Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The King of the Underworld

Iris was imprisoned in the dungeon beneath the Royal Cathedral. Ever since being labeled as a witch, she was no longer a holy knight. However, the fact that she, a holy knight, had produced a heretic was inconvenient for the Church, so it was kept hidden from the public.

Iris possessed an augmented form of immortality known as magic armor.

If her magic was sealed, she was virtually powerless in combat.

To ensure that Iris couldn't use magic, someone was always assigned to guard her, ready to destroy any magic circle she attempted to create. She had been transported from Ildana to the capital city.

By the way, the reason her execution would take place in the capital city and not in Ildana was to prevent the revelation that Iris had been a holy knight. Executing her in Ildana would undoubtedly expose the truth to the residents.

(Sigh... I messed up.)

Inside the cold prison cell, Iris pondered the same thing over and over again.

It was premature to claim that she had learned magic from a monster. Originally, Iris didn't know that Shu was a monster, so if she had explained the situation in order, there might have been some room for leniency. However, now she found herself in a position where no one would listen to her.

Speaking to a witch was considered defiling.

(I'm hungry...)

Above all, the lack of food was tough.

She received the bare minimum of water, but no food at all. Since she was going to be executed anyway, she wasn't given any meals during the transfer. With her power of immortality, she wouldn't starve to death, but she still felt hunger and thirst. As a result, Iris had no energy to stand and rested her body on the stone floor.

(Ugh... I want to eat sweet bread...)

It was truly like Iris to think of such trivial things at a time like this.

One might think she should feel more of a sense of imminent danger, but Iris wasn't worried about that. It was because she believed in her promise with Shu.

The unintended emotions that had surfaced within her made her trust Shu without any doubt.

(Hmm... footsteps?)

As she lay there for a while, Iris suddenly sensed footsteps. Since she had her ear pressed against the floor while lying down, she could hear the footsteps clearly. Among the regular footsteps, there was one that had a slightly irregular pace.

The regular footsteps belonged to a holy knight, and the other one was likely from the inquisitor of the heretics.

As Iris lifted her head and stood up, two individuals arrived exactly as she had expected.

As predicted, they were a holy knight and an inquisitor of the heretics.

"It's time for your execution, witch. Come with us and let us take you."

"Yes."

"Alright."

The two prison guards who were guarding the cell where Iris was confined responded. One of them took out a key and unlocked the cell with a clicking sound.

Next, a holy knight who accompanied the inquisitor entered and took out a rope, binding Iris's arms behind her back.

"Stand up."

"Ouch..."

The holy knight forced Iris to stand up. Iris, who had been deprived of food and forced to sleep on a hard floor, felt pain along with her fatigue. Her body ached as if every joint was complaining.

Nevertheless, the holy knight silently pushed Iris's back, urging her to leave the cell.

Knowing that it was pointless to resist, Iris reluctantly complied.

She was led in front of the inquisitor.

Thanks to the immortal witch's magical armor, the pain in her body had already subsided. This armor, fueled by magic, protected Iris. It repaired injuries instantly, even regenerated fatal wounds, and converted magical energy into life force, allowing her to survive even in a state of starvation.

With Iris's A-rank magical power, she was practically immortal.

"Hmph... You detestable immortal witch."

"I..."

"Don't talk back, impure woman!"

"Ugh!"

The inquisitor struck Iris, who was about to speak, forcefully silencing her. He considered himself more devout than the average priest in his duty to expose heresy and rebellion against the Demon God's teachings.

He did not think that Iris, a witch, had any rights.

"Tch, touching a witch has tainted me. Ideally, I would love to completely crush you with my magical armor... But alas, my magical armor lacks combat capabilities. What a shame."

His magical armor had the ability to determine the truth.

While it had no combat power, it was useful for cracking down on heretics.

After all, Iris was a ridiculous being with the ability of immortality. No matter how much she was attacked, it would be futile as she would regenerate.

That's why the method of execution was burning at the stake.

She would be burned until her magic was depleted, a method chosen to kill her.

"The impurity must be incinerated. May you fall into the abyss without even the salvation of the god El Magia. Now, let's go."

"Yes, understood."

The inquisitor began to retrace the path he came from, and the accompanying holy knight pushed Iris's back, forcing her to walk along with them.

On this day, the execution of the witch Iris was about to take place.

***

There is also a square in front of the grand cathedral of the capital city.

In the center, a stage was set up with a single iron pillar standing on it. The witch, who was the target of the execution, was bound and gagged to prevent her from chanting spells. By the way, the stage was made of dry wood, which would serve as fuel for the burning. Pieces of wood soaked in oil were also prepared, so the flames would rise magnificently.

Many people in the capital city were paying attention to this public execution.

Not everyone, of course, but a considerable number of people gathered in the square, waiting for the execution to begin.

"From this moment, we shall commence the execution."

An inquisitor, suspended in the air by the Wind's Fourth Staircase ("Kuukou Fly"), announced loudly. Since this was an execution and not entertainment, the crowd did not make any undue commotion. They focused on the inquisitor, who was about to give a speech in mid-air, and patiently waited for his words.

"Oh children of El Magia God, listen well. This witch, by shamelessly consorting with demons, has become a heretic who gains the power of magic through it. She has spurned the grace of our god and entered into a contract with the devil. It is only fitting that she pay with her life."

It is believed that magical powers, magical equipment, and sorcery were bestowed by El Magia God. Especially sorcery is said to have been given by the gods in ancient times, and the highest level, the Fifteenth Staircase, is therefore called a divine spell.

