“The Devil’s Eye…”

Hades mocked himself. No matter what the Holy Sword claimed, being swayed by such bizarre spells was ridiculous. Moreover, there was no guarantee that the Holy Sword was telling the truth.

That’s right.

Contrary to Denesor’s thoughts, Hades was far from being the “one enchanted by the Holy Sword.”

The most significant difference was his skeptical attitude toward what the Holy Sword said.

Nevertheless, the sole reason he followed the Holy Sword’s words was one.

Angelica.

“…In the end, it’s my fault.”

Hades was well aware of the slim chance of Angelica returning alive. However, hearing that there was a way to save her, he couldn’t just sit there without doing anything.

Hades closed his eyes.

This wasn’t so much a struggle to save Angelica as it was a memorial.

Reconfirming how precious she was.

“I should have done everything as you wished.”

He clashed with Angelica in various aspects. There were times when things went the way Angelica wanted, but more often, it went the other way around. However, Angelica would look at him with a smile on her face, showing no signs of bitterness.

“…I had my doubts.”

Looking back, when he doubted Angelica, he already loved her.

Hades, who used to be distant from the word “love,” didn’t hesitate to use it for Angelica.

The reason was simple. It was because it was true.

It wasn’t the superficial affection of a father who hopped from woman to woman; it was a deep emotion that wanted to keep this woman as a lifelong companion.

“…….”

Hades silently moved forward. His arms relentlessly swung, cutting down demons, but nothing entered his field of vision.

The Holy Sword noisily shouted in his ears.

“You’re amazing! Darling, don’t you think so too? How great would it have been if you held my hand earlier! After all, the Crohn Turners and I…”

“Shut up.”

Hades cut off the Holy Sword’s words, but the Holy Sword seemed to have no intention of stopping.

“Hehe! Your grandfather used to be just like you. I mean, listen carefully while I say that he only focused on getting what he wanted while pretending to listen. Hahaha!”

Hades frowned. Why was the talk of his grandfather, who died before he was born, coming up? It seemed like another peculiar remark from the Holy Sword, intending to deceive him.

“Your grandfather must have suffered a lot too.”

Naturally, the Holy Sword wouldn’t easily pass over like him. Otherwise, Donovan would have perished on the side of Hades’s grandfather or, at the latest, on the father’s side.

In other words, Donovan’s end was highly probable within his generation.

Even if he managed to save Angelica, Hades expected that the future unfolding before them wouldn’t be rosy.

Reviving the dead would inevitably come with a price.

And that price was likely Donovan, the very purpose of Hades’s existence.
However, Hades didn’t pay attention. He had only lived for Donovan. So, wouldn’t it be okay to put Donovan in second place just this once?

“Kwaaaah!”

Demons rushed toward Hades, screaming inexplicable cries. Hades slightly furrowed his brows and cut down the demons.

‘Weird.’

It couldn’t be pinpointed, but something seemed off. Since he had come to the demon stronghold ruled by the Demon King, they should be much stronger than the occasional demons that descended on Donovan.

Moreover, he was holding the Holy Sword.

The demons, obsessed with obtaining the Holy Sword, should have charged at him with fierce determination…

“Too weak, aren’t you? Is this all you’ve got?”

The loud voice of the Holy Sword echoed, representing Hades’s thoughts.

“Oh, that’s a bit…!”

Hades leaped into the air. The Holy Sword drew a splendid trajectory below, elegantly beheading a demon about the size of a three-story house.

Thud, as the head fell, other demons began to panic and run away.

“Was that the leader?”

The Holy Sword sounded somewhat disappointed.

“Is that the Demon King?”

Hades frowned.

“No, the leader.”

The Holy Sword continued speaking.

“The right arm of the Demon King… well, not exactly, but it should be about as powerful as a pinky finger. Yet, it weakened this much?”

“Good riddance.”

Hades replied nonchalantly.

“If it weren’t weak, wouldn’t it be more of a problem?”

However, he knew that the unexpected strength of the demons was a significant issue. Demons didn’t become weak for no reason.

‘…What did Leto do?’

After Angelica took her last breath, Hades learned that Leto had long manipulated him.

It was the right choice.

If Leto had stayed, Hades would have torn him apart and fed him to the beasts as soon as they were available.

Hades’s temples tightened.

Where could he have hidden? Instead of hiding, did he go to the Demon King first to seize the “Devil’s Eye”?

With that thought, Hades’s movements became even faster and more fluid. Rather than mechanically cutting down demons, he calculated and propelled his body forward as quickly as possible.

‘Indeed, strange.’