Chapter 499: Delusion (7)

Chapter 499: Delusion (7)

“Huh, she’s still not dead yet?” Eugene suddenly muttered with a disdainful snort.

He had clashed with the specter in the sky while thousands of Nur and the allied forces had crashed into each other on the ground.

As a result, Hauria had been completely devastated. It was no exaggeration to say that there weren’t any buildings left standing in good condition. Despite this, Amelia, who they had left on the roof of a building, was still alive and well.

No, she couldn’t really be called well. Although there weren’t any physical injuries on her, Amelia’s mind was still trapped in the nightmares that Sienna had shown her.

The fact that Amelia had survived while all the buildings around her had collapsed wasn’t because she had been particularly lucky. Sienna had simply left behind a barrier to protect Amelia.

“I really wanted to just get rid of her,” Sienna confessed, pouting her lips in displeasure. Aiming a kick at Amelia, who was currently sprawled on the ground, she continued speaking, “But I thought that I should get your opinion first.”

“Well, you didn’t really need to be so considerate,” Eugene said as he approached Amelia.

In fact, by this point, Eugene didn’t care at all about Amelia’s life or death. This was because Eugene had already become far stronger to pay any attention to something as weak as Amelia. On top of that, he had already seen her do such a shameful act as getting down on her knees and begging him for her life that he could honestly say that he didn’t care anymore whether or not Amelia lived or died.

“Bloody Mary[1],” Eugene muttered as the staff caught his eye.

There was no need to take a second look at Amelia herself, but this staff was a different story. Eugene grinned as he looked down at Blood Mary, which Amelia was still holding in her hand. This was the magic staff that had been passed down through the hands of all the previous Staffs of Incarceration.

It was on par with Akasha because of how it had been created with the full and luxurious use of an entire Dragon heart. And just like how Akasha had been imbued with the ability to comprehend all other magic formulas, Blood Mary was also imbued with its own special ability.

“With this staff, you can inherit the magic used by its previous holders,” Sienna spoke up in explanation as she stood next to Eugene.

Eugene hummed thoughtfully, “But that’s not an ability you’d be all that interested in, isn’t that right?”

“Maybe if I was a black wizard,” Sienna said with a grin.

Eugene also grinned back as he nodded.

All of Blood Mary’s previous holders had served the Demon King as the Staff of Incarceration. For a black wizard, it would be a very enticing prospect to be able to inherit the magic of these predecessors without any effort, but neither Eugene nor Sienna had any interest in black magic.

‘That said, it would also be ridiculous to give something like this to Balzac,’ Eugene thought as his mind turned to Balzac, who wasn’t currently accompanying them.

Even if Balzac wouldn’t immediately turn on them after receiving the staff, it was an indisputable fact that they would end up fighting him at some point.

Balzac had managed to gain a great deal through the course of this war. Gluttony, his newly created Signature spell, allowed him to absorb the strength and memories of those that he devoured with his hand. On the battlefield, Balzac had devoured large amounts of demonfolk, demonic beasts, and, on top of that, the Nur as well.

Eugene had deliberately overlooked Balzac’s rapid growth. Even if Balzac had increased his strength through such predation, he would never be able to surpass Sienna in terms of magic. This was something that would still apply even if he continued to mindlessly build up his reserves of dark power.

To be honest, Eugene didn’t really think of Balzac as an enemy. Not only did Balzac himself seem to lack any sense of hostility towards them, but it was also because his secret wish to become a legendary wizard felt both pure and sincere to Eugene.

However, they would still end up fighting someday. Even if Balzac himself didn’t wish to do so, as long as Eugene had his sights set on the Demon King of Incarceration, he would inevitably have to fight Balzac at some point.

If they did end up fighting, then... Eugene hoped that Balzac would at least be able to put up a satisfying fight.

Balzac still might not be able to qualify as Eugene’s enemy even with all the strength that he had gained through his predations, but even so....

“Giving him Blood Mary would be crossing the line,” Eugene sighed regretfully.

His desire for a good fight wasn’t strong enough that he would go so far as to give such a dangerous gift as Blood Mary to Balzac.

“So what should we do with it?” Eugene turned to the side and asked.

“For now, I’ll keep it,” Sienna replied.

Eugene’s eyes widened in surprise at her answer, “You’re not really going to try and learn from its black magic, are you?”

“I don’t have any intention of learning it, but I do have some desire to study the knowledge it contains,” Sienna answered him with a smile. “After all, black magic is still ultimately another type of magic. On top of that, if you really think about it, all of the past Staffs of Incarceration must have been some of the most exceptional black wizards of their era. Although they still wouldn’t be as great as this Wise Lady Sienna.”

