Chapter 64 – Welcome

A month ago, Deus’s mindset changed after experiencing the incident in the South.

Though it doesn’t seem a perfect apocalypse scenario. It feels remarkably bright, and above all, a world where hope still flickers.

But that can change at any moment. It’s liable to break at any time. One cannot rule out the possibility that it’s all a device to emphasize an even greater tragedy.

If we don’t protect it, it will collapse. If we don’t step up, someone might lose their life.

There’s no room for leisure anymore. Whether I’m overpowered or a cheat, or my very existence is a violation of the rules, it doesn’t matter. The beginning was twisted by a mistake anyway, so let’s just mess it up properly.

‘Right now, it’s safest for Luciel and Chairwoman Neferti to be by the Emperor’s side.’

It’s not quite practical training yet. They need to learn more. Train more. Tumble around more… ahem. Never mind that.

Anyway, the Imperial Guardian is protecting the Emperor. He is a strongman nearly on par with Shabel.

Though his abilities are skewed towards defense, that’s precisely why we can rest assured.

With that much strength, even if they were to encounter a demon that bypassed the main forces… Even if defeating it is impossible, they should at least be able to endure.

More than anything, the Imperial Guardian can cover the two female students who are still quite unskilled in defense.

It’s an ideal combination. Shouldn’t the tanker always be much stronger than the damage dealer anyway?

So, I left them by the Emperor’s side. I hope nothing happens, but I can’t just relax, so…

If something *does* happen again, they’ll be in a relatively safe place where they can still be of service.

‘Let’s see. The direction is… this way.’

The place where a faint explosion was heard. And where the Seal Stone is supposed to be located. Deus, who kept moving forward, soon had a smile on his face.

—*Ssssssss!!*

A Gate reaction. That maw of hell is opening in the Imperial Palace.

If the knights or the servants, the maids, saw this, they would be terrified.

“Nailed it.”

But Deus just smiled. He felt great that he had accurately predicted this whole situation.

It would be fortunate if he could behead the boss before an even bigger incident occurred.

I was worried what to do if they came out of another gate but the situation is just right.

He roughly kicked some debris lying on the floor under his feet and stepped on it.

With a *crunch*, the fragments embedded themselves in the floor, forming a perfectly suitable chair.

He plopped down, waiting for the Gate to fully form. If a monster jumps out first, he’s ready to send them to join their friends who went ahead.

Whatever the opponent is, they cannot pass this point. Whatever strategy they’ve devised, whatever plan they have.

After all, overwhelming power renders strategies and plans useless.

—*Ssssssss!*

Finally, the Gate is fully formed, and soon something emerges.

“…?”

Not a monster. Something similar to a human, but much more grotesque.

The moment he saw it, Deus felt a smile creeping across his face. And these words escaped his lips of their own accord.

“Welcome.”

You may call that world Hell. But do you truly know that what lies ahead of you is an even greater Hell?

*

“….”

The demon, Hagenti, clicked his tongue without realizing it. Another demon, Harpas, following behind, leaned forward, asking what was wrong.

Then, seeing the giant monster sitting in front of them, he let out a sigh.

“Ah.”

“This is twisted. No, were we anticipated?”

“…Screwed.”

Just one look told the whole story. That inferior creature. That human was indeed the very ‘Dawn’ and ‘Trumpet’ they spoke of.

He had felled Zagan, their vanguard. Word was it had been a back-and-forth struggle, but regardless, he’d accomplished such a feat with a human body.

‘What now? Thinking of fighting here?’

‘No. I’ll use the most extravagant feints possible and somehow break away.’

‘Think you can?’

‘Not certain, but to a degree. As you know, I can absorb the brunt of their attacks…’

“What’s with all the eye-darting chatter? It’s all rather obvious, you know.”

Deus clicked his tongue in displeasure and slowly straightened.

“Just so we’re clear, drop the nonchalant act. Not one, but two of you crossed over. You must have spent a monstrous amount of energy. I’d wager you need to earn back at least what you expended. That’s how the truly *exalted* ones get to come over, isn’t it?”

“…!”

In that instant, the two demons’ pupils dilated sharply. A reaction of utter disbelief.

That was information that had *never* been publicly revealed. How could a mere human possibly know such a thing?

As that question formed, only one possibility readily presented itself to the two demons.

‘Could it be…? Zagan, that wretch!’

