After Ten Millennia in Hell

"…"

Gaia's and Kim Si-Hun's expressions understandably darkened.

The Demon of Prophecy… the master of the Demonic Sea, who possessed 666 Authorities. It was the being who had destroyed the Gaia System and allowed otherworldly beings to invade Earth. He'd killed a protector and had mercilessly murdered the outstanding hero Reynald.

He was the master as well as the origin of all evil… Satan.

Since they were hearing about him from someone of another world, they couldn't help but be surprised.

"I-Is there anything you know about the Demon of Prophecy?!"

Si-Hun grabbed Ludwig's shoulders while making an excited expression.

Expression heavy, Ludwig shook his head.

"Lord Raphael had mentioned that he hadn't known about the Demon of Prophecy before conversing with the gods of Earth. After hearing what that evil being has done… it was truly horrifying."

He was shaking his head as if he didn't even want to think about it.

He continued, "I heard he also killed the apostle of Lord Tirion, God of Heroes."

"Ah…"

Reynald…

The group let out an exclamation after hearing that name.

Kang-Woo, who had cried when Reynald died, frowned.

Si-Hun, who had a deep trauma regarding that demon, asked in an excited voice, "Are you saying that you will be able to help us find Satan?"

Ludwig nodded. "Yes. Ah, before that… Lord Raphael had mentioned that there is a chance Satan is not the Demon of Prophecy."

"What?"

"Wh-what do you mean?!"

Gaia's, Si-Hun's, and Oh Kang-Woo's expressions hardened after hearing those shocking words. Among their expressions, Kang-Woo's paled especially.

Ludwig said, "Lord Raphael had said that the Satan he knew did not possess the Demonic Sea. In the worst-case scenario, Satan may not be the Demon of Prophecy, but his retainer—"

"That is impossible," Kang-Woo said firmly.

"Why do you think so?" Ludwig asked.

"I had clashed with Satan in the past. Back then, he had said himself that he had acquired the Demonic Sea. There is no doubt Satan is the Demon of Prophecy."

"Oh…" Ludwig nodded. "I see. If Satan himself said he has the Demonic Sea… then he must be the Demon of Prophecy."

"…"

There was a short silence.

Kang-Woo said quietly, "But how are you planning to find the Demon of Prophecy?"

"With this."

Ludwig extended his arm. Brilliant light gathered in his hand, and a pure-white sword appeared.

"This is the holy sword Ludwig."

"Ludwig…?"

"Yes." Ludwig nodded. He turned his head and smiled toward Gaia. "Just like her, I have abandoned my real name. This sword is my life and reason for existing."

Ludwig caressed the pure white sword.

"This sword can only be used by a pure soul untainted by evil. It has an outstanding ability to find all that is demonic. We will be able to know the exact location of the Demonic Sea as long as we use this sword."

He touched the sword very proudly.

Si-Hun took a step forward. "Then let us use it right n—"

"No. I unfortunately cannot use it immediately." Ludwig shook his head while making a bitter expression. "It seems the sword still has not become accustomed to this world. It is not maintaining its light."

"When will you be able to use it?"

"In about a week, I would guess," Ludwig said with a smile on his face. "In the meantime, could you all tell me more about Earth? I'm ashamed to say this, but… I am honestly very interested in the existence of another world."

Ludwig's eyes shone.

A smile appeared on Gaia's and Si-Hun's faces after seeing how innocent he looked.

"Hahaha. I will be your guide," Si-Hun said.

The two walked toward the gate that led to the Hall of Protection, and the four Watchers of Light followed them.

* * *

"I had a great time sightseeing. Earth's civilization is… haha. It's hard to even find the right words. It is impressive."

Ludwig smiled.

Tall buildings that reached the sky and a city covered in gray… It was a civilization so advanced that the capital of the Arnan Empire seemed almost barbaric in comparison.

"I will introduce you to some of the foods on Earth as well next time," said Gaia.

"I will be looking forward to it. In that case, we will be going back to the grassland."

"Are you talking about Africa?"

"Yes. We have to find traces of Lucifer there."

Ludwig nodded without hesitation.

Gaia opened her mouth and said, "It's already very late. How about you spend the night in the Hall of Protection and continue tomorrow?"

"No. We cannot rest while carrying out the important mission of eradicating evil."

"Will we be able to help you in any way?"

"That is alright," he said firmly. His sharp voice completely shut Gaia down, causing her expression to harden. But soon, Gaia regained her smile.

She said, "I understand. If you're being so adamant, then I guess it can't be helped. We will give you a communication crystal, so please contact us if you need anything."

"Thank you very much."

