TL/Editor: raei
Status: ongoing
Illustrations: none
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In the Abyss, the heart of the demon realm, Acrimosia's voice echoed through darkness so thick it barely allowed minimal visibility. Her voice dripped with irritation matching her words.
Though they had wiped out most of Jealousy's forces recently, Acrimosia remained in a foul mood for good reason.
"Have you found where that one ran off to?"
They had let the most important target, Zeloth, slip away.
In truth, compared to an Archdemon, their subordinate forces held almost no importance. With power and status approaching demigod level, an Archdemon could gather new forces anytime they wished.
This was possible in the demon realm where only strength mattered.
Therefore, as long as they failed to end Zeloth's life, rebellion could occur again anytime.
"Not yet. It seems they escaped the demon realm," Wrath answered with a shake of his head.
Madness's brow furrowed further at this.
"...Half our available Archdemon forces vanished in an instant. Yet we know nothing. Not even who killed Pride."
She couldn't understand how humans had managed to kill Ogrit, who possessed power equal to their own.
'Did the First Heaven move?'
No, even if they had acted, it would be impossible alone.
"Since all our forces there were completely wiped out, we have almost no information... What did the King say about this? You mentioned there was a reaction when you went to see him last time."
"He only said 'So it has finally appeared.' Then fell silent again."
Shallow skepticism tinged Wrath's voice as he answered.
Skepticism toward a king who showed no direction or reaction even as the demon realm itself trembled.
Then-
"May I enter?" a subordinate demon's voice called from outside the Abyss.
Unlike before, the demon sought permission first, suggesting the news wasn't urgent.
"What is it?"
"We've identified who eliminated Lord Ogrit."
But the content was enough to capture their full attention.
"What? Who is it?"
"Who?"
As Acrimosia and Wrath demanded answers simultaneously, a single name flowed from the subordinate's lips:
"Zion Agnes."
Both Archdemons rose from their seats.
At the outer borders where the demon realm, empire, and Fairy Forest met, two demons held a secret reunion.
"You didn't need to come greet me," said Archdemon of Jealousy Zeloth.
"How could I not for Lady Zeloth?" replied Krevis, one of the Five Great Demon Generals who oversaw the monsters in the Fairy Forest.
Perhaps from operating in secret for nearly a century, Krevis's disguise as a middle-aged male fairy looked more authentic than real fairies.
"I heard recent news. You had quite an ordeal."
"Ordeal doesn't begin to cover it. I nearly died."
Shaking her head wearily, Zeloth glanced around with questioning eyes.
"Did you come alone? Where are the others?"
"I sent them to greet someone else."
"Someone else?"
"Zion Agnes is visiting the Fairy Forest."
Strange light filled Zeloth's eyes.
"...That Zion Agnes is here?"
"...Then what's the solution?"
"As I said before, we can only try to ease its condition by supplying even minimal spirit power..."
"Haah..."
Another sigh escaped Diana's lips.
They currently had no way to supply Spirit King-level spirit power.
"Seems things are complicated," Zion smiled slightly as he spoke, having overheard their conversation.
Despite being unable to enter the World Tree's Cradle - one of his purposes for coming here - Zion's expression hadn't changed from before.
He had anticipated this situation before arriving.
"...Since you seem to know somewhat already, I'll be brief. The World Tree supporting the Fairy Forest is in a precarious state. So entering the Cradle is impossible. Would you consider changing your request?"
"Rather than changing my request, how about this?"
Answering question with question, Zion made a proposal:
"Let me solve the World Tree problem. Then I can enter the forbidden area, right?"
"...!"
Diana and the fairies' eyes widened at these unexpected words.
Ignoring their piercing stares, Zion lifted his teacup.
In truth, reviving the World Tree had been part of his plans from the start.
The Fairy Forest would play a crucial role in the coming great war, so he couldn't let it collapse.
'Though not without payment, of course.'
After watching Zion with wavering eyes, Diana spoke:
"I don't know what methods you'd use, but we can't entrust World Tree matters to an outsider..."
But her words of rejection following fairy basic principles didn't finish.
"Y-Your Highness Diana!"
All other Leaves in the chamber were staring at her.
The desperation in their eyes.
Their desperation that seemed ready to grasp even at rotten straws stopped Diana's words.
Nearly a thousand years.
The Fairy Forest had existed since before the Agnes Empire's founding.
Its destruction in their generation was an unbearable terror and despair.
In this situation, their desperation toward this sole hope that had appeared was beyond imagination.
Enough to make even their preciously guarded rules meaningless.
"How do you plan to solve it?" Diana finally asked Zion after a long sigh.
This would let Zion gain influence in the Fairy Forest, but better than its disappearance.
"One thing first," Zion set down his teacup and spoke.
"If I save the World Tree, what will you give me?"
"...What do you want?"
Diana immediately asked, as if expecting this.
Saving the World Tree meant saving the entire Fairy Forest.
The price would match that scale.
'The Spirit Corps, or maybe all my power base including the Five Great Families...'
But the price flowing from Zion's lips was both greater and what she feared most.
"The Fairy Forest."
Zion's eyes curved.
"I want the entire Fairy Forest truly under me, not just superficially."
As black stars began rising and swirling in Zion's eyes, Diana recalled the devil making irrefusable offers from old storybooks.