Necromancer Of The Black Bible (94)

Meanwhile.

The eastern part of the upper Demon Realm was equally chaotic.

This place ruled by Great Demon King Dikrea mirrored the western part ruled by Illinas, but instead of the ruined Citadel of Ruin, there stood the relatively intact Citadel of Void.

In fact, the Citadel of Ruin and Citadel of Void were built identically.

The Ethereal Realm was originally designed that way.

A world constructed around the West Gate and East Gate within a massive sphere.

God built the East and West Gates on the axis piercing the Ethereal Realm and erected identical citadels around each.

This was so God could travel between them overseeing good and evil.

Originally, the western citadel oversaw “good,” the eastern oversaw “evil.”

During the primordial rebellion, revolt arose from the eastern citadel overseeing “evil,” conquering the west—hence the current state.

Great Demon King Dikrea leaned one arm on the balcony railing of the Citadel of Void’s office, admiring the golden pillar stretching from the sky to the East Gate.

‘A golden pillar piercing the Ethereal Realm…’

Younger than the “primordial demons” who led the first rebellion, she did not clearly know what this light meant.

But she knew whom to ask.

“Al.”

At that, a female demonkin with blue-glowing body approached.

Hand Official Alseira.

She who governed the eastern Demon Realm on Dikrea’s behalf.

Alseira’s appearance was unique.

Unlike most demons with red skin, she had blue-tinged skin.

Yet the large and small scars across her body resembled other demons.

Especially the long scar crossing her right eye, which Dikrea particularly liked.

Dikrea lifted the head of the kneeling Alseira slightly.

Then brushed aside her long silver hair covering the right side of her face to admire the scar.

To Dikrea, that scar was special.

Because it was the mark of submission left after subjugating Alseira, who resisted to the end during initial conquest.

Then, Dikrea split Alseira’s right eye and implanted an artifact.

This artifact named “Cadenza” is a parasite replacing the host’s eye.

It dominates the host’s nerves and thoughts, allowing view of the past of whatever the host sees.

Dikrea opened Alseira’s eyelids with two fingers and gazed at the yellow iris on black sclera.

“Hmm. Every time I see these eyes, I’m moved. I feel your old self.”

Alseira was the demon lord ruling here a thousand years ago.

Despite her lithe and petite frame, her combat power was unmatched.

Due to overwhelming combat ability, she raised no army—that was why Dikrea could subjugate her.

Carefully gazing at Alseira’s Cadenza, Dikrea turned her head toward her back.

Then whispered in her ear.

“Tell me what that is and what it means.”

Instantly Cadenza vibrated faintly; sensing something unusual, Dikrea released Alseira’s face and stepped back.

Alseira’s entire body began slowly shaking.

Long after black energy from Cadenza enveloped her whole body.

Alseira spoke.

“That is a signal.”

“Signal? What signal?”

Dikrea tilted her head, and Alseira replied.

“A signal that the Ethereal Gate has opened.”

At “Ethereal Gate,” Dikrea’s eyebrows twitched.

Because she too had heard the prophecy related to the Ethereal Gate.

Recalling that memory, Dikrea stroked her chin and muttered.

“There was a prophecy that when the Ethereal Gate opens, all demons here would pay the price.”

“The prophecy of the dead god.”

“I know that too.”

Dikrea turned back to the light pillar. The pillar shining long soon vanished.

Dikrea looked at Alseira and asked again.

“What is this? The Ethereal Gate closed?”

“Yes.”

“Bland.”

Dikrea smirked.

Chilled briefly by the prophecy, but hearing the Ethereal Gate closed again, even that felt like a joke.

Yet Alseira warned her.

“This is not something to overlook easily.”

“Why? It closed, right? Then it’s over?”

Dikrea smirked and asked back, but Alseira shook her head.

“God does not joke like us. This world was created by his words. Meaning, it can vanish by his words too.”

“Indeed?”

Dikrea did not take it seriously.

Anyone says anything before death.

And those words scatter with death.

Even if God left words, he is dead, so those words have no power.

‘But it is strange.’

A light pillar never seen before.

Right after, the Demon Realm’s landscape completely changed.

As if blessed by God, everything brightened and shone brilliantly.

Originally, the Citadel of Void’s walls were transparent, transmitting surrounding darkness and ominous crimson.

But when the light pillar appeared moments ago, the walls emitted bright silver light.

Even now with the pillar gone, the walls scattered faint silver energy.

Similar to landscapes seen on the surface long ago.

‘Like after rain.’

The scenery right after rain soaking the world stopped.

All rain-touched objects felt fresh light not normally seen.

That freshness peaked viewing the colorful rainbow on the cleared sky.

‘Rainbow… Yes, there was such a thing?’

