Organization (6)

Edge Forys, who had flown directly to the Hope duchy through teleportation, observed the scenery of the Hope duchy that he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“It’s Edge Forys.”

“Is he in his right mind?”

“If we capture him…”

The once vibrant Hope duchy was now empty. Most of its people had died, and all that remained were demons or half-demons.

They couldn’t believe that Edge Forys, one of humanity’s main forces, had appeared so boldly in the Hope duchy.

Despite the clear opportunity to earn merit, they merely watched from a distance. Not a single one dared to attack Edge Forys directly.

They were simply overwhelmed.

The presence of a grand mage, the dignity of a nobleman.

He was just standing there leaning on his staff, yet there was something about him that couldn’t be defied.

It was while Edge Forys was waiting in the midst of white noise.

“Oh my! What an esteemed guest we have!”

Finally, someone appeared who could speak to Edge Forys despite his overwhelming presence.

A demon, one of Belial’s Seven Blades.

“Pleased to meet you. I am the Blade of Deficiency, Carencia. So, what brings you here?”

“A face I haven’t seen before.”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Of course. This is our first meeting.”

“That’s why you’re dawdling around. What are you doing! Quickly guide me to where he is. He must have told you to bring me to him!”

“Ah… I’m, I’m sorry.”

Carencia, who had appeared with a confident demeanor, quickly shrank under Edge Forys’s rage.

She didn’t understand why she was being scolded, but seeing how angry he was, she must have done something wrong.

Edge Forys’s act conveyed exactly that impression.

His experience from years in the political arena couldn’t be explained merely through words and magic.

‘Why am I being so polite?’

Carencia wore a puzzled expression only after turning around to guide Edge Forys.

*     *      *

As Edge Forys had predicted, he was able to have a conversation with Belial.

The place he was guided to was a reception room. After waiting a bit, Belial appeared, looking exactly as he always had.

“I see that foul personality of yours remains unchanged.”

“No need to mince words. Everyone knows I have a shitty personality.”

“To think that you, a demon, would have less dignity than the one who exposed your identity.”

“Are we concerning ourselves with dignity now? Honestly, when it was revealed that you were a devil, I thought it was for the best. Now I have more options to kill you besides just my tongue.”

“You truly are insane. So how does it feel? Think you can kill me with something other than your tongue?”

Edge Forys glanced at Belial, who was smiling slyly, then set down his teacup and shrugged as he said:

“Honestly, it would be difficult.”

“Indeed. You wouldn’t know. How insignificant I found you.”

“Did you think someone strong in words alone would be nothing if overpowered by force?”

“Honestly, I did. There were countless times I wanted to simply kill you on the spot out of frustration.”

“Seems I’ve beaten a devil with my tongue. You must be impressed, given your praise.”

“Honestly, even now I want to tear you apart. There’s no reason not to.”

Belial. No, to Edge Forys, he was still the old man Wallace Hope, who grinned.

“Do you feel it would be unfair to die like that?”

“You know well. You and I have fought on the political stage for over 50 years. For it to end with a simple show of force… that would be…”

“It would feel like you lost?”

“Exactly. Kukukuk.”

Edge Forys and Wallace Hope continued their conversation as if they were old friends-turned-enemies.

Yes, Edge Forys had conviction. While he might not know Belial the demon, he knew Wallace Hope, his political rival, better than anyone.

But even that was just one aspect.

“Well then, Edge Forys. Tell me. What entertainment will you provide me? I hope you won’t disappoint. I want a reason for having seated you here.”

“In that case, I should certainly disappoint you. Since when have we ever done things to please each other?”

“That’s true. Then let’s pretend I never said that. Instead, can you answer one question?”

“And what will you give me if I answer your question?”

“You bastard. You need something in return just to answer a question? Then what about the favor I’m doing by talking to you right now?”

“Favor, my ass. If you’re so annoyed, why not just kill me? You’re engaging in this conversation because you’re interested too, aren’t you?”

“Argh!”

Wallace Hope grabbed the back of his neck. But his expression didn’t seem entirely displeased.

After his identity as a devil was exposed, Edge Forys was the only one who treated him the same as before.

“Alright, tell me. What do you want to know? Depending on the question, I’ll think about what I’ll take from you in return.”

“Looking at this, one might think I’m the one who’s been captured, my friend.”

“Then am I the one who’s been captured? I walked in here of my own accord.”

“You really don’t concede a single word.”

Wallace Hope stuck out his tongue as if tired of this.

Then, with a devilish smile, he pressured Edge Forys.

“Pressuring your opponent before a conversation is a good tactic. Now that I’m experiencing it, I realize how efficiently I’ve lived.”

“Kukukuk…”

Swoosh!

Seeing Edge Forys remain calm even in the face of his power, Wallace Hope spread his wings.

Wings that seemed like melted shadows enveloped the room, swallowing the space where the two men were into darkness.

Even in a situation where he couldn’t see his opponent or even the teacup he was holding, Edge Forys remained composed.

He had already come prepared to die. There was no reason to fear death.

If there was anything he worried about, it was that this conversation would end meaninglessly.

In other words, his own inadequacy.

“Do you know?”

“Know what?”

“My true purpose.”

Wallace Hope had expectations.

Only two people had fully seen through his purpose so far.

One was his comrade, who knew his every move.

