It was late at night.
It was a city that defied darkness with its brilliant nightscapes, instead, it appeared brighter at night than during the day.
Noir Giabella stood in the sky above the city named after her.
She gazed at the night sky from within Giabella-Face, which by now was known and talked about by everyone across the continent. The night sky was painted blue by the overly bright lights below, and the stars and the moon were dimmed by the artificial, terrestrial luminosity.
Below her feet, the city sparkled with lights, but the usual hustle and bustle was absent. All the tourists in Giabella Park were lost in dreams presented to them by Noir's Demoneye of Fantasy during the special event that was dubbed Giabella Showtime. It was the city's grandest event. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that this event was what the city’s visitors came looking for. There was no limit to what the Demoneye of Fantasy could create and everyone’s deepest desires could be fulfilled during Giabella Showtime.
Yet, Giabella Showtime did not have a set schedule. It commenced solely on Noir Giabella's whim.
"I already knew you were mad."
A voice came from behind her. She had known he would come, that he would enter Giabella-Face uninvited and approach her. She knew that but had ignored him because their relationship was not bad to the extent she would rebuke and expel him outright. While Noir wasn’t specifically fond of this particular demon, hundreds of years had rendered them acquaintances.
"But to think you'd be this mad,” Gavid Lindman muttered with a chuckle.
Giabella City was the Helmuth Empire's most splendid and lucrative city. It attracted the most tourists on the continent, as well as the most money and life-force. However, the city had ceased welcoming new visitors in recent days.It was an unthinkable act since it was as if the city had declared a blockade, yet strangely, there were no complaints from the tourists. Despite journeying to Helmuth solely for this city of dreams, the tourists left for other destinations without protesting upon being turned away at the gates.
"There are particular circumstances for both me and this city,” Noir spoke without turning, her fingers swirling a wine glass. "Have my actions breached any laws?"
"Are you asking because you truly do not know?" questioned Gavid.
"It's unlikely to be legal. So then, have you come to sanction me?" she questioned.
Noir still didn't turn around to face him.
Gavid shrugged and continued, "It’s hard to know where to start criticizing and sanctioning, Duke Giabella. Even acknowledging your significant contribution to the empire's coffers and foundational efforts over the years... this is too much. Even if you returned all your wealth to the national treasury, I would still decree execution,” stated Gavid.
"Ahaha." Noir couldn't help but burst into laughter at his words.
Against the backdrop of her clear laughter, Gavid pressed on, "Sealing the city. Forcibly hypnotizing arriving tourists to manipulate their cognition and make them leave. These actions alone constitute unprecedented crimes in imperial history."
Gavid pointed out the window.
"Taking every being in this city hostage goes beyond a grave crime. It demands an inevitable death sentence,” he declared as he first looked at her and then the city at their feet.
The city was silent yet radiant. It had been four days now. Every tourist in Giabella City and Giabella Park and every worker — without exception, had been hypnotized. No one besides Noir Giabella and Gavid Lindman was awake in this city.
"I've merely fulfilled everyone's wishes," Noir retorted to his accusations with a sneer. "They all came here harboring dreams, didn't they? It’s true that until now, I have been quite stingy with it. I did not grant the Giabella Showtime daily to those who desired it."
"Was it not to maintain its rarity or something of that sort?" Gavid questioned her.
"Ahaha! Exactly. If it was always available whenever they wished, who would long for it desperately? Though, I think I offered it quite frequently. I guess unlucky tourists might have left without getting to experience it,” Noir responded easily.
Such tourists quickly returned to Giabella Park, as did those fortunate enough to have experienced Giabella Showtime before. Greed knew no bounds. A single taste of the sweet dream she offered led to addiction, driving them back in search of more. The dreams shown by Noir Giabella's Demoneye of Fantasy were the strongest drugs in this world.
"Well, that’s why I tried it out. Since everyone came hoping for dreams, I showed them what they wanted," Noir explained.
The thought was inconceivable. The population of demons and humans in this immense city exceeded millions. Countless beings were trapped in a dream conjured by Noir Giabella. Unless they were a Demon King, no demon could accomplish something like that… no, not even a Demon King could hold millions hostage like Noir had now.
"Millions of dreams, not just one," Noir whispered.
She had not forced them into sleep with overwhelming dark power or immobilized them with fear, either. No one dreaming in this city experienced unhappiness or fear.
