103 – A Temporary Alliance, This Time Only*

Belphegor had corrupted countless people.

Thus, she knew how to touch upon a person’s weaknesses.

And in her eyes, the Saint’s greatest weakness was his malleable mental state.

He was never psychologically prepared to bear the weight of such grand things as Sainthood or Lust.

He was suffering, crushed beneath these burdens, burdens he hadn’t even chosen to bear.

In Belphegor’s estimation, he was just the type of man who would be content to have a few women he loved by his side, with a decent job.

Therefore, Belphegor decided on the following three-pronged strategy to persuade the Saint:

1. Convince the Saint that he can immediately put down the burdens he carries.

2. Stirring up anger toward the Pantheon to forge common ground.

3. Persuading him that if he only took their hand, there would be no need to fear death or descend into Hell.

And, throughout this persuasion, Kania and Velia were entities entirely excluded from consideration.

The Saint and Kania had only met a few days prior, at best.

Even considering the passage of time from the outside world as a benchmark, the two had only known each other for perhaps four days, if stretched to the absolute limit.

In contrast, the Saint’s suffering was a tale spanning at least a year.

He’d heard a curse-like prophecy directly from an evil god, foretelling his descent into Hell, and he’d been dragged around, much against his will, with the title of Saint, causing him considerable distress.

Therefore, Belphegor never entertained the thought that the Saint would reject his proposition simply because of Kania.

Logically, no matter how one reasoned it, it seemed impossible for the Saint to be that foolish.

What Belphegor had overlooked was this:

“I hate the Pantheon. That’s true. But that doesn’t mean they all need to disappear… I think they each have their role. And I don’t want Kania to be ruined.”

The being before him was, unfortunately, quite foolish.

No.

More precisely, he possessed an intense compassion for the vulnerable that made him appear foolish.

Belphegor was momentarily speechless at the Saint’s words.

“[The Pantheon said they would send you to Hell. This is your chance to defeat them. You’re going to throw that away?]”

He tried to remind him of his anger toward the Pantheon, but the answer remained the same.

“From their perspective, it was likely the best course of action. And I don’t want the lust within my soul to awaken, either. I hate them, but I believe they were just doing their jobs.”

“[Don’t you want to lay down the burdensome weight you carry?]”

Belphegor attempted to persuade him by playing on the Saint’s sense of burden.

However…

“Exactly. That’s why I can’t take your hand.”

Finally, Belphegor decided to appeal to the Saint’s desires.

“[This is your chance to live happily with the women you love. Why always assume the worst? If you side with Hell, you can control everything as you wish. Why reject this simple and easy path? Amael? If you reject me now, you’ll continue to carry misfortune and pain. Nothing will go your way. Just like now.]”

Belphegor looked up at Amael, his voice pleading, almost desperate.

“[Take my hand. Jericho Amael. All the worries. All the anxieties. The countless sufferings you must bear as a human. The numerous trials that came to you because of the excessive power you hold. All of it will vanish. Think of the three women you love. Imagine the everyday life you’ll spend with them in peace. Isn’t that your desire?]”

Belphegor desperately hoped that Amael would take his hand.

If he did, the whole situation would become simple.

Asmodeus would return to Pandemonium’s side once more.

The feeble Pantheon and the vermin of the Abyss would clearly be unable to resist Hell.

That sweet future was within reach, by the narrowest of margins.

If Amael would only take his hand…

Everything would be accomplished.

“I can’t.”

But Amael rejected him once again.

Belphegor felt like he was going mad with frustration.

If it weren’t for Asmodeus, he would have used his powers long ago, whether through mind control or brainwashing.

Trying to persuade him with words alone was driving him to the brink.

“[Why? Why do you make such a foolish choice? Why do you deliberately seek out the difficult path?]”

A question that was almost a laugh of bewilderment escaped Belphegor’s lips, born of anger, astonishment, and absurdity.

And then came Amael’s reply, which served only to bewilder Belphegor further.

“What good is it if I’m happy alone, while Kanya remains miserable? My conscience wouldn’t allow it. I don’t wish to build my happiness upon another’s suffering.”

Belphegor stared at Amael for a long moment.

Then, she extended her hand even further.

An almost feverish resolve now hardened her expression.

“[Very well. Kanya and the Belia within her soul are to be considered exceptions. I will not kill them. Will you take my hand then?]”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t trust you. Your sweet-talking words… they ring less true than the Pantheon’s threats of damnation. Because they *are* truer. That’s why I’m still standing here.”

