"Sometimes I think killing ought to be accurately categorized too, compiled into knowledge and studied—after all, how to kill rationally is, in fact, a science."
The Mage said this in a ceaseless stream to a demon in front of him. The latter looked utterly wretched. In fact, its current appearance made it look exactly like the villain from some super cult film that even a midnight TV program would refuse to air.
Half its jaw was gone. Its forked, long tongue had been yanked out from inside and was now dangling outside, swaying. It was covered in wounds, flesh and skin turned inside out, and even its bones had been torn out.
There had originally been two vicious horns on its head, but now only the bases remained. They looked as if a dentist had filed teeth flat with a dental saw until only the crowns were left. It was downright pitiful.
Who knew whether it would hurt when the wind blew over it.
At that moment, the demon was glaring at the Mage. After a while, it finally spoke, its words slurred and unclear.
"Was that necessary?" it asked slowly.
"I've already died once. That time, you blasted me into charcoal with lightning. I admit it was my fault for running into a city in the human world and harvesting souls in the street."
"But you've already killed me once. I'm just a residual image that was shaped into being now. Why do you still have to torture me like this?"
"Allow me to explain, Asmodeus—first, you're not just a residual image. Second, I'm allergic to your kind, so whenever I see any demon, devil, or Angel, an extreme malice erupts from the bottom of my heart..."
"Especially when I think about how you killed so many people and