“Yeah.”
At the suggestion to walk together, Arcne quietly nodded.
Since it was the Demon Lord’s request, refusing was out of the question, but she didn’t quite understand why he wanted to walk together. He was not the type to make such an invitation.
The two moved stealthily through the Imperial Capital.
The Demon Lord Valetta seemed to have a sense for leisure.
He watched humans as if amused and occasionally glanced at the stalls to see what they were selling.
Arcne couldn’t quite grasp that composure and slowness. After all, compared to the Demon Realm, this place felt so trivial, and humans were pretty revolting…
At some point, Valetta burst into laughter.
It was clearly from the sight of Arcne, and she had no choice but to ask, even pushing aside her rudeness.
“Demon Lord, why are you laughing?”
“It’s because your inability to blend in with the capital is amusing. You’re so far disconnected from everything.”
“Hmm…”
Arcne nodded. She had no real reason to refute. After all, she didn’t particularly like this place.
“Even in the Demon Realm, right? You have human blood mixed in.”
“Right. You are certainly a special Demon.”
At that moment, the Demon Lord stopped in front of a shop.
He was observing a drink with keen interest, which was divided into two layers.
“Should I get one?”
“I’m not looking at it because I want to drink it. It just reminds me of you.”
“Ah.”
Arcne seemed to understand the Demon Lord’s words.
It did resemble her, after all.
The drink had both blue and red hues, each not mixing but forming two distinct layers. Would it change its taste as one drank it in real-time?
She wasn’t so different herself. Two completely unmixable natures were breathing within her.
How much time had passed?
Valetta suddenly asked Arcne.
“I noticed you hesitated to kill a human.”
“I’m sorry. It’s embarrassing.”
Then Valetta laughed.
“There’s no need to apologize, nor is it something to be ashamed of. However, you must answer the next question. Why did you spare them?”
“…Something felt off about killing them.”
It wasn’t a casual response; it was her genuine sentiment.
Something felt wrong about it.
“By the way, it’s my first time having a long conversation with a Demon. I’ll lay it out, so will you listen and respond?”
“Yes. Gladly.”
“Good. Do you know what I hold most dear?”
“Um… chaos?”
“Chaos is merely a means necessary for what I hold most dear. I have a grander goal.”
Arcne blinked. It was truly the first time she had seen the Demon Lord speak like this to someone else.
“I didn’t know. I just thought you enjoyed chaos.”
“I do enjoy chaos. However, while enjoying chaos, there’s something I must always uphold… balance. I value balance.”
“Balance?”
“Yes. When balance is achieved, this world becomes most entertaining.”
Valetta spoke with a glint in his eyes.
“Do you know the Emperor’s power?”
“I think it has to do with annihilation.”
“Correct. And I am creation.”
Arcne began to focus on the conversation.
“I create chaos. Then the Emperor works hard to annihilate it. If either side’s balance is disrupted, it won’t do. They must intertwine harmoniously to be the most chaotic yet peaceful.”
“Hmm… I still don’t quite understand.”
“It means that your existence currently lacks any balance.”
“Pardon?”
Arcne’s eyes widened in shock.
“Just like the world, existing things also hold value when they achieve balance. But you’re completely off right now.”
“I’ve never thought about that.”
“The one from earlier was a petty thief. You could’ve created desire and killed him. That way, danger would’ve been eliminated since he could no longer make victims.”
“Yes.”
“Think back to when you created desire to kill Han-shin. It also annihilates the desire for revenge. There’s no longer a reason for revenge.”
“Yes.”
“If you focus only on creation, you’ll become lost in madness, and if you focus solely on annihilation, it won’t help the Demon Realm either. Indeed, harmony is needed for perfection, right?”
“That seems to be the case.”
The Demon Lord nodded satisfactorily.
“You’re a clever child among Demons; I commend you. But your current state is exceedingly ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous?”
“Yes, what is the reason you couldn’t answer why you spared the human? It’s because one side failed to achieve balance. There must definitely be one.”
Valetta continued speaking.
“Then let’s trace back.”
“Yes.”
“What have you lost that caused your balance to be off?”
“Um….”
Arcne tilted her head.
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
“Do you not realize? You actually have someone precious to you.”
“Are you referring to yourself, Demon Lord?”
“Not me. Someone you cherish more.”
“Me? How dare you!”
“Want me to provide you with proof?”
Arcne turned her shocked face toward him, but the Demon Lord looked at her with a relaxed gaze, as if he knew everything and could say anything leisurely.
