Chapter 336

Chapter 336. The Unfolded Book of the Great Sage (3)

‘He ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍must mean the book inside the hut.’

Recalling ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the cipher hidden in the note the elder had left behind, Radel stood before the door of the old hut.

Only ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a few hours earlier, when he had searched the place thoroughly together with Armandy, they had found nothing out of the ordinary.

Creak.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍very moment Radel opened the old wooden door and stepped inside—

Ding.

[Quest completion rate has reached 100%.]

[You have earned the gardener’s sincere heart.]

[The quest is now complete!]

Condition: Open the gardener’s closed heart (Completion Rate: 100%)

[The quest has been successfully completed.]

[Your actions have opened the gardener’s closed heart.]

[Quest Success Reward: Entry to the Mage Tower Master’s Chamber]

[Quest Success Reward has been granted.]

[Entering the Invited Mage Tower Master’s Chamber!]

For a brief moment, Radel held his breath as system windows poured down before his eyes like a waterfall.

Behind him, the hut’s door shut with a heavy sound.

Clack.

Perfect isolation.

The space, where nothing had happened when he came with Armandy, now began to reveal its true form as though it had been waiting for Radel to be alone.

Flaaash!

The entire hut was engulfed in a brilliance so dazzling it was impossible to keep one’s eyes open.

The old wooden walls and shabby furniture scattered away as particles of light, and in their place unfolded the scenery of a laboratory that seemed to transcend space and time.

Gigantic windows stretching from floor to ceiling, beyond which the universe appeared ready to pour in.

Parchment scrolls strewn about carelessly.

And a desk at the center of the space, emitting a quiet, solemn aura.

This was the true “Mage Tower Master’s Chamber” once used by the founder of the Mage Tower, the First Mage Tower Master.

Even as the hut transformed into a laboratory, the notification sounds ringing in Radel’s ears did not stop.

Ding.

[Visit the Mage Tower Master’s Chamber (1/1)]

[Hidden skill advancement condition has been met.]

[Skill: Hayden’s Standard Mana Training Method (B)]

[Would you like to advance this skill? (Y/N)]

‘Finally!’

Without hesitation, Radel selected the floating “Y.”

At the same time, he felt something stir deep within his body.

Like a torrential flood pouring into a dried-up river, pure and powerful mana surged through his entire being.

Ding.

[The skill has been advanced.]

[Skill: Hayden’s Standard Mana Training Method (A)]

[The user’s stats are affected by the skill advancement.]

[Mana stat increases drastically!]

“Ghk…!”

This was power on an entirely different level.

It felt as though every single cell in his body was being reborn.

It was like long-blocked vessels had burst open, flooding his body with vitality.

Radel clenched and unclenched his fist, feeling the overflowing strength.

Even the lingering internal injuries that had remained since the battle with the dragon seemed to be washed away by this overwhelming wave of mana.

At the same time, the book tucked under his arm leapt noisily into the air.

-W-What is this!? That pitiful trickle of mana you had just shot up all of a sudden!?

Sensing Radel’s explosive increase in mana, the Spirit of the Library was struck with disbelief.

Freed from the mundane book form he had been forced to maintain due to Radel’s lack of mana, he emerged at last.

Bang!

With a faint glow, the book reverted to its original form—a palm-sized, shining spirit.

Flapping his pages like arms, he cried out in overwhelming emotion.

“Oho! At last, I have regained this form! With this level of mana, I can wander around outside without you dropping dead from mana exhaustion!”

After spinning around in place for a good while, savoring his joy, the Spirit of the Library suddenly realized the source of this change and pressed Radel urgently.

“What in the world happened? How did you grow this much so suddenly?”

Radel was just about to explain when—

“Hm?”

The spirit’s gaze snapped toward the desk at the center of the room.

There, as though it had been waiting for its owner from the very beginning, lay an old, thick leather-bound book, opened wide.

The spirit’s body began to tremble violently.

“Th-that mana…! There is no doubt about it! It is Hayden’s mana—that swindling bastard’s mana!”

The Book of the Great Sage.

The book Helio had hidden in his hut.

The great legacy of the Mage Tower that had remained silent for hundreds of years.

As if entranced, Radel stepped closer to the desk.

In response to his approach, the book opened further, as though it were alive.

Frrrsh!

Dust-laden pages flipped over on their own, revealing radiant golden letters.

They were records written by Hayden himself—his deeds during his time at the Mage Tower.

[The Book of the Great Sage]

H.L.K

Imperial Calendar XXX, October 22

I came to the Mage Tower and gained new experiences.

The atmosphere is similar to the Academy, yet different.

The mages are just as obsessed with research, but this place is far more closed-off.

Imperial Calendar XXX, October 25

At the Mage Tower Master’s suggestion, I decided to overhaul the entire tower.

There are far too many facilities that need repairs. The security, in particular, is a mess.

This could be fun.

Imperial Calendar XXX, November 1

I placed the Mage Tower Master’s chamber on the very lowest floor.

A strategy that strikes people where they least expect it.

Who would ever imagine such a thing?

The Mage Tower Master was quite pleased with my ingenuity.

Imperial Calendar XXX, November 13

Living here for a while has made one thing clear.

The Mage Tower’s mages are deeply engrossed in their research.

This is something even the Academy should learn from.

But wait.

In such a closed environment, is this not no different from a dungeon?

I just had a good idea.

Imperial Calendar XXX, November 20

I brought the blue keys to the Mage Tower.

