Chapter 262
Kamael did not take lightly the fact that Dobiel and Jeruel had perished in the Demon World. No matter how isolated they had been, each of them were exceptionally skilled among angels… especially Jeruel, who was notable enough to stand alongside Uriel among ordinary angels.
The fact that such beings had perished without sending any news was clear evidence that something was amiss in the Demon World.
“It must be related to those who crossed over into the human world this time.”
In order to grasp the nature of the formidable enemy in the Demon World, Kamael decided to act cautiously. Not long ago, he had gone to meet Haniel, who had informed Metatron of the passage between the Demon World and the human world.
Arriving at the seventh Sephira, Necho, Kamael cleared his throat and spoke.
“Haniel? Do you have a moment?”
The residence of Haniel, the ruler of Necho, was an unusual castle filled with shades of pink and adorned with heart-shaped decorations. It felt somewhat peculiar and might even appear childish depending on one’s perspective, but considering that she was the angel of love and beauty, it was not so strange.
Haniel, who had been silent at Kamael’s call, finally replied after he patiently waited.
“…If you’ve come at Metatron’s request, then you can leave. I can’t tolerate that foolishness any longer.”
“That’s not the case.”
“Then what is it?”
Haniel stepped out of the castle with an haughty gait, her demeanor radiating coldness.
“You only indulge her, making it impossible for her to break free.”
“It’s not that I indulge her; I simply let her do what she wants.”
“That’s the problem. Given the circumstances, the person who should lead us is trapped in a delusion…”
“Stop. I didn’t come here to discuss that. Can you listen to me without jumping to conclusions?”
As Kamael spoke with a hearty laugh, Haniel found it difficult to retort further, for it is said one cannot spit on a smiling face.
“…What is it?”
“I dispatched Jeruel to the Demon World this time, but he hasn’t returned.”
“Jeruel?”
That was astonishing news. Jeruel possessed strength greater than some archangels. He was an angel born symbolizing ‘power’ and wielded the divine spear, Vajra.
“Is he in some sort of trouble?”
“If that were the case, I wouldn’t be here. It’s been weeks since I last heard from him. We have to assume he’s dead.”
“…I see.”
“That’s why I wanted to bring up what you had informed Metatron about earlier. There were indications of traces being discovered in the Demon World leading to the human world.”
“Yes. But that was the last I heard. There haven’t been any further reports since then.”
Haniel was able to relay that information to Metatron because anomalies detected at various portals were communicated to her by the angels stationed in the human world.
However, they were unaware that the leader of the faithful serving Metatron was deceiving the angels and collaborating with someone in the Demon World. Consequently, there had been no further reports from the Holy Kingdom, and Haniel could not ascertain whether that portal had been used afterward.
“Do you know the exact location?”
“…Kamael, are you perhaps planning to descend yourself?”
“Dobiel and Jeruel were both caught off-guard. I need to check it out myself. Of course, I don’t intend to go alone.”
Kamael stated.
“I’ll take some reliable companions with me, so don’t worry.”
“Who’s worrying about you? My concern is for the human realm.”
“I won’t cause a ruckus.”
There was a reason why Haniel worried about the human realm. The fifth Sephira, Geburah, symbolized ‘the power of God’. The ruler there, who was born embodying ‘power’, was the archangel whom Jeruel had willingly served…
“It’s just a simple investigation.”
The archangel of destruction, Kamael. The second strongest archangel after Sandalphon and Mikael.
—
In a secluded village near a quiet forest in the Holy Kingdom.
It was a desolate hamlet with only a few abandoned houses, hardly worthy of being called a village. Yet, surprisingly, a considerable number of people were bustling about from early morning.
“Dein, is the area there all set?”
“Ah, yes. It’s done. Eri should also finish up soon.”
“Perfect, this area is also all done.”
It was Dein and Eri, along with Ersha and members of her bloodline, working to create a hub for supplying art to the Demon World.
Ersha looked at the neatly organized warehouse as she spoke.
“Great job, you both worked hard. Please write a letter in your stylish script. It will be sent to the art shop, stating that the products should be distributed from here.”
“Understood.”
“Sure thing.”