The Demoneye of Fantasy crafted every being's most desired dreams. They might have been engulfed in deep slumber in the real world, however, their minds were dwelling on vivid fantasies that eclipsed reality.
"You aren't doing this merely to show everyone a utopia that is free of sorrow. What exactly is your goal? Are you seeking more power? To endlessly gather life force and acquire infinite dark power?" Gavid questioned.
No, that couldn't be it. Noir Giabella had already achieved that. Her dark power had long surpassed that of an ordinary Demon King, and she stood as the pinnacle of Night Demons.
"If you desire greater power, you should aim to become a Demon King. Surely, you won’t say you don’t know how, right? To me, it seems you've already surpassed even that,” Gavid probed further.
"Ahaha..." Noir’s shoulders shook as she chuckled. "You're very curious about me, Gavid. Do you wish to hear my reasons before executing me?"
"As you well know, I didn't come here to execute you," Gavid replied with a wry smile.
Noir finally set down her wine glass and turned to face Gavid directly.
"Of course, I'm aware. Though, we'd have to debate whether it's even possible for you to kill me,” she said.
"Ah, who knew you would try scratching at my pride here, of all places,” Gavid scoffed.
"Ahaha! It’s just a light jest. Well, no, let me be honest, Gavid. Back in Hauria, if we had fought — I was completely certain of victory,” said Noir.
Noir propped her chin with her hand, a mischievous smile on her lips. She continued, "It goes without saying that it would’ve been the case even if you used the Divine Eye and Glory."
"Yes, that might have been the case,” agreed Gavid.
Although it should have damaged his pride, Gavid's demeanor remained calm. Rather, his eyes shone with curiosity as he gazed at Noir.
"But what about now?" he asked.
"I'm not sure,” Noir maintained her smile as she responded. "In terms of abilities, I believe I'm far, far superior. Yet, I no longer have the same certainty I had before. Isn't it strange? It hasn't even been two months since I last saw you in Hauria…." She trailed off.
Her eyes seemed to sparkle with intrigue. She wanted to see through Gavid, but even with her sight, it was hard to discern his depths.
"It's as if you've lived not just two months but a hundred years since then,” commented Noir.
Gavid offered a faint smile in response. How much time had passed? He wasn’t sure how long he spent on that barren battlefield strewn with corpses and weapons. Even now, the man’s identity remained a mystery to him.
He had repeated the cycle countless times: dying, returning to reality, striking the chains, fighting, dying, and returning again.
"Not sure, huh?" Gavid chuckled and nodded. "That's good enough for me. I have no desire to verify it with you anyway."
"Ahaha. If you're not here to execute me nor test me, why did you come to seek me out?" Noir asked while laughing.
She knew the answer already. Gavid, after all, had brought it with him.
"Thought we might share a drink," said Gavid while raising the bottle he'd been holding. "It's from the founding of the empire. Ah, I didn't distill it myself. Commissioned a master for someday ... hahaha, for someday."
"Ah, so it's a unique brew in this world? Heh, if you had merely suggested a drink, I'd have rejected it without a second thought,” responded Noir.
With a flick of her finger, a sizable chair and table appeared before Noir.
"But for a rare, one-of-a-kind liquor, curiosity alone compels me to try. But Gavid, you mentioned this was commissioned for someday . What is this someday ?" questioned Noir.
"Should be obvious, don't you think?" countered Gavid.
"Conquering the continent?" Noir teased with a sly smile.
Gavid nodded while sitting down.
"I had no other desire. I assumed His Majesty the Demon King of Incarceration wanted the same — to wage war. Though a pact was made, I expected it to break eventually,” Gavid admitted.
"To drink this someday wine with me now…. Ahaha, how romantic. Why drink it now? Why not wait for that someday ...?" questioned Noir.
Noir placed an empty glass before Gavid and stared intently at him. Despite feeling as if he had lived centuries longer, his appearance hadn't aged a day.
‘ Well, that’s not necessarily true ,’ mused Noir.
She could sense a shift in his gaze and aura. She couldn’t help but wonder what happened after he stepped back from the unmissed duties of the Grand Duke and left Babel for just over two months…. What could have sparked such a profound change in him? What transformation had he undergone to lead to this?
