Ascension Through Skills

Taesan realized why the Demon God was looking at him with an uncomfortable expression.

[The power of the Ancient God. Although it bothers me greatly that you wield it... I understand. It's your power now. Even they can't interfere with it anymore.]

The Demon God twisted her hair around her finger.

[No, I should actually praise you. Thanks to you, one of the High Gods won't show up here for a while. But... that's different.]

The Demon God’s eyes narrowed.

She gazed at Taesan as if inspecting his insides.

[Gray. The power on the boundary. Do you know what that means?]

Taesan shook his head. He knew it was a power that could interfere with the High Gods, but he didn’t know more than that.

[It's a power that can distort order. And it can also interfere with things beyond the order. Depending on how you handle it, it could be beneficial to us, or it could be the opposite.]

Taesan frowned at those words.

“Is that so?”

[Being on the boundary means you can go either way. Honestly, I'd like to seal it. But that's not possible, is it?]

“No, it’s not.”

Taesan spoke sharply.

The boundary was a power unique to him, not even the labyrinth system could understand it. He had no intention of discarding such a valuable card just because it was risky.

The Demon God, not meaning it seriously, ended the conversation with a grumble.

[I respect your opinion. Handle it carefully.]

“More importantly, is it possible to seal my power?”

[If even the High Gods can be banished, what can't be done? But the consumption of power is considerable. And as long as you are under the protection of the labyrinth system, it requires your consent. No other god will seal your power, so you don't need to worry about that.]

[......]

Barkaza was watching the conversation blankly. He couldn’t easily accept the current situation.

Barkaza was an old spirit. Although not many, there had been several incidents involving transcendents.

So, he knew to some extent what transcendents were.

The Demon God in front of him was a transcendent. A god.

A mortal couldn’t normally even witness their appearance.

The words of transcendents were law to mortals, and if they wished for something, it would inevitably come to pass.

In such matters, the circumstances or opinions of mortals were not considered. It was enforced like a law, and mortals had no choice but to be swept along.

To transcendents, mortals were insignificant beings swept away by waves. Nothing more.

But now, the Demon God was respecting a mortal’s opinion and curbing her will.

Moreover, she even made a request close to asking for caution.

That fact was extremely confusing to Barkaza.

Ignoring the confused Barkaza, the Demon God continued.

[You can guess why I have descended, right?]

Taesan nodded.

The Demon God had always said it. The time was approaching. It was time to grant him something equivalent to mid-level magic.

The Demon God spoke.

[I will grant you a new black magic. Of course, there are conditions. I will give you a trial.]

“What is it?”

[I have been very busy lately. Truly.]

“Is that so?”

The Demon God had appeared every time Taesan offered a tribute. But recently, she had only taken the tributes without showing herself.

It seemed to be due to the Demon God’s circumstances.

[The reason I have been busy, you also know it.]

“The High Gods?”

[Yes. They've been interfering excessively lately. It's been hard to stop them. The trial I will give you is related to them.]

“Most of the recent trials have been related to them.”

The trials from the God of Magic, the Spirit God, and even the Demon God were related to the High Gods.

[There's no choice. Since you became involved, they've started moving in earnest. It means that the power you have is unexpectedly significant to them.]

The Demon God spread her hand.

The labyrinth receded. Walls flew far away, creating a dark space.

[I am the Demon God. The god of the demons.]

A black sphere formed above the Demon God’s hand.

There was a deep, dark darkness.

[The Demon Realm is the world of demons. Although I rule this place... there are those who reject my will.]

The Demon God spoke with a frustrated expression.

[There are demons who believe in the old Demon God, who was banished when I became the Demon God. Deal with them.]

[Sub Quest Started]

[Demon God. Lucifer wants to deal with the demons who believe in the old Demon God who was banished.]

[Condition: Deal with those in the Demon Realm who believe in the old Demon God.]

[Reward: Determined by the Demon God based on your achievements.]

“The old Demon God…”

[They were a transcendent being from birth. They are called the High Gods. The old Demon God was the same. He was a Demon God from birth. Although he has now been banished and disappeared into the past, those who worship him still remain.]

Taesan read the quest window and asked,

“The Demon God is directly protecting the Demon Realm, right? Can’t you handle this yourself?”

[Normally, I could. The old Demon God has lost much of his influence since being banished from the Demon Realm. He isn’t even a High God anymore, and dealing with his followers is not a problem.]

The Demon God gave a bitter smile.

[But it's impossible. If I or my apostles, who have directly received my power, clash with those involved with the old Demon God, it will cause problems.]

“What kind of problems?”

[Hmm.]

The Demon God pondered for a moment and then snapped her fingers.

Instantly, the ghost and Barkaza disappeared.

[Don't panic. I just excluded them for a while. This is a story that's a bit sensitive for them to hear.]

The Demon God scratched her cheek.

[The old Demon God was literally the god of demons. The Demon Realm itself was made of his power.]

The Demon God spoke in a small voice, like an old man telling a tale.

[The demons wanted to banish the ferocious old Demon God. So, they forcibly made a young and small child a vessel for the Demon God.]

A young and small child.

Taesan looked at the Demon God.

With black hair and a face that still looked youthful, she didn’t seem like an adult yet.

[However, since the child was not mentally complete, problems arose. The old Demon God's power that spread throughout the Demon Realm couldn't be completely excluded. The remnants still remain. If I directly interact with them, parts of the Demon Realm will collapse.]

“That’s why I’m here.”

[You haven’t directly received my power.]

