Chapter 85
Pandemonium.
Two of the seven thrones of the Demon King War were empty.
Lucifer looked at those two empty thrones indifferently, then surveyed the other four Demon Kings.
[Satan. Beelzebub. Belphegor. Leviathan.]
Lucifer lets out a long sigh.
[Mammon's seat is vacant.]
Mammon, who had been miserably defeated by Asmodeus, barely returned to hell maintaining only his divinity and immediately informed Lucifer of what had happened to him.
And in the meantime while Lucifer went out to stop Asmodeus and the Pantheon and returned.
Mammon's divinity had completely disappeared from hell.
There was no one here who didn't know what that meant.
[Who ate Mammon? Speak honestly.]
A child-like body.
Soft pillows and baggy pajamas that looked ready for bed.
Sloth's Belphegor pointed to one side with a leisurely attitude and voice.
[It's Gluttony. I saw that fat Beelzebub eating him, Lucifer.]
At Belphegor's words, a huge lump of flesh glared at Belphegor while panting.
[You little tattletale. I'll tear off your flesh and eat it someday.]
[‘You little tattletale.’ Is your tongue fat too, Beelzebub?]
Seeing Belphegor deliberately twisting her voice to imitate his words in a way that couldn't be more annoying, Beelzebub couldn't stand it and stood up.
Lucifer waved his hand with a sigh at that sight.
At that action, Beelzebub stopped as he was about to rush in, and Belphegor also closed her mouth.
[I know better than anyone that we don't get along well with each other. But you idiots. If you have brains, think a little.]
Lucifer looked at the Demon Kings as if they were pathetic.
[Mammon was eaten by Asmodeus. And the one wielding that Asmodeus is a guy called the Saint. If we leave him be, he'll devour more faith than any divinity in the Abyss, Hell, or Celestial Realm.]
[....]
[Do you all want some guy to take all the results after investing in various ways for over 300 years in tug-of-war with the Abyss and Celestial Realm?]
At those words, Beelzebub sighed heavily and then spat out the truth in a tone that really seemed like he didn't want to reveal it.
[Fine. I ate Mammon. There wasn't much left. That Asmodeus had sucked him dry so thoroughly.]
[So it was you who sucked him up?]
Envy's Leviathan spat out sharp words while nervously biting her nails.
She, who looked terribly thin as if suffering from anorexia, looked at fat Beelzebub's face with her characteristically empty eyes full of envy and disgust.
[I... I was going to eat him!! You fucking pig with an unnecessarily keen nose!!]
[Leviathan. I don't even want to fight with you. I don't eat spoiled things.]
[Are you done talking?]
Lucifer, who couldn't stand listening to the childish bickering that could hardly be seen as a fight between divinities, shouts.
[Haven't you all invested a lot in various ways for 300 years? Didn't we conclude to cooperate when necessary to swallow the human realm? Are you going to let Asmodeus devour the human realm!! You idiots!!]
At Lucifer's threat, the growling Leviathan and Beelzebub stepped back, but they didn't stop glaring at each other.
Lucifer looked like he wanted to tear these bastards apart and kill them all, but he barely suppressed his emotions.
[Beelzebub. Since you ate Mammon, you'll have to do a more difficult task. Take on the role of monitoring the worm from the Abyss.]
[The worm from the Abyss? You mean watch the Evil God? Hasn't that guy been quiet since losing his fragment in the capital and having his plans ruined?]
[That guy is most dangerous when he's quiet. You never know what he might be plotting behind the scenes. Moreover, he's the one who put strange words into the Saint while acting like the Grace's whore. He's certainly not just sitting still doing nothing. He must have some scheme.]
[Isn't watching the Abyss your job, Lucifer?]
Lucifer pounded the armrest irritably.
[Don't you know that bitch Asmodeus strengthened the connection between the celestial and human realms? It's impossible to block the Celestial Realm while doing other things now! I have to use all my strength to block it! Moreover, I have to stop that bitch Asmodeus from spilling various truths to the Saint too!]