Dikrea had seen a rainbow on the surface when very young.

It was very long ago, but the sight she vividly remembered.

Also words someone with her said.

-That is proof of promise. Proof of God’s promise to all creatures of this world.

Her memory ended there.

She seemed to have heard what promise God made, but it was not remembered.

‘That too is futile. Proof of promise by a dead god.’

Thinking thus and smiling bitterly, Alseira’s voice came.

“Demon King. Over there…”

Casually turning gaze where she pointed, Dikrea could not help but be shocked.

The void where the light pillar vanished.

Because a vivid multicolored rainbow clearly appeared there.

“…!!”

Dikrea gazed at the rainbow for a long while.

Unable to say or think anything.

Only one line floated in her mind.

-Proof of promise.

After a long time, Alseira beside her spoke.

“What do you plan to do now?”

“What are you asking?”

Alseira’s Cadenza glowed golden once.

Cadenza moved variously toward the distant sky, then Alseira spoke.

“I detected Illinas’s movement. He has sent an assassin to deal with the one who created this light pillar.”

Dikrea’s eyes deepened.

Alseira’s Cadenza’s vision sees farther than Illinas’s Thousand Eyes.

Moreover, it detects details that Thousand Eyes cannot.

It cannot detect as many targets as Thousand Eyes, but far more information on one target.

Thus, Alseira’s report just now must be accurate.

Dikrea stroked her chin, thinking, then spoke.

“Who does Illinas think created this light pillar?”

“He did not speak of it, so undetected. But…”

“But?”

Dikrea smiled deeply and asked back, Alseira replied.

“Illinas gave the soul thread to the summoned assassin, and the assassin flicked it. I do not know what this means.”

“Soul thread…”

Demons usually tie soul threads to their offerings. To take the soul when the body dies.

‘The assassin flicking the soul thread…’

No matter how she thought, thete was only one conclusion.

Meaning the one with the soul thread and the assassination target are closely related.

Dikrea looked at Alseira again and asked.

“To whom is the soul thread tied?”

“That is…”

Cadenza briefly checked directions, then looking skyward, Alseira spoke.

“I… do not know well.”

“Do not know?”

Wrinkles formed on Dikrea’s brow.

Nothing in this world Cadenza cannot detect.

Its power detects even tiniest clues to reveal identity.

If Cadenza says unknown, first doubt the question.

‘Because I might have asked the wrong question.’

Dikrea organized thoughts briefly and asked again.

“Could you not find the target?”

“I found it.”

“Then what do you not know?”

“His name… is unknown. Not only his name. Everything about him… blurry.”

Frustrated by Alseira’s answer, Dikrea sharply commanded.

“Then show me his appearance.”

Then light burst from Cadenza, forming a figure before Dikrea.

A male figure.

A young man with long hair down to shoulders, wearing a brown robe.

His face is somehow familiar.

“This one. Seems I met him sometime?”

“I will search.”

Dikrea nodded, Cadenza’s light shone on Dikrea.

The light scanned her several times, and soon Alseira spoke.

“Found him.”

“Who?”

“…Damian. The one who traded with you about 2 years ago, Demon King.”

“Damian…”

Muttering the name, a smile spread on Dikrea’s lips.

“That child has grown this much.”

Seeing thus, memories from then freshly recalled.

From the limping child greeting upon summoning to finally rejecting her proposal.

And several words the child said were also recalled.

-My soul belongs to another. Please consider that.

-I gave my entire soul to Illinas. Can I fully trade still bound with him?

Memories revealing the child’s relation with Illinas.

But thinking more, the final trade with the child recalled.

-Just find one book for me.

-Obtain the original of Aium de Equinox.

Aium de Equinox.

A strangely intriguing title.

Because even Dikrea had almost no information on it.

Then, the original was in this palace library, so lightly compensated and provided.

But now Damian drawing Illinas’s interest is likely related to that book.

“Aium de Equinox. Know what it is?”

“That is…”

Cadenza flickered briefly. Light subsiding, Alseira spoke.

“A book we cannot see. A book God personally wrote and sealed. That is all I know.”

Dikrea’s eyes deepened.

Illinas’s target and Damian.

And Aium de Equinox.

The direction these three pointed was highly intriguing.

Then Alseira asked.

“What do you plan now?”

With Illinas moving now, staying still is foolish.

And unlike Illinas, Dikrea had options.

‘The prophecy will come true. Then stand on the winning side.’

She concluded gazing at the rainbow in the void.

“Deploy a useful knight child.”

“Targeting Damian?”

“No.”

Dikrea smiled deeply and replied.

“The opposite.”

Helping at the decisive moment.

Thus making Damian indebted.

That was Dikrea’s plan.