Chapter 919
Episode 229: Keliak’s Safety Measure (2)
“That’s true. But—right now?”
“Faelito will soon receive orders from Jito to return to the surface. There isn’t much time. Originally, he wanted to meet more cautiously, but now it can’t be helped.”
“Understood.”
“With the current turmoil, even you would need a valid reason to meet Faelito in person. Contact the Sword Demon Castle and reveal that this is the Dokma Fortress. Tell them there’s an urgent matter to report about me.”
Leila pulled the Belgasium family’s seal from her bosom. As the seal, engraved with a sword forest, absorbed magical energy, a small dimensional portal appeared above it. Through the portal, the steward’s chamber of the Sword Demon Castle came into view.
{Lady Leila, what is the matter?}
“Is the Sword Demon present in the castle?”
{Yes. Are you requesting entry to see the Sword Demon?}
“Yes.”
{As you know… the Sword Demon is deeply mourning the death of the Chief Secretary.}
“I’m aware. But there’s urgent information about Lagal Pun and the prisoner he’s responsible for. Open the gate. And ensure that until I meet Faelito, no one else can see me or the prisoner.”
{Please wait a moment.}
The steward of the Sword Demon Castle left for about ten seconds before returning.
{We will open the gate now. Setting coordinates to the Sword Demon’s office. Two individuals entering: Lady Leila and Lagal’s prisoner. Is that correct?}
“Yes.”
A low hum vibrated from the seal as the dimensional portal expanded. As Leila and Keliak stepped through, the door to Faelito’s office came into view immediately.
Leila’s expression stiffened, betraying a hint of tension.
“Sword Demon, this is Leila.”
“…Enter.”
The moment the door opened, a thick, dark magical aura surged out. It was the Sword Demon’s grief over Sakiel’s death, his hatred and rage toward those who killed her, endlessly amplifying his magic.
Faelito controlled himself carefully, ensuring his aura wouldn’t harm those beneath him. His expression was blank, but deep sorrow, like an abyss, was etched into his face.
Leila bowed her head deeply, waiting for Faelito to speak first.
“Leila, at some point, I forgot how long I have lived.”
After a long pause, Faelito spoke without even glancing at Keliak Ziphl standing beside Leila.
“Ten thousand years, twenty thousand, or perhaps even longer. Like other demons, I have passed through countless cycles of oblivion, losing many memories. I have no idea what I was thinking when I opposed Lord Jito in the past, or what I was trying to protect from him… I simply don’t know.”
“Lord Faelito…”
Faelito opened his eyes.
“But amid that hazy, distant life, there was always one thing clear. Under Lord Jito’s reign… it was to bring the True Demon Realm to the rightful place, alongside Sakiel. To the surface world, where the true sun shines—something humans arrogantly enjoy without any right.”
Purple tears streamed from Faelito’s crimson eyes. Leila saw him cry for the first time—at least, as far as she could remember.
“Sakiel is dead.”
“I know…”
“Sakiel single-handedly raised the Groshier family, was the greatest general who repelled those who opposed Lord Jito, and the unparalleled Chief Secretary who stabilized the chaotic Demon Realm, which was little more than savagery. To me… she was more than a subordinate. A comrade who prospered this land with me, a fellow soldier sharing the same fate. And now, that Sakiel was brutally torn apart by humans.”
A sharp energy suddenly sliced across Keliak’s cheek. He didn’t wipe the blood or look at Faelito.
“Keliak Ziphl, it’s obvious why a human like you became Lagal’s prisoner. You did well not to meet my eyes just now. Had you done so, I would have beheaded you. Even with a witch backing you, in my eyes you are nothing but a human who must be utterly erased.”
“So this is the power of the Fist Sword Vaskala. Though it’s just a shallow cut on my cheek, the sensation of my power being blocked chills me. If killing me will ease your grudge, then do it. I won’t stop you.”
“You speak as if it’s possible to block my sword.”
“If it were a sword that lost its composure, perhaps. But a true Sword Demon’s blade would be hard to evade, even without Vaskala.”
“Puhahaha…”
Faelito let out a hollow laugh.
The raging aura around him instantly calmed, and the tear tracks on his cheek vanished without a trace.
“I understand why you came to the Sword Demon Castle now. So… the witch wants me to kill humans more calmly?”
“The witch and Lord Jito would not want that. You must now go to the surface, avenge Sakiel Groshier, and reclaim Lord Jito’s body.”
