Chapter 384: Voyage Home (3)

The stream of blood drew an arc as it spurted out of her nose, but fortunately, Ciel was fine. She had simply drained herself of too much mana too quickly. There was no need for divine magic or a potion. Merely rolling up a tissue and blocking her nostrils was sufficient.

“…..” Ciel didn’t say anything as she caught her breath.

She felt slightly dizzy. A metallic taste lingered in her mouth, and her stomach churned. It was a challenge to breathe easily with tissues plugging both her nostrils.

Ciel pouted and exhaled with a wheezing sound.

"That's to be expected," said Eugene while crossing his arms. "It's not just any Demoneye. It's the Demoneye of Darkness. Even Iris couldn’t use it as she liked before becoming a Demon King.”

“…..” Ciel remained silent.

"It would be fine if you couldn’t use it as you liked as soon as you gained such a powerful Demoneye,” commented Eugene.

"Just a few days ago, I used it just fine,” retorted Ciel.

"Maybe they let you use it for free for the first time, like a free trial,” joked Eugene.

"Don't talk nonsense. Do you think this Demoneye is some cheap toy sold on the streets?" Ciel said angrily.

"Don't raise your voice, and don't get emotional. Look, you're bleeding again,” responded Eugene.

Tsk… Eugene handed Ciel a new tissue while clicking his tongue. Ciel took it with a gloomy expression before turning away to reseal her nose.

"Give me the trash," said Eugene.

"Are you crazy? Why would I give that to you?" shouted Ciel.

"Crazy? Aren’t you the one to talk? Don't make me sound weird. Why would I want a bloody tissue you've used? What would I do with it?" retorted Eugene.

"I know that, but still, who knows?" Ciel puckered her lips and summoned her mana. The rolled-up tissues ignited and vanished into the flame.

"Is it the difference between conscious and subconscious?" Kristina interjected while massaging Ciel’s hand. "The only difference between then and now is that."

Ciel had first used the Demoneye when Eugene drew the Divine Sword. At that time, she had been unaware of the Demoneye’s presence, and her mind was far from clear.

Yet, Ciel watched as Eugene confronted the Demon King amid the heavens. She saw the Demon King advance towards Eugene.

Thinking back to that first time, Ciel said, "Indeed…. Back then, I was watching Eugene unconsciously. I felt like I needed to stop the Demon King. I needed to help Eugene." Ciel’s voice was solemn as she put a fresh tissue in place. "But back then, I didn't realize that my eye had become a Demoneye. Now that I'm aware, using the power of the eye unconsciously is…."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Sienna asked with a ridiculous expression after staying silent until now. "Didn't you hear? Did you already forget…? Noir Giabella, that damned whore, said she put something in Ciel's eyes."

"Oh."

"The elixir of Shimuin’s royal family. It was intended to treat your injured eye. But at that moment, your eye exploded, and it was replaced by the Demoneye. So, what happened to the elixir that was left over?" questioned Sienna.

"Well…. I'm not sure…," muttered Ciel.

"What do you mean, not sure? It seeped into your Demoneye! The surplus mana that should have disappeared or been added to you acted as a booster. That's why, Ciel, you manifested the power of the Demoneye without much strain,” explained Sienna.

What do you think? Although she had not stated it outright, Sienna bore a proud expression. She was clearly convinced of her theory. It was an opinion so clear that one could neither argue with it nor feel the need to.

"Don’t act so arrogant,” Eugene shot back. He wasn’t fond of the slight smugness on her face. In response, Sienna gave a smirk and raised her middle finger.

"So... are you implying that for now, my mana is insufficient to wield it?" asked Ciel.

"Exactly!" Sienna affirmed with a nod. "Conversely, should there be ample mana, you can use the power of the Demoneye. "

The lack of mana that Ciel possessed wasn't the only issue. Even if she advanced further in the White Flame Formula and increased her reservoir of mana, developing the power of the Demoneye was another challenge altogether.

"How about you or I lend her some mana?" Eugene suggested after turning towards Sienna.

There were numerous ways to provide Ciel with mana. One could employ Akasha like Eugene or receive help from Raimira.

"It's fine." However, Ciel shook her head before Sienna could respond. "Frankly, rather than me wielding this power with help from someone else…. It will be far more formidable for you or Lady Sienna to fight.”

"That's a good point,” Eugene easily agreed.

He couldn’t deny it. While the power of the Demoneye of Darkness was immense, it was a waste to support a power that couldn’t be fully controlled during an intense battle.

However, the most exceptional ability of the Demoneye of Darkness was its power to traverse between the shadows it created. Such an ability, among all powers, was the most intuitive and robust even among the Demoneyes. It wasn't merely for attacking. If utilized creatively, it could prove very versatile.

