Perhaps he was feeling like a child who can't help but throw a rock into a lake, but I didn't like the way he created ripples in my mind like it was a joke. Flashing the system map next to me, I began gathering information.
"What is the Altar of Chaos for?"
"Isn't it obvious? It's the location from which I'll destroy the world."
His answer wasn't all that useful, so I moved onto the next question.
Tapping on the stone wall with the back of my hand, I remarked, "Even the name of this building is questionable. The Sacred Tomb of Chaos? Whose tomb is it? Yours?"
"It's true that I never stop thinking about death," Reed said evasively.
"So it's not your tomb," I concluded.
"I'm not arrogant enough to call myself a god."
Perhaps it was the mention of gods, but his low voice rang eerily in my ears.
"More importantly, I want your opinion on something, Ailette Rodeline." Although the smile I noticed on the side of his face felt ominous, I eyed him to show him that I was listening. "If you were to build humanity's last bastion, where would it be?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I acquired a useful item." Reed reached into his jacket that was connected to a trans-dimensional storage and pulled out a long object that took quite some time to fully emerge from his inventory.
«That's...!»
The shock in Agnes' voice was immense, as if she was speaking on my behalf. The object Reed revealed was a gigantic, bloody flag, which I recognized at once. It was the Sacred Place Establishment artifact that I acquired after subjugating Helkaion and subsequently traded in to the Vatican. The tips of my fingers tingled as I saw the artifact Muriel was supposed to be using to protect the Vatican in Reed's hands. The implications of him holding the artifact hit me like a sledgehammer.
"Did you break into the Vatican?"
"Yes."
"Whose blood is that on the flag?"
"Muriel Phylise... Or some strange thing that's pretending to be her."
"..."
This was a statement I could not ignoreâmy heart skipped a beat when I heard what Reed, who had not fully lived through Loop One Hundred yet, said.
Carefully analyzing my reaction, Reed murmured, "I think you know something I don't."
Having received some information, I decided to share some as well. "It's Myu Elinas, Muriel's real body."
This was something I'd been wondering about ever since the eleventh gatekeeper of the Pilgrim's Path failed to appear, but what Reed said had confirmed my suspicions. Myu Elinas, the Divine Watchmaker. She was a leading figure in sealing Reed when he was established as the enemy of the world in Loop One Hundred of the original story.
"What did you do to her?"
"You saw the blood, didn't you?"
"You can't kill her because she will come back to life."
Having been showered with love from the Strict Order and Goodness, she transcended deathâher main body could easily be described as a lich.
"Hmm, I see." Reed didn't seem to care much. "It doesn't matter if one person happened to survive."
His spoke with a playful tone, which helped me calculate the full severity of his crime. 60 percent of the entire population of Fanel had been hiding inside the Vatican at the time, and Chaos and Evil would not have been careful while breaking into the holy place.
How many did he kill? Come to think of it, what about my grandfather? He must've been at the Vatican because I didn't see him at the Last Judgment... Wait... No way... Sweat formed in my fist as I feared asking about the safety of someone who was important to me. I was afraid the answer would only confirm the end of the capital.
Reed seemed to easily read my internal struggle. He narrowed in on my weakness and remarked, "By the way, your grandfather..."
"...!"
"I saw Grand Duke Heathfenrir."
When I could think again, my hand was already grabbing his shirt by the neck.
Reed was completely unfazed as he responded, "Are you going to give me a kiss for doing a good job?"
"Did you... kill him?"
"I didn't destroy enough to kill an aura master. But more importantly, I don't understand why you're surprised."
"..."
My fist subconsciously released him, for Reed's behavior was completely different from how I'd assessed him. My eyes widened at his response that wasn't at all like him, which suddenly gave me a sense of hope.
"Reed."
"That was a particularly gentle way to call my name... Are you going to try convincing me again?"
"I know how to stop you from returning."
It was an offer of conversion, one I potentially thought could work in this moment. But his next words deflated my sudden resolve.
"I know, Ailette Rodeline. But I can guarantee you that my method is far more entertaining and reliable," Reed said. "So... we both should work hard, all right? You do your thing, and I'll do mine."
Only then did I notice the madness in his eyes that had always been there. Reed was obsessed with the thought of complete destruction, for the thirst he'd experienced for countless years could not be quenched without punishing the entire world. He had zero intention of changing his mind, and so, just like that, the negotiation of conversion was shut down.
â¬The Voice that Shapes the World sighs.â
â¬The Scale that Judges Souls sighs.â
By the time Reed placed the flag back in his jacket, we'd arrived at a gigantic door.
Frowning slightly, I remarked, "This isn't the altar."
"No, it's not."
My eyes narrowed as I looked at my untrustworthy guide, but Reed didn't react as he placed his right palm on the center of the door.
"Don't worry. This place..."
Rattle!
