Chapter 301: The Banquet of Death - Part 2
Pope Johan's sermon lasted an uncomfortable amount of time. Asmodeus noticed the faces of many nobles looking stiff, almost terrified, as they looked away or hid themselves from his sticky gaze.
'It seems not all of the nobles and royalty have accepted this religion, yet it feels too dangerous to reach out.'
"Are you alright, Husband?"
Yuina's hand grasped Asmodeus before wrapping, entangling their fingers. He couldn't help but feel her warmth, like an afternoon in summer when she gazed at him with her clear blue eyes. A sense of worry hidden under their surface.
"I am alright, just worried this will turn badly. Although I warned Levia and Liana in case of emergency... I still worry about your safety."
'She looks so difference from the princess I met in the past.'
Despite bathing in the mana pool, and increasing in her tails. Asmodeus still felt worried about Yumiko's sister. It wasn't because she was weak, but because she wasn't a demon.
However, while Asmodeus felt concerned for her, she also swore to support him, even though her engagement to him was for show. That fact long became irrelevant to her. Now, he was the only one she pictured when dreaming of her future husband or partner.
'Asmodeus... I won't become baggage to you. I promise to help you and fight at your side no matter what. Because I am your wife and the princess of Inukami!'
"Asmodeus... I won't be a burden to you..."
Yuina's voice was quiet as it leaked from her hidden heart. She worried her words would annoy him as she gave a small sigh, feeling her racing heart.
Then Yuina covered her mouth and released a cute sound. Because she felt his hand squeezing her fingers and buttocks, followed by the hot sensation of his breath on her neck. "Then, I will keep you safe, my princess."
"Y....you... Hya...?!
'This damned perverted man... why does his touch only ignite my body with such... needless and sinful desire?!'
"Shh... just enjoy it, my cute little wife."
"Ahem! All be blessed in the name of our Great Lord, Mephisto!"
"As thy Decree!" Almost everyone followed Johan's final words with these words, an acceptance of Mephisto's blessing.
'Huh?!'
Asmodeus could see the flow of mana and aura with his demon king eyes. Thus, the moment the blessing happened. He noticed a flood... almost a tidal wave of black energy rushed into the royal palace and burrowed into the people who accepted Mephisto... even the empress.
'It feels disgusting, the scene of death... the sound of wails, how is this divine?!' Asmodeus could feel a change in the lovely fox beside him. His body stood ahead of her as if to shield Yuina from any harm.
"I... can feel it, Asmodeus... that strange darkness, what is it?!" A trembling voice, a tone lacking any sense of power. Yuina's lovely eyes darted around while looking at Asmodeus as if seeking his answer and help.
"It's fine, calm yourself... don't focus on the energy," He whispered smoothly in her ear while running his hands through her soft hair.
'The pope is never going to let us survive...' Asmodeus thought after seeing this spectacle.
Then when, he felt a gaze, pulling her away to hide her face against his chest. Asmodeus could feel Johan's gaze upon him and all those who rejected the dark energy. 'He is making notes of heathens!' However, Yuina was his priority, not the empire.
'No matter what happens to this kingdom, empire or world... I will protect you all, those that I care for.'
Although he appeared relaxed and calm on the outside, like fire and ice were surging in his blood, he was ready to boil over.
[You really are a strange demon king... No, you are the same as your mother. Selfish, but with a kind heart to those you let inside. Do not change... even if you only save those women and people who have shown you the light. I will never judge you, my apostle. You need not feel shame or doubt. I am by your side.]
'You always speak like an adult when worried about me...'
[I am an adult...]
'Heh...'
[Be careful, this city is strange, and my power is limited... I can protect your soul but not the others.]
'Then I will use my soul to protect them all.'
[Don't get hurt... promise me.]
'...'
Whenever Serena showed her concern for him, Asmodeus felt a huge ache in his chest, a pain beyond that of when he lost his arm or died in battle. 'I will do my best. Please don't cry again. Those tears, I cannot bear them.'
Serena's voice became quiet, but they seemed to listen to his words.
However, it wasn't until he felt the tension ease from the atmosphere. Asmodeus looked around from the corner of his eye while continuing to pet Yuina's head. "Are you alright, Yuina... does my chest smell nice?"
"Hueh... w-what do you mean?!"
A lovely, embarrassed noise came from her lips as her tails swayed frantically as if to hide her sniffing his armpits and burying her face in his tunic. This also allowed him to see she regained some composure. Although she would still need time to recover from seeing the mana of death so close up.
'Damn this fucking bastard, not only is the emperor on his side, but the empress seems to have been corrupted too!'
