Chapter 401
“Did you come?”
As soon as we arrived in paradise, the first to greet us was the ruler of hell, Lukaela. She was sitting at a table in the middle of paradise, elegantly sipping tea… or rather, slicing a steak. What?
“…Isn’t this a bit indulgent for breakfast?”
“It’s breakfast, so I need to eat heartily. If you haven’t eaten, want some?”
“No thanks.”
“Suit yourself. What about Helga?”
“Huh?”
Helga, who didn’t expect to be called out by Lukaela, widened her eyes.
“I don’t think I’ve introduced myself yet. How do you know my name?”
“Well, I’m a god, so I know. Besides, Helga, I’ve had my eye on you lately.”
“Me?”
Lukaela had her eye on Helga? I don’t remember that being a thing in the original story.
“Hey, how about working under me?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, I want to scout you as a demon.”
Lukaela laughed.
“There are many wicked people who fall into hell, but it’s rare to find someone who embodies both wickedness and loyalty. If you join me, I’ll treat you as a high-ranking demon.”
In the original story, Helga is a villain who commits all sorts of atrocities under Tristan’s orders. Even though I’ve reformed, she wouldn’t hesitate to do evil for my sake.
I never thought she’d catch the eye of the ruler of hell…
“Haha… I appreciate the offer, but if possible, I don’t want to leave the Count’s side even in the next life.”
“Oh? Then you should join me even more.”
“Huh?”
“If you become a demon, I can give you a soul as a gift. When Tristan dies, I’ll give you his soul. How about it? Then you can be together forever.”
“Oh… oh?”
Helga, intrigued, looked at me.
“Isn’t that okay?”
“What part of that is okay?”
“We can be together forever.”
“My soul needs some alone time.”
“Eh. Being alone is boring. Besides, isn’t it more fun to go around tormenting those who’ve fallen into hell with me?”
“That’s fun for you.”
I glared at Lukaela to stop her nonsense. She shrugged and popped a piece of steak into her mouth.
“Michaela. Add one more serving of the safe steak. Medium rare. With garnish.”
“Hey. I’m not your personal chef, you know? If you’re a god, make your own food.”
Michaela, the blonde girl sitting next to Lukaela, shook her head. She seemed more annoyed than usual. I had already explained to her what would happen today. At first, she was furious and opposed it, but eventually, she reluctantly allowed me to proceed. However, she still seemed unhappy.
“You begged me to come to paradise, and now this?”
“I didn’t beg. It was Tristan who asked for your help.”
“This relaxed breakfast might be the last, so do it for me.”
“Sigh… fine.”
Michaela snapped her fingers, and a freshly cooked steak appeared in front of Lukaela.
As Lukaela said, this relaxed time is coming to an end.
Today, our goal is to defeat all the security programs guarding paradise, the Valkyries, and head to the deepest part of paradise… the heavens.
The homework I need to complete in this other world… is to make the two worlds equal. The biggest reason we couldn’t stop the players before was that they could resurrect indefinitely using the system’s power. No matter how many times we killed them, they came back like zombies.
On the other hand, the only weapon we have is ‘magic power.’ But no matter how powerful the magic, it can’t stop the players from resurrecting.
So, the solution I came up with was to counterattack from this world to the outside world.
We confirmed that it’s possible to travel between the two worlds through the gate. However, without magic power, it would be difficult to be active in the outside world. So, we need to supply magic power to the outside world.
‘If I’m right, the main source of magic power flowing into this world is located in paradise. If we install a gate there, it’s highly likely that we can use magic power in the outside world.’
This was the conclusion I reached after studying with the sage Myohail at the university library. A bold plan to install a gate in the heavens, the deepest part of paradise. And if we battle the Valkyries guarding the heavens, paradise will surely be devastated.
Michaela, who knows paradise like her own home, pouted.
“Hmph… keep your promise.”
Yes. There’s actually one more purpose to this plan.
To destroy the system that’s preventing Michaela from leaving this world. To do that, we must neutralize the Valkyries, the security programs protecting the system.
I’m not certain. It’s just a hypothesis, but if we defeat them and damage the system, Michaela might be able to leave.
‘And Sora too…’
She might also be able to escape the system’s control. As long as there’s even a slight possibility, this plan is worth trying.
“You didn’t bring the sage today? Is that okay?”
“He has other tasks. More importantly…”
“Huh?”
There was someone standing behind Lukaela, looking eager to speak. When I glanced at her, she shouted with sparkling eyes.
