ALL NOVEL Chapter 216
Beelzebub.
The main body is currently not in the system.
What’s here are just four clones created based on the magic core obtained from defeating the four demon kings.
“Let’s talk.”
To have a discussion in a safe place, Borabel summoned the other three to the command room.
“Is it true that nothing is leaking out right now?”
“That’s right. Hero Lucius is not here. What we talk about in the command room won’t leak out.”
“Then… Hey, Blue.”
Borabel grabbed Bluebell by the collar.
“What did you do on Sky Island?”
“What did I do? I just made Lucius stronger according to the original plan. I didn’t do anything else.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. If anything, I’m the one who wants to question you!”
This time, Bluebell grabbed Borabel by the collar.
“What did you do that made Liriez Cesarcross look at you like that? Huh? You did something, didn’t you?”
“I just went inside Lucius and fought, just like before! I borrowed Liriez’s body to defeat the brainwashed Hero Bearnes!”
Borabel felt wronged.
He had simply rushed to the system with all his might, and yet it had turned out like this.
“Hey, Orange! Say something!”
“Not much.”
Freshly created as a clone, Orangebell appeared disinterested.
Rather than orange, his color was closer to a dark red, and though it wasn’t quite the bloody red of the main body, it was certainly a shade of red.
“Why is everyone making such a fuss? It’s not like the main body is dead or anything. If the main body dies, where would it fly to?”
Orangebell pointed to Blue and Borabel.
“It could possess Beelzebub’s magic core, or it could occupy Leviathan’s magic core. Does the main body know that we are currently in a ‘possession’ state?”
“That’s not it.”
“Then it’s simple. As long as it doesn’t possess you, the main body is still safe.”
Though newly made as a clone, Bershiatan swiftly asserted control over the others, perhaps due to the influence of the magic core.
Was it the influence of Satan?
Or was it just because he was close to red?
“More importantly, what do we do about the three holy swords that Lucius possesses? Do you have any good ideas?”
“Ugh.”
The disappearance of the main body was a problem, but without it, the clones had to make the best decision possible right here.
Especially since everyone on the planet was hoping that Lucius, who possessed them, would have the ‘excess holy swords’ that everyone wanted to claim.
“The Empire wants the three holy swords back, or at the very least, the Holy Sword of the Earth. Even though the Holy Flame Sword was once corrupted, there’s opinion to return it to Mercenary King Bearnes since he has been freed from brainwashing. And the Sword of Darkness…”
“Let Lucius take it. There’s an opinion like that too. Since Satan has used multiple holy swords, some even suggest that Lucius should use all four holy swords.”
“Or there’s the idea to leave all three to the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess.”
Though it was all just theoretical talk, each was busy looking out for themselves in the current situation.
Holy swords have that peculiar quality.
You know rationally that they shouldn’t be desired and that it’s a bad idea, but they are like a poisoned chalice that you know you shouldn’t touch yet still want.
You could end up like Lucius.
With that alone, it’s not strange to develop a desire for the holy swords.
“What definitely needs to be clarified is that the three holy swords are Lucius’s spoils of war.”
“No matter how easily heroes can be taken advantage of, he cannot be used as a fool just because he obtained the holy swords as spoils.”
“Then what do we do? No, who will speak?”
Everyone exchanged cautious glances until their gaze focused on one person.
“Hey, Green. Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“We’d be wasting time talking amongst ourselves anyway?”
Greenbell, Vermia, who had been scanning the data inside the command room, displayed the three holy swords on the screen.
“Anyway, no matter what the clones say, Lucius will say this: While there’s merit in the masters’ opinions, he truly wants to follow the true master’s judgment. So hurry up and find out where the true master has gone.”
“I’m going crazy. The main body spoiled him too much. Lucius himself can’t even make a decision!”
“The decision he made was that. He delegates to someone who can make the most certain judgment about the holy swords. Isn’t that obvious?”
“That may be true, but what are we supposed to do right now?”
The voices of the bells began to rise.
“How about making Lucius use all three holy swords? He knows the activation words.”
“He refused. He said that just the Holy Wind Sword given by the true master is enough.”
“Tch, what a greedy fellow. I told him to be greedy at a time like this!
“But the main body said that as long as he has enough power, he doesn’t have to worry about those things.”
“Ah, I’m going to lose my mind. Lucius can’t keep managing the holy swords, can he?”
Where would the holy swords be stored?
