The high-ranking devil extended his hand to Marco.
Marco looked at the hand with a truly troubled expression.
"Don't you understand yet? The time has finally come for us to take action! Belphegor has left the west coast, and we have the opportunity to eliminate all the disgusting devils hiding in the Empire! We have enough devils with the 'cannibalistic' desire. It'll be a piece of cake to catch them all."
The high-ranking devil spoke to Marco with an excited face.
Of course, Marco already knew all of this.
The problem was that Marco wasn't on the side of the western devils anymore.
'Marco was originally on the same side as that devil. But now he has become Satan's devil. I don't know the process, but I understand the situation roughly.'
Right now, Marco must be racking his brain at an incredible speed.
"....I'll go later. I have something to finish with this man."
"What? We're going to fulfill the long-cherished desire of the western devils. I don't know what you'll do with this human, but it's a trivial matter!"
It wasn't a trivial matter.
Marco looked at Frondier.
As Marco had unhappily predicted, Frondier was smiling coldly.
"....It'll be over soon. It won't take long. You know, right? I don't lie."
Marco said. His 'not lying' trait was useful even in situations . It could give him trust without needing many words.
But that depended on the situation.
Frondier finally spoke. At that moment, Marco's face contorted.
Of course, killing intent also appeared on the high-ranking devil's face. He wouldn't tolerate Frondier treating him like a passing dog.
"Since I've kept you alive for a while, you seem to have forgotten your place, human."
"The one who doesn't know their place is you, devil. As Marco said, he still has business with me. If you're going to leave, leave by yourself."
Of course, if this high-ranking devil really left, Frondier would be in a very, very serious predicament.
But knowing that wouldn't happen, Frondier provoked the devil with all his might.
"Your subordinates. You should have seen them attacking me. They all died like flies. You'll know if you look at the corpses here."
Frondier spread his arms as if to show the surroundings. The high-ranking devil's killing intent grew thicker.
"Seeing the state of your subordinates, I can tell what level their superior is at."
"Frondier, do you really want to die?"
Marco reacted first. He spoke through gritted teeth.
In truth, Frondier was currently walking a dangerous tightrope. Not only was his own safety threatened, but there was also the risk of his stalling tactics being exposed. ȓ
But before he could think further, Frondier took the initiative.
"You, you're one of the 72 devils, right?"
The high-ranking devil was surprised by Frondier's words. His eyes filled with the question of how he knew, and then, as if realizing the answer, he immediately turned his gaze to Marco.
"....Marchosias. Even for a human, haven't you said too much unnecessary things?"
Frondier laughed at that.
It was a truly triumphant smile, and in a way, it was also the most dangerous choice.
"Saying too much? That's not it, right? Marco."
"....What do you mean?"
Marco feigned ignorance, but his fingertips were already tinged with aura.
Frondier said while watching that.
"That wasn't what you wanted, was it? Marco. Saying your name was unavoidable..."
It was Satan's rule, he was about to say.
In an instant, Marco was right in front of Frondier. With both hands engulfed in flames, he reached Frondier with a speed that he couldn't even follow with his eyes.
In that fleeting moment, there was no time for conversation.
Marco simply spoke with his eyes. A murderous voice seemed to echo in Frondier's ears.
──Shut your mouth. Before I kill you.
Of course, Frondier responded with a leisurely smile.
Frondier raised his short sword to block Marco's right hand, while Obsidian blocked the other.
Marco's flame-clad hands weren't just flames, but also his powerful aura condensed into pure force. It was already far beyond the strength of an ordinary blade.
It was fortunate that the short sword Frondier was holding was an exceptionally good one, otherwise it would have melted or shattered in the flames.
A power struggle where neither side backed down.
Of course, there was no reason for these two to engage in such a battle of pride.
Their intentions were clear to each other.
"What are you planning?"
Marco spoke in a voice that was barely audible.
"You're the key to understanding the devils' situation the most, aren't you?"
Marco's eyes twitched ever so slightly at Frondier's words.
Based on that, Frondier continued speaking.
"The Seven Sins and the 72 Devils. The two are largely unrelated, but it seems that's not the case for you. You've been going back and forth between both sides. Did Satan approach you first?"
A response typical of Marco, who doesn't lie.
"And you, you seem to be trying to avoid saying that high-ranking devil's name no matter what."
Marco's eyes widened slightly.
Frondier subtly checked the high-ranking devil's appearance.
"I haven't memorized all of the 72 devils, and there's no significant meaning to it. But you're trying to avoid saying that devil's name at all costs."
The reason was clear.
Because Frondier was here.
And because he didn't want Frondier to know the name of that high-ranking devil.
"The 72 Devils and the subordinates of the Seven Sins. You, who are ambiguously involved with both sides, and the name of the 72 Devil that you're trying to hide."
Frondier didn't think all of his deductions were correct.
There were various possibilities.
But there was no cost to 'testing the waters'.
And Frondier, observing Marco's reaction, was becoming more certain of his guess.
Baal, one of the 72 Devils, known as the King of Hell.
However, Baal's other name was 'Beelzebub'.
"If that's true, then why are Beelzebub of the Seven Sins and Baal of the 72 Devils different devils?"