Episode 566.The Being in the Well (4)

Objective Eye. With the power to see everything from many perspectives, Barbatos was able to realize.

‘I am completely entangled.’

How did he turn his small concern into certainty? It was simple.

“You may pass.”

The man in front of him had let himself through once more. His name was Matisse Dean Karl, and he had a different weight to him than any of the other good mages he’d ever met.

‘It’s hard to believe they’re of the same rank.’

Of course. There was one other senior mage who had that same feeling.

Bensch William.

He was the man who first instilled concern in me.

But.

‘Unlike him, who wore his emotions on his sleeve.’

Matisse did not show his true feelings.

It wasn’t hard for Barbatos to figure out why.

Black Magic.

He realized it was very similar to curses.

‘Naturally, it must be emotionally numbing.’

Otherwise, he’d be consumed by it.

But it was Matisse’s silence that was most puzzling.

He didn’t ask any questions.

Matisse just watched Barbatos.

“I will not speak to you three times. You may pass.”

He allowed Barbatos to pass.

‘Thus I have come face to face with all the Senior Mages.’

At last.

Beyond the gate was my original goal, the Ten Thrones, Lee Hoyeol. I had achieved my goal, but the process was problematic.

As usual, he was not at ease.

Barbatos paced.

‘But I have Charmen.’

Or, more accurately, a curse that manifested itself on Charmen. <Cracked Vessel>. Even if Barbatos survives, he can return to the Demon World using Charmen’s body as a conduit.

cheolkeog.

Barbatos turned the doorknob.

‘So I am not afraid, Lee Hoyeol. ‘

You say you hunted Buer, Paimon, and Gamigin. I will not care. I am not like them. More precisely, my death is different from theirs.

You will not be revered as you once were.

Thanks to observing Reality through an Objective Eye. Barbatos had a better grasp on the flow of Reality than any demon. That’s why he didn’t mind the media’s flash baptism.

I will answer all your questions.

He accepted the offer.

It was why he’d agreed to the Magic Tower’s preliminary verification.

‘If I don’t live to stand in the Crystal Hall.’

Lee Hoyeol.

Not only will you, but also those who agreed with you, weep for the world’s trust. Objective Eye visualizes the events that will unfold in his mind.

-In the end, humanity lost its opportunity……, where is unity?

-Expert Tee, “The Magic Tower kicks down the only path to peace..”

-This is why who pushes the words of men?

-In the end, Lee Hoyeol was wrong.

-Where is the ‘prohibition’ that has been crying out so much?

The only thing that mattered was the negative emotions that would overwhelm them, because ants are not capable of discerning right from wrong.

Negative emotions are the root of all evil, and if Lee Hoyeol and his Holy War Alliance began to falter, the ant world was destined to fall into a pit of corruption.

So.

“This is the first time I’ve ever greeted you, 10th Throne Lee Hoyeol.”

Barbatos bowed respectfully toward the seated Hoyeol. He hadn’t seen it. An artifact of Akshan glowed on Hoyeol’s wrist.

[Lucifer’s Chain of Atonement].

Chireung!

.
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An artifact of Akshan and the legacy of Gabriel, Akshan’s only named NPC. At first, I thought it was merely an ornamental item, unattractive even to Grandfell’s demanding aesthetic.

But its true value is not in its appearance, as the chains wrapped around the hand extend toward Barbatos, unrealistically.

Why do I say unrealistic?

Simple. It literally doesn’t look like it can be easily manifested, physically or magically.

Chireung.

A silver chain extends as if covering the Topaz Hall. The number of chains was almost unfathomable. To say that the view of the Topaz Hall was like a glimpse of a thread would be an understatement.

“Isn’t hostile behavior a breach of discipline?”

Barbatos asked.

‘Huh?’

I suppose our kindly seniors have told you something about the discipline of the Magic Tower? Yes, Barbatos was right. Combat is forbidden in Topaz Hall.

No wonder.

‘What could be the reason why I spewed out harsh words as I pleased?’

More than most adept mages.

Even when I was at the bottom of my magical powers, I was able to spew venom because of the safeguards of discipline…!

There’s no way I could have forgotten that discipline. So what is this landscape? What is it? Natural Enemy. A battle for dominance between a demon and a demon hunter.

I opened my mouth slowly.

“Since when.”

It was a one-sided speech, not a conversation between prey and hunter.

“Since you think your vision belongs to you.”

“……What’s that?”

Barbatos looked clueless. It could be a lie, I suppose, because to you it might seem like I’m playing with chains.

But it’s not a lie, this moment. I had a vision.

[Eighth Throne Demon King, Barbatos, enters a state of `Suppression`].

[Lucifer’s Chains of Atonement], Special Effect.

[Effect: Suppresses the Demon Race].

I did. I suppressed the vision from Barbatos.

As proof, a series of messages appear.

[Status Abnormality, Effect: ‘Suppress’, Power. ‘Objective Eye’ is invalid].

The power of the Ten Thrones.

How could I overlook its immense power, when even the [Heavenly Demon Reign] was only a mere Skill that mimicked the power of the Fourth Throne Demon King, Gamigin?

‘And yet, it has a tremendous effect.’

