WM – Chapter 254: Takatsuki Makoto bewilders the Demon Lord

-Cainhart Weeloch.

The real name of Cain that Noah-sama told me about.

Cainhart was born in one of the hundreds of islands that float close to the South Continent. 

It is a poor land where humans and beastkin who were chased off their homelands by demons live in.

Many people were fighting each other for the few resources there were in the land.

Cainhart was an infant in a small village of a certain island there.

One day, the tribe of Cainhart fought against a tribe of a different island and lost.

All islands are poor, so scenarios like that were not rare.

Most people of a settlement that has lost are killed, but Cainhart was unfortunately powerless and unbelievably beautiful.

He was a man, but the head of the outside tribe from a different island had taken a liking to the young Cainhart, and kept him alive as a ‘whore husband’.

He tasted hell, being used as a plaything by the people that killed his own family.

The island that Cainhart lived in had an aboriginal religion, but he cursed the God that was not saving him.

If he could take revenge against the people that took away his family, he was willing to sell his soul to the devils.

He prayed for that every night.

The one who spoke to him at that time was…an Old God -the Goddess that’s imprisoned in the Deep Sea Temple, Noah-sama.

(A Goddess that specializes in loners…) (Makoto)

That MO is similar to my time.

Anyways, Cainhart met Noah-sama in a dream, and pledged to become her believer.

The moment he woke up from his dream, the sacred treasures were apparently near his bed.

And in this way, the mad warrior that has the armor that blocks all attacks, and the sword that cuts everything had been born.

Cainhart achieved his revenge by using those sacred treasures.

He exterminated the people that killed his tribe.

He was grateful to the Goddess.

He pledged that he would do anything for the sake of the Goddess.

But the words of the Goddess were ‘do as you please’. 

And so, Cainhart decided to increase the number of the Goddess’s believers.

He left his homeland and wandered the South Continent.

The continent was the land of demons under the control of Demon Lords, but for Cainhart that was equipped with sacred treasures, they were no match for him.

He saved humans that were oppressed, but for some reason, they didn’t change their faith to the Goddess Noah-sama.

The comrades of Cainhart didn’t increase.

The one who showed up there was the Demon Lord ruling the South Continent.

The Demon Lord had interest in Cainhart.

And then, Cainhart learned that he was a believer of a God that’s different from the Holy Gods.

The Demon Lord recruited Cainhart.

The Goddess that you believe in is an Old God that lost in the Divine Realm War.

The Demon Lord explained that they have a common enemy.

The Demon Lord proposed to rule the world together.

Cainhart accepted that invitation.

His respected Goddess also agreed to that.

—And that’s how Demon Lord Cain was born.

It is an event that happened a few years back in this era.

◇◇

“Why…do you know my name?” (Cain)

The Demon Lord is flustered.

What I should say here is…

“Because Noah-sama told me.” (Makoto)

I gave a short answer.

The Demon Lord reacted to this.

“Are you trying to deceive me here…? I am the only one who can hear the voice of Noah-sama as her Apostle. There’s no way you can hear her voice.” (Cain)

The voice of Cain was steadfast.

It is obvious, but it looks like he can’t believe my words.

“Then, how about I tell you this?” (Makoto)

I spoke about the past of Demon Lord Cain with a smile still in my face.

The story of an unfortunate boy from a small island.

The story of the unfortunate boy eventually becoming a Demon Lord.

It was super effective.

He was shaken to the point that it felt like he would drop his greatsword from the confusion.

Cainhart has not told anyone about his past.

Aside from Noah-sama.

“Why…do you know about my past…? Could it be that it is true? T-There’s no way…” (Cain)

“I told you I heard this from Noah-sama. I wanted to talk to you without anyone around, Cainhart.” (Makoto)

Noah-sama apparently called Demon Lord Cain with his real name.

That’s why Noah-sama advised me to call him the same way if I were to talk to him. 

I couldn’t do that at Laberintos because Hero Abel was there.

“Are you saying…you are an ally? Do you have proof?!” (Cain)

“Hmmm…” (Makoto)

So it is proof now, huh.

That’s hard.

I unsheathe my dagger and show the blade to him.

“This dagger was given to me by Noah-sama. It is made from the same material as your sacred treasure. Well, I don’t think this will be enough proof for you.” (Makoto)

“I do feel that there’s the same elements as my sword. But…” (Cain)

“Our King, is there really a need to borrow the strength of a man like this? We should be plenty enough, you know?” (Dia)

Dia was playing around with her hair by my side as if bored.

But well, my lifespan has been reduced from the fight just now, so I don’t want to lengthen the battle more than this.

I have told Dia to take a leisure attitude as much as possible.

“What’s…your objective? Why are you an ally of the Heroes?” (Cain)

“Because that’s the desire of Noah-sama.” (Makoto)

“The desire…of Noah-sama? Helping the Heroes…? There’s no way that’s… Every time I killed a Hero, she would praise me!” (Cain)

Oh, so the Noah-sama of this era accepts killing Heroes, huh.

“No matter how many Heroes you kill, it won’t help Noah-sama. It would instead make her be treated as an Evil God, and it would put Noah-sama in a lot of hardship for a thousand years.” (Makoto)

“What…did you say…?” (Cain)

Cain shakes his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

“It is true. Your actions will become unbeneficial for Noah-sama.” (Makoto)

“I won’t be deceived! Don’t speak another word! I am gonna cut you in half!” (Cain)

Demon Lord Cain shouted.

He is losing his cool.

The Great Water Spirit takes stance in order to block the attacks of Cain.

I stop her with my hand.

Cain wishes to gain more believers for Noah-sama.

But because of the Divine Realm Regulations, Noah-sama can’t increase her believers.

