Chapter 87 Weakness
Lucifiel and Lucifer worked together to discuss the development of hell. Lucifer issued decrees that gradually brought prosperity and order to the once-chaotic underworld.
Although their thoughts aligned, their approaches differed. Demons were naturally aggressive, and hell had long been plagued by disorder. It was common for two demons to start fighting on the spot over a mere disagreement, with no regard for life or death. There were no laws to regulate such behavior, resulting in utter chaos. These fights often injured innocent bystanders or frightened demon children.
Lucifer established order in hell. He understood that demons were inherently violent, so he did not attempt to turn them into peace-loving angels. Instead, he created a fighting arena, where fights could take place under controlled conditions. An entrance fee of one silver coin was required, and those with grievances could settle them in the arena, where life and death were left to fate. Additionally, a challenge system was introduced. Any demon could step onto the stage and fight, and the one who defended their position the longest each session would receive gold coins as a reward. Outside the arena, however, fighting was strictly prohibited.
With this system in place, demons could vent their battle-hungry nature in the arena instead of causing destruction in the streets. Brawls that once shattered buildings and shops became a rare occurrence, and hell’s overall security improved significantly.
Lucifiel further refined the system. He suggested building a hospital next to the arena and personally developed healing potions tailored to demonic physiology. Previously, demons had no concept of medical treatment. Wounds were left to heal on their own, and those who couldn’t endure simply perished. Survival rates were abysmally low. Lucifer believed that natural selection was the way of the world, but Lucifiel couldn’t stand by and watch demons die needlessly. He was determined to save lives.
Of course, medical treatment came at a price. If a demon had no money, they would simply have to fight less.
When Lucifer fell from heaven, the fallen angels who followed him remained loyal without question. However, the original inhabitants of hell were not so easily convinced. They were lawless by nature and had no intention of bowing to a ruler who had simply descended from above. It was only after witnessing Lucifer’s overwhelming strength that they began to fear and submit. But it was Lucifiel’s policies that truly won them over. The practical benefits he introduced earned their genuine loyalty and respect.
The very existence of a hospital was a revelation to demons. They never knew that when they got injured, they could be cared for and looked after, instead of being left to rot in the darkness, waiting for death.
Although treatment required payment…… that hardly mattered at all! The emotional care they received and the overwhelming gratitude in their hearts were things money could never measure.
Overnight, the demons’ perception of their king completely changed. The once-tyrannical ruler was now praised as a wise and benevolent sovereign.
Inside the palace, Lucifer sat by the window, resting his chin on his hand as he listened to the demons singing their praises in the streets. With a helpless smile, he said, “I became the Demon King to be a tyrant, a despot. But thanks to you, I’ve somehow turned into a benevolent ruler. With a reputation this good, I’d almost feel bad ruining it.”
Lucifiel had been deeply loved and admired by angels in heaven. Now, in hell, he had effortlessly won over the demons as well.
Even demons, it seemed, could appreciate kindness.
Lucifer saw no point in suppressing himself for the sake of reputation. He had come to hell to enjoy his freedom and to be a ruthless tyrant if he pleased. What did it matter if his name was reviled? As long as he was happy, nothing else was important.
But with just a few actions, Lucifiel had once again earned widespread admiration in an instant.
Lucifiel’s voice carried a hint of hesitation. “Did I interfere too much?”
“Of course not. This is your kingdom too.” Lucifer lowered his gaze and tapped a black piece onto the chessboard. “Check.”
Lucifiel immediately responded, announcing his move aloud in his sea of awareness.
They were playing chess.
Lucifer hated work. The pile of official documents would get a few perfunctory approvals from him before inevitably ending up as makeshift table supports. Hell was already running smoothly, so there was no need for him to overwork himself.
Lucifiel, on the other hand, was bored. Since he couldn’t reveal himself for the time being, Lucifer found something to keep him occupied. Chess seemed like a good choice. It was relaxing, entertaining, and mentally stimulating.
