Chapter 207

Chapter 207

Taumiel couldn’t help but feel somewhat flustered by Nahun’s reply.

“Does that mean… Taumiel allowed you to be in the Demon World right now?”

“Then, could there be another meaning?”

“That’s nonsense.”

Taumiel dismissed Nahun’s words as frivolous.

“There’s no way Taumiel would allow you to roam around as you please. With his personality, he wouldn’t tolerate you running about…”

“Then I told you to ask.”

However, contrary to Taumiel’s thoughts, Nahun was speaking based on facts. And naturally, he spoke with an incredibly confident demeanor.

“Whether Taumiel indeed did not grant permission.”

Though it wasn’t expressed in his expression, Taumiel was undoubtedly quite flustered. Just seeing him stop talking was proof of that. Nahun saw this as a prime opportunity and pressed Taumiel gently.

“I’m not the one breaking the rules of hell right now. It’s you, who came here to judge me for breaking the rules, who is actually the one breaking them.”

Nahun said.

“I’ll ask one more time, Taumiel.”

At that moment, black mist swirled behind Nahun. Seeing that mist caused Taumiel to momentarily halt.

“Do you really think I’ve broken the rules?”

Though the words were a question, the nuance was practically a threat to answer quickly. But Taumiel couldn’t just argue with Nahun over something like that. It seemed there was a larger issue at hand.

Taumiel pondered for a long while—how much of Nahun’s words could be considered truth, and how much of the story could be trusted. If one were to assume everything Nahun said was true, there would be only one conclusion.

That Taumiel had made some kind of personal contract with him. Evidence backing this assumption lay in the prohibition against calling Nahun’s name and Nahun’s authoritative demeanor.

If that were the case, Taumiel had truly stepped on a landmine. And according to Nahun, it would actually be Taumiel himself who had broken the rules. Sending in a subordinate might have been acceptable, but since Taumiel was acting personally, that changed the equation.

Then Taumiel…

He swallowed hard and had no choice but to choose one way to break through this situation.

“…Whether what you say is true or not, that’s a matter to be judged later.”

“What do you intend to do then?”

“It means I’ll judge based on what has already happened.”

Nahun narrowed his eyes.

“Do you think Taumiel will overlook this?”

“If you properly judge the situation regarding your involvement in the Demon World, Taumiel will acknowledge its validity.”

Nahun sighed inwardly. He had expected Taumiel to calmly return and assess the situation, but instead, he was met with an all-out offensive.

‘Could the pressure have caused him to act in such a way?’

Nahun threw this gamble at Taumiel for two reasons. One was the fact that he truly had some form of a contract with Taumiel that imposed a self-prohibition.

The second reason was that Nahun himself was the strongest being in hell. He thought Taumiel would avoid fighting him, but Taumiel was indicating his refusal to back down.

‘Does that mean Taumiel is that strong?’

It would have been better to confront a fully-powered Taumiel than to face a weakened Nahun trapped by his own prohibitions.

Nahun brushed his hair back.

“That statement…”

Suddenly, his voice changed. Until just before, it had held weight, but it wasn’t this cold.

“You won’t regret this, will you?”

#

The suddenly charged atmosphere made Seere and Celestia, who were watching the situation from the castle walls, feel a chill run down their spines. Seere, who had felt fear from Nahun’s oppressive presence, reacted in a rather unexpected way.

“Heh, what a splendid voice.”

“…?”

Celestia was momentarily taken aback but didn’t pursue it. Their lord found it pleasing, so what was there to question? Though she didn’t quite understand the reasoning behind it.

Nevertheless, the critical situation had not changed. They both had an instinct that a great disaster would occur the moment they clashed.

“Your Majesty, we must intervene, shouldn’t we?”

“How do you propose we do that?”

“But if it continues like this…”

Celestia swallowed her unspoken thoughts, yet Seere was not unaware of what she was trying to convey. She knew Nahun’s power all too well, as well as the power of that great demon, Taumiel.

‘Incredibly strong.’

Until now, she had thought that no matter what opponent came, they would not be a match for Nahun. However, now she was genuinely worried if her teacher could win.

“…If the teacher can use his power like before, it might be okay.”

“Then the entire 41st floor will be in chaos.”

“Even if they fight as it is now, I feel the outcome would be similar.”

Seere hesitated for a moment before speaking to Celestia.

“Captain, contact the 40th floor and summon Ersha Scarlet.”

“The adviser?”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

While she would have liked to take up a sword and dive into the fray herself, Nahun would never allow her, even in her injured state.

Therefore, she had no choice but to either bring in someone capable of replacing her or gather information on that great demon to relay back to Nahun.

And Ersha was the person who could fulfill both requirements. Seere ordered her to be summoned and continued to watch the charged atmosphere.

In response to Nahun’s warning, Taumiel chuckled wryly.

“Do you regret it?”

Taumiel said.

“I’m already regretting it. I wanted to finish this as quickly as possible, and now that I’ve moved personally, it has become a problem. As much as I’d like to avoid conflict with you…”

A dark cloud began to form around Taumiel, similar to Nahun. However, what appeared around Taumiel wasn’t merely clouds but a vast swarm of locusts.

“I have no choice but to make a selection. Will it be to confront Taumiel, or you?”

