Chapter 117

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Chapter 117. Lucifer

"...It seems you've understood my name, hasn't it?"

"Huh? Well, yeah..."

I heard it clearly... but why are we talking about this?

"Understood, even that garbled language? I couldn’t make any sense of it."

"Neither could I. What did he say?"

"She said 繝ｫ繧ｷ繝輔ぃ繝ｼ,螟ｩ譌."

"...Even Theodore’s broken now."

Why?

"Heh... there’s a surprisingly amusing man here. Pardon me, let me reintroduce myself. My name is 繝ｫ繧ｷ繝輔ぃ繝ｼ,螟ｩ譌Lucifer, a celestial being."

"Ugh!?"

"W-what... It's like my mind is force-fed information..."

"...What?"

Hearing Lucifer reintroduce himself, Vanessa and Elixira clutched their heads and collapsed. It did feel... odd. It was as if I heard "Lucifer" twice at once.

"A human with a white soul and a black soul... intriguing. Most importantly, that power is beyond my knowledge."

"That power... are you referring to this?"

I suspect Lucifer was indicating the Mantle of [Demiurge] I wore... but saying it’s power unknown to a celestial being? I don’t even get what this “celestial” thing is. Despite an androgynous appearance, I instinctively knew this one was female. It wasn’t as if she had an exaggeratedly feminine figure, and yet there was no mistaking her for a man. Her flowing, faintly radiant white hair wasn’t enough to base that assumption on either.

"But to be traveling with a demon... Have humans reconciled with demons during my absence?"

"No, not at all."

"I see, then that makes you a peculiar man indeed."

Don’t make me punch you.

"Now... I’ve many questions for you, and I’m sure you have many for me. How about we take turns? I ask one, you ask one. Decline if you prefer; refuse if you can't answer. And—"

"Quit making plans without me. Sure, I’ve questions, but I can make you talk by force, too."

"—A human, forcing me?"

"Don’t underestimate me."

This woman, glaring down with contempt, made me want to strike first. As if to match my defiance, Lucifer spread her twelve white wings, exuding tremendous magical power and murderous intent. Elixira and Vanessa froze, but I wasn’t cowardly enough to be intimidated just by her hostility.

"Interesting. A brief game, then?"

"No thanks. Let’s stick with your proposal."

"…What an unpredictable man you are."

Why am I the one receiving a weary stare? All I said was to stop making solo plans—I didn’t refuse. If I can get information without a fight, I’ll take it... I just despise being looked down upon.

"Very well, ask your question first."

"I can? Then, let’s get to it... What are celestials?"

That seemed like the most pressing question. I always believed this world consisted of beasts, humans, and demons. Now a celestial introduces herself... an unknown race, it seems. There are no old records or murals hinting at celestials. Were they erased from history?

"Celestials? A difficult query... but to simplify, they’re the antithesis of demons. Whereas demons have bodies built from demonic elements, celestials construct their bodies from magical energy."

"Bodies... made from magic?"

How does that even hold together?

"Exactly as you imagine: a celestial’s form is fragile, prone to collapse. We are a flawed race."

"Heh..."

"Now, my question."

"What? No, I barely understand celestials yet."

"Ask next time."

Infuriating.

"Hmm... How many years since Claudius last appeared?"

"Claudius? Not Claudius?"

"Details like that are irrelevant... has the term Claudiuschanged in human meaning?"

I can’t answer an article-level quibble.

"Names like Claudius don’t even exist in human society. I only know of it from demon lore, as Vanessa here taught me."

"Indeed... over a millennium has passed?"

"I’m unsure of specifics, but it’s said to be roughly 2,000 years."

"Two millennia? How time flies..."

Could this woman be a 2,000-year survivor? Demons do have long-lived entities, so it’s plausible.

"Go ahead, your question."

"..."

What should I ask next?

Options include Claudius, the grimoire, the Simba dynasty from 2,000 years ago, or human-demon-celestial relations. Questions abound. A fair exchange only works if she has as many for me. What if, after asking about Claudius, she stops? I’d miss out on everything else. Prioritizing is critical... I must think carefully.

"...A sharp mind. You grasp the situation well."

"Claudius, the End Dragon—explain it all. Particularly why it destroys civilizations and periodically returns."

"Very well. If that is truly what you seek."

Lucifer smirked ominously. My question was valid... but there’s the risk of vague, mysterious non-answers.

"A world menace, and humanity’s original sin. From the start, I shall recount its tale."

"Original sin?"

"Indeed... for Claudius was born of humanity’s hands."

What?