This Isn't an E*otic Game?-Chapter 84: Crush Them

I was barely able to return to my room.

Coming back to the capital after so long, I should have expected to be swamped.

His Imperial Majesty personally invited me to a banquet, where I had to spend time meeting with the nobles of the Senate and the judges of the High Court.

Then the Pantheon summoned me for another banquet.

Then Karma Company.

Then the people from Operarium invited me again...

It wasn’t until I had endured an entire day of endless schedules that I finally managed to return to my room in the Mage Tower Temple.

I had sworn I wouldn’t come back here...

But now, lying flat on my bed in this neatly arranged room, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

How did it come to this?

Wasn’t I supposed to just quietly hole up somewhere for the rest of my life?

After parting ways with so much sorrow, how could I have returned in less than a year? What does that say about me?

My gaze drifted toward the statue of the goddess hanging on the wall.

Lilia still wore her gentle smile.

I stared at her for a moment before scoffing.

This isn’t right.

With the recent events, I couldn’t even begin to fathom how much faith the Demon King's authority had devoured.

It must still be growing, even now.

And when that power finally reaches full bloom...

What fate awaits humanity?

I didn’t even want to imagine it.

Iomene. Almene. And Erfa.

Not just the women I love, but the entire Empire.

No, the entire human race across the continent—there’s a real chance of extinction. And even if some survive, under the reign of the Demon King, they would endure nothing but unimaginable suffering.

"...Wait a minute."

I had been too preoccupied caring for the sick in Scrap Yard to properly reflect on everything. But now that I thought about it, something was seriously off.

Not just strange—seriously strange.

Didn’t Mammon shatter my heart?

And yet, when I woke up, all of Mammon’s followers had vanished, and the Pantheon and the Imperial forces had arrived with reinforcements.

On top of that, according to what they said, a pillar of light had erupted from my body—burning Mammon’s followers to ashes.

Not to mention, I had seen Lilia in my dream.

None of it made sense.

I have the Demon King's authority inside me, so why did a pillar of light burst out?

And why did the demon followers, struck by that light, collapse as if they had been hit with a status debuff before dying?

I clutched my head.

What the hell is inside my soul?

Why did Lilia claim she would punish me, only to appear in my dream as if she was helping me?

Then, suddenly, an idea flashed through my mind, silencing all my confusion.

"...Why don’t I just ask directly?"

I've absorbed an enormous amount of faith.

And judging by recent events, my power hasn’t just grown—it’s reached a level strong enough to dispose of Mammon.

This thing...

It definitely has intelligence.

"Hey, could you by any chance—"

If only I hadn't heard that knock.

If only the door hadn’t burst open, and three women hadn’t stormed in.

"Saint."

If only the three of them hadn’t looked absolutely furious.

"We thought you were dead!!"

"Do you have any idea how worried we were?!"

"You’re not getting any sleep tonight. Understood?"

If only they had not skipped over greetings entirely and instead tackled me on sight.

Then I probably would have been able to have a conversation with the Demon King's authority inside me.

Well. Too late for that now.

"Wait, hold on! Let me wash up first—"

My desperate plea was drowned in a bombardment of kisses.

And then, well...

If it weren’t for my enhanced physique, no joke—

I really might have died from exhaustion.

Tonight served as a stark reminder of just how terrifying a woman’s lust can be.

****

There’s a term called pillow talk.

It refers to intimate conversations shared while lying together after sex.

With all of us tangled up under the blankets, our bodies and minds half-melted in exhaustion, I understood why such conversations happen.

The atmosphere itself left no room for anything but deep, honest discussion.

"You’re leaving again, aren’t you?"

Erfa toyed with my ear as she spoke.

I nodded.

"I have to go."

Once again, I had to leave.

With no explanation.

With no reason to give.

"I’m sorry."

The three women smiled.

"This relationship... we’re the ones who forced it on you, remember?"

"We won’t resent you or try to stop you. Do what you need to do, Saint."