Just as they were about to go their separate ways, Si-Hun suddenly stepped forward and handed Ludwig a small pendant—it was of a cross embraced by the wings of an angel.

"This is…"

"You were looking at it closely earlier, so I bought it in secret. It's a gift to commemorate your visit to Earth."

"Wow," Ludwig exclaimed with shining eyes. "Thank you very much! I thought it was a beautiful pendant, but you shouldn't have…"

"It was nothing at all."

"No. It truly means a lot, at least for me. Thank you so very much, Si-Hun."

The two men shook hands.

Gaia smiled at how well Ludwig and Si-Hun were hitting it off. It seemed as if she was thinking that Si-Hun, who did not have many people whom he could call friends, had finally made a good friend.

"I will contact you once we find traces of Lucifer."

Ludwig bowed respectfully.

A white gate opened, and Ludwig passed through it along with the other four Watchers of Light.

They saw the grassland they had first arrived at on Earth.

Ludwig said while looking over the grassland, "They were very nice people."

"Yes. It is truly a relief that the apostles of Gaia are cooperative."

"Hahaha. They also seemed quite skilled."

Ludwig smiled. "We will certainly be able to make use of them in our battle against the demons."

"Ah… I-I see." The apostles replied in bewilderment.

Ludwig nodded energetically. "Yes! I was quite worried at first whether they would even qualify as bait to lure out the demons, but they have exceeded my expectations."

"Mmm."

"L-Lord Ludwig."

"Yes?"

One of the apostles cautiously said, "Wouldn't it be a problem if we, umm… used the retainers of Gaia in such a manner? Gaia is an upper god…"

"Oh, you're right. I must have misspoke." Ludwig smiled and gently touched the pendant he'd received from Si-Hun. "Sacrifice… yes, that's the word. Sacrifices are necessary to eradicate all demons in this world."

"…"

"I am sure the members of Guardians would also be honored to lose their lives in battle against the demons. Yes, I am sure of it."

"I-I see."

"Do not forget, everyone," Ludwig said in a firm voice to the other priests. "We must use any means necessary in order to eradicate the demons. Even if countless lives must be sacrificed… Yes, even if the Earth were to be destroyed, we must eliminate the Demon of Prophecy, Satan. You all know this, do you not?"

"O-Of course!"

Satan, the Demon of Prophecy that a god had foretold, was not a threat to just Earth. Raphael had said that there was a high chance that he would aim for the angels of the continent of Aernor after destroying Earth.

'I cannot let that happen.'

To lessen Raphael's worries, they had to kill the Demon of Prophecy at all costs—even if they had to drive every single one of Gaia's retainers to their deaths.

"Hahaha! What a relief. There is no need to worry. It is a noble act to sacrifice oneself for the eradication of demons. Their souls will receive true salvation once they cross through the gates of Heaven."

A smile appeared on Ludwig's face. His beautiful blue eyes—which resembled the sea—sparkled with pure-white madness.

The apostles trembled while looking at Ludwig, and they remembered his other name.

Pure White Executioner.

* * *

'FUUCCKK!!'

Silent curses bounced around in Kang-Woo's head. It felt as if his mind was burning to a crisp. He was grabbing his head while sitting in a dark room.

'Dammit.'

He anxiously bit his lip.

'I can't believe they have a way to locate the Demonic Sea.'

He still wasn't sure if the holy sword would be able to nullify the effect of Ruler of Demonic Energy. There was a chance that the holy sword was just very good at detecting demonic energy and would not be able to find the Demonic Sea, which was completely concealed through Ruler of Demonic Energy.

'But…'

Kang-Woo's eyes shone sharply. He couldn't take that chance.

'I have to do something.'

He had a week before the holy sword Ludwig was used, and he had to take measures before that.

"…"

The gears in his head turned in silence.

'Should I transform into Satan and attack them?'

It was a decent idea, but he had done the exact same thing when he had attacked Guardians' secret vault and in the incident with Reynald.

'I can't do the same thing over and over.'

One was bound to be caught if they left too many traces.

Someone was bound to think something was off if he kept using the same pattern. In other words, they would become suspicious from the fact that Satan seemed to appear at the most perfect times.

'Not good.'

Doing the same thing would only raise suspicions, especially when Ludwig had posed the possibility that Satan may not be the Demon of Prophecy.

"In that case…"

As he was thinking, he remembered something that Ludwig had mentioned.

"This sword can only be used by a pure soul untainted by evil."

Kang-Woo's eyes shone.

'Yes, that's it!'

The tips of his mouth went up.

If only a pure soul could use that sword…

'I just have to corrupt him!'

Pure-white things were meant to be dirtied.