『 Child, you have worked hard. Rest now. 』

A sweet, melodious voice came from above. Maphel’tan, Ilea, and Lumina all looked up at once. A brilliant mass of light was slowly descending, its blinding radiance shaped like an angel.

'... Muel, the fallen angel.'

This was a fallen archangel. A turncoat who had betrayed the Great Saint during the Holy War five hundred years ago, now an Archdemon ranked eighth in the underworld.

Lumina cried out in rapture.

"Lord Muel! You have descended in person for my sake!"

The enormous, angel-shaped mass of light slowly settled onto the ground. Four pairs of wings completely concealed what lay within. Maphel’tan was quite large himself, but he was puny compared to Muel. He tilted his head back to look up.

'Smaller than the description in the original novel.'

Muel's true size rivaled an enormous mountain. This form was greatly diminished, and its details were very different as well. Muel was merely shrouded in radiance, without a clearly defined shape.

This was not a complete descent. Intervening in the mortal realm in an Archdemon's true body exacted a heavy price, and Muel had no intention of bearing that loss.

『 My appearance is too paltry to call this a descent. Lumina, my child. In the end, I will never show you my true form. I am sorry. 』

The sweet voice penetrated everyone's minds. Lumina shook her head rapidly.

"No. Once I advance today, I can bring you into the mortal realm, Lord Muel. Please wait just a little longer."

Upon reaching the level beyond archmage, she truly would be able to summon an Archdemon into the mortal realm.

『 Sadly, that future can never come to pass. Lumina, you do not possess the talent to become a Circle Adept. 』

Circle Adept was a rank beyond archmage. Those who attained it were no longer human, but transcendent beings equal to demigods. Only one Circle Adept existed in the present generation. Unfortunately, Lumina could not become the second. Her talent had reached its limit.

She spoke with a bewildered expression.

"L-Lord Muel, what do you mean? You prophesied that I was ready, that I could break through as soon as I made contact with an Apostle."

Muel's melodious voice was calm.

『 It was the first lie I ever told you. You cannot become a Circle Adept. In none of my visions of the future do you ever break through that boundary. 』

Lumina's snow-white pupils trembled. She could not believe her ears. Muel had lied? That had never happened, not once in a hundred and fifty years.

"N-no. That can't be. Why would Lord Muel... It's all a lie!"

To Lumina, Muel was both parent and friend. From the moment she was born, they had spent every moment together. She could scarcely even imagine being betrayed.

Maphel’tan gave a little scoff.

"Demons are creatures that beguile and deceive humans by nature. You call yourself an archmage, yet you don't even understand what a Demon is?"

Lumina glared venomously at him.

"... Don't try to drive us apart. Apostle or not, I won't tolerate any more of it."

Maphel’tan shrugged.

"Well, I'll keep quiet. The two of you, settle this quickly."

Lumina whipped her gaze back up to Muel.

"Lord Muel, please tell me. Is this some sort of test? Otherwise, there's no reason for you to do this to me so suddenly."

Muel's voice penetrated her mind.

『 The Apostle has already given you the answer. Lumina, your usefulness is nearing its end. Burn what remains of it for my sake. Activate the summoning ritual. 』

Maphel’tan's brow furrowed slightly.

'... Summoning ritual?'

What was Muel suddenly planning to summon? He spoke.

"Sorry, but I'll have to interrupt. Muel, what summoning ritual do you mean?"

Muel's enormous form turned toward him. The angel shrouded in light began to convulse. Black shadows opened near the head, at the top of its body: four eyes in all, each as dark as pitch.

『 Thirteenth Apostle of the End, my introduction is overdue. I am Muel, the underworld's Unholy Minister. I have heard much about you from the scribe Kaiaze. At last, we meet. 』

Maphel’tan scowled.

"You heard about me from Kaiaze, yet you still look down on me like this?"

He had once reprimanded Kaiaze for looking down at him as though he were a superior.

『 I have been discourteous. Please be magnanimous and forgive me. 』

Muel's radiance suddenly faded, and the enormous form immediately shrank to meet Maphel’tan at eye level.

Maphel’tan clicked his tongue.

"Enough. Just answer me. What is this sudden talk of a summoning ritual?"

Muel's voice drifted into his ears.

『 A spell array has been laid across the entire royal capital. It is the work of my child, Lumina. The moment it activates, every living soul in the capital will be sacrificed, and I, Muel, will descend upon this land. 』

The royal capital's population was well over a hundred thousand. It also held countless holy relics and treasures. All of them would be offered to the underworld—ample sacrifices to summon Muel.

The problem was who would activate the spell array. A mere archmage could not possibly control an Archdemon's summoning ritual. An Archdemon's descent required a mage who was at least a Circle Adept.

Maphel’tan spoke.

"Lumina won't be able to handle the summoning ritual."

Muel answered immediately.

