Demon King Asmodeus clenched his teeth upon finally learning who had killed one of the Celestials. However, now a different feeling enveloped him, and that feeling was curiosity. He halted his conversation with Demon Duchess Gremory because he wanted to contemplate this matter on his own for now.
'How could a mere man kill a Celestial? That's not possible,' he pondered.
If he considered it impossible, then there was only one possibility left - Gremory had lied to him. However, that seemed unlikely because Gremory knew that Asmodeus could easily eliminate her if she had deceived him. She understood this possibility, so it was improbable that she would be so foolish as to lie to him.
This meant that what she had said was the truth - a man had indeed killed a Celestial. Demon King Asmodeus glanced around; all the Celestials nearby were still clueless about this information. Asmodeus decided to investigate this matter first. If he truly found the man who had managed to kill a Celestial and recruited him, he would gain a powerful warrior who could surpass their current warriors.
Demon King Asmodeus informed his fellow Demon Kings that he needed to leave for a brief moment to attend to something important. Accompanied by their curses, the Demon King departed from their location.
~~~
The Demon King entered his domain, a mixture of curiosity, frustration, and wonder clouding his thoughts. However, all his questions would soon find answers if he could locate that man.
Seated upon his throne, he ordered all his servants to leave the room. Once alone, Demon King Asmodeus contacted Gremory again.
"Yes, My Lord," Gremory responded almost instantly as if she had been waiting for Asmodeus to reach out.
"How did you learn about that man?" Demon King Asmodeus inquired.
"Luckily, I had him undertake my Personal Quest, and I also provided him with my item, so you could say we are connected," Gremory said with a hint of pride in her voice.
"I see... So you already knew he might become a problem?" Asmodeus remarked. He wasn't particularly interested in the Selection Stage, unlike the other Celestials. He only checked it occasionally, every few centuries, to seek out new warriors. This was because his current warriors were exceptionally strong, and he felt no need to search for new ones.
Consequently, the Demon King had not heard news about what was happening in the Selection Stage or what kind of creatures emerged from it for a long time. It turned out that one of the individuals who had emerged now possessed the power to kill a Celestial. That was something worth noting.
"Has he become your warrior now?" Demon King Asmodeus inquired.
"No, my Lord," Gremory replied. "He is in a place we cannot ascertain."
"What do you mean?" Celestials were supposed to know everything. Gremory's statement left him puzzled.
"Have you ever heard of a group called the Resistance?" Gremory asked.
"The Resistance?" Asmodeus questioned. "You mean the group that opposes us? Isn't that just a rumor?"
"Apparently, it's not just a rumor," Gremory stated. "The man is a part of that group."
"Hmm..." Asmodeus grumbled and rubbed his chin. "I don't care about that group; they can't do anything to us. However, this man is different."
"I agree, my Lord."
"Can you arrange a meeting with him?" Asmodeus asked, now significantly more interested in this man.
"I might be able to. However... I'm afraid it won't happen quickly," Gremory replied.
"It doesn't have to be quick. But I also can't wait too long, Gremory."
"I understand, my Lord. I will do my best to arrange a meeting with him as soon as possible."
"Good. I think that's enough for now. Contact me again once you have good news."
"Yes, my Lord."
With that, their telepathic connection ended. Asmodeus gazed ahead, his brow still furrowed, and his mind filled with curiosity.
"A man who managed to kill a Celestial..."
Demon King Asmodeus was intent on recruiting him. If this was true, with his presence, he could attain a level of power greater than the other Celestials.
~~~
Clyde opened his eyes. He then paused and gazed at the ceiling for a moment before finally rising. Standing in front of the mirror, he examined his shirtless body.
His muscles had clearly grown significantly compared to when he lived a normal life. However, those muscles hadn't become overly large. Clyde understood that his power couldn't be solely measured by his muscles, so he had never really paid attention to them. He was somewhat surprised by what he saw now.
Clyde smiled as he reminisced about something silly. "If I were still in my previous life, I'd probably be able to attract so many girls with this physique." It was simply a foolish thought for him to entertain now, but deep down, Clyde was still a teenage boy, so such thoughts naturally crossed his mind.
As he contemplated, a realization struck him. He sighed and looked out the window at the unchanging black sky. "It's about time now," Clyde murmured with a flat tone.
He exited his living quarters, carrying his two swords on his left and right hips. When he arrived outside, Clyde scanned the area, observing the inhabitants of the fortress going about their daily activities, unaware of what was unfolding.
Clyde walked aimlessly, not sure where to go, but he had a feeling that something significant was about to happen. He had absorbed a considerable amount of Celestial power from their Cradle yesterday. With his current level, he didn't think he could do it again.
"Maybe I should head to the Ruins... But I won't find monsters strong enough there to give me experience points. I'll look elsewhere for experience. But if I have no choice, I'll go to the Ruins and spend time there."
As Clyde walked and contemplated, someone approached him from the side. It was Mari, the woman with red hair. "Clyde."
Clyde looked up and saw her smiling. He asked, "What?"
"I'd like to talk to you."
~~~
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