Proof (3)
While Elysia was screaming and struggling, Frondier looked into the distance, where the devils would approach, and thought.
‘The western devils aren't aiming for me. They won't come here unless I activate Rafflesia.’
Frondier's location is completely different from the direction the devils are heading towards the Empire. Of course, this is natural as he intends to lure them in with Rafflesia.
It was obviously a joke that he told Elysia he didn't know how to use the rune; he could activate it anytime.
The problem is timing.
‘There will be quite a few devils who want to see me.’
Right now, Frondier isn't interested in the western devils.
He's interested in Satan's devils.
He's curious to see what those reckless fools who kidnapped Lunia will do.
‘They were targeting me from the beginning. It's almost certain if you look at who the devils attacked first. But Lunia wouldn't have been in their original plan.’
Frondier had already received a rough report from Aster.
It's clear just by the fact that the second-ranked devil approached Aten. Lunia would have been excluded from their priority list.
However, they have no choice but to threaten Frondier. That's the order they received.
Regardless of the relationship between Lunia and Frondier, they will come looking for him.
‘It's funny that the devils call my phone, they'll come directly.’
Frondier is currently beyond the borders of the Empire, in a perilous state where he might encounter outer monsters and even abyssal monsters.
The devils' information is outdated. In other words, Frondier's information is also outdated.
Of course, they might have witnessed Frondier delivering the final blow to Belphegor through the Wizard view, but the information update would be minimal.
While the information about other individuals is outdated but still factual, the information about Frondier is almost nonexistent. Even Manggot couldn't fully grasp Frondier's power.
Therefore, Frondier's current location is the perfect situation for Satan's devils to approach, and it's also the most urgent situation.
"Come quickly. Before I die like this."
Frondier let out his voice with a languid breath.
"What, what?"
Of course, for Elysia, it was not something she could simply ignore.
"Hey! Are you really trying to die? But why are you dragging me into this! Did you hate me so much that I didn't get kicked out of the Empire and lived as a commoner! You didn't have to do this!"
Elysia shouted at Frondier. Her eyes were filled with resentment.
"...."
Frondier looked at Elysia without a word.
He actually had a lot to say to Elysia. And all those words were things he couldn't say now.
"Elysia."
"What! Why!"
"I'll tell you the timing. When I give you the signal, activate the rune immediately."
"Are you even listening to me?!"
"It's important."
Frondier looked at Elysia with a somewhat serious face. Of course, Elysia, being bound by Obsidian, had no choice but to meet his gaze.
"....You're not planning to kill me, are you?"
"If I kill you, I'll die at Philly's hands too."
"Why do you keep calling my mom like that?"
Elysia growled. Even though her mother was the one who made her a commoner, she didn't like Frondier's way of addressing her.
Then, as if something came to mind, Elysia lowered her gaze.
"....And whether I die or not, my mom wouldn't care anymore."
Elysia remembered the cold look Philly gave her when she visited the Imperial Palace after a long time.
Is that how you look at your daughter? And after that, she treated her like a complete stranger. Like she was looking at one of Frondier's new servants.
‘Even so, there's no need to look at me like that! I haven't done anything wrong since then! I didn't even want to go to the Imperial Palace!’
After becoming a commoner, Elysia lived a very ordinary life. She didn't want to brag, but she thought she adapted quite well for someone who used to sit at the highest position in the Imperial Palace.
Of course, she developed a habit of stopping and watching whenever there was a banquet at some mansion, but it wasn't just her; ordinary young ladies often did the same. Although the reasons might be slightly different
"....Just acknowledging me once wouldn't hurt. It's not like I'm..."
Asking for forgiveness.
She muttered to herself unintentionally. But she swallowed the rest of the words.
Frondier, who was watching her, sighed.
"....This is why both you and Philly are making things difficult for yourselves."
"What?"
"No, it's nothing. Anyway, if you want to live, listen to me. Just activate the rune when I give you the signal. It's not that hard, is it?"
Elysia glanced at Frondier.
Come to think of it, Frondier is also in danger. If this rune is activated, devils will immediately pour towards them like a wave. Honestly, it's a meaningless act other than being the number one way to die spectacularly.
But Elysia has seen glimpses of Frondier's power.
The way he cut down her chimera in one strike, the devilish power he showed the other day, and even the outer monsters lying dead around them now.
Elysia still doesn't know much about Frondier. But as a result of being semi-forcibly dragged around with him, she seemed to have a rough idea of what Frondier was trying to do.
Besides, since she can't escape being tied up anyway, Elysia has only one thing to rely on.
Eventually, Elysia asked with her lips pouted.
"What's the signal?"
"Menosorpo."
Naturally, Elysia tilted her head.
"....What does that mean?"
"You don't need to know. Just activate 'Rafflesia' when I say those words. That's all."
Elysia, still with her lips sticking out three feet. Why couldn't he just tell her while asking her to do something? Why are there so many people worried about things going wrong these days?
Meanwhile, Frondier raised his head. It was a different direction from before.
"....As expected."
Frondier grinned.
Just as he thought, devils don't have much patience.
Something is approaching Frondier and Elysia, both of them. From the distant sky, only one.
While Frondier leisurely waited for it,
'....What, what is that?'
Elysia's face suddenly went pale.
She also realized it soon. Something was flying towards them. It had no intention of hiding its aura at all, so naturally, Elysia also sensed it.
'What is this aura? Is this even possible? He's going to fight that thing?'
Elysia lowered her head and clenched her teeth. At this moment, she was thankful that she was bound by Obsidian. At least she could avoid the embarrassment of collapsing with her legs giving out. Additionally, the trembling of her body was also somewhat suppressed thanks to Obsidian.
Meanwhile, a single black wing finally reached Frondier.
"Greetings."
The devil landed gracefully and bowed his head towards Frondier.
"I am Marchosias, the second-ranked of Wrath."
Marco, who had fought Aten and Sybil, appeared before Frondier.
This was something Frondier had expected to some extent. Marco is currently the strongest of Satan's devils remaining in the Empire.
Moreover, according to Sybil and Aten, he has tremendous regenerative abilities, making him the best devil to respond to unexpected situations.
And of course, Frondier,
'....Solomon's 72 devils.'
He knows more about Marchosias than Sybil.
The legends of him transforming into a wolf and breathing fire are also famous, but there's one piece of information that interests Frondier.
‘He's said to never lie.’
He doesn't know how much of the information from the game applies to reality, but in the game's setting, Marchosias never lies.
He would rather keep his mouth shut than tell a lie. Marchosias, as a devil, is far from being 'honest'.
The reason Marchosias doesn't lie is because he knows that a slightly twisted truth is easier to deceive someone with than a clumsy lie.
In other words, it stems from personal know-how, not some kind of restriction.
That's why Marco welcomes those who have a superficial understanding of his information. He uses the belief that he doesn't lie to his advantage.
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