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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“Christine?”
Demeri stared at Sariel with a puzzled expression.
The sudden mention of the name was completely unexpected.
“Why are you bringing up Christine all of a sudden? That’s a bit random, Jekkiel.”
But after glancing at Jekkiel’s face, she tilted her head in confusion.
“Huh?”
Jekkiel looked… flustered.
Demeri had never seen him like this, not even when dealing with the most unreasonable of drunks.
This bewilderment wasn’t limited to Demeri.
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances between Jekkiel and Sariel.
“Those Sins…”
Sariel, who had been completely incoherent moments ago, now wore a bitter expression, lost in thought.
Whatever he was recalling was clearly unpleasant, judging by the way his face crumpled.
“I can’t stand them. Get out of here. Now.”
His words seemed genuine enough as he took another long swig of alcohol, draining the entire bottle in one go.
Then, with a thud, he banged his head against the wall again.
“Ugh… but Jekkiel is different. Yes, yes. Bring me Jekkiel.”
“E-excuse me, Sariel! Are you alright?”
Ruin grabbed Sariel’s shoulders, but he only grimaced.
“What?”
“Y-yes?”
“Water. Bring me water… My head hurts…”
A cold silence descended.
Outright anger would have been preferable to this incoherent rambling.
Even Regita, whose mind was still clouded, tilted her head, sensing something was amiss.
Sariel’s gaze met Regita’s golden, cross-shaped pupils.
He tilted his head as well.
“Wait, is that a Radiant Dragon? The Sin of Greed? Regita?”
“Yes. I am Regita.”
“…But there’s no anger in your eyes? Hiccup. You’re not Regita. If you were, I would have chased you away already.”
“I am Regita.”
Every word from Sariel elicited a collective sigh.
Ruin fidgeted nervously.
Kindness could be repaid with kindness, and malice with malice, but incoherence… even Jekkiel seemed at a loss.
Negotiation required, at the very least, a semblance of communication.
Sariel shook his head, his forehead still pressed against the wall.
“I don’t want to talk to Sins. Sins should leave, or… stay here. We can drink together. Hiccup!”
Jekkiel turned to Ruin.
She was the only one who seemed capable of communicating with Sariel.
“Since when has he been like this?”
“He’s disliked the Sins for over six hundred years.”
“Why does he know me, specifically?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve been hiding in the human world for nearly two hundred years, so I don’t know the details. I should be asking you that…”
Ruin cautiously nudged Sariel.
“Sariel, do you know Jekkiel?”
“Of course… of course… Hic Jekkiel!”
Sariel grabbed Jekkiel’s shoulders and scrutinized his face.
“Jekkiel… Jekkiel, you say? I’ve been waiting for Jekkiel!”
“Yes. I am Jekkiel.”
“Hmm… but…”
Sariel tilted his head.
“Your eyes… they seem strangely gentle? Your aura is different. You look like him, but… hiccup… the essence is completely different. Yes, the ingredients have changed!”
The comment was strangely poignant.
In a way, it was the most accurate assessment of Jekkiel’s current state.
He inhabited the vampire’s body, but the soul within belonged to someone else.
“Bring me the real Jekkiel. I have business only with him! I’m not interested in other demons.”
“I am the real Jekkiel.”
“You’re the real one?”
Sariel craned his neck, first to one side, then the other, examining Jekkiel’s face.
His orange eyes seemed to pierce through everything, and Jekkiel felt a strange sensation, as if his very soul was being scrutinized.
The feeling intensified the longer their gazes locked.
‘This won’t be easy.’
This situation required his utmost effort.
He didn’t know why Sariel had come to despise the Sins.
Even when he had played the game in his previous life, Sariel’s backstory had been limited to “the craftsman who creates the Sins’ treasured weapons.”
Of course, in a game centered around Charlotte, Sariel’s details weren’t particularly relevant.
There was another question that needed answering.
‘Why does he know Jekkiel’s name?’
He had dismissed the other Sins, yet he had specifically stated he had business with Jekkiel.
‘His tone wasn’t hostile.’
His goal wasn’t simply to banish Jekkiel; he had a reason to speak with him.
That was the puzzle Jekkiel needed to solve.
‘Is it something from the past, related to Christine?’
Something that had happened before he had possessed this body.
He knew Jekkiel had imprisoned Christine, but the details remained unclear.
Sariel likely wanted to discuss that very point.
Finally, Sariel sighed.
“…You’re not Jekkiel. Who are you?”
Jekkiel had no way to prove his identity beyond repeating his name.
Ruin interjected, pleading with Sariel.
“Sariel, he is Jekkiel. I’m certain. He demonstrated abilities that only Jekkiel could possess.”
“What abilities?”
“I implanted the self-destruct curse into my heart. But Jekkiel transferred that curse into his own body. That’s impossible for anyone else.”
“A curse transfer… hiccup… hmm… that is impressive. Very impressive.”
Sariel nodded thoughtfully, as if considering Ruin’s words.
But then he shook his head.
“So what? He doesn’t look like Jekkiel to me. That’s all that matters.”
“Sariel… the real Jekkiel is right here. What am I supposed to say when you keep denying it?”
“Bring me the real Jekkiel, then.”
“Even if he isn’t the real Jekkiel, he saved my life. Isn’t that reason enough to help him?”
“Hmm.”
Sariel finally relented, swayed by Ruin’s near-desperate plea.
“Fine… I suppose if he saved your life, I should repay the favor.”
“Thank you. Thank you, Sariel.”
“But…”
Sariel stumbled towards Jekkiel, Demeri, and Regita, scrutinizing each of them.
“You all seem to be expecting something from me. Hiccup. I can sense it.”
“It’s about the Ermetellen we mentioned earlier. We need you to refine it.”
“What? Ermetellen? That’s a human world material. How did you acquire something so rare?”
Everyone sighed.
He hadn’t been listening at all.
“I obtained it through certain connections in the human world.”
“How do you want me to refine it? Hiccup… hmm, a necklace, perhaps? It would certainly be the envy of everyone. An Ermetellen necklace.”
“A greatsword. We need you to create a greatsword.”
“A greatsword?”
Sariel’s eyes suddenly flashed.
“Why do you need a greatsword? What are you planning? Another war?”
“It’s not like that. The Radiant Dragon’s horn is currently broken. We believe an Ermetellen greatsword would help her condition.”
“Help her so she can start another war?! I’m sick of it! You want me to create another weapon drenched in blood? How dare you suggest such a thing!”
He glared at Ruin so fiercely that his eyes seemed to bulge.
“I’ll make anything else! But not a weapon!”
“Oh, Sariel… not everyone starts wars anymore.”
“I don’t care! I won’t talk unless the real Jekkiel comes!”
Even drunk, his stubbornness was formidable.
Perhaps even more so because he was drunk.
‘This is problematic.’
There was only one option left.
Jekkiel stepped forward, standing before Sariel.
The height difference was significant; Sariel had to look up.
“What?”
“Allow me to prove that I am Jekkiel.”
“You’re not Jekkiel!”
“Test me. You’ll see that I am.”
“Hmm…”
Sariel finally nodded.
“Fine. But if you fail, never come back here. Understood?”
“Of course.”
Finally, they followed Sariel into the workshop.
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[Alcoholism is cool, i wish i was an alcoholic…]