“But why do you need to keep it on you?” Eugene pressed out of concern.

Sienna replied, “If I want to become the Goddess of Magic, doesn’t that mean I have to be fluent in all things that can be called magic?”

Although she had a smile on her face and her voice seemed light-hearted, the look in Sienna’s eyes was extremely serious.

Eugene could also sense that those words definitely weren’t meant as a joke.

“You’re getting closer,” Eugene abruptly commented.

She was getting closer? Sienna, who had just picked up Blood Mary, blinked in surprise at these words that had seemingly come out of nowhere.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?” Sienna demanded.

Eugene shrugged, “It’s hard to explain exactly, but that’s just the feeling I’m getting.”

Sienna frowned, “Hmmm, really? If that’s what you want to say, then it really must be the case.”

Sienna recalled what Eugene had looked like when he was engulfed in light. No, at that moment, Eugene hadn’t just seemed to be surrounded by the light; he looked as if he had become one with the light. At that moment, Sienna had also gotten a similar kind of feeling from him.

‘It really felt like the both of us weren’t exactly humans,’ Sienna recalled.

She had definitely sensed that she had somehow managed to surpass her previous level of existence. Sienna pursed her lips as she looked down at Blood Mary.

Her new spell, Absolute Decree, was definitely something that went beyond the level of mere magic, but... there were many areas in which it was still lacking. In order to reach her goal of becoming the Goddess of Magic, it seemed that Sienna wouldn’t just have to surpass her previous level, but she would have to reach a whole new level.

“Are you going to extract the Dragonheart from it?” Eugene asked.

Sienna shook her head, “No, what I’m using is already extravagant enough. I don’t really need another Dragon Heart.”

If she hadn’t created her Absolute Decree, she might have held some desire to use the Dragon Heart to compensate for the damage to her Eternal Hole, but the current Sienna had no need for another Dragon Heart.

“After I’ve finished using it for my own purposes, and cleaning up all of the dark power accumulated in it... hmm, I wonder if I’ll still be able to find some use for it. Well, I can always give as a gift to another wizard? Or perhaps I’ll hand it over to the Lionhearts?” Sienna considered thoughtfully.

“I feel like it could be used to enhance the Patriarch or Lady Carmen’s Exid... or perhaps you could give it Genos? I feel like it might also be a good idea to give it to Sir Lovellian,” Eugene said without giving it much thought, but the moment she heard these words, Sienna’s eyes immediately narrowed.

“Why are you still calling Lovellian Sir when you’ve already revealed to everyone that you’re Hamel’s reincarnation?” Sienna questioned Eugene.

“At this point, wouldn’t it be weird for me just to start casually addressing him as Lovellian?” Eugene defended awkwardly.

That was all that had happened.

From the beginning of Eugene’s story until the very end, Sienna never once interrupted him. Her expression was so calm that even Eugene found it surprising. Instead, it was Anise who had to suppress an emotional outburst by biting down on her lips several times during Eugene’s explanation.

“You...,” Sienna slowly said, ending the short-lived silence. Her deep green eyes stared into Eugene’s as she asked him, “Are you really okay with that?”

Earlier, when he had imagined her reaction, Eugene had pictured Sienna asking him, ‘Why didn’t you tell me anything earlier?’ However, Sienna didn’t ask such a question.

So why didn’t she ask Eugene that? It was because Sienna herself had already come to accept that Eugene was just that type of person.

This son of a bitch had always been like this. He always tried to keep all of the painful things to himself. This habit of his hadn’t seemed to have changed even after he had died.

Sienna addressed him seriously, “Eugene, if you’re really okay with that, then I am also okay with it. Because I also want to kill that Queen of Sluts, Noir Giabella.”

Whatever worries Eugene might be having, whatever emotions he might be feeling, Sienna didn’t have the confidence that she would be able to sympathize with any of them. Whatever emotions Eugene and Noir might have for each other was a matter for those two alone, and Sienna definitely couldn’t and wouldn’t interfere with that.

“However, if you’re not alright with that, then I’m not okay with that as well. If you don’t want to kill her... if you’re suffering because of that...,” Sienna’s words slowly trailed off.

Staying quiet, Sienna just stared directly into Eugene’s eyes.

This was Eugene, who was currently being supported by Anise because he definitely wouldn’t be able to stay standing on his own. The same Eugene who just a few moments ago had shown his ugly side by making up all sorts of excuses for not wanting to talk about it.

