The audience chamber of the White Ice Palace.
"Why?!"
In that audience chamber, which usually spent most of its time in silence, a sharp voice rang out for the first time in ages.
The source of that voice was the blue demon, Rain.
After hearing from Guy that Adelio was currently in hell, she had immediately thrown a fit and demanded to go there at once. But when Guy forbade it, she shouted in fury.
For the first time, she was openly trying to defy his order head-on, despite always carrying out the words of her master, Guy Crimson, no matter how much she complained.
All because of a single ash-colored demon she had found herself drawn to at some point.
"If Adelio is really in hell right now, then shouldn't we be stepping in too?! Two [Seraphim] have invaded... we can't just leave things like this!!"
As one of the [Primordial Demons] herself, she could instinctively sense that [Seraphim] had entered hell.
That was why she was worried about Adelio. He was certainly strong, but it was still too much to believe he could defeat [Seraphim], beings on par with a [Devil Lord].
"...This time, I agree with Rain."
Misery, standing beside Rain with her usual blank expression, felt the same.
She knew Adelio well, and because she was worried about him, she too was trying to reject Guy's order and return to hell.
To them, who in the past had cared only about Guy's commands, the existence of Adelio had become even more important.
"No."
However, though Guy found their rebellious attitude somewhat interesting, he did not grant their request.
He did not punish them either. He merely remained silent.
Meanwhile, Rain and Misery opened their mouths again, trying somehow to persuade him.
"Then at least tell us why! Are you really fine with this?! If the [Seraphim] find Adelio, they'll definitely kill him!"
The two demons believed the reason the [Seraphim] had invaded this time was obvious: that [Arbiter] had noticed Adelio's soul.
And yet, even though there was no way Guy could be unaware of what they knew, he had left Adelio alone until things reached this point.
It was strange for the [Arbiter], the one who protected the balance of the world in place of God, to ignore both a crisis of this scale and a subordinate who was practically his disciple.
"...And even if Adelio manages to avoid the [Seraphim]'s notice, he'll definitely try to stay in hell. Because [Blanc] is there."
Misery's next words were perfectly reasonable.
After all, the reason Adelio had become Guy's subordinate in the first place was entirely because of [Blanc].
"...Hah."
But after hearing Rain and Misery out, Guy...
"Do you two really think that bastard won't come back?"
He let out a scoffing laugh and wore his usual savage grin.
"Worrying that he won't return is pointless, Misery. And you, Rain. If the [Seraphim] find him, he'll definitely die?"
He was certain that the Adelio he knew would absolutely return.
And he did not believe his disciple would be defeated so easily.
"It seems you still don't understand what his true value is."
"..."
"A soul of nothingness is certainly special. But that bastard... Adelio possesses more than just that. He's carrying a fragment of 'possibility,' enough that he might one day rise to [Catastrophe]."
That was because there were several things Guy had realized while raising Adelio as his disciple.
That he greatly resembled [Hero], the rival Guy had faced long ago. That he harbored an unknown power even Guy himself could not identify.
And that within him, he possessed a battle instinct stronger than anyone else's.
"That bastard will win. Even if his current strength isn't enough, he's not the type to give up. If anything, he might use this as an opportunity to evolve once more."
Then Guy turned his gaze and looked out beyond the window frame at the night sky spread with aurora, imagining a future that might yet come.
If it was him, the one who through a mysterious miracle, whether by chance or fate, had inherited both the power of a demon and the power of a hero...
Then perhaps he might earn the recognition of the [world] created by the creator god and bring forth a new [change].
'If even the [Primordial Demons] have acknowledged you, then you can probably do it. Don't disappoint us, Adelio.'
*
Tap... tap... drip...
A world where nothing existed, filled with nothing but blackness.
Within that darkness, like a sign of the end itself, a tiny ash-gray spark flickered.
...
After losing consciousness, Adelio's soul had come to rest there.
Because this world itself had summoned him in, a place that was neither hell, the afterlife, nor even heaven.
Step... step...
Drawn there by the wishes of the three who had already arrived before him.
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