Vol. 13 - Ch. 766 - The Doubtful Deadline (1)

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It was a long day for the Divine Realm. 

It had been barely a day since the Soul Rite Festival when Demon King's army invasion came crashing on the Divine Realm. And this time, they're stronger than ever, with chief executives evolving from just archdemon to Fiend Kings. It was their whole army, saving the presence of the Demon King. 

They'd supreme commander Ordo, chief adviser Kyubel, the group of executives—Mara, Virdiga, and Gandira—that goes by the title of Six Great Heavenly Demons, as well as the ex-human Bask. On the lower ranks, they're accompanied by 1000 demons and archdemons.

It was a force to reckon should war break out, but contrary to the expected, they split apart into three teams, and targeted Space-Time God's territory, Divine Arena, and Heavenly Sandal Kingdom. 

Their steps began from Space-Time God's territory, stealing his governed teleportation system, then moving away to raid the other areas. 

They met resistance from Allen's party «Abandoned Gamer», Hero Helmios's party «Sacred», Admiral Galara's party «Stinger» as well as Beast Prince Zeu and Ten Heroic Beasts. They're assisted by an allied force of dragonkins and beastkins, alongside the soldiers of Divine Realm. The sacrifices were made, and evolved into a skirmish involving gods and angels.

Then, just as it appeared demons were planning their retreat, Mara suddenly left the scene for another reason. Merus gave chase, and protected Homaru from getting into Mara's evil hand. Albeit, what they had thought was their motive turned out to be a ruse, and in truth, they're after First Angel Lupto all along.

Kyubel grabbed Lupto, and just before the timer of the Space-Time System could run out, he escaped from the Demon King's castle. 

Allen pursued their movement via the «Pursuit Gaze» he had invoked on Ordo and Bask, and managed to watch the demon's movement. 

Ultimately, they learned Lupto was captured as food for Demon King, so that he could stabilise his presence, and become even more stronger. Their end goal had been to eat even the Creation God Elmea, and turn Demon King into the law of new world. 

Undoubtedly, it implied the end of the world should it happen. 

However, before Lupto could have become the snack in the mouth of Demon King's stomach, Kyubel put a hold on it citing 'they're not prepared for an all-out war against Divine Realm.' They would have to wait until they could bring the Space-Time System into use. 

And much to their surprise, it appeared Kyubel was well aware of their spying. He flashed a fearless grin while giving Allen a deadline—they'd ten days to figure out and save Lupto, after which he cancelled the effect of «Pursuit Gaze». 

In the banquet room, where Heavenly King had invited today's war heroes to partake in celebration, Allen broke the news regarding why demons abducted Lupto. An expression of visible tension appeared in everyone's face.

(It's a trap, and there's no contesting it. We need to discuss our next movements. With Hero Helmios and Admiral Galara present, it would be better to do it now.)

After revealing the details to everyone present, Allen shifted his gaze to his party members.

Some of them bear an expression of rage, while others showed concern for Lupto, nevertheless they all remained quiet for Allen's subsequent words.

Before continuing, Allen trained his gaze back to Heavenly King, sitting just across him.

"...Feel free to use this place. It's already so late, so we will be taking our exit. The servants will be around for any help, so feel free to request anything."

"No few lives has been lost today, but a celebration to the victory is appreciated."

At first, Allen saw the King as an arrogant person, putting himself above them as the messenger of God. Perhaps, it was his pride as the tribe that served the god, and thus put forth pretty restrictive conditions like offering Spirit Crystals even to challenge god's territories. 

Spirits Crystals and spirit stones were precious resources, after all. By offering them to the pregnant queen, the born child would be an angel. And depending on the quantity of Spirit Stones, or quality of Spirit Crystal, the born angel could also be a Great Angel or First Angel. 

After today's ordeal of thwarting demons from the Heavenly Kingdom, as well as stopping the  demons from creating much chaos inside the palace, he seemed to have been grateful to them. 

(Then again, he also has lost some important people too apparently.)

Allen glanced at the grief-stricken expression of Heavenly King. Seemingly noticing that, Heavenly King added further.

"Jigen had been serving the royal family ever since I was born. ......We are just as filled with thirst for demon's blood. So, if there's something to discuss, feel free to speak. I would spare no effort in our support."

Jigen lost his life in an attempt to stall Fiend King Mara, so that the royal family could escape to the Divine Boat. The weight of his loss was apparent from the sadness lingering on Heavenly King.

With First Angel Homaru already venturing into slumber within embrace of the Queen, his snores filling the silence, the Heavenly King supported the Queen by her back, and retired from the banquet under the escort of soldiers and other ministers. 

With the Heavenly King gone, Allen's party members took their seat on the empty seat, while Helmios, Admiral Galara, and Beast Prince Zeu gathered around them. 

"So, have you decided on something? We're going to save Lupto-sama, right, Allen?"

Kurena inquired with a worryful tone.