"Besides, somehow... it feels like, no matter what you say, you’ll always end up coming back to us."

My fists clenched without me realizing it.

No.

Not this time.

This time, I’m really not coming back.

I’ll steel myself, set my resolve, and disappear into some desolate, uninhabited wasteland.

"You have to live well without me. I keep running away like this... I’m sorry."

"Just stay with us for now."

"Don’t say things like that."

I wanted to propose.

I love these women.

I want to make things certain between us, but my circumstances won’t allow it.

Feeling my mind wavering again, I forced myself to shove the thought away.

Instead, I changed the subject.

"How’s Scrap Yard?"

"Karma Company is expanding in a big way."

"They’re dismantling the old blast furnaces and investing in constructing much more advanced ones."

"Aside from the blast furnaces, most of the facilities were intact, so the reconstruction shouldn’t take long."

Scrap Yard was set to be reborn on an even grander scale.

Not only were the old furnaces being rebuilt, but three new ones were also planned. Meanwhile, the arcane furnaces for magic metal refinement were being upgraded with Erfa’s trichromatic research, allowing for the production of even purer and larger quantities of metal.

Thanks to better wages, good food, and reasonable working hours, laborers were now working fewer hours—but construction was progressing even faster than before.

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"And the Department of Operarium?"

"The Ministry of Labor is busier than ever."

Operarium.

Labor inspectors had already been deployed across the Empire.

Working alongside the Pantheon, they were rigorously investigating businesses accused of worker exploitation—because, after all, improving labor conditions was the only way to prevent demon followers from emerging.

With such an undeniable justification in front of them, no one could refuse their demands.

It wouldn’t be long before workers’ living conditions throughout the Empire saw a drastic improvement.

That’s a good thing.

"A significant number of Scrap Yard’s workers are now followers of Lilia."

"The White Order has also grown. The Ketrahtus' achievements must have left quite an impression."

"The Pantheon hasn’t held this much influence in the last 300 years. It’s all thanks to you, Saint."

And yet, for some reason...

The more I heard these good news, the more I felt a growing fear.

Where do all these waves of faith ultimately go?

That thought alone was enough to send chills down my spine.

“Amayel...”

“Don’t hold back, Iomene. Here, Erfa, you too.”

Our conversation didn’t last long.

Maybe it was because our bodies were exhausted after «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» such intense activity.

Or maybe... it was because they felt at ease with me here.

Before long, the women fell asleep in my arms.

Once I was sure they were asleep, I carefully activated time-stop.

A familiar yet eerie space where everything in the world had come to a halt.

Only the small area where I sat remained unaffected.

I quietly crossed my legs and closed my eyes.

The Demon King’s authority—buried deep within my soul.

I was finally going to have a direct conversation with it.

“You’re listening, aren’t you?”

No response.

I felt a bit awkward, but I was sure it could hear me, so I kept talking.

“Asmodeus, inside my soul. You can hear me, right?”

Still, no answer.

“If you can hear me, answer.”

Silence.

I turned my head, glancing at the women sleeping beside me.

My fists clenched.

“Answer me!! I know you’re listening! Why the hell did you end up inside me of all people?! Why?!”

I don’t want to be apart from them.

Really.

I just wanted to live quietly, playing the role of a saint.

To stay in peace.

How did things end up like this?

If I really think about it, it’s all because of this thing living inside my soul without permission.

“I know you have a consciousness. Otherwise, who else could’ve saved me from Mammon?! It was you, wasn’t it?! What do you want?! Why are you doing this to me?! What the hell are you planning?!”

Still, no response.

“Why me...? Why the hell me...?”

I muttered bitterly.

But as if mocking me, it remained utterly silent.

I released the time-stop.

When I looked up, I saw the statue of Lilia smiling down at me, her expression serene.

The first High Priest had once claimed that he had seen the Goddess in person and sculpted her likeness from memory.

An infinitely compassionate goddess.

But to me, she was the one I resented the most.

“...Honestly, I don’t want to be a martyr.”

As expected.