Dein and Eri began drafting the letter at Ersha’s request, while Ersha stepped outside the warehouse to inspect other areas. The areas that Dein and Eri had arranged were just the first warehouse. They were also working on creating second and third warehouses through renovations, while the abandoned houses were to be remodeled for trading offices, document storage, and so forth.
“Indeed, being connected to the human rulers makes this quite convenient.”
Ersha thought back to her first experiences creating the Moon’s sanctuary after being expelled from the Demon World. Back then, she and the initial members of her bloodline had to build a sanctuary from nothing amidst the forests.
Now, however, a couple of letters could provide them with a rare and usable site, allowing them to even trade with humans.
“Such aspects of Lord Nahun are truly admirable for a young girl to emulate.”
As a demon, Ersha inherently felt a certain aversion to humans. Even while living in the human realm, she never considered engaging with them to achieve something.
Yet Nahun, a great demon lord, sought to associate with mere mortals despite the disparity in their status. Although it was mostly for use, it was still a marvelous sight to see a being of such caliber conducting transactions with mere mortals.
‘Could it be a change in personality?’
As she recalled the image of Nahun from a time long past, Ersha involuntarily broke into a light sweat.
“Still gives me the creeps. Perhaps it’s because I saw him recently…”
To shake off her thoughts about Nahun’s true form, Ersha turned her gaze to watch the ongoing dimensional work. Suddenly she lifted her head. Her gaze reached the vast sky.
The sky was thickly clouded today. It was a sky filled with numerous white clouds. Though it was a peaceful, serene, and cozy scene, Ersha felt a pang of unease.
“What is that…?”
Something was emerging from the clouds far above, not directly overhead. It was visible not only to Ersha but also to the bloodline members working on the dimensional task and to Dein and Eri, who had just stepped outside.
A massive wing revealed itself between the white clouds. Four pairs of immense, pure white wings, and the being that owned those mighty wings radiated divinity. Just by looking, one could sense the majesty of the presence.
While Dein and Eri watched curiously, the bloodline members stood frozen in shock.
“…An archangel?”
There was no other being that possessed eight wings and exuded such divine essence. While they could not ascertain which archangel had descended, the sudden arrival of an archangel sent the bloodline into an uproar.
“Lady, it would be wise for you to return to the Demon World at once!”
“Indeed, this doesn’t feel right. Why would an archangel suddenly come directly into the human realm…?”
Ersha’s judgment was not particularly different. There was no specific reason for an archangel to personally descend into the human realm. It wasn’t as if the Heavenly War was occurring now, nor was there any unusual disturbance in the human realm.
Yet the sudden descent of an archangel…
“…Dein, Eri!”
“Yes?”
“What is it?”
“Hurry back to the Demon World and report this to Lord Nahun. I will stay here to tidy up and hide for a while with the bloodline in the sanctuary.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll take the portal back and head straight to Lord Nahun.”
“No.”
Ersha shook her head.
“Instead of using the portal we usually utilize, let’s take a different one. You two should be able to handle any guarding forces.”
“True, but that means it’ll take longer. The report to Lord Nahun will be delayed.”
“We need to eliminate all potential risk factors without knowing why that archangel has descended. They might have confirmed our presence here.”
Upon hearing Ersha’s reasoning, Dein and Eri nodded in agreement. With that justification, they had no reason not to comply.
“Understood, we’ll do it that way.”
“And please be careful, adviser.”
“Certainly. Let’s get moving.”
As Dein and Eri set off, Ersha called for all the bloodline members who were engaged in the dimensional work to stop their tasks.
“Let’s return to the sanctuary. I’ll stay behind for a moment to observe the movements of the archangel.”
“You should also go with us, Lady.”
“Correct. It’s dangerous to remain without Lord Nahun present.”
“It’s all right. You all go ahead.”
Ersha spoke softly, then shifted her tone to one of authority.
“This is an order.”
“…Understood.”
One by one, the bloodline members began to depart. Ersha confirmed their exit and looked up at the sky. The archangel, now fully visible, glided through the air.
At that moment, the archangel’s wings moved powerfully. And the direction of their flight was…
“…!?”
It was not towards where Ersha was. The immense divine presence passed overhead. Ersha turned her attention to see where it was heading.
