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"That's true. But right now?"
"Paellito will soon receive Zito's orders to go to the surface, so we don't have much time. Originally, I wanted to meet more cautiously, but now I have no other choice."
"Understood."
"As the situation is chaotic, even if it's you, you'll need a valid reason to meet Paellito directly. Contact the Sword Demon Castle and inform them that it is about the Poison Demon Castle and you have matters to report regarding me."
Layla took out the Belgasyum family seal from her pocket. When the seal, which had a sword engraved on it, was imbued with mana, a small dimensional portal appeared above it. Through the portal, the view of the Sword Demon Castle's study could be seen.
{Lady Layla, what brings you here?}
"Is the Sword Demon in the castle?"
{Yes, are you here to meet the Sword Demon?}
"That's right."
{As you know... the Sword Demon is deeply saddened by the death of the Chief Strategist.}
"I'm aware. But there's urgent information I need to tell about Ragal Fun and the prisoner he was in charge of. Open the door. And make sure no one can see me or the prisoner until I meet Sir Paellito."
{Please wait for a moment.}
The head butler of the Sword Demon Castle left for about ten seconds and then returned.
{I will now open the door. I will set coordinates in front of the Sword Demon's office. Lady Layla and Ragal's prisoner, a total of two people will enter. Is that correct?}
"That's right."
Vroooom!
The seal vibrated, and the dimensional portal expanded. As soon as Layla and Kelliark entered it, they saw the door to Paellito's office.
Layla looked a bit tense.
"Sword Demon, it's Layla."
"...Come in."
As soon as the door opened, a dense demonic energy swept out. Paellito's demonic energy was constantly amplifying his grief over Sakiel's death, his hatred and resentment towards those who killed her.
Paellito was managing himself so that his overwhelming demonic energy wouldn't harm those below him. Deep sorrow was hidden in his expressionless face like an abyss.
Layla lowered her head and waited for Paellito to speak first.
"Layla, at some point, I forgot how long the days I've lived have been."
After a while, Paellito opened his mouth without even casting a glance at Kelliark Zipfel, who stood beside Layla.
"It could be ten thousand years, twenty thousand years, or even longer. Like other demons, I too have gone through countless cycles of oblivion, losing many memories. I can't even begin to fathom why I opposed Lord Zito in the past, or what I was trying to protect from Zito... I don't know any of it."
"Sir Paellito..."
Paellito opened his eyes.
"But within the hazy and distant life, there has always been one thing that remained clear. That was, within Lord Zito's rule... to elevate the True Demon World with Sakiel where it rightfully belongs, to a land with a real sun, which humans dare to enjoy without any qualification."
Purple tears flowed from Paellito's red eyes. It was the first time Layla had seen him cry. At least as far as Layla could remember.
"Sakiel is dead."
"I know... sir."
"Sakiel single handedly raised the Grosch family, the commander who most brilliantly stopped the enemies opposing Lord Zito, and the outstanding Chief Strategist who stabilized the chaotic True Demon World. And to me... she was more than just a subordinate. She was a comrade who strived for the same destiny, a fellow warrior who helped prosper this land. Such Sakiel... was brutally torn apart by human hands."
Szzt!
Suddenly, a sharp energy emanated from Paellito and grazed Kelliark's cheek. Kelliark didn't wipe the flowing blood and didn't even look at Paellito.
"Kelliark Zipfel, it's obvious why a human like you became Ragal's prisoner. You did well not to meet my gaze until now. If you had, I would have slit your throat. Even if the witch is supporting you, in my eyes right now, you appear as nothing more than a human who must be put to death."
"Is this truly the power of the Bascala, the authority sealing sword? It's just a shallow wound on my cheek, but I can feel the sensation of my authority being blocked, sending a chill down my spine. Sir, if killing me even partially alleviates your grievances, then go ahead. I won't stop you."
"You are speaking as if it's possible for you to block my sword."
"As long as it's a sword that has lost its cool, perhaps. But if it's the real Sword Demon's sword, it would be difficult to evade even if it's not Bascala."
"Puhahaha..."
Paellito let out an empty laugh.
In an instant, the boiling demonic energy emanating from him subsided, and the traces of tears on his cheek disappeared without a trace.
"Why did you come to the Sword Demon Castle now? Well... does the witch wish to see humans die more mercifully?"
"Neither the witch nor Mr. Zito wishes for that. Sir, you will go to the surface to seek vengeance for Sakiel Grosch and to recover Zito's eye."
Paellito stared at Kelliark with deep and dark eyes for a while.
"Kelliark Zipfel."
"Yes, sir."
"It's highly unlikely that Lord Zito himself sent you directly to me. Your presence here is entirely at the witch's behest. So, go and tell the witch that you have pacified me."
