Chapter 163

Chapter 163

“Belzebut!”

The faces of the three Demon Kings present lit up with excitement. Each had different reasons, but they all shared the commonality of having waited for his return.

Basago and Samygina were curious as to why they were so cautious about Seere von Debata. They also wanted to know what he had discovered in Hell.

However, before they could ask, Belzebut turned to Agreas first.

“Are you okay?”

At Belzebut’s simple question, Agreas shrugged slightly.

“Sorry, I lost.”

“Who showed up?”

“Archangel Mikael. And the Elemental Kings.”

“…What about the area where Seere von Debata was?”

“Well, it seems there was a battle with the Heavenly Army there, but I don’t think any noteworthy forces came out of it.”

“That can’t be true.”

Belzebut easily dismissed Agreas’ words, as if he was confident.

“It’s true. They reported that Seere von Debata handled it. Even if that isn’t true, they were taken care of quickly… doesn’t that mean there were no noteworthy forces?”

“…They were taken care of quickly?”

“There was a big explosion near the Piast Kingdom. Reports say that it was clashing with the Heavenly Army.”

“…”

Hearing that, Belzebut narrowed his eyes.

“…I see, understood.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. So what do you plan to do moving forward?”

“Ah, I was planning to retreat to the Demon World for now. But before that, I want to….”

“Wait. I’d like to ask something.”

Basago, who had been listening to the conversation, could not contain his curiosity and interrupted. Belzebut glanced at him and nodded.

“What do you want to ask, Basago?”

“Belzebut, why are you so concerned about Seere von Debata?”

“…If you understood what I learned in Hell, you’d grasp my intentions soon enough.”

“Then can’t you just tell us?”

“Impossible.”

At Belzebut’s negative response, Basago looked at him with a questioning expression. Belzebut responded briefly.

“The disclosure is strictly prohibited in Hell.”

“…Are you saying that Seere von Debata is related to Hell?”

“I can say no more.”

Though Belzebut spoke like that, there was much that could be inferred from just that statement.

The fact that Seere von Debata was connected to Hell. It was unclear whether that pertained directly to Seere or to others around him…

‘So that’s why.’

Belzebut’s intense concern for her began to make sense. Samygina appeared to have understood like Basago.

“…What?”

However, Agreas opened his eyes wide and spoke.

“Really, was there a connection to Hell?”

“Yeah.”

“Then….”

Agreas seemed to realize something and smiled slightly.

“Aha?”

Seeing Agreas laugh as though he had come to some realization, Belzebut spoke.

“Don’t boast.”

“I know. If I say too much, my head might roll, right?”

Basago and Samygina were slightly surprised by how easily Agreas accepted Belzebut’s warning.

“You really listen to others.”

“Have you been out of touch lately, Basago?”

“…”

Basago averted his gaze. Agreas scoffed dismissively and turned back to Belzebut.

“By the way, since you went to Hell, what did they say? Aren’t they going to help?”

“Since the battlefield has moved to the human realm, they seem to have no intention of getting involved. However, if the battlefield shifts to the Demon World, it’ll be an entirely different story.”

“…Hmm. Then was coming to the human realm really a poor choice? Why did you propose that, to begin with?”

It was Belzebut who had put forth this opinion during the assembly, advocating for moving the battlefield to the human realm. Given his position, he likely knew what would happen if they did that. So why did he suggest it?

Agreas pressed for clarification. However, the response Belzebut gave was rather deflating.

“I didn’t know it would turn out this way.”

“…What? Don’t talk nonsense.”

“It’s true.”

Watching Belzebut brazenly lie without changing his expression, the three Demon Kings merely found it absurd. While they were struggling in a war, he provided no explanation.

They had no idea what was going through his mind, but they couldn’t dare press him further.

“…Sigh, well. Still, now that you’re back, you’ll take care of things, right?”

“Didn’t you mention that Archangel Mikael is on our tail?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you plan to fight, Agreas?”

At Belzebut’s question, Agreas glanced at him briefly.

“I’m interested. It seems like it would be fun.”

“Then since you’re the commander, you can join the fight.”

“Still, I won’t fight.”

“Why not?”

“To be honest, if the situation was one that I had to fight, I would have enjoyed it fully… but it’s not, and more importantly, I don’t like the feeling of being used by you.”

“…I see.”

Belzebut didn’t press further. Whether it was gratitude for letting his audacious lie slide, or a form of compensation for making his fellow faction leaders go through a rough patch, he simply said:

“I’ll buy you time.”

“Is it impossible to win?”

“Mikael will certainly want to fight during his strongest moments, so it’d be tough. Maybe after the sun sets.”

“Understood.”

“While I’m fighting Mikael, the other enemies, Agreas, you’ll need to use your forces to hold them off.”

“I can manage that.”

Upon hearing Agreas’ response, Belzebut stood up. Basago asked him.

“Are you preparing for something?”

“Preparing? No.”

“Then where…?”

Belzebut stated.

“I’m hosting a guest.”

At those words, the tent shook violently. Agreas raised his eyebrows slightly, while Basago and Samygina were taken aback.

“Already…?”

“Be back soon.”

Belzebut responded briefly and exited the tent.

#

“Ugh… huh….”

Nahun blinked awake from his sleep. The ceiling of the temporary tent came into view first. As his blurred vision slowly started to clear, something suddenly popped into his line of sight.

“Teacher, did you sleep well?”

“……Seere!?”

Nahun was startled. The figure that had suddenly appeared was Seere’s face. Looking at Seere who was looking down at him, Nahun spoke in a dazed voice.

“Uh, when did you arrive?”

“About three hours ago.”

“What?!”

“I thought you looked tired, so I quietly waited.”

“No… why didn’t you wake me?”

“You seemed to be sleeping soundly, how could I?”

