The Legendary Spearman Returns

Side Story Chapter 183

Even though the Demon Spirit had ruled over all demons, the Shining Darkness was Altheon’s god ever since he had been born. It wasn’t just Altheon—everyone in the Heavenly Demon Family had worshiped the Shining Darkness. Power meant everything to them, so they had been fanatical about the Shining Darkness.

-Phew...

Altheon let out a long sigh despite Joshua’s hand clamped around his neck. Altheon’s idol had been betrayed and killed like an idiot, and then he had reincarnated as a vermin human. How shocking would that have been for the demons of the Heavenly Demon Family? It was like someone was mocking them and calling the god they believed in a sham. Most of the demons in the family had continued to believe without a shadow of doubt that the Shining Darkness would return someday.

-...Idiots. Many of my people endured an eternity of persecution for you. Do you know the reason why they did that?

It was a rhetorical question; Altheon quickly supplied the answer.

-They had no other choice.

“No other choice?” Joshua repeated.

-My Heavenly Demon Family believed that you were betrayed, but most—no, all other demons thought that the Shining Darkness was punished for his treachery against the Demon Spirit. That was what the rumors said.

“...I’m not surprised.” Joshua nodded. “History is written by the victor, regardless of the realm.”

-You seem to be very comfortable with calling yourself a loser. In any case, what do you think happened to the Heavenly Demon Family?

It wasn’t a hard question. Anyone in the Human Realm who worshiped evil and wrongful gods was reviled, and the demons were no different. On top of that, the Heavenly Demon Family would have been an eyesore for the Demon Spirit, him being the one that had classified the Shining Darkness as an enemy.

-Because the Evil Demon Family worshiped the Demon Spirit for generations, the Demon Spirit used them and focused on erasing all traces of the Heavenly Demon Family.

“I thought you got rid of them yourself.”

-Indeed I did. Even as I was crushing their heads, they believed that you were going to come back.

“I see.” Joshua nodded. He now understood the incongruity he felt from Altheon’s narrative. “Yet the Heavenly Demon Family survived the Demon Spirit and you became the new leader of the family. Doesn’t that mean that the head of the Heavenly Demon Family kissed the ground before his new god?”

The veins on Altheon’s forehead bulged.

“But even the Demon Spirit is now in danger of being annihilated by me... How ludicrous is that? I understand why your pride is hurt, Altheon Deos.”

-Shut... your... mouth.

“Treading the line between two sides every day isn’t easy. You must have converted to the worship of the Demon Spirit and abandoned your family’s useless old god so that you could become the head of your family—”

-Shut your damn mouth!

Altheon trembled with anger.

-Ahhhhhhhhh!

Perchilin’s pained scream interrupted them, the result of disobeying the Overlord Symbol and betraying Joshua. However, it seemed that Tshchary had succeeded in undoing the symbol because he showed no reaction.

Joshua’s eyes gleamed. “This should be enough.”

-...Enough of what?

“The Demon Realm and the gods are no more, so you demons have no reason to tiptoe around anyone else, do you?”

-You... irresponsible trash... Are you kidding me right now...?!

“I don’t think all demons are evil; demons should just think about how they’re going to harmonize with the people of the Human Realm and live in this new world.”

Joshua meant what he said. Not all demons were evil, and not all angels were good. Joshua was the only one who could say this, having been betrayed by both sides. Light and darkness. Day and night. Angels and demons. Water and fire... The world existed because all of those qualities existed together. No one could define what was evil. That wasn’t the way of the world that the primordial god had established.

“Isn’t this for the better? You lost your home, but your landlord also died, freeing you from your shackles,” Joshua continued.

Tshchary, having recovered from his escape from the Overlord Symbol, silently appeared behind Icarus and held his scythe over her threateningly.

-Stop your nonsense. Let him go.

Joshua gave Tshchary an appraising look. “...Did you undo your Overlord Symbol?”

