Chapter 25
Azazel sighed deeply while looking at the sleeping people.
This monastery was in treacherous terrain where even the northern dwarves rarely visited.
She had survived until now thanks to an unnamed benefactor who brought food and money to the monastery.
Could they have followed his trail?
"Of all people, to think they'd be guided by that sister, it's absurd. Is she trying to play family now?"
Azazel felt irritation rising when thinking of her detestable sister's face that resembled her own. The tentacles writhing behind her reflected her mood.
- Azazel, that man. Isn't something strange about him?
Then, a voice like scraping metal reached Azazel's ears. It was the voice of Morgidian, the Outer God she had contracted with.
Surprisingly, he was an Outer God favorable to humans. One of the few that could be counted like finding a needle in a desert.
It was also the Outer God's consideration that had amplified her abilities to put everyone to sleep without needlessly bloodying her hands.
"Yes? Lord Morgidian, what's wrong?"
The Outer God had noticed something strange and spoken to Azazel.
- I cannot pierce through to see what dream he's having. This is the first time this has happened. A being that can resist an Outer God's status...?
The white-haired man sleeping soundly at Azazel's feet. Her tentacles trembled as if resonating while looking at him.
"Could it be my sister's doing? Since Dream Demons can resist erotic dreams..."
- No, this isn't such a simple matter to begin with. That man's blood vessels are completely blocked with 'something.' As if saying don't intrude from outside.
"What does that matter? He's sleeping just fine, fallen into the dream I created."
Azazel had shut herself away in this remote monastery to regain the love of Kang Si-woo, who had abandoned her for her sister.
It was just to return this twisted world to nothing and meet and fall in love with Kang Si-woo, whom she had liked, from the beginning again.
Now she had become strong enough to tear apart and kill all the Papal Curia people who wouldn't recognize her as a Holy Maiden,
And she was confident she could dig into people's hearts to a degree that even her sister Gabriel couldn't approach, but.
- No, this is equivalent to territory marking by another Outer God.
Jjeojjeok, jjeojjeojjeok!
As if proving Morgidian's words, her tentacles immediately froze when they tried to approach Bing Yeon even slightly.
"This can't be..."
This was the first time even Azazel had seen such a case. Outer Gods were chaos from outside this universe, beings beyond human cognition.
Who on earth could emit cold energy that could freeze an Outer God's divine body?
- Moreover, look at the children this man brought, Azazel.
At those words, Azazel looked at the other collapsed people.
A black-haired girl wearing Eastern clothes and a blonde girl wearing cloth clothes one might wear in a rural village.
Looking at Bi Wol and Verdandi, she could tell they were around her age.
- One inherently possesses evil energy, the other inherently possesses good energy - beings that cannot coexist.
"Like... a Demon King and Hero?"
- Yes, while the blonde girl has the blessing of a divine being, the black-haired girl has the killing intent of a fierce star dwelling in her...
Twitch, twitch.
Unlike with Bing Yeon who rejected approach, the black tentacles gently settled on their heads, and Morgidian seemed to read and relay information to Azazel.
Usually, other Outer Gods would do things like eating brains or driving humans mad with insanity, but.
- Honestly, even I couldn't find a way to handle this peacefully without putting them to sleep. If they had resisted an Outer God's status and drawn their swords, I'm not sure who would have won.
Unlike them, Morgidian was a benevolent Outer God who tried to minimize harm as much as possible.
The reason he gave power to Azazel in the first place was because he sympathized with her story of "Your sister stole the man you secretly loved?"
He had only wanted to give her a chance to meet Kang Si-woo before her sister by turning back time.
But what was this situation now?
Heavenly Killing Star, Heavenly Demon Bi Wol.
Hero of Justice, Verdandi.
Including Holy Maiden of the Outer God, Azazel,
If they just grew up like this, three people who could slaughter this world were gathered in one place.
Noticing the gravity of the situation, Morgidian trembled slightly and fell into fear. While Azazel wouldn't harm him due to their contract.
- I don't know where he brought such monstrous children from, all capable of reaching the realm of God-Slaying.
Because he had glimpsed the possibility that the future Bi Wol and Verdandi could really kill him.
"To that degree? They look like ordinary peers to me."
Azazel asked Morgidian with a puzzled expression. Aren't they just children sleeping innocently now? If anything was threatening...
"Ah, I did glimpse a strange future. But that future will absolutely never come true."
A future where she and those children became adults, tied that white-haired man tightly to a bed, blindfolded him, and prepared to violate him.
Because Azazel hadn't given up her feelings for Kang Si-woo, she was firmly resolved in her heart that such a future would never come.
- I think so too. A master having relations with disciples, what a horrific relationship.
Morgidian spoke to Azazel while shrinking his black tentacles. He also knew how socially condemned such acts between master and disciple would be.
- But how can that man go around with children standing at such opposing points of good and evil?
A sudden question arose. Normally they should be more than eager to kill each other.