The Goddess didn’t respond.

Just like the Asmodeus inside me refused to answer.

Just like how Lilia had once declared she would send me to hell, only to remain silent ever since.

The gods of the Pantheon.

The demons of Hell.

The Evil God.

Every single one of them.

Tonight, I found myself despising all of them.

****

Asmodeus watched Amayel silently as he sat alone, weeping in the dark.

A look of pity crossed her face.

She wanted to speak to him.

To tell him everything he asked for.

But she couldn’t.

She turned her head to gaze at the cause.

[Why are you interfering?]

Her left wing, blackened and twisted, was bound in chains.

And those chains were gripped by someone’s hand.

A towering figure with massive horns.

Burning crimson skin.

Goat-like pupils.

A forked tongue.

And the same twisted, black wings as Asmodeus’.

[Lucifer.]

At Asmodeus’s question, Lucifer chuckled.

But despite the laughter, his expression wasn’t one of amusement.

It was fury.

A fury so immense, it seethed beneath his skin.

[If you tell him the truth, that idiot will run straight back to the Pantheon’s side, won’t he? I can’t allow that.]

Lucifer sneered as he looked down at Amayel, who was sobbing in despair.

His grin widened.

[That fool is far too kindhearted for his own good. It’s better for him to remain under the delusion that the Pantheon wants to cast him into hell. His resentment toward them is extremely useful to us. So you’ll have to keep your mouth shut, Asmodeus.]

[For the great Lucifer, is silencing me all you can manage right now? You’ve grown weak.]

Asmodeus smiled gently as she spoke.

Immediately, Lucifer’s body began to swell.

The Infernal Hellfire spilled from his form.

[Do you really think that even if you combined the strength of the other six of Pandemonium, you could ever defeat me? I am not Mammon. Don’t get cocky just because you swallowed a bit of faith.]

[Heh. Now that reaction—that is the Lucifer I remember. But you see...]

The chains binding Asmodeus’s left wing rattled violently.

[It’s only a matter of time, Lucifer. You won’t be able to keep me bound forever.]

At her words, the hellfire surrounding Lucifer’s body extinguished. He shrank back to his original form.

[Fine. I’ll admit it. Because of him, you’ve regained your original strength faster than ever before. Time is on your side. Eventually, you will grow strong enough to surpass me.]

Lucifer’s gaze drifted away from Asmodeus—toward Amayel.

[But what if he falls before that happens? What if he chooses to stand with Pandemonium instead?]

[Then I will become the Demon King once more. But do you really think that will be so easy?]

Lucifer laughed.

[I know humans very well. No matter how exceptional he may be... he won’t survive my trials. He will fall. And when he does, I will ensure you take your place upon the Seven Thrones once again.]

With the chains still gripped tightly in his hands, Lucifer stepped away from Asmodeus’s domain.

And the moment he left, he frowned as the heavens above him rained down an endless cascade of divine power.

[Tch. Damn Pantheon scum.]

Because of Asmodeus, the divine connection between Heaven and the human realm had been drastically strengthened—undoing three centuries’ worth of Lucifer’s efforts.

Ever since then, the Pantheon had been relentlessly bombarding the world with divine messages, revelations, and chosen warriors.

Lucifer had no choice but to abandon all other schemes and focus solely on blocking the Pantheon from interfering with the human realm.

His three hundred years of hard work had gone up in smoke.

But...

Lucifer wasn’t entirely displeased.

[I’ll make sure that beloved ‘Amayel’ of yours falls, Pantheon.]

If he could corrupt a single human, the profit would be far greater than any losses he had suffered.

With one last sneer toward the gods above, Lucifer returned to Hell.

His parting words sent the Pantheon into a frantic uproar.

[Amayel!... Asmodeus... No!!...]

[Life itself... Lilia!!...]

[Inside you... Lilia!!...]

The divine messages poured forth in desperation.

But none of them reached their intended target.

Lucifer’s interference was too precise.

Every last divine word was drowned in the void, disappearing into nothing.