-I’m not affiliated with anyone, but your words enrage me too. What is the Heavenly Demon Family supposed to be by that logic? They worshiped the Shining Darkness.

The corners of Joshua’s mouth slowly rose. The Heavenly and Evil Demon Families were totally different from the noble families of the Human Realm because those demon families were just fishing for excuses to gather demons under their banners. In fact, no demon, including the Heavenly Demon Family, had helped Joshua when he had battled the Demon Spirit’s army in spite of the injuries.

“Did someone tell them to worship me?” Joshua asked.

Both Tshchary and Altheon's eyes widened.

“They believed what they wanted to believe and they needed a justification to maintain their packs. Should I care about those pathetic fanatics?” Joshua demanded, turning Altheon’s words against him. Even Perchilin stared at him in disbelief despite the pain wracking her body.

-Seriously... You’re a very... persuasive man... Demons are nothing... in front of a villain like you...

-Hang on, Perchilin. I’ll get rid of it soon.

Tshchary opened his hand and released his demonic power in the form of a spider web, wrapping it around Icarus.

-Make a choice. Lose your human wife or let Altheon go.

“Do you trust him?” Joshua tilted his head.

-It’s not a matter of trust. It’s about the possibility.

“The possibility of...?”

-When Perchilin and I join forces, we have a chance against Altheon Deos... but I’m honestly not certain we can challenge the Shining Darkness in the Demon Spirit’s body.

“You’re very honest,” Joshua said.

Icarus grimaced. She had been hiding her pain so as not to worry Joshua, but it was becoming hard for her to endure as the pain increased.

-Keep in mind that she has no choice but to help us because she made something called a “Mana Pledge”.

“It’s... fine,” Icarus squeezed out, looking straight into Joshua’s eyes.

-You’re fine with losing all your mana?

“It doesn’t... matter. My weapon is my mind, not my mana. Besides, no one in the world can harm me even if I won’t be able to use magic for the rest of my life.”

-What the fuck are you talking about...?

“Well... I already have someone stronger than all mages and knights as my bodyguard,” Icarus slowly mused.

Everyone knew who Icarus was talking about. Joshua grinned at her.

“I’ll stay by your side forever.”

“I believe you.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” Icarus smiled gently, much to Tshchary’s bewilderment.

-...You humans are crazy. You people seem to think I’m joking. I’ll show you.

Tshchary prepared to infuse his murderous energy into his web of dark energy, but it suddenly burned away. More concerningly, a sword was sweeping toward Tshchary’s neck, forcing himself to retreat a considerable distance.

-Ugh...!

It was Ulabis, who had returned from the brink of death by consuming Michael’s authority completely. He positioned himself in front of the throne.

“I’ve kept you waiting too long. ”

“I see that the hostage situation is over.” Joshua released an immense amount of divine power through his hand, ready to reduce Altheon into ash.

-Do you think that I’m going to go down that easily?!

Altheon’s demonic power went berserk. A strand of wicked, dark red energy circled him like a snake—a manifestation of the indomitable power of Pride.

-I’ll never go down as long as I have Pride!

Joshua extended his hand.

“Come to me, Pride.”

The sinister power of Pride was suddenly sucked into Joshua’s hand.

-What?

“Pride has no interest in losers. It only stays with victors. The desire of all beings to stand above the rest of creation is the power of Pride.”

-Ahhhhhhh!

Altheon’s eyes also shot out rays of demonic power that devastated everything they touched, but they couldn’t hide the tears of blood he shed.

-I won’t die alone! I’ll bring all of you down with me! I’ll kill all of you! I’ll—! I’ll—!

With an abrupt crack, Altheon folded. His rays of demonic power struck the floor instead, further compromising the structure that had already been smashed by Altheon’s chains of darkness. The council chamber shook as if it were ready to crumble any minute.

“Please take care of Icarus,” Joshua requested.

Ulabis quickly took Icarus into his arms. “You can leave her to me.”

At that moment, the entire council chamber began to collapse.