After Ten Millennia in Hell

Oh Kang-Woo sighed.

"That's not what I'm talking about, so calm down."

"Ah…"

Lilith expressed disappointment. She lowered her head while sulking.

Kang-Woo groaned and gave her a light hug.

"You know this isn't the time to think about things like that," he said in a gentle voice.

It wasn't because he was trying to console her.

'Not having Lilith would be troubling.'

Back in the demon king army and now in Guardians, she was a very important member.

Her talent in information gathering and forging was so high that Kang-Woo honestly wondered if she had been blessed by a godly being in that aspect. The fact that she had been able to distribute the Book of Hell in just a month of being in the Demon Cult was proof of her abilities.

'If I didn't have Lilith…'

He wouldn't have known how the battle between the Demon Cult and Lucifer's forces was going or the fact that Lucifer's son had come to Earth. Without her, it would be as if he'd lost his eyes and ears.

'I cannot let her be depressed.'

Whatever happened, Lilith would move for his sake. He wasn't worried about her betraying him, but it was a matter of efficiency. The difference in one's efficiency between when there was and wasn't a reward was massive.

Seeing how lazy reserve soldiers pretty much turned into special forces when early discharge was on the line was proof that rewards worked to improve motivation.

"My king…"

"Let's take time to think about it seriously once this is all over."

"Aahh, my king…"

Lilith's body trembled as her eyes teared up. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

Kang-Woo couldn't help but feel guilty after seeing her tremble.

'I didn't expect her to cry.'

As the one who'd thrown the bait, he couldn't help but feel guilty because she reacted so strongly.

Lilith wiped her tears and smiled brightly. She clenched her fists.

"Fufu. Okay. If that is what you wish, then I will do my best to resist, Master Kang-Woo."

He heard her excited voice, and his guilt grew even more.

Avoiding her gaze, Kang-Woo asked, "So, what do you think?"

"About whether demons also care for their children?"

"Yeah."

Did demons also have maternal and paternal instincts?

It was a hard topic.

'After all, demons don't need to reproduce.'

They could do it, but they didn't need to. The cases of demons giving birth to children through sexual intercourse were extremely rare. Demons weren't in the category of ordinary biological creatures.

They were born in the darkness of the Nine Hells, from a Rift that no one knew the nature of. Demons were just born randomly out of thin air along with a black wave in space.

No one knew what the nature of the darkness was. It could be demonic energy, a manifestation of a deity, or just something created by the Nine Hells itself. Not even the princes of Hell had any idea.

There were only three known facts about the Rift: One, the demons born from the Rift were born as adults. Two, a great minority of the demons born from it possessed a special power called an Authority, but that didn't mean that all demons with an Authority were strong.

'Just take Sabnak for example.'

Although Sabnak had the Authority of Blades, he was mere small fry in the First Hell.

'And third…'

The strength of the demons born from the Rift was decided from the moment they were born. There were some exceptions, but the strength and limits of most demons were decided from the moment they were born. That meant that there were almost no cases of a demon from the First Hell becoming strong enough to enter the Ninth Hell.

It was similar to children being born wealthy.

Even the princes of Hell had been born to become 'princes of Hell.' Among the seven princes of Hell, there was only one who hadn't been one since the beginning.

'Bael.'

Kang-Woo and Bael had many things in common.

Through numerous years, Bael had reached the Ninth Hell from the First Hell and had managed to kill Beelzebub, one of the original princes of Hell, and had taken his place.

Except for him, all the other princes of Hell had been born with the destiny of becoming one.

'Leviathan makes it a bit iffy.'

Leviathan hadn't been born from a Rift. Considering that his father was Behemoth, the king of demonic beasts, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was also born with that destiny.

'Alright, enough with the boring exposition.'

Back to the main topic.

"Hmm, I am not too sure about that either, but I do know for a fact that if we were to have a child, I would love them with my entire being." Lilith gave a warm smile while touching her stomach.

Kang-Woo's eyes narrowed.

'I guess they at least have a concept of love for one's flesh and blood.'

The question was whether Lucifer was also the same.

Maternal or paternal instincts weren't absolute, even for humans. There were parents willing to risk their lives for their children, but on the other hand, there were some who killed their children with their own hands.

Love for one's own flesh and blood was relative.

'It's worth testing out.'

The tips of his mouth went up.

"Lilith, investigate the location of the demon claiming to be Lucifer's son."

"My king, are you…"

"You said you would love our child with your entire being, right?"

He laughed out loud. He was ecstatic, like some child who couldn't sleep because he was too excited for their trip the following day.

"Let's see if that's also the case for Lucifer."

"…"

* * *

Boom!

Crack!

"Aaarrrggghhh!"

"S-Stop him!"

Screams rang out.

