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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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Vivian visited the temple once again today to offer her prayers to the Demon King Regalus.
Truthfully, each of the Seven Deadly Sins had a temple dedicated to the Demon King wherever they resided, but she always diligently visited the central temple.
The reason was simple.
By being the most devout, she wouldn’t have to feel envious of anyone else’s “loyalty.”
Upon arrival, her usual routine followed.
She offered greetings, prayers, and respectfully presented the gifts she had prepared…
Once all these rituals were completed, Vivian’s duties were finished.
“I shall take my leave now.”
Just as she spoke and was about to depart…
Ziiiing—
The magic circle at the center of the temple began to glow.
“Huh?”
Vivian looked around.
What was this?
She couldn’t sense the Demon King’s presence.
Despite offering countless prayers until now, the Demon King had never responded immediately.
Was he finally answering her today?
Then…
Flash!
The magic circle flashed brightly.
Vivian blinked, unable to believe her eyes.
‘This magic circle actually activates?’
She had simply assumed it was a meaningless decoration, like in most temples, but it had definitely glimmered just now…
Pop!
“Oh?!”
Vivian’s eyes widened.
This wasn’t a matter of her prayers feeling so sincere that the Demon King was responding.
It was actually happening right before her eyes.
“D-Demon King Regalus!”
Vivian squeezed her eyes shut and prostrated herself. Just then…
Bang!
With an explosive sound, something shot out from the magic circle.
The Demon King!
The Demon King had finally arrived!
Vivian’s prostrate body trembled.
No other demon, no matter who they were, had offered prayers as devoutly as she had.
He would reward her.
He would acknowledge her dedication and reward her!
“Regalus! I have been awaiting you!”
“Indeed. I have returned.”
A familiar voice.
Of course, it was a familiar voice.
It was the Demon King’s.
But wasn’t it familiar in a different way?
Vivian raised her head.
There, she saw a man with a weary look on his face.
A familiar face.
His race… a vampire…
“…Jekkiel?”
Vivian’s expression turned blank.
“We’re alive! We’re alive! We’re aliiiiiiiiiive!”
Artel jumped up and down, hugging Christine tightly.
Was she crazy?
Hugging the Sin of Pride so casually.
But Christine seemed equally out of her mind.
“Jekkiel, Jekkiel… You mustn’t lose consciousness. I’ll restore your life force soon.”
No, now that she thought about it, the whole situation was utterly insane.
That thing lying on the floor like an object…
“Regita?”
What was going on?
What in the world had happened?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In the outer area of the temple, a space designed like a reception room, the four Sins found themselves having tea and conversation.
Well, three of them were conversing.
Regita was still unconscious.
Despite the tea being hot, Vivian emptied her cup in one gulp.
She then set the cup down with a sharp clink and spoke.
“…So, that was the Demon King’s warehouse? Tsk, tsk. And you’re saying you actually got out of there alive?”
Only the Demon King could enter the Demon King’s warehouse.
This wasn’t just a matter of demonic etiquette or loyalty; it was simply impossible to enter and escape alive on one’s own.
That’s why Vivian was so surprised.
“Truly… unbelievable.”
Her amazement at their survival was short-lived, however.
Soon, another question arose in Vivian’s mind.
“Wait a minute, what happened to Lepista’s Wand, then?”
Jekkiel had only briefly exchanged mouth-to-mouth resuscitation—or rather, a deep kiss—with Christine, so he was still anemic.
Regita showed no signs of waking up, so she couldn’t answer.
The only ones who could were Christine and Artel, but both shook their heads.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“You went through all that trouble and didn’t get the wand? Tsk, tsk…”
“It wasn’t that simple. The place was filled with Annihilation Inscriptions, and there was… an unknown substance.”
“An unknown substance?”
Vivian tilted her head.
‘Unknown’ was a sensation Vivian detested.
Lack of information was a source of envy, after all.
“This.”
Christine handed Vivian a fragment of a glossy black substance.
Fortunately, it was a substance Vivian recognized.
Her eyes widened once more.
“Wow…”
Vivian furrowed her brow.