Right now...

...Eugene...

“No,” Sienna shook her head.

...he seemed to be mired down by something. To Sienna’s senses, Eugene’s emotions felt complex and murky.

His lingering attachment, regrets, and other such feelings — in the end, it was only natural that Eugene would feel such emotions. No matter what choice he might end up making, he would still ultimately experience some regret for not choosing the other option.

However, it was from amidst such emotions that his firm will shone through. Eugene might be stupid and crude, but in the end, this man in front of her would still choose to do what he thought was the right thing; and even though he might end up with some regrets and feel dissatisfied with his choice, he would still ultimately be able to overcome such feelings.

But maybe... just maybe, if he found it difficult to stand up on his own....

‘Then, just like now,’ Sienna firmly told herself.

All Sienna could do was continue to support him by his side. Until he was able to stand up and walk forward on his own.

That was why Sienna had trailed off and shaken her head. She didn’t ask him any more questions. She didn’t want to shake Eugene’s resolve in the choice that he had made.

“But you still deserve to be hit at least once,” Sienna said as she began rolling up her sleeves.

Eugene’s expression twisted at these words. He swallowed back a gulp as his shoulders trembled.

“But I feel like that wasn’t the kind of mood we had going on, was it?” Eugene feebly tried to protest.

“Allow me to make the decision on that,” Sienna firmly insisted.

“At least tell me why you’re hitting me all of a sudden,” Eugene weakly complained.

“You admitted that you were keeping secrets from me, didn’t you?” Sienna pointed out.

Eugene’s eyes wavered, “That’s—”

“You should be thankful that I’m letting you off with just one hit,” Sienna told him as she walked over to Eugene, loosening up her right arm by swinging it in circles.

Eugene instinctively tried to run away, but with Anise’s arm coiled around him like a snake, it was impossible for him to escape. Instead, Anise even spun around with Eugene, adjusting the angle so that it would be easier for Sienna to strike him.

Eugene tried to count his blessings, ‘At the very least, I’m lucky that there’s no one around to see—”

Crack!

Eugene’s thoughts were suddenly cut off by the sharp pain searing through his butt.

* * *

The door made of chains closed behind him as Gavid stepped through.

He was back in Pandemonium, on the ninetieth floor of the Demon King’s Castle, Babel. This was the same office that Gavid had used for the past hundreds of years. Gavid stood in the center of his office, lost in his own thoughts.

‘Reincarnation,’ Gavid rolled the word around in his head.

There was no way that the Demon King of Incarceration couldn’t know about this fact. From the moment the Demon King met Eugene Lionherat in person, no, even before that....

‘I don’t understand,’ Gavid frowned in thought.

Ever since he began serving the Demon King of Incarceration, he had never once doubted his Demon King’s will.

If the Demon King ever did anything that was difficult to understand, then Gavid wouldn’t even bother to try and understand it. He didn’t forcefully try to comprehend just what might even be going through the Demon King of Incarceration’s heart. For him, as the Blade of Incarceration, the will of the Demon King had always been something absolute and something that should never be questioned.

However, now, Gavid could no longer do that. While slowly calming his agitated breaths, Gavid lowered one hand to his waist.

His hand came to rest on his Demon Sword, Glory. Gavid unfastened the Demon Sword from his waist and hung it on the wall. Then, he stood in front of a mirror and checked the state of his current attire. Gavid brushed some disheveled hair back into place.

Then he took a few more deep breaths.

“Will this really be the first time?” Gavid muttered to himself with a wry smile as he turned around.

In all these past hundreds of years, Gavid had never once headed up into the Demon King’s private quarters of his own volition.

Gavid had only ever waited in his office for the Demon King to descend when ready.

However, now, he wasn’t going to just continue waiting.

Gavid was going to push open the doors to the royal palace to finally get an answer to all of his questions.

1. This is a repeat of the note from Chapter 477 regarding the staff Vladmir. In light of new information we got in the later chapters that explain more of Vladmir's origins other than it being an evil staff, we realized that the previous use of the term is incorrect. As such, from this chapter onwards, we will be changing its name to Bloody Mary, which is a more precise translation of the staff's name. As mentioned earlier, we will keep all previous occurrences until Chapter 477 as Vladmir. ☜

2. This has been mentioned before, but when Korean people feel stressed, they massage the back of their necks, so that area is associated with feelings of stress, anger, or worry. Here, Eugene feels the back of his neck tensing up due to his anger at Melkith. ☜