C493
—
“Savior…?”
At the exact moment when Cale (he) made eye contact with the city's head administrator who was cautiously calling out to him,
'Good.'
He made a decision.
'We will avoid the worst-case scenario.'
The horrifying vision he had imagined – that of the Demon God's power granting strength to Cale as he performed the purification ceremony in front of a crowd of demons as if being blessed – that had to be avoided. Instead of putting the badge in his pocket, Cale hung it visibly on his clothes and spoke.
“Thank you for the welcome.”
A soft, affable smile settled on his lips, aimed at achieving his purpose.
—Human, why are you smiling like that? You said you were going to go crazy and now you're smiling like you're scamming someone, — said Raon, but Cale dismissed the comment lightly.
Because now,
'Time.'
From this moment on, time was important.
“How wonderful. Our citizens have been waiting only for you, Savior—”
“Yes. We understand that feeling.”
Cale firmly cut off the sentence and spoke in a gentle but resolute voice.
“But I want to perform the purification as soon as possible.”
“Ah.”
The surprised administrator broke into a radiant smile.
“Yes. In fact, as soon as we learned of your arrival, we have been preparing everything; if you wait just a little—”
“No.”
Cale was categorical.
“Please, as soon as possible.”
The cheers were multiplying. What was needed to avoid that?
'Fast.'
Do the purification so quickly that the cities don't have time to organize parades or big celebrations. Very quickly. So fast that there is no occasion for a crowd to gather or for people to cheer him. Very, very fast.
'Quick action and retreat.'
He couldn't avoid the purification ceremony; therefore, do it as quickly as possible and leave before people could react. That way, the moon on the badge wouldn't have time to complete.
Furthermore—
'Clopeh Sekka. Don't let that lunatic do something scandalous.'
Cale spoke with determination.
“The celebration associated with the ceremony doesn't have to be excessive. A moderate number of demons can simply enjoy the moment of joy.”
“Ah—”
“So, let's hurry with this now. Time is of the essence.”
“Even so, what we have prepared—”
“I know. I know what you have done to prepare. But look.”
Cale was truly firm.
“I want to purify as soon as possible. There is no time.”
Cale's smile faded. The administrator changed his expression. This man had saved the Demon World; he was the Savior. Everything they had arranged to please him…
“…”
The head administrator was momentarily lost for words.
'He wants to purify as soon as possible.'
What did that mean?
'This man is truly the Savior.'
All the fears people had, the uncertainty from not having seen him in person, disappeared and the administrator felt sincere respect for that human.
“Yes. We will prepare the purification as quickly as possible.”
“Thank you. Please do so.”
He had seen the Savior's sincere expression; it was genuine.
“I want to purify everyone and leave.”
Truly, Cale was good. He was a Savior in the literal sense.
“Yes. Go ahead.”
The welcome acts and the sumptuous banquet prepared for him were simply canceled. The Savior didn't mind in the slightest. He showed no interest. He went directly to the place where, after weeks of isolation, the demons infected by the gray disease, those who had lost their former appearance, were kept.
The city people avoided getting close, but relatives of the infected lingered around the area anxiously. The field in front of the isolation area was the place the Savior went to without hesitation.
He said:
“The clearing in front of the isolation area is quite wide. I will perform the purification right here.”
He was adamant. He did not accept at all the pomp they had wanted to set up for him.
“Purification comes first. There is no need for spectators or demons here to watch. That is not the priority.”
His gaze rested solely on the infected, who, even during the day, showed no aggression and lay as if they were asleep.
“These people come first.”
The Savior's gaze turned towards the fences surrounding the isolation area.
“There are more than enough people who desire purification more urgently than anyone else.”
It wasn't so much that they had come out to greet the Savior; outside the fences, demons were restless, waiting to see how their loved ones would be purified. Relatives, close friends.
Seeing them, the Savior ordered without hesitation:
“Open the isolation area gates.”