The passageway became full of explosions and the smell of blood.

A demon was walking through the passage.

"... How boring."

He narrowed his eyes while looking around as if he didn't like what he saw. He covered his mouth and yawned.

The name of the demon who'd destroyed everything around him was Lucis. He had six black wings, dark skin, and silver hair that reached his waist. Based on his face alone, he did not look that different from a human. Unlike other demons, he wasn't that big. His skin wasn't grotesque, nor was his body covered in muscles. He didn't even have tentacles.

One would think at first glance that he was someone in a very high-quality cosplay costume.

"Aaaahhh!"

"R-Run!"

The Demon Cultists turned pale as if they'd seen a monster. They were more fearful of Lucis than the other monster-like demons, and it wasn't hard to see why.

"Hmph, small fry."

Lucis raised his hand, and darkness gathered around it. It was the power of his father, Lucifer, the Prince of Pride. Lucis had inherited a portion of his father's power.

Crack!!

He spread his hands, shooting a black sphere forward. Like a black hole, the sphere absorbed everything in its surroundings, and the darkness sucked in the cultists trying to escape.

Tsk.

He clicked his tongue as he watched them die without offering much resistance.

"Rakkisgard, have you found Satan's location?" he asked while turning his head.

The giant demon kneeling in front of him shook his head and hurriedly answered, [My apologies. I captured and interrogated the human who was the branch manager, but… I had not been able to get Satan's location.]

"Again?"

Frowning aggressively, Lucis stepped on Rakkisgard's head, which was against the floor.

BOOM!

"Useless piece of shit. How many more chances must I give you?"

Lucis struck Rakkisgard aggressively in succession. Although Rakkisgard was bleeding, he didn't dodge Lucis's attacks.

"Shit."

Lucis cursed in displeasure after his kicking spree.

Rakkisgard slowly opened his mouth.

[We are taking too much time, Lord Lucis.]

"…"

[If Lord Lucifer were to find out that you are here…]

"Shut up." Lucis glared sharply. "I'm not going back until I have Satan's head."

Lucis clenched his fists, recalling his father, Lucifer.

'If I take Satan's head…'

He would be able to get his father's acknowledgement.

"How is the current situation in Aernor?"

[... Not good. Raphael's forces are continuing to apply pressure to Lord Lucifer.]

"…"

There was silence.

Lucis turned around.

"Onto the next location."

[Lord Lucis…]

"Rakkisgard." Lucis turned his head, his waist-long silver hair shining mysteriously. "Do not make me repeat myself."

[... Yes, my lord.]

Rakkisgard got up.

As he stood up, his five-meter-tall body made the ceiling crumble.

"Satan…"

A strong bloodlust appeared in Lucis's eyes.

'Arrogant prick.'

From what he had heard, Satan used to rank higher than Lucifer as a prince of Hell in the demon realm. Satan's crazed actions were likely due to that past memory.

'To think he'd dare to declare war on us.'

Lucis couldn't remain still at such provocation. Lucifer had also been furious after hearing the news. The only reason why he hadn't taken action despite that was because of Raphael's forces.

'If Father can't make a move…'

Lucis would protect his father's honor for him. He had heard that Satan had gotten hold of a power known as the Demonic Sea, but he wasn't worried.

'I'm the son of Evil God Lucifer.'

They were not in the demon realm like in the past.

Lucis walked with unwavering eyes.

Crack!

"Gaaaahhhhh!"

"Arrgghh! S-Spare m—!"

As they walked down the passageway, he watched his subordinates exterminate the cultists.

"Hmph," he snorted.

Lucis could tell from the sorry state of the Demon Cultists that he didn't need to worry about Satan.

'With his subordinates being so weak, there's no need to even think about the power of their leader.'

He didn't know about what had happened in the demon realm.

He'd been born after Lucifer had gone to the continent of Aernor. He was born when Lucifer, one of the princes of the Nine Hells, had made love to a human woman.

Hence, he had no idea who Satan was or how strong he was. He thought he didn't need to know.

'No matter how strong he is…'

He wouldn't be able to defeat his father.

Lucis looked at his hands, which were closer to a human's than a demon's.

'I have to prove it.'

He had to prove his strength and his value. If not, he wouldn't be acknowledged as a demon.

Lucis began walking again.

Just then…

[I had high hopes after hearing that you were Lucifer's son, but all I see is a snot-nosed brat.]

"Kuh!"

Lucis quickly turned around. Darkness had appeared where there definitely hadn't been anything before. He saw a red demon mask floating in a shroud of darkness.

"Who are y—"

[I heard you have been looking for me.]

Snicker.

A chilling laugh leaked out from behind the mask.

"Y-You're…"

[Correct.]

The shroud of darkness expanded.

[I am Satan.]

In other words, a cheat code.