“…Annihilation?”
Shekina wanted to believe she had misheard and asked again. However, seeing the unchanged expression on Lucart’ face, it seemed she had heard correctly.
“Yes. Annihilation.”
Lucart gritted his teeth.
“Because of that bastard, we…!”
The god.
That god.
The damage caused by that god was so extensive that even staying up for four days and nights would not suffice to recount it all.
The god called themselves the mother of all, but the demons did not agree. A true mother would have reached out to help when they were in danger.
Instead, the god ignored their hardships and extended a hand to the humans. Always fretting over the possibility that humans might get hurt or be destroyed.
The god existed solely for humans.
Not for other races like themselves.
But at some point, the god erased their presence. The god could not be found anywhere.
Lucart wondered if the god had finally left this world, but remembering the extraordinary love the god had shown to humans, he was certain that was not the case.
So, the god must be hiding somewhere, but why?
Lucart had considered searching for the god but prioritized regaining his own power, putting the search off for years.
And now, at this very moment.
He sensed the god’s presence.
Lucart calmed the goosebumps rising along his spine and narrowed his eyes.
“You seem familiar with that aura.”
He looked down at the trembling Shekina.
“Is there something you are hiding from me?”
Shekina swallowed dryly.
Could it be that the relationship between the system and Lucart was this bad?
‘Why?’
What had happened… No, it was surprising enough that Lucart knew of the god’s existence and had enough interaction to say they had a bad relationship.
Shekina carefully watched Lucart’ reactions and chose his words. Saying the wrong thing here could expose her relationship with the system.
If it were just that, she could make up some excuse, but it was not that simple.
She might even reveal that she had reincarnated multiple times and, in doing so, that she was human.
‘If they find out I’m human…’
No matter what she had accomplished, she would be killed.
It was inevitable.
Just being human was enough to warrant death, but she had lived concealing the truth from the demons. The demons who cherished Shekina would feel deeply betrayed and would not forgive her.
Thinking of this made her suddenly bitter. In this life, she had finally experienced some semblance of ordinary affection… Only to realize it all started with a lie.
‘Sigh.’
Shekina quickly dispelled the rising bitterness and raised her head. She met the skeptical gaze of Lucart.
“There is nothing.”
Shekina said firmly.
“I’m the boss’s subordinate. It’s not right to hide things from the boss.”
Shekina was hiding many things. But what could she do? If she told the truth, who knew what might happen? Denying it was the safest course of action.
“Whether it’s the god’s presence or whatever, I really don’t know. The situation just turned out this way suddenly.”
Lucart let out a mirthless laugh. The twisted corner of his mouth revealed undisguised contempt.
“I thought you were the one who could change us who were stagnant.”
“…………”
“You were the one who transformed the selfish, self-centered demons.”
Shekina remained silent.
She had no choice. She partially agreed with Lucart.
But that was why Shekina couldn’t lift her head.
She had lied to them too much.
She couldn’t deny the goodwill she had gained through lies.
“But if that change originated from a lie.”
“……………”
“You will never survive.”
A bitter smile formed on Shekina’s lips.
She had wanted to experience ordinary affection this time, but that too seemed impossible.
***
After Shekina was kidnapped by Lucart, Yuriel paced anxiously in the room.
Because Shekina had suddenly disappeared?
No.
It was because of the item in the box brought by the man called Han.
And Shekina’s words.
– The body of the crown prince that I thought belonged to the emperor. The current emperor is the crown prince.
– This is black magic.
Yuriel didn’t want to believe it.
He wanted to argue that it was nonsense.
Black magic! That His Majesty the Emperor had already passed away! That the crown prince led it all! It was absurd! No way!
But Yuriel wasn’t foolish enough to deny the facts presented before him.
“Ha….…”
Yuriel let out a long sigh.
“E-excuse me, Sir Arthur.”
He approached Arthur, who was sitting by the window, staring into the distance.
“I-I’m sorry to disturb your rest… but I-I have a question.”
Arthur slowly turned his head. He looked Yuriel up and down with an indifferent gaze and then nodded.
“Yes, go ahead.”
Gulp. Yuriel swallowed dryly.
“Is it really… black magic?”
He hastily added,
“Not that I distrust Lady Shekina, but if something like this happened, wouldn’t the Holy See know about it…?”
Arthur chuckled.
“Don’t you already have a conclusion in mind?”
“Excuse me?”
“It seems you think the Holy See has colluded with the royal family.”
“…..…”
“Isn’t that right?”
Yuriel tightly closed his eyes.
Yes.
As Arthur said, Yuriel was now doubting the Holy See. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, and no matter how much he lashed himself for such treacherous thoughts, he couldn’t help but acknowledge it based on the circumstances.
“That… that…”
Yuriel let out a breath and opened his mouth.
“If that’s true… does that mean even the Pope… and all the priests… are involved?”
“That’s uncertain. It needs to be confirmed.”
Arthur replied calmly, but Yuriel’s face grew paler.
“If the Holy See is indeed compromised…”
He clenched his fists and raised his eyes.
“Will you help us?”
“……….”
A moment of silence followed.
Yuriel, with an anxious expression, stared at Arthur. Arthur, without blinking, stared back at Yuriel and then let out a small laugh, tilting his head to one side.
“Why should we?”
Yuriel’s eyes widened. But Arthur continued speaking.
“Honestly, think about it. Has the royal family ever treated us well? No. And whenever we tried to get some recognition, the Holy See fiercely opposed us. Surely, you haven’t forgotten that?”
“That, that is……!”
It’s a fact. The Margrave Daimon had spent years being scrutinized by both the royal family and the Holy See.
“Why should we help those who never even attempted to help us?”
“…………”
Yuriel had nothing to say in his defense.
Although he hadn’t directly being persecuted by the people from Daimon Margrave’s, he had always suspected them and followed orders from his superiors, for which he felt a certain amount of guilt.
Thus, asking for help now was extremely shameful and embarrassing for him.
If he had been stronger, he wouldn’t have had to beg for undeserved kindness from them. He could have protected them instead.
But what could he do? He was just a weak human, reliant on the help of others to survive.
Yuriel slowly lifted his gaze and raised his chin.
“For the children.”
He spoke each word with sincere effort.
“The temple protects many children. They need to be able to live well, without suffering unjust deaths… That’s the role of adults…”
“………..”
“The unfair treatment you received will surely be compensated. Once the situation is resolved, definitely…!”
Arthur closed his eyes slowly.
And he remembered.
His children.
The most beloved beings in the world.
Arthur, reminiscing about the past with his eyes closed, opened them again and looked at the nervous Yuriel.
“I have children too.”
“……What?”
“It’s an adult’s role to take responsibility for children. Although, it’s also adults who end up killing them.”
“That, that’s…”
“But we can still make an effort.”
Yuriel’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Th-thank you…!”
He hadn’t expected to be persuaded so quickly.
Indeed, the Margrave of Daimon were truly good people. Yuriel felt deeply ashamed for having doubted them all this time.
“But the problem is how to do it.”
Ignoring the relieved Yuriel, Arthur folded his arms and pondered.
At that moment.
“If you’re looking for a solution, it’s common sense to ask me!”
Bang! The door slammed open and Shekina entered, hands on hips, laughing triumphantly.
“Lady Shekina?”
Ignoring their surprise, Shekina laughed even louder and said,
“Let’s make the royal family our allies!”
