Chapter 67 - Attack on the Royal Capital (1)

"He is the great End. You're on your way to the afterlife. Show some respect for once."

The instant Zal’karin finished speaking, the Dark Elf thrust out a pitch-black demonic hand. His fingers clamped around Yohan's face, lifting his frail body into the air. Holding Yohan in one hand, he spoke.

"Human, I asked what you are."

Yohan could not answer. The grip crushing his cheeks kept him from opening his mouth.

'He's going to crush my face at this rate.'

His cheekbones ached as though they would shatter. Frankly, the pain was unbearable. Even stifling a groan was a struggle. He was only just managing to keep his expression blank.

Fortunately, Raguel caught on and intervened.

"What are you doing? Let go of him this instant!"

He rushed over and shoved the Dark Elf, who did not budge. Those jade-green eyes remained fixed on Yohan, as though trying to bore through him. The Dark Elf roared like a beast.

"Human! I asked who you are!"

The black hand began to tighten further. At this rate, Yohan's skull really might be crushed. Raguel clung desperately to the Dark Elf's wrist.

"He's Maphel’tan! The Apostle you made a contract with! So stop! If Yohan dies, your contract and everything else will be over!"

He desperately sank his teeth into the Dark Elf's wrist. The Dark Elf was utterly bewildered. He could scarcely accept what was happening.

"Just let go of him first, and we can talk!"

The Dark Elf ground his teeth. Barely holding on to reason, he loosened his grip. Yohan dropped, then rubbed his cheeks as he landed on the ground.

"... You are an exceedingly violent creature."

He spoke as though nothing were wrong, but in truth, he wanted to roll on the ground crying out in pain.

Demonic energy rose from the Dark Elf's entire body. He spoke in a low, chilling voice.

"Tell me. What in the world are you?"

"I don't know either."

"What?"

"I was simply born a half-breed, and someone assigned me the role of Apostle. That is all I know."

There was not a shred of falsehood in his words. For a moment, the Dark Elf was speechless. Yohan did not seem to be lying. The truth was simply difficult to accept.

"... You expect me to believe that?"

A being who alternated between human and Demon bodies? And the thirteenth Apostle, at that? Yohan kept shattering everything he knew.

Yohan said, "Believe it or not, nothing changes. You need only attack the royal capital as promised, and I will pay the price in full. Our contract remains firmly in place."

The Dark Elf's eyes narrowed.

"You, a human, would betray the moon?"

Yohan gave an incredulous laugh.

"Human? Betray? I'm a half-demon to begin with, and I've never served the moon."

"Before I listen to your sophistry, I must verify something. Where is your proof that you're a half-demon? I doubt you're even the horned spirit I contracted with."

Yohan's manner was almost identical to Maphel’tan's. But that was hardly conclusive proof that they were the same person. The Dark Elf felt he would have to see it himself before he could believe Yohan's story.

Yohan said, "You will see for yourself soon enough. Just wait a little."

"Right this instant—"

Raguel cut him off.

"Yohan turns into a Demon when the sun sets. Please wait just a few hours."

Yohan frowned.

"It's still that far off?"

There was no way to tell the exact time in the mausoleum. Almost no sunlight or moonlight reached this far underground, leaving him to make rough guesses.

Raguel was different. High Elves possessed extraordinarily developed senses. He could detect even the faintest sunlight.

Raguel nodded. "About two hours left."

Yohan looked at the Dark Elf.

"You've waited five hundred years. Surely two hours is nothing?"

A sinister light flickered in the Dark Elf's eyes.

"... If there is even a shred of falsehood in what you've said, I will give you the most horrific death in all of history."

Yohan chuckled.

"Declarations like that never come to pass. I've heard much the same thing from someone else."

The Apostle Beris had said exactly the same thing as the Dark Elf, but nothing had happened to Yohan yet.

The Dark Elf muttered in a low voice, "Enough insolence. Etch my warning into your bones."

Yohan shrugged. "Well, I'll remember it. Now let's get moving."

Everyone here needed to gather at the mausoleum's entrance before nightfall. Thousands of creatures had to pass through a narrow exit in a single night, so time was a little tight. It would be best to arrive early and prepare for their escape.

As Yohan turned to leave, the Dark Elf stared after him in disbelief. He murmured, "You're just as shameless."

Yohan looked back. "Hurry up. We haven't got time."

Their destination was the mausoleum's ceiling. They had to climb the World Tree's enormous roots and line up before the exit. Yohan hurried along. With his physical abilities so pitiful at present, he had no choice but to work harder than everyone else.

* * *

Thousands of evil spirits were climbing the World Tree's roots. They resembled a swarm of termites ascending a tree in search of food. Watching the spectacle, Yohan wiped the sweat from his forehead.

'This is killing me.'

Every muscle in his body spasmed. His lungs throbbed as though about to burst.

The Dark Elf spoke, looking suspicious. "Either you're an idiot, or what you said earlier was a lie. It has to be one or the other."

"What are you talking about?"

"You could have waited until you became a Demon and flown up. There was no need to pant and gasp like this."