â¬Â«System» You have entered the [Demon Lord's Storage].â
"This is where Karpeios keeps his treasures. Since you came all this way, I'd like to gift you a souvenir."
The display shelves were filled with precious gems, most of them being weapons because Karpeios was also a demon of the blacksmiths. Standing by the door, I scanned the interior of the room when Reed spoke as if he knew what I was thinking.
"I know you were going to come here anyway."
He was right. The battle against the Demon Lords wasn't far off considering how quickly the end of the world was approaching, so I needed one of Karpeios' most precious items in order to prepare.
The Cross Flory Lily Scythe. This weapon was shaped like the curved blade of a regular scythe, however it also had the embellishments of a cross flory, where the ends of the four arms elegantly bloomed out to form lily petals. This weapon, born from a mix between a cross, symbolizing at onement, and lilies, symbolizing purity, was the most suitable tool to fight a demon.
â¬The Eye Overseeing All Chaos is very satisfied.â
Raiding the treasure storage of the Abyssal Dunes and taking the Cross Flory Lily Scythe had always been a part of the plan, but there was one problem.
Why was Reed encouraging this? I wasn't ignorant enough to think that Reed was helping me out of the kindness of his heart.
"What are you thinking about?"
"What your intention might be in bringing me here." I regretted what I said the moment I said it, but Reed didn't seem affected at all.
"You can think what you want, Ailette Rodeline."
"Then, can you tell me something that will put me at ease?"
"Two Demon Lords must be killed in order to connect the final dungeon, the Cradle of Chaos and Evil, to the Human Realm, so I'm trying to make that happen with your help."
"So... you're using me?"
"I'd like to think of it as helping," he said.
"That's an understandable reason."
Only then did I finally walk inside, which painted a smile on Reed's face as he took the lead.
Karpeios' precious collection was made of a variety of different weapons, enough to have one of every kind. As we walked along and scanned them all, only the footsteps of two people filled the silent air. Even Agnes remained silent as if she was carefully analyzing Reed, so I had to take the lead and break this uncomfortable silence.
"Why don't you do it yourself?" I asked.
"Do what?"
Reed's reaction was rather slow because the question was unexpected, but I was asking about the conversation we just had a moment ago.
"Won't the end of the world come sooner if you kill the Demon Lords yourself?"
"But that's too simple. I'm Chaos and Evil, so I should live up to my name."
This attitude closely matched the psychological description of the main character of Loop One Hundred as mentioned in the original story, which made me feel like we'd stepped out of the blind spot and entered the boundaries of Infinite Returns to Save the World again.
"But I won't be very helpful with sowing chaos... Ever."
"We'll see..." Seeing the way he trailed off of his sentence, there seemed to be another "understandable reason" he had in mind. He took some time to choose his best excuse, then added, "Didn't I say before? There are some things I want to hold onto, even if I don't need them."
"..."
"That thing has always been you, so think of it as creating a reason to hold onto you."
He had a talent for rendering me speechless.
"Did you know, Ailette Rodeline?"
He was also excellent at changing the topic.
"What is it this time?" I asked.
"Karpeios is also a demon of the blacksmiths, which means he's an expert in refining weapons."
"So?"
"I had him change the Cross Flory Lily Scythe to suit you a bit better."
"What?"
"Speak of the devil, we're here."
Reed halted and turned toward the right, so I stepped beside him and noticed the weapon that was displayed on the shelf in front of me. It was a scythe in the shape of a cross and was almost as tall as me. Judging by the three flower-shaped corners, top, bottom, and right, and the left corner curved like a scythe blade, it appeared to be the Cross Flory Lily Scythe.
However, the actual weapon looked different from what I'd imagined while reading the original story. As lilies are white, I had expected the blade to be a white and elegant scythe, made of pale metal and moonstones, but the weapon I was looking at right now was made of black metal and red onyx, the tips forged to be dangerously sharp, as if they were thorns.
The vertical column portion of the cross that formed the staff of the scythe looked quite strange. A closer look revealed that it was split into smaller sections... Just like my Serpens.
And as expected, the system confirmed my curiosities.
â¬Â«Weapon» [Liv Lily, the Cross Flory Lily Scythe of the Holy Demon].
The ultimate weapon made by merging [The First Holy Demon Sword] and [The Royal Whip Sword] to [The Cross Flory Lily Scythe].
The upper section of the cross, which can inflict fatal blows to a Demon Lord, has been preserved. The lower staff portion has been remodeled to reflect a whip sword. As such, the weapon can be used like a scythe when swung horizontally and used like a whip when expanding the staff.
The characteristics of a Holy Demon Sword have been included, meaning the shape of the weapon will change depending on who makes first contact. To be used with caution.
Note: [Primordial Chaos] custom-made the weapon for you with great effort in hopes of corrupting you.â
"Take it. It's my gift to you."