"Of course. She's the sister of Merus, and we also can't let Demon King get any stronger."

The situation must have been pretty dire or important that Demon King's army went forward with the strategy that would demand a heavy sacrifice. And if the Demon King gains even more power, destroying Human Realm would be an easy game. 

"I know it. Yeah, of course we will. Yup!"

Kurena and Meruru sighed in relief when they heard him. Though from the expression of some other members, it seemed there were more than a few questions. 

("When" will we head out to save her, is the important question that needs to be confirmed first, huh.)

It wasn't even a topic to discuss if they will be going to save her, or not. They knew they would obviously be saving their acquaintance.

However, the main question in everyone's mind was "when." At the end of the day, Kyubel had told them they'd have ten days to save Lupto. This was where everything hinged on. 

Even the rest of the members remained quiet to see which date Allen would decide. Though, since it was an affair of Human Realm, Abigail remained at the sideline, keeping himself out of the eager one.

"......I am contemplating starting our rescue mission ten days later."

«Wha—!? Ten days later!!?»

Some were loud, while some were rather quiet in their reaction when he expressed his opinion. A few of them probably understood the reasoning, and some found it extremely unacceptable. However, the only one who put any sort of visible reaction in voice was Merus.

(Wow, I can feel Merus's smouldering range through our link. Then again, what else I was expecting? He had never stopped caring about his little sister, not even when he became a summon beast. A blood ties that they'd for good hundred of thousands of years was probably a singularity in its own.)

The rage dwelling within Merus was palpable. Allen immediately felt it with their link. However, his reaction seemed limited to his earlier shout, and didn't say anything further. 

He might have become a summon beast—and had willingly accepted to become one. But the ties with his little sister were just as deep. As much as he wanted to fly to her side immediately, he knew he had other roles as a summoned beast. And above all, he was the one who couldn't see the demon's true goal, and his own little sister was abducted right before his eyes.

The maelstrom of remorse and anger ravaged his inner endurance, but he instead closed his eyes, swallowing down any words he wanted to shout, and decided to hear the proceeding first.

(Well, the other person who could have spoken something is...... Cecil is still on trial.)

In his adventure of the world, Allen had made many friends, each sharing a common goal of defeating Demon King. But, what differed from them was their way to tackle that problem.

Kurena and Meruru were content with hearing that they would be going to save Lupto.

Sophie was the loyal soldier who put Allen's decision above everything.

Dogora and Roselina were the type to follow the plan that had been majority decided between party members after a thorough discussion. 

Peromas was quiet, still uncertain about his own strength. 

Ignomas became acquainted with Allen during his rebellion in the Prostea Empire, and all he wanted was a hand in battle against the Demon King, and to watch his demise. Anything else, he cares nothing. 

Allen couldn't help but try to imagine what Cecil would've said, had she been present here instead of the practice for Ancient Magic she was doing. Instead, he settled his gaze on Shea, who had the attitude of 'I will go along the plan with my own thoughts,' quietly urging her to speak if she had any idea. 

"......After ten days, huh. Isn't it the same thing as allowing demons to act free without any concern? And there's no guarantee they would keep Lupto-sama safe for ten ays."

Shea's tone was devoid of much emotion. She was straightforward, holding no prejudice against Allen's opinion. Their rescue mission would undoubtedly be led on, but when. Since this was where they're stuck on, she pressed forward with questions that were parallel to Allen's thought. Perhaps, she was trying to find a 'common ground' for everyone.

"Your reasoning isn't wrong, per se. But, then why else would Kyubel stop Demon King from eating Lupto immediately? I think we can be assured that eating her now would definitely be trouble for them"

It was pretty apparent Demon King had quite wanted to eat Lupto right there. If they'd wanted, they certainly could have eat her, and they'd no one to interfere either. Kyubel already knew Allen was peeping on them, and it stands to no reason why he would stop Demon King... not unless something was truly wrong. 

"I do believe it seems like smoke to lure us out. We did throw a wrench on most of their plans after all."

Sure, Allen and his party had been outwitted by Kyubel, but that didn't mean they never bothered to turn around. And Shea believed it was the demon's strategy to crush them.

"You're correct. We have hindered the demon's plan for so many times. Maybe, they need ten days to fortify themselves or something,and swoop up in one big swipe. And if Lupto was eaten, they would set their fangs on the gods. I feel like our opponent has quite a high opinion of us."

If they're the target, then it makes no sense why it must be after ten days. Allen couldn't come up with any reason.

"Perhaps, it would be better to not hang on to the 10 days deadline that much?"

"Maybe you're right. But, why ten days? I think it might as well be the time they need to control the Space-Time System."

"I see. So, they definitely need those ten days, but it also didn't leave any hint that they want us to attack only after ten days."

Shea offered her own rebuttal against Allen's opinion.

T/N - If your preferred genre is dungeon x light-hearted story, try out LET ME SPEND MONEY, DAMMIT!