He spoke in stammers, each word cutting deeper into Emilia's heart.
"So I had Emerada and Albert locked away. I couldn't let them go looking for her."
His voice dropped lower and lower, trembling, yet tinged with a kind of manic desperation.
"Then I reached out to Lucifer. He was desperate to return to Heaven, to erase the shame of being a fallen angel."
"So I offered him a deal help me erase Hero Emilia and Demon King Satan from this world, and I'd help him."
"If you were all gone, with no witnesses left behind, the Church would remain in our hands. Absolute authority, untouched."
"You bastard! You scumbag!!"
Maou exploded, his rage boiling over. Spit practically flew into Olba's face.
"You self-righteous freaks are worse than demons! You kill your own people for power?!"
Ashiya adjusted his glasses, eyes sharp behind the lenses.
Coldly, he added, "Lucifer, you're a damn fool. You actually believed the word of a church priest?"
"They betrayed their own hero. What made you think they'd ever help a fallen angel like you?"
"You got played. Completely used."
Lucifer's face swollen like a balloon was filled with both rage and regret, his eyes barely open.
He wanted to scream.
But the searing pain in his face and Rei Ao's oppressive presence reduced him to nothing but pitiful whimpers.
Maou and Ashiya's words cut deeper than any wound.
He had actually fallen for Olba's sugar-coated lies. He'd turned himself into this pathetic wreck for a fantasy.
And now
No he'd already provoked the one guy in this world who made the Demon King look tame by comparison.
Emilia listened in silence, her body shaking slightly.
She looked at Olba the man who once guided her in Ente Isla, who offered her support when she was most lost.
Now, seeing him like this...
The pain of betrayal stabbed far deeper than any enemy blade ever had.
The land she'd fought for, given everything to protect
The Church she'd devoted herself to
So much darkness was hiding beneath the light.
This was her first real taste of how complicated the human world could be. It wasn't black and white it was full of shades of gray.
"..."
A wave of exhaustion and heartbreak hit her all at once.
Her knees gave a little.
And then
A warm, strong arm wrapped gently around her shoulders, pulling her into a steady embrace.
Rei Ao said nothing.
But his presence alone was solid enough to lean on.
Emilia instinctively leaned into him.
His warmth grounded her. Her chilled body finally felt a little less frozen.
Maou looked at the broken look on Emilia's face, then up at Rei Ao's unreadable expression. His nerves were on edge.
He swallowed.
"S-So, Rei Ao-sama What do you plan to do with these two?"
He motioned toward Olba and Lucifer.
Rei Ao looked down at Emilia in his arms. His voice softened.
"Emilia, your call."
"They came for you. You decide what happens to them."
Emilia rested against his chest, silent for a moment.
She could feel Olba and Lucifer's eyes on her a mix of fear and silent begging.
She closed her eyes.
In her mind: the sunlight of Ente Isla the smiles of rescued villagers Olba's teachings from long ago
Finally
She took a deep breath.
And opened her eyes.
Still hurting, but clear. Resolute.
"Just make sure they can never hurt anyone again."
Her voice was soft. But unwavering.
She was still the kind-hearted hero.
Even betrayed, she couldn't bring herself to order an execution.
Taking away their power, making sure they could never cause harm again that was the harshest sentence she could give and still stay true to herself.
Maou felt like a death sentence had just been lifted from his shoulders.
He dropped to his knees with a thud, then grabbed Lucifer's oversized purple head and slammed it down against the floor several times.
"Ugh!"
Lucifer groaned in agony.
"Say thank you to Hero Emilia and Rei Ao-sama now!"
At least Lucifer would live. Maou could breathe again.
"That's fine," Rei Ao said calmly.
He wasn't surprised by Emilia's decision.
He kept one arm around her.
And with his other hand, casually lifted a finger and pointed it at Olba and Lucifer.
No light.
No sound.
But both men immediately felt something inside them ripped away.
And then came the complete, final seal.
~~~
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Chapter 824: Meeting someone important?
Olba felt the last bit of holy energy inside him vanish, like the tide pulling away and leaving nothing behind.
Even the most basic magical sensesgone.
Lucifer was even more terrified. He realized that the remaining magic inside him, along with his innate angelic power and the darkness he'd gained after falling from grace...
it had all been sealed.
Every source of power he'd ever known was completely locked down by some kind of supreme, incomprehensible force.
