I was still in the position of aiming my pistol at Mareketh. The only thing in my mind right now was how to free my uncle from this hellish realm. I truly could not believe that my uncle really did that only for me and Aunt Nancy. I only knew that Uncle worked as a vehicle washer in a washroom.
I also knew from Aunt that none of her family possessed abundant wealth. Aunt had also once told me how Uncle, who was only a washer, could buy me a console and video games which at that time were still considered expensive and could send money to the two of us while Uncle still had a family he had to support. Aunt had also been somewhat unsure whether the money Uncle sent was obtained through the right means, which was why Aunt worked again.
I myself always buried that question because if I thought about it too much, it would ruin the happiness I had regained, which in truth was happiness that came from something not right. Now I saw with my own eyes what happened when Uncle entered hell and was tortured to be held accountable for his actions.
Did all my abnormal obsessions, my criminal acts, and the disasters that happened in my world originate from the sins committed by my uncle?
No... no... the reason surely did not come from me... I was certain Uncle hid secrets in his life that caused him to become like this...
"You truly have no fear at all, human!!! What your uncle did is clearly a sin, and are you doing this only to defend him and threaten me?!?! I am telling the truth yet you consider me a liar!!! Is it because I am a Devil that whatever I say must be a lie to you?!?! You will see the consequences of your attitude toward meee...!!!" said Mareketh in an angry tone.
Mareketh then raised his arm and opened his right hand. Suddenly, from the direction of his throne room, something could be seen flying rapidly toward Mareketh. When Mareketh caught it, I could see that it was his large and long red obsidian sword.
Ohhh… no, he was about to retaliate against me. I knew my pistol would not even be able to injure Mareketh at all. Why did I only now realize that my momentary reaction to my uncle's condition had blinded me from being cautious toward Mareketh? Should I apologize to him? But he already looked angry and the sword he summoned was already a sign that he wanted to punish me for this reckless act. It seemed he would not accept my apology.
"Fooooool…!!! He is already very angry at yooouuu…!!! You will soon be chopped apart by his sword if you do not immediately run from heeereee...!!!" shouted Banasphate.
I suddenly remembered the story of the feud between Mareketh and Banasphate. I stored my pistol in my belt, took the mirror ball, and held its lid.
"If my Lord wishes to retaliate, I will return Banasphate to you! You are actually afraid of Banasphate too, aren't you?!" I said while preparing to open the lid of the mirror ball. Mareketh grew even more irritated by my action this time.
"J-j-Jooohhhaaaannnnn.....!!!" said Uncle while shouting slightly. I was startled when he called me in that tone. If he were in a healthy normal state, he would have shouted angrily at me. I turned my body and looked back at Uncle.
"D-d-do you… forget… your aunt's… advice...?!?!" said Uncle haltingly.
I dropped to both knees again and lowered my head. I thought about what Aunt had said to me. I remembered Aunt once said that essentially every problem that ends up being resolved with violence is a sign that they only fill their hearts with wickedness. Someone who still guards their heart and knows their position and limits will face problems with a cool-headed and steady hands even if it must end with wounds, both physical and emotional.
"W-w-what… the king said… is… true. Stop… denying… Johann. Uncle… already knows… the punishment…" said Uncle, whose tone now softened.
My tears burst out and I cried as hard as I could in front of Uncle. I still could not believe Uncle admitted all his deeds only for my sake. I felt deeply guilty that Uncle did those things. If only I could turn back time with this reality, I could immediately stop his sinful acts and prevent him from being tortured in hell. But what power did I have, I was only an ordinary human, not God. I had to accept all this reality before me.
"O-Oohh… K-king… f-forgive J-Johann's actions… H-He simply... d-does not k-know... a-anything…" said Uncle to Mareketh in a pleading tone. Mareketh only sighed several times. Banasphate also fell silent watching my interaction with Uncle. I was still sobbing.
"J-j-Johann… y-you must… leave… this realm… i-immediately…You are… n-not dead yet… R-Return… -A-Aunt is looking... f-for you…" pleaded Uncle. I only nodded. I picked up the mirror ball from the floor and then stood up. I walked to face Mareketh again.
"Oh Lord Mareketh. I wish to offer my deepest apologies and forgiveness to you for my extremely insolent actions toward you," I now pleaded to him.
Mareketh then placed his sword by holding the grip with its tip resting on the floor. His expression now no longer looked angry but instead appeared confused as he processed everything that had just happened.
"Truly I no longer understand you. But I must ask you one thing. How could you, who are not yet dead, be stranded in this hellish realm?" asked Mareketh.
I was stunned by him because he seemed unwilling to punish my actions. But as a form of apology, I answered Mareketh's question in detail.
Starting from my childhood condition, the moment when Uncle gave me the game that immediately became my favorite throughout my life, my dark moment that returned again, the catastrophe that happened because what was inside the game became reality, and how I was finally stranded here.
I told Mareketh that my story truly happened and that Mareketh himself was a character within that game. Mareketh showed the most shocked expression. I slightly glanced toward Uncle and he was equally shocked by what I told.
