Chapter 82 – For What Comes Next

As summer began, strange rumors started circulating in the Empire.

“Those ability supremacists, you know? They’re disappearing in droves, I hear?”

“I’ve heard that rumor too. Apparently, a demon who surrendered to the Empire is hunting them down.”

“Now, now, you be careful what you say! Are you suggesting His Imperial Majesty has ordered demons to hunt people? Watch your tongue!”

The man who was scolded looked wronged. “No… a friend of mine works in the Imperial Interior Ministry, and he heard a rumor. He said the ones who surrendered are all half-crazed, mumbling about monsters and demons!”

“Why listen to those damned traitors? The ones who called us ability-less inferiors!”

“Well, that’s true. Monster or demon, I welcome anything that eats those b*stards.”

At first, the rumors were like this. But a month later, they had shifted.

“They say the monster that eats insurgents has now smashed up the west and south, too?”

“I heard! They rip open the chests of those b*stards, tear out their hearts, and chew on their livers.”

“There’s talk that it’s someone seeking revenge for their family. What do you make of that?”

If Deus, the subject of these rumors, had heard them, he would have cried foul.

Eating hearts? Chewing on livers? What utter nonsense!

But alas, the Deus who would have protested was currently heading north.

“Just finishing up here, and it should be mostly done.”

“Um, Junior. Are you really alright? Shouldn’t you rest, even for a little―”

From Saber’s perspective, this mission was quite grueling. Moving without proper rest all over the Empire. She thought Deus was taking care of dissident non stop.

She had been living like this for at least 10 years. In contrast, Deus beside her was still a chick compared to her, that being a half year.

Of course, it was just expression. Deus was monster of monsters. But no matter how monstrous the body, it was little hard to monster the mind and spirt.

“This isn’t even in the realm of difficult.”

“Hmm?”

“That damned old geezer….”

Old geezer? Did that mean someone was with Deus? A hint of curiosity piqued, Saber asked who this old geezer was. Deus vaguely replied, “Someone. Good memories, but they turn to a goddamn human whenever i try to remember them.”

“….”

Saber watched Deus for a moment, then turned her head forward.

He had trailed off, but the answer was clear enough. His expression was the same as usual, but she saw something positive lingering in his eyes.

Even though he spoke those words, it seemed to be that Deus’s life, more or less, held some decent memories, so there was no need to press him further.

“Once this task is complete, vacation will be over, wouldn’t it?”

“Indeed. Back to the cradle life, I suppose.”

“Have you considered suggesting to the Empire’s upper echelons that we shut down these Gates?”

“I would like to, but I worry I might be stealing work from our seniors.”

“…Hmm. I understand what you’re implying.”

He was putting it indirectly, but Shavel discerned Deus’s true feelings.

He was already active enough. If he pushed further, it might seem like he was relying on them too much, so he was going to restrain himself.

A valid concern. The moment they leaned too heavily on one person, everything they had protected until now would crumble.

The Empire’s gifted ones had endured by relying solely on themselves and the strength of their comrades.

They had come this far with that courage and glory, and if that disappeared, what followed would be even more terrible.

“Junior.”

“Speak.”

“That Helldiver… there’s no way I can join, is there?”

“…How could a senior who graduated from the Cradle club a long time ago possibly join now?”

Deus, caught off guard, spoke those words, and Shavel tilted his head.

“It’s just a club in name only anyway, isn’t it essentially a special operations team? You allowed them to move even before graduating. And it’s not as if we’re going straight to Hell, is it?”

“Hmm.”

“Even if we did go. I know. The only ones who can truly deal with demons aren’t those kids, but you, Junior. I only appointed those sprouts you’ve been eyeing, to give them a chance to gain experience. Just in case something similar happens again later, and those who need to teach the juniors become necessary.”

An accurate observation. Deus couldn’t bring himself to deny it, and simply nodded.

He could handle the demons of the present on his own. Yes, literally, for now.

Then, a thought suddenly struck him. Was this truly the end? Would the story of this world conclude with everyone living happily ever after?

In the current situation, there was a high possibility of that. But, what if, just in case, it wasn’t? Then a group was needed to pass it on for the future.

