Side Story Chapter 179
On their way back to the council chamber from the Palace’s underground floor, Lilith whispered, ‘You’re warm-hearted.’ She meant it.
-...No need to talk me up. The Demon Spirit’s body getting loose would be a problem. All my efforts up to now would be for nothing...
‘Yeah, yeah, sure. Are you embarrassed? You’re surprisingly cute.’ This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
-...I’m married.
‘What? I wasn’t planning on hitting on a married man, you know. I’m giving my honest opinion.’
Joshua didn’t reply, but Lilith was undeterred.
‘I have a question. What are you going to do when you regain your body? You’re really going to be Joshua Sander again, not a soul in Lilith Aphrodite.’
-...Well, I haven’t thought about the future that specifically...
Some time ago, Joshua had said that he wished to bequeath his throne and retire when the time came, and spend the rest of his life in peace with his people, but he couldn’t be further from that dream right now.
‘By that time, the Demon Spirit and demons will be gone, and Igrant is also going to be at peace, right?’ Lilith asked, echoing the sentiments of everyone.
Both Joshua and Lilith knew that that was impossible. Human greed was endless. Neither the history nor the present state of the continent could be explained with the word “war”. Would that change in the future? No, it was never going to change. Even if Marcus ben Britten died again, someone like Grand Duke Lucifer, Zactor, or Bel would rear their ugly head again somewhere on the continent.
History would repeat, endlessly. Even if there came a day when a country unified the continent, there would always be power struggles within or people fighting for independence like the Thran Kingdom.
-One thing is clear.
‘What’s that?’ Lilith asked.
-Even if I do retire, I’ll show up with my spear at the ready wherever and whenever someone threatens my people.
‘...Hearing that makes me feel really safe. You truly are a kind man.’
They were now completely out of the underground floor, but Joshua’s steps only quickened as he trod down the long hallway that led to the council chamber.
‘Why are you suddenly running...?’ Lilith asked.
-We have a problem.
Joshua shared what he was detecting now, allowing Lilith to sense it too. The entire council chamber was ominously roiling with demonic power, and someone’s murderous energy was shaking it to its foundations.
‘What in the world...?’
Joshua kicked the doors without stopping, blowing them straight off their hinges. When the dust settled, Joshua saw Cain, his golden aura violently pulsing as he furiously drove a man into the corner.
After overcoming his limits, Cain was peerless among humans, but his opponent was blocking all of Cain’s attacks with one hand. His opponent was the strongest demon in the Demon Realm, second only to the Shining Darkness, and was the one and only Grand Duke of the Demon Realm.
“Altheon Deos,” Joshua said.
Altheon froze and rapidly retreated far backward.
Icarus looked up with her face covered in tears and wept, “Our Avalon... and me... For an idiot like me...”
Although Icarus wasn’t speaking coherently, Joshua could understand what she was trying to say.
Joshua’s energy ripped through the chamber in a furious wave.
As Altheon had turned the room into the Demon Realm, the entire floor was pitch black. The gravity was ten times heavier than usual; ordinary people would have trouble merely breathing. In addition, the air was filled with demonic power, not mana, so even knights and mages weren’t able to use their full power in this kind of place.
However, one singular person in the world was an exception to these restrictions. His name was Joshua Sanders, the Martial God of the Igrant, and the strongest being in the entire history of the Demon Realm. Gravity couldn’t weigh him down, and the air didn’t react to him.
“Altheon Deos,” Joshua repeated.
-...Long time no see, sir. I doubted my eyes for a moment. I can’t believe it’s you... Well, it changes nothing.
Altheon raised his hands and quietly adjusted his glasses.
-The strongest demon—unofficially—the one and only Grand Duke of all demons, the owner of Pride, the god slayer... That was you, Shining Darkness, but I’ll take those titles too.
Altheon slowly grinned.
-I am the strongest demon, as recognized by all demons. After your disappearance, I’ve become Grand Duke of all demons and obtained the power of Pride, the strongest Evil Sin. All that remains now is the title of god slayer. The Demon Spirit and all the other gods are no more, so it has sadly been impossible to fulfill that dream... until you appeared.
By that point, Altheon was smiling from ear to ear.
-There are no gods, but a god slayer that killed another god slayer wouldn’t be so bad either.
Altheon let his demonic power rampage forth. Pride helped Altheon with its overwhelming power, compelling even the other demons to bow.
-Pride...
-A mere human brings such a look to your face, I see... You’ve changed a lot. You didn’t use to be like that.
“I don’t think my fanboy gets to say that,” Joshua said, finally breaking his silence.
-You!
The air around Altheon immediately changed.
“Altheon Deos, you won’t die a peaceful death,” Joshua muttered under his breath.
Longin trembled in response to Joshua’s emotions.
The good memories Joshua had with Ulabis flashed across his mind. Revenge begets revenge; meaningless. That was what Joshua had said, but it was different now. Although harboring anger against Joshua himself was fine, it shouldn’t affect the people around him. If someone crossed the line...
“...I’ll crush you so hard that you’ll beg me to kill you instead. Your servants, your family ... Everyone who trusts and relies on you shall be eradicated.”
The three demons staggered. They had already heard that dragons could kill a living being with their will alone, and the Demon Spirit and certain very powerful demons with special abilities were capable of it, but that was limited to ordinary life forms with weak resolve. However, the power in Joshua’s voice sent a shiver down their spines.
“...I’ll show you why I reigned as the strongest being in the Demon Realm,” Joshua warned the demons.
