Chapter 210
A place directly connected to the Demon World from Hell, the Burning Gate. Here, the gatekeeper of the underworld, Charon, always stood guard.
“Hmm?”
However, today, Charon noticed something unusual. From the Demon World side, the door opened, and it was not the master of the first floor but Agreas von Dio, the master of the second floor, who made an appearance.
“Agreas von Dio. What brings you here?”
“Oh, I was just going to throw this and leave, so don’t mind me.”
“What do you mean?”
Ignoring Charon’s question, Agreas did what they had to do. They tossed Taumiel’s body—still in a state as if the neck were broken and the heart pierced—beyond the gate.
Charon recognized Taumiel and gasped, shouting.
“T-Ta, Taumiel!? What in the world have you done, Agreas von Dio!”
“I don’t know what you’re misunderstanding, but I didn’t do it. And if I had done this… they would already be dead.”
“Hmm…?”
As she said, despite the broken neck and pierced heart, Taumiel was still alive. The fact that they were alive in such a state indicated that it was not Agreas who had done this but rather someone else.
“Don’t tell me….”
Only a demon of the same rank as the great demon could exterminate another great demon. Charon looked at Agreas in disbelief, but without giving a clear explanation, Agreas returned to the Demon World.
Before long, a messenger arrived at the Burning Gate.
“Charon, has Taumiel perhaps come by here?”
Taumiel, who had been tossed before Charon. The messenger who had come to collect them was a woman with long ash-blue hair. It was none other than….
“…Here they are.”
“Oh, thank you. Our master specifically requested to bring them back.”
She was Lethe, one of the most powerful subordinates of Taumiel, the guardian of the first Kliroft and the head of Hell. Lethe briefly glanced at the barely-recognizable Taumiel before letting out a soft chuckle.
“You don’t look good at all.”
“I don’t know who did this, but Agreas von Dio brought them here.”
“Oh, that’s fine. I know who did it.”
“Excuse?”
“It’s not something Charon needs to know.”
With that line, Charon felt uneasy but did not press further. Lethe lightly lifted Taumiel and greeted Charon.
“Don’t dwell on this, Charon. Our master doesn’t want that.”
“…Understood.”
With Lethe’s message, Charon lowered their head. It was nothing more than a warning from Taumiel to mind his own role as a gatekeeper and not to involve himself in unnecessary matters. That also meant…
‘…The great one has descended into the Demon World?’
That assumption was confirmed. Although the contract began in secrecy, Nahun’s activities were gradually revealing its true nature to the world.
#
After retrieving Taumiel, Lethe headed straight to the end of Hell. It was the Kliroft, where Taumiel, the great demon and guardian of evil’s tree, resided at the very bottom.
Upon returning, Lethe headed directly to the massive palace. The great demon who presided over Hell was obsessively attached to power and authority, relishing in displaying it.
Therefore, the scale of where he resided was of immense proportions. Lethe stepped into a palace that could be compared to Nehemot’s kingdom, heading straight to the exact location of her master within this vast structure.
“Master.”
Lethe knelt and lowered her head. Beside the one she bowed to was Gamaliel, dressed in sultry attire and coquetting. She frowned upon Lethe’s entrance.
“Can’t you see I’m busy playing?”
“I called for you.”
“What?”
Gamaliel stared at him in disbelief, but without showing any change in expression, he addressed her.
“I’ll overlook your rudeness for previously meeting ‘him’ on your own accord.”
“…Ha, you knew?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
Gamaliel pursed her lips and rose from her seat. It was evident she was in a foul mood, but this arrogant great demon showed no reaction until she left.
As soon as she departed, the master eagerly asked Lethe.
“Have you brought them?”
“Yes, here they are.”
Lethe placed the barely recognizable Taumiel before him. Seeing Taumiel in such a pitiful state, the master of the palace let out a light laugh. However, that laughter did not feel pleasant; it was a sneer filled with rage.
“Truly a sad sight.”
“What shall we do?”
“It seems they have already suffered greatly, but daring to disregard my rules and cross into the Demon World without permission still requires punishment.”
This was not an inferior demon, but a fellow great demon who had carelessly ignored the rules, and he spoke with an arrogance that was outrageous. He commanded Lethe.
“Throw them into the Flame Prison.”
“Understood.”
The Flame Prison. It was a term referring to the fire hell located at the bottom of Taumiel in Kliroft. Anyone thrown there would experience infinite pain from the endlessly burning flames. Even if the body was consumed by fire, the soul would continue to burn, unable to escape from torment unless someone rescued them.
The master of this place, who commanded that a fellow great demon be thrown into such a place, did not forgive those who challenged his authority, regardless of whether it was another great demon or not.
Lethe, regretting Taumiel’s fate internally, began her task of carrying them away.
“Impressive.”
He was considered the noblest and greatest being in Hell, giving out such punishment to those who were his equals and seeing it as natural.
This was because he was the absolute power in Hell, and the rules of Hell were also created by his hand.
This was in complete contrast to the image of Metatron, the archangel coordinating with other archangels to govern the Heavens.
