[Salvos] 631. Salvation (Patreon)

631. Salvation

***

In the Mortal Realm, war was spreading across the continent of Secely. The Kobolds continued their infighting, and the Beastmen Plains repelled the onslaught of corruption leaking in from beyond the sea. The Humans and the Elves were embroiled in a terrible war after their centuries-long peace had finally come to an end.

But that was not all. The Centinels of the Bloodied Gulf had been stirred to action, no longer just mindlessly proliferating their destruction, but targeting a traitor to their kin. And the outpouring of Demons in the Netherfied Lands remained relentless.

There was no shortage of chaos unfurling across the plane. In stark contrast, the Netherworld was no longer in such a state. Rather, for once, the home of Demons held still. Because—

***

Reconstruction was coming to an end. It wasn’t over just yet. But it was soon going to come to an end.

What did that mean? I didn’t know. But apparently, it was important to Haec. I watched as he marched out of my pocket space as soon as we landed far from the lake of fire. He walked briskly, and I gave chase to him.

“Wait, you still haven’t explained anything to me! What happens when Reconstruction comes to an end? What’s so bad about it? Isn’t it a good thing since we won’t have—”

Haec came to a halt as I stepped in front of him. I gestured vaguely at the floating rocks behind me— as they slowly descended back to the ground, reforming the earth.

“Y’know, since we won’t have all this happening?”

“When Reconstruction ends, so does Revelation.”

The former Heir of the Netherworld spoke simply as he shook his head. I frowned and crossed my arms.

“Isn’t that a good thing? Isn’t Revelation bad because of how it makes all the big scary Demons come out and fight each other?”

“Well, yes. But I’m not referring to that. I’m referring to what comes next.”

Haec explained as I blinked back at him.

“And what comes next, Haec?”

“Salvation.”

He tried to step past me, and I just blocked him again. I frowned as I crossed my arms.

“What’s wrong with Salvation? It doesn’t sound that bad.”

I posed the question to both him and myself. But before Haec could answer the question, a voice spoke up from behind me.

“Because it’s not bad. It’s actually the best time to be around in the Netherworld.”

I spun around to face Bertrugil who was yawning as he exited my pocket space. Behind him, Taburas and Aemula also shuffled their way into the rocky white floor of the Netherworld.

The [Abraxas] glanced dismissively at the two of them, before turning back to me as he continued.

“None of you have ever experienced it, but I have. And it’s the greatest thing in the world. Everything is so quiet and peaceful. There’s no fighting. No wild Demons roaming about. None of the usual nonsense you’d see in the Netherworld. Barring a few exceptions— like stumbling into a group of wild Demons lying around in a hole, or running into one of the Demon King’s patrols— it’s completely safe.”

“Seriously?”

Aemula gaped at him, covering her mouth. He turned to face her as she asked another question.

“Is it even safer than the Quietus?”

“The Quietus isn’t even safe. Sure, it comes at the end of Advent, when Desolation has ended, but that’s also when all the higher-leveled wild Demons start to emerge from their little hovels. It’s dangerous. I would never leave my Lair during Quietus. Maybe during Genesis, sure…”

Bertrugil shook his head as I glanced between the two Archdemons. I rubbed my temples with a frown.

“You guys are using too many random terms at once… I can’t keep track of it all…”

Taburas just scoffed at my comment, and I took in a deep breath. I turned around to face Haec with narrowed eyes.

“Anyway, that doesn’t explain anything. If Salvation is so safe, why is it a bad thing? Doesn’t that mean we can just wander the Netherworld without running into the Beast?”

I waved a hand at the lake of fire behind us. It wasn’t even that far away yet— I could still feel the oppressive heat even from a small distance. We landed the moment we reached land because Haec made me do so— because it was faster for us to walk than to wait for the sluggish pace of my pocket space.

Haec sighed as he closed his eyes. I peered at him curiously, but he remained silent for a long moment. He opened his mouth for a moment, and I leaned him to hear what he had to safe. However, before he could speak, I heard Taburas piping up from behind me.

“Haec isn’t talking about the cycles of the Netherworld.”

“He isn’t?”

I blinked and turned to face the [Succubus]. She had her arms folded across her chest, an annoyed expression on her face. She harrumphed as she turned away from me.

“Haec is talking about what will come with Salvation.”

“Um, what?”

I cocked my head, still confused.

“That didn’t explain anything.”

I pointed accusingly at her. Taburas sighed as she shook her head.

“Must we spell everything out for you?”

My brows snapped together when she said that. I opened my mouth to argue, but Haec spoke over me.

“Taburas, that’s enough. I’ll take over the explanation.”

The [Succubus] paused when she heard that. I turned him with a raised brow, and she tried to protest.

“But—”

“I said: that’s enough.”

Haec glared at her. And for a moment, I sensed an aura of bloodlust coming from him. Taburas must have noticed it too because she flinched. Slowly, she took a step back and lowered her head.

“R-right. Sorry.”

I blinked at that. I wanted to question it further, especially after remembering what Haec had told me. But he seemed to have already calmed down as he nodded my way.

“Salvos, what I am worried about is not Salvation. But rather, it is what the Demon King shall do once it comes to an end.”

“Once Salvation comes to an end? And you mean Regnorex?”

I tilted my head curiously as I asked.

“What is he going to do?”

I frowned at Haec. For a moment, he didn’t reply. I just looked around in confusion, turning to Taburas, Bertrugil, and Aemula for help. But none of them gave me an answer. I just frowned.

Finally, Haec closed his eyes as he lowered his head.

“Regnorex is going to begin the final stage of his plan to invade the Mortal Realm.”

He whispered softly. And that made me pause.

“Huh.”

Author's Notes:

What thonk?

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