"What? How can such power exist in this world?" Hastora asked, Zarafel's previous words leaving him both curious and shocked.
"Of course it does," Zarafel replied.
Hastora's emotions became unstable; he felt like destroying everything to vent his anger. His ambition for revenge vanished instantly upon hearing this. He despaired, disappointed in his own strength. He felt his ambition for revenge was utterly impossible.
"How can I defeat him?" he asked desperately. "It's impossible for me to defeat such a creature."
Zarafel was slightly surprised at Hastora's current state. The previously stoic and cold individual was now filled with despair, melting like ice under the sun.
"Why are you so desperate?" Zarafel asked curiously.
"How can I get revenge?" Hastora asked. "I'll never be able to defeat him."
"Have you forgotten I'm here?" Zarafel asked. "We'll carry out this revenge mission together; I'll help you."
"Don't joke!" Hastora shouted. "What do you think you can do?"
Zarafel fell silent, realizing there was truth in Hastora's words. However, unlike Hastora, he wasn't desperate; even if he felt underestimated, he remained calm.
"Have you given up?" Zarafel asked, his voice unusually calm. "If you've given up, why did you use reincarnation magic? It would be better if you just died."
"What?" Hastora replied, reconsidering his reasons for using reincarnation magic. "Y-You're not wrong, but... defeating such a creature is impossible, isn't it?"
"Nothing is impossible," Zarafel replied. "You won't know until you try."
Hastora's despair vanished. 'He has a point; not bad,' he thought. His ambition for revenge surged.
"Hahaha... you're right," Hastora replied with a light laugh. "You're right, I won't know until I try."
"Eh... so you can laugh. I initially thought you were incapable of laughter."
"That's good thinking."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Zarafel replied. "So, anything else you want to ask?"
His earlier despair had made him forget he was questioning Zarafel. He became curious about the purple-haired woman, though reluctant to ask, his curiosity piqued.
"So, do you know the identity of that purple-haired bitch?" Hastora asked. "And what's the name of her Supreme Authority? You should know, considering you analyzed her."
"Hoho, why are you suddenly asking about her?" Zarafel asked. "Are you in love with the one who killed you? She is a very beautiful woman."
"Ha?" Hastora replied. "Why would I fall for that bitch? If I see her again, I'll tear her ugly face apart."
"Do you think you can do that?"
"Of course I can; we don't know until we try, right?"
Zarafel was impressed by Hastora's current demeanor; he found him cool, unlike before. His cold nature now seemed very cool to him.
"True," Zarafel replied.
"So, who is this purple-haired bitch?" Hastora asked, repeating his previous question. "And what's the name of her Supreme Authority?"
"I almost forgot you asked; sorry," Zarafel replied. "That purple-haired bitch's name is Aurora. She's from the Aevum race. Though we're from the same race, I hate that bitch. I hate how she leads; she's cruel, ruling the other Aevum as she pleases without considering their safety. Even my parents died carrying out a mission she ordered. Damn! That bitch!"
Zarafel's calm demeanor vanished. He became angry and irritated explaining about Aurora. Rage filled him; he seemed ready to explode. It showed in his tone.
"Calm down, friend," Hastora replied. "Don't get so angry. And answer my other question."
Zarafel sighed. "Fine, and her Supreme Authority is called 𝗢𝗺𝗻𝗶-𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. It lets her manipulate the world's story as she pleases, like manipulating a novel's plot."
"Omni-Narative Authority, huh?" Hastora replied. "That sounds terrifying."
"Right?"
Hastora held his head, closing his eyes to calm down. He felt a little desperate knowing Aurora's power. But giving up wouldn't help his revenge.
"I'll kill her," Hastora said. "You'll help me, right?"
"I don't mind," Zarafel replied. "I'll help you kill her. Though I have no physical form, I can help you through your mind."
"I appreciate that," Hastora replied. "It's late; let's go back, partner."
"Hahaha! Right, partner, let's go back."
Hastora walked away from the forest, realizing how late it was. The Dark Forest seemed darker than before. It was pitch black; even bright moonlight couldn't penetrate the dense trees and deep darkness.
No monsters attacked him on his way back. The Dark Forest, known for its dangerous monsters that attacked anyone who entered, was strangely quiet.
"... "
As he walked, Hastora's true nature and thoughts returned. His calm, cold, Machiavellian nature was back.
Throughout the journey, he began to see Zarafel as a tool for his own gain, not a partner. His thinking had completely changed.