"Ohhh… nooo… nooo… He truly is real… The Terror has now returned here again... this is very bad…!!!" Mareketh began to panic. He seemed to remember something again.
When I heard the words "The Terror," I remembered again the moment when Zigurath had also said the same thing after Hellraider appeared in Zigurath's throne room. Did Zigurath already know who Hellraider was?
"Forgive me, my Lord. Does that mean this is not his first time in hell? Exactly how many times has he come here?" I asked curiously.
"It is difficult to explain. I faced him together with that rebel countless times. We were always defeated by him, but strangely we felt as if we awakened again from a nightmare that seemed to occur every time we slept," explained Mareketh in a tone mixed with confusion and panic.
"My Lord, forgive me for adding more bad news. But he has already defeated Zigurath. I witnessed it myself there. I do not know when he will come here, but sooner or later it will happen," I said.
Mareketh paced back and forth, looking extremely panicked upon hearing my words. But he stopped again and spoke to me once more.
"Hey… didn't you say earlier that you had to enter hell so that the portal would close? Does that mean indirectly you were indeed invited by The Terror?" said Mareketh.
"Once again I apologize, my Lord, I truly do not know. But what you must know is that I was not welcomed by him at all. Just earlier, I was almost killed by him. He does not care whether one is a native creature here or not," I said.
Mareketh then placed his right palm on his face and wiped downward, as if he looked despairing at what had happened.
"Very well. I will keep you detained here until he arrives. If we are indeed defeated by him, perhaps we will awaken as before again. But perhaps you will not, you will become a prisoner here forever," said Mareketh with a cynical smile.
Damn it, he returned to his devilish nature! Of course I did not want this to happen. If I became a human being tortured here, I would die first in the world. Moreover, I had already faced death many times while I was here. I thought of another way to convince him so I could continue my journey. Suddenly an idea crossed my mind.
"My Lord, if you are willing. I can voluntarily become bait so that The Terror does not head toward your Palace. Perhaps I will direct him to Azkerath's territory," I pleaded.
"Fooooool…!!!! You want to face him directly even though he has already tried to kill you…!!!! Have you given up already or are you truly insane…?!?!?! Do you really think you still have another chance huuuuhhhh…?!?!?!" shouted Banasphate.
"When I first faced you, did I look like I already had a plan?? All I could do was keep moving forward and look for opportunities. I do not know what allowed me to get this far in hell, but if I do not move forward, I will never know," I said while looking at Banasphate.
I lifted my gaze again to Mareketh's face. He was folding both his arms at his sides while observing me seriously. Not long after, he spoke.
"Hhhheeeeehhhh… I do not know what kind of human you are... But what I see is that you truly look different from him even though you are both humans who are still alive. Very well, I will grant your request..." said Mareketh.
"Oh… thank you, my Lord. I will keep my word. Then what about Lord Banasphate here?" I said while presenting the mirror ball to Mareketh.
"I have already decided not to accept him by my side anymore. You may take him along with you. Perhaps he can be useful in helping you face That Terror," said Mareketh.
"Nooo… noooo… M-my Looord..!!!! Pleaaasee…!!!! I do not want to die foolishly together with this lowly human at the hands of The Terror, my Looord…!!!!" said Banasphate as he again floated around aimlessly.
Mareketh ignored him. He allowed me to continue my journey. I felt relieved hearing it. I then went to face my uncle again to say farewell.
"I will go first, Uncle. I will meet Aunt Nancy again," I said with a smile. Uncle only smiled faintly and nodded once.
I then walked again to leave the palace without being accompanied by Mareketh but with one of the hell knights. When I had already exited Mareketh's palace and was walking on the great bridge, I, who was still holding the mirror ball, remembered something. Could this be inserted into my interface slot?
I saw the slot appear again. Without thinking long, I directed it and it successfully entered. I continued walking again and suddenly from the right side of my vision there was a purple light floating toward me. I stopped to process what was happening.
Suddenly the light transformed into Banasphate's figure, but more transparent. I was very shocked and stepped back once. How could he do that from inside the mirror ball?
"HHHAAAAAHHHHH... you surely did not expect why it could be like this!!! This is called astral projection, you lowly foolish humaaan…!!!!" said Banasphate as he immediately rushed toward me, but he simply passed through my body.
"No. I know that. You were just trying to scare me..." I said.
"Hahhhh… always making excuses!!! Hey listen you damned brat... if you fail later and I manage to escape, you will become my meal hereee…!!!" threatened Banasphate.
"Yes… yes… yesss… I understand that, my Lord…" I said casually.
I did not realize I had already walked several meters away from the palace gate. Suddenly in front of me passed a Judgementor.
Ohhh... nooo... I had just realized that I no longer had the green crystal ball, and the Judgementor quickly walked toward me. But suddenly Banasphate's projection floated forward.
"BEGOOONE FROM HEREEEE YOU LOWLY CREATUREEEEE…!!!!" shouted Banasphate. The Judgementor, upon seeing him, immediately fled and left us.
I stood stunned watching Banasphate's action. Even though he often cursed and threatened me, it seemed he wanted me to continue surviving until my encounter with Hellraider.
I could feel that he played a far better role than my green crystal ball.