Chapter 849 - Chapter 6: Beyond That Point ⑩
Opening the door at the back of the room revealed a bright corridor. However, the atmosphere was different from the room where we had just fought the legendary heroes. How should I put it—it made me straighten my posture. It felt like being exposed to the air of a winter morning. Of course, it wasn't cold.
Until now, it had felt like an underground passage. Now, it felt like the world had changed. Perhaps the previous passages were the Interstice World, and this was the place beyond the Interstice.
With an atmosphere that made my posture straighten with every step, I walked to the dead end. The dead end was a square room twice the width of the corridor, and the Demon Lord told me to stand near the middle. When the two of us stood there, the scenery distorted for an instant, even though neither the Demon Lord nor I had done anything. Then, we jumped into a room where the walls, ceiling, and floor were all pure white.
There was a wooden door in the room. Following the Demon Lord's gesture, I opened the door and entered a room with several pieces of furniture. There were three chairs with the same pattern as a round table, which was white with blue trim. On the table was a square cloth with a picture of a brown owl with its wings spread wide on a white background, its four corners hanging down. On the table were three bowls and a bottle that presumably contained a drink. And one woman wearing a white tunic was sitting there.
"You've arrived safely."
It was Diana-sama. Why was she here?
"Was [Almighty Guard] useful?"
It wasn't just useful. Without it, several people would have died. Perhaps not just several, but everyone.
"It was, truly! Thanks to you granting me such incredible magic, I was able to reach this place."
I thanked her with a full smile.
"Oh? Did I provide a bit too much service?"
That's not true at all. It was the perfect amount of service. Please, don't say such cold things.
"How was it?"
"It was excessive."
The Demon Lord, who was asked, agreed!
"But well, isn't it fine?"
"I suppose. Those guys probably got to fight with all their might for the first time in a while. They seemed to be enjoying themselves."
Enjoying themselves? By 'those guys,' do you mean the legendary heroes?
"I see, then that's good. Those children fought with everything they had, and yet she was still able to come this far."
"Indeed."
Um, exactly what are you talking about? And what is the relationship between you two?
I sat in a chair as I was told and accepted a drink as it was offered. What Diana-sama poured into the bowl with her own hands looked identical to the golden liquor that restores magic power that I had with the Wetlands Priestess and Fiona before the exploration. However, the moment I took a sip and it spread through my mouth, my fatigue and tension vanished, and I felt a sense of peace. It might also have the effect of recovering from exhaustion and restoring spirit.
"Is it to your taste?"
"It is, truly. It suits me perfectly, and it's delicious."
"Do you feel a bit more at ease?"
"Yes. Thanks to you."
This must be the gods' liquor after all. I wonder how it's made.
"Hmm. Did Diana brew this?"
"That's right. Is it good?"
"Yeah, not bad."
"Ufufu. Thank you."
Despite being a member of the Demon Race, the Demon Lord was somehow speaking down to the daughter of a Goddess.
"Um, is Diana-sama an acquaintance of the Demon Lord?"
I thought it might be rude, but I couldn't help asking.
"Yes. We are acquaintances."
When she said 'acquaintances,' she looked at the Demon Lord with a meaningful smile.
"The Demon Lord is of the Demon Race, right?"
"Yes, that's right. Is it strange to be an acquaintance of the Demon Race? You are as well, aren't you?"
"That's true, but..."
Almost no one on the White Island would imagine that the person who grants magic to humans to exterminate monsters is on good terms with the King of the Demon Race who leads those monsters. Or do they share drinks with enemies, like the former lords of Finis?
"Do you meet often?"
This time I asked the Demon Lord.
"Not particularly. It is just that there are times like this."
So they don't usually meet.
Then again, they are people whose lifespans could be called eternal. Their sense of 'usual' must be completely different from mine.
"You will understand eventually."
The Demon Lord's answer made me curious.
"Um, what will happen now?"
I thought it was rude, but I couldn't hold back anymore and asked.
Here I was, a human, drinking liquor with a Goddess on one side and the Demon Lord on the other.
No, no, it was a great honor, and in a way, it was my personal ideal... but I felt nothing but anxiety at the sudden turn of events.
"Hmm. What do you think will happen?"
Diana-sama smiled mischievously. This was surely a test.
"Um, is it alright if I give my own wild guess?"
Diana-sama had said she was a judge. I didn't want to say something outrageous and be treated as a failure.
"Yes, I don't mind."