The crowd dispersed, but not before their eyes shifted toward him; not before their eyes shifted toward him. No, it was everyone except those who began to flee after resisting the mana of death.
"Well, if it isn't the notorious Demon King who will bring destruction and ruin to this wonderful world." Pope Johan's words were loud, echoing through the room. He wanted to do something, but Asmodeus didn't understand what.
'I've clashed with the cult several times... so they know who I am after all this, even those fake oracles. Shit, did I walk into a trap?'
"!!!"
However, before his mind could guide him, several knights in black armour walked inside with their blades on several people's necks. One of them how, however, caused his chest to tighten, while Yuina beside him almost jumped forward and attacked if he didn't stop her.
'Aki... why is she in such a state? No... the mana of death is wrapped around her entire body.'
[Calm down, Asmodeus... you—]
—grasp of blood
Asmodeus made a gripping gesture, using a spell he had last used a long time ago. However, the difference in power, skill and magic was now worlds apart. A bloody red claw that extended from the ground grasped every knight, priest and person except Johan, who couldn't break, shift, or escape its tight grasp.
"Y-You, Heathen!" Johan shouted, his hands manipulating the death magic, intending to release everyone.
"Sigh..." Asmodeus breathed out as he stretched out his hand to manipulate the claws holding before dragging his arm down as her body vanished into the darkness.
His eyes looked to the empress, powerless, trapped in the claw and consumed by the mana of death. 'I didn't wish for it to end this way; blame that bastard.'
Johan's hands flung towards Asmodeus, the dark magic forming arcing blades crackling with necrotic energy. "Stupid mutant! If only you didn't exist!"
*Whoosh*
*Drip. Drip.*
"It's impossible... unless it's the God of Death himself... or someone with divine power. My magic should ignore your magic! It should negate all mana... how is it that a Demon King has Divinity as well?!"
With one flick of his finger, Asmodeus burned away everything Johan fired, tearing off his right arm. 'Damn, I am lucky that I accepted the hero's bloodline and power from those Grigor girls... but what to do now. He will soon realise I have limits to my divine power!'
[Asmodeus, you cannot fight here... the people are supplying him with endless divinity!]
Almost like she told the future, the pope chuckled before he pointed at one of the guests.
Then suddenly, they trembled and looked terrified. The mana of death suddenly broke out of their bodies, causing them to bleed from their eyes, screaming in pain. "It hurts! Help! Argh.... my insides... help me... your highness!"
Asmodeus's eyes widened.
'I can't...' Yuina's eyes flooded with tears as the beautiful girl from The Varmen family exploded in a mass of blood and flesh. Her bloodied corpse splattered across the floor while Asmodeus blocked Yuina. He moved to shield her face with his left arm.
"Ahahaha! Fool! Now... come forth, those of sin and blasphemy!"
*Crack*
The pope's magic freed all the knights, who suddenly began to groan. Then, the death magic inside them caused their bodies to deform and grow taller, and their muscles began bulging. "Urgh.... Grrrr!"
'They've become beasts!'
"Yuina... prepare to fight, don't hold anything back!"
'Aki... you should be ready now, come out!'
The next moment, Aki, the beautiful knight with black hair and soft, tanned skin, appeared without her previous wounds. However, a single scar with black energy leaking from her body remained across her chest.
"Princess.... Asmodeus?! I... I was..."
"Forget it, now isn't the time!"
"Aki~ come here; please aid me and use the beacon flare to summon the knights!" Yuina cried out before drawing her sword.
"But, your Highness... argh!" Aki wanted to protect them, but it was pointless. She couldn't go against her master. Also, fighting against these monsters was impossible alone.
'I can't believe I am alive...' Aki thought to herself while activating Yuina's emergency mark on her back. The scene of Asmodeus saving her still vividly remained in her racing heart.
[Everyone who has had the mana of death released from inside them... will die!]
"I know!" Asmodeus growled, holding a huge greatsword that appeared from thin air, causing dozens of nobles to flee and scream.
However, their luck ended before reaching the door. The pope clenched his hand and forced them to the floor while groaning in agony.
"I will kill them all as long as it means my lord is pleased!" Johan's crazed eyes no longer glazed over; even his old body started to rejuvenate, becoming a handsome silver-haired male with black eyes.
'Fuck this broken divine magic!'
His black and red blade flickering with a dense magic aura due to his anger at the pope almost killing Aki and turning his gaze to Yuina. The power of his mana caused the air to vibrate and crackle while three people faced over thirty and the pope.