Chapter 90 – So, This is Hell

“Did I… did I just see that wrong?”

This was the demon, Puss.

“Looks like… we saw it right?”

Responded Amdusias.

“What is it, what even is that.”

Finally, Seir, terrified.

The three demons stared blankly at the ‘lowly creature’ that had passed them by and headed for hell.

If they could have stopped it, they would have. They would have tried to grab it.

But the reality is, they can’t meddle with anything beyond where they currently stand.

Consequently, their only recourse is to whine, “What now? What now?” That’s their entire situation.

“…Alright. Let’s just focus on the mission at hand for now.”

Amducias, subtly vying for leadership, clears his throat and speaks.

Seir, who’d been watching him with undisguised distaste, sighs.

He doesn’t want to follow this guy’s lead, but what choice does he have? He’s right, after all.

Once they get through, Astaroth awaits. A powerhouse beyond their comparison.

Amducias’ little stint as leader will only last a moment. He can endure it.

“Speaking of which…are we really…leaving together like this?”

Pus, curious for some time now, voices the question. The other two demons are struck with similar ponderings, each lost in thought.

They’ve heard the stories about what lies beyond, ad nauseam.

The Dawn, the monsters. That terrifying thing is already overwhelmingly powerful, impossible to defeat.

Thus, the order was to avoid engagement at all costs, but even if they had a chance before, can these three even properly escape if they split up? He wonders.

“…Okay, if, and I mean *if*, we somehow end up completely separated, then no matter the situation, we regroup first. Then we gather energy.”

“Even if there are easy targets right in front of us? We were told energy is critical.”

“No. The most important thing is preserving our lives. Nothing is more important, not to Hell, not even to ourselves. Death is the end of everything. The end!”

Pus, Amducias, and Seir huddled together one last time, reaching their own accord.

Whatever the circumstance, they will leave the gate and head toward each other’s aura. They will reunite.

Next, they’ll seek out Astaroth, join her, and wage a relentless guerilla war, doing their best to avoid capture.

“Damn it all. How did we end up in a situation where we have to run from lesser beings?”

“It’s because that Dawn creature could be lurking anywhere, waiting. So shut your mouth and do as you’re told. Got it?”

Even in this moment, they can’t help bickering, as befits demons.

Then, far off in the distance, something seems to flash, and a buoyancy they’ve never felt before envelops them.

*

“…Pus. Amducias.”

As expected, no response. It seems he’s alone here, Seir thought.

He was prepared for this, but now that it’s real, worry weighs on him.

He’s concerned for Pus, the weakest of the three, and even for Amducias, despite their bad blood.

‘Alright, getting out of here and regrouping is the priority.’

Where other demons casually left the gate, ready to immediately start their work.

These demons, entering last, moved with more stealth than the monsters themselves.

But their movements were already being tracked from the very start.

“Ah. Finally out, are they?”

“How many, Senior?”

“One, Chairman. Should we call that lucky?”

*What is this*? Seir thought, cautiously peering out. “By the abyss…” he sighed.

How could they possibly know? Lesser beings were already lying in wait right outside the gate.

“…”.

For a moment, the thought, “Just three?” flashed through his mind, but he quickly recalled the man’s warning.

*Don’t underestimate the lesser beings. Whatever happens, fall back and look for an opening.*

Between those lowly creatures you so readily dismiss, a trumpet call to dawn might be hiding.

And should that be the case, you’ll die without so much as a whimper, I tell you, utterly extinguished.

Whatever else may be, I’d rather not die. Isn’t crisis supposed to be opportunity?

If I handle this well, I could become the lowest of demons, yes, but the number one contributor to saving Hell itself!

Perhaps even a rise in status, beyond my wildest dreams, might then become a debatable possibility!

Lost in that thought, Seir immediately began searching for a corner from which to escape.

Though they outnumber me, if you count them by numbers, there are but three of them.

Were it not for the dawn, I could easily escape this and rejoin the other demons.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

But the three lowly creatures standing before Seir showed no inclination to allow it.