“Even if you strip him of so much power, he still easily handles someone like Beelzebub.”
The only great demon equivalent to Metatron, one of the most magnificent great demons of Hell, representing the entirety of Hell and also called the “Heaven’s God.”
This great demon, symbolizing both pride and wrath, was known as….
“How interesting.”
Satan, or Lucifer.
#
After concluding the war with the Forty-First Floor Alliance, things that occurred on the Forty-First Floor were also gradually being organized and settled.
Right after finishing matters on the Forty-First Floor, Nahun had been continually engaged in related work, while Seere had recovered from the sickbed and returned to duty.
Nahun stamped documents and stretched. Then he trembled at the sight of piles still stacked on one side of the desk.
“…Never-ending.”
“Of course, it’s the result of conquering from the Forty-Fourth to the Fortieth Floor all at once.”
His aide, Ersha, was also struggling with the mountain of paperwork. Given that five layers had been conquered through war, it was unavoidable. Moreover, the vacant Forty-Fifth Floor was absorbed beneath Seere.
The laws and regulations of the newly conquered layers had to be aligned with the existing Debata faction, and many various issues and resolutions arising in that process were appearing in paperwork.
“We may have this much, but Seere will have even more.”
“That’s the fate of a ruler.”
To rule and govern someone meant that one could not be negligent with such work. Nahun, thinking the term “ruler’s fate” was apt, rose from his seat.
“Where are you going?”
“… I thought I might encourage our hard-working ruler.”
“But we have all this work too…?”
“Sending simple administrative tasks to Cain will lighten our load significantly.”
“To the person who is already busy moving in?”
Having conquered up to the Fortieth Floor, they needed to move their base from the Demon King Castle on the Fiftieth Floor. Thus, the steward, Cain, was handling that job.
After a moment of silence, Nahun looked at Ersha and said.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“…I sincerely apologize, but I cannot accept any requests at this time. Please stay, Nahun.”
“I can’t even see the words on the paper anymore!”
“That’s the same for you too!”
In the midst of the fierce standoff between Nahun, who was trying to escape, and Ersha, who was trying to catch him, a knock was heard on the office door.
“Teacher, are you there?”
“Seere?”
With a creak, the door opened, and Seere appeared. Both of them were puzzled by how she, likely overwhelmed with work like them, had come to visit.
The moment Seere entered the office, she saw the mountain of paperwork on the desk and grimaced.
“Oh, there are so many here too.”
“You must be busy too, what brings you here?”
“I thought I would rest a bit. I can’t possibly finish everything today.”
Saying that, Seere urged Nahun and Ersha to take a break. The news was like raindrops in a dry sky, and Ersha immediately threw her paperwork down, and Nahun couldn’t help but smile.
“Are you really that happy?”
“It has reached the point where I can’t even see the letters now.”
“Even for a great demon, things like this are hard work.”
“Of course….”
Seere lightly laughed and said to Nahun.
“Shall we take a short walk?”
“That’s a good idea. Shall we go right away?”
“Yes.”
Seere led Nahun out of the office. Before heading to the garden, she turned toward her room.
“Seere? Why here…?”
“I’m going to change clothes.”
“Huh?”
Not really intending just to change clothes, Seere went into her room, leaving Nahun standing outside awkwardly waiting for her.
“Teacher.”
After a short while, when Seere came out, Nahun couldn’t help but let out an admiring voice. Seere was wearing a dress quite different from her usual outfit. Though the color was the same, it had plentiful lace, making it appear much more voluminous.
Her long, pure white hair was tied up in a single braid, revealing her neck and earlobes, which had been hidden behind her long hair and made her look quite attractive.
“What do you think?”
“Um… you look really pretty.”
“Hehe, really?”
Seere approached Nahun, smiling joyfully, and linked her arms with him. Curious, Nahun couldn’t help but ask.
“Was it necessary to change clothes just for a short walk?”
“I just wanted to feel good. Do you dislike it?”
“How could I? I like it….”
“Then that’s all that matters.”
Seere smiled brightly as she looked up at Nahun.
“Now, let’s go.”
“Alright.”
With the beautifully dressed Seere, Nahun stepped into the garden. The weather was clear and pleasant, and it would be a waste to spend such a day buried under a mountain of paperwork in the office.
“Teacher.”
“Yes?”
“Do you remember?”
“What about?”
When Nahun inquired, Seere closed her mouth and smiled slightly. She then pressed herself close to Nahun’s arm.
“Seere?”
Thanks to this, Nahun’s arm pressed against Seere’s chest, feeling a soft touch. When Nahun became slightly flustered, Seere smiled bashfully and looked up at him.
“There’s still punishment left.”
“…Huh?”
“Don’t tell me you forgot? I definitely mentioned it back then.”
Seere pressed her chest even closer. It now felt as if his arm was completely enveloped. Her gaze began to exude a slightly lustful atmosphere, and her cheeks flushed a pretty pink hue. In the midst of Nahun’s fluster, Seere recited once more what she had said before.