“[Amael. Why must you be so… frustrating? An easy, simple path lies right here! The Pantheon is no different from us, you know? They, too, are beings driven by selfishness.]”

“Even if that were true, nothing would change. I’ve met the Pantheon’s followers and your followers. And I’ve concluded that the Pantheon’s followers are the lesser evil. They have many problems, yes, but… at least they possess a will to do what is right. Unlike your kind.”

Anger slowly began to simmer within Amael’s eyes.

“Your followers tortured an innocent family, murdered the parents before their child’s very eyes, and forcibly implanted Belia’s divine spark into that child’s body. And for the past decade, they have inflicted constant torment, ensuring the child never knew happiness, all in an attempt to tame Belia. So, no. I cannot trust you.”

“[Do you truly believe the Pantheon hasn’t committed atrocities similar to our own? Shall I recount the deeds of the dark and secret god, R’lyeh-neri?]”

“Say what you will. I loathe the Pantheon. But I don’t wish for them all to die. I don’t wish for their followers to fall into despair. That is why I will not align myself with you. You committed an unforgivable act against Kanya.”

Finally, Belphegor’s frustration exploded.

“[She is but a girl!! Amael!! You are failing to prioritize the stakes at hand!! Your very life is on the line!! Why won’t you make a better choice for yourself?! All for a girl you’ve known for less than four days!!]”

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

“[…Right?]”

“Yes. Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Belphegor stumbled back, a step retreating.

She laughed.

A laugh born of bewilderment and fury.

“[You truly are… foolish. Beyond the realm of comprehension foolish.]”

Amael smiled at her words.

“I know. But what can I do? This is simply how I was born.”

Belphegor turned her back. She returned to her place.

“[We shall proceed as planned. That one… she is a greater fool than any saint or martyr I have ever encountered.]”

“[You’ve wasted time!! Belphegor!!]”

Satan roared, his voice booming with rage.

Belphegor rubbed the back of her neck in exasperation.

“[Indeed. Commence then. Do it now.]”

Leviathan strode forward at those words.

The stones surrounding her feet began to tremble violently.

The saint recoiled, stumbling backward.

Leviathan chuckled at the sight.

“[Emerge now. Asmodeus. Descend into the human realm. Or your precious, precious Amael shall meet her end.]”

With a giggle, Leviathan flicked her wrist.

That simple gesture left a deep, raw gash in the earth.

As if a gigantic blade had just sliced through it, some unseen, terrible force carved its brutal mark upon the ground, hurtling toward Amael.

And just as Amael’s body seemed poised to be cleaved in two,

An intense light erupted from within her.

And the Leviathan’s aura simply flowed, deflecting away as if water off stone.

At this sight, Leviathan erupted in laughter, clapping his hands together.

“[Long time no see! Asmodeus!!]”

Slowly.

From behind Amael, a form crafted of immense light began to materialize.

*

I didn’t pass out.

No.

Even worse, I *didn’t* pass out.

The godlike ones earned that designation for a reason.

It was one thing to disregard the persuasion of a young girl, but in the next instant…

The three Demon Lords’ attitudes shifted, an all-out assault aimed right at me, and I couldn’t even begin to collect myself.

A single word.

A mere intent, a weapon in and of itself.

With each uttered syllable, I felt as though my very soul was cracking.

Just staying conscious was an ordeal.

The anorexic woman flung something my way, and soon something terribly ominous, yet invisible, slashed a sharp scar across the ground, hurtling towards me.

Instinctively, I understood that I couldn’t dodge this, couldn’t block it.

I was powerless.

Reflexively, I raised an arm, but then—

The ominous presence speeding towards me ricocheted away and vanished.

Again, instinctively.

I could sense something enormously immense was manifesting directly behind me.

The light was blinding. I squinted, slowly turning my head.

A massive…

Something indescribable.

Beyond mere size, a weight, a grandeur stood behind me.

Within the incandescent glow, what my eyes beheld…

“…….Gigachad?”

It was a man with a chiseled face and monumental musculature.

Dumbfounded, I spoke his name, and Gigachad gazed down upon me.

“[It has been a while, Sung-bbipbi.]”

No sooner had those words reached my ears than the anorexic woman’s sharp laughter sliced through the air.

“[Long time no see! Asmodeus!!]”

Those words only deepened my confusion.

Gigachad is Asmodeus?

The being who often comforted me in my dreams, who enveloped me with such warmth… *that* was Asmodeus??

No, something wasn’t adding up.

