The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR) Vol 1 Chapter 188

One of Asura's heads turned to look at Barbatos.

“Barbatos, you idiot. Use your brain. Is that thing on your shoulders empty?”

“What did you say? You son of a bitch…!”

Barbatos released a red puff of air as his demonic energy surged.

But Asura simply smiled without feeling intimidated at all.

“Did you find the ones who dug up your Despair Hell?”

“I haven't found them yet. But why are you suddenly talking about those bastards…”

Barbatos' voice suddenly faded.

He might have had a fiery and brash temper like a volcano, but he wasn't stupid.

This was natural.

After all, he would never have been able to become a powerful Demon Lord if he was just strong. He was an old monster who had experienced countless hardships.

His expression flickered.

His fiery gaze turned to Lucifer, seemingly forgetting Asura's insulting remarks.

“Was it you, Lucifer?”

“Hmph…”

Asura snorted.

Barbatos was also partially at fault in this matter. This was because he didn't care too much about what happened in his territory.

Thanks to his negligence, the Despair Hell was the land most suitable for the word 'hell' out of all the territories in the Demon World.

That was the reason why he had been unable to notice Lucifer and Iris' actions in the Despair Hell.

Instead, it was Asura, a third party, who had realised it first.

Lucifer didn't answer.

Just as Barbatos grit his teeth heavily and was about to speak.

Asura beat him to it.

“Lord Lucifer, you have the greatest power, influence, and territory in the entire Demon World.”

His words caused the expressions of the Demon Lords sitting in the room to become strange. Even Barbatos, who was about to explode just a moment ago, was the same.

They all knew how arrogant and proud the ruler of the Slaughter Hell was.

Of course, Lucifer was the only one in the Demon World whom Asura actually recognized, but he would never admit such a thing so openly.

After all, Asura was also one of the Archdukes of Hell. His position was equal to Lucifer's, and he was aware of that.

“However, it cannot be said that you are the ruler of the Demon World. You are just the Demon Lord with the most influence.”

“I know that.”

Lucifer nodded as if it was obvious, and Asura laughed.

“You know? Then why are you acting like that?”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“…you're making even the handful of respect I had for you disappear, Lord Lucifer. I wonder if you're going to disappoint me further.”

Asura's voice became colder as he said this.

As the other Demon Lords pondered over their conversation, Beelzebub couldn't help but speak out, his eyes turning.

“Asura, are you saying Lucifer is involved in the Demigods' invasion?”

“He's not just involved. Lucifer is basically the one who gave them a reason to invade the Demon World.”

“What are you talking about?”

Barbatos' burning gaze then settled on Lucifer once again.

“Is that true?”

“Right.”

Lucifer nodded without denying it.

Instead, it was the other Demon Lords who were lost for words at his blatant admittance.

Lucifer looked around.

“What?”

“It's true that the Demigods came to the Demon World due to my actions. But it was something that would have happened eventually. I just pushed it forward a bit.”

“Do you expect us to believe that?”

“Believe it or not, that's up to you. But I want to ask you a question. Let's assume the Demigods invaded the Demon World not now but in the future. What if they asked to negotiate and talk, saying that they had no intention of fighting? Would you accept it?”

“No.”

Asura spoke firmly.

“As long as any Demigod takes a single step into this world, they will die by my hand.”

“Then what's the problem?”

At Lucifer's words, Asura's faces twisted into expressions that truly showed his demonic bearing.

“I refuse to be a pawn on someone else's chessboard.”

With those words, Asura's aura changed.

Churk.

His six weapons shook as he rose from his seat.

The expressions of the other Demon Lords changed. This was because this was the first time Asura had ever spoken to Lucifer in such a way.

“One thing is clear. The thing that I find the most annoying right now isn't the Demigods but you. So pick up your weapon, Lucifer.”

Asura was serious.

It was possible that his chances of winning were less than half. But he didn't care.

He was a War Demon. He had survived countless battles with even worse odds.

This bloody fight would be no different.

