“Huh?” Ash inquired incredulously as he tried to decipher Berber's words.
“You should be able to understand; after all, you’re my old friend, Eleburs—”
“Don’t say nonsense!” Ash angrily yelled back. “What you’ve done is no different than killing your own child twice. Who would be able to understand?”
“An elf talking about fatherly love? Hahaha.... How funny.”
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Berber’s eyes gleamed. “Elenburs, you must have a dream as well.”
“Don't give me that hogwash. Where the hell is the root of the World Tree?”
“A community that finally sees the light and learns to coexist with its fellow human beings again.”
Ash’s spewing rage was suddenly cut off.
“That's what you wanted, right?”
“What is the point of bringing that up?!”
“We are the same.”
“...!” Ash’s eyes widened a bit.
“You and I, aren’t we in the same position? Both damaged beyond repair by people's ridiculous ambition and now fed up.”
“....”
“Their lust degraded your people to merely objects to sate their lust, and their greed turned me into the monster that I am right now,” Berber spoke in a low voice.
“....”
“You know, I couldn’t help but think, why should I, a blameless innocent, be punished for their filthy lust?”
“That’s—”
“That’s because I wasn’t strong enough,” Berber snarled. “No talent, no status, and no power. I was just average. I didn’t have the power to defeat and crush them. I needed power that no one would dare underestimate me; become someone so powerful that they wouldn’t even dare to covet my power!”
“....”
“I asked myself how I could get the power that I needed. I wondered whether I should organize a coup d'état and sit at the top of the human world. Or whether I should cross the Class 8 wall and beyond, which the mages only know as myth and legend.”
Berber shook his head slightly.
“All of it was too hard,” he quietly murmured. “Not only was it unlikely, but I didn’t know how long it would take. Then I thought of a faster and easier approach than that.”
“No way...” Ash’s mouth dropped as he guessed the rest.
“I realized there was a group of monsters that uses the desires of the people as a source of their power—the Demon Kings with the power of evil sins.”
“You—”
“Why? Isn’t this a reason to rejoice? Think of the pleasure that you would feel by using that desire to fuel your revenge!”
“You’re crazy. You really sold your soul to the devil, then?”
Theta, who was off to one side silently listening, seemed confused. If they were talking about the difficulties they faced, then both Berber and himself were in the same predicament. But, of course, it had never occurred to Theta to sign a contract with demons.
“An ordinary person would never be able to understand... But Elenbrs, you would—”
“What was the reason you turned your daughter into a lich?”
The soft tone of Ash’s speech made Berber grin slightly.
“Manpower is another kind of power. But I had no need for humans who regularly betray others. I needed an army that would listen to me and only me.”
- If it is your power, it would not only upset the status quo, but it will also bring monumental change to the Demon Realm.
“....”
- Hehehe, how fun. The Demon Realm has been so dull for so long, and now a fresh breeze will blow in.
Joshua’s mouth slowly opened. “... Let me ask you something. What exactly are you here for?”
- What am I here for... As I stated before—
“What. Something like ‘regain the glory of the past’? That’s a load of bullshit. You’re Asmodeus, the greediest demon.”
There was an unsettling silence before Asmodeus burst into laughter.
- Hahahahaha... As I thought...
“Answer me.”
- Please don’t be too impatient.
Asmodeus's tone abruptly became respectful.
- I’ve waited for such a long time, I don’t even remember if it’s hundreds or thousands of years. Compared to that, this is just a fleeting moment. You should savor this moment.
“....”
- Besides, don't you have a lot of other things to do?
Asmodeus laughed softly when Joshua remained silent.
- Hahaha! Let’s take this a bit slower; take our time a bit. I will be patiently waiting for you on the top of the hill where the black moon rises. So, do whatever you must do, for you were once the most revered light and the ‘Sole Darkness.’
“Light... and Sole Darkness?” Iceline wondered.
At that moment, there was a surge of demonic power, making their eyes widen. The place was quickly engulfed in total darkness.
“What is this?”
- This is my last gift to you.
“...!”
- I will anxiously await our next encounter.
With those parting words, Asmodeus vanished entirely.
Ash, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up.
“...The Seal of Contract” he whispered.
Theta and Iceline's eyes widened.
Out of the darkness, a pattern began to emerge on the floor. It was in the pattern of a crown, and its deep crimson color and sinister feel suggested it was painted with blood.
The Seal Contract, otherwise known as the demons’ seal.
“Step back,” Ash ordered.
Theta and Iceline stared at him, still as statues.
“HURRY!”
They scurried away, but a single person was walking towards the center.
Step.
“Wh-What are you doing?” Ash yelled when he noticed Joshua. “That pattern represents a deal with the demons, and no one can predict what type of creature would show up and take interest in you.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Joshua cut him off. “Even if the Eight Demon King with the power of Evil Sin comes out... It won’t be me that gets destroyed in the end”
Joshua's faint voice was the only thing that could be heard in the room. He took a few steps toward the pattern
Whooooooong!
It resonated through the floor as though something underneath had been waiting for it, and the symbol slowly started to float upwards.