Chapter 9: A Devouring Encounter
“Ugh! (What’s happening!?)”
The shockwave of the earthquake centered around the Demon King’s castle spread like ripples, shaking not only the royal palace where François was but also the entire land of demons.
In just a few seconds… the impact, more like being struck than an earthquake, passed through. Every demon in the lands looked up at the dark clouds covering the sky and fell to their knees as if witnessing the end of the world.
Even the pitiful Iron Princess, François, held hands with her beloved elephant, trying to protect each other, trembling at the supernatural power manifesting in the dark clouds above.
“Ugh (I can’t falter. I have to stay strong…)”
I am the woman who will one day become the Demon King’s wife, and his personal guard captain. And then… there’s Eurushia, the girl who became my new friend. Thinking of her, with her tiny body smaller than a baby elephant, heading toward the Demon King’s castle, I couldn’t bring myself to leave this place alone.
“Uhohoh (Lord Hevraat, Eurushia… please be safe.)”
A clear blue sky now filled with black clouds as vast as the sea. Having broken through the bedrock and risen into the sky, we faced each other hundreds of meters apart.
[First, I’ll strip away that human “shell” of yours!]
His words, spoken in the divine language, created pitch-black lightning around me.
But… I haven’t been idly wasting my time since we reunited.
“──『Let there be Light』──”
The demonic magic drawn from my personal subspace transformed into sacred golden light, intercepting the black lightning.
If I were to name it──
“──Radiant Holy Demon Magic──”
A magic only I can use, born from the connection between my highest-tier demonic nature and my human body, bound by a “human heart.”
[You…]
Narrowing his eyes sharply, he glared at me, a demon who wielded “human” power.
It’s a bit different. He’s angry at me, who yearns for and clings to the world of light and “humans.”
But I won’t change.
“──『Let there be light, golden light』──”
Gathering the golden light around me, I formed a golden bow, unleashing hundreds of arrows at him.
[GRAAAAAAAAAH!!]
He, too, generated black lightning, intercepting the golden arrows.
[Don’t mock me, Eurushia!]
Not content with mere counterattacks, he increased the density of his lightning, aiming to swallow me whole.
“……『Dark Night Sky』……”
The hem of my black dress, pinched between my fingers, spread out, and silver threads danced like stars. The 『Dark Night Sky』 I created tore through the blue sky, swallowing his black lightning.
[…………]
Seeing this, he smiled faintly.
Damn it…
Even my Radiant Holy Demon Magic, designed to counter demons, couldn’t fully withstand that level of destruction. I had to resort to my demonic powers, and he laughed at me.
But the gap in power between him and me is just that vast.
A little weakening doesn’t matter. Even if my magic runs out, if he’s willing to destroy me even at the cost of his own existence, there’s no stopping him. Back in the demon world, he never backed down from an enemy.
But… now, after reuniting with me, his desire for me as “him” is stronger than his ferocity as a “beast.”
My only chance is to use that against him… but somehow, it feels wrong.
[…………]
As I smiled faintly, he furrowed his brow slightly.
Sorry. I’m not mocking you. It’s just… killing each other over our selfishness, with me acting so clever, feels ridiculous.
I only have one trump card against him. And with that one card, I’ll face him.
[GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!]
Impatient with the standoff, he summoned a [Black Storm].
In an instant, the blue sky was torn apart into pitch-black darkness, and I chanted Radiant Holy Demon Magic in response.
“──『Let there be golden light』──”
A shining golden shield formed, clashing against the black storm. But due to the difference in our power, the shield gradually shattered, and I began to take damage.
It seems he has no intention of letting me escape.
Strangely, his determination makes me happy, and I smile even as I’m being torn apart.
[I told you not to mock me!!]
“I’m not mocking you.”
He didn’t like my smile, huh? But…
“I just want you to understand.”
I’m not your possession.
I want to be equal.
But for that…
“I want to hear your true 『words』.”
To convey my own.
Crack!
As the golden shield shattered, I wrapped myself in a new Radiant Holy Demon Magic.
“──『Golden Wings』──”
The golden light materialized into feathers, transforming my demonic wings into angelic ones.
[What!?]
My only strength is 『speed』. With my small body and large wings, I was once called the fastest in the demon world. By releasing golden magic from every feather, I surpassed my limits, even dodging his lightning.
Now, let’s destroy each other.
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Groooan… Grooooooan…
“…It’s the end of the world.”
An elderly demon muttered this as the sound of mountains colliding echoed from the dark clouds. Every demon left in the realm, from the old to the young, the weak to the strong, could only kneel and gaze at the dark sky, unable to flee.
The two pillars, 『Black』 and 『Golden』, that had blown the Demon King’s castle away and risen into the sky.
The flashes of light and black lightning tearing through the clouds—just one stray strike could shatter mountains, gouge hills, and rot black forests.
There’s no escape left in this world.
Whether we survive until the gods’ battle above the dark clouds ends depends solely on their whims. The demons, unknowingly, could only kneel and pray, looking up at the heavens.
Tearing through the black storm, I closed in on him with my golden wings fluttering.
[Eurushia!!]
“Let’s begin!!”
I swung the golden claws I created with Radiant Holy Demon Magic, wounding him.
Black blood mist swirled, and he hesitated for a moment before striking back with his claws.
The reason the ferocious beast that is “him” refrained from using his claws and fangs, relying instead on lightning and storms, was because he subconsciously feared “breaking” me.
Demons have emotions too. Unlike the “gods” who lost their hearts seeking something as formless as peace, we demons don’t hide our true feelings.