"It's training."

"What?"

"I need to build my stamina. I have to live in a human body, too."

He meant it. Yohan intended to train his body whenever an opportunity like this presented itself.

The Dark Elf stared blankly at him, then snorted.

"If that's bullshit, we'll know soon enough."

Yohan chuckled. "Right on time. Here, watch."

The sweat dripping from him began to turn pitch-black, transforming into black smoke and dispersing. An ominous haze enveloped his entire body. Within the darkness, red eyes flashed.

The Dark Elf's pupils trembled.

"Ha!"

The smoke slowly cleared. A pitch-black Demon stood in the boy's place. Maphel’tan's lips stretched into a wide grin.

"Mortal, it has been a week."

The Dark Elf backed away several steps.

"... How can such a thing be possible?"

Maphel’tan wanted to tease him a little longer, but there was no time. His shift into Demon form meant night had fallen. The full moon had arrived.

"Let's get out first," he said.

He pointed at the World Tree's base. Like the entrance, the exit had a howling face embedded in it.

Doing his best to hide his agitation, the Dark Elf took out the Heartcore Fragment. He spoke sorrowfully.

"Earth Mother, please forgive us."

Maphel’tan clicked his tongue. He promptly snatched the Heartcore Fragment from the Dark Elf and pressed it against the World Tree. The tree howled. The gate to the Abyss opened once more.

* * *

A massive magic circle had been drawn across the broad expanse of ground above the Gorge of Death.

A spatial transport array. Even a highly accomplished mage would need days upon days of preparation to complete this spell array.

Maphel’tan let out an admiring exclamation.

'She did a proper job, just as I expected.'

The spatial transport array was Ilea's work. She must have come here separately two weeks ago to prepare the magic. By now, she was probably in the royal capital, setting up the exit. The moment this spell array activated, everyone here would be transported to the capital.

The Dark Elf glanced over the array.

"The witch's work, I take it."

"Correct. It connects to the royal capital."

"How thoroughly you've prepared. We played right into your hands."

The Dark Elf looked somewhat dispirited.

"Well, everything went smoothly."

Almost nothing unexpected had occurred during this trip to the Abyss. He had not even needed to use most of the relics he had brought. Maphel’tan was quite pleased about that.

The Dark Elf fixed him with a piercing stare.

"This is as far as your tricks will take you. Petty methods like these will not let you tamper with our contract."

Maphel’tan laughed incredulously.

"You drafted it so tightly, and you're still worried?"

The Dark Elf could hardly help worrying. The horned spirit before him defied all common sense. They had met only a few days ago, yet he had already learned that nothing was more foolish than being certain of anything involving this creature.

"It was merely a warning. Take it to heart."

"I understand. Now, let's get started."

Maphel’tan beckoned to Zal’karin. The imp took a small cube from his backpack and brought it over. It was a treasure that converted demonic energy into mana, indispensable for activating the spatial transport array.

The Dark Elf suddenly let out a roar. His piercing shriek reverberated through the gorge. At once, countless evil spirits moved onto the magic circle. The rest waited in formation.

The Dark Elf spoke. "We're ready."

"Then I'll activate it."

Maphel’tan began pouring demonic energy into the cube. Having absorbed the spectral aura, it shot into the air, then split apart into separate pieces. Deep-blue mana began flowing through the gaps. At the same time, the magic circle on the ground began to glow faintly.

Maphel’tan frowned.

'Not enough, just as I thought.'

The amount of demonic energy was woefully insufficient to activate the formula.

The Dark Elf's eyes curved into crescents.

"You claim to be an Apostle, yet this is all you can manage?"

Maphel’tan had little to say to that. His power really was lacking.

"I'd like a hand."

The Dark Elf cackled and raised an arm into the air.

"I'll throw this much in for free."

Maphel’tan chuckled.

'Well, look at him.'

It seemed they had each thrown in a free favor now.

The Dark Elf's dense demonic energy poured into the cube. Only then did the formula blaze brightly. Maphel’tan spoke quickly.

"Raguel, get out of the formula."

The Dark Elf sounded puzzled.

"What about you?"

"I'm going with you."

He intended to show himself in the royal capital.

"That doesn't sound like a very good plan."

If the capital was anything like the city the Dark Elf remembered from five hundred years ago, all but the strongest Demons would perish there. Maphel’tan would naturally die as well. His death would be a devastating blow to the Dark Elf. The party responsible for fulfilling the contract could not be allowed to disappear.

Maphel’tan answered calmly.

"No, it's an excellent plan. There's almost no chance I'll die, and the rewards are enormous."

Demons grew by feeding on the fear of other intelligent beings. They could also raise their stature through evil deeds. Merely showing himself after dropping countless evil spirits into the capital would make this a profitable venture for Maphel’tan. He could not pass up the opportunity to grow.

The Dark Elf said, "... Whatever happens, do not forget our contract."

Maphel’tan nodded.

"Die well."

At that moment, the formula convulsed and engulfed the gorge. Everyone vanished without a trace.