Why would the Demon Lord of Lust comfort *me*?

There was absolutely no reason for that, was there?

I was in the midst of utter confusion.

The ground began to tremble, as if struck by an earthquake.

Simultaneously, Gigachad groaned, as if in terrible pain.

Slowly, the familiar form of the muscular man I knew began to shatter, and eight pairs of wings began to burst forth from Gigachad’s back.

“[Seong-Bbip-Bbi! …I didn’t want to startle you, so I took the form most familiar to you. But those b*stards are too strong to stop without revealing my true self.]”

The bearded man’s appearance vanished.

And in its place…

“Lilia, the Goddess?!”

A being with the same face as the holy Goddess Lilia, whom I always saw in the Magic Tower temple, stared back at me, eight pairs of wings upon its back.

My confusion deepened tenfold.

Wait, hold on a second.

Just a moment.

That the Gigachad inside was a woman was already shocking enough, but why does Asmodeus have the appearance of the Goddess of Grace…

What in the world is going on?

What is this?

What the hell is this all about?

“[Damn it! Lucifer!!…]”

With a chilling clang of metal, Gigachad…Asmodeus?…This is driving me insane.

The left wing of Asmodeus, with the face of the Goddess of Grace, twitched violently.

At the same moment, the anorexic woman and the hulking muscular man charged towards me with terrifying speed.

“[Everything proceeds as planned. Belphegor! You are responsible for the corruption!]”

“[We will subdue Asmodeus. Do not fail, Sloth.]”

As the two approached, the rocky mountains of Talahaim cried out as if caught in a hurricane.

Rocks, overwhelmed by sheer power, rolled, cracked, and exploded.

“[Seong…Bbip-Bbi…]”

The anorexic woman and the muscular man grabbed Asmodeus’s arms.

I was helpless at the scene of such immense powers clashing.

I felt as though my very soul would shatter and burst apart from the overwhelming pressure, a pressure I couldn’t even see.

I could barely breathe, forced to watch Asmodeus and the two divine beings locked in a tense struggle.

Then, suddenly.

“[Amael. If only you had taken my hand when I offered. Now you’ve forced us to take this long and complicated detour, haven’t you?]”

A little girl reached my nose, walking with a light step.

“[Don’t worry. It’ll be over quickly. My brainwashing is gentle and thorough. You’ll even forget who you once were. What a shame. If you had taken my hand earlier…you could have retained your ego.]”

A pitch-black aura gathered around the girl’s hand.

Slowly.

Her hand began to reach for me.

“[Seong-Bbip!!…Amael!!]”

Asmodeus’s desperate cry reached my ears.

“[I!!…Command!!…]”

Still.

Nothing made any sense.

Why did Lust possess the face of the Goddess Lilia?

Why were two Demon Lords holding the Demon Lord of Lust captive?

Weren’t Asmodeus and the other Demon Lords supposed to be on the same side?

And brainwashing?!

Were they going to turn me into someone like Kania?

I wouldn’t allow it.

Why brainwash me when they could simply shatter my soul?

Questions flooded my mind, but there was no time for lengthy deliberation.

“[Farewell.]”

The young girl’s hand, stained black, flew towards my head.

And almost simultaneously.

A dazzling, pure-white chain manifested in my right hand.

*

[Skill: Time Stop – Available.]

[Skill: Body Modification – Available.]

[All Skills Leveled Up to Maximum.]

[All Mental and Physical Restrictions on Skill Usage Have Been Removed.]

The girl’s hand froze before my eyes.

The result of a localized time stop on her hand.

“[…You!! The chains!!…]”

I swung my fist towards the astonished girl.

Even I thought the body modification was excessive, but my body withstood the changes unscathed.

An ear-splitting sonic boom erupted as my fist, exceeding the speed of sound, connected, sending the girl flying away, crashing into the ground far off in the distance.

I looked down at my hand.

The pure-white chain was coiled tightly around it.

“[Amael. Finally!!… ]”

Asmodeus’s laughing voice echoed from behind me.

“[Give me your command!]”

I wound the chain around my hand like a knuckle duster and issued my order.

“I don’t know what the hell is going on, but this is a temporary alliance. Asmodeus. I need the power to beat the living crap out of these b*stards.”

Asmodeus carried out my command in a simple, yet undeniably effective manner.

A colossal beam of light descended from the heavens, striking the earth.

The one I had only heard stories of, being unconscious at the time.

The pillar of light known as the Scrap Yard Miracle.