In the hushed silence of the Duke's castle, a frivolous yet distinct voice rang out loudly.
"Having a lover who whispers words of love is happiness in itself, but having a lover who never parts and stays together eternally—is that not a blessing unto itself! Even if they are demons, if they honor and cherish the value of love preached by the Goddess, how could one not pray for them? Oh, Goddess! May their love be infinite and eternal!"
The voice itself was shocking, but the incomprehensible content made everyone in the castle begin to murmur and stir in agitation.
"What? What's going on?"
"Whose voice is that?"
"It's Starnassila Alzen!"
"What!? That wastrel!? What crazy stunt is he pulling at a time like this...!"
"Has he lost his mind from fear!?"
It didn't take long to identify the owner of that ear-piercingly loud voice.
The moment they realized it belonged to the infamous third son of the Duke's family, anxiety, worry, and anger spread from all directions, mingled with low curses.
"...Who is that."
Deacon, who had been silent, murmured in a low voice.
It was so quiet it shouldn't have been audible even from close range, yet it pierced straight into the soul, resounding clearly in his head.
"Hahaha! This is the proud third son of the Starnassila Duke's family, Starnassila Alzen! Have you heard of me? Probably not! No need to remember me either! I'm just one of the trash nobles!"
"...How do you know Sisili."
"Hm, your curiosity is natural, but the question itself is worthless. Normally I'd ignore it, but considering your unwavering pure love over centuries, I'll answer just this once!"
Like a clown making delicate gestures to heighten the audience's immersion, Starnassila Alzen's tone dropped meaningfully.
"How do I know Sisili? A ordinary girl who died 327 years ago, with no notable traits or achievements—how would I know her? Those who remembered her have long turned to ash and dirt with time, and even the single line proving she was a serf has rotted, torn, and burned away. So how does the wastrel Starnassila Alzen know of her?"
"..."
Deacon didn't move a muscle, but the rippling black aura weighing down the surroundings made his discomfort obvious at a glance.
Gulp!
Right after the loud sound of liquor sliding down a throat echoed, Alzen's exhilarated voice struck their eardrums once more.
"Oh, Sisili! The beautiful Sisili! The first love of every young man in the village! The unfortunate Sisili who caught the eye of an evil noble! Even after being defiled by those filthy hands without resistance, she came smiling to comfort her lonely friend's solitude! Such was she, singing happily: 'I'm happy because I have a kind friend at the forest's edge. I'm happy because there's always a friend waiting. I'm happy because the flowers and grass are so fresh. Even if life is only pain, it is beautiful!'"
"You... scum...!"
Crunch!
Deacon's rage, gripping his sword hilt to the point of crushing it, roiled thickly enough to blanket the skies over the Duke's castle.
"Ah! The foolish, dull tree, nailed in place unable to move, able only to speak—the tree that loved the girl innocently believed that song. And what returned was only the horribly raped corpse of the girl!"
"I'll... kill you...!"
"Only after burying Sisili at its roots did the foolish tree glimpse her pain and suffering. Ah! Incomprehensible human malice! Swelling hatred! And so, decades later, the tree turned monster annihilated an entire territory and slaughtered the lord's entire kin. What tragedy! Such tragedy!"
Deacon drew his sword, glaring at Alzen with a demonic face.
Alzen, who had flinched and clutched his head in agony, wiped his nosebleed, took a swig of liquor, and opened his mouth with a smirk.
"Curiosity satisfied? Deacon."
There was no reply.
Which was only natural.
Because Alzen's long-winded speech offered no causal explanation for Deacon's question.
The others listening quietly began to show their doubts one by one.
'So, how exactly did Alzen learn about this Sisili woman?'
They couldn't voice it aloud amid the murderous intent filling the air.
The ferocious killing intent, baring teeth as if ready to charge and bite, was directed solely at Alzen yet pressed down heavily on the entire area.
"..."
"Kuhuhu..."
But no matter how long they waited, no attack came.
Considering how he had cleaved the castle wall with a single casual strike, distance shouldn't have mattered—he could easily kill Alzen—yet it didn't happen.
"What's wrong? Not attacking? Deacon."
"...What do you know."
"What do I know? What a worthless question! I've given ample hints! If you've guessed my identity knowing such ancient history, you'd naturally realize what I know! Are you probing me with such a pointless question? Or do you distrust me and hide your true intentions? The steadfast, pure tree has changed so much—truly lamentable!"
"..."
Even those on the ramparts could now tell.
Deacon's patience was gradually wearing thin against Alzen's baffling words.
"What do you want me to say? What answer do you expect from that worthless question? What do I know? Plenty! Like how you and Sisili are still together! That you feel guilt for turning her into a Soul Gear and using her! That as time passes, your mission and purpose blur, filling you with anxiety! That you regret your deal with the Demon God! Now speak, Deacon. Is this truly the answer you wanted?"
"..."