A place that could avoid the gazes of many and where it could be meticulously controlled.
“…As expected.”
“This is the only place.”
Bride Ship.
A combat cruiser built by none other than Spirit Celcius and the remnants of the former Demon King’s Army.
The size is sufficient.
And once it starts drifting around the world, it can easily shake off the eyes of others.
“They will be after us from all over the world. Even if we travel with optical camouflage, we can’t keep it up forever.”
“They’ll either ride Gryphons or capture Wyverns to force their way onto the Bride Ship. They’ll likely beg for the holy swords.”
“Lucius is a hero, so he knows they wouldn’t kill him. Dammit, they are determined to take advantage of him.”
“I suppose if it’s for the holy swords. Look at Satan. He defeated the Sword of Darkness with the Sword of Flame and broke through the Empire’s Absolute Barrier with the Sword of Flame. Although the Holy Sword of the Earth did breach the Absolute Barrier due to its user problem…”
Beep.
“This is the key to move that thing.”
The screen displayed some “entity.”
“To find out where the Holy Spirit Devices of the Holy Flame and Sword of Darkness are, will take time. But the Holy Spirit Device of the Earth is right in front of us. We have indirectly seen the power of the Demon God. It’s strange to not be tempted.”
The Demon God Bahamut, submerged in water using the Holy Water Sword.
“Humanity is currently facing an unprecedented fool. A tremendous fool named Lucius. So now, we can make use of that.”
Borabel confidently pointed to the swords on the screen.
“Although we barely defeated Demon King Satan, there may be other demon kings lurking somewhere. Thus, these holy swords should only be entrusted to a hero who can face the demon kings, and I won’t be the one to judge that.”
“…Sorceress of Crimson Lotus, Bel?”
“Exactly. 500 years ago and even now, it is the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus who recognizes heroes.”
“So what you’re saying is….”
“Yes.”
Borabel twisted his lips into a smile.
“If Lucius wants to find the main body that badly, then he should wager the three holy swords. Do you think he will? Think about it. He already defeated Demon King Satan with just the Holy Wind Sword. Now what if he wields all four holy swords? Could he become a god of the Intermediate Realm?”
Borabel gave a sinister smile.
“Seeing is wanting. If something is visible, greed will inevitably arise. Lucius is no exception. So…”
Flutter.
“I’ll make a deal with Lucius. If he wants to find the main body, then he should wager these holy swords. Then the whole world will want the holy swords and go looking for the main body.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“What if Lucius wants to have all the holy swords? Simple.”
The four’s gazes intersected.
“…You’d give up the chance to use all four holy swords? Surely not?”
*
Flutter.
In the center of the system.
The destroyed and collapsed buildings were urgently restored by the sorcerers, and though many had died and been injured, the people regained their will to live.
The system was cleaned up thoroughly.
Hero Liriez directly used the ‘Holy Spirit Device’ from the Order of the Goddess to cleanse the entire Empire, washing away most of the blood and stains spilled by both demons and humans.
Though wounds remained in body and heart, the Empire stood firm in its resolve to rise again.
And.
Thud, thud, thud.
Many people gathered in one place.
In the middle of the Empire’s plaza, high atop a tower built so that others could see, the blond hero stood silently, his holy sword lodged in the ground, waiting for the people to gather.
“Lucius! Lucius! Lucius!!”
People cheered for Lucius.
They were all people trying to gain something through Hero Lucius.
What that gain was differed from person to person.
Those without greed wished for Hero Lucius to deal with the remaining demons.
Those wishing for the Empire’s peace wanted Hero Lucius to become the new Emperor.
Those seeking revenge or power hoped for Hero Lucius to distribute the ‘excess holy swords’ to others.
And.
“Ah, everyone. I declare to all humanity.”
Lucius’s earnest voice, carried by the wind, reached the system, no, the entire Empire.
“I, Lucius, have decided on the disposition of the holy swords.”
What to do with the holy swords other than the one he used?
Will he use them himself?
Or give them to others?
“I will entrust them to my master, Sorceress of Crimson Lotus Bel.”
Murmurs.
“And currently my master is forcibly detained within the Empire, but is missing.”
Lucius continued with a cynical tone.
“I will ask those who come to find my master. As the one who handles the holy swords, to raise me as a hero.”
The era has come.
“Anyone who wishes to obtain the holy swords! Find my master, Sorceress of Crimson Lotus Bel!”
The age of aspiring great heroes had begun.