However, when Lucifer and Lucifiel played against each other, neither could ever win. Lucifer’s next move was always predicted by Lucifiel, who in turn anticipated Lucifer’s response to his prediction. Then Lucifer would predict Lucifiel’s prediction of Lucifer’s prediction……
They knew each other too well. Instead of securing victory through insight, they could only end in stalemate.
Seventeen games had already passed, and every single one had ended in a draw. No matter how they played, neither could checkmate the other.
After the eighteenth draw, Lucifer said, “There should always be two kings on the board, and neither can devour the other.”
Lucifiel felt there was a deeper meaning to his words.
He had never imagined his soul could be split into light and darkness. If his past self in heaven had learned of this, what would he have done?
Back then, his faith in God had been unwavering. Every word from the God was sacred to him, because it truly was divine will.
God loved the light and deemed darkness intolerable. It was because He had endured the solitude of the void that His very first words upon creation were: “Let there be light.”
After He created the world, the creatures that had formed in the darkness were not favored by Him. Without His protection, they struggled to survive in hell. And when God declared them evil, they became known as demons.
Some demons could not endure the harsh conditions of hell and would escape through the gates to wreak havoc in the human world. They envied the creatures who lived under God’s protection, blessed with peace and prosperity. They, too, were living beings, so why had God abandoned them? If God had forsaken them, then they would no longer worship the holy spirits.
Lucifiel, as a creation of God, also despised darkness. He despised demons.
God sent him to the human world to exterminate them, to seal the gates of hell so that no more could escape. Lucifiel carried out his duty flawlessly.
But he never once looked upon hell.
The desperate demons could only watch as the great gates shut before their eyes, cutting off their last hope. The gentle, merciful seraph departed without a glance, his radiant white wings vanishing through the narrow gap, locking them in eternal darkness.
Light had never reached hell, not sparing even a sliver for demons.
Until the Demon King fell into hell, allowing the demons to see the light.
……
If he had realized back then that his soul had split into light and darkness, he likely would have been overcome with shame, and would have begged for purification.
Although they originated from the same soul, they became two beings with distinct consciousness and personalities.
His prejudice against darkness would have led him to believe, without question, that his darker self sought to devour his consciousness and take over his body. He would have fought with everything he had to eradicate it, unwilling to let his sacred soul be defiled.
They were enemies to each other, trapped in self-loathing, and could only leave one behind.
But now, Lucifiel and Lucifer had become friends.
After his fall, Lucifiel no longer placed blind faith in God. He had seen hell with his own eyes, and over time, his prejudice against darkness began to fade. The demons of hell were not as gentle or kind as angels, but the barren land they lived in had never allowed them the luxury of peace. Only by fighting and scheming could they survive.
Little demons laughed with joy when given a playground, offering candies in gratitude. Grown demons wept with emotion at the sight of a hospital, their voices filled with genuine praise and laughter.
Lucifer, who carried all the darkness and malice within him, had once told him, “I don’t want to be able to suppress you. I want you to be truly free, to live without worries. If that were the case, I can stay hidden forever.”
These kind emotions were the same as those of angels.
Goodness was never the exclusive trait of any single race, just as evil should not be any race’s defining label.
Being a demon did not mean being wicked.
Looking back, wasn’t it the so-called light that had been quicker to judge with malice?
Lucifiel wanted to coexist with Lucifer.
Even if they never merged as one, that would be fine.
There should always be two kings on the board, and neither can devour the other.
“Your Majesty.” Mammon, the demon representing greed, walked in. “The matter you asked me to investigate has yielded results.”
Lucifer turned his head. “Speak.”
Mammon immediately relayed the information he had gathered. “Heaven’s rule has been entrusted to Seraph Michael. Adam was not given any significant position by God. Instead, he now lives in Eden with Eve, completely removed from worldly affairs.”
News from heaven was never easy to obtain. If a seraph, or God Himself, caught wind of their inquiries, it would spell trouble. Mammon had taken great care in his investigations, spending a long time piecing together the truth.
Lucifer held grudges well. He had already declared open defiance against God. He had no intention of letting Adam off either.
