Chapter 103
Belphegor had corrupted countless souls.
That’s why she knew exactly how to exploit the weaknesses of people.
And to her, the Saint’s , Amael greatest weakness was his soft, wavering heart.
He was never prepared—mentally or emotionally—to carry the burdens of being a “Saint” or the vessel of “Lust.”
He hadn’t chosen any of this.
He was suffocating beneath the weight of things far beyond him.
If Belphegor had to guess, he seemed like the kind of man who’d be perfectly happy settling down with a few women he loved, holding a normal job, and living a quiet life.
So, she had crafted her strategy to persuade Amael into three simple steps:
Convince him that he could lay down his burdens—right now.
Stoke his anger toward the Pantheon to establish emotional resonance.
Assure him that he wouldn’t need to fear death or hell if he just took their hand.
Kanya and Belia weren’t even part of the equation.
Belphegor had dismissed them entirely.
After all, the Saint had only known Kanya for a few days.
Four days at most, if we’re being generous and counting by the flow of time in the outside world.
Amael’s suffering, on the other hand, had stretched on for over a year.
He’d been cursed to fall into hell by the Evil Gods themselves.
He never once asked to become a Saint—he’d simply been swept into it and forced to endure its cruelty.
Belphegor had never once considered that her offer would be rejected… because of Kanya.
It just wasn’t logical.
Surely Amael wasn’t that much of an idiot.
What Belphegor failed to account for was—
“I do hate the Pantheon. That’s true,” Amael said calmly.
“But that doesn’t mean they all need to die. I’m sure they have their roles to play.
And I don’t want Kanya to be broken.”
—that he was, quite unfortunately, exactly that kind of idiot.
Or rather, someone so deeply empathetic toward the weak… that he looked like an idiot.
Belphegor found herself speechless.
“[The Pantheon said they’d send you to hell. This is your chance to fight back. And you’d throw that away?]”
She tried again, pushing his rage toward the Pantheon.
Amael’s response didn’t change.
“Maybe that was the best they could do at the time. And besides, I don’t want the Lust sealed inside me to awaken either. I may hate them, but I still believe they were doing their job.”
“[Don’t you want to be free of all this weight crushing you?]”
She shifted her tactic, poking at his exhaustion and desire to escape.
“Yeah. That’s exactly why I can’t take your hand.”
As a last resort, Belphegor tried appealing to his desires.
“[You could live happily with the women you love. Why do you always assume the worst?
If you side with Hell, you’ll gain the power to shape the world as you please.
Why reject such an easy, simple path, Amael? If you walk away now, you’ll keep carrying pain and misfortune. You’ll never get what you want—just like always.]”
She looked up at him, pleading. Her voice almost shook.
“[Take my hand, Jericho Amael. The anxiety. The worry. The endless pain that comes with being human. The unbearable trials you’ve endured from wielding power too great for mortals.
They’ll all disappear. Just imagine it—your three beloved women by your side, living a peaceful life.
Isn’t that what you wanted most?]”
She desperately hoped he’d reach out.
If he did, the game would be over.
Asmodeus would return to Pandemonium.
The fragile Pantheon and the worms of the Abyss wouldn’t stand a chance.
That perfect future was just within reach.
All he had to do… was take her hand.
“I can’t.”
Amael refused once more.
Belphegor was about ready to tear her hair out.
If it weren’t for Asmodeus, she would’ve long since used her powers—mind control, hypnosis, something.
But this had to be done through words alone, and it was driving her insane.
“[Why?! Why are you making such a foolish choice?! Why do you insist on taking the hardest path?!]”
Her frustration, disbelief, and anger poured out in a strangled shout.
But Amael’s reply only made her stare in stunned silence.
“If Kanya stays miserable while I live happily, then what’s the point?
It wouldn’t feel right.
I don’t want to step on someone else’s suffering just to find my happiness.”
Belphegor looked at him. Really looked.
Then, silently, she extended her hand again—this time out of sheer willpower.
Her expression had hardened with stubborn resolve.
“[Fine. Then Kanya and Belia will be spared. They won’t die.
Will you take my hand now?]”
“Sorry, but I don’t trust you.