The large gate that had been closed after the infected were confined was pointed out by the Savior, and without hesitation, his entourage opened the access wide.
“We begin.”
Without further ado, the Savior began the purification. The isolation area was on the city's outskirts; it wasn't a place to accommodate all the people who would have wanted to watch from afar. In fact, they were there to prevent them from approaching. The ceremony had begun.
“Ah.”
“—Demon God—”
Even from afar, something could be seen.
A gray mist. And, within the mist, small particles of gray light rising.
“Ghh.”
“Ha, ha… sniff.”
The demons who, enveloped by the gray mist, remembered happy moments and saw how the particles emerging from their beings shimmered felt mixed emotions. Relatives and acquaintances of the infected, as well as the soldiers and administrators who had remained guarding the isolation area, some went from laughter to tears. They were tears of joy.
“Ah—”
“The light—”
What they saw in person was incomparable to what they had seen in videos. The light particles became stars twinkling in the gray mist, like a gray galaxy embroidering the night sky. These lights enveloped the Savior and the entire isolation area.
The gray rain did not fall. However, the administrators and soldiers inside the isolation area saw drops sliding down the bodies of the infected as they emerged. For them, that was the gray rain.
The purification ceremony was not grand or ostentatious. It was very quiet, serene, but reverent. When it ended, the metallic clang of the fences closing was heard, and then they were opened wide.
“Ah, dear—”
“Brother”
“Sister”
“Our daughter, oh Demon God, our daughter”
The enclosure was no longer silent. Those who had cried quietly now laughed and rushed to hug their loved ones. The soldiers and administrators, seeing the scene, felt a lump in their throats.
“It is finished.”
Amidst all this, the Savior calmly announced to the head administrator that the purification had concluded.
“But the ceremony is not over. You know that, right?”
For the ceremony to be fully closed, it was necessary to celebrate with a joyful festival.
“Savior — of course I know. We will organize the festival immediately.”
“Yes. Please do so.”
Pale in complexion but with firm, clear eyes, the Savior conveyed something that the administrator perceived.
“Savior, when you say 'please,' what exactly do you mean?”
Did that not imply that the Savior would not enjoy the festival? It was said that the usual itinerary allows for a day or two of rest for the Savior between locations, precisely because he is not in the best state of health.
'It can't be…'
As that thought crossed the administrator's mind, the Savior spoke decisively.
“I have to go to the next city.”
“But—”
“But your health, your body—”
The administrator wanted to say it, but the Savior was already turning away and said serenely:
“I want to purify the contamination as soon as possible to be at ease.”
Indeed: Cale wanted to finish quickly and rest; although, even while resting, he had many pending tasks: save the king who was Alberu's father, find out why the God of Death had submerged, help Alberu and Ahn Roh Man in the political and media struggle with the Transparent Blood family, prevent the birth of an Absolute God, finish off the Five-Colored family, and more.
“Haa.”
It was a huge list. Cale sighed without realizing it. The administrator, seeing this, pressed his lips together.
'He must be tired.'
The Savior turned without hesitation. The administrator felt no reproach; on the contrary, he experienced deep respect.
'The one chosen by the Demon God is different.'
It wasn't the same as seeing the Demon King. Something more than respect sprouted in the administrator's heart.
“Hm?”
Cale stopped in his tracks. A soldier running towards the administrator stopped abruptly upon seeing Cale and became disoriented.
“What is it?”
When the administrator asked, the soldier explained:
“The snake, no, the water. That is, a water snake was drinking the water falling from the bodies of the infected.”
Cale looked astonished at the small water snake the soldier held in his palm. Cale knew that, although it looked like a snake, it was actually a form of dragon.
“And it yawned and fell asleep.”
The creature, swollen from drinking so much, yawned and fell asleep. It was the Water Dragon, reduced to the size of a snake after drinking the drops that emerged from the purification. The Water Dragon of the Dragon King, the Third Emperor. How had it gotten here?