They had been bothering me ever since I escaped that dungeon…

That fellow loves gold far too much.

Since the mages here have no interest in gold, this is the perfect place to leave him.

Imperial Calendar XXX, November 29

I think I have done everything there is to do at the Mage Tower.

I have also asked the Mage Tower Master for a favor.

Well then, where shall I head next?

Radel and the Spirit of the Library quickly read through The Book of the Great Sage.

“That swindler actually went so far as to remodel the Mage Tower to his liking!”

The Spirit of the Library shouted in disbelief.

For an external mage—one not even from the Mage Tower—to interfere this deeply, and yet leave behind only this much record.

It had to be Hayden’s doing.

That man had erased his tracks with obsessive thoroughness.

The more one thought about it, the more suspicious that swindler became.

As always, the end of the journal contained a message addressed to his descendants.

To the descendant who will one day be reading this journal in the Mage Tower.

If you have made it this far safely, it means you have already dealt with several demons.

If you have gathered all six keys, it might be fun to test the spell I created.

It would be a waste to leave the demons unused, would it not? Make good use of them.

Archmage Hayden Reinhardt Cretian

On the final page of the book was drawn a complex, bizarre ancient magic circle.

Below it was a concise description of its function.

[Great Demon Subjugation Sigil]:

A spell of Archmage Hayden Reinhardt Cretian that, using the Sealing Keys as a medium, forcibly subjugates and commands a portion of the authority of the Great Demons bound within them.

Radel’s eyes widened.

It was an unexpected windfall.

He pulled out the bundle of Sealing Keys from his clothes.

Resting on his palm were six black keys sealing Belphegor and six purple keys sealing Leviathan.

The black keys were something he had picked up after Obsidian—formerly a professor at Helsingten Magic School—had dropped them.

The purple keys were spoils he had obtained after defeating Leviathan in dragon form.

“Does this really work…?”

A murmur slipped from Radel’s lips before he could stop himself.

This was no longer a dream.

At last, the time had come to create a frying pan that would never have food stuck to it.

***

A deep, freezing abyss.

The Great Demon of Envy, Leviathan, was sinking into that endless darkness.

With only the humiliation of defeat and a wounded pride left behind, his tattered consciousness was slowly recovering.

The disgrace of losing his dragon body.

The shame of having his reverse scale pierced by a mere human.

That memory gnawed ceaselessly at his soul like an open wound.

But this was a place no one could intrude upon.

A domain consumed solely by Leviathan’s own consciousness.

Here, he would regain his strength and wait for the day he could crush the throat of that arrogant human once more.

With that thought, he began to sink into an endless slumber.

Then—

-Leviathan.

A voice that should not have existed echoed through the abyss.

A voice so terribly familiar that it pierced straight into his consciousness.

Rending the pitch-black darkness, it rang out as clearly as though whispering directly into his ear.

Leviathan’s slumbering mind snapped awake.

‘Radel Silvert Cretian…!’

The voice of that damned human.

How could he ever forget that hateful name?

For a human to dare appear within this abyss—his own domain—was impossible.

And yet, Radel was calmly invading Leviathan’s consciousness.

-A contract.

To make matters worse, he was spouting utter nonsense.

“…What did you say?”

For a moment, Leviathan could not comprehend what he had heard.

A contract?

A human daring to speak of a contract to a Great Demon?

Contracts were offered by demons to humans.

They were not something a mere human could propose to a demon!

Rage lashed through his consciousness.

He rose abruptly, glaring toward the source of the voice.

From within the darkness, Radel’s figure emerged.

At his feet spread a bizarre, ominous golden magic circle.

-I am the one who forced you to kneel, even in a human body.

Radel’s voice was cold and resolute, utterly devoid of his usual flippancy.

It was a command—an inescapable declaration.

“You wretch! How dare you insult me!”

Leviathan roared, gathering what strength he had left and hurling it at Radel.

But the waves of the abyss shattered uselessly against the golden magic circle before they could reach him.

It was Hayden’s Great Demon Subjugation Sigil.

Light pouring from the circle illuminated Radel’s golden eyes.

He raised those gleaming eyes and looked straight at Leviathan.

-You will submit to me.

An overwhelming coercive force seized Leviathan’s heart.

“Graaah!”

Leviathan resisted desperately.

“This cannot be! I am the Great Demon Leviathan!”

But Radel’s spell tightened like shackles around his soul, constricting him further and further.

A defeated demon had no right to choose.

The law of power.

It was the sole law of the Demon Realm.

And there was another being watching this scene unfold.

“Th-this…!”

The Great Demon of Lust, Asmodeus, who had witnessed everything from within the shared consciousness, was struck dumb with horror.

His beautiful face drained of all color.

A forced contract?

That was the forbidden magic Hayden—the mad Great Sage—used when he treated them like toys.

And yet that young descendant was using it now—how…?!

Long-buried memories of humiliation resurfaced.

Being captured by Hayden and forced to take the form of a child.

Being made to wear twin braids simply because he was “cute.”

Being dragged around and fed sweet desserts until Hayden grew bored of him.

Every nightmare had begun with that golden magic circle.

As if he sensed Asmodeus’s turmoil, Radel, having subdued Leviathan and begun to withdraw from the consciousness, grinned.

-Who will be next?

He whispered toward his remaining keys.

-This is going to be really fun, is it not?

Asmodeus’s eyes trembled with fear.

That one was just as insane as Hayden…!