Chapter 84 – For What Comes Next

The last day of the Cradle vacation. Luciel and Nepherti stood in front of the main gate, looking extremely nervous.

Beside them, Yurishia showed more anticipation than anxiety, while on the opposite side, two demons were waiting, several times more tense than the two female students.

“…Over here!”

With a bright smile, Yurishia quickly ran forward. It seemed she couldn’t hide her delight as a massive figure appeared in front of her.

“Doesn’t she look like a puppy when she’s like that, President?”

“Hmm. She does look that way. Yurishia, junior, doesn’t seem to be even a little bit afraid of Deus, junior!”

“So, the President is afraid of our junior?”

“Hmm. Just a little bit?”

Luciel and Nepherti also went to greet Deus, smiling. And remaining in their place were the two demons, Astaroth and Javis.

“…We have no regrets, do we?”

“No, Astaroth-nim. We did our best without a shred of regret.”

“Good. Hmph. If, just in case, we end up dying, then we have to make sure to properly try before that.”

I hope it won’t happen, but still, there’s always a ‘what if’. The two demons steeled their hearts and approached Deus, surrounded by the three female students.

*

After returning to the Cradle, the first thing Deus did was, of course, check on their training progress.

How much stronger had they become while she was away? Were they even further ahead than expected? Or were they still falling short?

There was anticipation, but not worry. Even if it turned out to be all for naught, there wouldn’t be even a hint of blame to place on anyone.

After all, it was ultimately his responsibility. He’d be sure to commend Astaroth for his efforts, and under Deus’s own guidance, results were sure to follow.

Of course, the three protagonists wouldn’t disappoint Deus.

“Oh.”

First, Luciel nearly reached the concept and application method that Deus had presented.

Through her radiant ability, she generated a blade of light, adjusting its length moment to moment, maintaining almost perfect control of the spacing even while standing still.

Combined with the stamina and footwork she had diligently cultivated, dreaming of becoming a swordswoman, she had now reached a level where she wouldn’t be intimidated by active ability users.

“How is it, junior? Is this close to the level you were hoping for?”

“It’s certainly close. Remarkable, Luciel-sunbae.”

Next, Neferti, while not quite as advanced as Luciel.

The physical stamina issue still plagued her, and it was only natural that she was less physically fit than Luciel, who had systematically trained from the start, dreaming of swordsmanship.

However, her technical skills had now reached the stage of complete construction. As Deus had suggested, she had created a so-called “self-buff,” layering enhancements over all areas, from movement and evasion to attack.

“Uweeek!”

“Oh. Not just falling, but regaining balance in mid-air? You’ve even integrated it into falling now? Chairwoman?”

“Wh-why? Is that not allowed?”

“No. It’s actually a good thing if you can apply it to everyday life to this extent.”

Miss ‘Clumsy’ Neferti no longer fell. She swayed, generating wind to right herself.

That alone was enough to show how much effort and practice she had put in.

‘Lastly, Yurishia….’

Unlike the two women whose changes were immediately apparent, Yurishia seemed unchanged on the surface.

She should at least have hardened her physique a bit through training, but even that was barely noticeable.

But to say that she hadn’t grown at all… that wasn’t true either.

“Yurishia, you’ve worked hard too.”

Although her body was the same, her mind had grown significantly.

The conviction and confidence gleaming from her eyes were so radiant that Deus couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

Perhaps, even if he were to spar with her right now, she would gladly agree with a smile.

Even if dozens, hundreds of monsters, the greatest fear of all, were to appear, she would overcome her fear and unleash the wildness hidden within her, showing a 180-degree transformation from her current self.

‘Good. This is not bad for what they have done during the break.’

It was still a bit early, but perhaps the three of them could handle a single demon together.

Yurishia would use her wildness as a weapon, Luciel would control the spacing and assist. And if Neferti played her support and sub-dealer role perfectly.

Then only one thing remained.

“Y-you’re here?”

“You have arrived.”