I received permission.
"Um, I believe we are currently waiting for someone to arrive."
"And who would that be?"
"The one we call the Goddess. Diana-sama's mother."
"Mm-hmm. And?"
"If I can meet her, I intend to make one request."
"I see. What kind of request?"
She must already know. But I suppose I have to say it.
"I intend to have the [Testament] that I activated through an incorrect method released, and have the Demon Lord returned to the place where he should naturally dwell. However, if possible, I don't want him to be resurrected for the purpose of killing humans, so I'd like it to be in a direction where he isn't resurrected for such goals."
"For what kind of purpose would be alright?"
"Um, if he comes to visit as a friend, he would be welcome."
"Oh? You're going to become friends with the Demon Lord?"
Laughing, she glanced at the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord's expression didn't change. But it seemed the frog's curse was completely broken.
"This is a matter among comrades, but if the seven of us, including myself, invite him to our farm and he participates in a banquet, he'll be certified as a friend."
I'll grant him this, I thought, showing the badge of the Class of 175.
"Heh, can I participate too?"
"By all means! I will be the introducer, so if both of you could come..."
"Hmm, maybe I'll go. Hey, what will you do if you're invited?"
"I shall not go. I have killed too many humans."
I thought he would say that.
"But if it's on the condition that you won't kill any more in the future..."
"I cannot promise that. Especially if I appear in your world."
Don't be so cold.
"Then, where would be alright?"
It's not like we can only be friends at the farm.
For example, if it's the Ice Vice-Demon Lord, we can have a banquet if I go to the Ice Island. With the female Demon Race from Engrio, it's fine if I go to the Demon Realm she claims as her territory. Furthermore, dragons can be met at their dwellings, and Dragonewts have banquets in even more various places. They are celebrities in parts of the continent now.
Besides, it doesn't matter whether we call each other friends or not. The point is just to be able to have a fun banquet together.
"Even if Jeanne's wish were granted, I likely could not be resurrected in your world. In that case, you should come to the place where I can be."
"Oh? You're inviting Jeanne? It's rare for you to invite a human."
"Hmph. There are exceptions."
"My, my, as expected of the chosen child. Jeanne, you've even been chosen by the Demon Lord."
"Hmph."
It's fine that the two of them are getting strangely excited, but...
Is the Demon Lord's dwelling a place where a living human can go?
"It is impossible."
"Um, if I recall, if I go to that world as a ghost, won't my ego collapse and I'll become one of the Pretas? Or are you telling me to become a monster like the legendary heroes?"
"You should come to the Interstice."
"The Interstice..."
Above the Demon Lord's Cave? If the location becomes known to humans, those delinquent old men will attack.
"It's here. What happened when you first activated [Testament]?"
At that time, I was blown into the middle of a mist... and I arrived at the temple where Diana-sama was!
That place is the Interstice World!
Since I've come this far, I must be suitable as an activator of [Testament]. That's why I can go to the Interstice World when that magic circle that emerges with the morning sun appears!
Wait, eh? Can I meet the Demon Lord through that?
"You can. The place you can reach through that mist isn't just my temple. That time, I only had you come to my temple to judge whether you were suitable as an activator of [Testament]. If you feel like it, you can even reach his temple."
Hmm. It's complicated. Do I have to explore that mist and reach the Demon Lord's Temple? That's too difficult. People with power can easily do things that ordinary humans can't. It doesn't seem like something I could possibly do.
"You should just come to my temple first. Let's meet up and go together. I want to participate in your banquets too."
That would be magnificent! What should I do about offerings... or rather, wine to bring as a souvenir? I wonder if I can beg the Grand Archbishop for some?
Sharing the company of Diana-sama and the Demon Lord was a magnificent combination I hadn't even imagined. Moreover, it was wonderful that it could continue in the future. Gods, demons, and humans having a fun chat—isn't that exactly co-existence and co-prosperity! No, we should invite Dragonewts and spirits too. I'm sure we'll all have a great time together.
While I was spending a pleasant time lost in my delusions, Diana-sama, who had been chatting with a smile, suddenly changed her expression.
"She has arrived."
"Eh?"
The Demon Lord placed the bowl he was holding in his hand on the table.
By 'arrived,' do you mean the Goddess? For that, both of them have no emotion on their faces. It's like they've been caught by the frog's curse.
Eh? Did the air in the room change?
It felt solemn, or rather, it made my spine straighten.
