Dekan's Enemies and Friends

In the present world.

"Damn! I'm really impressed by this sixth brother!"

Viewers initially expected Dekan and his teammates to pull off a thrilling comeback.

Unexpectedly, the style of the artwork took a bizarre turn the next second.

And it actually worked!

"I have a feeling that even the Bishop of Frenzy has been led astray by them. Where exactly is the problem?!"

"Anyway, none of these four guys are normal!"

"But they're so handsome! Can't they form a group and debut as a group?!"

What's outrageous is that cries of admiration for the Beautiful Soul F4 have even appeared in various places.

The audience watched as Dekan and his men kept pouring the Warden drinks with strong numbing effects, getting her completely unconscious.

Until the Warden finally collapsed onto the sofa, his vision blurring.

The four people, who had been polite at first, suddenly became disdainful.

It seems they've been putting up with this Warden for a long time.

However, they did not choose revenge, nor did they hesitate much. Instead, they told Cornelia to carry the Saintess of Darkness and run away.

The Warden is too ruthless; killing her would be too risky.

If we manage to wake her up but still fail to kill her, we might really be wiped out.

Let's take advantage of this opportunity to successfully paralyze her and escape safely!

And so, under the questioning gaze of the Saintess of Darkness, Cornelia carried her and the others as they escaped from the Demon Realm Prison.

Then began a ten-day escape journey through the Demon Realm...

Twelve days later.

The northern border of the Holy Kingdom.

Even though it wasn't winter, the climate in the northern part of the Holy Kingdom was still very harsh, with almost every season being a world of ice and snow, with goose feather-like snowflakes falling everywhere.

The northernmost part of the Holy Kingdom is also the far north of all human kingdoms. Beyond the last few towns lies a no-man's land, a vast and boundless snowfield where even magical beasts rarely survive.

Further north lies the Demon Realm, where the environment is even colder and more frigid.

Several figures were stepping on the snow, their footprints sinking deep into the ground, the sound of their footsteps echoing across the vast snowfield.

We travel further and further away.

They are none other than the Beautiful Soul Squad and the Bishop of Frenzy Clay.

It took Dekan and his group ten days to escape the Demon Realm.

After another two days, they left the front lines and found a relatively safe main city-state.

They had finally reached the snow-covered hills not far from the city gates of this city-state.

During this journey, Dekan finally confirmed one thing—

Beyond the Demon Realm lies the Holy Kingdom!

The worldviews of the Demon Realm and the Holy Kingdom are unified.

Or rather...

The four Shadow World he has experienced so far are actually several historical periods within the same world!

Even the timeline is presented sequentially.

Because Dekan had found out.

In the third Shadow World, [The Secret Tale of the Withered Sacred Rite], Cardinal Lunn of the Holy Rite Church, who had a great connection with Dekan and the Master, was 25 years old.

And now.

Lunn is 37 years old.

Twelve years have passed.

Dekan didn't know if he would be able to enter the Shadow World, which was part of the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm worldview, again next time.

If we can get in again.

How many years from now?

Dekan shook his head, deciding to stop thinking about it and finish the last task at hand.

The Saintess of Darkness was safely returned to the human city-state.

In the team at this moment.

Although the Saintess of Darkness did not speak, her expression was filled with disbelief.

She never dreamed of this.

This group of people led her on her escape from the Demon Realm, and the direction they were heading was right at the Demon Realm's border!

And he really did take her across the Demon Realm and bring her to the territory of the human kingdom.

She couldn't help but begin to have doubts.

Could it be that the hideout of these demons is actually hidden within human territory?!

The more the Saintess of Darkness thought about it, the more desperate and terrified she felt.

They had drugged and tied me up, leaving me with no chance of escape.

These guys are a gang that can go toe-to-toe with, and even take down, the Warden.

The Saintess of Darkness knew that even if she recovered her full power, she would only be at the eighth rank.

Not only does she have no hope of transmitting this crucial intelligence back to the Holy Kingdom, but she will also be subjected to a fate worse than death.

"Sending her here should be fine, right? But if we send her into the city and she turns on us, our last day of holiday will be ruined."

Dekan and his companions discussed it.

"Anyway, she has at least recovered to the fifth or sixth level of combat strength now, so she should be quite safe."

"The mission is accomplished, why bother with her?"

Saintess of Darkness: "???"

Listening to this group of people spouting nonsensical nonsense, the Saintess of Darkness was completely bewildered.

Let her go?

Although she had heard these men occasionally mention rescuing her along the way.

But she always thought it was just the nonsense these people were talking about.

Are these people really planning to let her go?

