Chapter 70 - Demonic Core

“Please devour my familiar, Maphel’tan. O thirteenth end.”

Ilea knelt on one knee, a serene smile on her lips.

Maphel’tan looked utterly bewildered. He hardly knew what to make of this. Ilea’s actions were too sudden. How was he supposed to respond? His mind refused to cooperate.

Composing his expression, he said, “I cannot begin to understand what you’re thinking.”

She was usually playful, but something seemed different now. She did not seem to be joking.

Was she serious, then? But a witch serving a god? It defied all common sense. Any reader of Chronicle of Humans and Demons would agree with him.

Ilea said, “I told you. I’m considering accepting you as the god of witches. I mean exactly what I said.”

Maphel’tan shook his head. “Witches do not serve gods. No, it would be more accurate to say they cannot. Isn’t yours a race that instinctively rejects subordination to anything?”

Ilea did not deny it. “That’s right. Even this world feels like a prison to me.”

All witches shared a single cherished ambition: to uncover the secrets of this world and leap into a higher one. They dreamed of transcending heaven, as it were. They sought to surpass even the gods and venture into the boundless cosmos.

Maphel’tan said, “Your ancestors were no different. Your kind has used everything in this world as a tool to transcend heaven. And now you would serve me? Frankly, I find that difficult to accept.”

Ilea smiled faintly and gave a small sigh. “Transcending heaven... There really is nothing you don’t know, Maphel’tan. You probably know more about this world than I do. I envy that knowledge. If I enter a contract of subjugation with you, your memories and knowledge will be shared with me. That’s why I want to serve you as a god.”

Through a contract of subjugation, a witch could glimpse the other party’s memories. She could absorb all her familiar’s experiences. Every Demon that had passed through her hands had added to her experience.

Maphel’tan frowned. “That would only make sense if you made me your familiar, not your god.”

Ilea shook her head. “It doesn’t matter who the master is. As long as we enter a contract of subjugation, I can access your mindscape.”

That had never appeared in the original novel. No witch had ever placed herself under someone else.

Maphel’tan said, “I think I understand. Since I would never become your familiar, you’re willing to serve under me instead.”

Ilea’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “Exactly. It shouldn’t be such a bad proposition for you, either.”

Maphel’tan gave an incredulous laugh. Just how obsessed was she with transcending heaven to defy her own instincts and volunteer for subjugation? He could hardly comprehend it.

Yet however difficult it was to understand, her offer was immensely appealing from a practical standpoint. Having a witch as his servant would be an enormous help in his endeavors. He could not help being tempted, quite apart from the strange unease it left him with.

Maphel’tan said, “Then let me ask a few more questions. First, what do you mean by devouring the World Tree?”

“As you know, witches can break their familiars down into demonic energy. A demonic core made from that energy is the finest elixir a Demon could wish for. The moment you consume the World Tree’s demonic core, you will gain a tremendous amount of growth. It’s a gesture of goodwill, so please accept it without feeling any obligation.”

This was what troubled him. The World Tree was not so insignificant that it should be consumed as a mere demonic core. There were surely many better uses for it. Indeed, Ilea had another purpose she meant to accomplish through the World Tree.

Maphel’tan spoke. “The World Tree is far too valuable to waste on a demonic core. Surely you know that. Do you have some ulterior motive?”

Ilea answered calmly, “Ulterior motive sounds a little grand. Let’s call it an ultimate goal.”

“And what is that?”

“I want to offer you all evil. Devour every Demon in this world and be reborn as the Mother of All Evil, Maphel’tan.”

In the original novel, Ilea had gathered countless Demons together to create a single embodiment of malice. That was the Mother of All Evil: primordial darkness, blind malevolence. That horrifying being had granted the witch power equal to a god’s.

The Mother of All Evil was the foundation upon which she would transcend heaven.

Maphel’tan gave a hollow laugh. “In short, you need a tool under the guise of a god.”

Ultimately, the Mother of All Evil was nothing more than a means to transcend heaven. It would merely be used and discarded, just as in the original novel.

For the first time, the smile vanished from Ilea’s face. Looking a little flustered, she said, “A tool? I truly—”

“I decline your offer. Use the World Tree as you originally planned.”

In the original novel, Ilea had sacrificed the World Tree to open a gate to the underworld. She had done so to find a vessel for the Mother of All Evil.

The imp Nahagrem. Originally, he had become the Mother of All Evil.

Ilea lowered her head slightly. “I don’t understand. This would benefit us both. Why reject it outright?”

“If I keep devouring all evil, I will eventually lose my sense of self and my humanity. Nothing will remain but blind malice. I don’t want that ending.”

“I can stay beside you and help, so you don’t lose ‘Yohan.’”

“Besides, the very idea of you seeing all my memories makes me uncomfortable.”

Just how much would she be able to read? Perhaps even his entire life before possessing this body would be laid bare. He might be overthinking it, but the possibility certainly existed. He could not help being reluctant.

