C492
---
Actually, Cale spoke to the Demon God quite calmly, speaking in a low voice hoping that the nearby people and demons wouldn't hear him.
“…….”
“…….”
But the priest who knew everything that happened in the temple and the ruins, the warriors with extraordinary physical abilities, as well as Clopeh Sekka and the Demon King himself, heard everything.
‘Give it to me.’
‘Please.’
By the way, the Demon God's words were not audible to others.
‘Ah, what a pain.’
Instead, what Cale said was heard with absolute clarity.
"...eh—"
One of the waiting warriors frowned and spoke without being able to help it. His face showed a mix of bewilderment, confusion, and anger.
The Demon God.
How could they act so uninhibitedly before such a revered being? Even if he was the Savior.
A light laugh was heard.
It was the Demon King.
The warrior could see the Demon King's smiling face. He was truly amused. Next to him was a human with white hair and blue-green eyes, clutching a recording device tightly and staring intently at Cale.
"It is not a show of irreverence."
In those eyes shining with madness, there was an overflowing joy, like that of a believer who finally finds the deity they have been waiting for; it was a gaze more enthusiastic than that of the warrior himself.
It was not a show of irreverence.
"Whether a god or not a god, they are the same as Cale-nim."
With that firm conviction, the warrior swallowed saliva without realizing it. Clopeh Sekka, without hesitation, averted his gaze from that warrior and directed it towards Cale.
The trace left by the Demon God.
“…….”
Clopeh's hand trembled over the recording device. That black veil of water, which now rose to cover and swoop down on Cale, emitted a crushing magnitude; its presence made the body tremble in small spasms, like the first time he encountered the vestiges of the God of Chaos's power.
‘That is an existence comparable to a god.’
Even the warrior who was about to address Cale, without realizing it, had become captivated by the power of that Demon God and his eyes had become senseless; his whole body trembled.
In this place, only two were intact.
The Demon King.
And Cale.
Even Cale, unlike the Demon King, seemed to show not the slightest concern.
‘Yes. He really seems annoyed by the bother…’
That someone can kill gods. Wow, the path Cale walks is truly legendary. Cale was becoming stronger and stronger. Was there anyone stronger among those who still had a completely human body? In Clopeh's eyes, Cale was completely covered by the black water veil, but Clopeh wasn't worried.
‘Because Cale-nim isn't worried about this situation.’
He just had to trust and wait. Clopeh remained still, expectant for what would happen.
And then—
Ssssh—
Cale, covered by the black water veil,
—"A-annoying...?" (the Demon God whispered)
That voice, as if feeling deeply hurt, whimpered.
—"Even so, do it. When a superior orders, one obeys."
Cale laughed softly and, unable to help it, a thought escaped in a low voice.
"You?"
You, my superior? Wow, that's not it.
He corrected himself.
"Sorry, I didn't mean you."
Even if he was someone from ancient times whose death couldn't even be dated accurately, he had been too blunt.
—"…!"
The Demon God, with that strange attitude, trembled. But he immediately seemed to decide something.
—"Even so, obtaining power without a trial is meaningless. It has no style."
His tone became strange, serious, as if adopting a Dominating Aura to put on airs.
—"Although the content differs, the essence is an individual with talent similar to mine."
Chaaa—
The water bathed Cale, but his body did not get wet.
—"If you desire my power, create the moment of the power transmission ritual that I acknowledge."
What a nuisance. Even so, Cale understood that he couldn't entirely ignore this trial. This power had an acquisition method similar to the Ancient Powers: it required some procedure or trial to be obtained. What if this wasn't really the trace of a true Demon God? If it was, then no matter how arrogantly Cale acted or did as he pleased, the progression of the trial would be an indispensable condition.
‘Anyway, it's a necessary power.’
To be exact, a very useful power if he obtained it. Sky Eating Water would become powerful enough to surpass even the Third Emperor who faced the gods.
"Alright. I'll do it."
There was no other way. By creating a ritual that seemed solemn and with some appearance, it would be enough to pass the trial. A bit tedious, but manageable.
‘During the tour of the Demon World, no, during the purification round of the Demon World, I'll have Clopeh prepare a small ceremony, with few people, but reverent enough.’
Yes. Small and reduced. With some style and veneration.
‘If I don't say this, they might end up setting up another exaggerated ceremony like the birth of Eden Miru in the Seventh Evil.’
