Frondier clenched both fists, and blood flowed from the insides of his hands.
Belphegor was relaxed, but Frondier was not.
“Kh...!!”
What was invading Frondier’s insides was not only pain. Fear was swelling along with it.
'So this is the sensation of changing!'
Frondier recalled the time in the past when he had absorbed the black monsters. When they were converted into mana, had it felt similar to this.
If he let his mind slip even a little, he might really die.
The structures of humans and demons were almost no different. It was something Frondier had personally confirmed.
There was only one difference.
Only the wings.
“Uuugh...!”
Crack, crack-crack-crack!
The sound of bones slipping out of place rang out.
He had originally imitated wings with Heukcheon, but now it was time to actually attach wings to his back. Centered on the shoulder blades, bones twisted and muscles stretched out.
Belphegor had called Frondier as a “demon,” and Frondier had prepared the conditions to become a demon.
By the contract, in order to match the conditions on both sides, everything Frondier possessed was turning him into a demon.
A few seconds after his body began to change.
Ssssk, ssk!
A sound brushed along the floor at both of Frondier’s sides. He glanced sideways without thinking.
‘...!’
The newly grown shoulder blades were touching the floor and making a sound.
He was becoming a demon. Frondier felt it for real.
Kwoooosh, Heukcheon gathered behind his back. It wasn’t just his back. All of the Helheim mana he possessed was being absorbed into his body.
Now Heukcheon was no longer something he wore as a necklace and carried around, but was beginning to become a part of him.
Heukcheon was originally mana. In the process of his body changing into a demon, in order to obtain the traits of a demon, which was closer to mana than a human was, Helheim’s mana fused with Frondier.
The result.
[Unbelievable...!]
Satan raised his voice.
Wings were beginning to grow behind Frondier’s back, and most of them were Heukcheon.
Frondier’s aura had truly changed into that of a demon. And not that of an ordinary demon, either. Frondier, who had originally used Ecleksis in a way distinctly different from others. Even if he became a demon from a human, that rank did not change.
No, if anything.
[It’s as if this is your true form, demon!]
One of the three Moirai shouted.
Just as they thought, Frondier’s Ecleksis truly suited a demon.
His disposition, his mindset, all of his abilities.
Perhaps it was rather that, more than a demon─
Srrrk.
The pounding subsided, and the wings sank down.
Silence descended.
“...Phew.”
Frondier let out a breath. The pain seemed to have faded, as if the transformation were over.
Which meant.
“So this is how it feels.”
That he had become a demon.
And before his eyes, a gate opened.
[Hey there, Frondier.]
Belphegor finally revealed himself beyond the gate. True to himself, he was sitting as he greeted Frondier. It was not on a chair; he sat with his rear on the ground, with no dignity at all. If anything, that made him all the more like Belphegor.
[Glad things worked out.]
“What did you put the success rate at?”
[Who knows? I don’t know any method of measuring probability.]
This bastard.
Frondier might be the one more desperate in this situation, but Belphegor had killed Nidhogg and come here as well. That must have been a considerable risk.
And yet after doing all that, he wasn’t interested in the probability of success. This was a gathering place for lunatics.
There, Belphegor opened his mouth.
[Frondier, the contract isn’t over yet.]
“What?”
[You remember, right. A demon’s work is to grant wishes and take souls. Since I’ve called you, you have to grant my wish.]
“...I’m not interested in your soul. I don’t particularly want it.”
[Khukhukh. Do as you please with that. One way or another, you’re in a position where you have to grant my wish.]
Belphegor laughed with a satisfied expression.
He had indeed landed a hit. Frondier had answered Belphegor’s summons, and therefore he could not help but be in a position where he had to grant a wish.
“What’s your wish?”
[It’s something simple.]
As he spoke, Belphegor glanced at Satan.
[Right now, the world of gods and demons is connected. Thanks to someone’s hard work.]
At that, Satan’s face turned grim. Of course, that was exactly what Belphegor was aiming for, so his languid smile only grew thicker.
