Wooong!

The heavy pressure of wind rushed in from all directions, creating a ring and hindering external interference, like an arena enclosing me and Magan.

It seemed to represent the current situation, where there was no room to retreat or even think about it.

While my purpose coming here was to rescue Findenai, the situation had now evolved beyond just Findenai alone. This was because I launched a preemptive attack on the Clark Republic without any prior declaration of war.

However, even though my head was getting heated, I had no intention of repeating the mistake I made in Marias Great Forest and using the innocent souls around me.

After all, I also thought that ordinary souls would be unable to inflict any harm on that Demon Lord.

So, I awakened the sleeping souls within me.

Valkzar, the Great Warrior of Marias Great Forest, who had a huge build even for an adult man. Syong, Dante’s Shaman, who deceived him and Horua.

There was also Dina, Dante’s Monstrumancer, whom I fought against in the Land of Artists, Claren.

These were the three souls I controlled as a Necromancer.

They, who had turned into translucent forms, rushed straight towards Magan.

"Hmm."

Magan, who was stroking his thick chin, carefully observed the three transparent figures before pointing to Syong, the shaman.

"For the sake of what’s to come later, I should eat the most tasteless one."

Crunchhhh!

The ground cracked open, and something with black skin and red nails suddenly protruded, grabbing Syong and presenting him to Magan.

What happened next was too predictable.

Having consumed Syong as if he were slurping a drink, Magan rubbed his belly and subtly smiled.

"Still, being associated with Dante does make him quite a delicacy, doesn't it?"

While chuckling, he shook Stella’s left hand here and there, continuing to provoke me.

I thought that if I recklessly used Valkzar and Dina, they would also end up like that, so I planned to assist them with Horua's flames. However…

[Gather the souls.]

Unlike usual, the Dark Spiritualist beside me spoke up, looking at Magan.

[After all, they're just prey to him. You can't defeat that creature with human souls.]

"That’s true."

It was Magan who responded to the Dark Spiritualist's words. Just hearing him speak alone already seemed to make her uncomfortable, yet she continued to talk.

[Demons; on top of that, a Demon Lord is simply like that. Fighting him with human souls would just be providing him with more food]

"Exactly. Especially Deus Verdi, you're a truly tempting man. If only you came here a few years later, I would have eaten you up right away."

Magan muttered that he couldn't resist me while licking his lips. However, he immediately restrained his desire while licking Stella's arm, which he was holding.

[Deus, listen to me carefully from now on.]

"..."

I unconsciously turned my head towards the Dark Spiritualist. She wasn't wearing her usual playful smile, but rather showed a bitter one.

[I'll handle him.]

"..."

[I'm a soul as well as a Necromancer. And I was the one who taught you magic.]

"It is dangerous."

That meant she would be fighting the Demon Lord from the closest possible place.

I couldn't let the Dark Spiritualist take the lead against a creature that could consume souls.

[Deus, we can't win if we don't do this.]

"Did you not just say that human souls are unable to harm that thing?"

When I pointed out that this differed from what she just said, the Dark Spiritualist shook her head.

[I'm not a regular human.]

"…"

[I'm a Necromancer, remember?]

She was someone who had reached this far in order to look beyond the limits of humanity, striving for the pinnacle of Necromancy.

She gently pointed to Lemegeton and asked me.

[Let me borrow it for a moment.]

"…"

My hand, which was holding Lemegeton, tensed. I knew what would happen if I recklessly handed her this stone.

I tried to refuse, but her mana, stronger than I expected, pressed my hand holding Lemegeton, swiftly snatching it away.

The Dark Spiritualist, who now held Lemegeton, began infusing her mana into it. Her previously translucent body started to take on color.

Despite my months of attempting to control the legendary stone, her skill clearly surpassed mine.

No, it wasn't just a matter of skill.

"Lemegeton…"

It had fully accepted the Dark Spiritualist as its master. I thought I had already utilized all of Lemegeton’s power, but that wasn't the case.

Simply by holding it, she was showing me something beyond the limits I had reached.

The answer to this came from Magan.

"Ha…! Hahaha! What's this?! So, that's it! That's it! Hahaha! You carry the blood of the girl to whom Lehric gave the stone?”

Lemegeton.

It was a gem given by a demon to a girl who had lost her mother, wishing to see her mother again.

A descendant of that girl?

I also found myself turning to look at her. However, the Dark Spiritualist had already begun to utilize Lemegeton without saying anything.