"Is it because of the duel?" Noir inquired with a tilt of her head. Gavid didn't immediately respond; instead, he began to unseal the bottle he had brought. He had chosen the name the Empire’s Glory for this wine, even though it was a clichéd name.
Truth be told, Gavid wasn't much of a drinker. Not only did alcohol hardly affect him, but he also never felt compelled to drink to excess. However, it wasn’t like he had never gotten drunk before; he had been just once in his life.
It had been when he first became the Blade of Incarceration. Out of sheer joy and honor, he had tasted wine. He had marked it a special occasion and had wanted to experience a unique feeling he'd never felt before.
Thus, he had allowed himself to become intoxicated and had enjoyed the revelry without restraint. It had been enjoyable and he realized then why it was that people drank alcohol.
Yet, after that, he seldom touched alcohol again. Unless required, he abstained, especially when alone. He knew the joy of becoming intoxicated, but he didn’t think the Grand Duke of Helmuth and the Blade of Incarceration should indulge in drunkenness.
Someday.
Yes, he waited for that someday.
He waited for the Oath to be broken when the Demon King of Incarceration resumed war. He waited for the moment when the continent became Helmuth's territory.
That was when he would drink this wine and celebrate inebriation. This wine, Empire's Glory, was crafted for such a future.
"A duel means one of us must undoubtedly die," Gavid remarked with a chuckle, carefully removing the seal and finally uncorking the bottle. The potent aroma of the drink was released into the air of Noir Giabella’s abode.
Noir laughed softly while appreciating the scent that filled the room.
"Indeed, someone must die in a duel…. Ahaha, if you were to die, you would miss out on this wine you have waited for three hundred years. So, is that why you are choosing to drink it now?" questioned Giabella.
"That's right,” Gavid answered easily.
"It's somewhat peculiar. I would have thought you'd wait to triumph in the duel to celebrate with this wine... or even hold out for that someday you longed for,” questioned Noir.
"You know as well." Gavid poured the wine into Noir's empty glass, continuing, "The opponent is Hamel of Extermination. He is incomparably stronger than three hundred years ago, with a depth of power that is basically unfathomable. And rest assured, he has become even stronger since we last saw him in Hauria."
"You've grown stronger since then as well,” Noir commented.
"And so have you,” countered Gavid.
Noir and Gavid exchanged smiles while looking into each other's eyes. Noir was the first to lift her glass, and Gavid didn't refuse. Their glasses lightly clinked together in a toast.
"Let's not talk about the taste," Gavid suggested after a sip, swirling his glass gently as he sank deeper into his chair. "I prefer to keep my impressions entirely to myself. I've thought this since I commissioned the wine."
"Interesting, Gavid. I hadn't pegged you for the romantic type," Noir teased while licking her lips. She set her glass on the table. "But there's something else I'm curious about. May I ask?"
"By all means,” said Gavid.
"Why have you decided not to punish me?" questioned Noir.
Gavid had expected her to ask that question. He chuckled lightly while bringing his glass to his nose to enjoy the aroma before setting it down again. "Because His Majesty the Demon King of Incarceration hasn't decreed your punishment."
"Ahaha! Of course. But Gavid, you might find this distasteful to hear, yet I feel compelled to say it. Even if I didn’t stop at showing the millions in this city their dreams and — hypothetically, of course — kill them all, consuming their life-force…."
Noir paused, her laughter deepening.
"The Demon King of Incarceration wouldn't impose any sanctions on me, would he? Ah, but there's a caveat to my statement. Had I done this a decade ago, well, I might not have been killed, but I'd expect some form of censure. Exiled beyond the empire's borders, perhaps…. But now? Now, it's fine,” declared Noir.
"Why do you think that?" asked Gavid.
"Because I have a role to play now." With a chuckle, Noir took another sip of her wine. "But Gavid, even if the Demon King of Incarceration would allow it, you wouldn't, right?"
"I do not defy His Majesty’s commands. If he doesn't order your punishment, I won't punish you,” said Gavid.
"But you wouldn't sit and drink with me like this, either. Instead of a bottle, you'd come with Glory, not to attack or kill me, but to scorn and despise me,” said Noir.
"That's likely." Gavid took another sip. "In the past, yes, that would have been my reaction."
"What changed for you?" Noir asked, her eyes curving with interest. "Is it because of the duel?"
She leaned forward.
"Why are you seeking a duel with Hamel?" she questioned.