In truth, because of Satan’s operations, the worlds of gods and demons were now connected. The fact that Belphegor, who should originally have fallen to hell after tumbling from the Seven Deadly Sins, was in Nastrond was proof of that.
Satan’s original plan had been to gather the standing of the gods in order to become a firm king of demons, and since he had actually become king, one could say the plan had succeeded, but.
[Kill all of the Seven Deadly Sins and all of the chief gods. That’s my wish.]
At this very moment, the work Satan had done drove a knife into his own back.
[What!]
[What did you say!]
Satan and the three goddesses cried out in surprise at the same time. The Moirai in particular were even more shocked because they had not expected “chief gods” to be mentioned.
[Belphegor! What on earth are you thinking!]
[What do you mean, what. Above me there are only the Seven Deadly Sins and the chief gods. If they all die, that means I’m the king. Hahahaha.]
Belphegor laughed dryly.
Belphegor had stepped down from the Seven Deadly Sins.
So even if he told them to kill all of the Seven Deadly Sins, he himself was not included.
However, everyone here knew.
That Belphegor had no interest in something like being “king.”
That he was hiding some other plan in his true intentions.
[Don’t be so scared, Satan.]
[!]
Belphegor gave a sly smile.
[Do you really think Frondier could actually kill the Seven Deadly Sins? The seven most powerful demons. If you lot kill Frondier, it all ends. What are you so worried about?]
“Y-you bastard...!”
Satan ground his teeth at Belphegor’s derision.
Then he soon changed his expression, turned his back, and vanished from sight.
[Hmph. Still capable of thinking, I see. He’s gone to summon the Seven Deadly Sins.]
When Belphegor said that, Frondier glanced reflexively at the Moirai.
No, he tried to look, but they too had already disappeared.
“Frondier!”
Just then, Elodie’s voice was heard from afar.
He had seen Selena completely subdue her, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» but it seemed she had eventually shaken it off.
“...!”
When Elodie reached Frondier’s vicinity, her eyes widened.
Frondier with his wings spread. On top of that, his mana’s scent was different. To the point that she doubted whether the one before her was really Frondier.
And before him, a gate was open, and beyond it was the figure of Belphegor that she had seen once before.
Elodie had never imagined this sight, but she knew instinctively.
“...You...”
Elodie’s expression looked as if she might cry at any moment.
Frondier had become a demon.
“Don’t make that face.”
By contrast, Frondier looked at Elodie with a gentle smile.
“I’m still me.”
“...I know.”
Elodie shook her head, as if shaking off her sadness.
“Rudra said you were going to die. That you’d throw away your life, become a soul, and get sucked into Yggdrasil.”
Rudra had read Satan’s plan and made the same judgment as they had.
In other words, no one had predicted that Frondier would become a demon. Except for Belphegor, who had prepared this operation.
Elodie gave a bittersweet laugh.
“...Is this better than dying?”
“Yeah. Better than dying.”
Frondier had become a demon. It was something that could not be undone.
However, Elodie had seen many demons. Among them, there had been those on her side. Arald and Riri were like that, and many demons under their command as well.
Just the fact that he was a demon could not change Elodie’s heart.
“...Elodie.”
“Yeah?”
“Go tell everyone. To get ready.”
“Get ready?”
“The gods might descend.”
“What?”
Frondier explained the situation to Elodie.
Belphegor, who had wished for all of the chief gods and the Seven Deadly Sins to be killed, and Frondier, who had no choice but to accept it.
Thinking about this situation, one could guess how the gods would act. What Frondier was saying was reasonable.
“They’re thinking of attacking humans to pin you down in this world.”
“That’s right. And honestly, it’s a pretty effective strategy.”
Frondier had moved until now in order to save humans. Anyone who had seen Frondier knew that.
So this time was no different.
If the gods attacked humans, Frondier would return in order to save them.
However, there was one gap in that line of thought.
“...This again.”
Elodie let out a sigh. She gave a wry smile.
Frondier smiled back at her.
“Yeah, this again.”
While the enemy attacked their allies’ camp, a single spear that stabbed the enemy’s stronghold.
