HKWM | Chapter 17

Demon worshippers sacrifice humans to summon demons and gain power in return. However, even if they open a summoning circle, whether a demon responds or not is entirely up to the demon itself.

For this reason, most worshippers prepare human sacrifices preferred by the demons, especially when summoning an Archdemon of the Seven Deadly Sins, which requires a significantly larger amount of sacrifices compared to others.

After I became a demon, there were several attempts to summon me which I consistently ignored, believing I wasn’t entirely blameless. Ultimately, the innocent humans were sacrificed to summon me. I felt it was unfair to blame myself and feel guilty, so I just ignored the summons.

However, ever since Noah started learning swordsmanship, the summoning attempts became more persistent. I tried to ignore them as usual, but the calls felt much more intense than when I was in the Demon Realm, and it was annoying. It also didn’t help that these guys were closer to our home than I thought. What if Noah accidentally came across them and it affected him negatively?

“Jin, are you preparing a meal?”

Noah was still worried about my meals. If eating was essential, this was an opportunity for me.

I sent Noah ahead to the capital and responded to the summoning to deal with the worshippers. Unlike stepping into space to collect souls, being pulled into a summoning felt unpleasantly like being sucked in.

“Ah, damn it…”

The scene that unfolded as I opened my eyes only added to my displeasure.

“Oh… Ohh…! He has finally descended…!”

“The Wrath has descended…!”

“Now that the flames of Wrath have reached the earth, the end will come!”

The sight of humans bowing down to the ground in awe was ridiculous. And the tower of corpses piled in one corner with streams of blood flowing beneath was even worse—a true mountain of bodies and sea of blood. The worshippers’ eyes were fixed only on me.

I sighed deeply from the pit of my stomach. Just my luck. What did I do when I was human to deserve constantly seeing such horrors?

“O Wrath! The shining calamity!”

“Please grant us power…!”

“Bring judgement to this land!”

“Justice for these foolish ignoramuses!”

“Mark this filthy land with your name!”

Do they even know what justice is? Whatever they’re doing, it’s definitely not it!

When demons receive a sacrifice, they grant a reward that corresponds to the sacrifice but within the limits of their power. Even though demons specialize in various fields, worshippers and contractors usually summon the demon that suits their purpose.

Those who summoned me were particularly insane. It’s not like there were many sane demon worshippers, but these ones were exceptionally bizarre.

They asked me to kill people, start wars, or even to destroy the Human World or open a portal between the Demon Realm and the Human World. Extremists who gave up even their own safety for a perfect end to the world, or just plain madmen.

Being known as Wrath, I was a symbol of fierce power, so it wasn’t surprising that these lunatics flocked to me.

“Children.”

“Huh, command us. Our true god!”

For the first time since coming to the Human World, I drew forth a massive amount of demonic energy. Although the flow felt more restricted and my body heavier than in the Demon Realm, being an Archdemon meant I had more than enough power to clean house.

“I’m not a god. I’m a demon.”

Thanks for the meal, but don’t call me again, you idiots.

The demonic energy Jin raised dispersed in an instant. Just as the worshippers began to lift their heads in the changed atmosphere, the finely honed demonic energy crushed their hearts into mush. The worshippers’ bodies collapsed lifelessly, with only one human remaining intact.

Jin walked up to him with a grim look as the chilling air swirled around, pulling screams from the already dead bodies in a ghastly fog of souls—a feast of souls.

The sole survivor looked around to grasp the situation, but as the destructive aura neared, he immediately bowed his head again.

A force like a natural disaster can’t be stopped by mere will. Yet, there was no sign of fear in him; all he felt was reverence for the almighty miracle.

“Do you understand why I spared you?”

“…I’m not sure, please enlighten this foolish one.”

Instead of answering, Jin burned the sacrificed bodies with magic. It was the greatest apology and goodwill he could offer to those unjustly sacrificed.

His complex feelings were apparent, but as soon as his gaze fell on the worshipper, it turned cold.

“Tell everyone not to summon me anymore, for no sacrifice is necessary. That’s your use.”

He bowed even deeper, taking it as an agreement. Jin finally turned and stepped into the space, leaving behind the sole survivor who slowly raised his head.