[Deus, there is a line you should not cross while living in this world.]

It was a voice that conveyed a sense of distance.

It carried the hope that I would never come to where she stood.

[You showed me a path to the truth I couldn't reach.]

"…"

[That's why. That's why…]

This, too, was a first. In the corners of the Dark Spiritualist’s eyes, faint tears reflected many regrets.

[Please, stay as you are. Since you are human, please continue to regard humans as valuable.]

"Dark… Spiritualist."

[You should become a different person than me.]

KRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGHHHH!

Screams.

All the souls swirling around were screaming in agony.

And the woman right before me was the one who caused suffering to all of these souls.

It was the Dark Spiritualist.

"No matter how many human souls you gather… it's not very interesting."

Magan scratched his chin with his thick fingers. But as he did, the Dark Spiritualist, who was gradually rising into the sky, reached out her hand towards him.

[I have never treated souls as human, not even for a single moment.]

"Huh?"

[They are merely my magic and tools.]

The screams of souls echoed and spread in all directions as they were forcibly thrust down like meteors, ensnared by the Dark Spiritualist's mana.

Upon this, Magan reacted by widely opening his mouth, stretching it like rubber with his chin reaching the ground.

"Hoo-woooop!"

Magan inhaled deeply, generating a suction force strong enough to pull even someone as far away as me towards him.

Without any hint of hesitation, the Dark Spiritualist continued to pour souls into his mouth.

Souls were forcibly stuffed into Magan's belly without any chance of escape.

Just as countless souls were swallowed by Magan and the numbers began to dwindle, he closed his mouth with a satisfied smile.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A chain reaction explosion erupted from his belly. It was so violent that his bloated stomach was tossing in all directions.

"Keugh."

With his hands clutching his stomach, Magan released black smoke from his nose and mouth. His emerald-haired secretary quickly hurried over from the side.

However, he swatted her away as he glared at the Dark Spiritualist.

"Yes, it's always been like this."

He found it absurd, and yet somewhat amusing. Magan muttered while forcefully stomping his hefty foot forward.

“Humans are weak. However, those who have transcended humanity... those individuals pose a threat to our positions.”

An example of someone who transcended humanity: Stella, who became a Saintess.

Or someone who had forsaken her love of people: Aria Rias, who became a hero to save the continent.

"I will acknowledge you. You have the worth to challenge my position."

The Dark Spiritualist, who had become a Necromancer, was also someone who had transcended humanity.

[I do not need your acknowledgement.]

Still, the Dark Spiritualist continued to command the souls around her without any signs of stopping. She was determined to put an end to Magan right here and now. However...

"It is such a convenient tool, is it not?"

Magan laughed boisterously and pointed to Lemegeton.

"It's such an amazing gem that it can exert a partial compelling force over all nearby souls. Do Necromancers refer to it as the Necromancy Stone, a very precious treasure?"

[...?]

The Dark Spiritualist furrowed her brows as she sensed something odd. Lemegeton began to react strangely, unlike anything we had ever seen before.

"Do you know what we call Lehric, the original owner of Lemegeton?"

With little information about Demon Lords, naturally, we didn’t know much about them. Seeing us like that, Magan chortled as if handing down a death sentence.

"The Demon Lord of Deception."

I was already moving my legs forward. Lemegeton had transformed into a massive gaping hole, seeking to absorb the Dark Spiritualist.

[Ah...]

She, too, lamented after she realized that she had been deceived.

"Where did the girl who received the stone from Lehric go? Did she really meet her mother?"

Kik-kik-kik-kik-kik.

The sound of the demon's laughter resonated, spreading far and wide.

At the same time, the souls who felt fear ran away, dispersing in all directions.

Suddenly, the whirlpool disappeared, leaving only the gray sky in its place.

The Dark Spiritualist, who was gradually being absorbed by Lemegeton, slowly turned her head towards me.

She looked at me tearfully, unable to muster an apology and bidding a farewell with her pitiful eyes.

Having fortified my entire body with mana, I quickly reached her.

[De…us?]

"It's going to hurt a little."

I used my mana-enveloped hand to slice off the Dark Spiritualist’s wrist, which was holding onto Lemegeton.

[Keub!]

The Dark Spiritualist looked at me with tearful eyes. However, I had already snatched Lemegeton away.

[De… Deus!]

Although The Dark Spiritualist desperately called out to me, I pushed her away with strong mana.

The sight of Lemegeton in my right hand that was sucking away at my soul and body reminded me of a black hole.