Objectively, he wasn’t a very good teacher. From dealing with the Covenant, he’d already become an existence that was too far outside the norm. His physical abilities, too, had become stronger in a way that they could never achieve.

Therefore, the method he chose instead was to teach ‘protagonists’ like Luciel, Nefertiti, and Yurishia, and have them lead the next generation.

“Am I wrong?”

“…No. You’re seeing things very accurately.”

“Indeed. Only those who are like this can be called a senior among seniors.”

So. What was the answer? Was there room for him? At Shavel’s words, Deus shook his head.

“That’s too much! Make a place for me!”

“It’s not that I don’t want you, Shavel-nim, but if we’re truly thinking of the future, shouldn’t we give them more experience? If you’re there, Shavel-nim, they might rely on you without realizing it.”

“But they won’t rely on you, Junior?”

“I won’t be there anyway.”

He’d toss something for those three to handle on their own, and he’d go to clean up the rest.

Wasn’t that a kind of duty thrown at a person who had mistaken the genre and become an existence beyond standards?

“That’s why I’m going around cleaning up the troublemakers with Shavel-nim instead, isn’t it? Giving up vacation is a tremendous decision for a student.”

“Hmph… Alright. I admit that.”

*

Meanwhile. In the Cradle, a demon’s roar was echoing loudly.

“Aren’t you getting your act together? Are you really going to end like this?! Are you trying to get me killed when Deus comes?!”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

“And yet you act like this? Get up this instant! I was the best in Hell at sloth, and I’m still raring to go!”

“Just a little more rest….”

“GET UP NOW!!”

Urged on by Astaroth, Luciel and Nefertiti managed to pull themselves upright.

Every joint in their bodies screamed for mercy. Their muscles ached as if torn to shreds.

But they couldn’t comfortably voice their condition. All that would come of it would surely be, ‘You won’t die at that level. The human body is tougher than you think.’

“Even if Deus takes on every big-shot in Hell, you lot have to at least hold one of them down. To do that, preparing for a protracted battle is essential!”

“Considering it’s *your* side that’s being attacked, shouldn’t we be aiming for a swift victory?”

Nefertiti’s doubt was undeniably valid.

If those who never thought they’d be attacked were ambushed… wasn’t it normal to quickly retaliate for whatever reason and ultimately drive them out?

But a protracted battle? That they’d drag things out? There’s no benefit to be had for them to do that.

“Why are demons demons? They’re called that because they specialize in digging into the weaknesses of others. You simpletons. If they judge that they have the upper hand in a long battle, they won’t give a damn if other demons die. They’ll choose it.”

Astaroth imparted the most crucial mindset a demon could possess to the humans before him.

“Repeat after me. ‘Not if it’s me.’”

“Not if….”

“…it’s me?”

“Precisely. That’s it.” Astaroth grinned and continued.

“Our demons only care if it isn’t them. It’s fine to lose as long as I survive, and even if we win, it’s a loss if *I* die. They’re the kind who’d gladly sell each other out if it meant victory.”

“….”

“So, all the more reason for them to drag it out. Throwing weak allies to the wolves, and targeting you from behind while the enemy struggles. If you want to die pointlessly like that, feel free to rest now.”

Saying it like that just gets rid of any will to rest. Demonic b*stard… Ah. Right, he *is* a demon.

Luciel and Nefertiti forced their trembling legs to support them.

Okay. Let’s think positively. At least Deus isn’t here. If Astaroth had been replaced by Deus, there wouldn’t have been even a single word or explanation.

‘If it were our senior, he would grin once and then make a fist….’

‘Then the training ground would be a disaster zone, as if it had been hit by a magical bombardment!’

“Astaroth-nim.”

“Are you done?”

*Thump!*

Javis approached, having casually dumped the unconscious Yurishia to the side.

Yurishia still had shortcomings compared to Luciel and Nefertiti. So, Javis had been taking her aside for special training, but it seemed the other girl was having just as tough a time, as she kept passing out.

“Everyone.”

Javis spoke in a rather solemn tone.

“Summer break ends soon. *He’s* coming back. We have to show him at least *some* improvement.”

Or else Astaroth-nim and I are really screwed.

Feeling the sincerity in his words, the two female students could only nod.