CHAPTER 70
In the Land of Mysarea
"In Infernov, there are also continents. Mas malaki at mas malawak ang mundo ng mga demonyo kaysa sa mundo ng Arcadeya at Holmeia. Ibig sabihin, hindi lamang iilang demonyo ang naninirahan doon. There are countless demons spread across different continents and kingdoms." ani Lucy Pearl.
Nakaupo si Lucy Pearl sa marangyang sofa ni Rassia sa kaniyang silid, naka cross ang kaniyang mga binti at braso habang pinag-uusapan nila ang Infernov.
Rassia wanted to know more about the world of Infernov, kung ano ang mga kakayahan ng mga demonyo, kung paano sila namumuhay, at higit sa lahat, kung ano ang kanilang mga kahinaan.
Si Anastacio naman ay nakasandal lamang sa pintuan ng terrace, tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang gabi sa buong Mysarea. The lights of the city were still visible from the palace, habang ang ilang mga mamamayan ay patuloy pa ring naglalakad sa mga kalsada.
Samantala, tahimik lamang na humihithit si Rassia sa kaniyang tobacco pipe habang nakikinig kay Lucy Pearl.
"Ang pinakamababang antas ng demonyo ay tinatawag na Lower Demon. Sila ang mga demonyong walang sariling pag-iisip. They don't possess enough intelligence to make their own decisions, kaya sinusunod lamang nila ang kanilang hari, pinuno, o kung sino man ang may hawak ng kanilang kaharian."
Lucy Pearl continued.
Kumuha si Lucy Pearl ng isang baso at nilagyan iyon ng wine bago nagpatuloy.
"Upper Demon naman ang mga may isip. They possess intelligence, emotions, and their own judgment. They can communicate, make decisions, create strategies, and even establish their own territories. Hindi sila basta sumusunod dahil lamang sa utos. Some upper demons can even become rulers themselves."
Rassia remained silent while smoking, her eyes fixed on Lucy Pearl as she listened carefully.
"Demons have different levels. I have heard of that..."
"Yes," sagot ni Lucy Pearl. "Upper Demons are much, much stronger than Lower Demons. You can tell if someone is an Upper Demon based on their presence. Makikita mo rin iyon... sa kanilang mga mata."
"What do you mean?" tanong ni Rassia habang patuloy na humihithit sa kaniyang tobacco.
"Upper Demons have numbers in their eyes, based on their rank." sagot ni Anastacio.
"Based on their rank?" ulit ni Rassia.
Tumango si Anastacio mula sa may pintuan ng terrace. "Yes, Master. The numbers are written in the language of Infernov, kaya hindi mo agad mauunawaan kung anong ibig sabihin ng mga iyon unless you know how to read their language."
"Hmm... so the numbers indicate their level..."
"Exactly. The higher their rank, the more dangerous the demon usually is."
"Good thing I have you, Lucy Pearl. I suppose you can understand the language of Infernov if I ever encounter one?" bahagyang ngumisi si Rassia.
Lucy Pearl slowly looked at her over the rim of her wine glass. "Of course I can."
"Good. I won't have to embarrass myself by staring at a demon's eyes and asking what number is written there."
Lucy Pearl rolled her eyes. "You really are going to make me translate everything for you, aren't you?"
Rassia smiled innocently. "That's what I have you for."
Nang maubos ni Rassia ang kaniyang tobacco, marahan niyang ibinaba ang kaniyang tobacco pipe sa mesa at kinuha naman ang kaniyang kape mula sa tabi niya.
Humigop siya nang kaunti habang tahimik na nakatingin kay Lucy Pearl.
"Tell me more. I want to know everything I can before we ever have to deal with them."
Tinaasan lamang ng kilay ni Lucy Pearl si Rassia bago nagpatuloy.
"There are seven continents in Infernov. Hindi katulad dito sa Vermeleyon na Emperor ang tawag sa isang pinuno na may hawak ng napakalawak na teritoryo. Sa Infernov, mayroon pa ring mga kaharian, ngunit ang pinakamataas na pinuno sa bawat isa ay ang pitong prinsipe.
Each of them is ruled by one of the Seven Demon Princes. Anak silang lahat ni Dakkodas, ang Hari ng mga Demonyo... ang dating buhay ni Vincenzo."
"What?"
Hindi makapaniwalang napatingin si Rassia sa kaniya.
Dakkodas, Vincenzo's first life, has sons...
Hindi na rin iyon bago sa akin. He was a demon in his first life, after all. Having descendants was probably part of his life as the demon king...
"Iba-iba ang kanilang ina, ngunit iisa lamang ang kanilang ama. All seven of them came from different mothers, but they share the same blood of Dakkodas."
Lucy Pearl's expression became more serious.
"I don't know who rules Infernov now. After Dakkodas died, the throne may have passed to one of his sons... or perhaps someone else took it."
"Continue..." ani Rassia.
"The Seven Princes are not simply known by their titles. Each one represents a different aspect of demonic power. They are known as the Demon of Lust, Demon of Wrath, Demon of Greed, Demon of Envy, Demon of Pride, Demon of Gluttony, and Demon of Sloth. Their titles are more than just names.
They reflect the nature of their powers, their personalities, and the kind of demons who serve under them."