The other was the imperial prince he had ousted, who saw through him through belief and faith.

What about the man before him?

‘Those two suspected my existence from the beginning, but you didn’t. Can someone like you figure out my purpose?’

That was Wallace Hope’s only expectation. Edge Forys might be a human far weaker than him, but on the political stage, he was a monster comparable to himself.

“Some youngster told me. He said you want to erase everyone in this world.”

“And?”

“That must be wrong. You wouldn’t set such an absurd plan. So you must have a goal that’s infinitely more realistic, yet similarly severe.”

“Then what’s my purpose?”

“Your purpose is…”

Edge Forys looked straight ahead. The world, still veiled in darkness, was so dark that he couldn’t even distinguish what was right in front of him.

But he was looking at Wallace Hope. He was definitely there.

Within the dark inner self that was a devil, his political rival was still present.

“You plan to leave your existence as a scar on this world.”

It’s impossible to exterminate humans immediately. Even with a powerful army, completely wiping out a nation’s population is nearly impossible.

As long as one can’t keep track of everyone in the world, one can’t deal with those who flee and hide.

That’s why a plan to exterminate humanity is absurd.

Only the world itself can destroy humanity, not a single entity. In that case, one can do things as close to that as possible.

Kill and kill humans, etching fear deep into their souls.

“Humans hid the existence of devils and erased them from history. But now everyone will know. They’ll forever remember the nightmare that is you.”

“Is that all?”

“Do you want a different answer?”

“…Honestly, I’m a bit disappointed.”

“Is that so? How about this answer? I think I know what you’re plotting right now.”

Edge Forys smiled.

He knows. King of Darkness? Devil? Malice? No.

In the end, those are just shells used to designate a single being.

They are merely aspects of the Wallace Hope he knows.

That’s why Edge Forys believed that regardless of what title his opponent bore, his tendencies wouldn’t be different. While it might be possible to hide for a day or two, it’s impossible to hide for over 50 years.

“A scheme that allows you to remain so relaxed even after your identity was exposed.”

“……”

“The reason you left the wound inflicted by Pope Cotinus untreated, wearing it like a medal.”

“…!”

“You.”

Bang!

Edge Forys set down his teacup. Along with the clear sound of the tea set colliding, the darkness receded.

Forys voiced what he had deduced, the full picture of Belial’s scheme.

“…that’s why. Isn’t it?”

And by the time he finished speaking.

“Kukukuku!”

“Hahahahaha!”

The two men wore surprisingly similar expressions.

*     *      *

Though I wanted to rest in Eve’s embrace for just a day, I couldn’t.

There was an important matter remaining.

In the end, I couldn’t stop Edge Forys. That’s why I had a duty to convey the result to his son, Beast Forys.

When I hurriedly returned to the mansion:

“……”

The mansion was in an uproar.

People were moving busily, and distinguished guests who had come to the Forys duchy were gathering one by one.

Just looking at that bustle, I could tell.

“It seems he didn’t leave without thinking about the aftermath.”

“…Indeed.”

“That means he considered his death a foregone conclusion.”

Though I already knew, it felt bitter that he hadn’t planned to return alive. What was Edge Forys’s purpose? What was his intention?

Why didn’t he tell me anything?

The conclusion that he wouldn’t be able to return, compared to his assurance that he could rescue Siris Forys.

Was he planning to suggest a hostage exchange?

Did he think it would work?

I think Edge Forys would have known it wouldn’t.

If he was going to emphasize his value as a hostage, two would naturally be more valuable than one.

“Let’s go, Eve. I still need to convey the message.”

“My Cielo. If it’s difficult, shall I deliver it for you?”

“It’s alright. It’s my connection, so I should do it.”

I entered the mansion and headed straight for the meeting hall.

“How dare you…!”

“This is the apostle from the Pantheon Temple. It means he’s the highest authority within the Pantheon Temple after His Holiness’s passing.”

“What an honored guest. I apologize.”

Among the power holders from various territories gathered in the Forys duchy, Beast Forys was seated at the head.

The assembled people frowned at me for suddenly barging into the meeting hall, but Beast Forys, seated at the head, defended me with an expressionless face.

Yes, expressionless.

From the fact that he, not Edge Forys, was seated at the head, I could tell he had accepted Edge Forys’s death.

“…So it seems Father has finally departed for the Hope duchy.”

“You knew, Duke Beast. Even though you knew he was leaving today…”

I almost asked why he didn’t stop him, but I held back.

How would he feel? He must have been more upset than me for not being able to stop Edge Forys.

Unless he was a disloyal son coveting his parent’s power, which judging by his expression, didn’t seem to be the case.

That expressionless face was likely a means to maintain composure.

“Apostle Cielo. We haven’t had a chance to properly greet each other. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Beast Forys, now ‘Duke’ of the Forys territory.”

With that introduction, I finally understood. All this time, Edge Forys hadn’t been prevented from going; he had been preparing for this.

Edge Forys had been settling his affairs all along.

“Thank you for your hospitality. I am Cielo, apostle of the Pantheon Temple.”

I closed my eyes tightly and responded to his greeting. Yes, this was Edge Forys’s final preparation.

“Then I look forward to working with you, ‘Duke’ Beast Forys.”

“Yes, likewise.”

It was completed with my words.