“Who is Eve?” Lucifer asked.
Mammon answered, “She was created from one of Adam’s ribs. She is his wife.”
“His wife?” Lucifer let out a cold laugh. “Yahweh imposed celibacy on angels, yet humans are free from that rule?”
Not daring to face the Demon King’s wrath, Mammon swiftly made his exit after delivering his report.
Lucifiel murmured, “So Michael is the new Chief Seraph. That means…… Adam didn’t take my place?”
“Don’t go thinking Yahweh had a change of heart,” Lucifer warned. He had witnessed firsthand how deeply Lucifiel had once revered God, and he wasn’t about to let him rekindle that devotion. “This only proves that promoting Adam was never the goal. The real purpose was to humiliate you.”
Lucifiel pressed his lips together, his gaze lowered.
“Why would God do this?”
He could not understand.
“You’d have to ask him yourself,” Lucifer replied. He had his own suspicions, but he wasn’t about to share them. Not yet.
His theory was far too cynical, something no righteous, pure-hearted seraph would ever consider. Lucifiel had always remained kind at heart. Unless he saw it with his own eyes, he would struggle to accept it, perhaps even refuse to believe it.
Lucifer needed more time to confirm his suspicions.
Lucifiel’s expression darkened.
He could no longer see God, nor did he know how to reconcile with the faith he once held so dearly.
But then Lucifer said, “We’re going to heaven.”
Lucifiel was stunned. “You actually plan to confront God?”
How was it different to courting death?
“Of course not,” Lucifer said calmly. “It’s Sunday. Yahweh will be resting in the Ninth Heaven. If we go now, we’ll have a better chance of sneaking in unnoticed.”
Lucifiel frowned. “What exactly are you planning to do?”
“We’re going to Eden.” Lucifer’s crimson eyes gleamed with cold malice. “I won’t let the matter of Adam slide so easily.”
Lucifiel’s expression grew stern. “Are you planning to kill him?”
If that was Lucifer’s intention, Lucifiel would stop him no matter what.
Adam did not deserve to die.
The one truly at fault was God. Adam was nothing more than a pawn in His grand design.
Lucifer had, in fact, considered killing him. But he knew Lucifiel would never allow it.
“I won’t kill him,” Lucifer said smoothly. “In Eden, there’s the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Yahweh forbade anyone from eating its fruit. I’m certain he gave Adam the same command.
“Michael was once the guardian of Eden, but now that he’s been promoted as the Chief Seraph, he likely has no time to keep watch anymore.” A slow, knowing smile spread across Lucifer’s lips. “I’m just going to tempt him to take a bite of the forbidden fruit. If he betrays Yahweh, then he will be punished accordingly.”
The irony was unmistakable. God had forced Lucifiel into betrayal for Adam, but in the end, Adam would betray God all the same.
“And if he doesn’t?” Lucifiel felt uneasy about the plan. It didn’t seem entirely honorable. “Adam is obedient to God.”
Anyone who heard the command that Chief Seraphim Lucifiel was to kneel before them would be filled with fear and dread, not daring to accept it. But that day, Adam had stood firm, solely because it had been God’s command. And God was the absolute truth.
Lucifer remained calm. “Then we’ll see whether he listens to Yahweh more or to his wife.”
Adam’s willingness to accept Lucifiel’s homage without a second thought only proved how devoted he was to God’s orders. That was precisely why Lucifer had no intention of starting with him.
Eve was Adam’s weakness. He would find it difficult to refuse her.
Lucifer put himself in Adam’s place for a moment. Between Yahweh and a wife, he would definitely listen to his wife without hesitation.
Of course, he didn’t have a wife, so the scenario lacked personal weight. But if he made an equivalent substitution: wife = weakness = someone you want to protect = Lucifiel, the equation became clear.
Between Yahweh and Lucifiel, Lucifer would obey Lucifiel without hesitation.
Now that was a situation he could relate to. With this logic, Lucifer was certain the plan would work. After all, no one could ever bring themselves to refuse Lucifiel!
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