[EURUSIAAAAAAAAAAH!!]
With each wound we inflicted on each other, he revealed his true nature, biting off my arm, only for me to regenerate it instantly and gouge his face with my claws, devouring his flesh.
“Not yet.”
Neither hatred nor anger, just a faint smile as I became drenched in blood. His eyes wavered slightly.
Demons don’t lie to themselves. Demons don’t hide their emotions.
Then why, despite your determination to take me back even if it means destroying me, do you fear “breaking” me?
What is this emotion of yours?
What is this conflicting desire?
If this continues, I’ll disappear. Is that okay?
…Just spit it out already.
I’ll really devour you, you idiot.
[……GRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!]
In response to my reckless assault, he bared his fangs and roared.
In my battered state, I wouldn’t survive that attack. I’d surely vanish.
I’m okay with that. If that’s what you want.
But…
That’s not it, is it?
[──!?]
In that instant, I transformed into the 『Golden Beast』. The nostalgic days in the demon world. What you desired.
It’s not like I abandoned my form as the 『Beast』 to become the 『Devil』. I just wanted you to know that both are the true “me.”
──BOOM!!
The next moment, with all my strength, I slapped his face, bringing back a glimpse of his old self for just an instant.
Stunned by the blow, he looked up at me, now perched on his nose, confused.
[One last question. Do you want me?]
[…………]
As I looked down at him with my cat-like eyes, he was at a loss for words.
If you won’t give me the words I want here, then let’s destroy each other until we’re both gone.
With that thought, I glared down at him, and after a long pause, he muttered softly.
[……All I need is you.]
[Hmmm…]
So it’s not about making me yours, but just having me is enough?
It’s a bit different from the “words” I wanted, but… I guess that’s the best you can do.
“Then become 『mine』.”
Returning to my human form, I placed both hands on his cheeks and spoke his name.
“──『Rinne』──”
Your color. A dignified black──that is the name I gave you.
[──!!]
Caught off guard by the “naming,” Rinne froze.
At the same time, an intense pain gripped my soul.
Only a demon with a “human” attribute can name another demon.
Even with the power of both the 『Beast』 and the 『Devil』, naming a being as powerful as him risked my own existence vanishing. That’s why I had to slap him, beat him, and force him to submit.
Give me all of you.
In return, I’ll give you my eternity.
So──
“Become mine alone!”
As I shouted, the pain in my body vanished, and the raging black storm, along with the dark clouds, disappeared.
[……You’re something else.]
Slowly… as I began to fall from the sky, exhausted, Rinne looked at me with a mix of exasperation and tenderness in his eyes.
[Eurushia……]
“Yeah, Rinne.”
Calling each other’s names felt a little ticklish.
[You’re truly reckless. But… Eurushia, it’s fine. You’re the freest demon, both the 『Beast』 and the 『Devil』.]
Rinne said.
Every existence in this world, be it demon or god, is bound by something.
Humans are bound by laws and lifespans, while demons and gods are bound by the principles of the world.
Among them, I, who possess multiple attributes, was told by Rinne that I am the freest existence.
You’d think having so many attributes would make me the most bound, but…
[You don’t see those as constraints.]
“That’s right…”
It almost feels like I’m being called thoughtless.
Would it be so bad to be bound once in a while?
But while I somewhat understand the “Beast of Demons,” what exactly is the “Devil God”?
And then there’s that self-proclaimed [big brother]. He hasn’t been sending me any of those incomprehensible “otherworldly knowledge” lately. What’s going on with him?
[I am yours, Eurushia.]
“I am yours, Rinne.”
Those are the words of the “oath” engraved in our souls.
As if waiting for the right moment, the sky brightened, and the miasma clouds we had devoured began to clear.
Bathed in that light, we slowly descended to the ground, staying close to each other.
Ah… What should we say to the people below as an excuse?
The people left behind in the land of the demons were all staring at the sky in stunned silence.
The supernatural battle, akin to a heavenly war, had ended. A hole had been torn in the cursed clouds that had covered the land of the demons, and a pillar of sunlight poured through it.
They had thought it was the end of the world. At the very least, everyone believed the land of the demons was doomed.
They were the descendants of those who had been sacrificed, cast aside to preserve the framework of the world…
To survive, they had even taken in the blood of monsters, becoming humanoid monsters—the demon race, reviled as the Evil Race, beings who could only live by stealing and killing others.
Had they committed such grave sins? Were those sins eternal, never to be erased?
Even the sunlight, something everyone should be able to enjoy, had been denied to them, as if it were proof of their sins, etched into their very hearts.
But…
That proof of sin was now being denied, as the hole in the clouds widened.
And the demons witnessed it.
Descending slowly through the pillar of light was a terrifying demon beast… and beside it, a radiant “angel” with golden hair and golden wings, glowing with light.
The people continued to gaze upward.
The hole in the clouds expanded, and the cursed clouds that hadn’t cleared for a thousand years began to dissipate, as if being purified.
The weaker demons, who had never seen the outside world, wept uncontrollably as they beheld the vast blue sky stretching endlessly above and the warm, life-giving sunlight.
Their sins had vanished. Not the sins they themselves had committed, but the “sin” passed down from their ancestors, destined to continue through their descendants, had been erased. It felt as though they had been forgiven by “someone.”
“…God…”
Someone whispered. It was someone else’s voice, yet also their own.
For the demons, “God” had always been the enemy. They had believed God didn’t exist. But now, for the first time, a true “God” who would forgive them had appeared. They knelt, looking up at the sky, and wept tears of pure joy.
TLNOTE:
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