Chapter 787

Kyubel teleported triumphantly to the Demon King's castle, entrusting Oldo with reporting to the Demon King and Shinorum with cleaning up the research facility as he moved elsewhere.

"This ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????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Lord Kyubel!"

"So? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Was the seal properly done?"

"Of ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????course, we've guarded it perfectly."

Two ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????demon gods stood as gatekeepers before an imposing door. Unlike the research facilities for collective intelligence or avatars, it seemed even Kyubel, as a strategist, could not teleport directly inside the building. The gatekeepers were demon gods—just how many things were imprisoned beyond this point?

"Mm-hmm, ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????as expected of my direct subordinates. May I go inside?"

"Of ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????course. Please, go right ahead!"

Gogogogogo!

As the two demon gods each placed a hand on the door, geometric characters filled the entire ten-meter-tall door with magical energy. It swung open like an automatic door, and Kyubel briskly entered, leaving the gatekeepers behind.

Tap, tap, tap.

Kyubel's footsteps echoed through the silent hallway.

He proceeded unerringly through the maze-like corridor. On both sides of the passage were numerous doors, all sealed with locks far more elaborate than the one used on Vasc. This section of the Demon King's castle was known as the "Chamber of Seals" or the "Infinite Prison," a place for confining troublesome magical beasts, demon gods, or captured humans. Rumor had it there was even a "Sealed Chamber" within that no one in the Demon King's army could enter, having been completely sealed for years.

He placed his hand on the door at the end of the corridor.

"......"

Click. Thud.

Though sealed with countless locks, Kyubel applied force without a word, and the door unlocked as if the seams had vanished. As he stepped through the open door, a figure came into view. Someone with large wings on their back was crouching on the stone floor. Hearing Kyubel's footsteps, the figure—securely bound by a collar and handcuffs—slowly raised their head.

"Kyubel, is it......"

This was where Kyubel had confined Ruto, the First Angel, who was to become a sacrifice to the Demon King. With just three days left until the battle with Allen, Kyubel had come to see Ruto.

"Heeey~ Ruto-kun, you look well. I was wondering how you've been since then. How are you feeling~?"

With a light, clown-like step, he waved his hands fluttering and spun around energetically.

"How am I feeling? What do you care about checking on your prey? I have no intention of speaking with the one who killed my brother!!"

Ruto glared at Kyubel, who had killed her twin brother Mels, with gritted teeth and murderous eyes. When the Demon King's army stole the divine artifact from the fire goddess Freya, Mels had been killed by Kyubel.

"Oh, that's right. I'm your fated enemy, then. Come on, don't be so angry~"

"You there, release these chains. I'll cut off that head of yours before you can utter another word. Gughaa!?"

Zap, zap!

As she tried to remove the collar engraved with a sealing magic circle, a magical electric shock coursed through her body with burning intensity. Smoke rose from her wings and back, and she collapsed face-first onto the floor, but even then, Ruto did not stop glaring at Kyubel.

"Now, now! Look what happens when you act recklessly. I came all this way to see you despite being busy~ Actually, the Demon King has had a change of heart and decided to release you."

"Really?"

Ruto raised herself up, questioning the truth of Kyubel's words.

"Just kidding. Actually, I've been itching to eat you every day."

Kyubel looked at Ruto through his mask with the same eyes one might use to observe a live mouse fed to reptiles.

"Stop joking! Do you find it amusing to mock the fate of caged prey like this!?"

Ruto's anger erupted at Kyubel's frivolous attitude, and she shouted loudly.

"What a thing to say. I'm your senior, you know."

"Who's my senior? I've never once considered someone like you a senior!"

"Hmm......"

The sealed room wasn't very large, and only Ruto's shouts echoed within. They reverberated multiple times, but gradually her voice grew quieter. Even as silence fell, Kyubel remained silent, staring at her. Unable to bear it, Ruto spoke again.

"W-well? Are you done mocking me now?"

"......Your reaction to me calling myself your 'senior' feels off. How strange. In what way would I be your senior?"

Behind his mask, Kyubel had been acting playful since arriving, but his eyes had been fixed on Ruto the entire time, carefully reading her expressions and thoughts.

"Wha!?"

There had been situations where the Demon King and his executives were informed she was the First Angel, but why did Ruto know about that?

"I should be known as the 'Primordial Demon God' in the divine realm. That's how I've introduced myself when facing angels. I'm not one of those who deceive humans and bring calamity. I'm certainly not your senior. But something feels off about your reaction, Ruto-kun~"

"......Tch."

Ruto gritted her teeth and glared at Kyubel.