"You seem to be having quite a lot of fun. May I join you at the table?"
Suddenly, a voice fell from the ceiling.
No, not the ceiling. If we were under the blue sky, it would feel like it fell from the heavens. It fell from even higher than the ceiling.
A clear voice. However, was it my imagination that it echoed somewhat shrilly? Or was the owner of the voice in a bad mood?
"Then, I shall increase the seats."
Since Diana-sama and the Demon Lord stood up, I followed suit and stepped back a little.
Then, when Diana-sama lightly raised her right hand, the table grew larger and one chair was added.
"Please, sit wherever you like."
"Hmm. Then, I shall sit next to that human."
Eh? Next to me?
I was certain she would sit opposite me, so I was bewildered.
"What is it? Do you dislike me sitting next to you?"
She saw right through my agitation!
"N-no. It's not that I dislike it, I was just surprised..."
"What is there to be surprised about?"
"Eh? Because, it's our first meeting. You don't even know what kind of person I am..."
No, is that rude? Since she sees everything...
"Hmm. Indeed, I know nothing of you other than that you are human."
Ah, so you don't know. My apologies.
"I only know you as the one who has befriended the dragons and spirits of the four elements and activated [Testament]."
Eh? So you do know everything after all.
"Of course. Who do you take me for?"
I can't miss this. I think I'm right, but...
"A-are you the Goddess herself?"
My voice was trembling.
"Hmm. It seems you understand."
I knew it. The activator of [Testament] can meet the Goddess. And, by borrowing a portion of her power, seal the Demon Lord... wait? Eh?
"To be precise, it is a bit different. 'Goddess' is merely a delusion of you humans. You simply call me that of your own accord. I am myself."
Eh? What exactly does that mean?
"In the first place, the word 'Goddess' was likely created by humans."
"Now that you mention it, that's true, but..."
Is this the kind of person who is the object of worship? She seems to be a very different type from Diana-sama.
"If possible, please allow me to present the offerings I brought. And, I would very much like to offer a prayer..."
Even if it's just a voice, it's her in person. I definitely want to pray.
"Do as you wish."
Having received permission, I took the offerings out of my storage bag. Since there was no altar, I got permission from Diana-sama to spread a cloth on the table, and placed there the wine given to me by the Grand Archbishop... likely the finest wine brewed by the priests of the Ruined Town in the past—and a special cake. It was actually a church-made version of the one Miana made. The recipe was something I got when I went to the continent.
After I finished arranging the offerings, I knelt and offered a prayer praising the Goddess.
My body wouldn't stop shaking, and my tongue was only half-moving. My voice sounded strange even to me. I might be scolded, asked if I'm really a bishop.
"Hmm. Being praised that much is a bit embarrassing."
Thank goodness!
If she's pleased, that's all I could hope for. It's the greatest honor for a priest. I'll definitely brag to the Grand Archbishop.
"By the way, I heard from Diana that you came all this far because you had something to say to me."
She went straight to the main point! And she hasn't even touched the offerings!
"Ah, yes. Actually, though it's impolite, I have a request. If it's alright, I would be grateful if you could hear me out."
"Hmm. Say what you have to say."
Ah, she really is a kind person. I'm sure the predecessor who encountered her around Nakanohara Lake three thousand years ago had a similar experience.
"Jeanne. Wait a moment. Let me speak."
It was the Demon Lord. Surely he's not going to start a fight?
"Mother. Regarding Jeanne's wish, I would like to speak from my side."
Mother? The Demon Lord? Is the Goddess the Demon Lord's mother?
Or did I mishear?
"What is it, my son Brass?"
B-Brass?
"Eh? When you say Brass-sama..."
I thought it was extremely impolite in front of the Goddess, but I couldn't help asking.
Because Brass-sama is the name of the Goddess's eldest son. He should be the one who was once given a silver sword by the Goddess and ordered to slay monsters to protect the all-too-weak humans.
"What is it? Jeanne, do you have something to say?"
"Um, Brass-sama is a being worshipped as a God of War... and for him to be of the Demon Race..."
"Is it strange for my son to be of the Demon Race?"
"Eh? No, rather than strange, the fact that you have a son of the Demon Race means that the Demon Lord... Brass-sama's father, is different from Diana-sama's father..."
"Do not speak such vulgarities! I can give birth to any race by myself!"
"Ah, I see... My apologies! I was very rude!"
Gods really are amazing. I was a fool to think of things with a human sense.