He honestly felt weaker than a newborn baby now.
The strength they used to be so proud ofpower that once shook the world...
Had been wiped away like dust, all with a single gesture from Rei Ao.
"All set."
Rei Ao pulled back his finger like he'd just flicked off some lint. His voice was completely casual.
"I've sealed away all their powers."
"From now on, they're just plain, ordinary people."
He glanced at Sadao Maou.
"The rest is up to you."
With that, Rei Ao didn't bother looking again at the completely crushed Olba and Lucifer.
He also ignored the relieved and repeatedly nodding Sadao and Ashiya Shirou.
Instead, he put an arm around Emilia and walked with her toward the sleek silver sports car that stuck out like a sore thumb in the slums.
He opened the door for her like a gentleman and helped her into the passenger seat.
Vroooom!
The engine gave a low growl, and the car sped off, disappearing into the night.
Leaving behind Sadao Maou, Ashiya Shirou, and the two once-powerful beings now collapsed like useless lumps on the pavement.
"Phew"
Sadao watched the taillights vanish around the corner and finally let out a long sigh of relief.
He dropped straight to the ground, wiping the sweat off his forehead, not caring how he looked.
"Man that guy's presence was insane."
Ashiya Shirou, still a little shaken, fixed his collar and went back to his usual stiff, proper attitude.
"Demon King-sama what are we gonna do with these two?" he asked, pointing at the broken and blank-faced Lucifer and Olba.
Sadao glanced down at Lucifer's sorry state.
Yeah, he was annoyedthis idiot kinda had it coming.
But still, Lucifer used to be one of his Four Heavenly Kings. They'd fought together. He was a pain, sure, but also an old comrade.
Scratching at his messy black hair, Sadao sighed.
"Ugh Lucifer's dumb as a rock, but whatever. Let's drag him in and patch him up. Can't just leave him to die here."
He gestured toward his rundown apartment.
Ashiya nodded. He clearly wasn't thrilled, but he still walked over, grunted, and started dragging the groaning Lucifer inside.
As for Olba
Sadao walked right up to him.
This guyonce a high-and-mighty church bishopnow looked completely wrecked.
Sadao didn't feel a shred of sympathy. Only disgust and contempt.
"As for you," he sneered. "A high priest who sold out the Hero for power? What a piece of trash."
He kicked Olba's limp body.
"This dump I live in is already too cramped for a Demon King. It sure as hell doesn't have room for some 'divine figure' like you."
"Get lost. Go crawl somewhere and rot. Just don't die on my doorstep."
Without another glance, Sadao turned around and walked back into the apartment.
BAM! The door slammed shut.
Olba was left in the freezing yard, dazed and empty.
From inside, he could faintly hear Lucifer's groans and Sadao's annoyed grumbling.
He'd spent a lifetime scheming... and ended up like this.
A wave of despair and regret swallowed him whole.
He collapsed like a pile of worthless sludge onto the overgrown grass, trembling in silence.
He hadn't just lost his power.
He'd lost his status, his dignityeverything that once made him feel like he mattered.
The silver sports car cruised smoothly through Tokyo's glowing night.
Inside, it was dead quiet.
Emilia leaned back in her seat, staring out the window at the neon lights racing by.
The city's glitter and noise felt like it was behind some invisible wallnone of it could reach her or warm the heaviness in her heart.
Olba's betrayal. The Church's betrayal.
Everything she learned today felt like an ice-cold spike through her once-pure beliefs.
The place she'd fought so hard to protectEnte Isla, her homeland, her hope, her causeit wasn't the sanctuary she thought it was.
The dark, twisted parts of the human world had never been more obvious. And it left her confused and exhausted.
Rei Ao didn't say a word. Just kept driving.
But his hand rested over hers the whole time, steady and warm.
After a long silence
Emilia let out a soft sigh. Her voice was a little rough.
"Rei Ao thank you."
If it hadn't been for him, she might've stayed in the dark forever.
Or worsebeen stabbed in the back by someone she trusted.
"You're such an idiot," Rei Ao said with a soft laugh, gently squeezing her hand. "No need to thank me."
"But it's not over yet."
"It's not?" she turned to look at him, confused.
Rei Ao gave her a mysterious little smile.
"Olba's mess isn't just about him and Lucifer. There's someone elsea key personin this world."
