The Legendary Spearman Returns

Coal said that it was going to explode, meaning...

‘You’re going to... die?’ Kireua asked.

-Death. Annihilation. If they mean the same in human terms, then yes, I’ll die right after I swallow it.

“Why?!” Kireua shouted out loud, forgetting that he was talking in his head.

-My vessel can’t handle it. Other demons would only be tempted to go through the gate, but I can tell that there are many gods and thousands of vengeful human spirits.

Kireua's eyes widened. “Gods? Then does that mean that the gate actually leads to another dimension? And that world has gods too?”

-No, it’s what’s called the Gray Zone or Chaos, not another dimension. That place doesn’t belong to the Angel Realm or Demon Realm.

“What do you mean? Let me understand what is going on, please!”

-The Gray Zone is the Gray Zone, and Chaos is Chaos. To go into a little history... There was someone who was abandoned by both the Angel and Demon Realms. After being hunted over and over, he confronted his numerous pursuers from both realms in a neutral zone called Chaos. A battle of unmatched proportions took place.

Kireua’s eyes slowly widened as Coal’s story began to connect with one he’d heard before.

“Is that story—?”

“Ahhhhhhhh!”

Before Kireua could finish his question, the last survivor collapsed. The portal had absorbed all of the survivors’ vitality.

-The Angel and Demon Realms are completely gone, and the gods in them were annihilated. Some of the gods survived and scattered all over the Human Realm or threw themselves into Chaos. It’s nothing but an empty void where one nightmarishly terrifying person fought off their pursuers, but they had no other choice.

“Coal, did you... recover your memory as Greed?” Kireua asked doubtfully. “Is that why you’ve been quiet...?”

-Yeah. A shame. I hoped I could meet my previous owner one last time.

As Kireua expected, the terror from Coal’s story was the Emperor of Avalon in his past life.

-There’s no time. I have to eat that before the gate is completed. Otherwise, Chaos and the Human Realm will be connected.

“What do you mean?”

-A door opens both ways. A pathway will be created once the gate is complete, and all the gods in Chaos will be able to get here. Chaos will come to the Human Realm, literally. These gods will be a lot stronger than the ones already here since they’ll have their real bodies.

Kireua swallowed nervously. The demons and people with angels’ abilities that he had met so far were already problematic enough, but just when he’d handled most of them, literal gods were going to come here!

-That’s not what you want, is it?

“But after destroying the gate, you...” Kireua trailed off.

-You don’t have to rely on me anymore, Kireua. Most humans now think that you’ve gotten strong. You’ve come far from the boy I met.

Kireua choked up. Even now, he could tell that Coal was growing up. Coal used to talk like a four-year-old, but now it was trying to console him.

From their first encounter to now, Kireua and Coal shared many treasured memories and faced danger time and time again. In fact, Kireua had escaped most of the danger thanks to Coal’s help, so he had grown attached to it. Kireua didn’t want to say goodbye. Aside from the debt he’d accrued from Coal saving his life numerous times, Kireua considered Coal family.

“...I’m not a boy,” Kireua muttered quietly.

-Besides, only my ego will disappear. You’ll still be able to use ebon flames and my power, so you don’t have to worry—

“Stop,” Kireua tearfully interrupted. “That isn’t what I meant, you fool.”

-Huh?

Time seemed to stretch as Kireua and Coal looked at each other. Kireua hated the thought of letting Coal go, but he couldn’t afford to anguish over it any longer.

“Thank you for everything.” Kireua clenched his fists, trying not to cry.

-Me too. I enjoyed our time together.

Coal looked up with a grin and bounced up and down.

“Can we never meet again?” Kireua asked.

-Mmm... I’m not sure.

“You’re my only younger brother. If you can return in your original ego, then come back. I’ll wait for you forever.”

Although it still looked like a cotton ball, Kireua could tell that Coal instantly brightened up.

“Okay, brother,” Coal said in an actual voice.

“Coal...!”

Time resumed flowing at its original speed.

Before Kireua could say goodbye, Coal turned and flew toward the portal.

A loud, alien noise announced their collision.

-What?

Jack stared uncomprehendingly.

“Coal!” Kireua yelled as the gate was swallowed by a pool of black.

* * *

Meanwhile, Selim and Duke Tremblin arrived at their meeting point.

“There’s a lot of them,” Tremblin remarked, surveying the gathered army from atop the fortress.

It felt like every noble in Avalon was at the meeting point. The fortress they were in could only accommodate fifty thousand people, so temporary camps had to be made.

“Your Highness.”

Selim did not respond, despite standing right next to Tremblin.

“Your Highness?” Tremblin prompted, his head tilted.

“Ah! Did you say something?”

“...May I ask why you were lost in thought?”

“Well...” Selim trailed off hesitantly.

Tremblin gently smiled. “Don’t worry too much. I know that it can feel burdensome to lead such a grand army, but you’ll do a good job.”

“...That isn’t what I was worried about.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m not sure if I should say this...” Selim hesitated for a moment and then let out a long sigh. “...I’m more worried about Kireua than me.”

“Oh.” Tremblin smiled wryly. “Still, I can only say the same thing. Sir Cain is with him, so you should focus on your mission. You already know that Prince Kireua’s pride would be hurt if he knew that you were thinking like that.”

Despite the duke’s assurance, Selim’s expression was grim. Even if Kireua and Cain managed to infiltrate Hubalt, how much damage could they really do to the empire on their own? They might get captured and suffer instead...

“Duke Tremblin is right, Selim. Cut it out already. Who do you think you’re worrying about right now?”

Selim and Tremblin slowly to the source of the voice behind them.

Tremblin bowed. “Princess Iruca.”

Iruca bowed back. “It wasn’t intentional, but I apologize for eavesdropping, Duke Tremblin.”

“There is no need for an apology.” Tremblin shook his head as he was aware that Iruca was approaching them the whole time.

“You should consider it lucky if Kireua fails,” Iruca said to her brother.

“...What in damnation are you saying?”

“Aren’t you guys competitors? I think you’re misunderstanding something here—there is only one throne. Although the nobles are supporting you right now, that could change if Kireua succeeds.” Iruca stood in front of Selim and looked him in the eyes. “No... it will change.”

“...I hope so. That would be best for everyone in Avalon,” Selim quietly replied.

“Kireua will be hell bent on succeeding with or without your concern. Ah, you’re so annoying.” Iruca scratched the back of her head exasperatedly, disregarding how it would make her look. “You may look like Dad, but you’re always too soft-hearted, you know that?”

Selim frowned. “What do you expect me to say right now?”

“Stop trying to be considerate of your competitor in front of the people who trust you to lead the empire,” Iruca snapped. “Don’t tell me you don’t know how rude you’re being to them right now. Their families’ future depends on their choices, so they’re already nervous enough.”

Before Iruca could continue her rant, Selim and Tremblin heard the faint sound of horses running toward the fortress. Iruca noticed their reactions and stopped.

“Your Highness!”

“...Yes, I noticed. Are they here?”

“Yeah, they are.”

“Those damned Hubalt guys are faster than I thought.” Iruca turned to descend from the ramparts.

“Iruca.”

The princess gave Selim a questioning look.

“You said that the nobles who chose to support me will be nervous if I continue to act like this.”

“So?” Iruca sourly asked.

“There’s nothing for them to worry about.”

Selim summoned Longin into his hand and leaped high into the air.

“I’m going to prove myself with my abilities, just like His Majesty did.”

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