Mephistopheles's declaration made the mirrors, which projected the images of the other Grand Lords, vibrate intensely.
Kiiiiing—
The voices of the rulers of the Sovereign of the Abyss—the Merciless Sovereign and the Unshakable Ruler of Strictness—boomed through.
[Reviving Babel?]
[You bastard! What the hell do you plan to do?]
Babel, the first city in the Demon Realm created by the Arrogant Savior, had constantly expanded its unstable territory until it began to collapse under its own weight.
After the Arrogant Savior, who had sustained it, was sealed in the Phenomenal World, the rate of collapse accelerated even further, forcing the demons to expend immense effort to stabilize a world that seemed on the verge of crumbling at any moment.
As a result, the Demon Realm had been divided into four zones to maintain its current form.
Yet even then, the world remained unstable, and the demons had no choice but to endlessly increase their vassals to protect their domains while clashing with one another.
Mephistopheles looked at the mirrors and said,
"The reason we have no choice but to keep fighting is because this world is unstable. But! With the Arrogant Savior's power, it is possible to build a stable world like the original Babel!"
At those words, the Lord of Unyielding Fiery Passion, ruler of Gehenna, spoke.
[Babel itself couldn't bear that power and collapsed on its own. Do you really think that having the Arrogant Savior's power now will allow you to stabilize the Demon Realm?] Mephistopheles shook his head at the Lord of Unyielding Fiery Passion's words.
"Thatʼs because the Arrogant Savior kept bringing in fragments of forgotten time that were constantly fading away, expanding the Demon Realmʼs territory."
Recalling the past, he wore a wistful expression tinged with regret as he continued,
"The Arrogant Savior was arrogant to a fault, just like his name. He wanted to save every civilization that was vanishing. Even among them were worthless pieces of trash not worth saving."
Mephistophelesʼs eyes flickered with violet light.
"The new Babel will not be as reckless as the one the Arrogant Savior created. It will become a more stable world than it is now."
The other Grand Lords fell silent upon hearing Mephistophelesʼs words.
Creating a Demon Realm free from the current instability was an enticing proposal for any Grand Lord.
The problem was that the proposal came from the Demon Archlord, Mephistopheles.
At that moment, the Sovereign of the Abyss spoke up.
[Demon Archlord, so what is your plan? To capture that human who inherited the Arrogant
Saviorʼs power, tear his soul to shreds, and use that power to rebuild Babel?] Mephistopheles shook his head at those words.
"The Arrogant Saviorʼs authority doesnʼt work that way."
He paused for a moment before continuing,
"I intend to elevate the inheritor to the rank of Grand Lord of the Demon Realm." Mephistophelesʼs words caused the mirrors to vibrate violently once more.
[A human as a Grand Lord?]
[Youʼre insane! I absolutely refuse!]
Despite the fierce backlash, Mephistopheles smiled and said,
"Iʼm not asking for immediate approval. We can hold the Grand Lord Council, meet him in person, and decide then. If you judge that he lacks the rank of a lord..." Mephistophelesʼs eyes filled with chilling killing intent.
That aura transmitted through the mirrors to the other lords as well.
Then, the Lord of Unyielding Fiery Passion was the first to speak.
[In that case, I approve. Iʼll see him at the Grand Lord Council and judge for myself.]
The Merciless Sovereign and the Unshakable Ruler of Strictness also voiced their approval.
If he proved lacking in a lordʼs rank upon meeting, they planned to tear his soul apart and devour it themselves.
Finally, the Sovereign of the Abyss said,
[This time, Iʼll accept the Demon Archlordʼs proposal.]
With the decision to hold the Grand Lord Council, the discussion concluded, and the shadows flickering in the mirrors soon vanished.
Left alone in the room, Mephistopheles held his wine glass and crossed his arms, wearing a peculiar smile.
"A new Grand Lord of the Demon Realm."
His eyes gleamed with an enigmatic hue whose exact nature was impossible to discern.
*
Zeke prepared to head out with Mephistopheles to attend the Grand Lord Council.
To manage the unstable territories of the Demon Realm, the Grand Lords remained in the deep layers they had created, using their own power to sustain this world.
If they left their positions, the stability of their domains could falter, so thorough preparations were necessary.
Once ready, Zeke sat in a lavish carriage pulled by six massive dimensional beasts resembling dragons.
He then regarded Mephistopheles, seated opposite him, with a highly uncomfortable gaze.
Mephistopheles was not in his original form but had possessed an automaton resembling a noble young lady with violet hair.
Sensing Zekeʼs stare, Mephistopheles smiled seductively.
"Your gaze is quite intense."
Zeke looked at Mephistopheles and said,
"From the automatons youʼve created to everything else... I can see youʼre a dangerous existence in all sorts of ways."
At Zekeʼs rebuke, Mephistopheles unfolded his fan and waved it dismissively.
"Donʼt misunderstand. I simply have a natural fondness for beauty. Constellations donʼt even have a gender to begin with."
Mephistopheles pulled out a mirror, admired the face of the automaton he had chosen as his vessel, and smiled in satisfaction.
"What do you think? This doll is one of my favorites among those Iʼve made. Itʼs based on a woman famous for her world-toppling beauty from a long-lost civilization."
Leaning toward Zeke, Mephistopheles said,
"Well? Isnʼt this level of beauty enough to captivate even you?"
It was an appearance so stunning that an ordinary human man might have swooned at the mere sight, but it had no effect on Zeke.
He pushed away the leaning Mephistopheles with an annoyed expression and said,
"Youʼre disgusting. Get lost."
Mephistopheles laughed even more delightedly at Zekeʼs words.