"In my view, you have not yet completely calmed your heart, Sir."
Every time Kelliark spoke, Layla felt her insides dry up. Each word he uttered was a dangerous statement.
Paellito was reading Layla's feelings accurately.
"It's okay, Layla. I was consumed by grief over losing Sakiel, but my head has cooled down in an instant. That's probably why everyone avoids the witch. In any case, if you get involved with the witch in any way, the situation will undoubtedly flow in the direction she desires."
Layla lowered her head once again. Now she felt as if she were facing the familiar Paellito.
Even that was a painful reminder that he, too, had been brainwashed and manipulated by Zito.
'When did Zito's brainwashing begin? When did it all start?'
Paellito stood up and took a deep breath.
"So, how can I calm my heart further, Kelliark Zipfel?"
Kelliark took something out of his embrace.
It was a black marble, containing an extremely pure chaos energy.
"This marble was created by the witch Helluram. She hopes you will carry it before you go to the final battle with the human world."
"What is it used for?"
"It varies depending on what your desires are, Sir. It can give life or death, depending on your choice."
"Your explanation is rather vague."
"That's how the witch usually is."
Paellito stared at the marble with a calm expression. If he continued to gaze at it for a long time, it felt like he might be drawn into it and never come out.
"However, if I were to interpret the witch's intention, I'd say that life likely symbolizes escape. Sir, if you ever find yourself in a life-threatening situation during battle, using this marble would allow you to escape somewhere. In my opinion, it might be Mr. Zito's residence."
"Why do you think that?"
"Why would the witch send you directly to Mr. Zito if not for a reason? She probably hopes that you will not fail, Sir. So, if you appear to be on the verge of death, you should be saved, right? The moment you are defeated by powerhouses of the human world, the safest place for you in the True Demon World would be Mr. Zito's residence, Sir."
"So, death signifies a means of self-destruction….. similar to what Sakiel did. Does the witch believe that I will lose to the humans with unresolved emotions?"
"It's possible. If you don't fight as a perfect Supreme Demon but are instead influenced by emotions, I would make the same judgment. The Supreme Demon, the Genesis knight, signifies a domain where emotions do not affect you. But from what I saw today, you are far from that, Sir. You were and still are grieving."
Paellito picked up the marble placed on Kelliark's palm.
"I will take it."
"It is a wise decision."
"How do I use it?"
"Think of what you want while breaking the marble. In any case, the fact that the witch gave you this marble probably means she wants to save you, Sir. Please fight not as one who has lost a comrade but as the Sword Demon Paellito. Then, you may not even need to use this marble."
"You're saying interesting things. You, as one serving the witch, would want for me to use this marble in any way."
At that remark, Kelliark lowered his head with a bitter expression.
"I am not serving the witch. Just as you said a while ago, Sir. There is a reason why everyone avoids the witch."
"Ah, so you are also a victim of the witch's pranks."
"Yes, sir."
"In any case, I will find out if your words are true or not once the battle is over. You can go now."
Paellito turned away.
Layla barely managed to hold back the words that had risen to her throat.
"I... I wish you luck, Sir Sword Demon."
"Layla."
"Please speak."
"Do you know when the next cycle of oblivion will be?"
"I don't know."
"Neither do I. So, we live a life where we can lose someone suddenly at any time."
Layla couldn't find the right words and had to leave the office.
As they exited the Sword Demon Castle, no one inside the castle had seen the appearance of Layla and Kelliark directly.
"Indeed, it seems we can't remove the brainwashing through the Flame of Awakening. Perhaps I couldn't have avoided a battle with Paellito if I had used my power."
"Is that marble truly the witch's? Is there a chance that it could really save the Sir Sword Demon if he were to fall into the hands of humans?"
"That marble was not made by the witch; I made it. Chaos was the main ingredient, so you could say I borrowed the witch's power in a way. The effect is also different from what I explained. The marble only has an escape function."
"What... So, were you lying to the Sir Sword Demon?"
"If I said I made the marble, would Paellito have accepted it?"
"That's true. But wouldn't it have been better to just explain that there is only an escape function in case the Sir Sword Demon gets into a tight spot?"
"The witch is an ambiguous and confusing being. Would the witch create something like an item just to rescue someone from danger? If I had explained it that way, Paellito wouldn't have believed it. Especially since he has met the witch several times with Zito."
"I see. I understand now. So, if the Sir Sword Demon ever finds himself in a precarious situation, he can just break the marble, no matter what choice he makes."
"That's right. It's quite a good safety device."
Layla nodded her head.
Kelliark smiled quietly, imagining Paellito breaking the marble.
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