'Did it follow me?'
They had used teleportation. How had it pursued the group? Even if the city was close to Midishi, the journey required a full day; unless the Water Dragon knew the route beforehand, it was impossible. Cale, who had stopped paying much attention to the Water Dragon in the ruins, ordered Ron:
“Ron. Pick it up.”
“Yes, young master.”
They took the sleeping Water Dragon. The small creature, swollen from what it had drunk from the infected through the purification, was kept safe.
“Let's go.”
Cale informed the group that they were departing for the next city.
“Yes, Cale-nim.”
Meow meow. Meow. The group was numerous: Ron and Beacrox, the children around ten years old on average, Clopeh Sekka. Choi Han and the Ancient Dragon Eruhaben remained in Midishi.
'The team leader and Choi Jung Gun will come.'
Beacrox would go ahead to meet up with Cale and the others, and the other two would soon meet up with Choi Han.
'The leader said he had contact with the Heavenly Demon.'
The Heavenly Demon, who left with the great paladin of the Chaos cult, might also return.
“Clopeh. Coordinate with Raon to prepare the next teleportation point.”
“Cale-nim.”
Clopeh responded with a smile.
“The representatives of the Demon King haven't arrived yet.”
The Demon King's advisor, Ed, was going to join the matter. Cale decided to leave before those people arrived.
“Clopeh Sekka.”
At that moment, Cale thought it would be good to tell Clopeh frankly what he felt.
“You probably desire the legend. You would want to forge a heroic story.”
Maybe so. Since he had accepted Clopeh as a companion, Cale thought he should tell him something.
“Honestly, I don't need that kind of thing.”
Clopeh smiled and looked at Cale without words. His blue-green eyes shone with the sunlight, but it seemed strange: no clear emotion could be read in them. Even so, Cale spoke more firmly than usual.
“My priority is the safety of my companions, those who are here and those who are somewhere else. The rest doesn't interest me. Therefore, we will settle this as soon as possible and leave. Understood?”
He gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“I prefer what is comfortable and easy. Let's take the simple path.”
“Cale-nim.”
Clopeh asked in a low voice:
“Is that path you are taking now really the easy one?”
“Yes.”
The worst-case scenario: the scene Cale wanted to avoid – the Demon God's power being granted to him in the middle of a crowded ceremony – could only be avoided by this path: resolve everything calmly, quickly, and leave. Get out of the Demon World as soon as possible.
“Cale-nim.”
Clopeh's eyes began to laugh.
“I have made a great mistake. After hearing your words, I understand. I will follow your will.”
His smile, bright like green leaves in the sun, left Cale somewhat uncomfortable, but also more at ease. It seemed Clopeh had understood correctly.
“I will make the purification as fast as possible and we will leave the Demon World without drawing attention or receiving cheers.”
“Exactly.”
For Cale, that meant: don't get in my way. Clopeh promptly accepted, and Cale asked Raon to communicate the teleportation coordinates to Clopeh to set up camp.
Clopeh, observing him silently, thought:
'I was wrong.'
Clopeh realized that Cale did not wish to be a hero. He preferred to protect his companions and give them peace. “My priority is the safety of my companions, those who are here and those who are somewhere else.” Those words included Clopeh and everyone else.
'How foolish I was.'
From the birth ceremony of Eden Miru in the Seventh Evil to organizing the current tour of the Demon World, Clopeh understood that he had tried to create the scenario he himself wanted: spread rumors, provoke cheers for Cale, try to make him a legend, as he had done in the past.
'Horrifying.'
His old method had been revealed as a mistake. And moreover, Cale wasn't even seeking the path to legend: he moved for his own purposes, to protect those around him and seek his own peace. By doing that, the legend arose on its own.
'A fast and simple path.'
If you walk the path he considers efficient and simple, people will end up feeling respect and veneration. Like now.
Those who had previously cheered the Savior out of fear now held their breath while watching Cale's retreating figure.