‘We should have known when he fell to a *human*. He even leaked information!’

If Zagan had been present, he would have been justified in striking those two demons down out of sheer outrage.

He had simply fought with all his might as the vanguard. How dare they even entertain such a suspicion?

But from Hagenti and Halphas’ perspective, it was a perfectly logical conjecture.

First and foremost, they were still unaware of Astaroth’s defeat. They were wholly ignorant of the fact that her subordinate had divulged everything in a desperate attempt to save her.

They didn’t even know she’d been defeated in the first place. They simply thought she hadn’t contacted them, because she was being ‘difficult’.

Such was the extent of Astaroth’s profound indolence. And, correspondingly, such was her immense power.

They simply couldn’t fathom that she’d be defeated by a human and fail to return. It made more sense to suspect Zagan, who was weaker than even they.

‘It seems… we can’t simply withdraw now, Hagenti.’

‘Agreed. He knows too much of our secrets. This can’t be allowed. We have to eliminate him.’

‘Elimination will be difficult. Even so, we must at least inflict wounds that will hinder our plans for a time.’

If either of them had been alone, they would have retreated without hesitation.

But now, they stood together. And that partnership was one that even other demons would hesitate to engage.

“Oh.”

Knowledge is indeed power. A little loose talk and they immediately show their hand.

This is why an exposition-spouting boss is so essential. So useful in a variety of ways, Deus thought, watching the two demons prepare for battle.

He couldn’t afford to drag this out. Light and quick. He also had to keep in mind that this might not be the end.

This time, there were two enemies, not one. Astaroth’s case was two as well, but Ego-Ex had stated it was more accurate to view her as one.

Which meant that this situation used up twice the energy as before. Despite gathering it for close to decades, in an almost precarious situation that prevents you from sending all of it at once!

‘Even so, they purposefully sent two?’

What could it mean? Those demons were perfect only when together.

One plus one wasn’t two, but three. Perhaps even more. They shared a synergy with each other.

If that was the case, then the correct conclusion would be to rapidly and completely shatter the axis that was holding them together.

His thoughts were quick, and his actions were even quicker. Deus immediately targeted the man on the left.

He takes a step forward. Fist extended, aiming precisely for the area near the opponent’s solar plexus.

If they defend, it could become a wasted attack, but at the current speed, the possibility is nil.

The distance has already closed to right in front. The opponent only reacts now, but it’s far too late.

The woman beside him is also a beat slow. Enough. Out on the first attack.

–Crack!!

“…?”

In that instant, Deus realized something was wrong.

The attack had definitely landed. It struck near the solar plexus and crushed the bone outright.

Even if the opponent is a demon, most of their body isn’t all that different from other ordinary creatures.

With just a bit more force, the blow might have pierced skin and muscle, even broken through.

But the opponent’s… or rather, the reaction of the woman who wasn’t attacked… is strange.

–Thwack!

Not trying to save her comrade. Or even surprised. But launching a counter-attack so naturally.

If a comrade is taken down right before their eyes, there should be at least a flicker of shock, but there’s absolutely none.

Could they be psychopaths? But then, there’s no reason to send them together.

Deus, wondering what was going on, looked at the man he assumed would be dead, and soon understood the reactions.

‘Well, now. Are they zombies instead of demons?’

The man’s chest, hideously caved in, writhes and gradually fills in.

The light returns to his eyes, which had been lifeless, and his limp body stirs, gripping Deus’s fist tightly.

“Halphas.”

“I know.”

A perfect attack coming from a blind spot. He has to move his upper body to react, but he can’t.

The man is gripping his hand too hard. Is he planning to get impaled together, just like that?

“Hnnngh!”

With a short grunt, Deus put strength in his waist and rotated on his axis.

Then the demon’s body seemed to float and was swung around like a dog on a string, crashing down on the woman’s head attacking from his blind side.

–Crash!!

A direct hit. Both demons must have been fatally wounded.

Deus was just thinking that no matter how strong the demons are, they wouldn’t be able to withstand it, since one had been struck in the head and the other in the ribs, when-

‘… Just when I thought I’ve seen everything.’

The man is regenerating again. And the woman is even stranger, extending tentacles to absorb power from the man to heal her wounds.

Watching all that, Deus realized what the concept for these demons was.

A support battery tanking hits, and a tentacle sucking it dry. This is truly disgusting.

Deus shook his head and stretched his stiff neck once.