However, if one were to learn magic from a demon, it would be considered an unforgivable taboo.

Of course, there are various interpretations in this regard, so not everyone shares the same opinion. In fact, there are a very few who interpret that magic is not something bestowed by El Magia God, especially because even advanced demons sometimes use sorcery.

However, the inquisitor—rather, the mainstream of the Demon God Church—adheres to the former view.

("Hmm! Who is the witch, I wonder!")

And Iris, bound to the iron pillar with a gag in her mouth, screamed in her mind. Iris also knew that it was not good to learn magic from demons. However, she originally did not know that Shu was a demon, and even after finding out, she never felt that Shu was evil.

She understood that there could be understanding between humans and demons.

Or rather, it might be more accurate to say that love makes people blind.

(Oh... no matter how much they say I'm immortal, burning at the stake is terrible. Just because I won't die doesn't mean it doesn't hurt!)

When Iris looked down below the stage, she saw several holy knights waiting. They were individuals proficient in flame-type magical equipment or flame sorcery, gathered for this execution.

At the signal of the inquisitor, they would simultaneously unleash their magical equipment and sorcery, causing fire to spew forth.

(Originally, Shu-san is Shu-san, you know! After saying such cool lines like "I'll protect you, even if it means making enemies of all humanity," he won't come to my rescue! He's such a heartless jerk! Shu-san, you idiot!)

"Oh? What terrible way of speaking. Who's the idiot here?"

"It's obviously you. Shu-san, who says lines that make my heart skip a beat but doesn't keep his promises."

"I see, I see... The idiot here is you, Iris. Who are you talking to right now?"

".......Eh?"

Unbeknownst to her, Iris realized that something had intruded into her thoughts and looked around her. She moved her eyes right, left, and down, but she couldn't find the source of the voice.

In the meantime, the inquisitor suspended in the air announced the final judgment.

"It's time for execution. Death to the witch!"

At that signal, the holy knights infused their magic power. The fire mage manifested their own magic attire, while the incantation-based sorcerer completed their magic circle.

However, heavy footsteps interrupted their magic attire and incantations.

"Death."

In that instant, a pale mass burst forth from all the holy knights who were deploying their magic attire and magic circles. They flew as if drawn to a single point, heading towards the iron pillar to which the witch Iris was bound.

The masses of people, nobles who were observing, members of the royal family, demon god cult priests, and inquisitors were astonished as they followed the pale mass with their eyes.

Then, silently, someone landed at the top of the iron pillar.

The pale mass was completely absorbed into that person.

"Death magic is sufficient. I've become the Funeral Death Spirit, Death Elemental, and my magic control has greatly increased. No, is it thanks to my practice of controlling death magic? Well, whatever. As long as I can kill more at once, it doesn't matter."

At the same time as Shu Arklight's words, all the holy knights breathed their last. Like batteries running out, they collapsed, losing all their strength.

Everyone was bewildered by the sight.

Meanwhile, Shu jumped down from the iron pillar, touched the rope and bit on Iris, and used decomposition magic. The rope and bit crumbled away completely.

"Look, Iris, I've come to help you."

"Shu-saaan! I was so scared!"

"Oh. So even you get scared sometimes."

"Are you saying that to me while I'm crying!?"

As they witnessed this exchange on the stage, the inquisitor finally regained their sanity and shouted with a hoarse voice.

"Who are you? Helping a witch!"

Upon hearing that, everyone came back to their senses. Questions remained about what had happened to the fallen holy knight, where this person had come from, and who they were. The doubts were endless. However, surprisingly, Shuu introduced himself.

"...I am Shu Arklight, the King who governs 'Death'."

"A King!? That is—"

"For now, call me the 'Death King'."

The inquisitor was about to say something, but Shu dismissed them with a death spell without waiting to hear them out. The heretic inquisitor who had been soaring with levitation magic fell to the ground as their magic wore off. Since the square was paved with stones, a crimson flower bloomed at the spot where the inquisitor had fallen.

Ignoring that, Shu turned to Iris and spoke.

"Iris, I have a question for you."

"What is it? Or rather, about that unexpected—"

"I'm taking you."

"Please don't interrupt me... And what do you mean by 'taking' me?"

"You're a troublesome person. Humans abandoned you. It wouldn't matter if I picked you up."

"I'm not an object, you know!"

"You don't have the right to refuse."

"I thought you were going to 'ask' me something!"

"The options for your response are 'yes' or 'understood'."

"It's practically one choice!?"

While Iris shouted such things, Shu embraced her and used acceleration magic to leap up. He landed on top of a towering iron pillar and made his declaration from the most prominent spot in the square. He also activated vibration magic and didn't forget to amplify his voice.

"This is a declaration of war, you humans."

Those words sent shivers down the spines of the people.

"One month from now, I will annihilate this capital."

Those words made the nobles and royal family tremble.

"Gather as much military power as you want. I will send you all to the underworld at once."

Those words made the priests turn pale.

"It is the retribution for trying to take away my subordinates and executing my only disciple."

The bishop remembered the prophecy of the Divine Princess that had arrived from the Holy Grinia.

And he realized. They had made the wrong choice.

"I'll say it once more. 'Lord of the Underworld' Shu Arklight declares war."

With just those words, Shu deployed magical circles of acceleration and teleportation. Carrying Iris in his arms, he flew through the sky and disappeared somewhere.

The execution of the witch turned into a proclamation of terror.

That day, the capital of the Kingdom of Ramza was thrown into chaos.

With the name of the King of the Underworld, Shu Arklight.