The path Cale chose was, in short, to purify without rest and save everyone in the fastest way possible; that was the simplest way for him.
'Your path is the correct one.'
Clopeh saw the head administrator approaching.
“Um—”
The administrator, hesitating how to start, received a calm smile from Clopeh and felt encouraged to ask.
“Does the Savior always act like this?”
Clopeh responded sincerely:
“Yes.”
And he added:
“Before, I prepared welcome acts and banquets for this tour. After speaking with Cale, I got a good scolding.”
His words had shaken him out of his delusion. Clopeh, ashamed, bowed his head to the administrator.
“Essence is better than appearances.”
With that, Clopeh said goodbye and was able to leave without remorse.
He didn't need the cheers of so many. Those fabricated things didn't matter. Seeing the eyes of the citizens watching Cale's teleportation, Clopeh understood:
'This is the way.'
This is how legend is forged; it is a path you cannot fully reach, even if you can follow it. They saw how, one minute after arriving, Cale's group finished all the purifications and left the city.
Those who witnessed the scene later organized a festival, but it was quiet. The people, rather than making noise, remained calm, smiling silently, feeling a resonance deeper than any festive luxury.
However, Advisor Ed and the administrators from the Demon King's castle, who arrived later, were dismayed.
“They've already left?”
“Yes. He performed the purification and left. He asked us to enjoy the festival without him.”
“What—!”
“Advisor, from another city they report: the Savior has arrived.”
The advisor had to hurry after Cale.
“Ha.”
And he couldn't help but let out a short laugh.
“He hasn't changed.”
After fainting for two weeks and regaining consciousness, this human was still the same. That's why the advisor couldn't protest; the Savior's actions were sublime.
---
Except for the night when the infected had convulsions, Cale completed the purifications as quickly as possible and, in a few days, reached the last city.
“Why.”
Cale looked at the badge in his hand and felt like crying.
“Why.”
Why was the moon on the badge nearing completion? In real time, the moon was filling up faster and faster.
He had avoided ceremonies with cheers. He had not attended banquets. He had only performed quick purifications in the isolation areas and moved on. Many people didn't even know he had arrived.
Why?
He didn't understand why the badge's moon was filling up. If he wasn't careful, it would soon become a full moon.
'Damn it.'
Cale bit his lip and looked out the window. Upon arriving at the last city, the sun had already set and it was night. It wasn't the time to purify. Unless the situation was like in Midishi or Mikashi, it wouldn't be good to add variables. So he decided to wait until dawn and perform the final purification the next morning, calmly.
'Good. Just hold on until tomorrow and then I'll go to the Demon God's ruins to perform a small, reverent rite for the Demon God.'
That would be enough.
'And then I'm out of here.'
With that power, he could say goodbye to the Demon World and go to the New World.
“Human, eat.”
Cale had dinner. He ate punctually with Ron and Beacrox.
While eating a steak he said:
“Beacrox, Ron. Tonight, let's have a glass of wine.”
It was a moment for conversation. Perhaps the last night before leaving the Demon World.
“Yes, young master.”
“Yes.”
While listening to Ron and Beacrox's responses, Cale watched through the window as the sky grew darker.
At that moment, voices were heard:
“Savior, thank you for returning peace to us.”
“We will never forget this kindness. We will protect those around us in silence, just as you showed us.”
“Savior, we will never forget what you did.”
In cities throughout the Demon World, demons raised prayers towards the Savior. And, although not all had seen him, the reputation of his actions spread by word of mouth.
The peace left in Cale's wake was tangible. The demons felt, after the end of the terror, a profound peace and were moved by the one who had created it with deeds more than words.
Cale didn't know this. But the badge perceived it. Cale didn't even imagine that the badge could feel such things.
---
The wine that Ron served filled Cale's glass.
“Ha.”
“Hmm.”
He was unusually nervous. He glanced sideways at Ron; his gaze seemed like that of a child about to receive a scolding from his father.