That was something he flatly refused.
Cale contemplated the veil that wet without soaking and said.
—"……!"
The veil vibrated as if ecstatic.
‘Oh.’
That feeling disgusted him. Cale felt annoyed. His expression turned to one of disgust.
—"Haa… good decision."
But then came another line that changed Cale's expression.
—"If you obtain this power, your talents will grow… So prepare a very elegant, touching, and sacred ceremony. Then I will awaken and transmit the power to you."
Wait a moment. "Talents", plural?
"Eh!"
Cale exclaimed without being able to help it.
"Eh, wait—!"
But
Chaaa—
The water veil, after finishing its words, vanished.
“……."
In its place, a small moon-shaped insignia appeared in the palm of Cale's hand: a thin crescent moon. Cale put the insignia in his pocket anyway.
He would carry it with him, and when ready, he would show the insignia the moment of the ceremony.
“……."
Cale, who had looked at the empty pond, headed towards those waiting.
‘Talents?’
His head was in a tangle. Wasn't the god-killing talent just one? Didn't Sky Eating Water react to him?
‘No, it has to eat—’
He stopped abruptly.
‘Ah.’
He almost let out a murmur upon realizing.
Devour.
Not the water power that targets gods, but the ability to devour existence.
‘An eater.’
—"Did you call me?"
A languid voice, as if satisfied and sleepy, responded. Cale didn't answer, but he understood something clearly.
‘Eating is something that The Indestructible Shield, the Glutton Priestess, do best.’
They had simply never directed it towards a god. What the tree has eaten so far were things that damaged what Cale must protect: Dead Mana, the Chaos contamination, etc.
‘Now that I think about it—’
Suddenly, Cale remembered the wooden towers protecting the ruins. A sense of déjà vu washed over him.
"Are you going to give the power or not?"
The Demon King's voice brought him back from his thoughts.
‘I'll think about this calmly.’
Anyway, Cale would gradually learn about the forces associated with the "god-killing talents."
‘The Law of the Hunt—’
Cale, who had burst in to confront the hunter family, swallowed that strange feeling and planted himself in front of his group.
—"No. They say the power is given only if the trial is passed."
Cale looked at Clopeh and the priest and said firmly, as if dictating something important:
—"We need a place to perform the ceremony, on a small scale, with only a few people. We'll do it as secretly as possible."
—"It must be very majestic and reverent."
The priest spoke cautiously.
—"Is that what the Demon God desires?"
—"Yes. It seems he wishes for the power to be inherited through a proper ritual."
At that moment, one of the warriors muttered complainingly:
—"We should have received the Demon God with the proper formalities."
Cale looked at him and the man immediately closed his mouth.
The priest showed a worried expression and seemed about to speak, but Cale spoke first.
—"Hmm. Having spent your entire life protecting these ruins of the Demon God, I understand the devotion towards him."
The warrior felt guilty for speaking like that. The devotion towards the Demon God, and the fact that Cale had protected the ruin and the tribe, had created conflicting feelings.
Cale, observing that demon without flinching, said:
—"But this entity says it is not a god. So it won't like being worshipped like a god."
“……."
"And it doesn't seem to be an entity dedicated to serving the demons."
"!"
The corner of Cale's lips curved into a smirk. That night, Cale wasn't in the mood for complications; he wanted to do things quickly and move on, but, deep down—
—"Two weeks ago, the gray light did not come to protect the demons or these two cities. It wasn't a touching story of appearing to save the city. No. This force reacted solely to the heir. That is the purpose the Demon God left in these unique ruins."
The entity you revered was simply seeking a successor. For the demons who longed and waited for a deity to glorify the Demon World, this wouldn't be good news.
—"Anyway, in my experience, it doesn't seem like a god."
Cale averted his gaze from the silent warrior and set off. There was no reason to stay there.
—"We will prepare it discreetly and carefully."
The priest's voice echoed behind him. Cale nodded in agreement and left the temple.
"...interesting."
The Demon King, observing silently, followed him. Cale didn't have time to worry about that. There was something even more disturbing: Clopeh Sekka, whose expression brightened and stuck to his side after receiving another order.
Creak creak. Clopeh dragged the wheelchair that Cale had left and spoke:
—"Does it really have to be so simple and with so few people?"
“……."