This is the only thing that's impossible!

They must be humiliating her!

"What exactly is your purpose?!"

The Saintess of Darkness shouted angrily and resentfully at Dekan.

Dekan, who had been talking to his companions, was drawn to the voice of the hostage saintess.

He turned his head and answered without batting an eye:

"For love and peace."

"You let go...!"

The Saintess of Darkness felt humiliated once again.

These words, spoken by Dekan, sounded particularly ironic.

It was as if it were mocking her ignorance.

"If you've got the guts, then really let me go! Don't underestimate me!! One day I will destroy the Demon Realm, and kill you too!"

The Saintess of Darkness roared, her voice choked with emotion.

She knew she had been completely defeated.

This is all just empty talk.

"Hmm? Okay."

Dekan nodded and said.

Cornelia immediately untied her, and Croix dispelled the poison.

With a puzzled expression, the Saintess of Darkness realized that she seemed to have truly regained her freedom!

Dekan: "You can go now."

The Saintess of Darkness abruptly retreated, watching the group warily.

Because she knew that if these people didn't want to let her go, even if she was untied and detoxified, she would have no chance of escaping.

These men probably want to continue toying with her.

Giving a glimmer of hope, then showering it with despair, is the devil's favorite tactic!

Dekan naturally understood the Saintess of Darkness's reaction and sighed with some regret:

"I thought that after spending so much time together, you would trust me at least a little bit. We've been taking care of you as a friend, even though, for your safety, it might look a little like we've kidnapped you."

"You? Consider me a friend? Hah... What's the point of saying such ridiculous things?"

The Saintess of Darkness retreated warily, sneering as she did so.

"How is this absurd? I assure you, we will never see each other again. Go back to the human realm in peace; you are truly free."

Dekan seemed to feel misunderstood and looked somewhat sad as he spoke.

Dekan had previously exchanged ideas with his companions and decided that they would go to another, more prosperous city-state further away from the battlefield later.

And so, the group ignored the Saintess of Darkness.

He ignored her completely and walked off in another direction.

"..."

The Saintess of Darkness forgot to run away for a moment and stood there completely stunned.

She really...

Free??

The Saintess of Darkness found this demon somewhat incomprehensible.

She still firmly believes that all of the devil's actions are a disguise to deceive humanity.

But she really couldn't understand why this guy was doing this.

Was his previous behavior truly out of pure goodwill towards me?

If all of this is fake.

So what exactly is real?

Her conviction that the devil could never be benevolent even began to waver.

Regardless of whether you're playing a grand scheme or if you're genuinely mentally unstable, you're delusional! I won't remember your kindness, and I won't be used by you!

The Saintess of Darkness clenched her fists, somewhat exasperated, and shouted at the departing figures of Dekan and his group.

She was in great pain.

She is a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and vengeance.

But she never dreamed of it.

She, who hated demons the most, was one day saved by a demon.

This is an insult to her, and also torture for her.

"Perhaps what I desired was not peace, but rather I did all this for my own selfish desires, but I have never regarded you as an enemy, believe it or not, that's all."

Dekan waved casually at the Saintess of Darkness, as if bidding Saintess of Darkness a final farewell.

He still held the Saintess of Darkness in high regard as an epic heroine who would save the human kingdom, as described in the background story of the Shadow World.

No matter what you do! No matter what tricks you have up your sleeve! I won't be foolish enough to believe a devil! You will always be my enemy!

It was unclear whether the Saintess of Darkness's shout was directed at Dekan or at herself.

Dekan heard the Saintess of Darkness's words and sighed helplessly.

He was actually hurt by what the Saintess of Darkness said to him.

Because he had already roughly figured out who the Saintess of Darkness corresponded to in the mortal world.

Dekan turned around with a wry smile, looking at the Saintess of Darkness from a distance, and said:

"Enemies are enemies, but I consider you a friend anyway."

Saintess of Darkness: "Ridiculous! If they're enemies, they're not friends."

Dekan: "Can't an enemy be a friend?"

The Saintess of Darkness was momentarily speechless upon hearing Dekan's sophistry, but she quickly changed her approach:

"Demons can never be true friends with humans."

"Why not? Although there's a risk of betrayal, the relationship will never improve if neither side changes."

As Dekan spoke, he seemed to recall the days when he first found his "Master" as a child, and the daily battles of wits and courage he shared with her. A smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

"Even if I might be betrayed, I should still trust those I want to trust. In time, even if I really am a devil, I will make true friends, won't I?"

Dekan looked at the Saintess of Darkness with crystal-clear eyes as if he were speaking nonsense, then turned away.

