Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 41: Trust and Betrayal, Part 5
...—26th January, E643 | Amerlesia— Mountains...
I still vividly remember the memory of her previous life, the inner Nueva expels the flushed memory pieces in her head. This life differs one hundred and eighty degrees from the former, although these similarities are inevitable.
Nueva—, who was sitting meditating on the slopes of the mountain, stopped wandering in his head when he heard the approaching footsteps.
His eyes opened slowly as Edward's legs stopped on his left side. Even so, he did not look towards the demon. Nueva's blood-red eyes looked straight at the other mountains that were also part of the Amerlesia Mountains.
“Do you really think Lilithia can bring Neira here?” ask the butler—his talk is a little different from before. “It would be safer if I helped him. After all, the ritual preparation was perfect. We just need to use Neira's body to call Thevetat.”
“How is life in hell, Edward?” ask back Nueva, completely ignoring the question and advice of the devil.
Having such a question, Edward's eyes spontaneously turned to the emperor. “What's with that question?” ask a little wonder.
“I've never been to hell. I've never asked you details about hell either. So, since I'm going to hell after this, I want to know how life is there. What should I expect while I'm there.”
“So, yes. All right, I'll answer.” Edward paused for a moment, also sitting down. “Hell is vast, divided into inner hell and outer hell. Demons and the majority of other beings live in outer hell. The inner hell, or so-called deepest part of hell, is the territory of the Thanatos. The demons ...”
Nueva heard Edward's story carefully. Of course, he had read the literature that describes hell. However, hearing it directly from the mouths of the inhabitants of hell is more credible and more detailed. Moreover, Mammon was one of the six Demon Generals. He knows more about hell than any record or any ordinary demon.
“Talking about hell, when are you going to tell me to bring Monica here?” ask the devil when he is finished. “With the disappearance of Lake Deus, just using demon blood will not be enough. If enough is enough, it will take a long time—can be weeks. His soul needs to be sacrificed, it will act as a key.”
“Xavier has been cautious in Monica's matter,” Edward continued before Nueva responded. “He purposely told the girl to work directly on Kanna to look forward to coming today. But I'm sure he didn't tell me the real reason. It won't be hard to bring him here. Even if Kanna gets in the way, it won't matter. I can get him here quickly. Then, why haven't you told me?”
“Not mean to doubt you,” said Nueva as he stood up. “But, can you really trick Kanna? It's just my gut feeling, but he probably already knows what he shouldn't know. I'm afraid he already knows that your identity as Edward Penumbra is a fake. If I told you to, I'm afraid you won't be able to come back.”
Hearing this, Edward stood up. “Kanna's strength is impossible to deny,” he said with a frowning forehead. “He has become very strong. 0 percent of my opponents can beat him. However, Nueva, I don't need to fight him to kidnap Monica. We don't always have to fight to win.”
“Not that I mean,” bright Nueva. “I'm not worried that you can overcome the interference from Kanna without having to fight with her. I never doubted you could be relied upon in that. However, Edward, you forgot one fact.”
“I forgot one fact? Oh, let me hear it. What did I forget until you hesitated to tell me?”
“Kanna users [Rune Magic]. Did not rule out the possibility he had set traps on Monica's skin or clothes. You still haven't forgotten how to trouble her to overcome the traps that Hernandez set, have you? And Kanna is stronger and more creative than Hernandez.
“Of course it's just an assumption. Not necessarily Kanna had actually set up a trap. However, Edward,” Nueva paused while placing his left hand on the right shoulder of the devil his blood red eyes looked intensely at the butler. “I don't want to take any chances. Shouldn't you serve me as you serve Lucifer? Who will carry out my orders if you don't come back?”
“...And that's why you won't send me to bring Monica here?”
Nueva's lips curled, her free hand resting on Edward's other shoulder. “Not to worry,” he said seriously. “After I become a dragonoid, we will go straight to Monica. I have to get [Complete Annihilation] today as well.”
Edward sighed. “I don't think you'd appreciate me more than what Mr. Lucifer showed. I'm not wrong to have chosen you. Alright, I'm iku—!”
Edward's words were held back. Both eyes widened. The lower half of his body had frozen instantly. His heart was beating slowly and slowly. Slowly, his upper body froze.
“What does this mean, NUEVA?!”
Nueva pulled both hands from the devil's shoulders, looking back straight at the mountains. At the same time, all parts of Edward's body froze completely— leaving only his head that paled violently.
“Explain, what does this mean?!”
“You asked what I mean? Isn't that obvious?” Nueva's gaze returned to Edward, and this time his face was flat with a dark look. “I mean to finish you off. I refuse to be your pawn.”
“Pion? Are you crazy?! Not once have I done anything against your will. I never used you!”
“Then, say, why do you want me to go straight to hell after becoming a dragonoid?” Nueva did not wait for Edward's answer. “You want Lucifer to take away my power, don't you? You want to give [Eternal Zero] to Lucifer. Or, you want to dedicate my body to the soul of Lucifer. Isn't Lucifer's body no longer able to hold his power?”
Edward looked at the emperor without touching. Then he took a long breath, tired. “I understand now. You've never trusted me this whole time. When I give you loyalty, you see me as a useful tool. Heh, humans are indeed more terrifying than demons.”
“You're mistaken, Mammon,” denies Nueva. “I believe in your words that will help me become a god. I don't doubt that one bit. I doubt only one: your loyalty. You didn't answer my assumptions, but it wasn't necessary. That's obvious. However, I still appreciate all your services so far. But now your role is over. I no longer need you.”
“As far as you consider me a traitor,” Nueva asserted while pushing Edward's body. “Since the beginning, I didn't trust anyone. You're just a very useful pawn. And, gods need no one.”
The devil fell down from a high mountain, and at that moment his entire head had frozen. However, the look of disbelief still emanated from the eyes of the devil. But Nueva just looked flat without emotion.
“Rest in peace, Mammon, your role has ended so perfectly.”
...»»» End of Chapter 41 «««...