As a princess, Aten had naturally heard about the incident of devils pouring out of the Imperial Palace from her mother, Philly. Including Satan retrieving his first-ranked subordinate, 'Mizonas,' back to the Demon Realm.
With Mizonas returned to the Demon Realm by Satan's hand, Marchosias, who stood before her now, was the highest-ranking among Satan's devils.
“Bringing you back is the only order Satan-nim has entrusted to us. No matter what happens, we must succeed. It's only natural that I'm here.”
Marchosias spoke while igniting a flame on his fingertip. However, it was quickly extinguished due to the cold.
Clicking his tongue, he approached Aten again. His body continued to freeze further.
“My role was to prevent Osprey or other strong individuals from coming to your aid while we captured you alive, but since things have turned out this way, it can't be helped. I'll have to do it myself.”
Aten silently watched the approaching devil and suddenly asked,
The devil who committed suicide in front of Aten had attempted to escape just before. To deliver information to other devils.
In other words, other devils hadn't heard their conversation.
Yet, despite that, this devil named Marchosias had grasped the situation and stood in Aten's way.
Of course, Marchosias didn't answer, but Aten quickly realized.
At the word Aten uttered, Marchosias's eyes flickered.
“Devils can sense each other's deaths. That's why he committed suicide.”
Even if he couldn't convey complete information, it was to inform other devils that the situation had changed.
That's why the previous devil had killed itself.
On the other hand, Marchosias frowned at Aten's words and looked at the devil with its severed head.
“You didn't kill him, this child committed suicide? Is there that much of a skill difference between you?”
‘Child.’ A strange choice of words.
However, Aten didn't feel obligated to answer, so she simply stood still.
Marchosias shook his head.
“Just how outdated is the information? Satan-nim's trust in his subordinates is sometimes his downfall.”
Aten felt an immense sense of strangeness at his behavior.
‘……Can he speak that way to the Seven Deadly Sins devils? A direct subordinate?’
Of course, Satan wasn't present at the moment, but judging from the actions of other devils, they pledged absolute loyalty to Satan, even at the cost of their lives.
But this devil was different. Did something change when one reached the second rank? But then, Mizonas didn't seem like that either. To think he would badmouth his own leader, even if it was a joke.
‘Marchosias. I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before…….’
Aten's breath was cut off as her throat was suddenly choked. He had closed the distance in an instant and grabbed her neck.
Aten's domain grew colder the closer one got to her. Especially if it was contact with Aten herself.
Indeed, Marchosias's fingertips, which were gripping Aten's neck, were rapidly freezing.
“What a terrifying magic. My fingers will be snapped off.”
Marchosias spoke, but his movements remained almost unchanged from before.
Aten's magic wasn't ineffective, and the pained expression on his face seemed genuine, but the speed at which he had approached her was phenomenal.
“No need to be so surprised. It's called compatibility.”
“Yes. I already knew you were an ice-specialized mage. But unfortunately for you, I am,”
Something sliced through his wrist along with Marchosias's words.
Aten collapsed to the ground and finally gasped for breath.
Marchosias simply tilted his head despite his wrist being severed.
The next moment, Aten realized why Marchosias was so nonchalant.
A hand began to grow from the severed wrist. The speed was not something that could be called recovery. It was similar to the speed of 'Reversion' that Aten had only managed to achieve once.
A woman's sharp voice flew towards them.
She walked confidently into Aten's domain. Aten's domain was harmless to humans. And Aten had already known who she was before she even got this close.
With a flaming sword.
And eyes burning with just as much heat, Sybil Forte approached.
Marchosias's eyes gleamed with interest as he saw Sybil's sword.
“Simultaneous manifestation of mana and aura? To think a human capable of such a thing exists.”
Marchosias finally raised his gaze to Sybil's face. He had seen the sword first before her face.
Sybil raised her sword.
She shouted in a voice full of indignation.
“Why didn't anyone come to me!”
“You guys are only targeting the strong people from Constel right now! Why didn't anyone come to me! So I killed them all myself on my way here!”
Sybil huffed and puffed, seemingly deeply offended.
Marchosias stared at her face for a long time before speaking.
“That's right! You knew! And you left me unmarked? You're all dead!”
Huh, Marchosias let out a sigh.
Indeed, Sybil had been left unmarked. They had judged that there was no need to deal with her specifically.
But was the Sybil standing before Marchosias's eyes now truly the Sybil they knew from their information?
“……This is something.”
Marchosias turned his gaze to Aten and faced Sybil.
Sybil's words might sound like a childish tantrum at first glance, but in reality, they weren't at all.
They had left someone they should never have left unmarked, unmarked.
Aten realized as she observed the situation.
The devil that tried to capture her alive was excessively weak, and Sybil wasn't even considered.
She had found it strange, but now she understood.
‘Their information is stuck before the Manggot War.’
Exactly as it sounded.
Marchosias spoke with a more tired expression.
“The information is truly outdated.”