Clay’s first destination after departing was the labyrinth he had learned about from the Chaos Minotaur.

“There’s not a drop of water here.”

As they traveled toward the site, the Spirit King Naiad murmured to herself.

Just as she said, the region where Clay and his companions stood was a barren desert where even a single drop of water was hard to find. It was a land of death—desolate and harsh, fitting for a place located deep in the heart of the Demon Realm.

『I don’t see any visible structures.』

With no sign of the labyrinth’s entrance, Syltanaro voiced her concern.

“No need to rush.”

Clay answered calmly as he walked.

“The journey’s only just begun.”

As promised after the meeting, Clay had reassigned the personnel in Barungenia before departing.

The lower demons, who only learned afterward that the Demon King intended to act alone, were understandably anxious. But Beatrice stepped forward to calm the unrest.

She told them that the Demon King was working to restore the Demon Realm in the way he excelled most—so there was no need to make a fuss.

Thanks to her support, Clay was able to wrap up what needed to be done and set out immediately. Now that the decision was made, there was no point wasting time.

“So weird, seriously.”

Perched on Clay’s shoulder, Naiad let out a sigh.

“You went through all the trouble to become the Demon King—shouldn’t you just sit on the throne and order people around? Why go through hardships like before?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering~?”

Naiad poked Clay’s cheek with her finger.

“You used to talk non-stop even without me prompting you. Why are you making me do all the talking now?”

“Apologies.”

Clay turned his head slightly to look at her.

“Have I gotten that boring compared to before?”

“You think that’s just ‘boring’?”

Naiad folded her arms and raised her brows.

“‘Boring’ would be a relief. Now you’re all stiff and brooding.”

『Naiad.』

Syltanaro interjected.

『I understand that you’re close, but that doesn’t mean you can be disrespectful toward the Demon King.』

“Hmmm~?”

Naiad looked down at her, clearly unimpressed.

“Hey! It’s because we’re close that I can say this kind of stuff! If I have to walk on eggshells when I talk, how is that being close?”

『Excuse me?』

“You’re the one being rude! If you’ve transformed into a sword, then just act like a sword already—quiet and inanimate! Why are you interrupting, huh?!”

Caught off guard by the scolding, Syltanaro fell silent. Seeing the scene unfold, Clay let out a quiet chuckle without meaning to.

“Hmm? Why are you laughing?”

“Whether it’s then or now, you really haven’t changed at all, Naiad.”

Clay answered her question with a smile in his eyes.

“Well, from your perspective, I suppose we’re all still young.”

“Eh?”

Naiad looked baffled.

“I’m not that much older than you, okay?”

“What, you going to say a few thousand years' difference still counts as friends?”

“Oh come on! It’s not even that much, you jerk!!”

Naiad pouted and pounded her fists on Clay’s shoulder. Watching that, Syltanaro subconsciously held her breath.

‘Was the Demon King really like this in the past too…?’

It was hard to imagine such a scene just from the image he showed to the demons. But his current behavior toward Naiad was clearly different from the dignity he usually projected as Demon King.

‘Hmm…’

Syltanaro suddenly wondered—

‘Could I become that close to him too?’

It was the beginning of a curious little daydream.

♧

The Labyrinth.

Unlike dungeons—typically monster strongholds—the labyrinth was a place shrouded in mystery, often used to hide something.

In short, while dungeons were homes to monsters, labyrinths were closer to unexplored domains.

In terms of danger, labyrinths were far more perilous. That was because rather than fighting monsters, one usually had to conquer the labyrinth itself.

If every step within was a tightly laid trap, then it was only natural that the danger would be far greater.

“Found it.”

But even so, Clay had never seen a case where the entrance made the danger this obvious from the start.

Roooaarrrr—

It was a swamp—or rather, a vortex.

The surrounding ground was whirling violently around a central point. The moment you stepped into it, it was clear you’d be sucked down beneath.

“What the hell is that?”

Naiad made a face full of disgust.

“That’s the entrance?”

“Seems like it.”

This was precisely the location the Chaos Minotaur had indicated.

“You sure we should go in?”

Naiad frowned, her expression filled with suspicion.

“What if that guy set us up with a trap? Just looking at it makes me feel like we’ll get sucked in and suffocate to death!”

『I agree.』

Syltanaro sided with Naiad.

『I don’t know what lies beyond, but this is a type I’ve never seen in a standard dungeon. Perhaps it would be wise to reconsider—』

“No.”

Clay answered quietly.

“We’re going in.”

“What?”

Naiad grabbed the hem of Clay’s coat.

“Clay, this is the Demon Realm! No matter how many battles you’ve survived, you don’t have much experience with places like this!”

“It’s fine, Naiad.” Clay placed his hand gently on her head, “I didn’t come here knowing nothing about this labyrinth.”

