Trash of the Count's Family Vol 2. Chapter 492: Death of a God (4)

In truth, Cale had still spoken with the demon god in a reasonably soft, measured voice. He had done it hoping the people and demons around him would not hear, if possible.

“.......”

“.......”

But the priest, who knew everything that happened in the temple and across the ancient site, and the warriors with their exceptional physical abilities. Clopeh was the same, and so was the final Demon King.

They had all heard him.

“Give it to me.”

“Come on.”

For reference, none of the demon god’s words could be heard.

“Ah. What a hassle.”

But Cale’s words came through far too clearly.

“...Um—”

One of the waiting warriors unconsciously frowned and opened his mouth.

His expression held bewilderment, confusion, and anger.

The demon god.

How could he show such unruly behavior before that most venerable being? Even if he was the Savior—

Pfft.

Someone laughed.

It was the Demon King.

The warrior saw the Demon King’s smiling face. He was genuinely amused.

And beside the Demon King stood a white-haired, green-eyed human.

He was staring straight at the warrior while clutching a recording orb to his chest.

“That is not irreverence.”

His eyes, rippling with madness, were full of rapture.

Like a believer who had finally come face-to-face with the god he had been waiting for.

His gaze was even more fervent than the warrior’s.

It was not irreverence.

“Gods and those who are not gods alike stand as equals before Cale-nim.”

The warrior swallowed without realizing it at that unwavering faith.

But Clopeh turned away from him without the slightest lingering interest and looked at Cale.

The trace left behind by the demon god.

“.......”

The hand Clopeh held the recording orb with began to tremble.

That curtain of black water.

Now, as it rose and tried to engulf Cale, Clopeh’s body shuddered finely under its enormous presence.

Just as it had when he first encountered the power of the God of Chaos and its remnants.

That is a being comparable to a god.

Even the warrior who had been about to say something to Cale had not realized it himself, but his eyes had rolled back, entranced by the demon god’s power. His entire body, too, was trembling faintly.

There were only two people here who remained whole.

The Demon King.

And Cale-nim.

In fact, unlike the Demon King, Cale-nim truly looked completely unaffected.

Yes. He really does look annoyed......!

One who could kill a god!

As expected, the path Cale-nim walked was legend!

Cale-nim was truly growing stronger and stronger.

Was there anyone with a wholly human body stronger than him?

Clopeh’s eyes reflected Cale being completely swallowed by the curtain of black water.

But he was not worried.

Cale-nim is not worried about this situation.

So all he had to do was believe and wait.

Clopeh stood still, anticipating what would happen next.

And then—

SHAAAAAA—

Cale, swallowed by the curtain of black water—

—A-a hassle......!

As if he had truly been deeply hurt, the demon god cried out in a tearful voice.

—Do it anyway! When your superior tells you to do something, you do it!

Cale snorted, and his honest thought slipped out before he realized it.

“You?”

You are not my superior.

Oops.

“Sorry for saying ‘you.’”

Even so, this was someone ancient enough that Cale could not even guess how long ago he had died. He had spoken a little too harshly.

—......!

The perverted demon god trembled.

But soon, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke.

—Still, it makes no sense to gain power without a trial. It has no style.

He was quite serious.

Like the dominating aura when it bluffed.

—O one who possesses talents different in content, yet identical in essence to mine.

SHAAAAAA—

Water soaked Cale.

But Cale’s body did not get wet.

—If you want my power, create a moment of power-transfer ritual that I will acknowledge!

How annoying.

Still, Cale realized he could not simply ignore this trial.

This power.

It is similar to the way ancient powers are obtained.

A power that could only be obtained after some procedure or trial.

Was this demon god truly a demon god?

It was a trace left behind by the real demon god.

No matter how impudent Cale acted, no matter how he behaved, the fact that the trial alone was being forced to proceed meant that this situation was a necessary condition.

Still, it is a power I need.

To be precise, it was a power that would be extremely useful if he obtained it.

Because the Water that Devours the Sky would become strong enough to overwhelm the third Emperor, who could stand against gods.

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

No helping it.

If he just made one ritual procedure that looked roughly stylish and reverent, it would be a trial he could pass.

It was a little annoying, though.

During the Demon World tour—no, during the Demon World-wide tour, I’ll tell Clopeh to prepare a small ritual with a limited number of people, but one that can still be carried out with suitable reverence.

Yes. Small, with only a few people.

Suitably stylish and reverent.

If I don’t tell him this, he might create another Eruhaben Miru Birth Ceremony like the one that happened in the Seven Evils.

No, thank you.

Cale spoke while looking at the curtain that continued to soak him without making him wet.

—......!

The curtain trembled all over as if delighted.

Oh.

Disgusting.

That sensation was truly unpleasant.

Cale’s expression turned sour.

