Chapter 81 – Falling into the Abyss

Between the cracked skin under the bat’s membranous wings, a lava-like light pulsed.

The hellish fiend, revealing its dark red flesh and horns, burned the air with the heat of hell and murder in its every breath.

It was the most basic member representing hell and a terrible disaster in reality.

Gehenna barely suppressed the desire rising in her throat.

“With the revolutionary army and…”

Originally, she would have killed everyone here and taken the Immortal Heart.

Because that was her sole purpose.

But there was something that took higher priority than that, and it was none other than Kaiser’s neck.

—Bring Kaiser’s head and commit suicide, or die together.

Once the blood control was executed, she moved for only one single purpose.

“Kill Kaiser.”

The hellish fiends that descended beneath the Hellscape began their activities all at once.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the hellish fiends cooperated with them and took the lead in wiping out the revolutionary army.

Seeing this, Dharma Officer Aren felt a faint sense of relief.

“It seems… some reason still remains.”

No hostility could be seen from the hellish fiends passing past him.

“Then again, they wouldn’t have been able to handle the aftermath.”

Even though he said so, Dharma Officer Aren still wore an untrustworthy expression.

She was not that kind of woman, and they were not those kinds of witches.

Why on earth?

It was an incomprehensible development, but it was a relief for now that she was not an enemy.

“We do not need to worry about the hellish fiends.”

The Royal Guard Commander watched the wave of hell sweeping over them like a tide.

It was simply fascinating to move with the same goal as such a large number of hellish fiends.

“It is a relief. The witch has not harbored any other intentions.”

Even the members of the Order were not included in the hellish fiends’ targets.

Aria, opening her visor, watched the numerous hellish fiends brushing past her and her sword.

“…”

Although she said nothing, it was somewhat difficult to accept that the witch ignored even them.

Setting aside others, not even turning the people of the Order into enemies.

This was also the case for Dharma Officer Aren, who was secretly glancing at Aria.

‘Is she letting the Inquisitor go as well? She must have distinguished them?’

Inwardly, he wanted Gehenna to catch the Inquisitor, but unfortunately, no such thing happened.

‘Strange. What happened to that woman? It is strange for her to cooperate with us here, but letting even the people of the Order go is completely incomprehensible.’

She had unfolded the Hellscape and even summoned the hellish fiends, which were low-ranking demons.

Even so, letting the people of the Order go was difficult to understand.

‘There is definitely a problem.’

When Dharma Officer Aren, having made that judgment, looked for Gehenna again, she had already vanished into thin air.

She had gone ahead of them to take Kaiser’s head.

“I will move as well.”

Dharma Officer Aren vanished.

He had slipped away to another place using a portal.

However, his location was already detected by Aria.

Crimson Heat Eyes and Deepsight.

He was lightly wiping out the revolutionary army in a place not very far away.

Only after the entire Dharma Division had vanished did the Royal Guard Commander speak in a secretive voice.

“Kaiser is already a trapped rat in a jar. If the Dharma Division and the witch catch Kaiser, please do not forget the promise you made with Her Highness, Inquisitor.”

“Is the Royal Guard helping?”

The Royal Guard Commander laughed and shook his head.

“We will simply stand by. We will at least not take the side of the Dharma Division, so you do not have to worry.”

It was a selfish act.

Since she had already expected it, her disappointment was minimal.

“Yes, do that. Instead, I would like to receive the Immortal Heart as quickly as possible. If I hunt down a Dharma Officer, the Magic Tower will certainly have something to say.”

It was a matter that had already been discussed.

The Royal Guard Commander responded with a thick smile.

“As long as Kaiser’s death is confirmed, it will be as you wish. I promise you that much for certain.”

The Royal Guard Commander moved as well.

Left alone in her spot, Aria recalled what she had reported to him a few days ago regarding the retrieval of the Immortal Heart.

It was a memory of that day.

“The Imperial Princess wants Kaiser’s neck?”

His voice echoed from the magic communication sphere.

She had already reported everything to him.

“Yes, Her Highness told me that Kaiser’s death must come first.”

She continued speaking.

“Catching the Dharma Officer is not much of a problem, but that is the catch. What are you going to do about Kaiser? If he does not die, we cannot retrieve the Immortal Heart either.”

He did not seem to be deeply troubled, contrary to expectations.

Rather, it was a look that showed he had expected it to some extent.

“He is certainly not easy to deal with. Understood. I will handle the Kaiser matter.”

The words that followed were certainly difficult to understand.

“Even if Kaiser and I fall into hell, retrieve the Immortal Heart as quickly as possible.”

“Pardon?”

She thought she had misheard.

“Did you say hell just now?”

“Didn’t you say he must die? Then I must go to hell and back if I have to. Do not worry about me, and secure the Immortal Heart no matter what. It is an order.”