Astaroth and Jarvis trembled, peering at him cautiously. Their eyes spoke volumes: ‘We really worked hard. Couldn’t you please be lenient?’

“Anyone would think I was going to kill you. I haven’t even said anything yet.”

“A-ha-ha.”

“Ha-ha!”

Fearing they might faint, Deus quickly cut to the chase.

“You all worked hard during the break. You’ve trained just as well as I expected.”

“R-really?”

“Was worried maybe I pushed them too hard, but looks like I really got those gears grindin’?”

“You think I’d just let you get away with half-assing it?”

“Surely you wouldn’t actually kill them, right? Just express your regrets about their sloppiness, give ’em a good scolding.”

*Isn’t scolding just a slower way of killing?* The thought flickered through Astaroth’s mind, but he wisely kept it to himself. Jarvis, too, seemed to be holding his tongue.

After all, that wasn’t the pressing issue at hand.

“Uh, actually… I have some unwelcome news.”

“Unwelcome news? Wasn’t it just training them and that was the end of it?”

“It’s… not about the training. It’s about the Gates. Specifically, matters concerning the path to Hell, Deus-nim.”

*That sounds like a major issue.* Deus murmured, and Jarvis emitted a low groan.

“To cut right to it, the situation has become rather… complicated.”

“Complicated, you say.”

“Indeed.”

“Explain. In detail.” At the prodding, the two demons, hands trembling behind their backs, began to speak.

“They severed all the pathways we’d created in Hell.”

“Pathways?”

“Yeah. The… Pathways allow us to travel faster, using less energy. Like, a kind of highway system, you could say? Jarvis and the other demons, they all used them.”

“And they severed these… pathways from the Hell side?”

Deus stroked his chin, a dawning realization setting in.

*If they severed the pathways, does that mean the monsters they were sending can no longer come here? If that’s true, will the gates stop being created as well?*

“That’s not it.”

Astaroth shook his head in answer to the unspoken question.

“They just shut down the shortcuts, so neither side can use them. This means even him—Jarvis—is going to need twice the time it used to take.”

“‘Twice the time’ is Astaroth-nim being optimistic. In the worst-case scenario, it could take decades, minimum.”

Decades. Deus’s face involuntarily contorted in a grimace.

The sight startled the two demons, and even the two schoolgirls who had been silently listening. Though Yurishia, her eyes still shining, mirrored Deus’s expression, as if in a mimicking game.

“S-so, it’s not exactly your fault, but… it seems like you wiped out the demons so fast, Hell panicked and deemed it an emergency situation.”

“Over twenty percent of their main forces gone in less than two months, Deus-nim. Anyone in the world would think of retreat in this situation.”

Aish, damn it. The b*stards. Calling themselves demons? The magnificent demons who were meant to rule this world?

And they’re whimpering after a few hits! Running away instead of holding their guard, waiting for an opportunity to strike back? Not even maddened with rage, doubling down and charging in?

“…Shibal.”

They barely deserve the title of demons. Supposedly born fighters, what a miserable performance.

No. If they were getting battered like that, shouldn’t they want revenge, or at least throw everything they had at us to ensure a fight?

These guys are too different from the demons I imagined. It’s to the point that they are like third-rate, trash villains.

*Were you not the final boss? Why would a boss avoid the fight?*

Luciel shifted her gaze around, Nefertiti poked him in the back as a sign to calm down, and Astaroth hid behind Yurishia, shivering.

“…We-we’ll figure something out. Just, please, calm down.”

Jarvis, taking a breath for courage, managed to utter the words.

Deus hummed, pausing, then opened his mouth.

“No choice, then. I was trying to avoid this method, but…”

“Deus-nim?”

“Jarvis.”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Deus-nim.”

“Find a way to contact your demon friends. Tell them I’ve found a way to conquer this world.”

“W-what does that mean?”

“What does it sound like?”

To cheat them. If you’re willing to forsake being demons, then I shall become the demon.