"Once you meet her, you'll start to see just how far your beloved Church has fallen."
He paused, then added, "And she might have info on where Emerada and Albert are."
"Emerada? Albert?!"
Emilia's eyes lit up immediately. That name blew away half the weight in her chest.
She'd been worrying about them this whole time!
Olba had taken them. Were they even still safe?
"Where is she?" Emilia asked, voice urgent.
"Buckle up," Rei Ao said with a grin. "I'm taking you to her right now."
He didn't answer directly. Just stepped on the gas.
The car surged forward like a silver arrow, weaving through the trafficheading toward the other side of the city, and whatever truths waited there.
Chapter 825: Kamazuki Suzuno
Somewhere in a quiet apartment.
It was a small but tidy place. Minimalist. Cozy.
The air was filled with the rich, savory smell of udon brothbonito flakes, soy, something warm and soul-healing.
Kamazuki Suzuno.
Or ratherCrestia Bell.
She sat cross-legged in front of a low table, happily working through her second bowl of udon for the night.
Her long black hair was tied up loosely with a plain pin, showing off her graceful neckline.
She was dressed comfortably in a casual kimono, completely relaxed now that her public persona as "Kamazuki Suzuno" was off for the day.
This was her only real peace.
For someone who used to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Audit Bureau in the Great Magic Church of Ente Isla, with that enormous mission on her shoulders...
Well, sometimes, a steaming bowl of noodles was the only thing that made her feel human again.
But then
Just as she was about to slurp up the final strand of noodle, her ears twitched.
VROOOM.
An engine?
The sound of a high-performance sports car tore through the nightgetting closeruntil it came to a stop right in front of her apartment.
Then silence, as the engine cut off.
In the stillness of the night, it was deafening.
Suzuno froze.
She put down her chopsticks.
The peaceful look on her face disappeared in an instant.
Her whole vibe shifted. Alert. Predatory. Like a cheetah ready to pounce.
Nobodynobodyshould know where she lives.
And those who did? Only knew her as a normal girl named Kamazuki Suzuno.
No one would be pulling up in a fancy car at this hour.
And definitely not for a social visit.
She didn't have friends to show up like that.
"Who is it?"
Without a sound, she stood up. Her movements were light, sharp.
The sleeve of her kimono fluttered
and with it, a massive, ancient-looking war hammer appeared in her hand.
Heavy. Imposing. Radiating force.
Her sacred weapon. Still in disguise.
Barefoot, she glided across the floor like a shadow, moving toward the front door.
She pressed herself against the wall beside it, holding her breath.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps approached.
Measured. Solid. No rush. No fear.
Two people.
One light.
The other... unreadable.
Tap...
They stopped. Right in front of her door.
They were here for her. No doubt about it.
The air went still.
Suzuno could hear her own heart speeding up.
She tightened her grip on the hammer. The cold of the metal grounded her.
Knock, knock, knock.
Three sharp, polite knocks.
Her eyes narrowed.
In a quiet but icy tone, she asked:
"Who's there?"
A calm, unfamiliar male voice answered from the other side of the door.
"Kamazuki Suzuno-san."
It was smooth. Emotionless. But it carried... weight.
"I'm here with someone who'd like to see you. Would you be willing to meet her?"
He paused.
"You know her. Hero Emilia Justina."
Inside the apartment
What?!
Suzuno's eyes widened in shock.
Emilia Justina?!
The Hero?!
She's alive?!
Here?!
Her heart nearly stopped. All her defenses shattered under the weight of disbelief.
That nameit meant everything to her.
Finding the missing Hero was one of the biggest reasons she'd traveled across worlds.
But still, she didn't fling the door open.
Her instincts as an auditor, forged in the darkness of the Church, made her hesitate.
This could be a trap.
Another fake. Another cruel lie.
She drew in a deep breath. Pulled herself together.
One hand on the hammer.
The other slowly reached for the door.
She was ready to strike at a moment's notice.
And thenshe yanked it open.
Light from the hallway spilled into the entryway.
The first thing she saw was the young man who'd spoken.
Black hair. Blue eyes. Ridiculously handsome in a low-key kind of way. Just standing there in casual clothes, but somehow
He felt like gravity.
Suzuno's palm broke out in cold sweat.
This guy... was dangerous. Extremely dangerous.
But then she saw the girl beside him.
