Chapter 377: The Abyss (1)
Every eye around widened in horror. The Hero had descended after defeating the reincarnated Demon King of Fury. However, in an unexpected turn of events, he had suddenly thrust a dagger into the chest of the princess who was offering him accolades. The Hero was destined to carve his name into the annals of history but had now done something unthinkable. The shock of this was inevitable for those unaware of the underlying circumstances. Noir herself was stunned as well.
She definitely had not anticipated a sudden attack without even exchanging a single word, and with this dagger no less — forged not from metal but from divine power. Although it pierced right through the heart, it brought no harm or pain to Scalia, the true owner of this body. However, it was different for Noir. She felt as if her chest had been genuinely pierced — no, the pain even beyond that.
Noir wasn’t possessing Scalia using her true body but was using a low-level Night Demon to be in control of Scalia’s body. The Night Demon couldn't withstand the dagger's power, and the agony it experienced transmitted directly to Noir, who was controlling the Night Demon.
‘How splendid,’ Noir thought.
She registered the encroaching death, a sensation both familiar and strange to her. Throughout her life, she had faced death many times over.[1] Thus, she experienced no thrill in such demise.
But — it was a whole other story if the adversary was Hamel. A death that was once mundane, familiar, and even tedious became exhilarating, delightful, and sweet just because Hamel was the one gifting it to her.
There was unhindered killing intent, and the resolution to kill without bothering to initiate dialogue or hear her words was just refreshing. Even now, Hamel's eyes twinkled with hatred and murderous intent. He displayed not a shred of hesitation or doubt in his actions.
What particularly enthralled Noir was the dagger now lodged in her chest. It was a blade forged from divine power, but it wasn’t a weapon prepared for the Demon King. If it were, it would have been used long ago. Hamel had refrained from using this weapon throughout the battle with the Demon King. What did this signify?
‘It was for me,’ Noir concluded.
He hadn’t conjured it just now. Instead, he had kept it with him after preparing it in advance.
‘He knew I would come.’ Noir felt a shiver of excitement at this thought.
Weren’t they just too compatible? It was perfect.
Noir grinned brightly as she knelt on one knee. Eugene supported her waist to prevent her from collapsing, their embrace resembling that of lovers.
"Don't we know each other too well?" Noir whispered softly.
Without bothering to respond to her words, Eugene twisted the dagger deeper. He had supported her waist to avoid injuring Scalia's body, but seeing Noir’s smile and hearing her words, he felt he had done something unnecessary.
"Princess!"
"M-Mister Eugene! What on earth are you doing?!"
Ivic and Ortus screamed as they rushed over. After being frozen in place, the royal guards began to inch towards Eugene.
At that moment, Sienna arrived from the sky.
"Wait," Sienna commanded as she glared while raising Frost.
Kwoong!
A magical barrier enveloped the surroundings, preventing others from entering and blocking the way.
"Part of the Demon King’s malice has remained within Princess Scalia," Sienna stated solemnly.
“Lady Sienna, what are you saying...?" came a startled reply.
"Do you think I would lie about something like this? The purification will be over soon, so don't come any closer," Sienna warned in a firm tone. Following that stern warning, Sienna exchanged a look with Kristina, who approached with traces of blood at the corner of her mouth, and they stepped into the barrier together.
A laugh echoed from Noir as she watched Sienna, "Ahaha…. Although we weren't that close, can’t we just exchange greetings after meeting each other three hundred years later?"
"Get lost, you whore," Sienna responded coldly.
The severity of the insult did nothing to affect Noir, who only chuckled even more gaily.
"It's impressive that you haven't changed even one bit after all this time, Sienna Merdein. And you... heh, who might you be? Kristina Rogeris? Or perhaps, are you actually the reincarnation of Anise Slywood?"
Kristina responded with a piercing glare instead of responding to Noir’s words. It was best to keep information about her possession a secret, a sentiment shared by Anise.
Noir shrugged and turned to look at Eugene, saying with delight, "I'm pleased, my Hamel."
The Night Demon possessing Scalia was being purified and slowly disappearing. Even Noir couldn’t do anything to change the outcome.
