Chapter 46: Madness Eventually Becomes Love And Sings.

Chapter 46: Madness Eventually Becomes Love And Sings.

It wasnt like this from the beginning.

It was just that as achievements grew, so did desires, and the resulting distortion progressed unnoticed.

Mephisto. My first vassal.

Thus, her Lord, who had collapsed, began to sink into thoughts while staring at the empty paper laid before him.

Reflecting on the times when he sought only to ascend, unlike now when there was nowhere higher to go.

Do you remember? The days we spent together.

Yes, I remember.

Among the trash-strewn beggars, one was outstandingly strong, and another was so weak that he was not even considered a competitor.

But for either, it was too much to face dangers alone, so the stronger one extended his hand to the weaker, saying,

Help me. In doing so, I will guarantee you a better future than you have now.

It started with clinging on just to get scraps.

With the aid of such a follower, the strong one gradually grew, conquered streets full of thugs, caught the eye of the ruling class with his fame, and stepped into the battlefield to pursue victory.

Thus, after repeated growth and soon even defeating them, he ascended to the throne.

Eventually, standing at the pinnacle of a world, he expressed gratitude to his first vassal and shared with him the view he beheld.

Look, my first vassal. Remember this view from the top!

For the weak one from the garbage dump, it was a brilliant and grand view, something she would never have dared to see.

When she realized that all of it was under her feet, a desire beyond the will to survive began to bloom in the heart of the prey at the bottom of the food chain.

Just standing beside someone with the qualities of a ruler, she felt the anticipation of indirectly experiencing that glory.

The moment she realized that the only one who could fulfill that was the one before her, her heart eventually led to a mission to serve by his side.

You too will be like me.

For that, she offered true loyalty. She devoted herself with a true heart.

Even if such feelings were considered alien to the demon race, she took pride in that oddity.

If what she had truly should not have been possessed by a demon, she proudly embraced even that desire (madness) as her origin.

You will understand me too.

The Demon King, sensing that such a calling had followed and collapsed with him, demanded his vassal empathize with him.

You too will keenly feel this sentiment of a vessel that grows over time but is never filled!

She understood.

Believing that death was the only way to alleviate it, Mephisto understood her Lords heart better than anyone.

Yet, why do you, who I thought shared my destiny, who I believed to be my only confidant, say you are leaving my side?

Even so, facing her decision to leave, a flicker of interest began to appear in the Demon Kings eyes.

Anticipation

Yes, it was anticipation.

As if he held hope in the fact that his confidant, in finally leaving his side, had something he wanted to achieve.

Finally, have you found something to look forward to?

My Lord.

Tell me. You who understand me, to whom do you intend to go, even to the point of leaving my side?

Seeing him still find hope despite such a betrayal of expectation, Mephisto felt her heart constrict.

Is that person stronger than me? Much more so crossing dimensions, stronger than I, who have destroyed everything that can be destroyed?

She wanted to tell him.

That she, who knew the fate of those with nowhere left to climb, could no longer feel desire for the powerful.

Then introduce him to me, too. If there is someone who can fight equally with me as in the past, I too might be able to revive the thrill of those times

But should she tell him?

There should be a big difference between one who falls into despair just by watching and one who falls into despair by acting.

Who could guarantee that he, who had already ruined much for his own desire, would reach out his devilish hands towards the man she wanted to protect?

No, even if thats not the case, its fine. Just being strong enough not to be completely trampled is enough! As long as they are stronger than those around me!!

My Lord.

So, it must be stopped.

Even before he could speak, an unperceived warning began to spill out in front of him.

Do you remember the number of sand grains you have trampled so far?

The power of madness leaking from her body spread through her voice.

Knowing it was futile against the torrent of power that he emitted, yet hoping that at least her voice reached him.

I am just one of the sand grains you have trampled, one that has particularly remained in your memory. Merely one of the countless sand grains you have trampled so far.

Do you really want to spend your time with such an insignificant being?

Yes, it must be stopped.

Because of the twisted attachment to expectation, one couldnt know how it would ruin the being it would reach.

Because she, who barely escaped from the infinite void she possessed, did not want to be swallowed by it again.

It didnt matter anyway.

Aware or not, all of that stemmed from her instinct as part of the demon race.

We always live for our desires. If we cant achieve them ourselves, we parasitize those who can fulfill them.

Right. Even if the Demon King disappears, our essence wont change.

Slurp. Her body disappeared like dust.

Then, amidst the fog dispersing into the air, only her voice began to echo and spread.

-And for that desire, Im prepared to fight even old comrades if necessary.

Ahahahahaha

Her laughter faded away in the distance.

Realizing that her presence had completely disappeared, Mephisto soon left the spot and moved forward.

Thinking that if they meet again, the likelihood of being enemies rather than allies was high, but since that wouldnt happen any time soon, she decided not to worry about it.

I survived.

Faithful to that sentiment, as she gradually moved away from the scene, the tension faded, and the beating of her heart became distinctly felt.

Her breathing and the feeling of the wind caressing her skin.

And also the warmth of the sunlight shining down where the dark clouds had cleared.

I really survived.

Enjoying that light, she felt even the source of the desires that had long bound her fading away.

The memories of her aimless journey felt as insignificant as the pebbles she stepped on at this moment.

And even now, I still remember you.

But from now on, what lies ahead is not a journey of wandering aimlessly but a path with clear markers.

The catalyst was trivial, and their time spent together was also short.

Yet, as that light still shines brightly even now, she wanted to step down from the stage where she had been dancing, following its trail.



Waiting for someone else to fulfill her ideals.

Burying the story of the worlds most wretched jester in this land.



As a woman who fell in love.

To live a life of seizing what she desired with her own hands.

-Ding~

As if to express that will, the strings of the instrument in her hand begin to twang.

A performance more carefree than ever, reacting to true emotions.

-Ding-a-ling

The gentle sound echoed beyond the hill, and the dandelion seeds buried in the ground began to sprout, opening the way she was going.

The sprouts, swaying to the hum, eventually became flowers, and the seeds that sprouted in the places where the leaves fell were sent off by the wind.

Hyo-sung. What about you?

At the moment when the path of the wind was clearly drawn, the wandering minstrel following that path sang of her own desires.

More valuable than just an intense mirage.

Hoping for simple happiness that could be grasped in her hands at the end of this journey.

Even in such a world, do you still want to be with me?

Humans, demons, and all others living in this world were preparing for the imminent destruction that was coming.

Perhaps to enjoy the amusement that might be the last in this life.

Yes.

Having abandoned everything solely for that one person.

Take your hands off that person.

Whats with that woman?

Just one step away from happiness, why had she suddenly appeared and been glaring at her with such fierce eyes?

Could you say that again?

She was no ordinary human.

Though still weak, if only the rank was considered, she had risen to a level comparable to the Demon King.

I told you to take your hands off my man!!!

At the words spat out by the woman who could herself be called a Demi-God, Merilyn unwittingly wore a stunned expression.

My man?

Was she talking about this man currently in her embrace?

It seems a lot has happened in my absence

Merilyn Sutherland, feeling a flutter in her heart at those words, spoke softly with sparkling eyes.



Can you handle the consequences of what you just said?

Perhaps she might be the biggest obstacle to fulfilling her own desires.

Glaring at what could rightly be called her rival.