Chapter 892
Episode 223: Uncomfortable Encounters (3)
“I pledge my loyalty.”
February 1, 1804.
Jito looked down at the human who had come to the Jinma Realm. The man knelt on one knee before him, begging to be accepted as a member of the Jinma Realm.
[Ugh, what a pain.]
Jito openly showed his irritation as he stared at the man.
The passage between the Jinma Realm and the human world wasn’t fully open yet. Although the Demon-Sealing Barrier had been damaged, it hadn’t lost all its power.
So, for a human to come down to the human world now, they needed the help of a very special being. Even coming straight to Jito’s own residence was nearly impossible without the barrier.
As far as Jito knew, there was only one person capable of such a feat.
[Helluram sent you, didn’t he? Damn it. No wonder he never told me the full price for our last deal… So accepting you is the cost, huh?]
The man didn’t answer but slowly raised his head.
Though he spoke of loyalty and knelt before Jito, there was no trace of servility in his demeanor.
Instead, he met Jito’s gaze with an oddly confident air. Jito wanted to give him a lesson right then and there but held back. He was certain this was the price Helluram demanded.
[The witch wouldn’t have approached you first. Your god must have begged her—asked her to make it possible for me to accept you. Huh, I remember Shinu used to be so proud back in the day.]
The man’s name was Kelliak Ziphl.
There was no trace of youth left in him. His eyes shone with the brilliance of a master magician, and the new staff he carried, resembling the ‘Hroti’—the symbol of the Ziphl family head—seemed ready to unleash power rivaling the Great Sea itself.
[Hmm, I don’t know what Helluram’s thinking. Fine, you tell me, and I’ll accept you. That guy really creeps me out sometimes. In some ways, he’s more ruthless than love or peace.]
“I have not heard the gods’ words directly.”
[Ah, you bastard… So you’re bold because the higher-ups have already decided? You know if I drag you to the torture chamber and have some fun, Helluram will throw a fit, right?]
“If you refuse to accept me, I will leave immediately. My goal is to reclaim my family’s honor, so letting me go won’t cause you any harm, Lord Jito.”
[No, no. What if you succeed in reclaiming your family? Then you’d regret letting me accept you now and might come at us head-on, with the Demon Stone completed.]
“Think whatever you want.”
[You were just about dead, crushed by your own son, yet you still cling to the pride of being a victor on the surface. I can’t stand that kind of arrogance.]
“Will you accept me?”
Jito pressed his forehead.
As he told Kelliak, he couldn’t read Helluram’s mind.
‘Just a few days ago, we were chatting about every little thing… but Helluram is Helluram, after all.’
Since the start of the human world’s conquest, Jito had never felt uneasy like this.
Not when Biceps went berserk, not when Orgal nearly died, not when he heard there was a red power user among humans, not when he lost some strength because of Ayula, nor when his subordinates kept getting defeated.
But this time was different. He couldn’t predict the variable this man, Kelliak Ziphl, would bring.
The problem was he couldn’t refuse. If he did, Helluram would surely bring him an even bigger problem.
[Fine, I’ll accept you. But don’t do anything until I give the order. You’re just air, a rock by the roadside, a bald man’s hair follicle. Invisible, motionless, and useless.]
“Understood.”
Jito waved his hand through the air, and a dimensional gate opened. It led to Lagal’s Poison Demon Castle.
“Oh, Lord Jito!?”
[Hey, Lagal. Put this guy in Cell 3.]
“Uh… Cell 3?”
[Why, do you have something hidden there?]
“Haha, no secrets here. What could I possibly hide from Lord Jito? Wait, that’s a human!? And that face… isn’t that the Kelliak Ziphl who was purged? How did he get into the Jinma Realm?”
[I’ve noticed something about you, Lagal—you’re endlessly curious. And this is just making me more annoyed.]
“Curiosity is the hallmark of this Poison Demon, Lord Jito’s beloved Lagal Pun. Ahem, how should we treat him?”
[Think of him as a plant. Feed and water him occasionally so he doesn’t die. If he starts wilting, give him more.]
“So, don’t touch him. Got it.”
Jito gave a nod, and Kelliak stepped through the gate. Jito muttered in a sour tone as he closed the portal.
“Cell 3, huh… Could it be Lord Jito recognized my little surprise? That would be troublesome. What do you think?”
“Not sure.”
“Oh, I should introduce myself. I’m Lagal Pun, king of the Poison Demon District in the Jinma Realm.”
“Kelliak Ziphl.”
“By the way, you’re a bit curt… Well, that’s how it goes with those who once had it all.”