“…”

Lucifer also stood up from his seat with a firm expression, maybe because he sensed the determination in Asura's voice.

The other Demon Lords didn't seem to have any intentions of stopping them. Rather, it seemed as though they were eagerly anticipating the fight.

If these two Demon Lords were to be weakened because of this fight, they could use the opportunity to increase their own influence.

After all, Demons were greedy beings.

Knowing that, Lucifer's next actions were all the more surprising.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Asura's lips twitched. He was looking at Lucifer with disbelief.

The oldest Archduke, Ruler of the Corrupted Hell. He was looking at the being, who was arguably the strongest in the Demon World, now bowing to him.

“If it was unpleasant, I apologise. I'm sorry.”

“I asked what you're doing.”

“…I have no intentions of fighting you, Asura. Lord has brought the greatest strength at his disposal to the Demon World. This means that if even a single one of the Demon Lords is lost, we wouldn't be able to beat them.”

“…”

Asura's suspicions subsided. Lucifer's apology was sincere.

His aura, which had begun billowing, calmed once again.

Retaking his seat, he was silent for a moment before saying.

“A giant Dragon is buried in the Despair Hell. That's what the Demigods are after.”

“That's right. The Dragon Lord's body. That's their goal.”

Zepar frowned.

“…Dragon Lord? Was there such a thing?”

“It's an ancient being that you don't know about. 5,000 years ago, he lost a fight against Lord and was sealed in the Demon World.”

“Why the Demon World? Aren't Dragons from the continent?”

“More than that. The Dragon Lord is connected to the continent. If the Dragon Lord dies, it would cause an unstoppable catastrophe, and the continent would eventually become a land of death. Lord intentionally sealed the Dragon Lord in the Demon World in order to sever that connection.”

“…so he wanted to use the miasma in the Demon World to confuse the connection. Using an absurd amount of time to achieve the goal. Ignorant but effective.”

Lilith muttered, frowning.

“But why do they want to obtain the Dragon Lord's body now?”

Lucifer didn't answer. It seemed that he didn't intend to say anything further.

Zepar furrowed his eyebrows, his discontent clear.

He didn't like the fact that Lucifer was obviously keeping secrets.

As if he noticed this, Lucifer opened his mouth again.

“If we win this fight, I will step down from my position as Archduke.”

“Wh-, what did you say?”

“…are you serious?”

All the Demon Lords looked at him in disbelief. But Lucifer continued with an unwavering voice.

“I swear on my name here and now. After the battle ends, I will withdraw my title as Lord of the Corrupted Hell, and my territory will be divided equally among the five Demon Lords gathered here.”

Most of the Demon Lords were pleased by the unexpected declaration.

Beelzebub tilted his head to the side.

“I don't need it.”

And Asura refused without needing to think about it.

Instead, he trained his sharp gaze upon Lucifer.

“However… okay. I will put off our fight for now. I'm not sure what deal you made with Iris Phisfounder, but I'll get rid of the Demigods first and worry about that after.”

“That's all I ask.”

Asura looked at the nodding Lucifer and couldn't help but recall his last conversation with Iris.

When he told her to not touch his area, she had agreed that she wouldn't.

'You really didn't mess around in my territory.'

Instead of the Slaughter Hell, Iris had shaken the entire Demon World. (TL: THE END!… I wish…)

* * *

Degul-

A brilliant red bead lay on the ground, burning brightly as if it contained lava.

Frey glanced down at the bead.

It was a Demigod crystal. And the fact that he could see it meant that Agni had truly been destroyed.

Frey looked away from the bead and went towards Beniang. Her body was still warm.

However… it was just warm.

The fact that Beniang was already dead could not be changed.

Frey was once again filled with intense sorrow.

'…if I had been a little faster.'

Just as he was about to reach out to Beniang's body, Frey stopped.

“…”

Instead, he pulled back his hand and turned around.

Chwak.

As soon as he looked back, a huge crack in space appeared. It was as though a gigantic creature was opening its mouth.

