Kalian wrapped his arms around me with a firm grip, tears cascading down his cheeks.
He struggled to catch his breath.
Terrified of the possibility of losing me once more, he clung to me and would not release his hold.
It felt somewhat unusual for two men to share such an embrace, yet given the hardships he had faced over the last two years, I chose to overlook it.
I assisted him as he climbed into the carriage.
As soon as we were inside, he unleashed all the questions that had been piling up in his mind.
“I was certain you were dead. There’s no way even you could have survived that explosion.”
“That’s true.”
“Then how did you make it out alive?”
“I used a rather special method.”
Instead of providing a verbal explanation, I made the decision to demonstrate the experience to him in a direct manner that would convey the essence of my intention more effectively.
With a deliberate and focused motion, I placed my hand firmly on my physical form and executed a transcendental release, allowing my soul to emerge from within the confines of my body.
As this spiritual extraction took place, my physical body, positioned within the carriage, slumped forward in a manner that appeared devoid of life, its posture resembling that of a lifeless entity.
In stark contrast, my soul manifested alongside it, maintaining an identical posture, as if mirroring the stillness of the flesh.
Kalian’s eyes widened dramatically in response, filled with an expression of profound shock and astonishment.
“That’s…! That’s the magic you used when we met Belphegor!”
“Exactly. I used it on myself.”
“You escaped the explosion by becoming a soul. But what about your body? It must have been left behind.”
“It died.”
“…What?”
I pointed at my current body.
“This is a new body that Elia prepared for me in advance. My original body was completely destroyed.”
“You had a new body prepared beforehand…? Don’t tell me, you planned this from the start?”
“Of course. No one else but me could hold him in place, and the only way to kill him was with a massive magical detonation.”
“So Elia and Serena knew about this plan from the beginning. I was the only one left out of such an important decision?”
“I told you over and over again—if we told you, it would’ve shown all over your face. Because you knew nothing and grieved so genuinely, our enemy was completely fooled. Thanks to that, everything worked out.”
I shrugged my shoulders as I reentered my body.
Despite the fact that I spoke so casually, this plan had been an incredibly risky gamble.
If our adversary had possessed the knowledge to wield soul magic in the same way that I did, he could have effortlessly prevented me from making my escape, resulting in my death alongside him.
Kalian pressed his lips together and inquired,
“Then why didn’t you come back sooner? Not just a few months—but two years! Do you know how I suffered, thinking you were dead?”
“I had things to take care of.”
“Still! You could’ve at least sent a message. I lived in guilt all this time!”
“I was too busy. I spent all that time managing the relations between humans and demons.”
Using the façade of my own faked death as a strategic cover, I had successfully expanded my influence throughout the political landscape of the empire.
With the destruction of the Demon King and his castle, the demons were rendered vulnerable and exposed.
If they were to be left unattended, the human forces would have undoubtedly capitalized on their inherent weakness without hesitation.
Thus, I undertook clandestine efforts to bolster the strength of the demons while also pinpointing the noble families within the empire that held sympathetic views toward them.
Kalian emitted a deep and weary sigh.
“I see… That makes me feel pathetic. You wouldn’t know, but I gave up on everything. The only thing I did in the last year was work as a mercenary.”
“I know. Maria kept me updated.”
“…Even when I was living on the streets like a beggar?”
“Of course. I heard all about how you clutched my money pouch and sobbed your eyes out.”
“Ugh… that’s embarrassing…”
Kalian shifted his attention and turned his gaze out of the carriage window, letting his eyes wander over the passing scenery.
After a brief moment of silence that hung heavily in the air, he spoke once more, his voice laced with an unmistakable hint of sadness.
“You really saved the world, huh? A time when humans and demons don’t have to fight… If only Victoria could have seen this.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If Victoria were alive, she would have been so happy to hear about this.”
“…Wait. What do you mean? Victoria is alive.”
“…What?”
Kalian, who had been deeply immersed in emotions of sorrow and nostalgia, now appeared to be completely bewildered by the situation at hand.
Ah, that’s correct.
He wouldn’t possess any knowledge of that.
I spoke in a leisurely manner.