Even with that, he tries to increase the believers, unable to get comrades, and feels the loneliness of it; that’s Demon Lord Cain.

Even when becoming a Demon Lord, he has no comrades.

Even if he is feared, he isn’t loved.

The only believer of Noah-sama in the world…until now.

That’s why, what I should say here is…

“Noah-sama would be saddened if the only two believers she has in the world fight, right?” (Makoto)

“?!!” 

Demon Lord Cain languidly lowered the sword he brandished.

“Are you…saying you are a believer of Noah-sama?” (Cain)

“That’s right. Just like you.” (Makoto)

“I see… This is my first time meeting a believer of Noah-sama.” (Cain)

Demon Lord Cain muttered and took off his helmet. 

From below that appeared a beautiful man that could be mistaken for a woman.

But well, the person himself seems to hate his own beautiful face, so it would be better not to praise it.

“What’s your name?” (Cain)

“…Takatsuki Makoto.” (Makoto)

I hesitated for a bit, but I answered with my own name.

Cain will be talking about me to Noah-sama later, so it would be better to tell him my real name.

Well, Noah-sama can’t see 1,000 years in the future, so I don’t know how much she will understand…

“Takatsuki Makoto, if killing Heroes won’t help Noah-sama, what should I be doing?” (Cain)

He looked at me with serious eyes, and I consider my words.

“How about going to the Deep Sea Temple to save Noah-sama?” (Makoto)

Demon Lord Cain narrowed his eyes at those words.

“The Deep Sea Temple that Noah-sama is sealed at, huh. But if I don’t know where it is, I can’t even head there…” (Cain)

His response was unexpected.

Cain doesn’t know about the Deep Sea Temple?

“I know the location of the Deep Sea Temple though?” (Makoto)

“What?!” (Cain)

If it is 1,000 years in the future, it shows up in most adventurer maps.

It is one of the Last Dungeons that no one aims for despite being in the map though.

“You didn’t ask Noah-sama about it?” (Makoto)

“She wouldn’t tell me… Noah-sama said I wouldn’t be able to reach the Deep Sea Temple alone.” (Cain)

Now that he mentions it, I think she was also negative about me clearing the Deep Sea Temple.

“The Great Demon Lord promised to help me conquer the Deep Sea Temple if we kill all the Heroes. But because new Heroes appear no matter how many Heroes I kill, there’s no end… Who knows when it will be…” (Cain)

“You made a promise like that?” (Makoto)

When a Hero dies, the Goddesses designate the next Hero, so it will most likely be endless.

I think you are being deceived here.

Even so, I can use this information.

Demon Lord Cain doesn’t know the location of the Deep Sea Temple.

“Takatsuki Makoto! Tell me the location of the Deep Sea Temple. If you do that, I don’t mind trusting you.” (Cain)

Demon Lord Cain tells me with a serious expression.

“Then, let’s go together.” (Makoto)

“Huh?” (Cain)

It must have been an unexpected response, the eyes of Cain opened wide.

“Together…you say?” (Cain)

“Yeah, as believers of Noah-sama, our objective is the same, right?” (Makoto)

“No…but…” (Cain)

“Your sacred treasures and my Spirit Magic; can’t we clear the Deep Sea Temple with us two together?” (Makoto)

“…”

I could hear Demon Lord Cain gulping.

“As for the day, I have to make preparations, so around 7 days? Let’s make the rendezvous point here.” (Makoto)

“A-After 7 days?! That soon?!” (Cain)

“The faster the better, right?” (Makoto)

“T-That’s…” (Cain)

“You can use Water Breathing, right? We will have to be underwater for around half a day. Don’t tell me you can’t swim with your armor on.” (Makoto)

“I-I can swim…” (Cain)

That way of saying it isn’t giving me any confidence.

“The one protecting the Deep Sea Temple is the Divine Beast, Leviathan. It is apparently stronger than the Great Demon Lord, so let’s begin by analyzing it. Any questions?” (Makoto)

“…Are you serious?” (Cain)

Demon Lord Cain glares at me dubiously.

“I was planning on going there alone if need be anyways. You don’t want to save Noah-sama?” (Makoto)

“Alone, you say…?” (Cain)

“Yeah, what will you do?” (Makoto)

“…” 

After a while of silence, Demon Lord Cain answered.

“…Got it, let’s go together.” (Cain)

“It’s settled then.” (Makoto)

I smile and offer him my hand.

Demon Lord Cain was looking at me questioningly. 

(…Are you serious?) 

A voice resonated in my head.

Ira-sama?

You were listening?

(Are you going to make allies with a Demon Lord despite having Hero Abel as your comrade?) (Ira)

Isn’t this better than having him as an enemy the whole time?

We can’t win against Cain as long as he has the sacred treasures of Noah-sama anyways.

(If Hero Abel masters the Light Hero Skill, he can defeat Demon Lord Cain.) (Ira)

…That’s…true, but…

(What?) (Ira)

I don’t want him to die -with him being a believer of Noah-sama.

When I say this, she goes ‘got it’ and I could hear a sigh from her.

(But make sure Abel doesn’t learn of this. It is that Demon Lord Cain that killed the parent figure of Abel -his most hated opponent.) (Ira)

…I will be careful.

I nodded at Ira-sama, and looked at Demon Lord Cain.

“Looking forward to working with you, Cainhart.” (Makoto)

“Takatsuki Makoto, if your words had lies in it, I will have you pay with your life.” (Cain)

Demon Lord Cain glared at me and said this.

“I swear on the name of Noah-sama and my life. Let’s clear the Deep Sea Temple together.” (Makoto)

Demon Lord Cain held my right hand.

The hand that had ended many Heroes was so clean.

And in this way, I will now be challenging the Deep Sea Temple together with Demon Lord Cain.

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