[So you want me to do it? Doing such nutritionless sentry duty doesn't suit my temperament...]
Hellfire began to rise from Lucifer's body.
[Do I have to tear off all that fat belly of yours to make you listen to me? What kind of attitude is it to say you won't work after even swallowing Mammon's remnants?]
At that sight, Beelzebub flinched.
[...I understand. Pride. I'll do as you say.]
[Good.]
Lucifer extinguished the hellfire burning from his body.
With a face that looked like he was dying of exhaustion, he looked at the remaining three Demon Kings.
[Envy. Sloth. Wrath. You three take on the task of corrupting Saint Amael.]
[You want to make Asmodeus sit on the throne again?]
[We have to. That guy is currently at the center of the greatest faith. If that guy turns to Pandemonium's side... the tug-of-war that's continued for 300 years ends. The advantage tilts to our side at once.]
The Demon Kings licked their lips at those words.
Taking the entire human realm into their hands.
Would there be any divinity in this world that didn’t desire that?
[What you must keep in mind is that you must never destroy the soul. While leaving the soul intact. You must only corrupt it. Whether you incite desires to tempt him. Or torture him to break his spirit. Do it however you want. But you must never kill him. You must corrupt him. No matter what. Understand?]
Lucifer warned repeatedly.
[How power without a master acts... I don't need to explain, right?]
Everyone understood just from saying this much.
[Corrupting one human soul isn't difficult.]
[The key is... Asmodeus. It depends on how much she interferes.]
[Lucifer. You're controlling Lust, right? Can't you help somehow?]
When Satan, Belphegor, and Leviathan each said a word, Lucifer shook his head.
[Think about the amount of faith Asmodeus has devoured until now. And the fact that she even ate Mammon. I'm in a position where I have to block the Pantheon bastards too on top of that. All I can do is prevent Lust from spilling the truth to the Saint. There's nothing else I can do.]
[Damn it. This is going to get fucking complicated.]
[The resistance won't be ordinary.]
[That's right. That's why I'm entrusting it to you three. While two of you subdue Asmodeus, the remaining Demon King must take on the task of corrupting the Saint's soul.]
Satan looked offended.
[Three against one... I don't like it.]
[I'm sure you don't. But we must be extremely cautious. This matter must not fail. We must. We must succeed no matter what. So we need to put aside our pride for a moment.]
Satan still looked displeased at Lucifer's words, but nodded as if he had no choice.
[Lucifer. I'll do as you say.]
[Good. Then let's dismiss.]
Lucifer knew very well how dangerous it was to gather the Demon Kings in one place more than necessary.
[Satan. Belphegor. Leviathan. Don't have any other thoughts. Focus only on corrupting the Saint. If you do something strange and ruin the work... I won't stand by idly. Understand? Think about what you've invested until now.]
Those were Lucifer's last words, but no Demon King answered them.
Normally they would have quickly returned to their own domains, not wanting to see each other's faces, but Wrath, Envy, and Sloth couldn't do that just today.
They glared at each other with expressions saying they didn't even want to look at each other.
[Looking at your dog-like faces for long makes me want to vomit. Let's end this quickly. Let's decide our roles.]
[Do we really need to decide? It's already obvious what each of us will do.]
At Satan's words, Belphegor shrugged.
[Leviathan and Satan. You two find the Saint and take charge of subduing Asmodeus in the Saint's soul. If you two hold Asmodeus down well, I'll take on the task of corrupting the Saint's soul in the meantime.]
At those words, Leviathan and Satan's brows furrowed sharply.
[Belphegor. You're the only one with a good role composition.]
[This lazy crazy bitch? You want us two to run around like wild boars hit by a forest fire while you choose the easiest job for yourself?]
At the two Demon Kings' opposition, Belphegor yawned and waved her hand.
[Then Satan and I will subdue Lust, so Leviathan. Do you want to take charge of corrupting the Saint?]
[Ah... that...]
[Do you have confidence to calmly let Asmodeus return to hell when you're already going crazy with envy towards her? Even if you're fine now, do you have confidence you won't try to destroy her the moment you see Lust's face in the Saint's soul later?]