The communication cut off, and what he said remained a mystery.

* * *

The revolutionary army hideout.

Kaiser’s office located at its heart.

Kaiser showed a smile that did not suit the situation.

“It seems we are trapped like rats in a jar, completely at a loss.”

The encirclement tightening around him was closing in from all directions.

“The fortunate thing is that we also have someone from the Magic Tower.”

A portal.

It was a unique authority and power that only those who contracted with a demon could possess.

And it was the only escape route out of this place.

“It is about time I perform the Thirty-Six Stratagems, which I am good at. Miss Veronica, please open a portal.”

With things turning out like this.

The witch’s true colors showed.

“In exchange for one portal, you hand over all three spellbooks in your possession to me?”

Kaiser showed a bitter smile.

“Are you suddenly going to act like this just because you’re a witch? This is so disappointing. You stayed quiet all this time, only to stab me in the back like this.”

“My portal fee gets quite expensive depending on the case.”

She was the one in the dominant position here.

Suppressing a sneer, she asserted her dominant position as it was.

“Pfft! You don’t have a choice, do you? Or are you going to die here?”

“Let’s make it one book. That calculation seems right.”

“No, I must receive all three books. Let’s finish it cleanly with that.”

She revealed the dissatisfaction she had hidden until now.

“How long does high-end talent like me have to stick by your side?”

There was no choice.

Because if she did not open the portal, he would be trapped here and die.

Inhaling deeply, Kaiser nodded his head.

“Fine. Let’s do that.”

As she attempted to open the portal with a satisfied smile, Rashid, wearing demonic armor, blocked her path.

Underneath his open visor, he spoke discontentedly.

“Did you already forget what I said? I told you that you must go to hell with me.”

Kaiser frowned deeply.

“Were you serious when you said that?”

“Or did I say it as empty words?”

He had heard the reason briefly.

It was to retrieve the Immortal Heart.

In truth, it was a meaningless object to Kaiser.

“Is that trivial Immortal Heart so important? To the point of throwing away your life?”

“You might not know its value. But it is different for me. I must get it back no matter what.”

Rashid continued speaking, unconsciously mindful of Veronica.

“Stop complaining and follow me. We are not going there ourselves anyway; that woman will send us.”

“You mean Abyss Fall. Indeed, there would be no reason for us to go to hell like madmen otherwise.”

It was the same for Kaiser, who was also mindful of Veronica.

Glancing at her, Kaiser grumbled to a degree that was not concerning.

“It is going to be a hell of a struggle.”

“No, you will have a completely new experience. I guarantee it.”

Veronica listened with interest to the conversation between the two nearby.

They knew more than she had thought.

“Oh my, you even knew about Abyss Fall? How did you know that?”

Rashid answered in an uninspired tone.

“It is Gehenna’s power. I already looked into Gehenna.”

“Who told you that? We know each other well, but for someone like you, it should be high-level information.”

“None of your business, is it?”

With a cold expression, she suddenly cut the price.

“Fine. I will only take one book then. The calculation should match now, right?”

If she took the spellbooks from Kaiser, she would not have to get dangerously involved with the Inquisitor, so she wanted to retrieve the books as much as possible.

However…

The portal price was reduced to a third, but Kaiser’s reaction was lukewarm, unlike before.

Instead, his attention was now focused on Rashid.

“Is it really okay for me to follow you?”

“Didn’t I explain it?”

“No, but still.”

“Trust me and follow.”

“Sigh… that guy will definitely be waiting.”

Veronica’s expression rotted.

The two men ignoring her were busy talking to each other, not spare her a single glance.

It was Kaiser who finally sought her out as she stood there with folded arms.

“Let’s make it one book. Instead, you will have to take the revolutionary members here outside, not me.”

He did not forget to add this either.

“Of course, payment is upon completion.”

“Deferred payment?”

It was absurd.

“Am I crazy? Why would I do that on deferred payment?”

Showing guts was not something only she could do.

Kaiser raised the corners of his mouth cruelly.

“Did you think I would not know? That you would even risk your life for that spellbook.”

“…”

“Stop talking nonsense and take care of the revolutionary members here. It seems I must follow this person.”

Although her insides boiled, the nearby Inquisitor was the problem.

Since she could not do anything by force in this situation, she walked outside as if resigned.

As she left, Rashid expressed his doubts.

“Is it worth that much?”

“Why else would she stick to me for no reason? That woman is quite serious about cheap magic that others do not even look at. Especially if it is related to flowers, scents, or deodorization, she goes absolutely crazy for it.”

“To think that woman would move on deferred payment. She really must have been serious about that kind of magic.”

Instead of answering, Kaiser laughed silently.

