After leaving behind a final curse in anger, Mephisto dissolved into pale gray smoke and vanished from the mortal world.
Zede patted Woz's shoulder helplessly and explained:
"Woz, don't blame me. It's not that I don't want you to celebrate for me— it's just that the Yama God Ridewatch is way too unlucky. That thing is pure misfortune!"
"Your Majesty the Demon King, I understand."Well-versed in Oma Advent History, Woz knew perfectly well what kind of thing the Yama God was.
Since Woz didn't mind, Zede didn't continue the topic. He turned and tossed a communicator to Johnny.
"Johnny, I like you. If you run into trouble, call me."
After saying that, Zede boarded the Time Majin and left the small town, flying toward DreamCorp.
...
Johnny brought Roxanne back to the hometown where they grew up together. The two walked hand in hand beneath the tree where they first confessed their feelings, sharing a deep, passionate kiss.
"Do you really have to go?"Roxanne cupped Johnny's face, reluctant and heartbroken.
Johnny gently removed her hands, his expression sorrowful yet resolute."I have to leave. I'm sorry, Roxanne. This is the path I chose myself."
At dusk, the roar of a Harley engine echoed along the endless interstate highway. Johnny sped north without once looking back.
Roxanne stood beneath the tree, staring unblinkingly at Johnny's fading figure as the wind lifted her hair—and the branches of the tree where their love began.
If a painter were present, a new world-famous masterpiece would surely be born.
...
After returning to the company, Zede headed straight toward Professor Ryoma's laboratory and soon stopped in front of a pure-white pod.
Although Zede didn't understand the technological complexity of the strange devices scattered throughout the lab, he did know this machine—built jointly by Professor Ryoma and Skye—was a regeneration pod.
As the indicator light turned green, the pod's cover slowly opened. Skye leaped out in one jump, throwing herself into Zede's arms with delight.
"Our regeneration pod works amazingly! Once the World Tree Tower is completed, we can mass-produce it!"
Zede wanted to scold her, but remembering that Skye was injured while saving Woz and Shin, he couldn't bring himself to say anything. He simply stroked her hair gently.
"Where's Professor Ryoma?"Zede held Skye while looking around the lab.
As his student, Skye naturally knew the professor's schedule well and immediately replied:
"At this hour, he should be in the basement studying the Great Majin. But… what exactly is that Great Majin? Even the immensely powerful Another Zero Ridewatch can barely power its prototype."
"You can think of it as a super-sized Time Majin, or a star-destroying weapon like the Bifrost. At that level of energy consumption, only the Another Zero Ridewatch and Another Kuuga Ridewatch I hold can sustain it."Zede explained concisely.
"Mm."Ever since witnessing the Bifrost, Skye no longer opposed Zede creating such super-weapons.
If Asgard could have such things, why couldn't Earth?Besides—this Great Majin belonged to her own man. It was property of the family.
Seeing righteous and once-idealistic Skye now fully aligned with him, Zede tightened his arm around her waist with satisfaction and teased:
"I remember someone who always used to lecture about 'the public's right to know' and 'safety concerns.' Funny how she doesn't bring those up anymore."
"Hmph~"Skye pinched him hard. "Don't say it!"
Even she felt her past self had been ridiculous. She refused to revisit that embarrassing history.
After the two played around for a while, they returned to the living room. Skye sat sideways on Zede's lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering:
"Don't tell my dad I got hurt."
"Karl doesn't know?" Zede looked at her in surprise.
"Mm." Skye nodded. "I went straight into the regeneration pod when I got back, and I specifically told Lilith and the others not to mention it."
Zede thought for a moment. Although he felt a little sorry for Karl, this kind of thing would be way too shocking for him. Better not mention it.
"All right then. But from now on, be more careful. If you run into something you can't handle, call me immediately. I'll stop time and come to you. Understand?"
"Got it. Oh—Lilith and Shin are back."Skye hurriedly changed the subject.
Shin stepped forward, dropped to one knee before Zede, and said in a low voice:
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I've disappointed you. I failed to protect them."
Zede sighed inwardly. Shin was usually calm and composed, but once he got serious, he was impossibly stubborn. He needed a way to make Shin internalize the rule: Zede is boss, Shin is second, and act with that same arrogance.
"Is that how you apologize?"Zede stared sharply at him.
Shin lowered his head even further. "I am willing to accept punishment."
Skye and Lilith looked worried and quickly spoke up in his defense:
"Okay, Zede. Shin didn't do anything wrong. We simply weren't strong enough."
Zede ignored them and continued his stern tone:
"You're sure you accept punishment? Shin!"
For a ninja, failure meant death. Being able to live and receive punishment was already a mercy. Without a moment's hesitation, Shin answered:
"Yes!"
"Then I sentence you to come to my room tonight wearing the Anti-Demon Ninja uniform. I will give you a proper punishment."Zede maintained a cold face, but he was practically out of breath.
Skye's eye twitched violently, her hands itching to squeeze something.Lilith covered her mouth to keep from laughing.
Shin looked up, utterly baffled."I… I…"
Zede released Skye and pulled Shin onto his lap, wrapping an arm around Shin's firm waist. He spoke seriously:
"Shin! Remember your identity. You are my executioner. You must be arrogant, not this humble. Understand?"
Shin met Zede's gaze with bright, unwavering eyes, then spoke softly:
"Yes! But tonight, I still ask Your Majesty to punish me thoroughly."
Hiss—
Zede sucked in a sharp breath.
He always thought he was the king of tricks—layer upon layer of schemes—yet somehow Shin had counter-played him this time.
...
Hell was filled with the screams and wails of countless sinners, but Mephisto on the throne paid no attention to those who deserved their torment.
Gazing toward the mortal world at Johnny, Mephisto murmured almost to himself:
"I understand sustainable development perfectly well—why don't these humans understand? Choosing only the firstborn of the Kale family as my knight is for sustainable development.
I truly didn't want to drain the well to catch all the fish… But since Johnny made this choice, I can only turn to the other Kale Family Power Medallion. This isn't my fault, Norbert."
...
While someone in Hell coveted the mortal world, someone in space was coveting Earth.
"Our ally will obtain Earth… and we will obtain the entire universe."
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)