Chapter 40 - The Heavenly Kings' Summoning Order
Athanasia.
One of the six indigenous deities on the continent of Pandea, a being with the power of immortality.
Similar in nature to Aion the Eternal, an indigenous deity who lives through endless time, but with a key difference.
"You can simply kill Aion, but Athanasia is not so easily dispatched."
Athanasia was a god who, even if seemingly slain through conventional methods, would recover or reincarnate without truly dying.
"Since indigenous deities draw their power from collected faith, I'm not sure if she'll be as strong as before once released from her seal. However, the fact that she doesn't die will undoubtedly make her a troublesome opponent."
Neville warned that if she became an enemy, they would be subjected to endless attacks until death.
"My father's intention in breaking Athanasia's seal is likely to exhaust the demon race. To somehow force them into conflict with each other."
Neville swallowed hard.
"But, Lord Clay, do you truly believe my father will break Athanasia's seal?"
"Neville."
Clay pointed out in a low voice.
"Now that your title has changed, I'd appreciate it if you'd make that distinction clear."
"Ah."
"It may be uncomfortable, but I can no longer allow exceptions."
Neville showed a bewildered expression but soon bowed his head.
"Understood, Demon King."
"I apologize for imposing this unreasonableness upon you."
Neville wore a reluctant expression at Clay's reaction.
"No, it's nothing. In truth, all of this is probably the fault of humans..."
"Even so, it's not something you should inherently bear. Thank you for your understanding."
Even though he had become the Demon King, Clay still retained a certain "Clay-ness."
This slightly softened the unfamiliar feeling emanating from the changed Clay.
"Neville, you didn't seem too surprised by my words. Did you perhaps learn something while in the imperial family?"
"Yes, I did."
Neville recalled what his father, Lutan, had said.
"Father would sometimes ask his vassals about awakening the sealed indigenous deities to make them fight the demon race. That plan fizzled out with the Hero's appearance... but now, frankly, it wouldn't be strange for it to be carried out. Not if it's Father."
"Even if it means disregarding Elhaim, the chief deity?"
"Father's faith was never that deep to begin with."
It was practically a bombshell declaration regarding the head of the Holy State Alliance, but Neville spoke calmly.
"Even a god is merely seen as an inconvenient superior to my father. He only champions that god because it's the surest way to grasp the greatest power."
In Kratia, such talk couldn't even be uttered.
Ironically, to be in the abode of the demons, whom he considered enemies, and express his honest feelings—Neville could only scoff at himself.
"At any rate, you must be careful. My father will never allow the demon race to rise again. He will bring an even sharper blade to the Demon King."
"You worry about me even at a time like this."
Clay stared intently at Neville.
'This one is different.'
He was a human of a different caliber than his own father.
'But whether he'll come over to this side is an entirely different matter.'
He had offered to help, but that would likely differ from helping the demon race.
'Of course, it doesn't matter.'
He couldn't afford to consider Neville's circumstances.
Clay intended to use him as needed.
But that wasn't all.
"Neville."
"Yes."
"I will start a war."
He planned to make Emperor Kratia's worries a reality.
"It will bring you pain."
"That..."
"I'm being honest."
What he would witness here would never be in the direction he desired.
"Originally, I wasn't going to ask for your understanding. But I didn't want you to feel oppressed either."
"..."
"I intend to destroy the Holy State Alliance and conquer the continent."
Clay rested his chin on his wrist and said.
"You have two choices. Either hinder me, or assist so that the world doesn't fall into ruin."
It would be a very absurd choice for him, but this was the only offer Clay could make to Neville.
"...May I think about it for a while?"
"Take all the time you need."
Clay turned his head sideways.
"Kardine."
"Yes."
"Escort Neville to his room."
Kardine, who had been hiding in the shadows, appeared and guided Neville.
Having finished his task and returned, Kardine asked Clay.
"Is it alright to make such an offer to the Crown Prince of Kratia?"
"Such an offer?"
"I don't know your exact relationship with the Demon King... but someone tied to the Demon King's past cannot be guaranteed as an ally."
"You mean that since he followed me when I was the Hero, he can't be trusted."
Kardine held his breath at Clay's reply but didn't explicitly deny it.
"Well."
Clay said softly.
"It doesn't matter if he's not an ally."
"Pardon?"
"Do you know why the demon race was defeated by humans?"
At the sudden question, Kardine wore a bewildered expression.
"Why the demon race was defeated, you mean?"
"Yes."
"That's because your Majesty, the Demon King, was too strong back then..."
"Incorrect."
The Hero was merely the strongest force of humanity.
"The demon race lost because they only knew how to destroy."
Whether through falsehood or hypocrisy, humans had devised a formula for uniting.
"After observing things here, the demon system is truly abysmal."
The demon race was not organized as a nation.
It wasn't even an alliance of tribes.