“Huh. Be grateful to your heart’s content, sir.”
“What?”
“I came all the way here to lend you my power, sir.”
The woman suddenly started boasting. Who is she? Her way of speaking is familiar, but I can’t remember…
“…Who are you?”
“Sir?! You can’t have forgotten me!”
Suddenly, she flipped up her dress skirt, revealing a demonic mark on her stomach. Only then did I remember who she was.
“Sir! Look at this! The mark that I’m the highest-ranking demon!”
Nial. The Demon of Lust.
She’s one of the seven deadly sins demons I met when I fell into hell. When we first met, she looked like a child, but after I spanked her, she transformed into her true form. This time, Nial was wearing a black lace dress that revealed her underwear, fitting for the Demon of Lust.
“So it’s the vulgar demon.”
“I’m not vulgar, sir!”
“Flipping your skirt in front of others is vulgar. So, Helga, keep your skirt straight.”
“Ah, not again…”
Helga, embarrassed, pulled down her skirt. She must have felt competitive. Well, given Nial’s ‘lust’ aura, it’s understandable. I already have four of the seven deadly sins, including ‘wrath,’ so it doesn’t affect me, but being around Nial could make others lustful. Wait… but Helga is usually like this…? I’m confused whether she’s influenced by ‘lust’ or not.
“Sir! If you want my help, you should call me master!”
“…Are you crazy?”
“I don’t want to be your slave! Then at least be my master!”
Come to think of it, Nial said something similar when we first met. She insisted I choose between being her slave or her master. Her obsession with me is solely because the founder of the Ruelberta family, a descendant of ‘wrath,’ devoured three of the seven deadly sins demons. With the personalities of four high-ranking demons, she sees me as a higher being.
“If you don’t like that, then spank my butt! Kyah?!”
*Slap!*
With a crisp sound, Nial grabbed her butt and rolled on the floor.
It wasn’t me who hit her. Helga had swung her hand full force at Nial’s butt.
“Don’t try to outbid me for the man I’ve already bid on, you vulgar demon.”
“Ouch! My butt!!”
“Does it hurt?”
“Can’t you see?! It hurts like hell!”
“The Count’s heart hurt more than that.”
“No, it didn’t.”
*Slap!*
“Kyaaa!! You said it wasn’t you!! You said it wasn’t you!!!”
“That’s just a white lie to spare your feelings.”
“What’s tearing apart is my butt!”
*Slap!*
“Ah! Did you hit me again?!”
“Sorry. I have a condition where I suddenly slap your butt regardless of my mood.”
“You crazy sir!”
Nial, with a clear handprint on her butt, distanced herself.
“Are you asking for it? Do you want to see what happens when you anger a high-ranking demon?”
A dangerous aura flowed from Nial. She looked ready to fight. But Lukaela, her protector, showed no intention of stopping her, instead watching with amusement. To the ruler of hell, it must look like child’s play.
“Enough. This isn’t the place to fight.”
In the end, it was up to me to stop them.
“Nial. I have no reason to grant your demands. You’re only helping me under Lukaela’s orders.”
“Ugh…”
“If you don’t like it, talk to Lukaela and withdraw from this. That’s my decision.”
“But sir!”
“Understood?”
Helga cut off Nial, who was about to say something. Still angry, Helga smirked at Nial, but her voice was low.
“It’s the Count’s decision, you bitch.”
“……”
Few humans dare to threaten a demon, let alone a high-ranking one. But even fewer can make a demon back down with an effective threat.
“…You… I’ll remember this.”
Helga was one of those few humans. Nial finally shut her mouth and backed off.
Lukaela, watching this, clapped and whispered to me.
“Wow… the more I see, the more I want her. Tristan. How about coming under me with her? I’ll take care of your afterlife.”
“I refuse.”
That future isn’t in my plans.
By the way, seeing that Lukaela brought even the highest-ranking demons, she seems serious about the battle with the Valkyries.
I never thought I’d be grateful for becoming Tristan. If I weren’t Tristan, if I hadn’t become the Demon Lord, if I didn’t have demon blood, I wouldn’t have been able to move Lukaela. I wouldn’t have dared to face the Valkyries of paradise.
“But weren’t you two supposed to come alone today?”
“Yeah.”
“Then it’s a bit strange.”
“?”
Lukaela, having finished her meal, wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“It seems like the party you brought isn’t just her.”
“…What?”
Don’t tell me…
I looked back at where we came from. Seeing a figure walking towards us from the grassy field, I was uncharacteristically flustered.