Faelito stared deeply and darkly at Keliak for a long moment.
“Keliak Ziphl.”
“Speak.”
“Lord Jito would not have sent you, his plaything, to me directly. Your coming here is entirely the witch’s will. So go and tell her that you have calmed me.”
“From what I see, you have not yet fully settled your mind.”
Every time Keliak spoke, Leila felt her insides dry up. Each word was dangerously charged.
Faelito read Leila’s feelings perfectly.
“It’s alright, Leila. I was going mad with grief over losing Sakiel, but now my mind clears in an instant. This is why everyone avoids witches. No matter what happens, if you get involved with a witch even a little, the situation will inevitably go the way she wants.”
Leila bowed her head once more. Now, she felt as if she was facing the Faelito she knew. Yet even that was a distorted version, brainwashed by Jito, and it pained her deeply.
“When did Jito’s brainwashing begin? Since when have we…?”
Faelito stood and slowly steadied his breath.
“So, how do you suggest I calm my mind further here, Keliak Ziphl?”
Keliak pulled something from his bosom.
A black orb. Condensed with extremely pure spiritual energy.
“This is a sphere made by the witch Helluram. She wants you to carry this before you face the final battle with Inse.”
“What is it for?”
“It depends on what you want to use it for. If you want life, it can give life. If you want death, it can give death.”
“That’s vague.”
“The witch is always like that.”
Faelito stared calmly at the orb. The longer he looked, the more it felt like he would be sucked inside, never to return.
“If I were to interpret the witch’s will, life probably symbolizes escape. If you face death in battle, using this orb will allow you to escape somewhere. I think it would be Lord Jito’s residence.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Why else would the witch send you to me? She wants you to succeed. So if you’re about to die, she wants to save you. The safest place in the Demon Realm when you’re defeated by Inse’s strongest is Lord Jito’s residence.”
“Then death must mean self-destruction. Like… what Sakiel did. Does the witch already believe I will lose to Inse’s strongest? That I will fight without calming my mind?”
“Maybe. If you don’t fight as a perfect Supreme Demon, I would think the same. Supreme Demon, Creation. In Inse, that level means a state unaffected by emotions. But today, what I saw was far from that. You were grieving, and you still are.”
Faelito picked up the orb from Keliak’s palm.
“I will take this.”
“A wise choice.”
“How do I use it?”
“Think of what you want and shatter the orb. In any case, the witch giving you this means she wants to keep you alive if possible. I hope you fight not as a man who lost comrades, but as the Sword Demon Faelito. Then you won’t need to use this orb.”
“Interesting words. As the witch’s servant, you’d think I’d want me to use this orb somehow.”
Keliak shook his head bitterly.
“I am not the witch’s servant. Didn’t you just say it yourself? This is why everyone avoids witches.”
“Ah, so you’re just as much a pawn in the witch’s game.”
“Something like that.”
“Whether what you say is true, we’ll see after the battle. Now, leave.”
Faelito turned his back.
Leila barely swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue: “Brother.”
“…I wish you luck, Sword Demon.”
“Leila.”
“Speak.”
“Do you know when the next cycle of oblivion will come?”
“No.”
“Neither do I. So we live a life where we can lose someone at any moment.”
Leila couldn’t find words to reply and had to leave the office.
As they exited the Sword Demon Castle, no one inside saw Leila or Keliak directly.
“As expected, the Flame of Awakening can’t undo the brainwashing. If I had used that power, I wouldn’t have been able to avoid fighting Paelito.”
“Is that orb really the witch’s? If by some chance the Sword Demon were struck down by the humans’ daggers, could it truly save him?”
“That orb wasn’t made by the witch—it was my creation. Since chaos was the main ingredient, you could say I borrowed the witch’s power. But its effect isn’t what you’ve been told. The orb’s sole function is escape.”
“What? So you lied to the Sword Demon?”
“Do you think Paelito would have accepted it if I told him I made it?”
“That’s true. But wouldn’t it have been better to just say it only works for escape?”
“The witch is an ambiguous, confusing being. Do you think she’d make something just to rescue someone from danger? If I’d explained it that way, Paelito wouldn’t have believed me. Especially since he’s met the witch several times with Jito.”
“I see. So, if the Sword Demon ever finds himself cornered, all he has to do is break the orb.”
“Exactly. It’s a pretty reliable safety net, don’t you think?”
Leila nodded.
Keliak smiled quietly to himself, imagining the moment Paelito would shatter the orb.