Your sugar-coated lies…
I’d rather take the Pantheon’s threat of eternal damnation.
At least that sounds more honest. That’s why I’m still standing here.”
“[Amael. Why won’t you understand…? The easy path is right here.
The Pantheon is no different from us. They only act in their own self-interest.]”
“Even if that’s true, it doesn’t matter.
I’ve met the followers of both your side and theirs.
And honestly? The Pantheon’s followers are better.
They’re flawed—but they try to do what’s right.
They’re nothing like yours.”
Anger seeped into Amael’s voice now.
“Your followers tortured an innocent family.
They murdered parents in front of their own child.
Then they shoved Belia’s divine essence into that baby’s body.
And for years… they made sure that little girl never knew peace—just pain. All to condition Belia.
That’s why I can’t trust any of you.”
“[And you think the Pantheon didn’t do things just as vile? Shall I tell you what Le-Neri, the god of shadows and secrets, has done?]”
“I don’t care.
Yes, I hate the Pantheon.
But that doesn’t mean I want them all dead.
I don’t want their followers to lose hope.
That’s why I won’t join you.
You did something unforgivable to Kanya.”
Finally, Belphegor snapped.
“[She’s just one girl! Amael!
You’re failing to see what really matters here!
This is your life on the line!
Why can’t you choose what’s best for you?!
You’ve known her for less than four days!!]”
“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
“[…The right thing?]”
“Yeah. Because it’s right.”
Belphegor stumbled back a step.
Then… she laughed.
A laugh so full of disbelief and fury, it bordered on deranged.
“[You really are… an idiot.
Far dumber than any Saint or Saintess I’ve ever dealt with.]”
Amael laughed too.
“I know.
But hey, what can I say?
This is how I was born.”
Belphegor turned around and walked away, retreating to her place.
“[Let’s just do it the old-fashioned way.
This guy… is the biggest idiot I’ve ever seen.]”
“[You just wasted all our time, Belphegor!!]” roared Satan, his voice thunderous.
Belphegor rubbed the back of her neck, exasperated.
“[Yeah, yeah. Start already. Right now.]”
With that, Leviathan stepped forward.
The stones at her feet began to tremble with terrifying force.
Amael instinctively staggered backward, trembling.
Leviathan laughed at the sight.
“[Come out, Asmodeus. Descend to the mortal realm.
If you don’t, your precious Amael will die.]”
She giggled—and casually waved her hand.
That single motion tore a jagged wound across the earth.
It was like a colossal blade had passed by, carving deep scars into the ground, heading straight for Amael.
Just before it could tear his body in two—
A blinding light erupted from within Amael’s chest.
And Leviathan’s attack…
deflected like water off a shield.
She cackled with joy, clapping her hands.
“[It’s been a while, Asmodeus!!]”
Slowly…
From behind Amael—
a towering figure made of radiant light began to appear.
***
I didn’t pass out.
No, actually—
Not passing out made things worse.
There was a reason beings like them were called Divine Entities.
Refusing the young girl’s temptation had been the right move, sure…
But the moment I rejected her, the attitudes of the Three Demon Lords changed in an instant.
They launched an assault, and I couldn’t keep my mind straight.
Each word they spoke—each shred of their will—was like a weapon.
Every voice was a blade that sliced at my soul.
Even staying conscious felt unbearable.
Just then, the skeletal, anorexic-looking woman hurled something at me.
Something invisible yet unmistakably ominous tore across the ground, screaming toward me like a curse.
I knew it by instinct—
That was something I couldn’t dodge.
I couldn’t block it.
I couldn’t do anything.
I reflexively raised my arm.
And at that very moment,
that formless terror was violently deflected and vanished.
That’s when I felt it—
Something enormous was behind me.
I squinted against the blinding light and slowly turned around.
And there it was:
A massive, unexplainable presence that dwarfed everything.
A weighty, radiant figure that words couldn’t begin to capture.
I blinked in disbelief.
“…Giga-Chad?”
It was a square-jawed, muscular man—a literal Giga-Chad—towering behind me.
And when I dumbly spoke the name,
he looked down at me.
“[It’s been a while, Holy Pip.]”