『 That witch can. With Lumina's spirit and flesh as a catalyst, she will certainly be able to activate the summoning ritual. 』

Maphel’tan glanced at Ilea.

"Ilea, is that true?"

She nodded.

"Yes, I can. An archmage's life would make up for what I lack."

She, too, had yet to join the ranks of Circle Adepts. Activating the summoning ritual with her own power alone was beyond her.

Maphel’tan considered this for a moment before speaking.

"Muel, what do I gain by summoning you?"

Muel replied in a gentle, melodious voice.

『 I, Muel, shall become your thrall. 』

Maphel’tan was a little surprised.

'A contract of subjugation with me?'

Archdemons with single-digit ranks in the underworld were demigods, beings of a stature comparable to Apostles. Yet Muel was volunteering to become an Apostle's slave. What was more, Maphel’tan was still a novice. He had yet to fully possess an Apostle's majesty, and Muel would know that very well.

Maphel’tan spoke.

"You must have seen a particular future. Otherwise, you would never volunteer to submit to another being, Muel."

Muel's black eyes flashed. The melodious voice grew subdued.

『 Correct. I see you burning the Great Saint's soul together with me. Every hypocrite will kneel before the throne of chaos and deception and pray in your name. 』

Muel's foresight was remarkably accurate. The futures it revealed were highly likely to come to pass. The moment Maphel’tan summoned Muel, the world's destruction would surely follow.

It had been the same in the original novel. Muel's descent was the trigger that set the End in motion.

Maphel’tan pondered the offer.

'... An Archdemon as my thrall.'

Muel was undoubtedly a tremendous fighting force. With such a subordinate, he would have no need to envy even the mightiest army.

He spoke.

"Very well. I will accept you as my thrall."

Muel's four pitch-black eyes curved into crescents. Lumina kept muttering something in denial of reality, while Ilea remained expressionless.

『 Let us perform the rite at once. Once Lumina ascends the altar, all will be ready. 』

Lumina clutched her head and sobbed.

"... No. It's all lies. All lies."

Muel spoke tenderly.

『 Do not cry. Within the transcendent being formed from your soul and flesh, we will live together. For all our lives, for eternity. 』

A brilliant light stroked Lumina's cheek, wiping away her tears. She did not stop crying. Sobbing bitterly, she clung tightly to Muel's hand. She looked just like a little child.

Maphel’tan could only admire it.

'An Archdemon indeed.'

Muel had completely conquered a human mind—and an archmage's, at that. It had probably taken painstaking effort over a hundred and fifty years. Such patience and finesse were truly impressive. There was much to learn.

Maphel’tan spoke.

"A touching moment, but this needs to be said. Muel, there is no need to bid Lumina farewell just yet."

Muel's black eyes slowly turned toward him.

『 Lumina's life is essential to the summoning rite. 』

Maphel’tan shook his head.

"I will not summon you. The contract of subjugation is another matter, of course. I'll enter into it if you wish."

The four pitch-black eyes each changed to a different shape, displaying emotions such as puzzlement, bewilderment, anger, and suspicion.

『 Might I ask why you will not proceed with the rite? 』

Maphel’tan answered immediately.

"I still need the royal capital. That is all."

Yohan could use this incident to pressure the king. He would wield greater influence in human society than before. There was no reason to destroy the royal capital. Besides, he did not think he could bring himself to sacrifice so many lives.

All of Muel's eyes began rolling. A low voice emerged.

『 ... I see. You intend to take me as your thrall without paying any price at all. 』

Maphel’tan shrugged.

"Well, I'll pay you something someday."

Muel stared fixedly at him, then turned to Lumina.

『 Child, the situation has changed a little. There is something I need you to do. 』

Lumina met Muel's gaze with tear-filled eyes.

"Ask anything. If it's your wish, Mother, I'll do it all."

She had already given up everything. She could not even feel a desire for revenge against Muel. Her mind was already entirely consumed by the Archdemon. She was, in truth, little more than its slave.

『 Activate the summoning ritual. Right now. 』

Lumina's gaze wavered.

"I-it will fail. Very likely."

The royal capital would vanish, but Muel would not descend.

Maphel’tan's face twisted.

"Muel, what do you think you're doing?"

Muel spoke gently.

『 I am offering you a choice, great End. The royal capital will disappear regardless. Would it not be better to abandon it and choose me? 』

Maphel’tan was incredulous.

'Playing that hard?'

Muel was forcing him into a dilemma.

He gave a disbelieving laugh.

"You're an interesting one."

He glanced at Ilea. Mana erupted from her body, and all manner of magical arrays took shape within the space.

Maphel’tan and Ilea intended to kill Lumina. Without her, the summoning ritual could not be activated.

Countless high-tier spells shot straight toward Lumina. At that moment, Maphel’tan and Yohan's surroundings abruptly changed. The two had been transported into the sky above the royal capital.

Snow-white demonic energy spread across the entire royal capital. The summoning ritual for the Archdemon Muel had begun.