Ilea said, “... But you tried to share them with me before.”

Maphel’tan had once tried to tell her about Chronicle of Humans and Demons. An interdiction had stopped him, leaving him unable to speak.

“That was different. How is giving you selected information the same as letting you look through all my memories?”

Ilea slowly rose from her kneeling position, her expression somewhat subdued. “I understand what you’re saying.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“A little. But I understand. I suppose it isn’t time yet.”

“Thank you for understanding. We’re better off remaining equals, as we are now.”

Ilea took something out. “Then consider this a gift for my partner.”

A pitch-black orb gleamed in her hand. Maphel’tan furrowed his brow. “Ilea, surely you haven’t—”

It was a demonic core. She had already turned the World Tree into one. Malice streamed ceaselessly from the black orb.

“I was a little rash. I should have asked for your consent first. But please take it anyway. Don’t feel obliged to give anything back.”

She was telling him to take nothing less than the World Tree for free. How could he not feel obliged?

After gauging Maphel’tan’s mood, Zal’karin spoke up. “I-if it troubles you, this wicked creature could...!”

Raguel, who had been watching, let out a long sigh. “Think for once, idiot.”

He snatched up Zal’karin’s tiny body.

Ilea approached Maphel’tan. “If you refuse even this, I really will be hurt.”

With a firm expression, she held the demonic core out to him.

Maphel’tan found himself at a loss. Any Demon would sell their very soul to obtain this core. It was not something he could simply accept for nothing.

He swallowed a groan. “Let me make this clear. I have nothing to give you.”

“I told you, it’s a gift. I’m not asking for anything in return. If it really bothers you, give me a gift sometime.”

Maphel’tan gazed at the demonic core for a moment before speaking. “I will try. But don’t expect too much.”

Almost nothing could match the value of this demonic core. Ilea’s investment was very likely to end in failure.

She nodded. “All right, now swallow it. I made it from what was left of the World Tree’s stump, but its effects should still be considerable.”

Even the evil deeds earned by destroying an entire city and slaughtering every inhabitant would probably fall short of the growth this core could provide. Maphel’tan would be wise to simply accept and consume it. He was in no position to be choosy about how he grew stronger.

Taking the demonic core, he said, “As always, you have my thanks. I will do my best to repay you.”

Then he brought it straight to his mouth.

He felt no mental aversion. Queasiness, unease—his circumstances were, in truth, too desperate to let such revulsion hold him captive.

Maphel’tan swallowed the demonic core without hesitation. The reaction was immediate. His red eyes flashed, and black smoke erupted from every opening in his body.

Condensed malice coursed through him. Pleasure and pain struck at once. Remaining lucid was utterly impossible.

To avoid losing his sense of self, he chose to surrender his sanity.

Maphel’tan crumpled like a puppet with severed strings. Even after he fell, the convulsions continued.

* * *

“G-ghaaah!”

Yohan bolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat as though he had suffered a nightmare. Breathing hard, he examined his body.

The sun seemed to have risen. He was in his human body. Moreover, this was his bedchamber in the lord’s castle. He could not remember how he had gotten here.

Just as his head began to throb, a familiar, melodious voice reached him. “You woke up sooner than I expected.”

Ilea was seated at the table beside his bed. At the sight of her, memories of the previous night came flooding back in a jumble.

“What happened? What about Maphel’tan?”

Ilea made a show of considering. “Hmm. How should I put it? You’ve become rather imposing.”

“What?”

“Congratulations. Maphel’tan is no longer a subadult Demon.”

He had evolved into an adult. He had gained years’ worth of growth in a single stroke. That was very welcome news.

“... Frankly, I don’t know what to make of it.”

“See for yourself later. You’ll be pleased.”

“How long until nightfall?”

“So impatient. It’s still morning. Just take the day to rest.”

Yohan shook his head. “There’s still work to do.”

“If you mean the entrance to the Abyss, I’ve already taken care of it.”

Sooner or later, the Church would catch wind of things and send an investigation team to the Gorge of Death. The moment they noticed the changes in the Abyss, Yohan would find himself in an awkward position. Some concealment had been necessary. Ilea seemed to have realized that and handled it properly.

Yohan spoke. “Well done. Then we can go see Count Staviana now.”

Ilea tilted her head. “Now?”

Yohan got out of bed. “We have no time to take it easy. Get ready, quickly.”

This time, Ilea would be going with him.

She gave a small sigh, as though there was no stopping him. “Surely just one day—”

“If we dawdle, we might leave ourselves open to a counterattack.”

There was a good chance the Count would connect the attack on the royal capital to the Abyss. Nothing could be more disastrous. Yohan had to make the first move before anything like that happened.

Ilea rose as well. “There really is no time to rest.”

Yohan nodded. “I’ll give you all your time off in one go later.”

Without realizing it, he was treating Ilea like a subordinate. She stared at him in disbelief. “... I thought we were equals.”

Yohan did not hear her quiet mutter.