“Yes. I want to hear it.”
“Good.”
Valetta smirked.
“Think of your body as that drink from earlier. Imagine those two layers.”
“Yes. I did.”
“You were originally full of creation. Killing intent, revenge… only dangerous emotions birthed from you.”
“Yes.”
“At some point, you selectively decided to engage in killing. You started focusing on only the ones truly needed, devising ways to grow stronger to achieve that. You started striving to find what you really wanted… at some point, balance was achieved.”
The Demon Lord spoke with a smile, but Arcne couldn’t find it in her to smile. Upon reflection, she remembered it vividly.
“Picture a male figure in your mind.”
“Yes.”
“Imagine him vividly in blue, the complete opposite of your fiery red.”
“Yes.”
“That figure was the balancing weight for your equilibrium.”
“Um…”
Arcne squinted, feeling an ache in her head suddenly.
“Jushin, who merely created denial… has matured a bit. You might think you lost your loyalty to the Demon Realm, but from my perspective, that’s not at all the case. If you look far enough, your strength is ultimately the strength of the Demon Realm.”
“Hmm.”
“Balance is so beautiful. Do you understand its importance?”
“I truly understand its importance now.”
“The war between the Demon Realm and the Empire is also balance. The peace that arrived because you were thrown into the Demon Realm is balance. Those who gain life are losing it; that is balance. Someone being forgotten is also balance. Everything is balance.”
“Demon Lord,”
Arcne couldn’t hold back and interrupted. It was an immense disrespect, but thankfully Valetta didn’t point it out. He merely looked at her as if he expected it.
“I want to regain my balance… I feel like I might remember something, but I just can’t. My head hurts.”
“That depends on you.”
“…It depends on me? I feel like I can’t do anything right now. I feel powerless.”
“My little spider.”
Valetta said.
“I am the embodiment of creation.”
“Yes.”
“I can breathe creation into you, but the responsibility to match the right proportions to achieve the correct balance is a burden you must bear alone. It’ll be incredibly painful.”
“Ah… yes.”
“If you wish, I’ll breathe it into you. I’m already prepared to lose you. However, one thing must be clear.”
A spark flickered in Valetta’s eyes.
“…Are you ready to lose yourself? Even if everything goes awry and your existence shatters, can you bear it?”
“…”
Arcne closed her eyes for a moment.
She felt a profound emptiness in her heart. Like a gaping hole had opened.
Unless she filled it again, she thought that living on wouldn’t hold much meaning. It was a conclusion derived more from instinct than reason.
In the end, she nodded.
“Yes. I’m prepared. Please tell me.”
“Good. Then spread your spider silk.”
“Spider silk?”
“Yes. All around, just as you wish.”
SWOOSH!
Arcne immediately did as instructed.
It wasn’t to ensnare someone or for an attack; she just stretched it out without much thought.
“How much further should I stretch it?”
“Keep going. Until everything is covered.”
SWOOSH!
Arcne silently continued.
Then, at some point…
“Demon Lord?”
Arcne blinked blankly. Suddenly, Valetta opened a purple dimensional gate and seemed ready to leave.
He began entering the gate alone, leaving Arcne behind, stunned.
“What? Demon Lord? Where are you going? Demon Lord?”
“There’s no longer a reason for me to stay. I’m going to the Demon Realm.”
“Excuse me?”
Arcne stammered.
“But you haven’t told me anything yet!”
“There’s no need to tell you anything.”
Valetta said without looking back.
“Look.”
As he stepped through the purple dimensional gate, one of Valetta’s fingers pointed upward.
He was indicating the spider silk that Arcne had spread out everywhere.
“Isn’t the answer within you already so clear?”
Arcne still couldn’t comprehend the Demon Lord’s words.
Clear?
What does that mean?
She couldn’t see anything!
Just a scattered mess of spider silk!
Then suddenly…
“…”
A peculiar sensation washed over her.
She took a step back.
No, one more step.
One more step. One more step. One more step…
Finally, standing at a certain point, the chaotic lines began to reveal the perfect balance and took on the appearance of something.
“This is…”
Arcne’s eyes widened.
A face.
It was the face of a man.
The face of the leader of the Empire’s organization, the embodiment of balance….
At that moment, the woman’s expression turned to one of shock.
─The final command bestowed upon Jushin.
The Demon Lord’s telepathic message resounded.
─Find your balance.
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