Nahun scratched his head. The reason he was sleeping was simply a matter of habit, not because he truly needed the rest, so waking him would not have been an issue at all.

Feeling embarrassed for making Seere wait for three hours, Nahun had no choice but to mumble something to the Massu accompanying Seere.

“You should have woken me.”

“Puu?”

Waking up a sleeping master? That was indeed a ridiculous request. The three Massu blinked their eyes drowsily at Nahun’s unreasonable demand. Feeling their impudent stares, Nahun opened his eyes wide and glared at the Massu.

“Mu, muuh….”

Feeling Nahun’s fierce gaze, the Massu averted their eyes. Nahun watched them for a moment and let out a slight sigh.

“Are you going to get up?”

“Yeah.”

As Seere turned away, Nahun stood up from his spot. He got out of bed and roughly tidied his messy hair with his hands. As he did so, Seere asked him.

“Teacher, your hair has grown quite a bit.”

“I used to keep it long, didn’t I?”

“Still, it’s going to be similar to mine soon enough, isn’t it?”

“…Not quite.”

Seere’s hair fell past her waist, reaching her hips. Although Nahun’s hair was long, it wasn’t that long.

“I was joking. Anyway, Teacher, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s this. I saw you holding it next to me.”

What Seere was holding was the operational outline that Nahun had written. Nahun was slightly flustered as he spoke.

“You saw all of that…?”

“Yes. But there are some things written that I don’t fully understand.”

It seemed she had read it all. Nahun, unable to help himself, rubbed his forehead, and Seere tilted her head at his reaction.

“Was it something I shouldn’t have seen?”

“…For now, Seere, just understand that everything written there is merely thoughts I’ve considered.”

“Yes, I understand that. But this part… it feels like I truly can’t comprehend it.”

Nahun had a hunch about what she was referring to.

“If the Archangel directly invades the Demon World, you will face him alone… what does that even mean? Is it really as straightforward as it sounds?”

“…Ahem.”

As Nahun cleared his throat, Seere squinted her eyes slightly. His previous cough was essentially an affirmation of that.

“Teacher! No matter how strong you are, this is too much. I, along with my subordinates, are here—why face him alone? And you need to consider the viability of that situation; no matter how strong you are….”

“Seere, can you just listen to me for a moment?”

At Nahun’s words, Seere shut her mouth, still gazing intently at him.

“What did I write there? ‘If the Archangel directly invades the Demon World’?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m saying it’s unreasonable.”

“I understand that you know I’m a Great Demon. But so is the other side–the Archangel. We don’t know how that will turn out…”

“It will be possible.”

“Pardon?”

Nahun’s written suggestions were not mere random thoughts; they had been conceived with a certain level of reasoning.

“The Archangel won’t come alone, and if only the other Heavenly Army comes, it will be challenging for me to face them by myself; however, the opposite is feasible.”

“What does that mean….”

Normally, it would at least make some degree of sense for it to be the opposite. Seere thought as much, displaying confusion.

However, if Nahun’s thoughts were accurate, then what he had said was indeed true. To explain this, Nahun began to discuss the seal.

“I currently can’t utilize my full power.”

“…What?”

“To operate in the Demon World, I have imposed a self-seal on my powers and memories. Because of this, I don’t even know what my original name truly is.”

This was the first time Seere had heard of such a thing. Nahun continued to explain.

“This seal significantly restricts my magic power. So if the seal were lifted, then what I’ve written wouldn’t be impossible.”

“How do you lift the seal? You don’t mean you’re planning to leave me, do you…?”

“Oh, not at all. I won’t be lifting it myself; it’s likely that when the Archangel invades the Demon World… it will be temporarily released.”

“What?”

This was Nahun’s speculation. He had realized it while considering the role he held as a Great Demon.

Nahun was the Great Demon that ruled Nehemoth, the uppermost layer of the Tree of Evil, Klifirot. And Nehemoth was directly connected to the Tree of Good, Sephirot, which supported the Heavenly Realm.

Thus, as the one who ruled over that place, Nahun stood as a kind of gatekeeper. He was a Great Demon meant to defend against intruders coming from the Heavenly Realm and protect Hell.

If the Archangel, as the primary adversary of the Great Demon, were to invade directly, Nahun would have to perform his gatekeeper duties. For that to be feasible, the seal placed upon him needed to vanish.

Therefore, it would vanish. Just as Mikael would impose restrictions on the Tree of Good, Sephirot—so too would the Tree of Klifirot unleash its powers to temporarily lift Nahun’s constraints.

That was the hypothesis. Of course, since it was his speculation, it wasn’t guaranteed to be true. However, when he explained it to Ersha, she seemed quite positive about it.

‘There are sufficient possibilities in this narrative.’

The operational outline Seere had seen was entirely devised and drafted alongside Ersha. Nahun had no reason to contemplate it alone, given that Ersha was his aide.

Nahun reassured Seere.

“So it’s fine. There are enough possibilities in this story.”

Having heard this, Seere’s eyes widened. She questioned in astonishment.

“…Are you saying that if you could use your full power, you could take down that powerful Archangel?”

At Seere’s surprised voice, Nahun slightly smiled.

“I did say that.”

“Pardon?”

“I will protect you no matter what until you reach the pinnacle. If I can’t take down the Archangel, then you won’t be safe, will you?”

Nahun stated.

“So don’t worry. No matter what comes, I’ll bring it down.”

Of course, if the Heavenly Army considered this fact and sent troops excluding the Archangel, they’d have to devise other strategies. But they had also prepared plans for such situations, so there was no issue.

“…”

Seere stared blankly at Nahun for a moment. Unconsciously, she bit down on her lip.

‘…So far away.’

She thought she had caught up quite a bit.

But it seemed she hadn’t at all.

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