At Belphegor's words, the angry Satan and Leviathan closed their mouths.
[Or well. Satan. Do you want to take charge of corruption? Do you have confidence you won't crush that soul in anger if that stupidly kind Saint doesn't get corrupted and keeps acting frustratingly?]
There was still no answer.
Belphegor stretched.
[I don't want to do anything to upset Lucifer even out of laziness. Moreover, I'm better at corrupting human souls than you two, right? Think about the number of saints and heroes I corrupted during the celestial war 300 years ago.]
Satan and Leviathan couldn't refute Belphegor's words.
[Damn it. Do we have no choice?]
[Fine. Then Sloth. You take charge of corrupting the Saint.]
[You should have said so from the start. Yaaaawn.]
Sloth let out another long yawn.
At that sight, Satan and Leviathan's faces crumpled even more intensely.
[This lazy bitch. No matter how I think about it, it seems like you're trying to give us the hard work and take only the easiest job for yourself.]
At Leviathan's words, Satan nodded, and Belphegor shrugged.
[Well. That's not wrong. I hate troublesome things. But that doesn't mean I won't help at all.]
[What do you mean?]
[Wouldn't it be better to have four against one... rather than three against one?]
Belphegor gringed.
[I'll give you two the best of my collection. Use it to chase and subdue the Saint. This way, I'm not just doing the easy work and ending it, right? Right?]
At Belphegor's words, curiosity appeared in Satan and Leviathan's eyes.
The Demon King who corrupted the most heroes, saints, and holy women of the Pantheon.
The best of such Belphegor's collection.
They became curious about what it could be.
[Which god's chosen one is it?]
[It's not a chosen one. It's a divinity itself.]
[What?]
[I have one where I've trapped a goddess who fell to earth among the 24 divinities of the Pantheon in a human body. It's the best among my collection.]
Satan and Leviathan's eyes widen.
[You had a divinity?]
[Yes. But don't worry. I've thoroughly made it mine.]
At Belphegor's words, Leviathan and Satan hurriedly looked at Belphegor with eyes saying they wanted to see it.
Belphegor gave a drowsy smile as if drunk on sleep.
[Alright. I'll show you my toy that I'll lend you from now on. Let me introduce the divinity of Bellia, the Goddess of War among the Pantheon's divinities...]
***
Belphegor flinched.
She stopped her body.
And soon her eyes that were half-closed lazily slowly open and then fully open.
As she who always had her eyes half-closed fully opened her eyes, Satan and Leviathan flinched.
[...She escaped. Just now.]
[What?]
[Aaaaaah. Damn it!! Asmodeus!! It's because of that bitch!! The entire spiritual realm shook because she shot up that pillar of light in Scrap Yard, right? That bitch Bellia took advantage of the moment my attention was dispersed to undo my subjugation and escape!! This deficient divinity!!]
Belphegor tore up her pillow and shouted in a tremendous voice.
Black tears of blood began to flow from her completely opened eyes.
[Change of plans. Satan. Leviathan. Help me recover my escaped collection. You'll have to release your followers and help search together.]
[What nonsense is that?]
[Finding and corrupting the Saint is more important. Your collection or whatever can be found later...]
[It's more certain if four face one!! If we can make Bellia's divinity mine again, we can use that bitch to corrupt the Saint more comfortably and easily!! Think about how fierce Asmodeus's resistance will be!! Bellia is absolutely necessary!!]
[...]
[Moreover, if you don't help me and assist in recovering Bellia's divinity, you won't get my help either. You two figure it out yourselves. I'll quit even if I get scolded by Lucifer.]
[Ah fuck. Fine. I get it, so stop opening your eyes like that.]
Satan and Leviathan could only sigh deeply and nod as if they had no choice at Belphegor's fierce gaze.
And so it was decided.
The Saint's corruption was temporarily on hold.
The escaped Bellia.
More precisely, the three Demon Kings began to move to track down the whereabouts of the woman containing the divinity of Bellia, the Goddess of War.