Not all support was merely about enhancing attacks.

"Molon," Eugene said.

It wasn’t only Eugene who thought of the name. Sienna gave a slight nod with a small grin, and Kristina let out a short gasp of realization. Anise murmured a prayer within Kristina.

Even at that very moment, Molon was in Lehainjar. He might be slaying the Nur. Or perhaps he might have already cast the corpse of the slain Nur towards Raguyaran.

That eerie space. The other side of Lehainjar, which Vermouth allowed access to.

‘…..’

Eugene recalled his first entry there. Molon didn’t open the door for him. Rather, the barrier just opened. The Moonlight Sword… had been used as the key. At the time, he had his doubts, but he hadn’t pondered much. Maybe, just maybe, it was Vermouth's design since the Moonlight Sword was his cherished blade.

However, now he could contemplate more profoundly and accurately.

The Moonlight Sword was the Sword of Destruction. The Nur was the beast of destruction. The other side of Lehainjar, where the Nur appeared, and even Raguyaran, dubbed the end of the world — all were connected to the Demon King of Destruction.

And Vermouth….

"Molon won't leave Lehainjar." Eugene stopped thinking about Vermouth. Nothing was certain yet. He didn’t wish to speculate or misunderstand Vermouth without knowing the truth. It would shake his faith in Vermouth.

“That idiot… stayed in a distorted world, a world we don’t know about, for over a century, killing monsters. He wanted to die, but he couldn't. That’s how he’s been all this time. All because of his promise with Vermouth, that bastard,” said Eugene.

Molon had devoted himself to the task of killing Nur and ensuring that the End from Raguyaran never came to pass. The appearance of the Nur was unpredictable, as were their numbers. Hence, Molon could not leave Lehainjar.

"But… if we were to ascend Babel and confront the Demon King of Incarceration... that fool would want to join the fight,” continued Eugene.

Neither Sienna nor the dragons could traverse great distances instantaneously with their magic. Only the Demon Kings had the power to disregard distance with their teleport. The only thing that was similar was the leaves of the World Tree, but not all of them held such abilities. Moreover, their destination was limited to the domain of the elves.

The stronghold of the Demon King of Incarceration was at the heart of Pandemonium, the capital of Helmuth. While the city did house numerous warp-gates, they were unlikely to function amidst the chaos of war.

It was sheer folly to consider using the capital's warp-gates on a mission to assassinate the emperor of the vast Helmuth Empire.

However, if Ciel could master the Demoneye of Darkness on her own and freely wield its powers, perhaps she could bring Molon from Lehainjar to Babel.

This would open the door to a quest that had failed three hundred years ago: the conquest of the Demon King of Incarceration. They could attempt it once more.

‘Without Vermouth,’ Eugene, Sienna, and Anise thought.

Meanwhile, the implication of Eugene’s words made a heavy weight press down on Ciel.

She felt a heaviness in her left eye, and with a gulp, she gently touched its corner.

To make this plan work, Ciel had to master the Demoneye’s power, and not inadequately either. Lehainjar was located north, at the farthest reaches of the continent. Pandemonium was also located north, and it would take months to traverse the distance between the two by horse.

Ciel would need to bridge this vast distance through the Demoneye of Darkness.

"It'll be fine," Sienna said after noticing Ciel's disheartened expression. "The Demoneye of Darkness, those damned eyes." She paused upon realizing the profanity of her words, "Ahem, I mean... your magnificent… eyeball. I know as much about them as Iris does."

The research to defeat Iris' Demoneye had concluded two hundred years ago. Although they couldn't decode the manifestation process of its power, they had long understood how the dark matter was formed.

"It's not like we're rushing," Kristina chimed in with a compassionate smile.

Ciel cleared her throat a few times before nodding. Meanwhile, her nosebleed had stopped completely. Ciel turned her head, plucked the tissue from her nostrils, then set them alight.

"I'm better now,” she assured them.

"Then let's move on," Sienna rose swiftly. "We have another test for your eye. It has two abilities, right? The Demoneye of Darkness and—"

"The Demoneye of Immobility," Ciel interjected.

"Do we have to call it that? It's the name that the Queen of Whores gave it,” complained Sienna.

"Should we give it another name?" said Eugene.

"Demoneye of Stasis?" someone suggested.

"Immobility or Stasis…?"

"Does the name truly matter?" Kristina asked.

"But using the name given by Noir leaves a bitter taste," Sienna grumbled.

Yet, no suitable name came to their minds.

***

Three days passed, and Noir Giabella awoke with the gentlest of stirrings.

Not even the slightest whimper passed her lips. Her large eyes twinkled like the vast firmament as she gazed upwards. She let out a soft chuckle.

"Ah, it seems..."