Before I could even respond,
the anorexic woman let out a sharp, delighted laugh.
“[Long time no see, Asmodeus!!]”
Wait… WHAT?
Giga-Chad is Asmodeus?!
The one who used to comfort me in dreams, who held me gently when I couldn’t breathe—
That Asmodeus?!
That made no sense.
Why would the Demon Lord of Lust be the one comforting me?
My mind spun.
Then the ground shook—like an earthquake had hit the mountaintop.
And Giga-Chad… no, Asmodeus—groaned in pain.
His hyper-muscular form shattered away,
and eight brilliant wings burst from his back.
“[Seong-ppitppi… I didn’t want to scare you, so I took on a form you’d find familiar.
But against these guys… I need to reveal my true self.]”
The bearded man disappeared—
and in his place…
“L-Lilia?!”
It was the exact face of Lilia, the Goddess of Grace I’d always seen in the Temple of the Mage Tower.
The confusion hit me like a tidal wave.
Hold on, HOLD ON—
So Giga-Chad was actually a woman all along…?
And that woman is Asmodeus…?!
But then why… why does she look like Lilia?!
What the hell is going on here?
“[Damn you, Lucifer!!...]”
The left wing of Asmodeus—the one that looked exactly like the Goddess Lilia—shook violently with a horrific metal screech.
And in the next instant—
The anorexic woman and the hulking armored man charged at her with monstrous speed.
“[Stick to the plan. Belphegor, you handle the corruption.]”
“[We’ll hold down Asmodeus. Don’t fail, Sloth.]”
Their clash was apocalyptic.
The mountaintop screamed in agony as boulders shattered and tumbled from the force of their power.
“[Seong… ppitppi…]”
The skeletal woman and the massive knight each grabbed one of Asmodeus’s arms.
Two titans clashed right in front of me,
and I—
I could do nothing.
Even standing there, the unseen pressure threatened to crush my soul to dust.
I could hardly breathe.
All I could do was watch the battle unfold.
And then…
“[Amael. You really should’ve just taken my hand when I was being nice.
Now look what you’ve made me do.]”
The little girl with the eerie smile strolled casually up to me.
“[Don’t worry. This won’t take long.
My brainwashing is smooth and clean.
You won’t even remember who you used to be.
If you’d taken my hand earlier… at least your ego would’ve survived.]”
Dark energy gathered in her hand.
Slowly…
She reached out toward my head.
“[Seong-ppitppi! Amael!!]”
I heard Asmodeus scream, her voice desperate.
“[Give me!!… the order!!...]”
I still didn’t understand anything.
Why the hell did Lust look like the Goddess Lilia?
Why were two of the Demon Lords restraining her, instead of helping her?
Weren’t they all on the same side?
And brainwashing?
They were gonna turn me into another Kanya?!
No way.
I’d rather have my soul torn apart.
I had no time to think.
“[Goodbye.]”
The girl’s shadowy hand swept toward my head.
And then, right at that moment—
A radiant white chain materialized in my right hand.
[Skill: Time Stop – now usable.]
[Skill: Physical Enhancement – now usable.]
[All skills upgraded to MAX level.]
[All mental and physical strain for skill usage: lifted.]
Her hand froze inches from my face.
I had isolated her hand in localized time-stop.
“[You…! You grabbed the chains…!]”
The girl stared in horror.
I didn’t answer.
I just punched her.
I’d pushed my body to ridiculous extremes with Physical Enhancement, but my body held together just fine.
There was a deafening sonic boom—
and the girl flew like a missile, slammed into the rocky terrain, and skidded across the ground.
I looked down at my hand.
A shining white chain was tightly wrapped around it.
“[Amael. Finally…!!]”
Asmodeus laughed from behind me.
“[Give me the order!]”
I wrapped the chain around my knuckles like brass knuckles and gave my command.
“I don’t know what the hell is going on… but for now, we’re allies, Asmodeus.
I need the power to beat the crap out of these bastards.”
Asmodeus carried out my order—
in the most spectacularly unambiguous way possible.
A towering pillar of light descended from the heavens and crashed into the earth.
I’d only ever heard about it, having been unconscious at the time.
They called it:
The Miracle of Scrap Yard.
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