“Towards the portal….”
Ersha’s prediction was proven correct. It was headed in the direction of the portal that she, as well as Dein and Eri, had used to come over.
“…It could be tracked back.”
There was a possibility that they could trace the one who used the portal. While the trace might be minimal for humans like Dein and Eri, as an entity of magic power, Ersha had a significant chance of being detected.
Even though she had regained some of her strength, in her current state, she could not contend with an archangel. Ersha decided she needed to leave as quickly as possible while erasing all traces of other bloodline members in this area.
‘It would be dangerous to return to the sanctuary like this.’
As she contemplated how best to remain hidden for a while longer, she felt another surge of immense divine presence.
“…”
Ersha gently turned her head. Slowly raising her gaze, she met the eyes of someone watching from above.
“It’s you.”
—
A figure with red hair and crimson eyes, better described as passionate, symbolized one archangel. The name that came to mind when thinking of destruction, the martial strength of the heavens, immediately called forth Mikael along with him.
‘Kamael…!’
Realizing his true identity, Ersha gave up on fighting. There was no way she could survive an encounter with him through combat.
Furthermore, considering he had flown directly from the portal to this location, he was definitely tracking the traces she had left behind.
Thus, Ersha moved calmly. She bent slightly at the waist, appearing to bow before the archangel gazing down at her.
“…What brings you, great archangel, to descend to such a place alone?”
“Surely you’re not asking out of genuine curiosity?”
“My humble mind cannot fathom the intentions of a great one. I’m simply comprised of questions as to why you would visit in person.”
“I already know that you have crossed between the Demon World and the human realm via the portal.”
Kamael inquired.
“Who commanded you to do that? If you reveal who is behind you, I will spare your life.”
Kamael had already judged that Ersha was not the instigator. Although she appeared to hold a considerable status for a demon, her strength was not enough to challenge Jeruel. This meant that there was indeed another mastermind involved.
While he asked, Ersha maintained a respectful demeanor and replied.
“With all due respect, I am of the bloodline. I live in the human realm. While I have indeed used the portal to visit the Demon World recently, I find it difficult to comprehend that someone issued a command to me.”
Ersha spoke.
“The one who can command me, the progenitor of the bloodline, does not exist.”
“…The progenitor of the bloodline? You are Ersha Scarlet?”
“You know my name.”
“How could I not? You’ve caused quite a stir in the Demon World.”
“……”
“What was it again?”
Kamael pondered briefly before recalling and speaking.
“Oh, was it the slaying of the first Demon King?”
Ersha stifled her anger inwardly at the mention of that. By bringing it up, he clearly intended to provoke her.
Still, Ersha remained resolute. As she continued her polite demeanor, Kamael smiled slightly.
“Is that why you feel weaker? Did you lose your powers upon being expelled?”
Though Ersha did not directly respond, her silence was confirmation enough. Listening to her words, Kamael fell into a brief contemplation.
‘It may not be true, but there is a possibility it is.’
Truth and lies. Both sides were plausible stories. If Ersha’s statement were true, it meant that Jeruel’s death was linked to another mastermind, separate from this incident.
If Jeruel, Dobiel, and Mikael were all taken down by a completely unrelated mastermind…
“…That would complicate matters further.”
“Is there anything else the girl wishes to convey?”
“Let’s verify first.”
“Verify what…?”
“I sensed some demons nearby, so I asked the children to bring them here.”
“……!”
Ersha quickly realized whom Kamael referred to. It was about the members of the bloodline she had hastily sent away moments ago. However, there was something even more shocking.
‘If it’s the children he speaks of….’
If Kamael referred to them so affectionately, it was undoubtedly them.
“Kamael, we’ve brought them.”
“We’ve dealt with those resisting.”
“It shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Three angels soon approached. Two of them bore two wings each but one angel displayed four wings.
They brought the members of the bloodline Ersha had evacuated earlier. While one could say they had ‘brought them’, the truth was their condition wasn’t exactly intact.
“Oh? What’s this demon here?”
“Don’t touch her, Casiel. She’s someone we have many questions for.”
“Ah, right.”
The two-winged angel called Casiel took a step back. Then, Kamael commanded another angel who also had two wings.
