It feels like an eternity has passed since then.
…
But measured precisely, it's been less than a decade—eight years and forty-one days, to be exact.
The resurrection of the Control Center Goetia and Solomon's 72 Pillars by the God of the Bible. The commencement of Biblical Revision. Encounters with Ophis and the Hero Faction. The incineration of the Underworld, fierce battles with this world's Solomon, the fall of Heaven, and the collapse of Truth. The martyrdom of fifty-six of our kin and the second demise of the Control Center. Of the sixteen surviving Pillars, four chose to return to that world, 'F,' while nine decided to remain in this world, 'D.'
Those dizzying days lasted a mere six months, yet felt like three thousand years. Since then, I—Demon God Zepar—have done little, holing up at the coordinates where the Temple of Time once stood.
…
There's nothing here anymore.
The Control Center Goetia, our integrated entity, is gone, as are the 72 Pillars, my kin. None of the Demon Gods who survived the battle in Heaven returned to these coordinates. Some drift back occasionally for brief conversations before leaving to their own places.
The Temple of Time is completely erased, with only debris usable as footing floating in the void. Even Ophis, who sat on the empty throne, left about five years ago. The True Longinus, which sealed the God of the Bible's will, is gone too.
…
Thus, Zepar exists here as a mere presence, doing nothing but observing. Watching the path of a single dragon. Just watching. There's nothing else to do, nothing I want to do, nothing I can do.
The life of the last Red Dragon Emperor is interesting to observe, but it no longer surprises me.
No excitement, no emotion, no shock. I forgot freshness long ago.
…Crocell, huh?
So, reuniting with a kin after so long brought joy, even if I reflexively recognized it as a "visit" rather than a "return."
"You've gotten pretty shabby, Zepa-something."
"Don't start with that nostalgic jab! …You're not seriously saying you forgot my name, are you?"
"Forget? No way, Zepa-whatever!"
"You could at least forget that!"
When was the last time someone called me by my proper name? Zepar mused, his thoughts drifting. Visitors to these coordinates, save one exception, were all old acquaintances, and they all had this attitude.
"So, what's the occasion?"
Demon God Crocell—one of the nine Pillars who survived the battle in Heaven, didn't join the interdimensional leap, and chose to stay in this world. During the battle, he merged with the eight Pillars of the same Life Institute to fight the angelic host. Post-war, he fused with those angels to maintain his tattered Saint Graph—a Demon God who failed to die and survived.
This was their first face-to-face since seeing off the four Pillars who leapt to another world.
"Transmission, confirmation, and discussion."
"What?"
"First, transmission: Gremory and Raum are gone."
"I see."
"Gremory drew with the devil remnants. What were they called… Oh, right, the vassals of Sirzechs Lucifer's sister. Hyoudou Issei's former peers."
"An unexpected outcome. That's all I've got."
"Raum was defeated by the human you entrusted the True Longinus to."
There was no accusation in his tone.
"…I see."
Zepar showing no regret, anger, or guilt. It was inevitable. They chose different paths and parted ways. Besides, he had a hunch it would come to this when he handed over the spear.
Three years ago, a human boy reached these coordinates and asked Zepar for the 'spear.' Having no particular attachment to its recipient, Zepar gave it to him.
He had decided to give it to the first 'human' to arrive here.
"For confirmation: that boy is not the savior from the parallel universe, right?"
"Of course. He's a distinct individual from the savior, Cao Cao's successor, who became a Heroic Spirit in that parallel universe. They're close in age and gender, but that's it. Different origins, upbringings, races, nations, natures… Though, we don't know enough about that savior to compare."
"Fair point."
Crocell had found and observed this universe's counterpart of the savior. Nothing remarkable—just an ordinary human for this era, region, and ethnicity. That such a person could become a god-slaying savior under different circumstances made humans intriguing.
And terrifying.
The human who destroyed Raum with the True Longinus was of that ilk.
"By the way, Zepa-something."
"What? Are you all sick with a disease that makes you call me that or you'll vanish?"
"Don't say such scary things! What if Asia hears?!"
"That's the logic of a kid hiding a broken vase. You should fear being sick more than the treatment."
Though, that Asia isn't in this universe now. …Laughing it off as baseless worry wouldn't ease the terror of that former girl turned doctor.
"How much do you know about what's happening outside this coordinate—in this 'D' world?"