—Shaaa!

An unpleasant energy rippled, and then something grazed Seir’s face, whipping past.

Turning his head, he saw a streak of glittering light extending and contracting at will in the hand of one of the creatures.

“Nowhere at all. Demon.”

Luciel, maintaining perfect spacing as Deus had instructed, offered a chilling smile.

Of course, Seir had no intention of refraining from escape simply because they said he couldn’t.

Turning his body at once to flee into the empty air was his next plan.

But that, too, proved futile within seconds.

“Don’t even dream of going up.”

Nefertiti, with a stable current of air swirling around her, sat suspended in the void.

She who had once struggled even to stand now commanded the winds with near-perfect control. A near-master of wind-based abilities, one might say.

Front, back, left, right… even above, every avenue was already occupied.

Faced with this reality, Seir bit his lip, deciding he’d have to alter his plan.

Originally, the decision had been to avoid combat at all costs and regroup with the others.

But as things stood, he had to change that. He had to break through, head on.

“Like the seniors said… you shall not pass.”

Though her voice trembled slightly, her clenched fists held firm.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the overcoming of it. Yurisia repeated this mantra in her mind, standing bravely before the demon.

If Deus were standing here, observing, he might have said something like this:

“Man, this protagonist buff is insane. How did they show up exactly where we were waiting?

There are at least a few more locations where the Gate manifested, how is this even possible?”

“Let’s go, juniors. Keep your wits about you.”

“Yes, Senior!”

“Yessir!!”

There were no words of “Don’t die in vain,” or “You’ll be in trouble if you get hurt.”

These three already knew words far more terrifying than those.

“If you show us anything less than our expectations, Senior Deus could return and quite literally grind us to dust.”

“Ugh…! Just imagining it is horrifying!”

“I-I’m fine.”

“Yurisia, junior?”

“Ah, no! I’ll work harder, harder!!”

With a battle cry, Yurishia was the first to charge.

To match her, Nefertiti wove a gust of wind around her form, shifting positions for perfect synchronization as Luciel steadily closed the distance from the rear.

*

“Damn it all.”

At the same moment, Amdusias was bemoaning his luck.

Separation from the other two demons? Expected. Encountering lesser beings? Also expected.

But, this wretched… never could he have imagined those lesser beings would include one who looked overtly dangerous.

“Hahaha! Truly, my luck is unparalleled!”

Watching Shabel, who was roaring with laughter, Amdusias was certain: This was Dawn.

He could feel it. Powerful. He couldn’t guarantee victory were he to fight him now.

Therefore, retreat was necessary. Flight was the correct course of action. First, rejoin the others, then…

—*Kugung!*

“He’s probably thinking of cleaving through the enemy and me in one fell swoop again.”

“Hahaha! You saw through me! Guardian General! But I trust in the Guardian General! Surely the Guardian General can even withstand my sword of twilight!”

“Hoo. I only agreed to another field deployment because I was told I could help. And now I’m stuck with Sir Shabel Saber.”

Etenndar, the Guardian General, now partnered with Shabel, let out a small sigh.

His sole and natural duty was to stand firm beside the Emperor.

But this time, it was the Emperor’s command that sent him out with Shabel to deal with the demons.

Right now, it was more crucial to slay any being that could pose even the smallest threat to the Empire.

*

Finally, Pus, the weakest of the three demons.

Of course, “weak” here was only in relation to other demons.

Compared to the Empire’s gifted, Pus was undeniably superior.

But Pus, unfortunately, had heard far too much about ‘Dawn’ before coming here.

If they clashed, death was certain. He had to escape, rejoin the others – a plan he held as paramount.

“Chase! Don’t let him escape! Even if it means death, we must stop him!”

“Uwaaa! Damn lesser beings!!”

Not protagonists, nor even powerful individuals akin to them. Just ordinary gifted from the Empire, chasing after him.

The sight was akin to a cat being chased by mice who had resigned themselves to death.