—"You said it must look stylish, but to look stylish you need spectators."
“……."
—"Does that fit with a small gathering?"
What a terrifying guy. Cale dismissed Clopeh Sekka's questions forcefully and emphasized:
—"Do it as I said. The priest will manage it. You just make sure it matches the conditions I mentioned."
Yes. Better the priest than Clopeh.
—"Focus on the purification tour of the Demon World."
—"Ah, of course."
Clopeh smiled widely and said:
—"Do not worry. Everything is already prepared, Cale-nim."
That left him even more uneasy. Cale ignored Clopeh's smile and returned to his lodging to sleep. He had a feeling that something was going to happen from the next morning. He already felt tired just thinking about it. That's why he postponed the conversation with Ron and Beacrox for a few days.
‘Without a doubt—’
If Clopeh acts according to his plan, their strength will be exhausted. It will be emotionally tough.
Cale tried hard to ignore that gloomy future.
---
But what awaited him the next day was not gloomy; it was lively, beautiful, and spectacular.
Aaaaah.
Savior.
Gray rain.
The gray galaxy.
As expected. Upon arriving at the fourth city he needed to purify, Cale saw from the portal entrance the citizens greeting him.
The demons really welcomed him with sincere joy.
—"Human, it doesn't compare to the Young Master Silver Shield."
He ignored Raon's comment.
Jubilant voices. Finally. Finally. The ovation was much greater than what the Young Master Silver Shield received. Cale couldn't smile, but he had an idea why.
‘It's fear.’
On the demons' faces, there was desperation. Unlike receiving someone victorious in battles, those before him waited with an urgency that came from having gone through death or the loss of loved ones due to the gray disease; they were happy and at the same time distressed.
The gray disease. Even if they contained it, once the information came to light and its scope was known, as long as there were infected, the demons couldn't rest peacefully. Those two hellish weeks were now coming to an end.
—"Cale-nim."
Clopeh's low voice made Cale notice that the nearby demons were watching each other. They weren't smiling enthusiastically. There were from simple inhabitants to those responsible for the lordship and the Demon King's castle, and even demon children with flower crowns. A bitter taste filled Cale's mouth.
He smiled slightly.
—"Human, your smile when you scam people resembles this one, but it's different," murmured Raon, and Cale paid him no attention.
Cale approached a demon child.
—"Will you give it to me?"
—"...Yes. Yes, savior."
For the first time, the child showed a radiant smile. Cale, who normally wouldn't even look at that flower crown, thanked the child. Then he addressed the local administrator with a declaration.
—"Prepare a festival."
The administrator understood the meaning: it was the purification ceremony.
—"The Chaos contamination will disappear today. Only peace will remain."
His voice was serene but determined. Everyone cheered.
‘Hah. Really.’
Cale, who wasn't suited for protocol duties, convincingly pretended to be the Savior. The joy and desperation in the crowd began to diminish a little.
‘I'll have to do this a few more times.’
If only he could finish the purifications in peace and quiet. Cale, to continue his role, looked at Clopeh with an expression that had much to say, but he stopped.
—"Cale-nim, what's wrong?" asked Clopeh with an expression of feigned ignorance. Cale didn't answer, put his hand in his pocket, and pulled something out.
—"Hmm?"
The Demon God's power. The trial that asked to prepare the ceremony moment. And the lunar insignia given to Cale. A very thin crescent moon.
—"Eh?"
That crescent moon seemed, subtly, thicker than before, as if the moon was growing.
‘Could it be…?’
Cale raised his head. The demons were cheering him. The Demon God's power awaited a ceremonious, elegant, and magnificent moment.
‘...Could it be?’
Cale felt the return of a chill on the back of his neck, because he understood why the insignia had changed. Then he heard an even more terrifying voice.
—"Oh."
Clopeh Sekka was looking at the insignia in the palm of Cale's hand with a gaze full of interest and amusement, and murmured:
—"...as expected."
Cale felt cold sweat on his forehead. He had a feeling that something he didn't want was going to happen, something very annoying.
For example, the image of the Demon God's power being publicly bestowed upon Cale during the purification ceremony before a crowd.
"I'll go crazy."
—"Human, do you want to see the crown prince? Lately you imitate his words well."
Cale closed his eyes against the dizziness. It was the first day of the purification tour throughout the Demon World.
