When Erebus reappeared before the dark faction's believers, he once again—without the slightest suspense—became everyone's leader.
Putting reality aside, Erebus had fulfilled every promise he'd made before being chosen as the Lord of Darkness.
Even though the Overlord Chaldo had ultimately been defeated by an adventurer of unknown origin, without Erebus, they would never even have learned such an adventurer existed.
Just listen to the voices on Orario's surface.
The adventurers' agitation—because they'd realized they truly might lose to darkness.
The weaklings' terror—because they knew they had no power to resist it.
The rats' revelry—because they believed they would live better in a world ruled by darkness.
Because of that, even Valetta—who had been stripped of status and attention—had never once doubted Erebus.
What kind of police mole becomes the boss of the underworld?
Besides, other people "acted" like villains.
Erebus didn't look like he was acting at all.
Now, under the awed stares of the faithful, Erebus spoke.
"The two Overlords have recovered their condition. Next, they will appear once more—stronger than ever!"
That was the only news that mattered. The moment they heard it, everyone's spirits surged.
As long as the two Overlords could still fight, the dark faction could not lose!
If Orario didn't have some inexplicable hidden foundation—and if some inexplicably powerful adventurer hadn't appeared—last time would have been a perfect victory for darkness.
"What a pity," Erebus said, almost wistfully. "They should have fallen into total despair. Yet now they're brimming with fighting spirit. They won't give up as long as even a sliver of hope remains… That is Orario."
When he spoke of Orario, Erebus showed no resentment, no anger—only anticipation.
To the others, that anticipation looked like a cat playing with a mouse.
Truly the most evil god.
"Big words," Valetta drawled, lips curling. "Haven't you already prepared to crush Orario completely, our 'Greatest Evil'?"
Over the last two days, she had consolidated the dark faction's morale, making everyone believe again that victory was inevitable.
And Valetta wasn't lying.
She genuinely believed they would win.
With the "Greatest Evil" leading them, how could they lose?
"Don't misunderstand," Erebus said, shaking his head. His expression was painfully sincere. "I really am praising Orario."
That sincerity made the dark faction's executives go cold.
Erebus had once asked them a question—
What is evil?
Though they had long since become leaders of darkness, not a single one of them had been able to answer.
Erebus had supplied the answer himself.
"Evil is to be hated."
The greatest evil should destroy everything—so completely that even hatred itself is erased—leaving only wreckage, emptiness, and hollow bewilderment.
So the dark faction's ambitions should be larger.
Do not refrain from doing good because it seems small.
Do not do evil just because it seems trivial.
Which, in Erebus's mouth, became something far more chilling:
Do not spare the good simply because they are weak.
Do not waste yourself on petty cruelties.
Only a "Greatest Evil" capable of annihilating everything was worthy of the darkness they sought.
A city reduced to ruins—everything destroyed—that was the dark faction's true destination.
Their paradise.
"Enough with the sermons," Valetta snapped. "Start the war already. I can't wait!"
The memory of that pillar of light that had split the night made her unwilling to wait even a second longer.
She was delighted. Enraptured. Trembling to her bones.
She wanted to see that spectacle again.
This time, she just had to be careful not to let Finn pinpoint their position.
"Long live Lord Erebus!"
"Long live the 'Greatest Evil'!"
"Grant us salvation through darkness!"
In that moment, Erebus was worshiped like a savior.
Yes—villains needed a savior, too.
Smiling, Erebus looked down at the cheering executives.
Anyone touched by his gaze became even more fanatical.
They believed that under this god's guidance, darkness would inevitably swallow Orario.
"Good," Erebus said. "Turn that spirit into flame—and burn Orario to ash!"
In the mindless roar of celebration, Valetta could already see the scene Erebus had described.
Orario in flames—that was the most beautiful Orario of all.
She exhaled slowly and swore it in her heart.
"I will drag you into hell, Orario!"
Cid looked left and right, at a loss for words.
The process had been dangerous, but under his handling, Filvis had safely mastered the cursed power.
And it really was powerful.
The awakened effect left even Cid stunned.
Right now, there were two people standing before him.
Filvis on the left.
And Filvis on the right.
As if sensing Cid's hesitation, both Filvises spoke at the same time.
"Lord Shadow, I'm the real Filvis—she's the fake!"
Filvis finally understood: the crystals granted tremendous power, but it was also the most taboo kind of power.
There could only be one Filvis allowed to remain at Lord Shadow's side.
The other Filvis also came to a conclusion: Lord Shadow was merciful—he wouldn't abandon any Filvis.
So she had to prove her worth.
She had to become the Filvis Lord Shadow needed most.
"Don't rush," Cid said calmly. "I have a good method."
He reached out and—without hesitation—started rubbing both Filvises' ears.
The Filvis on the left flushed red, but because she'd agreed to let Lord Shadow do as he pleased, she could only endure it, rigid with embarrassment.
The Filvis on the right turned even redder—yet showed no resistance at all, blatantly enjoying it.
What kind of expression was that supposed to be for a proper elf?
Cid looked at the Filvis on the right.
"Are you the real Filvis?"
"Of course," she declared. "I'm Lord Shadow's most loyal—most honest—Filvis. Not like that Filvis over there, hiding herself."
She was utterly convinced of her authenticity.
She simply refused to conceal that "truth."
That didn't make her false—absolutely not.
"You—you're lying! I'm the most loyal Filvis!" the left Filvis shot back, face burning—this time from anger.
But she didn't dare claim she was the most honest.
Lying in front of Lord Shadow was unthinkable.
And admitting those shameful emotions out loud was equally impossible.
Staring at this "other self," Filvis felt a rising dread.
What if, from now on, every thought and feeling in her heart would be reported to Lord Shadow by this impostor?
She could faintly sense it—she and this impostor might be able to merge into one.
If that happened, the other Filvis might truly know every hidden emotion she had.
Then would she have any secrets left in front of Lord Shadow?
That future wasn't the future she wanted.
Cid nodded, more or less understanding what was going on.
"You're both Filvis," he said. "So from now on, get along."
Curses really were fascinating.
Cid decided he'd spend more time studying them in depth.
....
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