The ability to travel between dimensions at will with just a single step. In that sense, one might question. Does it make sense to suppress the power of the Ten Thrones with a single item?

‘Nonsense.’

Under normal circumstances.

‘This isn’t a normal situation, is it?’

I don’t know what you’re dreaming about. Barbatos held no hostility toward me. He was so defenseless that it seemed as if he was deliberately hastening his death.

To put a chain, a dog collar, on such a demon?

It wasn’t that difficult.

“Have you ever had any taste for this? That’s surprising.”

I looked at Barbatos, who still hadn’t grasped the situation. Of course, I don’t speak to my prey, merely tossing out clues to help them figure out the subject.

“You’re not very objective.”

“What?”

“It’s because your power, your Objective Eye, has been suppressed.”

“……Wait.”

Have you finally realized that your complexion changes in real time?

But it’s too late.

You cowardly frog who used to look at the world through your Objective Eye.

I said sincerely.

“You look like you can’t stay on subject.”

“……!”

“You’re not so bad for being a demon.”

What do you think, my sarcasm?

Does it piss you off and make you want to run away from Topaz Hall?

Didn’t Grandfell’s infamy start with Topaz Hall for nothing?

It was a moment when I was feeling depressed. Suddenly, my vision began to blink. It was an income I had never expected.

[The effect of Status Abnormality, Suppression negates the effect of Curse, Cracked Vessel].

Nullifying the effect of a curse? Barbatos, I guess this means…… your insurance is in my hands!!!

*

Hyun Yongseok ran the simulation in his head.

However.

“……What the hell happened at Topaz Hall?”

He couldn’t think of anything. He couldn’t think of a single reason why Barbatos would come out with a shiny chain around his neck.

“Maybe it’s some kind of safety device?”

“A safety device?”

“Why, there’s got to be one, right? After all, we’re just ordinary people in the same room. They made Barbatos wear a safety device so he couldn’t pull any stunts, instead of giving him the right to stand in the Crystal Hall!”

Wait, that makes sense…..

‘Would Hoyeol-ssi choose that method?’

I wonder what Hoyeol would say if he heard Yoon Jongjin’s words.

In his simulated mind, he’d probably say something like this.

-“My presence is your safety device.”

Yes. That was the Hoyeol he knew.

“Senior!”

Yoon Jongjin called out urgently to Hyun Yongseok, who was questioning him.

Instead of saying anything specific, he pointed at the monitor screen.

Yoon Jongjin added.

“By the way, isn’t the picture not very good?”

It certainly was.

Unless Barbatos was a demon who had shown evil deeds.

After his appearance.

He had only shown himself as a gentleman and a formal figure.

But the fact that his neck was glistening, the fact that he was suppressed by….

“If you make a mistake, you’re going to have a backlash, right?”

Even the bastards at the station, who only cared about ratings, were amused.

Hyun Yongseok rolled his eyes.

Yes, when dealing with demons, you have to be even more vicious.

“Do you think my demon editing looks funny?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

“It’s not hard to do with a few minutes of delay, even if it’s a live broadcast. If you move around, it won’t be noticed. Do you think there’s anything violent going on during the Q&A?”

“No, I don’t know about that, do you?”

“You have to pay the price for making light of humanity.”

Why didn’t Hyun Yongseok stop talking after Yoon Jongjin’s answer? It was simple.

To convince himself.

I see. Is this the right way to go?

Turning public opinion against Barbatos through the power of editing? It was not difficult for Hyun Yongseok, but he questioned the direction.

Like I said.

Damn it. You demon bastard.

Barbatos.

It was because of his demeanor since his appearance. I don’t know what he’s really thinking, but is it okay to treat a guy who has shown kindness toward humanity like this?

Don’t look for a conscience now, Hyun Yongseok.

At that moment, a sign fell from the camera crew’s side: all of the top executives of the Magic Tower appeared in the Crystal Hall.

Hyun Yongseok looked at Hoyeol.

After all, you’ve kept your promise.

He kept his promise and placed Barbatos in the Crystal Hall. If that’s the case, I must keep my promise as well.

“Go ahead.”

Hyun Yongseok clenched his teeth and signed, and the waiting moderator opened his mouth.

The moderator starts to catch wind of the fact that Barbatos is about to be interviewed.

“Mr. Barbatos, you have passed the pre-verification. And with that, I’d like to welcome the players who have filled the Crystal Hall, the heroes of the Arcana continent, to today’s edition of the Arcana Q&A!”

seug

Hyun Yongseok began to prepare, opening his laptop to check the edits in real time. However, Hyun’s fingers didn’t move on the keyboard.

“……What was that? What did he just say?”

The question.

The answer.

It was a peaceful question and answer process.

“Senior, that guy is acting weird?!”

Barbatos.

His demeanor was completely reversed, almost like a metaphor.

“Didn’t I tell you that I never killed a human being with this hand? Yes, because I didn’t need a hair, because a human life is something I can take without moving my hand!”

As if he had completely removed his mask.

The color returned to Hyun Yongseok’s face.

Just like the others at the station who were about to win the jackpot.

“Call the press department immediately.”

“Huh? Excuse me?”

“From now on, we’ll switch to a live broadcast with no delay!!”