Chapter 89 – Worried, are we?

“Krrr…”

“Ugh…”

Hmm. Things went sideways right from the start, it seems. Deus scratched his head.

He had mentioned to the Emperor that they had forces prepared for emergencies. Namely, Astaroth and Jarvis.

Though they were demons like the rest, they had now surrendered, making them, strictly speaking, part of the Empire. Therefore, they were to be enemies of any demons attacking the Empire.

This was something both demons were aware of, and even prepared for. They were even enthusiastic about it.

They boasted confidence, claiming they could handle any riffraff that came their way.

Yes. That was before one of them nearly exhausted his power opening the gate, and the other nearly drained himself of all blood.

“Hey. You two. If you really feel like you’re about to die, raise your hand.”

“This… damned… feels like… I’m dying… How… to raise… my hand…”

“Good talking. Glad you’re not dead yet.”

Their deaths would be incredibly unsettling. If they died opening the gate, wouldn’t that make Deus responsible?

He promised to save them. If they died, he’d become a heartless b*stard who couldn’t keep his word.

“Jarvis.”

“…Can endure. But. Combat assistance. Impossible. Must conserve. In case. Deus-nim. Arrives.”

“Understood. So, you’re saying you need to hold the gate open until then.”

—Nod nod

Two forces capable of handling any demon had bailed before they even started.

Slightly worried, are we? Should he really be going? Even if only low-level demons were coming, this situation was making him a little uneasy…

“Surely you’re not saying you don’t trust us now, are you?”

Luciel sidled closer, conjuring a sword of light in less than a second.

Not stopping there, she displayed a feat of skill, cleaving a distant boulder in two with a single stroke.

“Don’t worry, Junior. Sir Shabel Saber and the Imperial Guardian are on standby as well, I heard.”

Today, Neferti let out another, “Ugh!” sound, ‘almost’ falling over, but she regained her balance with a gust of wind.

It seemed she was definitely getting used to the power-up Deus had mentioned.

“I… I’ll do it. I will. So, Deus. You do it too.”

For once, Yurishia had no smile on her face, emphasizing her serious side.

Of course, the subtle tremble in her lips showed she hadn’t shaken off all the tension.

“…Right. Gotta go. This is what we prepared for. Gotta go, indeed.”

He would not stand idly by and watch the righteous suffer. That was the third, and most binding, of his oaths.

And right now, wiping out the real enemies on the other side of this gate was the most perfect and certain way to prevent even greater misfortunes.

Perhaps this ridiculous genre-bending he had done was for this very purpose.

The fact that he had managed to get this far without losing anyone because of it was a bonus.

‘Come to think of it. Why is this world so similar to that novel’s world? I’d like to know that.’

Thinking this, Deus gazed at the black void gradually materializing before him.

Looking at it like this, it seemed just like a Gate being activated. Well, Gates did serve as entrances for demons, so it shouldn’t look like a Gate, it *had* to *be* a Gate.

The funny thing was that they had tried so hard to close those Gates, and now he was opening one here.

“So, I just jump through this, right?”

“Yes. Then, you will. Be taken. Where you need. To go.”

“A short answer will do. You’ll run out of breath, breathless.”

“I’m… grateful. But I’m alright.”

Astaroth had already collapsed in a manner that screamed, ‘Do not speak to me.’

Only Jarvis, despite his own ravaged state, diligently offered replies. So much so that Deus chuckled, saying the name ‘Jarvis’ was well-deserved.

“Hooo.”

He’d said there was no need to worry about them exploiting this door. The energy they used was fundamentally different, after all.

So, anxieties about that could be set aside. Still, Deus couldn’t shake the unease about those demons repairing the path they’d ruined and opening the door to send others through.

“You’ll manage just fine without me, right?”

“Stating the obvious, junior.”

“Are you still here?! Hurry up and go! At this rate, those two over there will die first!”

“See you soon, Deus.”

*Right.* I taught him, after all. He’d better be capable of this much.

With a simple, ‘Fight on!’ Deus stepped through the door.

*

“Phus. Amduscias. Seere.”

At the man’s words, three demons stepped forward.