Conversely, Zarafel now saw Hastora as a strong, cool, and intelligent partner, the opposite of Hastora's view of him.
Zarafel fully trusted Hastora, making him easily manipulated. Currently, Zarafel was Hastora's most useful tool.
"Is your house far?" Zarafel asked curiously.
"Yes, very far," he replied.
"Eh? How long will it take to get there?"
"Not long, just five minutes."
"Eh?" Zarafel responded, surprised. "That means your house is close. Why did you say it was far?"
"The distance between my house and the Dark Forest is far, but it becomes close when I run at full speed."
"?"
Zarafel was hesitant about Hastora's words. He was curious about the distance.
Hastora prepared to move at full speed.
"I'm starting."
"!!!"
Hastora moved incredibly fast, surprising Zarafel. He ran like lightning, passing cities in an instant.
It took exactly five minutes to reach his house. The long journey felt short.
"Wow! That's fast!" Zarafel exclaimed, amazed by Hastora's speed.
"I told you, it would only take five minutes."
Hastora didn't want to stay outside long; he entered his house.
"It's quiet here?" Zarafel asked.
"I guess so; don't be surprised."
"?"
Zarafel didn't understand Hastora's words. Though curious, he decided not to ask.
"Where have you been?" a woman's voice asked from the stairs. "It's very late."
Hastora turned to the source. A woman with black hair and red eyes stood on the stairs.
"Who is she?" Zarafel asked.
"My mother in this life."
"What's her name?"
"Based on my memories in this body, I think it's Elara."
Hastora planned to ignore her and go to his room. But Elara was on the stairs, so he had to answer her.
"Just out at night," he replied. "Nothing else."
Elara frowned, suspicious. "Is that true? You don't usually go out at night," Elara replied. "Don't lie to me."
Elara released her red aura, intending to intimidate Hastora. The aura exerted strong pressure. But such a weak aura wouldn't affect a tyrannical demon lord like Hastora.
"I'm not lying," he replied. "I was just sitting in the capital city park."
"!!!"
Elara was surprised and stopped her aura.
"What were you doing in the capital city park alone?" Elara asked.
Hastora sighed, "Just sitting," Hastora replied. "Would you scold me for sitting alone in the capital city?"
"No," Elara replied. "I was just suspicious."
Hastora closed his eyes and walked to his room, hands in his pockets.
"That's ridiculous," Hastora said, walking up the stairs. "Mother never cared about me; feeling suspicious because there is someone sitting in the capital city park? that's ridiculous."
"!!!"
Elara was silent, shocked by Hastora's words. She stood still, looking at the stairs below.
Hastora passed her and went to his room.
"I think what you said was a bit excessive," Zarafel said.
"What do you mean?" Hastora asked. "I stated a fact; based on my memories in this body, my mother never cared about me, not even the head of the family."
"She's just worried about you," Zarafel replied.
"Worried? Don't joke," Hastora replied, a thin smile on his face.
"You're cruel," Zarafel said.
"Cruel? That word was famous 20,000 years ago," Hastora replied. "You call me cruel for stating a fact? Besides, I'm a tyrant; 'cruel' is nothing new to me."
Zarafel was silent, remembering the world 20,000 years ago, where the strong ruled and the weak obeyed. Where 'cruel' was common for the weak, living as commoners. Zarafel himself was once weak and a commoner, looked down upon by other Aevum nobles. He understood Hastora's feelings.
He remained silent.
"... "
Hastora reached his room, jumped on the bed, and rolled around.
"Today was tiring," Hastora said. "I'm very sleepy."
"A Tyrant Demon Lord is sleepy? What kind of Demon Lord is that? HAHAHA!" Zarafel laughed.
"Shut up, bastard," Hastora replied coldly.
"HAHAHA! You don't fit 'Tyrant Demon Lord'; you're more like a sleeping Demon Lord!"
"Noisy."
Zarafel kept teasing Hastora in his mind, annoying him. But Hastora ignored him and went to sleep.
"Hey! You're going to sleep already?" Zarafel asked.
"Yes," he replied briefly.
"It's still too early"
"It's very late."
"Just sleep later" Zarafel replied.
"No! I want to sleep; I need to recover my energy," Hastora replied calmly but firmly.
Seeing Hastora's determination, Zarafel decided not to bother him.
Hastora felt tired after today's events. He closed his eyes and fell asleep like a hibernating bear.
---To be continued in the next chapter---