

“Yes. In the past, Nahun was quite… heh, it wouldn’t be fun if I told you. Anyway, perhaps because I know the old Nahun a bit, I can see many differences in him recently.”

“And so?”

Hearing that Nahun was different from before piqued Seere’s interest in Ersha’s story.

“Currently, Nahun is surprisingly weak against proactive advances. He wouldn’t have even glanced at such things before.”

“I felt that too. But didn’t he used to have no reaction at all?”

“Honestly, it felt like he had no interest in ‘others’ at all.”

“Hmm…”

This was the story of someone who was cold to everyone. Seere imagined this side of Nahun and spoke.

“That side of him would seem cool as well.”

“But Your Majesty, do you know what happens if you provoke those who are weak against proactive advances too much?”

“Uh?”

Seere blinked. Wondering if there was a problem, Ersha explained.

“They run away.”

“…Huh?”

“In an abruptly changed relationship and situation, one naturally feels like fleeing.”

“The Teacher could run away?”

“Especially… Nahun faced a situation that took eight years in just a few days, right? It’s already confusing, and if he feels the relationship with his student is rapidly changing, what kind of feelings would arise?”

Seere’s eyes widened.

“Of course, expressing affection appropriately is also important to draw the other person in. You haven’t been able to do that yet. However…”

Ersha offered her sincere advice.

“You shouldn’t be too excessive. You must also learn to wait a little.”

“…I’ve waited for eight years, and now you want me to wait again?”

“As I mentioned earlier, while it has been eight years for you, for Nahun, everything has changed in just a few days. Is the only goal to have a physical relationship with Nahun? If that is your aim, you can ignore what I just said.”

Feeling a bit offended by Ersha’s question, Seere furrowed her brow.

“That can’t be right!”

“Yes, it can’t be. If you really love Nahun as you say…”

Ersha looked at Seere with a soft, somewhat proud gaze as if recalling some memory.

“You should be able to embrace and wait for the person you love. Love doesn’t mean one side demands affection unilaterally, right?”

Ersha had her reasons for speaking to Seere this way. To the extent that it surprised Ersha, Nahun had been quite conscious of Seere recently.

Now it was a matter of leisurely reeling in a fish, but Seere, too, was inexperienced with love. In her urgency, she seemed to be pulling the fishing line up too quickly. Fearing she might lose the fish that had even caught the hook, Ersha had intervened.

Her intervention could either work out badly or well. It depended on how Seere would accept it. Seere could have reacted negatively and deemed it unwarranted interference.

Fortunately, Seere listened attentively to Ersha. She spoke with a slightly sulky tone.

“…I guess I looked desperate.”

“I don’t think it was serious enough to be a problem. So, there’s no need to feel timid. What I mentioned is merely out of concern that you might be overdoing it.”

Seere thought that was a bit unexpected. She felt that Ersha was genuinely speaking from such a mindset.

“You care about me more than I thought.”

“Yes? Ah…”

Ersha laughed softly.

“I had a fairly close acquaintance with Seir. So, it might seem a bit rude, but every time I see you, it feels like I’m looking at my nephew.”

“With your father? Ah, I see…”

Seere thought that made sense. She also felt a familiar sensation from Ersha’s gaze. It was the same gaze she received from Cecili, who had worked alongside her since Seir’s time, and Rea, who had taken care of her as a nanny.

“…I thought it was dangerous.”

“Yes?”

Because she was so beautiful and seemed to know Nahun well. So, to speak honestly, Seere was anxious about Ersha.

After all, age didn’t matter much to a great demon like Nahun, so she considered that Ersha might take his side… that had been her thought.

But now, from the way Ersha was looking at her, she felt a sense of trust in her. Seere smiled slightly.

“No, thank you for telling me. I’ll take it into consideration.”

“…Heh, I hope Your Majesty finds happiness.”

Seere mulled over Ersha’s advice. If being too much of a bother was dangerous…

‘Do I have to reassure him with cute actions in between?’

Seere was contemplating the balance of sweetness and spiciness.

#

“An uninteresting method?”

Amon was puzzled. As long as he could just fight somehow, he would enjoy it. After all, to kill Amon, the opponent would have to face a great demon, so there was no avoiding battle.

Thus, Amon could enjoy the fight no matter how it ended. However, he was baffled by what Nahun considered uninteresting.

“Surely not, but if you intend to have those beasts kill me, please stop.”

The tendons in Amon’s hand gripping the spear tensed.

“That’s an impossible feat anyway.”

“…Who would think anyone doesn’t know that?”

“If that’s the case, then what are you talking about?”

Instead of answering, Nahun gathered his magical power. Feeling the vast magical energy, Amon was slightly taken aback, yet also somewhat perplexed.

“Is this… the magical power of a great demon? Is it really just this much?”

While it was undeniably powerful, it was less than he expected. No, it was far less. It was too meager to be called the power of the great demon, referred to as the strongest in hell.