"The true Primordial Demon God is by my side. Right now, he's reporting to the Demon King about the state of the army for the upcoming battle with Allen and the others. If he regains his original memories and power, he's far more than this—he's the source of all demon gods, someone even I can't fully handle... Oh my, I've been doing all the talking. Ruto-kun, hey, let's chat more."

"......You're quite the chatterbox."

"Ah, I see! You think I'm trying to extract information about Allen from you! That you won't say anything that might disadvantage your brother!? What a clever, well-behaved little sister you are!!"

On the day she was nearly eaten by the Demon King, Ruto had seen Kyubel speaking to Allen through Quattro's special skill "Tracking Eye," though her consciousness was hazy. Thinking he had come to prepare for the battle just before Allen's arrival within three days, Kyubel exaggeratedly shook with emotion.

"But, sorry. Our victory is certain, and I was curious about what you were doing in the divine realm before this. That's why I came to play. Why were you helping so much with the Magic God's research facility?"

"To gain a means to defeat you all."

In contrast to Kyubel's talkativeness, Ruto answered without wasting words.

"Oh my? How strange~ Ancient magic shouldn't be completable. Yet you helped so much with the Magic God's research... such a waste of time... Huh? What's with that look? Did I say something weird?"

With a puzzled expression, Ruto listened as if trying to peer through Kyubel's mask.

"......How curious. I helped with the Magic God's research after becoming the First Angel. How do you know so much about what happened after Mara, your spy, disappeared?"

"Wha!?"

"It's almost as if you're suggesting there's still a spy in the divine realm. To relay the divine realm's situation to you, it would require someone of considerable status and power. Could an angel do that? Perhaps among the gods......"

At Ruto's confident tone, Kyubel gestured exaggeratedly and shouted.

"Right now, it's my turn to corner you and feel good about it! Stop analyzing me on your own!!"

"......I see. That reaction. Have I finally reached the 'answer'? But it's strange. What do you gain from doing this? Kyubel, do you know what the outcome of your actions will be?"

Ruto suggested there was a major contradiction in Kyubel's actions.

"Want to know? But if you say 'outcome,' it means you've reached it too."

"I want to know. What is the God of Destruction?"

"......So you did arrive at the God of Destruction."

"Yes. In the end, doesn't that make the Demon King irrelevant? I hear even the gods can't stop it."

"I see. So you were cooperating with Allen and the others to prepare for the awakening of the God of Destruction. If you know of the God of Destruction, it makes sense you'd help the Magic God with his research on ancient magic... No, something's strange."

"......What's strange? There's nothing strange about it."

"The order is strange. You're missing a piece that should be there."

"A piece?"

"Because the power of the God of Destruction is called ancient magic. Researching ancient magic wouldn't lead you to the existence of the God of Destruction. Who told you about the God of Destruction? If not the Magic God, was it Garm? Surely he wouldn't take such a risk, terrified as he is of the God of Destruction. Even we research the Evil God, not the God of Destruction."

The Magic God's research contained no mention of the God of Destruction. The subject Shinorum researched was the "Evil God," never the "God of Destruction." Kyubel had given up on researching the God of Destruction from the start. He had heard from Mara that it was merely research into the level of magic used by ancient gods, and he thought it would lead to research on the God of Destruction and be futile.

"......"

Ruto listened silently to Kyubel's analysis.

"Hey, instead of me doing all the talking, why don't you tell me?"

"I don't understand what you're saying. What delusions are you having?"

"My, my, getting flustered? I feel like I'm close to the answer. Speaking of which, there was that heretical beast—no, spirit—who forcibly changed the future through sleep-talking, aligned with the hero, assisted in the battle against the demon gods, and guided them to the divine realm... Did you hear it from him?"

"Wha!?"

"Seems I'm correct. Really, Ysray is quite a piece of work. Claiming to be the Great Spirit God, neutral and in step with the ancient gods, while letting Rosen do as he pleases behind the scenes."

"......I can't believe it either. Will the God of Destruction truly awaken and destroy the world?"

"I see. You didn't entirely believe Rosen's story, but helping with the ancient magic research gave you confirmation."

"Stop being the only one who understands and answer me. I'm just caged prey, after all."

"Very well. That's an admirable attitude. Then let me tell you what will happen. The 'God of Destruction' will soon awaken and destroy the three realms. The Demon King's actions will lead to the awakening of the God of Destruction. The world will know true despair. Even Ysray and Garm trembled in fear of its revival. No, it's more accurate to say they gave up."

The conversation between Kyubel and Ruto, imprisoned in the Chamber of Seals, continued.

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