“Ramiel, from now on, if this one doesn’t answer properly, deal with one at a time.”
“Yes.” “Ersha Scarlet.”
At Kamael’s call, Ersha lifted her head. Seeing her still maintaining her composure, Kamael chuckled.
“What were you planning to do with these people?”
“I was going to create a place for trade with humans.”
“Trade? For what?”
“For various goods. The girl and her bloodline have a penchant for luxury, so we were quite tempted by the luxury items of the humans.”
“Did you plan to seize them?”
“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have been building something like this; I could have just raided a human city.”
“So… did you truly act independently to traverse between the Demon World and the human realm?”
“Yes.”
Upon that straightforward reply from Ersha, Kamael nodded. Then Ramiel unleashed bolts of lightning upon one of the bloodline members, incinerating them.
“…Why would you do something like that?”
“Because you’re lying.”
The truth was that Kamael had no way of knowing if Ersha was telling the truth or fabricating lies. Nevertheless, his statements were merely a gamble.
Should it be confirmed that the mastermind lay behind Ersha, it would simplify things, and it would also make it easier to pinpoint the real culprit.
“How could a girl like me lie in front of a great archangel like you?”
“A demon does not have any innocent reasons for telling the truth to an archangel.”
“That would be the case for an ordinary demon, yes. But as you know, I am a dislodged being from the Demon World. Differently from other demons, I have acclimated to living in the human realm, so how could I tell a lie to the archangel overseeing the human realm?”
“Well, that’s….”
Kamael responded.
“You’ll know if you ask that sincere voice of yours.”
After concluding this statement, another member of the bloodline lost their life. Although Ersha didn’t particularly care about the fate of each bloodline member, witnessing their deaths right in front of her was unsettling.
However.
“I have nothing more to say. I have truly revealed everything I know; there’s no way I could fabricate lies.”
Ersha held her ground. Such a seemingly heartless stance from her was merely understood by the bloodline because she was their progenitor, and they accepted their fates.
As it went on, Ersha continued to maintain her demeanor even as each member of the bloodline lost their life, and Kamael had reached a point where he could no longer discern whether her words were truth or deception.
“…Cunning. Usually, by this point, one would at least concoct some sort of lie.”
“Wouldn’t that be the very definition of blasphemy to tell a great archangel untruths?”
“Cold-hearted, aren’t you?”
Kamael remarked.
“I’ll trust your words. But….”
Kamael raised a massive double-headed axe. Ersha flinched in terror at the sight of it, an object that he had drawn without her noticing.
“I cannot simply overlook the presence of a vile being like you in the human realm.”
“I have conveyed everything I know. I have not inflicted any harm upon the human realm. So why…?”
“It is only natural to eradicate demons that invade the human realm. If you had remained unnoticed, that might suffice. But having been seen by my own eyes…”
Kamael spoke coldly.
“How could I simply let it go?”
Flames ignited upon Kamael’s double-headed axe. Ersha widened her eyes but quickly realized there was nothing she could do. Even now, it would be hard for her to flee, let alone confront him, especially with three of his subordinates around.
“……”
Ersha closed her eyes slightly. Then she murmured.
“…May you fulfill your dreams, great one.”
Kamael swung his axe. The sacred flames engulfed the axe as it descended toward Ersha’s head.
However, something felt off. Instead of cleaving her skull, a dull sound echoed as if something heavy had struck.
Casiel, Ramiel, and the four-winged Barachiel all exhibited confusion. And the person in question, Kamael, spoke with realization.
“…I see.”
He seemed to have come to a conclusion.
“Indeed, there was a backup plan.”
The blazing holy flames instantly extinguished. Beneath the raised flames, a blade stained black emerged, perfectly blocking Ersha’s attack.
“Are you hurt?”
“…….”
Ersha looked at him with wide, astonished eyes. How could he possibly have arrived here so quickly? Even if Dein and Eri had rushed to inform, he shouldn’t have reached this place so fast.
And yet, he was here. He had saved Ersha’s life, which she thought was lost for certain. Gazing at him with wide-open eyes, Ersha cautiously spoke his name.
“Nahun… Lord….”