When he became that one spear, Frondier trusted everyone else and charged toward the enemy camp.
Put nicely, it was idealistic; put plainly, it was reckless.
Put badly.
“It’s just like you.”
“...I’m sorry.”
Frondier had no choice but to apologize.
“I wanted to go with you.”
Because he knew Elodie’s feelings.
Elodie looked aside for a moment, as if a little forlorn, then soon lifted her head and smiled brightly.
“Well, it can’t be helped. They need me here to stop the gods! There’s no other mage as strong as me, after all.”
“Yeah. Because you’re here, I can go.”
“Make sure you come back.”
Up until a little while ago, Frondier would not have been able to answer those words from Elodie.
He had thought it would be impossible. That was why he had been unable to answer Angfer.
But now it was different.
“Yeah.”
Frondier had opened up a new possibility.
“I’ll definitely come back.”
Not everything had gone the way he wanted.
He could no longer return to being human.
But just as Elodie had said, he could come back.
[Sorry to intrude on the sentimental scene, but there’s no time now. Cross the gate, Frondier.]
There, Belphegor spoke.
Frondier nodded.
“I’m counting on you, Elodie.”
“Yeah.”
Ssssk.
Frondier crossed the gate, and Elodie waved her hand lightly to say goodbye.
As Frondier waved back at her, the gate gradually closed in front of him.
Left alone, Elodie stopped her waving hand, bent it slightly, then slowly lowered it.
“...Frondier. You know, from long ago.”
I wanted to protect you.
So I became strong. I really gave it everything I had.
Would you have believed that?
Or would you have laughed it off as a silly thought?
Or would you have stopped me, telling me not to do that?
Or else.
“...Would you have told me thank you?”
Frondier. Just as you said.
I’m a strong mage, so I have to protect other people.
Because that’s your wish.
That’s why I can’t go with you.
“...Frondier, Frondier.”
...Fron.
Ssk.
Elodie covered her face with both hands.
Her teeth clenched, her shoulders trembling where no one could see.
She bowed her head, and silent tears flowed.
Just like the habit she’d had since childhood.
Even crying, she cried as if it were hard work.
“Fron... Fron.”
A trembling voice leaked out between her sobs.
She had tried so hard, for so long, to protect you.
She had believed that someday she would stand by your side.
That role.
Perhaps.
“Maybe it’s not mine... Fron...”
***
Frondier crossed the gate and reached Nastrond.
Naturally, Belphegor was in front of him.
But when Belphegor saw Frondier, he silently jerked his chin toward behind him.
When Frondier turned at that, there,
“...I apologize for being late, Frondier.”
Selena had risen up from Frondier’s shadow, one knee on the ground and her head bowed deeply.
“Selena? How did you...?”
No matter how excellent her shadow transfer was, she could not cross between worlds.
“...I see. You were hiding in the shadow from the beginning.”
At that, Selena nodded.
Frondier let out a breath for a moment, then deliberately put on a stern face.
“I never called you, Selena. What were you thinking, following me here? This place is literally,”
“Hell, Frondier.”
“...!”
“You said I should follow you.”
Selena had always said it.
The exaggerated, clichéd words she had spoken had at last come true someday.
This time was no different.
“...Yeah.”
Honestly, even from Frondier’s position, it was something that put him at ease. Selena could handle gaps that Frondier had not yet managed to account for. In battle situations, in tactics, and even psychologically.
'Then did Elodie not break the suppression herself, but Selena freed Elodie from the suppression?'
If so, why.
What had Selena heard from Elodie that made her release the suppression?
“Stand up, Selena. I told you not to lower yourself so much.”
“......”
“Selena?”
“I’m sorry. Just a moment.”
Selena stopped mid-sentence.
Looking closely, she was trembling faintly.
“Please, wait for just a moment...?”
Even without seeing her face.
Even a child would know.
Selena was crying.
She simply bowed her head so Frondier wouldn’t see, and tears dripped down to the ground.
“I’ll stand up soon.”
─Selena, protect Frondier.
─I probably...
From now on, Frondier would probably never know the reason.
For that reason, Selena cried.