"The demon race was merely a primitive group united solely by the Demon King's strength. Unlike humans, who could always reorganize and charge, the demons focused only on the immediate battle, even if it meant expending everything, leaving nothing behind."
War is a long-term affair.
A struggle for the survival of a species could never be decided in an instant.
"And even if I were to establish such a system now, there's no way there would be demons capable of doing it."
Because they lacked experience.
"Then I'll have to borrow human hands."
"Then Your Majesty intends to use the Crown Prince of Kratia..."
"As a foundation stone."
Not merely to awaken the demon race, but to revive them.
"Only by achieving that can we utterly overwhelm humans so they can never rise again."
GULP.
Kardine unconsciously swallowed hard at the hostility Clay displayed.
'This is not mercy.'
It was true that he showed mercy to Neville personally.
But to humanity as a whole, it was nothing short of a catastrophe.
If Neville felt both mercy and fear from Clay simultaneously, there would be only one choice for him to make.
He wouldn't be able to let humanity perish, given his nature.
However, he wouldn't realize that the actions he would take would be part of the Demon King's plan to subjugate humanity forever.
He would simply assume that Clay retained a shred of humanity.
'A misjudgment.'
Clay desired a complete victory.
Kardine felt a chill.
'This is beyond cold-bloodedness.'
Clay was suppressing his emotions as much as possible.
Even while saying these words, his face showed no particular expression.
'Because he is so emotional, he is, paradoxically, planning the future while killing his emotions.'
His anger towards humans, and his killing intent, were beyond anything a mere demon could compare to.
'Is this what happens when you turn the Hero into an enemy?'
It would be different now, but he couldn't even imagine the terror the previous Demon King must have felt when facing the complete Hero.
Clay, he was a born leader.
So much so that the direction he wished to go would soon appear as a clear path.
"Your Majesty."
Kardine knelt.
"I too will do my utmost to ensure your wishes are fulfilled."
"I expect nothing less."
Clay still spoke calmly.
CLICK-CLACK.
Heavenly King Beatrice.
She walked down the corridor and stood before the Demon King's office.
"Hmm~, I see."
Beatrice smiled as she heard sounds from within before knocking on the door.
"As expected, I suppose."
KNOCK, KNOCK.
A moment later, Kardine and Clay looked up as Beatrice opened the door and entered.
"Did I interrupt?"
"No."
Clay gestured to a nearby seat and said.
"On the contrary, I was waiting for you."
"Oh my."
Beatrice covered her mouth and chuckled.
"Waiting for me, that's a pleasant feeling, isn't it?"
"...I'll excuse myself for a moment."
Kardine, realizing they wanted to talk alone, discreetly left the room.
Left alone with Clay, Beatrice finally spoke.
"Clay, I've checked into what you asked me to investigate."
"How was it?"
"It seems Kratia has dispatched Guardian Knights to various locations."
"Various locations?"
"Yes. It's probably what you expected."
Unsealing the ancient gods.
"Even if he's tied to the imperial capital because of the dungeon, Emperor Kratia has quite an absurd personality, doesn't he? How can he try to summon those who were Elhaim's enemies back to the surface?"
"The reason doesn't matter anyway."
Clay asked Beatrice.
"What about the other thing I asked you to investigate?"
"I checked."
Beatrice sent a piece of paper flying to Clay.
"Just as you said, there were reserve Heavenly Kings. How did you know?"
Clay didn't answer immediately and examined the contents of the paper.
It listed the individuals who would ascend to the positions of Heavenly Kings if those seats were vacant.
"...The previous Demon King told me something."
That even if the Heavenly Kings were killed, there would be subordinates to fill their places.
The other members of the Hero's party had only understood that to mean the demon race wouldn't stop attacking, but Clay was different.
The previous Demon King would sometimes drop clues that allowed one to grasp the demon system.
Of course, Clay only became certain that they were genuine clues after coming to Barungenia.
"I was half-convinced at the time, but now I can be certain."
"I don't know what the previous Demon King was thinking, but it will certainly help us."
"Beatrice."
Clay looked at her.
"You are my most trusted ally."
"That's a strange thing to say. Have we reached that point already?"
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to reach this position."
He asked her.
"I will issue a summoning order to the reserve Heavenly Kings listed here. I appoint you, Beatrice, as the emissary."
"Me? Can I leave my post?"
"If it's not you, the reserve Heavenly Kings might not move."
Clay rose from his seat and approached Beatrice.
"I'd like to ask you to do it immediately after Athanasia is dealt with and the situation calms down."
"Do you have a way to deal with Athanasia?"
Beatrice reached out and stroked Clay's face.
"You don't have to rush too much. The Holy State Alliance will likely limit the faith the indigenous deity can gather anyway. You can gather more of your power first."
"Don't worry."
Clay's eyes glowed red.
"Because I will gain that power through Athanasia."
***
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