"What do you want from me?"
Gluttony nodded, unable to hear Wrath's scream.
Even in this situation, seeing her lick her lips while looking at the unconscious people confirmed her gluttonous nature.
"First, don't touch anyone here."
Raon glared at Gluttony with Wrath's blue eyes.
"They're all my subjects."
"Hmm..."
Gluttony bit her lip slightly, as if disappointed. Judging by her expression, she would have really eaten them if he hadn't said anything.
Anyway, there wasn't a single normal one among the demon kings.
"The one you devoured was Greed's subordinate. I was going to engrave the price of touching my subject into their soul..."
Raon looked down at Gluttony, tilting his chin sideways.
"You swallowed him whole. And on top of that..."
He pointed at himself, sharply spreading Wrath's aura.
"You made me show this form."
"Hmm..."
Gluttony flinched slightly and took a step back.
"Once something enters your maw, there's no way out. I'll make sure you pay the price."
"..."
She dropped her shoulders as if she had nothing to say.
Seeing this, it felt like the martial prowess and presence of the blue cotton candy was indeed top-tier among demon kings.
-H-how did you figure out about Gluttony's mouth! (E/N: you said it last chapter you damn glutton!)
Wrath peeked his face out from the chest.
'You told me, remember?'
Raon tilted his head, looking at Wrath's round eyes.
-When did I ever!
'You said, "If you get eaten by that mouth, even I won't be able to save you. Quickly hand over that body to me."'
Thanks to his words, I realized the danger of the white lips Gluttony summons, and also thought of a way to obtain her power.
-Aaaaaargh!
Wrath screamed, grabbing his fluttering hair.
-This is maddening! Why did I say such a thing! My mouth!
He tapped his own mouth, saying that his chattiness was always the problem.
"So I just need to not eat the humans here?"
Gluttony bowed her head deeply, as if making a great concession. It was absurd to think of that as a concession.
"You're greatly mistaken. That's not a request, it's a warning."
Raon frowned, looking at Gluttony's white mouth.
"If you don't want your tongue ripped out, you'd better submit on your own."
"Uh..."
As Gluttony groaned and shook her head, the white lips floating in the air melted into darkness.
-Ugh. I'm going to lose my mind!
Wrath screamed, swinging his round fist.
-Why does your acting improve the more your train in swordsmanship!
'This is innate talent.'
Having lived as an assassin and acted as numerous humans, deceiving simple demon kings was easier than anything else.
"Glutton."
Raon slowly raised his gaze after enjoying Wrath's struggle.
"Hand over your power."
He beckoned with his finger towards Gluttony, who was waiting for an answer.
"...My power?"
"That's right."
"You want
Gluttony's eyes widened, as if surprised.
"Why?"
"Why should I answer you?"
Raon calmly shook his head. If he said too much here, Gluttony might become suspicious.
Using Wrath's authority to speak sparingly was the right answer.
"You just need to decide. Either have your tongue ripped out here or hand over your power and disappear."
Extreme bluffing. Even though everyone here would die if Gluttony made a single gesture now, he raised his gaze confidently without the slightest hesitation.
-Augh...
Wrath groaned, clutching his temples.
-I-I might be fooled too in her place. But we mustn't be deceived!
He raised his hand towards Gluttony.
-Glutton! Kill this bastard! He's an angel-like bastard who could threaten not just the human world, but the Devildom too!
Wrath shouted loudly, but of course, Gluttony couldn't hear him.
"Hah..."
Gluttony let out a short sigh.
"I'll be hungry, but alright."
She nodded as if she had no choice.
-Nooooo!
Wrath screamed, clutching his head.
-Why are all demon kings such suckers! Why!
'You're the biggest sucker of them all.'
It was funny to see the first and biggest sucker criticizing another sucker.
'Now I just need to decide how to receive the power from Gluttony.'
-W-wait!
As he was about to smile, Wrath quickly raised his hand.
-Don't tell me you're thinking of receiving it in a form other than a flower bracelet?
'So what if I am?'
Though not visible now, all three flower bracelets are Wrath's taste. Now I wanted to receive it in a different shape.
-You tasteless fool! Don't you know anything about color coordination!
'I do know.'
-Then why!
'Because I dislike flower bracelets more.'
-No way! I can't stand things that don't match!
Wrath shook his head, saying he couldn't compromise on that.
'Worry about matching your own body.'
Pushing him aside, he gestured to Gluttony.
"Gluttony."
Raon curled up the corners of his mouth, toying with the two demon kings.