—Haa... A wise decision.

But his expression changed at the words that followed.

—If you obtain this power, your talents will grow further......! So prepare a very stylish, moving, and sacred ritual. Then I will awaken and transfer my power to you......!

No, wait.

Did he just say “talents”?

“Hey!”

He was in such a hurry that the word slipped out before he could stop it.

“Hey, wait—!”

But—

SHAAAAAA—

The curtain of water vanished after finishing everything it wanted to say.

“.......”

In its place, a small moon-shaped badge lay on Cale’s palm.

A thin, very thin crescent moon.

Cale shoved the badge roughly into his pocket.

He would carry it around, and when preparations were complete later, he could show the badge the ritual moment.

“.......”

Cale stared at the empty lake for a moment before walking toward the others waiting for him.

Talents?

But his thoughts grew complicated.

There was more than one talent to kill gods?

Had it not reacted to the Water that Devours the Sky?

No, it has to eat—

Cale stopped walking.

Ah.

He swallowed the exclamation that had almost escaped him.

Eating.

Not the power of water that targeted gods, but the power that devoured existence.

Glutton.

—Did you call me?

A languid voice answered, perhaps pleasantly full.

Cale did not answer that slow voice.

He simply realized something clearly.

When it comes to eating, the Unbreakable Shield—the gluttonous priestess—is the best at it.

It had simply never taken a god as its target.

Dead mana, corruption of chaos, and so on. Until now, what that tree had eaten were beings that harmed the things Cale had to protect.

Come to think of it—

Cale suddenly recalled the wooden towers guarding this ancient site.

An inexplicable sense of déjà vu swept over him.

“Did it give you power?”

But the moment he heard the Demon King’s voice, Cale pulled himself out of his thoughts for now.

I’ll think about this part slowly.

In any case, Cale would gradually come to understand the powers that possessed the talent to kill gods.

The law of the hunt, huh—

Cale, who had thrown himself into hunting the hunter families, swallowed the strange ring of the phrase and stood before his companions.

“No. It said it would give me the power after I pass a trial.”

Cale looked at Clopeh and the priest as he spoke.

“We need a place to hold a small-scale ritual with only a limited number of participants. It should be done as secretly as possible.”

Cale continued firmly, as if stating something very important.

“But it must be extremely stylish and reverent.”

The priest carefully opened her mouth.

“Is that what the demon god wishes?”

“Yes. It seems he wants to pass on his power through a proper ritual.”

At that moment, one of the warriors muttered as if complaining.

“As expected, we should have served the demon god with proper respect.”

Then, at Cale’s gaze, he pressed his lips shut.

“Oh dear.”

The priest looked troubled.

Just as she hurriedly tried to open her mouth, Cale spoke first.

“Mm. I understand your reverence toward the demon god, since you have spent your whole life guarding the ancient site of the demon god.”

Even after speaking to Cale that way, guilt was written across the warrior’s face.

Reverence for the demon god.

Cale, who had protected this ancient site and their clan.

Several emotions seemed to be crossing through him at once.

Cale looked at that demon and spoke indifferently.

“But this being says he is not a god. So if you serve him like a god, he will probably dislike it.”

“.......”

“And he does not seem to be a demon god for the sake of demons.”

“!”

The corner of Cale’s mouth twisted up.

Today, Cale had acted this way in part because he hated troublesome things and simply wanted to deal with this quickly.

But fundamentally—

“Two weeks ago, the gray light was not a power that appeared to protect demons or these two cities. This is not some beautiful story where it was moved by me trying to protect this city.”

This demon god.

From the moment he had first appeared.

He had not had demons in mind at all.

He had not even been curious about the Demon World.

He had simply—

“This power merely responded to its successor. That is the will the demon god left behind at this one and only ancient site of the demon god.”

The being you honored as the demon god was simply searching for a successor.

It might not be welcome news for the demons who had believed in and desperately waited for a being called the demon god, who would make the Demon World great.

“At any rate, from what I experienced, he does not seem to be a god.”

Cale turned away from the silent warrior and started walking.

There was no longer any reason to remain here.

“We will prepare it secretly and thoroughly.”

The priest’s voice came from behind him. Cale answered with a nod and headed out of the temple.

“...Interesting.”

The Demon King, who had been quietly watching, followed after him.

Of course, Cale had no attention to spare for that.

Because Clopeh Sekka had brightened at yet another order and was now glued right beside him.

CREAK, CREAK.

Pushing the wheelchair Cale had left behind, Clopeh spoke.

“Are you certain it should truly be simple, with only a few people?”

“.......”

“You said it must have style, but for something to have style, does it not need witnesses?”

“.......”

“Can that be achieved with only a few?”

What a terrifying bastard.

Cale very forcefully ignored Clopeh Sekka’s words and emphasized once again.