“You are our last hope. There is no turning back now. The energy we are expending to send you is everything we possess. Nothing held back, nothing saved. It all goes to you.”

“…”

“Survive, no matter what. Join Astaroth and gather energy by any means. If the enemy proves too strong, run without a second thought. And wring every last drop of fear from the weaker ones, turn it into energy.”

His voice held a strained solemnity. He was working hard to inspire the demons before him.

But the man was, in truth, struggling to suppress a bitter lament for their current predicament.

All three demons before him had failed even the preliminary tests for vanguard status. They were, quite literally, the lowest of the low.

Even Zagan, who had somewhat made it to the front, was not enough, let alone these more inadequate fellows.

Sending these things was almost an absurdity. But what choice did they have? There wasn’t even enough energy to feed themselves and die.

‘We’re scraping together every last scrap, everything we have, and sending them out.’

They’d gathered even the energy the demons had secretly stashed away, scraped it all together. And even then, all they could muster was enough to send three of these bottom-tier demons.

Some had argued, “Wouldn’t it be better to send one strong one instead of three weak ones?” But the man had immediately rejected the idea. What ridiculous drivel.

It was a difficult situation no matter who they sent. How would sending one, in place of three, change anything?

Better to increase the numbers and have them strike from all directions, then flee. That was why Astaroth had requested those skilled at hit-and-run tactics.

Oblivious to this hidden reality (though knowing it wouldn’t change a thing), the three demons were simply excited at the idea that they were the last hope.

They were even entertaining a secret hope that their ranks might rise if things went well.

“Go quickly. Astaroth awaits.”

Urged on by the man, the three demons vanished through the newly opened door.

The man stared after them, then collapsed into his seat with a sigh.

Was this the right thing to do? No, more importantly, how had things come to this?

‘The trumpet echoing through the dawn sky.’

At first, he hadn’t known what it meant, but now that phrase was synonymous with dread.

The fact that even Astaroth was barely holding on suggested this enemy was no ordinary foe. Perhaps even stronger than himself. Or possibly, on par with the King.

“Hooo.”

Whatever the case, the last card had been played. May it all turn out well.

Thinking thus, the man returned to where he belonged.

…*Shhh*!

Unbeknownst to him, a pitch-black void, something that should never appear in this place, was gradually taking form.

*

“Nervous, I’d say.”

“Let’s do this right. If we pull this off, our demon life is set.”

“As long as we’re just escaping, not dying, it shouldn’t be that hard. We can do it.”

Puss, Amdusias, and Seir. The three demons bolstered each other with an ‘Alright, let’s go!’

They knew, deep down, that they shouldn’t even have this chance.

If things hadn’t gone so sideways, they would have just waited quietly to leave together later.

But somehow, they’d become the last resort for hell and its demons.

If they succeed, everyone succeeds, if they fail, everyone falls to the bottom.

‘We barely escaped the Abyss following the King and climbed to the upper reaches of Hell. And now…’

‘If we fail, and get trapped there again. Those things will try to devour us.’

‘If it looks like we’re going to fail, I’d rather just end it myself.’

A small mercy was that they weren’t alone, Astaroth was with them too.

Even though her personality was terribly twisted and she was consumed by extreme laziness, the current situation was far too urgent for such indulgences, so she too would swallow her pride and do her best.

It shouldn’t be that hard. No matter how bright the dawn, its light can’t reach everywhere.

There are definitely places it doesn’t touch. Ambush in those places, find a weakness, and strike.

Gathering and gathering and gathering energy that way. If they did that, someday, they surely…

“Huh?”

While traversing the void, Seir let out a gasp.

Before the other two demons could ask what was wrong,

—*Shhh*

Something was approaching from ahead. They couldn’t see it clearly, but it was definitely coming.

Of course, when crossing the void, one can only interact with the foothold they’re standing on.

So all they could do was watch. It was impossible for anyone to break that rule.

“What is that?”

“Uh, uh-oh?”

The distance grew shorter, and the instant it became clearly visible to the naked eye.

The three demons could see a monster slowly, but surely, passing them by, heading towards hell.