"I know Raum's beloved—or rather, orphaned—child, Mishandra, was completed and is rampaging against gods and Devils worldwide, like the old Khaos Brigade."
"That info's outdated. Way too outdated. What's with you? Your knowledge stopped three years ago. Are you a shut-in who doesn't check net news? You're a Demon God—keep up with info!"
"Can't help it. I can't go out anymore. No one visits. How am I supposed to gather info? I could look outside if I wanted, but honestly, it's a hassle."
"Get it together… You're becoming human in the worst way."
Guess he's just Zepa-something. I'll tell Naberius and Andras later, Crocell thought.
"…Not the main point, but I'll tell you. Just before the Lostbelt uproar settled—recently—Raum's creation, Mishandra, was defeated."
"Mishandra?"
Demon God Mishandra, Raum's ideal—a god for humans, a Satan walking with them, seeing their world. Though unclear how it was made, it was akin to a second King of Men, so the news was mildly surprising.
"By that guy with the spear?"
"Yeah. Cao Cao was shocked too."
Cao Cao, former leader of the Khaos Brigade's Hero Faction. His current whereabouts were unknown, but he seemed fine.
He'd likely have thoughts about the True Longinus, once his, now felling a Demon God in another's hands. Whatever those feelings were, only he and those close to him needed to know. If he had complaints about Zepar giving away the spear, he should come say so.
"The issue—or my question—is that he, let's call him 'Demon God Slayer,' didn't kill Mishandra."
"I don't follow."
"That's why you're Zepar."
"Apologize. To me and every Zepar across the multiverse."
"…The Demon God Slayer got the spear to defeat Mishandra, right? So why didn't he kill her? He sought all kinds of power—without restraint, without limits, sparing no effort, squeezing every talent—to gain strength."
The result was a hero, likely the perfect, ultimate warrior Cao Cao once envisioned before meeting Goetia.
"He sought that power to defeat Mishandra. His words were sincere."
Yet. But. However.
"He told Mishandra, 'Live.' Even though she chose self-destruction upon defeat. Defeated, she couldn't fulfill Raum's goal of leading humanity—an inevitable choice. But the Demon God Slayer rejected it. Denied it. Why? Wasn't he supposed to want her dead? Wasn't that power for killing her? Wasn't his reason for refusing her as humanity's king rooted in hatred or loathing? And—why did Mishandra accept his wish?"
I don't understand. I can't understand. I won't accept it.
"I asked a former Hero Faction member—'No way,' they scoffed. I asked a dim-witted god-Devil—'That's how it goes,' they nodded smugly. I asked a Lostbelt visitor—'Well, that's surely wonderful!' they dodged."
Everyone told him to figure it out himself.
He pondered, feeling a slight snag, but couldn't find an answer.
"You're wrong, Crocell. Your question is valid, but your equation is fundamentally flawed. Your perspective is off."
"Impossible! If you understand, why don't I?!"
"Stop calling me that, even emotionally. I can't tell if you're serious or joking."
Zepar only knew the answer because the boy had told him, so there was no mystery for him.
"Consider the boy's motive. The Demon God Slayer's reason for defeating the latest Demon God wasn't rooted in negative emotions."
"Motive?"
"Simple. Call it Raum's mistake."
But Raum wasn't foolish. It was an inevitable issue. No, it shouldn't have been an issue at all.
If the Demon God Slayer and the latest Demon God hadn't met.
If we're talking mistakes, Raum's reason for creating Mishandra was flawed—or rather, unlucky.
No, perhaps it was fortunate fate. That was their fate. One of the endings woven by Solomon's 72 Pillars.
"He—"
That derailed countless fates in 'F.'
"—fell in love with Mishandra at first sight."
In the end, all stories revolve around love.
Note:
To avoid confusion, a clarification:
The "savior from a parallel world" mentioned in the main story and the "Demon God Slayer" referenced here are entirely different people—like Saber and Gudao levels of different.
Their only commonality is "not born with it but became wielders of the True Longinus." In other words, both are Cao Cao's juniors. The savior, who directly inherited various things, and the Demon God Slayer, who ended up inheriting power, are distinct.
The savior's origins lie in hatred for the Three Factions and love for humanity, while the Demon God Slayer's life began with meeting Mishandra, with little to no feelings toward the Three Factions. He's barely interested in anything but Mishandra. In that sense, he's the opposite of the savior, who bears the responsibility of a king. Their natures are polar opposites.
***
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