"I know the wish firmly rooted in you. I know the lifelong goal you pursue. I know the direction and purity of that love! Yes, I already know it all. Yet still I'll ask. What do you want? What do you desire?"
"...If I say what I desire, will you tell me?"
A tiny, very tiny light flickered in Deacon's deep, dark eyes.
It was no different from the eyes of a human finding hope in despair, evoking pity in all who saw.
"Hahaha! Even after suffering so cruelly at human hands, you cling to humans again! You still harbor faith in them! How laughable and pathetic! Hahahahaha!"
Starnassila Alzen mocked him with all his might.
So frivolously and vulgarly that listeners frowned.
"..."
"Wandering ghost reminiscing your first love across the continent! Monster who rejected the grace of earth and Goddess to walk the path of evil! Why are you here? Why come to a place with no ties and swing your sword at the innocent? Did that snake-tongued Cambello boast confidently? That he could revive Sisili! Even if not, the Demon God would if asked! And he's willing to offer part of his own soul for it!"
At those words, everyone realized.
Deacon's goal was to revive Sisili.
Even knowing he was a demon, sighs of pity escaped here and there.
"..."
"Fooled again! You dull, stupid tree! Perhaps that's your fate! So pitiful and wretched! Yet you'll cling to me!? Grasping at a single ray of hope!?"
"...Tell me. Speak to me. Where is the Elixir of Immortality."
"Hup...!"
"Hng...!"
At the mention of an elixir straight out of legends, everyone dismissed it as nonsense yet waited with bated breath for Alzen's answer, harboring faint hope.
As all strained their ears, Alzen's inhalation rang out clearly.
The moment everyone sensed his voice would soon resound—
"What farce is this right now?"
A displeased voice cut in among them.
All eyes waiting for the answer turned that way.
Bat-like wings sweeping the sky, thick lizard tail, spiral horns, green hair and eyes... and the dark, ominous aura swirling around.
Anyone could tell he was a demon.
"...Cambello. Don't interfere."
"Deacon. What are you doing? Why is the Duke's castle still intact? You could have destroyed it easily. Don't tell me you're backing out of the deal?"
"I said don't interfere!"
Immediately, a formless slash crossed space, targeting Cambello dead center.
Powerful enough to rend any magic barrier effortlessly.
Slash!
But someone met and parried that strike.
Black hair, black eyes, wielding a brilliant Aura Blade, emanating overwhelming pressure.
"Wh-what...!?"
"Isn't that the Duke...!?"
"Isn't that Duke Urtega...!?"
Greater confusion and agitation gripped those who couldn't comprehend, more than facing the high demon.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The moment he saw Starnassila Urtega appear alongside Cambello, he slumped back into his chair from the window frame.
"Sigh, haaaaa..."
The intense headache and exhaustion left him unable to move a finger.
He knew it from the setup, but it was far more painful than imagined.
Just facing a fragment of the Demon God dwelling in a demon did this.
Then what about facing the Demon God itself?
"...Good job, Alzen."
"Ssss, huuuu, ssss... huuuuu..."
Following the hand wiping his brow with a handkerchief, he rolled his eyes to see Pitra with a complicated expression.
Her touch wiping blood from his eyes, nose, and mouth was very gentle and careful.
"Is your part done now?"
"...Huuua."
Gulp!
Draining the last of his strength with liquor, his head spun.
"Huu, huuu... Ah. Yes. That's it. My role's over. Now it's do or die."
"I see."
"Want to write a will in your remaining time?"
"..."
He chuckled at her piercing glare.
"Well, let's watch and see. How it plays out."
Saying so, he glanced out the window, and the others began watching the outside as well.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...What is this, Deacon."
A thick vein bulged on Cambello's forehead from the sudden attack.
The image of death that had momentarily invaded his mind stole away his usual leisurely smirk.
It was worse because it was the second time.
In Cambello's long life, experiencing death twice in one day was undoubtedly a first.
And this time it was his main body, not a clone, fueling his fury even more.
Of course, even a direct hit wouldn't have killed him.
True to his cunning and cautious nature, he had multiple safeguards.
He knew that, but... that was that, and this was this.
His frayed patience swelled on the verge of snapping.
Even for a high demon like him, death was such a thing.
"Take your undead and leave. I have business here. Just got it. You and the undead are both in the way. I can't let the Duke's castle fall."
"What the... have you lost your mind? No reason to turn on me, right? Deacon, explain. Tell me what happened properly. Or I'll kill you...!"
Fwooooosh!
Overwhelming black demonic power devoured the air along with his ferocious rage.
"I don't talk to liars. Don't try to shake me. Liar. If you interfere, I'll just kill you."
"Deacooon...!"
In the powder-keg tension, Cambello signaled Starnassila Urtega even as he vented his fury.
Urtrega stepped before him like a loyal knight obeying his liege.
The agitation of those watching from the Duke's castle grew even greater.