<Episode 224: The Power of the Demon God (2)>
I don't know if I should call this a blessing.
There was no way that Masin would immediately launch an all-out war by sending out the newly created Seven Evils.
Of course, just in case, we are maintaining the highest level of alertness possible.
Since there has been no sign of action even after 12 hours, it seems that they have lost all will to attack us.
Of course, this is limited to the will to attack 'this side'.
“The next place the demon will target is Alfheim.”
A war-torn outskirts area, not within Savior's territory.
The will to attack Alfheim will still be strong.
“Is there a reason you are so sure?”
The angel asked me.
“Yes, I have.”
After spending the past 12 hours standing guard in the conference room, I've been thinking and thinking.
I was able to come to one conclusion.
“The purpose of the machine is to keep history correct.”
“Keeping history… in check?”
"yes."
When I think about the incidents in which Masin displayed strange behavior, I get the general idea.
“Your Majesty, you probably know this too. The fate of this world… the future was originally decided.”
"yes."
The angel raised his hand to his eyes and smiled awkwardly.
If you are a celestial being with the eyes to see destiny, you would naturally know that the fate of this world is determined.
“And you know that my appearance has twisted that fate.”
The angel frowned slightly.
It's an expression of realization.
I think he noticed.
“I see. So the purpose of the demon is to return that twisted fate to its original state…”
“Yes. The events that took place in the land of the bitter cold are events that never happened in history.”
From the confrontation between Mephisto and Lucifer to the appearance of Michael and Aqua.
Everything was irregular.
“That is why Masin set foot on the land of extreme cold.”
“So it was an act to resolve the mismatch of fate.”
Cheonshin muttered with a complicated expression.
“Additionally, the Irregulars of Alfheim and Riffriel’s survival were also intertwined, so they had no choice but to move.”
The angel opened his eyes slightly.
“Does that mean that in the original history, both Rifriel and Alfheim were destroyed?”
“Yes. Mephisto, Bazett, and Lilith were destined to be destroyed.”
“······I see, that’s what I thought.”
The angel nodded with a look on his face that suggested he had been expecting this.
“Then the destruction of Reperiel······.”
“The twist of fate will be resolved only when Ripperiel is destroyed. That’s why I’ve come forward.”
Ini, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, clicked her tongue.
“That must be the reason why they mobilized the Seven Evils and targeted Alfheim.”
“That’s right. That ended up being an attempt, but I guess that was the intention.”
I was trying to handle two twists at once.
“I understand. Then, it is highly likely that the Demon God’s next destination will be Alfheim.”
The two nodded as if they understood.
“So we’ve figured out the purpose of the drink. The question is how to respond next. Do you have any opinions?”
“First, let’s start with what to do about the Death Parade. The secretary is currently calculating the formula based on the remnants of the magic······.”
We continued to exchange opinions for a long time.
* * *
Another 12 hours passed since then.
Meanwhile, the sect still didn't show any special behavior.
Since the precepts didn't move, naturally we didn't move either.
It's quiet, but that quietness is rather unsettling.
Maybe it's because it's like the calm before a storm.
“Our Geumho. He’s gotten more and more charming since I last saw him.”
I was playing with Geumho in my room to relieve my unnecessary anxiety.
“Meow.”
Was it to get used to the increased strength? He used to sleep for 20 hours a day, but today he feels refreshed.
Baekho was the same as Geumho.
You don't seem to be in the mood today.
I guess you've fully adapted to your new power.
“Who do you resemble to be so cute?”
I caressed Geumho, who was acting all sorts of cute on my lap.
Geumhodo also seemed to like my touch and hugged me even more.
"hmm?"
A white tiger slowly approached us.
Then, with its back turned to me, it wagged its pure white tail proudly and then quickly placed it on my thigh.
“Baeknyang-ah?”
Then it whips its tail like a whip and hits my thigh with a thud thud.
Does that mean you want me to take care of you too?
No. Are you expressing your dissatisfaction because Geumho keeps sticking with me?