In a situation where any loss of focus or strength would seem to result in me being pulled in, there was a sudden unexpected sound.

"Hmm?!"

It was Magan.

Magan, the Demon Lord, was known for gluttony and greed. He regarded the Republic itself as nothing more than a giant dining table of his.

And this kind of Demon had been licking his lips while eyeing me.

He had even murmured several times about how he would like me to mature more, just like wine.

Right before his eyes at this very moment, the food he thought would be the most delicious was being stolen by another Demon Lord.

There was no way Magan could bear it.

"What the hell are you doinggggg?!"

Magan rushed forward, causing the ground to tremble. For the first time today, there was urgency in his eyes.

Despite having a fat body, he moved forward at a speed that couldn't be followed with ordinary eyes.

Magan created long nails, aiming to cut off my arm holding Lemegeton and urgently swung it.

However, I was already pushing my hand, which was holding Lemegeton, into his mouth.

"Ubwup!"

Magan made a euphoric expression as if he had just tasted something truly sweet. His thick tongue couldn't resist the temptation as he licked my arm in his mouth.

And then, crunch!

As Magan's gruesome teeth severed my arm, Lemegeton caused a massive explosion inside his stomach.

BOOOOMMMMM!

***"He… Hieek.."

A sound of someone’s gasping breath could be heard.

Magan heaved as if he had just exercised again after a long time. His breathing was rough, almost as if it would soon be cut off.

To avoid being sucked into the trap called Lemegeton, Magan exerted all his strength. When the two Demon Lords' full strength clashed, it resulted in a massive explosion.

"Hieeek! Huuaaack!"

Magan was in a horrible state; his abdomen had a large hole pierced through it. Not only that, his lower body was also completely gone.

It was a situation where an ordinary human would never have survived, but somehow, Magan managed to cling to life.

"Mr. President!"

"Don't make a big fuss for something as trivial as this!"

The woman with emerald green hair, who had been blown away by the explosion, hurriedly approached Magan.

After shouting at her for being annoying, Magan felt hungry; he looked for Stella’s left arm, which he had been holding.

However, during the altercation, Deus Verdi had taken away Stella’s arm as he was blown far away, holding it with his remaining hand, as if it were precious to him.

[Deus! Deus!]

The Dark Spiritualist called out his name in tears. However, Deus had collapsed and remained motionless.

"How dare you… to me..."

Magan felt like he wanted to immediately devour the man in one bite.

However, no matter how much of a Demon Lord he was, with his lower body completely gone and a large hole near his heart, he had no way to move.

And then...

"Shall I fetch him for you?"

The woman, carefully considering Magan’s enjoyment of devouring humans, asked him.

However, he shook his head.

Magan was a Demon Lord.

He wasn't some stray dog wandering the streets.

"I do not eat corpses."

Although it was regrettable to lose a delicacy, it was still better to leave it on the ground rather than having it end up in another Demon Lord’s gullet.

It might be different if only he could consume Deus’ soul. However, the Dark Spiritualist would likely do her best to intervene, and considering his current state, it would be dangerous to fight her.

At least the supreme quality taste he felt from Deus' hand still lingered on his tongue.

For Magan, preserving his messed-up body was the first priority.

In the distance, members of the kingdom were rushing over. Among them was the girl destined to save the continent.

"Let's go back."

[Deusssss!]

Leaving only the Dark Spiritualist's screams behind, Magan was carried by the emerald-haired woman and fled.

***I slowly opened my closed eyes.

The scenery was pure white.

It felt like I was standing on a blank canvas with nothing on it.

My body, which was previously heavily weighed down by fatigue, had now felt as light as a feather.

Once I saw that my right arm, which had been bitten off by Magan, was now restored, I realized that I had become a soul.

I heard a woman's sobbing.

In the distance, a woman was crouched down, crying.

She was trying to forcefully suppress her tears, but still, they streamed down her face.

It was a woman with dull blond hair and turquoise eyes. She, the saintess, was wearing her nun’s habit even after death.

"Stella."

As I cautiously called her name, Stella turned her tear-streaked face and shouted at me.

"You fool!"

"..."

"And also... an idiot!"

A very childish reproach like it was coming from a little kid.

"Perhaps it is because you are a former Saintess, but your vocabulary for insulting others is not very rich."

The moment she heard my words, two horns suddenly sprouted from Stella's forehead and her pupils began to change.

And then…

"You fucking bastard!"

A very sharp curse echoed.