"You knew I was coming and prepared a gift for me. Sadly, I didn't bring any gifts for you. It seems I was lacking in preparations and consideration this time," Noir chatted airily, to which Eugene growled, "What have you done?"
Behind Eugene, Ciel sat, crumpled to the ground, still unable to comprehend the situation fully. She was trembling slightly due to an unfamiliar sensation in her left eye. Sienna and Kristina rushed closer to her.
"I understand how this may look, but I assure you, it’s just a misunderstanding. Hamel, I didn't do anything…. Oh, I'm sorry, Hamel. It just slipped out," Noir said before casting Ciel a sideways glance. A grimace appeared on her face. "Hmm... no, it seems fine. And since when does she know about your identity? Surely, it wasn’t before me, right?”
"I asked what you did," Eugene repeated, looking grim.
"I did nothing," Noir insisted sincerely, genuinely feeling unjustly accused. "Think about it logically, Hamel. Although I am immensely talented, I don't possess the ability to implant a Demoneye in a human. You know this as well, don’t you? It’s impossible for humans to harbor a Demoneye."
Silence followed before Noir continued, "The same goes for black wizards. Despite forming contracts with high-level demons or even with the Demon Kings directly, their essence as a human does not change. That's why Edmund was obsessed with changing his race to be reborn as a Demon King. No matter how high a black wizard climbs, they cannot enjoy the privileges of a demon as long as they remain human."
Eugene knew well what Noir was saying. It was true that a Demoneye could never reside within a human.
"Of course, if it were the Demon King of Incarceration, maybe he could implant a Demoneye in a human. But I can't do it. After all, I am not a Demon King."
A Demoneye...? Ciel touched her left eye, finding the persistent ache gone and her vision as clear as her right eye. It was then that realization dawned upon her — her eye’s transformation was irreversible. She could feel it in her guts.
But before long, something akin to an instinct rooted deep within had come to enlighten Ciel. She understood that her left eye was no longer ordinary; it harbored an unsettling power.
"I don't know anything about this matter. I just…. Hamel, I tried to look after that child's wounds for your sake," Noir argued, Trying to rid herself of the misunderstanding.
She could no longer expect Hamel’s gratitude due to Ciel unwittingly awakening the Demoneye. Yet, Noir did not harbor regrets over this fact. She felt even more joy and delight, knowing that she had occupied a place in Hamel’s mind and had even received a gift from him.
"But I know this, Hamel. That child's Demoneye is... special. It harbors two distinct abilities. One is Iris’ Demoneye of Darkness. The other is... well, shall we call it the Demoneye of Immobility? What do you think?" Noir said slowly.
"Fuck off,” retorted Eugene.
"Oh, you could be a little kinder with your words. Hamel, even without your urging, I'll leave soon. But before I go, could you tell me one thing?" Noir asked, sounding hurt.
Noir's voice gradually faded as she clung to her drifting consciousness and whispered, "The sword that killed the demon king."
Eugene just stared at Noir.
"What on earth is it? In my long life, I have never seen such a sword. That red hue... it's different from the divine power bestowed through human belief. It is more fundamental, more primal…," Noir mused, pondering upon the true identity of Hamel’s weapon.
"I don't know,” spat Eugene with a cold voice before drawing his dagger.
"Lies."
That accusation was the last word Noir could utter before vanishing. As her vision waned, Noir looked straight at Eugene. With a swoosh, black mist flowed out from Scalia's body. Eugene disregarded the dissipating mist and examined Scalia's condition. The Night Demon corrupting her mind had been purified, but Scalia's consciousness had not returned.
‘What an unlucky princess,’ Eugene thought. Having been possessed by a Night Demon twice, and that too by Noir Giabella herself no less, was truly something. After carefully laying Scalia on the ground, Eugene turned to look at Ciel.
"Do you feel... strange or anything?" he asked cautiously while approaching her.
Ciel didn't respond immediately. Instead, she looked alternatingly at Kristina and Sienna. The two of them were holding onto each of her hands.