Unlike dungeons, labyrinths were constructed with specific purposes. And precisely because of that, unless it was meant purely to trap and kill, there had to be some kind of hint for clearing it.

“I didn’t visit all those libraries everywhere for no reason.”

Across the world were books and records that could help decipher hidden secrets. Most people overlooked their value, treating them as junk unless they found the right combinations—but Clay had taken them all in.

“I memorized everything.”

He had meticulously stored that chaotic information in his mind.

“To ensure the survival of myself and my companions, I studied countermeasures against the kinds of ridiculous threats that could strike at any time.”

Normally, this would have been impossible for a human brain.

But with his vast divine power, Clay had partially accessed the invisible, intangible repository known as the Akashic Record—a library of all things—and secured a portion of it for himself. That space had been converted into a parchment of sorts, which he could write on and erase according to his will.

“I can still access the information I’ve stored there.”

Even though he now twisted divine power for demonic use, he had recently confirmed that his qualifications still allowed him to handle the Akashic Record.

“It’s all thanks to you, Syltanaro.”

After explaining everything, Clay expressed his gratitude.

『Pardon?』

“You probably remember that night I held you and did something.”

Back then, he had used water binding over the blade’s body, turning Syltanaro into a ‘key’ that could unlock the Akashic Record.

“I should’ve been able to access it without a key, but with my power distorted, I couldn’t do it alone. But with you—someone who’s virtually one with me—it worked.”

That was how he’d been able to come to this labyrinth right away.

“I didn’t come here without any preparation, Naiad.”

Clay looked her in the eyes.

“You, of all people, should know that.”

At those words, Naiad let out a small sigh.

“I do.”

If she didn’t, who would?

“There’s no one who cherishes their companions more than you.”

“Though I have decided to be a bit more selective about who I call ‘companion’ from now on.”

Clay stepped toward the vortex of sand.

“Whatever the case, if they’re a true ‘companion’ walking with me now, they’ll have nothing to fear.”

As he said that, Clay’s body tilted toward the swirling sand.

“Huh?!”

Naiad, clinging to his arm, let out a sharp squeal, and Syltanaro—now no more than a sword at his waist—was helplessly pulled in as well.

『!』

“Uwaaaaaaah...!”

Their short screams vanished, and all that remained was the vortex of sand, spinning in quiet perpetuity.

♧

“So this is Yaphenon?”

Before Clay even left Barungenia, Athanasia had already departed and arrived at Yaphenon.

“It’s really been torn to shreds.”

Yaphenon had been utterly devastated after the passage of Vald, the Lord of Blood. As she walked through the ruins, Athanasia took in the tragic scene with her own eyes.

“Now I see why he sent me here.”

People weeping in front of collapsed homes, children searching for vanished parents, and others crawling through the dirt begging for food... as she witnessed all this, Athanasia came to understand Clay’s plan.

Those who survive hell always crave new hope. Ironically, it was in times like these that gods could leave their strongest impression.

‘But whether it’ll be easy... who knows.’

Vald had been a god too. The people who had suffered under one god might not be eager to welcome another.

They might even push back, asking, “Aren’t they all the same?”

“Over here, over here!”

Her thoughts were soon interrupted by the ringing of a bell.

“Relief supplies from Crown Prince Neville have arrived!”

Neville.

The crown prince of Holy Krata—brought back by Clay and now placed here once more.

Hearing his name, Athanasia headed in that direction.

“Easy now, don’t rush!”

“Those in need of treatment, over this way!”

“Don’t lose hope!”

There were many young men with white bands tied around their heads. They unloaded supplies from carts and began distributing them to the people.

“W-Where’s the Crown Prince…?”

“He’ll be here soon!”

The youths shouted as they held onto the hands of those asking for Neville.

“He’s working day and night to restore Yaphenon!”

“He will come here eventually and bring hope with him!”

“He sent us first to lift your spirits!”

At those words, people paused. The screams stopped. A bit of light returned to their dull eyes.

They began murmuring to each other: that they still had a crown prince. That if they followed him, they could restore everything once more.

“Yeah.”

Watching the scene, Athanasia muttered,

“This could work.”

Just as Clay had intended, Neville was slowly winning the hearts of the people. Now, the only thing left was to steer that goodwill in the right direction.

And with Athanasia now in Yaphenon, there was only one clear path.

‘Establishing a new divine power right under Holy Krata’s nose.’

Looking again at the young men, Athanasia thought of Neville.

‘Clay said the royal blood running through that boy could be used to deal a fatal blow to Lutan.’

Perhaps Clay even planned to spark civil war...

“I don’t know if Neville could really point a sword at his own father.”

Even so, Athanasia couldn’t help but think Clay was a terrifying man. She pulled her hood down low and slowly stepped into the crowd.

To spread a new faith—for the sake of that terrifying man.

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