However, Nahun spoke calmly, as if there was no issue.

“This is enough.”

“…Haha! Is it really?”

Amon laughed cheerfully as he prepared his stance. Seeing this, Nahun commanded the three Massu.

“Buy some time.”

Upon hearing the order, the End’s Massu let out a loud roar.

───────!!!

Especially Gize’s roar made Amon’s entire body stiffen. Feeling this, Amon honestly admired it.

“This is the End’s Massu…! What incredible power!”

With excitement, Amon shouted and slammed the ground. Regardless, Nahun spread his hands and concentrated his magical power in his palms.

Amon was a step above Barbatos. He was so remarkably agile that it was astounding. He quickly returned his previously stiffened body to normal and climbed atop Behemoth’s head.

Kwaaang──!!!

Amon’s spear imbued with magical power plunged into Behemoth’s crown. However, Amon’s expression was not good. It showed that something was wrong.

“…It’s surprisingly tough.”

Behemoth’s hide was too thick and firm, to the point that Amon’s strength couldn’t pierce it.

Infuriated by the blow to its head, Behemoth let out a roar and began shaking its head violently. Gize, with its gigantic, elongated body, attempted to bite Amon, who was on Behemoth’s head.

Kwagagagak!!!

As he blocked Gize’s beak with his spear, Amon gathered magical power in his opposite hand.

“Flame of magic, burn!”

【 Hell Flame 】

Amon was not only excellent in physical ability but also adept at handling magic as a Demon King. A powerful fire spell engulfed Gize’s face.

“Unharmed…?”

Gize, having been scorched by flames on its face, roared angrily at both Uriel and Amon.

Amon dodged Gize, who tried to throw him off with its strength, pulling back the spear as he lowered his body. Consequently, Gize couldn’t maintain its acceleration and could only let him go.

“Is it highly resistant to magic?”

Amon smiled. The strength of the Massu was considerable. Then just how strong was their master, that great demon?

He couldn’t contain his excitement. Amon thought he needed to quickly clear away these interfering Massu. Holding his spear, Amon extended his arm back. He observed Gize rushing towards him again as if getting ready to throw a javelin.

“Magical spear activation.”

The tip of Amon’s spear split into two. From the split spearhead, a potent magical power flowed out, feeling ominously strong.

“If magic doesn’t work, I’ll just break through with this…!”

At that moment, Nahun, who had left the Massu to buy time, spoke up.

“This place is a space I’ve separated.”

“…?”

“It’s a different world, maintained by a magic I used to divide it.”

Amon couldn’t understand Nahun’s words. While he pondered in confusion for a moment, he finished throwing the spear.

“What does that mean?!”

Swaaaack!!!

Amon’s magical spear flew powerfully toward Gize. However, Gize showed no intention of dodging, whether it was believing in something or planning to clash with it.

“You’re no different than the other martialist Demon Kings who only know power.”

At that moment, the magical energy gathered in Nahun’s hands began to swirl and expand. Feeling this overwhelming magical energy, Amon flinched in surprise.

“…What are you doing?”

However, it was already too late to stop. The expanding magical power soon engulfed the separated space entirely. Amon, startled, tried to block with his hands, but the magical power smoothly passed him and completely took over the space.

At the moment nothing happened and Amon was surprised, an even more astonishing event followed.

“What kind of trick is this…!”

Amon’s magical spear that he had thrown moments ago lost its power and was easily caught in Gize’s beak. Gize let out a breath reminiscent of a scoff.

“So, this means my magical power governs this realm.”

Nahun clenched his hands tightly, recalling all the magical energy he had covered everything with. As the magical energy that had spread in this space returned, a truly bizarre phenomenon occurred.

“…!?”

“This sort of thing is also possible.”

Amon’s available magical power was completely drained. It was not only Amon; the power of his spear had diminished too, due to losing all the magical energy he had possessed.

Amon felt as if he had been hit on the head with a hammer. Far-fetched was the notion that space could be divided by magic; Nahun had devoured another’s magical power.

Amon was stunned by what he had done.

“What absolute nonsense…”

So shocked, he momentarily forgot to maintain his composure. To that Amon, Nahun simply explained.

“The theory is simple. Just like absorbing external magical power, it can be done.”

“That’s nonsense!! How could that possibly resemble anything!!”

As the magical energy held by the spear combined with the energy absorbed from Amon swirled together with Nahun’s own, an enormous amount of magical energy began to gather.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. After all, the result won’t change; I’ve merely taught you one last lesson.”

“W-wait!! I haven’t even had a proper showdown with you!! I cannot accept this kind of end…!!”

Yet, Amon’s cries couldn’t stop Nahun’s lips from moving. Having gathered all his available magical power as well as the magical energy absorbed from Amon and the spear, Nahun began to chant.

“Destruction of heaven.”

『 Perdere æther 』

He swung the magical sword.

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