“You choose to fight me, weakened as I am, rather than a complete Taumiel.”

“Of course, that’s a logical choice.”

Taumiel, like Nahun had done, tore apart the space beside him with magic to draw out his weapon. It was a long sword with only one blade, unlike Nahun’s magical sword.

“It’s been a while since I’ve drawn you.”

The cold and ominous sensation emanating from that sword was even more chilling than the terrifying swarm of locusts he had encountered on his way here. Seere looked at Nahun, feeling tense without realizing it.

“Teacher…”

She wanted to ask if he would be okay. But such worries were unnecessary. Seere, who hadn’t felt fear even when faced with Mephistopheles, was tense now, but Nahun remained completely unfazed.

‘He is indeed threatening.’

His calmness likely stemmed from the many memories he had of Beelzebub that he had forgotten. His body remembered that there was no need to fear his opponent.

And rightly so, Nahun was someone who possessed the power to annihilate hell at will. He feared nothing, yet conversely, all things should fear him.

The apocalypse’s beasts, who possessed enough independence and power to have their own domains, showed loyalty to him that other great demons could not rival.

“Yes, if that’s your thought…”

Thus, Nahun felt no tension as he faced Beelzebub. With eyes colder than ice, he spoke harshly.

“I will engage you.”

“You would do well not to underestimate me.”

The swarm of locusts encircling Taumiel moved in an instant. Their speed was shocking, not even allowing Nahun a moment to cast a spell.

However, Nahun had never intended to use magic from the start.

“Swallow them.”

Kwahjik!!!!

The enormous maw of the white whale instantly engulfed the swarm of locusts. It then swallowed them whole to digest within.

Taumiel chuckled hollowly at the locust swarm that had been devoured without a fight. Then he spoke as he gazed at the three great beasts that emerged from the swirling black mist behind Nahun.

“…You mean to say Taumiel allowed you to carry those beasts with you? That’s laughable.”

Taumiel remarked.

“I cannot trust this.”

However, in contrast to the leviathan that had devoured the locusts in one go, an even greater number of locusts began flying around Taumiel.

“I will see just how much you can swallow.”

“Come forth.”

As Taumiel began to manipulate the locust swarm, Nahun commanded his beasts. Immediately, the other two beasts, besides the leviathan, revealed their forms from the black mist and roared.

─────────────────!!!

The roars of the three beasts resonated throughout the entire floor. Seere’s expression tightened as she felt overwhelmed by the oppressive roar, enough for the locusts to forget Taumiel’s commands and panic.

Yet Taumiel himself showed no change in expression.

“The strength of the beasts remains intact. It seems I’ve become a nuisance.”

Taumiel struck the ground heavily with his sword. His immense magical energy surged like flames, allowing the frightened locust swarm to regain some semblance of order.

“Clear the path.”

“Release your strength.”

Both Taumiel and Nahun commanded their respective forces, and many more locusts than before emerged to rush towards Nahun’s beasts.

While Taumiel’s locusts were horrific creatures that left nothing behind in their wake, the other side consisted of apocalyptic beasts whose strength matched that of great demons. They managed to endure this onslaught barehanded, and even Gize called forth a gigantic wind with magic, massacring the locusts en masse.

However, the locusts continued to swarm in relentless waves, showing no end in sight. If they ignored them, Seere and the Demon King Castle on the 41st floor would be exposed to the locusts.

Nahun observed the situation for a moment and then decided to take action himself.

“Continue to eliminate the locusts and hold them back.”

The beasts obeyed Nahun’s command, and Nahun stepped forward, declaring.

“Come forth, Taumiel.”

“…Very well.”

Taumiel stepped forward too, in response to Nahun.

#

“What’s going on here?”

Just as the two great demons were about to clash, another unexpected visitor arrived on the 41st floor. While the fierce atmosphere between the two demons overshadowed it, the power of this individual couldn’t be ignored by anyone present.

“That figure… must be Seere von Debata’s master?”

In fact, she was someone who could potentially wrap up the situation in an instant. While normally she wouldn’t be able to stop two great demons, there were restrictions in this realm since it was the Demon World.

Even so, there were few beings with such power in the Demon World. Known as the second strongest in this vast Demon World, the Demon King.

Agreas von Dio had come down all alone. As Belzebut had mentioned, she was not intervening, even though Taumiel was rampaging.

She was merely watching the situation with an interested gaze.

“…Indeed, so that’s what Belzebut meant?”

There was a good reason for her to think so. Based on Agreas’s half-formed suspicion, at this moment there were not just one, but two great demons present.

Despite the restrictions in place, stopping one would be quite a difficult task, let alone two. Thus, instead of involving herself, she chose to observe the situation unfolding. Once the outcome had been decided, she planned to eliminate the remaining side to conclude the matter.

“Shall I take a look at how the great ones fight…”

The moment Agreas intended to act as a bystander, she was suddenly startled. Nahun’s gaze, far away, had met hers instantaneously.

“…Ha ha? What? You noticed me?”

Agreas had been enhancing her vision with magic from a considerable distance to watch the situation without being detected. It was astonishing that Nahun managed to pinpoint her location and lock eyes with her in that instant.

“Who on earth are you?”

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