One is a hero said to be directly chosen by the God of Light, the other a Demon King-like being with a star dwelling in her that must kill to live.
- Now I understand, that man is someone who should not exist.
Shudder.
Morgidian had realized something after seeing through Bing Yeon's body. The ominous energy blocking all his blood vessels.
"What do you mean by that..."
- How can one who is being watched by those higher than me be considered human?
"He looks like an ordinary person on the outside."
Azazel sized up Bing Yeon and stated her judgment, seeing no special characteristics or weapons.
Usually, when thinking of dangerous people, wouldn't one imagine someone more burly and fierce-looking?
The children who seemed to be his disciples did look threatening as the Outer God said. They had even pointed a holy sword made of light at her.
However,
- How can you not feel fear seeing an ant that speaks human words and receives their affection?
The Outer God's judgment differed from hers. Morgidian conveyed his thoughts to her in a very cold tone.
There was only one kind of being higher than himself, a Great Old One.
"You mean... those called Cosmic Origins?"
- Yes, beings of a different dimension from me, who am merely classified as a Great Old One.
Outer God.
Absolute beings called ultimate gods who operate even in the absolute abyss beyond outer space.
A man admired by such beings was before their eyes.
- Just as humans show love to ants by cutting off their legs and burning them in sunlight. How could mere ants understand that?
Their ecology was so unique and incomprehensible that even this comparison fell short.
This was why Morgidian, being favorable to humans, was considered unusual among Outer Gods.
"......"
- That man is dangerous. He shouldn't be killed nor kept alive. We must pretend not to know and move on.
"Are you saying we should abandon this place? No! Lord Si-woo said he would come find me someday!"
Azazel shook her head vigorously, expressing to the Outer God her intention not to move a single step.
This place was where she first met Kang Si-woo who had been playing the hero character.
The place where they said goodbye, promising to meet again someday.
She was struggling with all her might, not wanting to forget or erase such memories.
- Azazel, I'm sorry but we must flee quickly. Who knows what will happen the moment they discover we touched that man.
Morgidian tried to move Azazel's tentacles to get her out of the building.
"Then, can't we just dig into his mind and find his weakness?"
Stopping the Outer God, Azazel came up with a scheme. To enter that white-haired man's dream and peek at his past to see what he's thinking.
This was the orthodox method for succubi to bewitch humans.
- Absolutely not. All my senses are trembling.
Morgidian denied Azazel's suggestion. As she said, others' dreams were quite transparent even to Outer Gods.
While Bi Wol dreamed of being united with Bing Yeon and living happily, and Verdandi dreamed of becoming the most famous and righteous hero recognized by people.
- The moment we peek into that man's dream, we will definitely die.
Like something frantically scribbled over with black crayon, pure void appeared before the Outer God, showing nothing.
The moment Azazel stepped into Bing Yeon's dream, she would either fall into endless darkness and go mad, or beg to be killed.
"Then what should we do! You say we can't kill him but can't keep him alive either!"
Azazel jumped up and down in place, throwing a tantrum.
A Holy Maiden couldn't kill people to begin with. Nor could she run to the Papal Curia and say this man was favored by Outer Gods.
She wasn't an officially recognized Holy Maiden after all.
Born as a demon race with holy power, a half-baked existence. In Azazel's life, only the game player Kang Si-woo had understood and loved her.
- If we accept that man's proposal. We might buy some time. Outer Gods are capricious and fastidious beings after all.
"Absolutely not! I will only love Lord Si-woo, follow only him, and swear eternity under him!"
While Azazel and Morgidian, connected in consciousness with the black tentacles, were arguing, there was a rustling sound and signs of movement.
"...Ha, fuck. Of all dreams, it had to be that one."
The owner of the voice letting out a coarse curse and deep sigh was the white-haired man they feared most.
"Ah, y-you're awake...?"
"Yes, thanks to someone, I slept very well."
It was Bing Yeon.
As soon as he came to his senses, he looked around and confirmed his disciples had fallen asleep. Their final preparations had been utterly ruined.
"Um, are you really human? No one should be able to maintain sanity after tasting Lord ■■■■■'s power..."
Azazel tried to subdue Bing Yeon again by speaking the Outer God's true name. However, unlike before, he seemed completely unaffected.
"Have you lived being deceived? My name is Bing Yeon. I've come all the way from the East to save you."
Now he was even taking a step forward, closing the distance with Azazel.
Could he really be receiving an Outer God's blessing? Azazel's shoulders shrank as her body naturally moved backward.
"Azazel. Won't you become my disciple and consider leaving this treacherous place? When winter comes soon, you won't be able to come down to town and will have to spend months here alone."
Bing Yeon attempted persuasion.
"No. If you insist, then try to subdue me by force."
However, Azazel's attitude remained unchanged. She could give even her life to protect this place.
"...Then I'll take you by force. Because the person you're waiting for will never come."
Bing Yeon took his stance, emitting cold energy to take away Azazel who was waiting for a protagonist who would never come.