“Prepare it exactly as I said. The priest will probably handle it on her own. You just check whether it properly meets the conditions I mentioned.”

Yes. The priest would be better than Clopeh.

“You focus on the Demon World-wide purification ritual tour.”

“Ah. Of course.”

Clopeh smiled brightly and said,

“Do not worry. Everything has already been prepared, Cale-nim.”

That is exactly why I feel uneasy!

Cale ignored Clopeh’s smile and returned to his lodging for now, trying to sleep.

For some reason, starting tomorrow—yes. For some reason, he felt like he knew exactly what would happen.

So he was already tired.

That was how bad it was. Bad enough that he would postpone his conversation with Ron and Beacrox for a few days.

I’m sure—

If he moved according to the plan this Clopeh Sekka had drawn up!

He would be drained!

It would be mentally exhausting!

Cale tried hard to ignore the feeling that a bleak future was unfolding before him.

*****

But the future that unfolded before Cale—the next day—was far from bleak. It was overwhelmingly colorful, beautiful, and splendid.

WAAAAAAAAH!

Savior!

Gray rain!

Gray galaxy—!

I knew this would happen.

The moment he arrived at the fourth city to be purified, Cale saw the citizens welcoming him from the very entrance of the teleportation circle.

The demons truly, sincerely welcomed him with joy.

—Human, this is nothing like Young Master Shield!

Cale tried hard to pretend he had not heard Raon.

WAAAAAAAAH—

At last, at last—!

But the cheers really were incomparable to the Young Master Shield days.

Cale felt like he knew the reason, and he could not smile.

It’s fear.

What hung over the demons’ faces was desperation.

This was different from welcoming Cale after he had won a war or battle.

The people before him were welcoming the savior they had waited for, the one who would save them from the death of gray sickness that might come at any time, and from the deaths of those dear to them. So even as they rejoiced, they were desperate.

Gray sickness.

No matter how well it was being managed, now that information about it had been publicly released, now that they had heard what it was like, and now that someone was infected.

Demons could never rest easy.

Those hellish two weeks were finally ending.

“Cale-nim.”

At Clopeh’s low voice, Cale saw the nearby demons watching his reaction.

They were gauging his mood because he was not smiling at their cheers.

The ordinary residents, of course, but also the lord’s castle officials, the Demon King’s castle officials, and even young demon children holding flower crowns.

His mouth tasted bitter.

Smile.

A smile immediately settled on Cale’s lips.

—Human, that smile looks like the one you use when you’re scamming people! But it’s different!

Ignoring Raon’s words, Cale approached a demon child.

“Is that for me?”

“......! Y-yes! Savior!”

Only then did a bright smile appear on the child’s face.

Cale placed the flower crown he would normally never even glance at on his head and thanked the child.

Then he spoke as if declaring it to the highest official of the region before him.

“Prepare a festival.”

The official understood what those words meant.

He had heard about the purification ritual.

“The corruption of chaos will all disappear today. Only peace will remain.”

His voice was warm, but firm.

Everyone who heard it burst into cheers.

Ha. Seriously.

Cale was doing something unsuited to his temperament. Still, he acted the part of savior with considerable sincerity.

Because he could feel the desperation and fear within the cheers gradually easing.

I’ll have to do this a few more times.

It would have been best if he could have just finished every purification as quietly as possible!

Cale was about to look at Clopeh with a face that had plenty to say, but stopped.

“Is something the matter, Cale-nim?”

Clopeh, detestable as ever, looked at him with a puzzled expression as if he knew nothing. But Cale did not keep looking at him and instead slipped a hand into his pocket.

Then he pulled something out.

“Mm?”

The demon god’s power.

The trial that told him to prepare a ritual moment for it.

And the moon badge that had been delivered into Cale’s hand along with it.

A very, very thin crescent moon.

“Huh?”

But that crescent moon seemed subtly thicker than before.

As if the moon were waxing.

No way?

Cale lifted his head.

The demons cheering for him.

The demon god’s power, waiting for a ritual moment that was stylish, splendid, and beautiful.

...No, right?

Cale felt a chill crawl over the back of his neck, because he thought he knew what had caused the badge to change.

Then an even more frightening voice reached him.

“Oho.”

Clopeh Sekka was looking at the badge in Cale’s palm with very interested, very delighted eyes.

Then he murmured,

“...As expected.”

......!

Cold sweat formed on Cale’s forehead.

He had a feeling that something extremely annoying, something he did not want, was about to happen.

For example, the sight of the demon god’s power being bestowed upon him like a blessing while Cale performed purification rituals before countless people.

“This is driving me insane.”

—Human, do you miss the crown prince? You’ve been copying the crown prince’s words well these days!

Cale squeezed his eyes shut, feeling dizzy.

And this was only day one of the Demon World-wide purification tour.