Case 114: To the ghost of the past.
'Coming back?'
Cecilia bitterly smiled at those two words.
If she lost this match... whether she could survive entirely depended on luck. After all, her opponent was one of the strongest pure demons to ever exist, the Great Duke Astaroth of Hell. Even if only fragments of his being remained, they weren't something to be looked down upon.
Merely standing before his presence made Cecilia tremble.
Her body was that of a royal—the closest to his power, and that was precisely the reason she could sense it—Astaroth was handily beyond her reach. Wasn't he the one who managed to suppress and contain Lucifer, the fallen angel?
'No... just barely. I can do it.'
''Lucy... you ready?''
Upon Cecilia's whisper, the little black lamb familiarly popped out of thin air. With a mischievous giggle, she urged,
[This great demon has long been ready, girl! Hurry up!]
''...''
Borrowing the strength of another demon to defeat a demon... Cecilia had wondered if this strategy would ever backfire on her. Nevertheless, she and Lucy had made a contract, and demons don't betray contracts.
Besides, she believed that if Lucy pulled some tricks, there would still be the former hero party and her trusty little sister to take care of everything.
''...Let's go.''
Carrying that confidence, Cecilia climbed the stairs.
The throne before her eyes approached, its glamorous sparkles filling her vision as if drawing her in.
Cecilia resisted.
She wasn't meant for this seat, and she never would be. Instead, she gazed at the pair of wings embracing it. After a bit of thought, she raised her sword and slashed into the shadow, bringing along her magical prowess.
Her ashen gray hair, now reaching her knees, fluttered at the movements, then was further blown by the immense force reverberations. In an instant, the whole room is dyed bright red, revealing what was hidden behind the throne.
''Come out, Astaroth.''
Her quiet words held an unfathomable hatred.
And perhaps sensing that hatred from his supposed successor, a faint pulse was felt.
''...''
Then, the blood moon rapidly descended. Its silhouette and light intensified by the second, ravenous until the whole space was soaked in its color. The scent of fresh blood lingered in the air, and in that sea, Astaroth finally emerged.
The remains of what was a great demon now took on the form of a large, winged eyeball.
Astaroth lifted his wings, his only eyelid pried open.
At that very moment, Cecilia felt a mounting pressure crushing her body and mind. It was a sensation she had never felt before, not even in front of Lily.
Through her shaky vision, Cecilia saw Astaroth's double slit pupil, completely parallel, now pressed upon her, gleaming,
[You brought me surprises, child.]
A deep male voice resonated. Jumping at the chance, Lucy, who never seemed stressed one bit, yelled,
[Finally showing yourself, old fart?!]
[Lucifer... you dare betray me?]
[Hah! Betray? We never were allies. Speaking like you're oh so noble, huh? Did you get a lobotomy sleeping inside that for so long?!]
''Hey, he doesn't know what a lobotomy is...''
[Enough!]
''!!''
A wave of demonic power washed over Cecilia, violent as if a tsunami. It left her, even in this form, nearly paralyzed for a few seconds.
[Turn back, child. This is my final warning for you.]
''...Tch.''
Astaroth knew. He knew what Cecilia was trying to do... perhaps right from the start. Yet, the demon ignored her thoughts, purely because he was confident about his curse.
Yes, she was no different than the other demon kings and queens who were forced to obey his will in the end.
Maybe they, too, were sick and tired of his wickedness. Cecilia's vengeance might ultimately end in failure, but she was willing to try to make a difference.
Sharpening her blade, she pointed her own will at Astaroth, ''...And this is the end of you, Astaroth. There is no longer a place for someone like you in this world. If not me, then they will put an end to everything.''
[Do you truly trust those pesky humans that much?]
''Yeah, I do. Now, for them... I'll pave the path forward.''
Cecilia's figure levitated. Facing Astaroth head-on, her heart was nothing but calm.
As if responding to her, the demon peeled his massive wings, on which countless blood-red magic circles were drawn. Bolts were hurled at Cecilia mercilessly, to which she responded by blasting herself forward, trying to close the distance.
Her slender body blazed through the rain of magic, while her blade rips apart any that happened to get in her way.
Even if the remnants of that magic tore her dress and wounded her skin, she pressed on.
''Ugh...!''
Another flap of his wing, and the whole world seemed to be turned upside down. Cecilia found her momentum fading as she braced herself. Just one movement, one release of his power, and she already felt this helpless.
'Isn't this unfair...?!'
Cecilia wasn't in her absolute prime condition, yet that didn't mean she was weakened in any shape or form. Even then, it all looked hopeless.
Once again, a tide of demonic magic lunged at her, relentless, as though Astaroth was trying to overwhelm her with sheer firepower. Gritting her teeth, Cecilia wielded everything she had into a cut.
Down.
The crimson blade split the tide briefly, allowing just a small window of action through which Cecilia took advantage of.
As she got closer and closer to the pupil, it started to get unbearable. A sensation as if the cold death was tickling her skin, as if a poisonous serpent was clutching her heart.
Through all of it, she pressed on.
She could feel Astaroth's presence closing in from all directions—she was surrounded.
But she only needed one hit.
So she threw herself forward, unfazed by what could happen to her body.
''...!''
Only when she realized that her blade had been thrust into the demon's pupil did she snap out of that trance. Burning everything she had, Cecilia exploded the insides of Astaroth, sending him into a frenzy.
The fortress rumbled intensely, feeling its owner's pain.
The throne room was plunged into a chaotic abyss. Cecilia, now nearly spent, pulled out of the mess, flinging herself backward. Seeing the enemy's wounded state receding, she couldn't help but sense a glimmer of hope.
[You... arrogant ant!]
Yet that hope was promptly extinguished a mere moment later.
Heeding his murderous will, a sea of voracious force surged toward Cecilia. She, as if a white drop amidst the crimson waves, was wholly devoured.
''Ah—''
''...''
''What's on your mind, Lyra?''
''...''
''Lyra?''
The black-haired girl's concentration was outside the window, perhaps somewhere far, far away. Even the teacher's loud teachings were drowned out.
Something was bothering the heroine, yet she couldn't put her finger on it.
Everything—she had prepared everything for when that woman came back, but now...
'No. It's probably nothing.'
Pulling her gaze back into the classroom, Lyra replied to her friend, ''I just thought the sky was gloomy today.''
Like that night she and Cecilia first met one another.