This is truly goodbye.

"Innocent...!"

Watching Dekan's departing figure.

The Saintess of Darkness bit her lip, her hands trembling uncontrollably once again.

His pupils, which were originally as dark as an abyss, were now filled with entanglement and struggle.

At this moment, she no longer knew whether to call Dekan's words naive, foolish, crazy, or magnanimous.

She didn't understand, nor could she discern, what this demon truly desired.

But.

If we follow her truest impulse at this moment...

This is an immense favor.

She could not trample it.

Even if it might be a conspiracy, a trap.

She should be naive, silly, and crazy just once, to show her true character!

Since she has admitted that she doesn't understand.

Does she really have the right to judge the nature of a creature she cannot understand at all?

If she makes hasty judgments about things, leading to her repaying kindness with enmity and failing to distinguish right from wrong, it would be tantamount to her completely denying the principles she holds dear!

Tell me your name!

The Saintess of Darkness shouted loudly, as if she had made up her mind.

"Talomati"

Dekan answered rather lazily, too busy leaving to even look back at the Saintess of Darkness.

Several tens of seconds passed like this.

Just as Dekan and his group were about to completely disappear from the Saintess of Darkness's sight.

She began to look up and shout:

"Talomati! If I ever meet you again, even if we are enemies, even if you are a demon, I will choose to believe you one more time! Consider it repaying your kindness and settling our score!"

The Saintess of Darkness took a deep breath, placing her hand on her chest as if making a vow to the gods:

"In the name of Milia —I swear to you!"

Far away.

"Hmph."

Dekan simply smiled and shook his head.

They ignored the Saintess of Darkness, whose figure was no longer visible even when she turned around.

This time, it must have been a genuine act of kindness and good deeds.

Wrong.

What kind of talk is that?

He has always been doing good deeds and accumulating merit!

Dekan thought to himself, but as he walked, he noticed that Clay had started to drift away from their group and was heading in another direction.

"Hey, you can't see the road, don't end up walking back to the Demon Realm!"

Dekan shouted to Clay.

Upon hearing this, Clay paused for a moment.

"We were never meant to be together. I'll find a safe place until the end of the Shadow World."

Clay's tone suddenly turned exceptionally cold as he replied.

However, to Clay's surprise, Dekan quickly jogged up to him and cheerfully asked:

"Clay, interested in coming out and having fun with us?"

Dekan's tone was as if he were inviting him to a victory celebration.

Despite the chaotic times, with their skills, wherever they went became a tourist attraction.

"Don't forget, once we leave the Shadow World, we'll be enemies..."

Clay retorted to Dekan without hesitation, but halfway through his sentence, he seemed to recall Dekan's earlier conversation with the Saintess of Darkness, and frowned as he asked again:

"Do you still want to say that naive statement, 'Can't an enemy be a friend?'"

"No, no, these are words a friend gave me."

Dekan shook his finger, correcting Clay.

"Hmph, whether you're my enemy or my friend, you'll all regret it. It's better for you to stay away from me now."

Clay remained cold and aloof.

"Ha ha!!"

Hearing Clay's words seemed to amuse Dekan.

Indeed, Bishop of Corruption, whether you are his enemy or his friend, is doomed to die.

But for Dekan, whether Clay was on his side or on the other side, he was unexpectedly a benefactor.

"Clay, you're surprisingly interesting! Don't worry, I've already cut off the live stream. Even if we go gambling together, the Kingdom Association won't find out!"

To Clay's surprise, Dekan suddenly put his hand on Clay's shoulder and said to Clay with a mischievous grin.

With his other hand, he picked up a bag full of concentrated magic crystals and shook it, making a jingling sound that smelled of money.

This is an extremely rare and valuable material they obtained using Demon Realm currency before leaving the Demon Realm.

Just by listening, you can tell that these magic crystals can be exchanged for a lot of money, so they can probably have a lot of fun.

"..."

Clay fell silent.

But his silence clearly showed that he was moved.

Damn it!

How can I refuse?!

"Just one more day of friendship with you all..."

Clay said, looking reluctant.

"Oh, Clay, you mean we're friends now? Friends should go to great lengths for each other!"

"Get out of here!! I haven't forgotten how you three bastards betrayed me! Don't let me run into you in the real world!"

"Luluelue, you idiot, you think you can catch me?"

"Don't you dare run away! Take this punch!"

This is a long journey.

The event finally ended with the team members' helpless laughter and Dekancrat's playful banter.

******

Author's Note:

I recommend a book, the new work by the author of Teeth of the Red Dragon, one of the few high-quality true science fiction books on the cat website.