"On my wrist, containing your power..."
He was about to explain how to transfer the power to Gluttony, pointing at his wrist.
"What are you doing now?"
A deep, weighty voice that seemed to press heavily on the ears flowed from above Gluttony.
"Huh...?"
Raon swallowed dryly as he lifted his gaze. A young man was visible, resting his chin on top of Gluttony's head.
He was a tall, handsome youth with black hair and golden eyes, his skin slightly tanned. He wore a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a black vest, with a golden monocle over his right eye.
'Who is that guy...'
He was different from Gluttony, who warped space just by breathing.
Despite being right in front of him, he felt no presence at all. If the floor hadn't been slightly depressed, he would have thought it was an illusion.
-So he did come after all...
Hearing Wrath's groan, he had an idea who that man might be.
'Wrath. Don't tell me that's...'
-Your guess is probably correct.
Wrath nodded heavily.
-The Monarch of Greed. Greed.
The moment he heard the name Greed, a chilling shiver ran down his spine.
He had thought Greed might appear since Silcret was his subordinate.
But he didn't expect him to show up at this timing. It was the worst possible situation.
"Greed."
Gluttony raised her eyes to look at Greed, who was resting his chin on her head.
"Why are you here?"
"Because you devoured my subordinate."
Greed looked down at Gluttony and smirked. Despite his subordinate being harmed, his face only showed composure and a smile.
"I was already being scolded for that."
Gluttony looked at Raon and smacked her lips.
"Scolding you? Who?"
"Wrath."
She raised her hand and pointed at Raon.
"Wrath, huh..."
Greed's golden eyes scanned Wrath's body chillingly.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
He chuckled and shook his chin.
"That's a human, isn't it?"
Hearing Greed call him a human, every hair on his body stood on end.
"Human?"
Gluttony tilted her head as if asking what he meant.
"But the hair color, eyes, and demonic energy are all Wrath's?"
"Right. The hair color, eyes, and demonic energy are all his. However..."
The corners of Greed's mouth curled up long.
"That's a human."
He nodded as if certain.
"..."
Raon didn't say anything. Though he maintained his calm gaze, his heart was beating rapidly as if it would burst.
-As expected, that guy notices.
Wrath didn't look happy even though Greed had noticed. Rather, he looked irritated.
-I told you before. Greed and Pride would be different from the suckers you've met.
He wiggled his finger.
-Prepare to hand over your body to me. If you make a mistake, you might cross a river of no return.
Wrath spoke softly, not taking his eyes off Greed. For the first time, he seemed tense.
'...Damn it.'
He bit his tongue slightly and directly damaged the mana circuits in his shoulders and arms.
He deliberately created wounds, as he would have to resort to the Descent of the Demon King if the act didn't work.
"That's not true."
Gluttony slightly pushed out her lips, still seemingly in disbelief.
"Then shall we ask directly?"
Greed turned his head towards Raon. His golden eyes, which seemed to comprehend all things in heaven and earth, emitted a faint light.
"How long do you plan to keep acting?"
"..."
Raon looked into Greed's eyes. He still showed no aura or presence.
Yet just meeting his gaze made Raon's insides churn as if he'd received internal injuries. Suppressing his trembling heart, he raised his chin proudly.
"Trash. You've hoarded so much money that even your eyes have turned to gold coins."
"Ha!"
Greed exclaimed as he brushed back the hair that had fallen on his forehead.
"You really sound like Wrath. That's exactly what that guy would say."
He still seemed to believe it wasn't Wrath, casually wiggling his finger.
"Gluttony here and the others might have been fooled, but..."
A chilling light flickered across Greed's eyes.
"You can't fool me. Who are you?"
The moment he heard those words, Raon's heart clenched tight. He felt as if his breath was caught and his tongue was numb.
'I can't get nervous.'
If he stumbled over his words here, even Gluttony might become suspicious. He had to stay confident till the end.
"I actually had something to say to you as well. That colt you raised came picking a fight with me."
Raon twisted his lips, suppressing his churning heart.
"Not just Gluttony, I'll make you pay the price as well."
-Huh...
Wrath let out a sigh as he looked up at Raon.
-You're truly insane...
He shook his head, seemingly impressed by Raon's continued acting even in this situation.
"If you really were Wrath, you could ask such a price. However..."
Greed narrowed his eyes while maintaining his smile.
"You're not Wrath, are you?"
"More nonsense..."
"Shall I tell you why I'm so certain?"
He raised his finger and tapped his monocle.