"Um... not really...?" Ciel replied with a shaky expression.
Sienna, Kristina, and Anise came to the same conclusion after observing her. There was not a trace of dark power in Ciel's body, nor any signs of black magic. In the first place, a Demoneye wasn't magic or black magic — it was merely an organ that utilized dark power.
The authority manifested by a Demoneye resembled more a miracle of divine power than magic. It did not require any formulas or anything of the sort. The wielder of the Demoneye brought forth its power through will and dark power alone.
But that’s what made this situation even stranger. There was no trace of dark power in Ciel, so how could the Demoneye maintain itself?
"Should I try using it?" Ciel asked carefully.
"No," Eugene responded immediately. Although using the Demoneye’s power could potentially reveal other unknown facts, now wasn't the time to test it as everyone was not in the best condition.
"Ciel. You are exhausted, too. It would be better to check your status later after everyone has had ample rest," Kristina advised with a stiff expression.
After examining it closely, it didn't seem like Ciel's Demoneye used dark power as its driving force. She had channeled some divine power into her with caution, but there had been no adverse reaction whatsoever.
Could it be using mana instead? Or perhaps it was using the primal energy inherent in humans as its power source? If it was the latter, the Demoneye could be extremely dangerous. After all, the primal energy of humans was synonymous with their life force, in short, with their lifespan.
"Yes,” Ciel agreed, attempting to compose her expression.
She hadn't fully calmed down yet. Ciel tried her best to be optimistic. She had narrowly avoided living her entire life as a one-eyed individual; wasn’t that something to be thankful for? But despite her efforts to see things positively, her mood did not improve significantly.
"I'm fine." Nonetheless, Ciel reassured everyone with a smile. She looked at Sienna and Kristina, who were fidgeting with her hands, and continued, "Is it all over?"
She had witnessed the demise of the Demon King. The sky was no longer dark, and the sea was not red anymore. The air was no longer filled with the nauseating scent of rotting flesh and blood nor with the agonizing noise of buzzing insects.
"Not yet."
Contrary to Ciel’s expectations, that was how Eugene replied. The Demon King was dead, and not a single subordinate of hers remained. Noir Giabella had left, and there was no trace of the Demon King of Incarceration.
Yet, it wasn't entirely over. At least for Eugene, it still wasn’t over, as he had something left to do.
"Get going." It was Sienna who broke the silence. "You have something to see down there, don't you?"
When the sea had been split open by the holy sword, Sienna had seen what lay in the unimaginable depths below. Although she couldn't fully grasp what it was, part of her wanted to ask Eugene for an explanation about it right away. Instead of saying, ‘get going,’ what she really wanted to say was, 'let's go together'.
But she couldn’t. Eugene’s expression was more unfamiliar to her than ever before.
"There is indeed something I need to check." Eugene also didn’t mince his words and let out a short sigh.
His mind was a tumultuous storm of thoughts, tangled and twisted. He tried to sort out the swirling emotions, but it was futile; the more he pondered, the more knotted they seemed to become. It reminded him of the fleeting moments just after waking from a dream when details could still be vividly recalled. But as time passed and other thoughts intruded upon the waking mind, the dream would fade, almost forgotten from one’s thoughts. It felt as though, even now, those thoughts were disappearing from his mind.
He feared that doing nothing would lead to his worries melting into his unconscious, hiding away forever. And this wasn't what Eugene wanted.
"I'll be back soon." Once more, Eugene sighed heavily before starting to move.
But his feet were rooted to the ground. He was held back by concerns for Ciel, Sienna, Kristina, and Anise. Maybe they should come with him?
‘No,’ Eugene decided firmly.
He quietly raised the Cloak of Darkness. Sensing his intent, Mer and Raimira emerged from the folds of the garment. Their faces wore complex expressions of question and concern, unable to fully comprehend Eugene’s thoughts.
Eugene had only thought: he didn't want to show them — not the turmoil in his mind nor what he would find in the depths below. The first to witness it, to feel it, to judge it — it had to be him and him alone.
‘It has to be me.’ Coming to this decision, Eugene turned away with determination.