“I’ll show respect if you want.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Lagal was in high spirits the moment Jito entrusted Kelliak to him.
He took it as a sign of great trust.
“Let me guess—you made a deal with the witch Helluram. That’s how you managed to come to Lord Jito’s residence unnoticed, and why Lord Jito accepted a human like you. And Lord Jito trusts me, so he left you in my care.”
Kelliak said nothing, calmly surveying the Poison Demon Castle. It wasn’t much different from a human fortress, except the sunlight streaming through the windows was pale compared to the real sun, and the souls of humans who had fallen to hell were busy with menial tasks.
“I have many questions for you. Lord Jito told me not to touch you, but that probably just means no torture. Depending on what you do, we could become quite close.”
“Lord Jito wishes for me to do nothing.”
“Of course, since no one knows what Helluram is thinking! But listen, Kelliak. You should do nothing, but I can use your information and abilities to earn merit. That’s probably why Lord Jito sent you to me.”
Humming a tune, Lagal led Kelliak to Cell 3. All the prison cells in the Poison Demon Castle were underground. As they descended, the tortured souls’ horrific screams echoed through the halls.
Cell 3 was one of the lowest-level cells, but its atmosphere was completely different.
Rather than a prison, it felt more like a monastery—clean, quiet, and serene. Meanwhile, the screams from Cells 1 and 2 were far more dreadful than before.
“Our Cell 3 is, well… traditionally a place of reformation. More specifically, religious reformation. The guards and torturers here were once called saints in life. Of course, saints in hell means they were pretty vile in life.”
As Lagal approached, the guards dressed in priestly robes bowed their heads.
“How’s the work going?”
“Yes, one is nearly fully reformed, Lord Lagal. The other three are still being adjusted in Cells 1 and 2.”
“Still three in adjustment? Huh, they’re holding up better than I expected. But they’ll all end up in Cell 3 anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to come here and relax?”
“They should all be gathered here within three days. By the way, is this a newcomer?”
“A newcomer, yes, but not a subject for reformation. He’s my new friend, whom you must treat with utmost care.”
“Apologies, we will show proper respect!”
The guards bowed deeply toward Kelliak.
Soon, they opened the door to Cell 3. Inside, it looked like a vast prayer hall, except instead of the familiar gods of Ayula or the human world depicted in stained glass, there was an image of Jito.
In the center knelt a woman, poring over a thick book like a sacred text. She was someone Kelliak knew well.
“…Ann Runcandel?”
Ann Runcandel.
The ninth of the Runcandel siblings, and along with her older sister Miu, one of the first to embrace chaos. During the Battle of the Evil God Temple, she fought fiercely against the Tona brothers but was ultimately slain by the Black Knight Mon, who came to their aid. Since the prophet had vanished, she couldn’t even be resurrected.
Naturally, she fell not into the cycle of reincarnation but into hell. Ann closed her eyes, continuously reciting prayers.
“So, who’s in Cells 1 and 2?”
“Miu Runcandel, and Ran Runcandel with Vigo Runcandel. Right now, Paelito has halted the soul juice production that our demons enjoy, trying to find them. He plans to use them to strike at Luna Runcandel.”
—Sakiel.
—Yes, Lord Paelito.
—Temporarily suspend soul juice production. Search hell thoroughly to confirm if Luna Runcandel’s siblings still exist. They likely fell into hell. If they haven’t become soul juice yet, they should still be there.
This was the conversation between Paelito and Sakiel after Luna dealt with the great rift in Hupester Siatello with her red sword.
Ragal hadn’t overheard the conversation directly, but he saw right through Paelito’s plan. He had already sent his lieutenant, Gero, to secure the prisoners before Paelito could get to them.
“Kellyak, my friend, I’m going to use these to give Lord Zito a surprise gift—the final fate of the White Whale. But you know, our hell isn’t just visited by the Runkandel lot. Some of your old subordinates keep showing up here, too.”
“…You want me to sort through them and pick out the useful ones?”
“Ah, you catch on quick! From today, I’ll be sending the souls of Ziphl’s men to Cell Block 3, where you’ll be staying. You just pick the ones you need, and I’ll take the credit for doing Lord Zito a favor. Simple, right?”
“Agreed.”
“Ha! Good. Now get some rest. I’ll bring you something tasty tonight—let’s share a drink of soul juice.”
With that, Ragal left. The guards cautiously glanced at Kellyak before returning to finish their tasks.
Kellyak smiled quietly to himself.
Thinking of the blood of Ganesto.