"This monocle shows me the essence of others. I can see your lowly soul squirming like a worm."
"..."
Raon bit his inner lip while forcibly maintaining a blank expression.
'This is really dangerous.'
If that monocle really was an artifact that could see one's essence, this act was meaningless. A chilling sensation like a needle piercing his heart approached.
"Alright. I'll give you credit. Your acting is certainly good."
Greed raised his slender, long finger while wearing a faint smile.
"However, I wonder if you can keep acting even with your head cut off."
-This won't do.
Wrath shook his head firmly while looking at Greed's eyes.
-Your acting was perfect, but that guy doesn't trust others. If we delay any longer, it'll be truly dangerous. You should immediately...
'There's not enough time.'
The distance between body and soul hadn't widened enough to accept Wrath yet. He needed a little more time.
'I need to buy time somehow... Ah!'
As he recalled the conversation so far to buy time, he noticed something strange in what Greed had said.
'My soul is lowly?'
When I was using the Ring of Fire, my soul had a high enough rank for Wrath to acknowledge.
Given that the discerning Wrath had acknowledged my soul's rank, it was clear that Greed's words contained lies when he described it as lowly.
'The possibility is high.'
There's no law saying demon kings can't lie. Wrath was just unusual.
Regardless, he needed to buy time now by saying anything.
"Damn merchant."
Raon straightened his back. He sneered while looking into Greed's eyes.
"Did you think I'd fall for such a lie? It seems your head has been ruined from counting money."
"Well..."
Greed let out a sigh as if dumbfounded.
"You really don't act like a human."
He clapped his hands and chuckled.
"That's right. As you say, there's no such item. However..."
Greed smirked as he took off his monocle.
"The fact that you're human doesn't change."
"The reason for that..."
"A merchant's instinct is telling me. That you're human."
Greed waved his hand as if to say no more words were needed.
"Tsk..."
Raon clicked his tongue briefly.
'It's no use after all.'
The instinct that had kept him alive so far told him. That golden-eyed demon king was certain that he wasn't Wrath.
'There's not enough time...'
His hands trembled at the thought that handing over his body to Wrath in this state would render him powerless, the worry that using the real Descent of the Demon King so close to the life-and-death battle would have aftereffects, and concern for everyone here.
-Raon Zieghart.
Wrath heavily wiggled his finger.
-It's enough, hand over your body immediately.
'What?'
-Even if that merchant is the root cause of this incident, I was certain it was a legitimate contract, so I'll take responsibility.
Reflecting on how he had said there was no problem with the demon's contract, Wrath decided to take full responsibility for everything.
-By accepting me, I'll bear more than half of the damage that would come to you.
'Uh...'
-Decide quickly! If we're late, nothing will work!
Wrath shouted while looking at Greed's murderous eyes.
'Damn it!'
Raon tore his mana circuits and organs even more. Perhaps due to tension, he didn't feel pain, but his vision started to blur.
He could feel Wrath's soul seeping into the sword realm drawn between his separating body and soul.
"I suppose no warm-up is needed."
Greed raised his finger with a cold smile.
"You merchant bastard."
Raon twisted his lips, enduring the pain.
"Your sharp tongue is better than his at least."
Greed stepped forward with his right foot. His light step, as if going for a stroll, transcended space. He was already standing in front of Raon.
At that moment, time stopped.
The whole world was covered in black and white, and his past and present lives were tied together like a knot. It felt like death was approaching.
Before he could even feel the flow of Greed's finger cutting through the air, pain surged as the skin on his neck began to be sliced.
Zzzzt!
As his skin split and his neck bones were about to shatter, his body and soul opened wide like a clam shell.
Wrath didn't miss that moment, pushing his soul all the way into the sword realm.
Woooong!
A roaring sound of the world's flow twisting echoed.
A deep blue radiance burst through the dark sky. A silver moonbow washed away the demonic energy covering the entire kingdom like a sudden shower.
A faint glow flickered above the World Tree of frost that tore through space and surged upward.
Between the scattering blue leaves, the blue demon king and the golden demon king stood with their fingers touching.
"That arrogant gaze. Now this is Wrath."
Greed drew a deep smile as if he had predicted this situation. He was still composed even with Wrath in front of him.
"What exactly was that human?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Wrath's fierce blue eyes bore down on Greed's golden ones.
"How long do you plan to deceive? Until just now, it was a human controlling your body."
"It was me."
Wrath straightened his back as if covering even Raon's shell. His eyes flashed with silver determination.
"The previous insignificance, the current arrogance, all of it is me."