Muling kumuha si Rassia ng tobacco matapos ang kaniyang narinig. It had become her habit whenever she needed to relieve stress. Dahil immune siya sa apoy at usok, wala ring epekto iyon sa kaniya.
Tahimik siyang humithit habang pinoproseso ang kaniyang narinig. Hindi niya rin maiwasang may maramdaman nang malaman niyang nagkaroon ng mga anak si Dakkodas sa iba't ibang babae. After all, Dakkodas was Vincenzo's first life.
Ngunit agad niyang pinaalala sa kaniyang sarili ang isang bagay.
Whatever happened in Infernov belonged to Dakkodas.
Dakkodas isn't Vincenzo.
He may have been his first life, but he isn't the Vincenzo I know now...
"I knew they aren't someone to deal with easily..." sandali natahimik si Rassia bago tumingin kay Lucy Pearl.
"So tell me, Lucy Pearl. Wala ka ba talagang alam tungkol kay Erishkigal?"
"None. But there is one thing I'm almost certain of. I think Erishkigal is older than Dakkodas..."
Bahagyang napatigil si Rassia. "Older than Dakkodas?"
Tumango si Lucy Pearl. "Yes. At bago pa kayo isinumpa, naka-seal na rito sa Arcadeya si Erishkigal."
"So that means... walang koneksyon ang pitong prinsipe na iyon kay Erishkigal..."
Bahagyang bumuga ng usok si Rassia mula sa kaniyang tobacco pipe habang unti-unti niyang pinoproseso ang kaniyang narinig.
"... that's good to know. Pero hindi dapat ako maging kampante. The fact that they have no known connection to Erishkigal doesn't mean they won't become involved later."
Tahimik niyang tiningnan ang usok na unti-unting naglalaho sa hangin.
"Seven Demon Princes and each of them possesses power that can rival the gods. Kahit hindi sila kakampi ni Erishkigal, they are still powerful enough to become a threat if they ever decide to interfere."
Bahagya siyang napabuntong-hininga.
"So for now, I'll consider them neutral."
Napasandal si Rassia sa kaniyang sofa at bahagyang itinaas ang kaniyang paa sa maliit na rectangular table sa harapan niya. Tahimik lamang siyang pinagmamasdan ni Anastacio, habang si Lucy Pearl naman ay napabuntong-hininga.
"Noong namumuno ako bilang isang reyna sa Infernov, wala talaga akong narinig na kahit anong pangalan ni Erishkigal. I didn't focus on her, and honestly, I didn't care about her either. Marami rin akong ibang pinagtuunan ng pansin noon, especially my own kingdom and the demons under my rule."
Bahagya siyang natahimik. "At hindi rin naman ako lubusang tinanggap ng ibang mga demonyo bilang kanilang reyna. Isa akong anghel na naging demonyo, kaya para sa kanila, I was something that shouldn't have existed in the first place."
Napatingin muli si Rassia sa kaniya. "Who was the demon who helped you?"
Sandaling natahimik si Lucy Pearl bago siya sumagot.
"The Demon of Lust. Asmodeus."
Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Rassia.
"He helped me after I became a demon. May isa siyang kaharian na wala nang namumuno, kaya kinuha niya ako at ginawa akong reyna roon... He was the one who gave me a place in Infernov when no one else wanted me there. But even then, I knew that many demons never truly accepted me."
Rassia stared at Lucy Pearl softly.
I knew that.
Nakwento na sa akin iyon ni Lucy Pearl noon. Sinunog ng mga demonyong ayaw sa kaniya ang kaniyang kaharian, at sa huli, pinagtaksilan pa siya ng mga dapat sana ay nasa panig niya.
I don't ask her about it often. Hindi ko na rin iyon binabanggit kung hindi naman kailangan. I don't want to bring back memories that might still hurt her.
She doesn't have to tell me everything. I already know enough to understand why she became the way she is...
"So that Asmodeus... is he kind?"
Lucy Pearl let out a quiet laugh.
"No. Of all the Seven Princes, he is probably the most insane one. Matagal na siyang naghahanap ng kaniyang mapapangasawa, pero wala siyang nakitang gusto niyang pakasalan."
Bahagya siyang napailing. "Even I wasn't someone he considered. Hindi niya ako tinulungan dahil gusto niya akong maging asawa. He needed me because of my connections and because having me as the ruler of that abandoned kingdom benefited him."
"Oh, that fuckass helped you for his own interests."
"Exactly." Lucy Pearl shrugged.
"He's not the kind of demon you can easily understand. He's unpredictable, obsessed with what he wants, and he doesn't really care whether other demons think his actions are reasonable."
Tahimik na napatingin si Rassia sa kaniyang tobacco at malalim na nag-isip. Lalo na sa pitong prinsipe na anak ni Dakkodas, at higit sa lahat, ang kaniyang tunay na kalaban, si Erishkigal.
"Kung walang koneksyon ang pitong prinsipe kay Erishkigal... if she truly appears, sino ang magiging mga kakampi niya? there's no way Erishkigal would fight us by herself. She has existed for far longer than any of us. Surely, during all those years, she must have found demons who would follow her.
There has to be something more than just Erishkigal herself. An army, followers, kingdoms... or something."