Her possession had been forcefully undone.

Her spirit had transcended distances to nestle within the night demon, her vassal, leaving behind her main body, which housed enough power to rival that of the Demon Kings.

Noir was particularly vulnerable when she was in this state.

Thus, the dagger of Eugene — of Hamel — both hurt and exhilarated Noir.

"Such a pity," she lamented while slowly lifting her hand to her chest.

No scar remained, and the dagger that once pierced her heart was absent. However, she wished that even a tiny scar would have lingered, for it would have been a cherished gift from her beloved Hamel.

"What do I do?" She whispered with a coy smile on her lips. She suddenly sat up before burying her face in her hands. "I think... I think I've fallen even deeper in love."

Three centuries had passed. He had died once and reincarnated. Despite all that he had endured, Hamel remained unchanged.

Nay, his hatred had grown fiercer.

Was it due to the failure in his past life? Or was it because he was slain by the very demons he despised? The Hamel of the present harbored a deeper loathing than the Hamel from three hundred years ago.

Noir cherished this rage, this singular intent of Hamel towards the demon race. Though Noir could traverse between reality and fantasy, crafting realities as she saw fit, she couldn't fathom her own demise.

But with Hamel... that man, who seemed destined to vanquish demons….

‘Iris is dead,’ Noir remembered.

A heat rushed to her cheeks. Had she ever felt a love so pure? Noir descended from the bed while giggling.

‘And to think she had just become a Demon King,’ Noir’s thoughts were full of mirth.

It was evident that Noir held no compassion for Iris. In Noir's mind, squandering all of her massive wealth on beggars in Giabella Park was more justified than showing pity for Iris.

"My Hamel," Noir whispered as if caressing the name.

The power and prestige that came with becoming the Demon King paled in comparison to what Noir possessed. If he struggled against the likes of Iris, his blade would never reach Noir in this lifetime.

But even without the support of Vermouth and Molon, Hamel never wavered. He fulfilled the roles of both Vermouth and Molon with the aid of Sienna and the Saint.

And then, there was that blade Hamel drew at the end — a red sword, a luminosity that was both light and not, a weapon formed from a strange power.

"Such power can reach even a Demon King," Noir mused while pressing her hand on her racing heart, "but it cannot touch me."

Noir grinned, her crimson lips parting in amusement.

She gracefully approached the window, and though the curtains were thick, denying any semblance of light into the room, they began to draw back at her approach.

The entire wall was made of glass. It began to glow in response to her approach.

It wasn't sunlight; no sun graced this city. Instead, innumerable lights that illuminated the city tickled Noir's heart.

The delicate, swaying tail gently stretched out. It fetched the vibrant robe draped over the sofa. Noir draped the robe over her pristine, naked form and stood before the window. She declared, "Even now, my power grows."

With a gracious smile, she gazed down from the window.

[Lalala~ Lalala~]

[Happy, happy, Giabella~]

[Everyday~ Giabella day~]

[Welcome to Giabella Park~]

[Dreams come true~~]

[Welcome, welcome, to Gi-Gi-Gi-abella Park~!]

Without a doubt, it was the most luminous city in Helmuth.

Second only to Pandemonium in terms of visitors, this city of eternal night bloomed most beautifully under its dazzling lights.

In this city of pleasure, if one paid the price, one could indulge in delights unimaginable in the real world.

This city, Giabella Park, was the greatest source of life-force for Noir. She beamed with pride as she overlooked the city she had shaped.

Wooosh!

The mansion of Noir Giabella also served as the mascot of Giabella Park as it floated in the sky.

The “mouth” of the floating Giabella face opened to announce, "Surprise~ Giabella Showtime!"

This event was dictated solely by Noir's mood, and it always began spontaneously without warning.

The city resounded with cheers. Even the distinguished guests lodged in the top floors of the hotels flung open their windows, leaning out and waving their arms in jubilation.

Noir giggled merrily while spreading her arms wide. The Giabella Face, dependent fully on her will, tilted entirely to meet the gaze of the city below.

"Fantastic," Noir whispered, and a magical veil of illusion draped the city.

The dream conjured by the Queen of the Night Demons in Giabella Park was something not even monarchs could afford. The selling and buying of these dreams relied solely on Noir's mood.

But during this Giabella Showtime, for a brief moment, Noir granted everyone a glimpse of a dream. What millions had imagined became a transient reality through the lens of illusion.

All the emotions felt in these dreams caused tiny amounts of life-force to leak through them, and they supplemented Noir's power.

"Hamel," she whispered as she lay suspended in mid-air, "When will your blade reach me?"

It would be wise to hurry.

Memories of Hamel's eyes, voice, the fleeting touch of his skin, scent, hatred, and desire made Noir chuckle with delight.