He had pushed himself to the limit in today’s battle. Without miracles and blessings, he wondered how many times he would have died. Utilizing Ignition had left his body in a terrible state. Thankfully, his current body, that of 'Eugene Lionheart,' was naturally sturdy. If it had been his previous life's weaker form, he would certainly have been bedridden by now, being left unable to walk.
Feeling grateful for his robust physique, Eugene staggered outside the barrier. He was certain that many people here had pending questions and the urge to speak to him. However, nobody approached Eugene.
"Do you need help?" Carmen asked instead of approaching him.
With a bitter smile, Eugene shook his head, "Please, stay with Ciel."
He had no intention of leaning on anyone. Passing Carmen, he headed towards the railing.
The sea was still parted, a sight that had other ships’ crews pointing and murmuring among themselves. Leaning unsteadily on the railing, Eugene turned and announced, "I'm saying this just in case, but do not follow me down there."
He didn't wait for a response. Despite warning others not to go, he didn’t hesitate to leap into the sea himself.
Woosh!
A gust of wind caught him, breaking his fall. It was Tempest. Holding Wynnyd inside his cloak, Eugene chuckled, "Aren’t you upset?"
[What do you mean?] Tempest asked.
"I didn’t use Wynnyd to kill the Demon King," Eugene explained.
[It’s not like you didn’t need my help at all, though,] Tempest responded with a hearty laugh.
It wasn’t only Sienna’s magic that summoned the wind to propel the fleet. Tempest also played a part in this as the wind had also responded to Tempest’s will. Moreover, every time Eugene wavered during the battle in the sky, it was Tempest who silently stabilized him.
[I do not feel disappointed, Hamel,] Tempest stated.
Eugene soared over the sea, his body supported and pushed forth by the wind.
Tempest continued, [My resentment lies with the Demon King of Incarceration, not with Fury. It was with the northern expedition that could not be fulfilled. I still remember the scenery at the pinnacle of Babel. How the wind felt there and how powerless I was.]
Eugene decided to stay quiet and just listen to Tempest.
[When you eventually ascend to Babel, you might not need the help from Wynnyd or me. Isn't it already like that, Hamel? You have formidable weapons that cannot be compared to Wynnyd. Even the storms that I, a Spirit King of the spirit world, can conjure in this world would not be more violent than the ones you can create yourself.] Tempest sounded rueful.
"Well, when fighting against the Demon King of Incarceration, I will still swing Wynnyd around a few times,” said Eugene.
[Hahaha! There's no need. Someday... when you reach Babel, when you confront the Demon King of Incarceration, I will aid you in my own way just like this time. That is enough for me. I am satisfied with that,] Tempest said with a chuckle.
Eugene looked down below. The sea gaped open, the waters neither pouring nor merging with each other. Along with the wind, Eugene descended to the very bottom of the chasm, to the abyss.
[What's down there...?] Tempest asked curiously.
"I don't know," Eugene replied, not sounding convincing.
[You should know…. Yet, I can't read your emotions. Don't you want to show it?] Tempest probed him.
"It's a complex feeling,” Eugene muttered with a bitter smile. "I don't want to accept it rather than not wanting to show it. Frankly, I don't even want to see it."
[Why?] Tempest asked, perplexed.
"Because I'm afraid,” Eugene admitted candidly.
They finally reached the bottom of the abyss.
Eugene landed on the ground. Though he anticipated the seabed to be damp, it wasn’t so at all. Contrary to his expectations, it seemed unbreakably hard.
[You're afraid?] The voice of Tempest became hardly audible. It was likely due to the powers of Incarceration in play.
Eugene grumbled while walking on the hard ground. "I'm afraid of whether I can handle it."
Eugene suddenly sank down.
1. Just a reminder for all our readers in case you feel confused here. It has been mentioned in the previous chapters regarding Noir’s obsession with Hamel that she has tried killing herself many times by casting an illusion on herself. Though she has died several times from this, it isn’t permanent. Hence her fixation on Hamel as he might be the only person capable of granting her long-cherished desire of death. ☜