I don't know.
'Let's just stroke it first.'
I placed one hand on Geumho's head and caressed Baekho's body with the other.
"oh."
Normally, I wouldn't have let him touch me for more than 10 seconds, but for some reason, Baekho is being so quiet.
Rather, she presses her body closer to me, as if asking me to touch her more.
“Baeknyang, what’s wrong with you? Did you eat something wrong?”
What caused our proud Baekho to become so quiet?
“I haven’t seen you in three months. I missed you.”
Lena, who was sitting across from me, looked at the three of us with a pleased smile.
“You missed me? Baekho, you know me? Geumho, you’ve always followed me around, so I understand······.”
I moved my hand from the white tiger's back to its head.
Then he smiled playfully and tried to pat it.
“I think Baeknyang would have been happy that I disappeared and he could monopolize Geumho.”
At that moment.
Tingling.
Baekho glared at me with sharp eyes.
WHAT!
"ouch!"
He swatted my hand away with his claws and moved into Lena's arms.
The wound is not deep.
It's just a needle prick wound.
“Baeknyang, you’re still as ill-tempered as ever······. Are you going to do that just because I touched your head?”
Is this it? My body is fine, but my head won't allow it?
“······You really don’t know a woman’s heart.”
Lena shook her head as she watched me like that.
“······Did I do something wrong?”
“Hmm. That’s right.”
Lena nodded firmly. The white tiger curled up in Lena's arms looked at me, then quickly turned its head away.
Anyone who looks at it will see that it's a twisted expression.
Lena gently stroked the white tiger as if comforting him.
“What did I do······.”
It's unfair.
“Ask Geumho too. Who is at fault?”
Ask Geumho?
under!
“If I ask Geumho, he’ll obviously take my side······right?”
I looked down at the golden tiger in my arms.
And at that moment I was speechless.
“That, Geumho?”
Because Geumho was looking at me with a pitiful expression.
“Look. Didn’t Geumho say that you were wrong?”
Lena laughed as if she was a fool.
The same was true for Baekho.
“What did I really do······.”
It was really unfair.
I just touched the white tiger's head.
“Ugh.”
Lena sighed as she looked at that day.
“How much Baekho missed you. To say such things to such a person······.”
"······uh?"
That white cat?
“I couldn’t even eat properly for the first month because you weren’t here… ahh!”
Baekho suddenly bit Lena's hand.
Then he looks up at Lena with a cold expression.
It must have been an unspoken pressure to not say any more······.
“You, you dare to carry the luggage······.”
Lena didn't seem to quite understand his intentions.
It looks like he simply thinks Baekho is talking back to him.
“Just stand there. Today is the day I’ll sort things out!”
Lena stood up with a groan, and Baekho went down under the bed as if he was annoyed.
“Hey, Lee Ik! Baekho! You! Stand over there!”
Lena followed the white tiger down the bed.
“Stand up! Stand up now! Stop now, kneel down, and I will make it seem like the burden you bit never happened!”
The sound of the two people bickering as they left the room echoed throughout the room.
“But if Baekho just sits, isn’t that kneeling?”
What do you gain by kneeling before Baekho?
Are you just blurting out whatever comes to mind?
"······what."
Geumho shook his head, as if sighing.
“······Did they do that every day while you were gone?”
“Meow.”
Geumho nodded.
Is it because of my mood?
The light had disappeared from Geumho's eyes.
I wonder if those two bickering has worn me out mentally.
“But Geumho. It’s like what Lena said earlier.”
Geumho tilted his head cutely.
“Is it true that Baeknyang missed his brother a lot?”
Geumho nodded.
“I see.”
Now I get it.
Why did Baekho suddenly scratch me?
It must have been disappointing.
We were finally meeting after a long time and were letting out all the regret that had built up, when you said that you weren't happy that I disappeared.
You must have been disappointed.
“I was wrong.”
“Meow.”
Geumho cried as if he just realized it.
“No. I didn’t know Baekho liked me that much.”