“This is Ermetillen. Tsk, tsk. The material used to create the Demon King’s personal weapons. The rarest and most perfect substance in both the Demon Realm and the human world.”
Vivian examined the Ermetillen fragment closely.
“Judging by the fragments, it looks like it was broken… but that’s strange. Even the destructive power of the Annihilation Inscription can’t destroy Ermetillen. How could it have been broken? Did you break it?”
Christine’s eyes flicked towards Regita.
The Radiant Dragon Regita.
It was a fresh reminder that a true monster was still just a monster.
How could she, even with the assistance of Christine and Jekkiel, break a material that only the Demon King could handle?
Suddenly, Artel spoke up.
“I couldn’t see clearly with all the explosions going off, but! Jekkiel-nim broke it!”
“…Jekkiel? Tsk, tsk? Jekiel broke this? Really?”
“Yes! He wedged the hilt of his scythe into it and somehow… it broke!”
A cold sweat broke out on Christine’s forehead.
Was it okay to say that…?
Regita was the one who initially cracked it, and all four of them had pushed using the hilt… Was it really okay to say that…?
Just then…
“I’ve got it! Tsk!”
Vivian abruptly stood up.
“Got what?” Christine asked, a look of panic on her face.
“What else?! I understand everything that happened in there! Tsk!”
“E-Excuse me…?”
Christine, worried that Vivian had uncovered the truth, watched as Vivian excitedly continued.
“First, there was a clash between Regita and Jekkiel, right? The wounds on your bodies are proof. Those are marks that can only be left by your respective weapons.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And then!”
Bang!
Vivian slammed her hand on the table.
“Jekkiel defeated Regita and knocked her unconscious! It makes sense now, considering he has the power to break Ermetillen!”
Um… was that… how it happened?
Christine began to contemplate.
Should she correct the misunderstanding now?
“Wow, this is big news! Jekkiel winning a head-to-head fight against Regita! This will completely change the perception of vampires, who have always been considered weak in direct combat! Tsk!”
Um… Was this a good thing for Jekkiel?
Should she just let it be…?
“Now I understand why your subordinate was holding onto Regita’s horn. That’s the most humiliating thing for a dragon. So it was because you won?”
“……”
Christine and Artel were speechless.
“Tsk, tsk. Anyway, I understand that part now.”
Vivian licked her lower lip, as if anticipating the story she was about to tell.
“Christine.”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
“Looking at Jekkiel’s current state… replenishing his life force seems rather urgent.”
“Indeed. I was just thinking we should be going soon.”
Vivian grabbed Christine’s hand.
“I have a mansion that’s perfect for replenishing life force. I’ll lend it to you. Go there. Okay?”
Christine didn’t understand Vivian’s motives, but…
Vivian’s eyes were sparkling like jewels.
“…It’s fine.”
Overwhelmed by the intensity, Christine could only refuse.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Regita ended up in Vivian’s care, while Christine returned with Jekkiel and Artel.
Leaning on Christine’s arm, Jekkiel spoke.
“So, we failed to obtain Lepista’s Wand.”
“It’s best not to talk about it now. Focus on your health.”
“But it’s alright. We didn’t lose it. If Lepista’s Wand ended up in no one’s hands, that’s fine too. And…”
Jekkiel continued with difficulty.
“…I’ll consider it an invaluable experience. Expending all my life force for my subordinate and fiancée was definitely a valuable experience. Regardless of the outcome, the time I spent with you was precious.”
Christine and Artel’s eyes welled up at his words.
Even they had to admit they had only been a burden.
Yet, this man was speaking to them like this.
“Let’s go back. You need to rest.”
“Of course. I’ll replenish your life force all day long.”
Christine’s eyes were filled with adoration as she looked at him.
Artel, wiping away her tears, trailed behind them.
‘Should I just throw this away…?’
The horned box.
The cause of their near-death experience.
They said that when one was truly scared, their grip tightened.
Artel still hadn’t let go of the box.
Thinking back on it now, she was terrified.
It was probably best to throw it away now…
Just as she was about to discard the box…
Wiggle.
“Huh?”
The box began to wiggle.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[wiggle wiggle wiggle]