But that was only for a moment.

Kaiser asked worriedly.

“I could not ask in detail earlier. Is it really going to be okay? The opponent is a great demon.”

Abyss Fall.

It was a spell that sent the target right in front of a great demon.

Therefore, anyone caught by that spell was bound to die without exception.

“I know too. That it is a great demon.”

“And yet you are full of confidence. Simply being strong and having exorcism power against demons are two different things, right?”

Rashid opened his armory and showed the Sacred Blood Spear that was mounted there.

“Didn’t I tell you? At this point, there is no one who can match my exorcism power.”

The Sacred Blood Spear.

Kaiser slowly began to regain the smile he had lost.

“If things go well, we might even receive precious treatment.”

* * *

“Why are you all so sluggish? Can’t you hear the noise outside? Are you all going to die here? What are you doing, move quickly!”

Veronica, venting her irritation, urged the revolutionary members escaping outside through the portal.

Although she could not save everyone.

At least the revolutionary members nearby could escape to the outside through her portal without worrying about the encirclement.

Veronica’s gaze lingered for a moment on the office where Kaiser was.

‘What on earth are they thinking? Going to hell? Are they crazy?’

Hell was a place that even she found difficult to deal with.

To think that people who did not even have a connection to a demon would walk into such a place on their own feet.

It was no different from suicide.

‘Am I just going to end up being used?’

But that thought was brief.

The hellish fiends and Gehenna rushed into the place where she was.

And following behind them, the Dharma Division and the Royal Guard knights also made an appearance.

It was the end.

“Oh my, you’ve already found me. You sure are fast.”

Upon Gehenna’s arrival, Veronica’s will to fight also broke rapidly.

“Well then, I will stop here. I’ll make a quiet exit. I have no intention of fighting you seriously.”

She was very kind.

She pointed silently to where Kaiser was and winked with one eye.

“You know what I mean, right? I’ll be going.”

As she walked towards the portal like that, she suddenly dodged.

Gehenna had targeted her and the portal at the same time by exploding the space.

Dodging quickly with Light Speed Teleportation, Veronica’s expression turned murderous.

“What do you think you’re doing? Didn’t you hear me just now? I said I’m stopping here. Why are you stopping someone who is trying to leave?”

Gehenna’s answer was obvious.

“How can I trust you?”

“Ha, this is driving me crazy. Have you lived your whole life being deceived? Do you not understand what it means when I say I’m stopping here? Are your earholes clogged? Should I go and clear them for you?”

The moment Veronica, noticing an unsettling sign all of a sudden, tried to chant the activation word.

“Demonic Attire Shift…”

Her figure vanished.

Abyss Fall.

Gehenna had sent the troublesome woman to hell.

As expected, it was a measure taken without any thought of the consequences.

Since her goal was solely Kaiser’s death.

Hearing the commotion outside, Rashid and Kaiser also showed themselves shortly after.

“My… there are many guests who have come to visit.”

Kaiser spoke, and Rashid stood in front of Kaiser and said.

“Rashid Preston. An Inquisitor.”

Rashid’s gaze landed on someone familiar.

It was Gehenna.

‘She is a somewhat troublesome witch.’

Gehenna narrowed her eyes.

She had heard about him being an Inquisitor.

“…”

The moment she felt it was troublesome.

There was only one action she would take.

Abyss Fall.

The two vanished almost simultaneously.

Among those she had sent to hell so far, not a single person had survived, with the exception of a few witches.

It was, in its own way, an instant death skill.

* * *

A land of flowing flames and a red sky stretched endlessly, and the smell of burning and heat always clung to the air.

The place where even sound could not echo was a world that rejected life itself, hell.

Kaiser inhaled the dry air of hell that felt like it was burning his lungs, and spoke.

“Sigh… we ended up here after all. To think she sent us away without even hesitating.”

“That is Gehenna’s characteristic. Why would she refuse when it is, in its own way, an instant death skill?”

Amusingly.

There was someone who had arrived before them.

A witch could be seen, wearing even her demonic attire and struggling in front of a great demon.

She was solemnly showing her respects in front of the great demon and grovelingly begging for her life.

However, the two who had just arrived were different.

In particular, the word fear could not be found in Rashid’s eyes.

Soon after, the great demon’s gaze turned toward the two men, and Rashid walked toward him and then stopped in his tracks.

“Is it a great demon?”

The great demon’s gaze was clearly fixed on Rashid, and Rashid continued speaking as he opened his armory.

“I will give you two choices.”

Jaeger’s blood and the Sacred Blood Spear were the sources of his confidence.

“Either be hunted here, or meekly open the gate to the mortal realm. The choice is yours, and I recommend you do not make any pathetic struggles. I am not merciful when dealing with demons.”