It may be because of the contrast with Geumho, but Baekho always reacted coldly to me.
I just thought you wouldn't think of me as anything.
I just thought that I had no choice but to stick with Geumho.
Crackle crackle.
Geumho shook his head as he watched that day.
His two eyes seemed to be saying, 'You can tell at a glance that my brother is not good at dating.'
“······Geumho. As for you, hyung. It’s not that you can’t date. You just don’t.”
“Meow.”
Then this time he makes an expression that seems to say, 'Everyone who doesn't have a girlfriend says that.'
It must be a gaze that can be read because emotions are directly transmitted through the contract of protection.
“······Geumho, have you grown a lot?”
It wasn't like this before.
Something has changed a lot in the meantime.
Should we consider this as growth?
Or should we see it as corrupt?
I don't know.
"······what."
Geumho turned his head down 45 degrees and cried sadly.
'I've been suffering between those two for three months······.'
It was an expression that seemed to claim that.
“······Thank you for your hard work.”
I felt sorry for him because of that expression, so I quietly stroked Geumho's head.
“Meow~”
Then, Geumho smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.
In this respect, nothing has changed.
“Oh, right.”
While continuing to caress Geumho.
It suddenly occurred to me.
“I was so nervous that I forgot to say that.”
How could you forget this? No matter how absent-minded you are, you can't do that.
I held Geumho in my arms, looked into each other's eyes, and smiled.
“It’s been a while. I missed you.”
And then he hugged Geumho tightly in his arms.
“Meow~”
My heart warmed a little at the sound of Geumho's heartbreaking cries.
I wish this kind of time could continue. I found myself thinking that way.
* * *
That dawn.
The incident occurred while everyone was asleep.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
The emergency alarms installed throughout Savior Headquarters began to blare loudly.
Lena and Geum Baek-ho, who woke up to the loud noise, walked out of their room together.
“You? This is······.”
I put off answering for the moment and looked around to see if there was any threatening magic. I didn't feel anything like it.
“It's started.”
“What started it?”
“Army raid on Alfheim.”
"ah······."
This alarm is set to sound only when there is an attack from the Savior side or when the barrier installed on the Alfheim side is destroyed.
In other words, if no magic is detected in the vicinity, it means that there is some kind of crisis in Alfheim.
“Then I’ll go and come back.”
I gestured to Geumho and Baekho.
I plan on taking two of them with me, as I will need their strength in this battle.
Of course, I have no intention of taking Lena with me. There is absolutely no room for Lena to get involved in this fight.
To put it bluntly, it's actually a hindrance.
Since Lena knew that better than anyone else, she didn't complain at all about following along.
“······Be careful on your way back.”
He just saw the three of us off with a bitter expression.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. Get some rest.”
“······Are you really coming back this time?”
Lena's eyes were filled with anxiety.
Even in modern times, when I disappeared, I said this.
I feel a bit like deja vu.
"of course."
I smiled confidently and patted Lena's head.
Lena's silver ears are sullenly drooping.
It seems like he still doesn't feel reassured.
It would be natural if he had a criminal record.
“Then I’ll really go.”
Even though I want to comfort you more, I don't have time. Time is of the essence right now.
I hurriedly opened the door and ran towards the transmission room.
“Seo Yul-ah!”
On the way to the transmission room, I met Aqua. The direction I was running from was towards the situation room.
Apparently Aqua was on duty in the situation room today.
That means I know what's going on right now.
“What’s the situation?”
I asked, hurrying my steps.
“It’s Danger Level Black!”
My pupils were dilated.
“······Black? Did you just say black?”
The risk level is a classification of the risk of an expected scenario when planning an operation in advance.
The best situation is marked as green. The risk level increases in order from yellow to blue to red, and the last, most dangerous stage is marked as black.
In other words, a risk level of black means that the worst we expected has become a reality.
“······The demon god appeared with all seven evil spirits?”
The worst-case scenario is that the entire power of the faction will appear in Alfheim at once.
<Episode 224: The Power of the Demon (2)> End