Taesan could wield black magic, but he wasn’t an apostle of the Demon God. He was excluded from the targets she mentioned.

[They wanted to escape from the old Demon God and made me the Demon God, but now, with time passing, they don't trust me and instead believe in the old Demon God they themselves banished. It’s quite ironic.]

The Demon God grumbled.

[So. Will you accept?]

“Yes.”

Taesan nodded.

The Demon God smiled contentedly and snapped her fingers again. The ghost and Barkaza, who had been banished, returned.

[Master?]

[......I would appreciate it if you would give a warning before banishing us.]

[Too troublesome.]

The Demon God responded briefly to the ghost’s complaint and opened a space.

A passage emitting thick demonic energy appeared.

[You can go through there.]

“Is there no information?”

He couldn’t go without knowing where to go or who they were.

The Demon God replied.

[Once you pass through the passage, your helper will be there. Ask them for the answers.]

“I understand.”

Taesan stepped into the passage.

The dark, thick energy leapt across space, leading Taesan to the Demon Realm.

Tap.

Taesan stepped onto the ground.

The first feeling Taesan had upon entering the Demon Realm was darkness.

It wasn’t just the absence of light; the pervasive energy was thick and damp.

It was the complete opposite of the brightly shining Spirit World.

He looked up at the sky. There was something similar to a sun, but its color was black, like the sun during an eclipse.

This was the Demon Realm.

[As a spirit, it’s my first time in the Demon Realm. Being by your side certainly brings new experiences.]

Barkaza chuckled. It wasn’t a dissatisfied laugh; rather, he seemed satisfied with the current situation.

“Barkaza, I’m sorry, but you’ll need to stay hidden.”

This was the Demon Realm. He didn’t know how they would react to seeing a spirit.

Barkaza seemed to understand and nodded.

[I suppose I have no choice. Call me if a battle starts.]

Barkaza disappeared.

Taesan looked around.

He saw a small village. The appearance of the buildings was not much different from those of medieval Earth.

Taesan walked toward the village.

The Demon God had mentioned that there would be helpers.

As he entered the village, he saw beings that appeared to be demons.

It wasn’t his first time seeing demons. He had seen them several times in Bekweseita and the labyrinth.

They didn’t look much different from humans. Except for the qualitatively different energy they exuded, they looked the same.

The villagers looked at Taesan and bowed their heads.

Taesan also bowed in return.

[They must have noticed that you aren’t a demon, but they aren’t hostile. Did the Demon God inform them in advance?]

As he walked deeper into the village, he saw more demons.

And they were all old.

No matter how young they looked, they appeared to be over seventy if they were human.

“Is this some sort of nursing home? Why did they send me here?”

Taesan muttered as he walked further into the village.

As he did, he felt a strong wave of power from within.

Taesan’s expression changed.

It was quite strong.

It was a level of power that could yield significant results even within the labyrinth.

And the wave of that power felt strangely familiar. Taesan realized who the helper the Demon God mentioned was.

“Are you the one the Demon God spoke of? You’re much stronger than I expected. Could you be from the labyrinth…”

The approaching demon looked at Taesan’s face and was startled.

“…Huh?”

“I was wondering where you went, and here you are.”

Taesan had fought several demons in the labyrinth.

And the most memorable one was a demon named Quaned, whom he fought on the 40th floor.

He was strong but clumsy. Therefore, he made an unfair contract with the Guides of Sin, binding his soul to Patricia.

Taesan broke the contract with Soul Ascension.

The Demon God took in Quaned, whose soul was freed and who was dying.

And now he stood before Taesan.

“…Hello?”

Quaned greeted him with a dumbfounded expression.

“Hmm. Thinking about it, it makes sense. If the Demon God were to request help from a labyrinth adventurer, it would be you.”

Quaned scratched his cheek. The last scar he had seen on the young demon was no longer visible.

“…Would you like to come inside for now?”

He gestured towards a building that looked like a cathedral.

It wasn’t the best to just stand and talk, so Taesan nodded.

Quaned led Taesan into the cathedral and to his office. As he served tea, he spoke.

“Come to think of it, I never got to thank you properly back then. Thank you.”

To Quaned, Taesan was a benefactor.

His soul had been bound by Patricia’s contract. If things had continued, he would have lived as a slave to the Guides even after death.

Taesan had resolved that.

“Thanks to you, I’m living here now.”

“Have you given up on the labyrinth?”

“Not exactly… but I failed once, didn’t I?”

Quaned handed him the tea.

As he said, Quaned had failed. He should have died long ago, but he survived thanks to a lot of luck and grace.

“I just find it hard to go back in. The Demon God didn’t recommend it either. Living like this isn’t so bad.”

He sipped his tea and continued.

“This village takes care of demons who are too old to live on their own. I do various things with the princess here, and it’s pretty fun. It’s also fulfilling.”

“Princess?”

“Yes, the princess. Oh, not the princess of the Demon Realm. She’s from another world. She should be here soon.”

A certain demon crossed Taesan’s mind.

The office door opened.

“Quaned? Is the guest the Demon God mentioned here?”

“Yes, Princess.”

“I told you not to call me princess. Hello…”

The girl’s face froze as she lowered her head.

The ghost let out a sound.

[So, it connects like this. Did the Demon God plan this?]

Taesan spoke.

“It’s been a while, Anetsha.”

The first time Taesan received a trial from the Demon God, he descended into a world called Vekveta.

There, the quest he received was to protect the princess of the demons.

The princess of a collapsing world, Anetsha.

She was now standing before Taesan.

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