The look on his face wasn’t fear or astonishment at facing an unstoppable disaster.

“Indeed…”

It was the joy of someone who had finally found the answer he’d been searching for.

Although only one of the dozens of worshippers had survived, he didn’t consider it a miracle. The miracle was rather the display of power shown by Wrath.

“Our will lies with Wrath…”

Regiel, who had risen, prayed again towards the summoning circle Jin had appeared from.

“The sacrifice was not to your liking, I see. Well then, I must prepare more. Ah, perhaps I should find a vessel fit for a contract…”

Regiel murmured to himself as he knelt, then rose.

“This time, I will prepare perfectly.”

Just like he had gathered sacrifices to summon Wrath, Regiel piled up the worshippers’ bodies again and drew another summoning circle. To prepare perfectly, summoning another demon to gain more power was necessary.

The bodies were nothing more than empty shells now, but the entity he was about to summon would be sufficient with such offerings. Regiel closed his eyes as if in prayer.

“Please use us as the stepping stone for your holy plan…”

It was a madness deeply rooted that Jin had failed to fully grasp.

Days had passed since he left home, and even though they were about to arrive at the capital, Jin was nowhere to be seen. Noah, who had been staring out the carriage window, looked increasingly gloomy.

Phoras tried to chat with him, but Noah responded half-heartedly and turned back to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jin.

“…Do you two know what Jin went to do?”

Of course, they knew. There had been frequent summoning circles opening recently, and they were to take care of Noah until Jin returned. However, since their master had strictly instructed them to keep it a secret from Noah, they couldn’t tell him the truth.

“He said he stopped by the castle.”

“Jin’s castle?”

“Yes, he checks in periodically to ensure everything is alright. The Demon Realm has a lot of nuisances, you know.”

It was all a lie. With convenient magic at his disposal, there was no need to visit periodically. The claim about the nuisances in the Demon Realm wasn’t entirely false, but realistically, no one sane enough would dare cause trouble in the territory of an Archdemon, so it wasn’t something to worry about either.

“It’s like doing a cleanup, you could say.”

It was a metaphor, but it was the closest to the truth. Noah sighed deeply and rested his forehead against the window frame, his fine blond hair fluttering slightly, and his usually calm green eyes reflecting in the glass seemed colder.

“He’s probably eating as well.”

Even if there was no deal or contract, the moment one is involved with a demon, the soul begins to corrupt. The act of summoning itself was the same. So, it was obvious what Jin would do with the souls of the demon worshippers he went to cleanse.

But Noah’s expression darkened further. He remembered Jin, who had been reluctant to kill unnecessarily and had often postponed meals.

Noah couldn’t understand Jin. No one cares about the lives of critters. Whether a few bugs get stepped on while walking or if the meat on the table was slaughtered painfully, these were unnecessary concerns.

Yet, why did Jin, a demon, care about the well-being of humans, who were merely food or toys? Even he, a fellow human, didn’t care.

Jin had been like this since they first met.

He probably would never understand why, but he just wanted to help. If it was something Jin detested and something he could handle well, he was more than willing to do it for him. Taking the lives of humans to place on Jin’s table wasn’t a difficult task.

“…It would have been better if I were there.”

Phoras burst out laughing at Noah’s muttering.

“Really?”

“Why?”

“Have you ever seen a demon eat?”

“No.”

Phoras leaned in, whispering as if sharing a great secret.

“The souls eaten by a demon scream in agony worse than being burned alive. The sight can drive a fragile human mad, so perhaps it’s a scene better left unseen for you.”

While it was information that didn’t need to be mentioned, Phoras wanted to tease Noah, who always remained unfazed. However, Noah didn’t flinch at the description and simply looked at the grinning Phoras and asked,

“What happens to the souls eaten by a demon?”

“…Hmm, I’m disappointed that you’re not scared, but since our master has asked such a philosophical and fundamental question, I, Phoras, am quite proud!”

Phoras often made a fuss whenever Noah showed scholarly curiosity, so Noah was used to ignoring his antics. Similarly, Phoras wasn’t surprised by the disregard and didn’t take it to heart.

“They face a complete end, unable to reincarnate or return to the arms of the celestials.”