“Victoria is perfectly fine. If anything, she’s too healthy for her own good.”
“…Huh?”
“Come to think of it, I forgot to mention this. For the past two years, one of my main collaborators in rebuilding the demons has been Victoria. Without her, it would have been much harder to reach them.”
“…Huh???”
“We’re actually on our way to see her now. We’re almost there.”
The carriage finally reached its intended destination, coming to a gentle stop.
As Kalian stepped out onto the solid ground, he took a moment to absorb his surroundings, his gaze sweeping over the scene in wonder and astonishment.
The streets were meticulously paved, each cobblestone laid with precision, and the buildings that surrounded him displayed a sleek, modern design, exemplifying sophistication and architectural ingenuity.
Countless individuals moved purposefully along the sidewalks, their activities creating a vibrant yet harmonious atmosphere filled with a busy yet orderly flow.
“Whoa… Where are we? Everything looks so fancy. The buildings, the roads… even the clothes people are wearing look completely new to me.”
“This is Silverrain. It’s been recognized as an official city for quite some time now.”
“Silverrain…? You mean that countryside where your family lived? No way. How could it change this much in just two years?”
“With enough money and manpower, anything is possible.”
I led him to a particular building.
It was massive—almost as grand as the imperial palace.
However, unlike a palace, the lower five floors weren’t for residence but were occupied by various commercial facilities.
Kalian stared up in a daze.
“What is this place? A fortress? A castle? Why are merchants running their businesses on the lower floors?”
“It’s called a mixed-use complex.”
We entered a restaurant on the first floor.
It was spacious inside, but it also had several tables set up outside for customers.
People were enjoying a variety of dishes, but the restaurant’s specialty was skewered chicken.
—BOOM!
A sudden explosion erupted inside the restaurant.
Kalian instinctively reached for his sword.
“What’s going on? Don’t tell me it’s an enemy attack.”
“It’s probably just an accident in the kitchen. Let’s go.”
“Wade, be careful. Your body isn’t as strong as it used to be.”
“Don’t worry and just follow me.”
We passed several tables and entered the restaurant’s kitchen.
Thick smoke billowed from the brazier.
The surroundings were completely blackened, and burnt skewers of chicken were scattered everywhere.
A man standing in front of the brazier scratched the back of his head.
Despite his burly physique, he looked around nervously as if frightened by something.
“Hey! You burned it again?!”
Smack!
A woman suddenly ran over and smacked the man on the shoulder.
As she glared at him with sharp eyes, he bowed his head.
“How many times are you going to burn it? You have to control your magic properly! If you just shove it in recklessly, this is what happens!”
“But the orders were piling up…”
“Then control it properly! Don’t just rely on brute force! Ugh, you big tin can!”
“I got it…”
After briefly explaining how to control the fire, the woman turned toward us.
Kalian muttered in disbelief.
“Isn’t that Lucrecia and Darkan? Why are the Four Heavenly Kings here?”
“Why? Am I not allowed to be in the kitchen?”
Disguised as a human, Lucrecia transformed one of her hands into a knife and swiftly chopped the vegetables on the cutting board.
“Cooking is a refined form of swordsmanship. As the Blade Empress, wouldn’t it be natural for me to be an excellent chef as well?”
“O-oh… I see.”
“You’re alive. Ah, I’m busy right now, so get out of the kitchen. It’s too crowded for no reason. The Demon Lord… I mean, the boss is in the office, so go there.”
Lucrecia pushed Kalian and me toward the exit.
Kalian, still in shock, stepped back.
“I can’t believe it. Of all demons, a member of the Four Heavenly Kings is grilling skewers in a kitchen…”
“You have to work to survive.”
Lucrecia, Darkan, and Bellard.
These three saved Victoria.
On the day of the battle, Alcatraz, exhausted and unable to move any longer, hurled Victoria out of the
Demon King’s castle.
At that moment, the nearby members of the Four Heavenly Kings rescued her and escaped the explosion’s range.
Instead of risking their lives fighting the Imperial Army, they prioritized keeping Victoria safe.
Kalian and I passed through the kitchen and arrived in front of the office.