From the dark space, two familiar faces appeared.

Iris and Dro, who had suddenly disappeared.

Iris looked at Agni's crystal on the floor and said.

“You defeated Agni.”

“…”

Frey didn't respond.

He couldn't help but feel a bit cold at Iris who had only appeared now. He couldn't help but think that if Iris or Dro had participated in the battle… Beniang wouldn't have died.

But he shook his head.

He was just venting his anger. These two were not Frey's allies.

Suddenly, Dro, who had been looking down at Beniang's body since they arrived, finally spoke.

“Is she a Dragon?”

“Half-Dragon.”

“…I see.”

Dro nodded before carefully walking up to Beniang's body.

Perhaps it was because he had never shown any true emotions before. But the solemn and sorrowful expression he was showing now felt extremely powerful.

“If it's not a problem, would you leave her funeral to me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to return her body to nature.”

Naturalisation.

It was a word that could only signify the death of a Dragon.

But Frey shook his head without needing to think too deeply.

“No. You don't have to. I will take care of Beniang's body.”

Beniang's awareness towards her Dragon side was very faint. This was natural as she'd never gotten the chance to see her parents.

Frey considered Beniang a human. And her family was not the Dragons but the Trowman Rings.

Frey felt that he was obligated to show them her body.

Dro stepped back without pressing any further. However, he couldn't help but look at Beniang's body in disappointment.

Woowoong-

Frey put Beniang's body in his subspace. (TL: not sure if the author is talking about his bag here or not, since they only use 'subspace' instead of 'subspace bag')

He didn't want her body to be damaged any more than it already was.

Then he looked at the purple haired woman in front of him.

“Iris.”

“Yeah.”

“…I want to talk to you.”

“You already are.”

“That's not what I mean. I want to hear what you've been doing and thinking for the past 4,000 years.”

Iris tilted her head.

“Why do you want to know that?”

“Maybe if I understood…”

“You'd forgive me?”

Iris had a soft smile on her lips and spoke in a gentle tone.

She looked perfectly calm. But Frey could tell.

Iris was getting angry.

“I don't believe that, Frey.”

Though she spoke softly, it felt like she was shouting.

“But you're right. Sooner or later, you will know everything. I don't know what kind of judgement you'll make after that. However… the point is that now is not the right time.”

Iris licked her lips slightly.

“…I said more than I intended. You can talk to him, then.”

Iris smiled gracefully until she disappeared in space.

Frey sighed and turned around.

'Are you running away?'

She didn't show it, but he knew. Knew that his words had shaken Iris.

But that was all Frey could know. He had no way of knowing more than that.

What exactly it was that he'd said that shook her. Or what she was thinking at that moment.

Iris had spent a long time beside Lord.

She must have witnessed the deaths of hundreds of thousands or even millions of mortals.

No, it was possible that she even helped.

'That's not true.'

Frey felt that he knew why she didn't want to tell him at that moment.

Iris didn't want Frey's sympathy or comfort.

Then Dro spoke.

“Were the two of you lovers?”

“…no.”

Frey shook his head a little while looking at him, seemingly embarrassed. (TL: 4k gv…)

“Then?”

“She's an old friend.”

“…”

When he heard that, Dro seemed to think about something.

Frey picked up Agni's crystal from the ground and said.

“What did you do while you were with Iris?”

“I was told. About who I am and what I am meant to do.”

“Aren't you the Dragon Lord?”

“It doesn't seem like it.”

“…”

Frey hesitated for a moment before saying.

“Iris is Lord's Apostle. Do you believe all of her words?”

“Hmm. You're wrong about one thing.”

“What?”

Drew continued in his indifferent voice.

“Iris Phisfounder isn't Lord's Apostle.”

(TL: Well this would debunk/explain the 'plot hole' where the Apocalypses knew about Iris. But it would still not explain why Agni(and I think Nozdog, but I can't remember for sure) thought of her as 'Lord's Apostle'.)

Chapter end