"The more I see, the more fascinating you are, human. Well, that must be why you were able to surpass the rank of transcendent and attain divinity."
Zeke let Mephistophelesʼs words go in one ear and out the other as he gazed out the window.
The six magical beasts pulling the carriage raced through the dimensional rifts.
Countless lights streaked past the carriage, like flowing stars.
Watching this, Zeke asked Mephistopheles,
"Where are we heading now? I thought we were going to the council chamber." Mephistopheles shook his head at his question.
"Even as a possessed vessel, if the Grand Lords gather in one place, the balance of the Demon Realm could collapse. Itʼs better to create a temporary domain in the dimensional rifts, meet there, and disperse."
It seemed he had devised his own method for safely convening after long ruling the Demon Realm.
As they conversed, the carriage passed through the star-like flowing rifts and entered some domain.
Kugugugu—
A powerful vibration soon shook the entire carriage.
Looking outside again, Zeke saw a world covered entirely in ocean.
"A unique domain? No... itʼs closer to a temporary domain created by fixing a fragment of shattered time."
He thought that such a world must have once existed in the Phenomenal World long ago.
The dimensional beasts flapped their wings vigorously, flying toward the middle of the sea.
In the vast ocean, a single island protruded—the only one in sight.
At the center of that island stood an ancient castle, imposing and solitary.
The dimensional beasts pulled the carriage toward it.
Kugugu!
Soon, the carriage landed in front of the castle.
As Zeke and Mephistopheles disembarked, someone approached.
"Welcome, my lord."
A demon in a suit with a monocle bowed politely to Mephistopheles.
Zeke sensed a powerful aura from the elderly demon who had bowed his head. At this level, he ranked as a top-tier demonkind.
Mephistopheles lightly returned the greeting and then said to Zeke,
"Zeke Draker, allow me to introduce him. This is Shamos, the head butler managing the Grand Lord Council chamber. He was once a retainer of the Arrogant Savior, so you could say you share a connection."
At those words, Shamos raised his head and looked at Zeke.
His eyes immediately changed.
It seemed he had noticed that Zeke had absorbed the Arrogant Saviorʼs soul.
Shamosʼs gaze filled with wonder, unable to comprehend how a mere human had absorbed the soul of a great Grand Lord.
Seeing this, Mephistopheles snapped open his fan and said,
"Now, now, head butler. I know you have many questions, but letʼs handle the guidance first. If weʼre any later, the other Grand Lords will throw a fit."
Shamos appeared conflicted but maintained his composure, bowing politely once more and leading them into the castle.
Kugugu!
The Grand Lord Council chamber in this temporary domain was staffed by Shamos and a considerable number of servants scattered about.
As Zeke observed them, he realized each one ranked as at least a high-rank demonkind.
"Could they all be retainers and followers of the Arrogant Savior?"
His guess seemed correct, as the castleʼs servants looked at Zeke with expressions of shock.
They had sensed the aura of the Arrogant Savior emanating from him.
Seeing this, Mephistopheles smiled and said,
"Youʼre quite popular, Zeke Draker."
Zeke furrowed his brow slightly, finding it hard to distinguish how much of the Demon Archlordʼs words were sincere and how much were jest, given his playful smile.
In the meantime, following Shamosʼs guidance, the two arrived at the castleʼs grand assembly hall.
As the doors opened, an astonishing sight unfolded.
"Kahaha!"
"Chaha!"
A red-skinned, muscular demon and, in contrast, a blue-skinned muscular demon armwrestled on the table in the grand assembly hall.
Behind them sat a voluptuous woman with horns sprouting upward from her head, her eyes closed, and opposite her sat an undead whose face was wreathed in blue flames.
", , , and ."
The Grand Lords who ruled the Demon Realm had gathered in one place.
The Demon Archlord, Mephistopheles, waved at them.
"Wow, you all still have those faces that make me want to kill you!"
True to his demonic nature, Mephistopheles began with a bold greeting.
The Merciless Sovereign and the Unshakable Ruler of Strictness, who had been armwrestling, scowled at Mephistopheles.
"Demon Archlord! What is that frail-looking form?"
"Itʼs so repulsive I canʼt stand it!"
The two great demons, who fiercely vied for territory in the Abyss region, clashed often yet shared many similarities.
Ignoring their words, Mephistopheles sat at the empty head seat.
Then, with a seductive smile, he said,
"Come on, everyone must be busy, so letʼs get straight to the point." He snapped his fingers.
A dais and lighting appeared where Zeke stood, creating a stage for him.
Mephistopheles smiled and said,
"Todayʼs star! The one who inherited the soul of the Arrogant Savior, none other than the human, Zeke Draker! Wooow!"
Clapping alone and cheering enthusiastically, Mephistopheles continued.
At that, the red, muscular-bodied Merciless Sovereign with horns pointing straight up looked intrigued.
"Hmm, so youʼre Zeke Draker. I heard about you from Gu Sion, or rather, the Judge of
Unending Strife. He said youʼre quite the interesting fellow."
At those words, the Unshakable Ruler of Strictness snorted and shouted at Zeke,
"Human! How dare a mere human aspire to become a Grand Lord of the Demon Realm! I absolutely refuse! We agreed to meet and decide, right? After seeing you, I refuse even more!"
Zeke regarded the boisterous pair of great demons.
Then, slowly, he opened his mouth.
"Merciless Sovereign Baal, Unshakable Ruler of Strictness Agares."
Pajijijik!
Merely uttering the true names of the great demons triggered a backlash of causality.
But Zeke paid it no mind and continued,
"Come at me. Iʼll face you myself."