Chapter 71: Reverence for Twisted Ideals (Patreon)

The world turned black and white, everything frozen in time, except for a select few.

"Aurelius-sama!"

One of the few still able to move was Jaldabaoth—or more precisely, Demiurge. He immediately dropped to his knees in front of none other than his greatest enemy, Lucifer—the same being he had been fighting to the death mere moments ago.

It was as if everything that had transpired had been an illusion. But it was no illusion—rather, a meticulously orchestrated performance by these two: Demiurge and his master, Aurelius, who had been disguised as Lucifer.

Having achieved their desired outcome, Aurelius activated the World Item [Chronos Pocket Watch], freezing time. It was now time for him to switch roles and perform their fancy play's final scene.

Before then, he had orders and details to confirm. He extended a hand to help Demiurge stand, patting his shoulder in approval while letting out a deep, pleased laugh.

"Hahahaha... Excellent work, Demiurge! I never expected that not only would you possess such a sharp mind but also remarkable acting skills. You truly are a first-class manipulator. I am proud of you."

"My Lord!"

Demiurge's heart swelled with pride, standing tall and smiling before bowing deeply.

"I am deeply honored to receive such praise from the Supreme One. In front of your brilliance, I am nothing. Even I would have been fooled had I not known the truth."

"Oh, you give me too much credit, Demiurge, but I must say, you are the model Floor Guardian. An idol for others to look up to."

As he finished speaking, a voice filled with playful annoyance interrupted him from a short distance away.

"Am I not a good Guardian, Aurelius-sama?"

Realizing the speaker's identity, Aurelius grinned, turning his head to the approaching white-haired beauty.

"Of course you are, Luminous," he said shamelessly, acknowledging her presence.

After Albedo returned to Nazarick following her date with Aurelius, Luminous arrived to spend time with him, only to find herself drawn into his play. She was now walking towards him, accompanied by Alpha, Delta, and a visibly shaken Evileye, who was looking around in horror at the frozen world.

Evileye had always known Aurelius was powerful, far beyond her comprehension. But now, witnessing him casually stop time, laughing and praising his subordinates as if it were nothing, she realized she had still underestimated his true might.

This being could control time itself—an ability far beyond that of any god. And yet he wielded it with such ease. For the first time in her life, Evileye was consumed by overwhelming despair. A crushing weight of hopelessness settled over her. She wanted to die, to escape his grasp, to be free of this force that was beyond anything she had ever imagined.

But even death seemed out of reach when she remembered the potion he’d used to revive Gagaran. Would death really be an escape? Could she ever truly escape this being?

A suffocating sense of dread enveloped her, making it difficult to breathe, her vision blurring from the weight of it all. But before she could collapse into unconsciousness, his deep, magnetic voice pulled her back to reality.

"Keno, are you ready?"

Her eyes snapped open, and she stammered as she turned toward him.

"R-ready? Ready for what?"

"To be mine, of course," he said casually, a wicked smile on his lips.

"Now?!"

"Indeed. And in front of Lakyus too. Just remember to struggle at first... Make it seem like you're resisting. Like you're being forced."

He stepped closer, bending down until his face was inches from hers. His fingers gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. The intensity in his gaze made her heart pound wildly in her chest as he whispered, "Alright?"

"Y-yes..."

Evileye nodded—she had no other choice.

However, deep down, a part of her had already surrendered to Aurelius. After all, the thought of rebellion vanishes when the gap between two beings becomes so vast that it's impossible to grasp in a dream, leaving only the primal instinct to submit to such overwhelming power, praying that the great force doesn't even notice the insignificant ant at its feet.

Still, despite her internal surrender, she couldn’t let go of the concern she felt for Lakyus and the other members of Blue Rose. That lingering attachment pushed her to speak.

"W-why are you doing this? If you want Lakyus, wouldn’t it be easier to just take her? Make her yours?"

"That’s a good question," Aurelius replied, but then shook his head as if disappointed. "But also a foolish one."

He sighed, though he decided to enlighten her.

Not just for her sake, but for the members of Nazarick present here as well—this was something they needed to know.

"Think about it. If you eat steak every day, no matter how exquisite the steak, it eventually becomes boring. The same applies here. If I simply took everyone by force, where’s the fun in that? Do you think it’s just about sex?"

Aurelius let out a short, dismissive laugh.

"If all I wanted was physical pleasure, I have women at my disposal who could provide satisfaction beyond anything you could comprehend. But that’s not what I seek. What I desire is more than just physical pleasure—it's the spiritual pleasure that comes from breaking someone and watching them fall into despair."

Stepping closer, he gently brushed Lakyus's cheek, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper.

"Take Lakyus, for example. A maiden with a heart so pure, filled with justice and loyalty. When I save her, risking my life, she would see me as her Prince Charming, fall in love with me, and give herself willingly. But then, when the truth is revealed—that I’m not the savior she believed, but her greatest enemy, and that everything she cherished was simply part of a play orchestrated by me to tease her—the look on her face as her world crumbles, that despair, that heartbreak..."

As he continued, Aurelius' eyes gleamed with a sadistic, dark light.

"Ahhh... that’s what I seek. Not just to defile her body, but also her very soul. To strip away her innocence, her ideals, and her faith. To make her realize that everything she’s ever believed in was a lie and that I was the puppeteer behind it all. The agony she will feel as her heart shatters—that’s what gives me pleasure. That is true conquest. To live as I desire, to take what I want, and to savor the torment I create in the process... What greater freedom or achievement could there be in this world?"

‘Crazy lunatic, madman, devil!’

Evileye cursed in her heart, one insult after another, trying to suppress the dread that clawed at her chest and the icy shiver running down her spine. She had never imagined that such a twisted being could exist in this world.

No.

With his power, his abilities, his terrifying subordinates, and his warped mentality, this creature should not exist in this world. He was breaking the balance, plunging everything into despair.

Unfortunately, there was no one here to share Evileye's horror.

On the contrary, hearing Aurelius's ideals—be it Alpha, Delta, Demiurge, or Luminous—they felt their blood boil with excitement and thrill.

This was, after all, their Supreme One's creed: to live without constraint, to take what one wanted, to achieve absolute freedom and conquest by any means necessary.

"Aurelius-sama!"

They all fell to their knees in unison, their eyes alight with a deep, fanatical devotion. The sight sent another shudder through Evileye, her body trembling as she witnessed their reverence for such twisted ideals.

Aurelius nodded, pleased with the effect he had achieved. He had stirred the hearts of his subordinates and ignited their loyalty even further. Now it was time to move forward.

"Alright then," Aurelius said, his voice firm. "You all know what you have to do, right?"

"Yes, Aurelius-sama," they responded in unison.

Immediately, a black mist enveloped Luminous, and her form shifted, morphing into that of Lucifer. She took her place where Lucifer had stood before time froze. At the same time, Alpha transformed into Demiurge, seamlessly continuing the deception.

Demiurge, ready to depart, gave a final bow.

"I will take my leave, my Lord."

"Make sure to put those two together later," Aurelius instructed, "and let that bitch Princess Renner know about it firsthand. Make it look like an accident."

"Understood. I will carry out your orders to the best of my ability, Aurelius-sama."

With that, Demiurge spread his demonic wings and flew off, vanishing into the distance.

Now, only females remained in the plaza with Aurelius—a deliberate arrangement he made. After all, what was going to happen next was not suitable for male eyes.

Without wasting any more time, Aurelius pulled out the World Item [Depiction of Nature and Society]. The scroll unfolded in his hand, releasing a huge painting that enveloped the entire plaza, isolating the area in a separate dimension, detached from the flow of time and space.