[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 416

“The Celestial Realm isn’t perfect good just because it’s celestial. And the Demon Realm isn’t perfect evil either.”

Janus explained that balance is formed as the Celestial and Demon realms oppose each other. He had existed long before the Celestial Realm was created, the only being in which light and darkness coexisted. He had witnessed everything from the creation of the Celestial Realm to the betrayals and the birth of the Demon Realm.

“I can agree with that part,” Jeong-hoon said. He was neutral, not on the Celestial side. Still, he wanted to cleanse the Demon Realm because they were his enemies. If they hadn’t harmed Earth and his only family—his mother—he wouldn’t have gone this far. His goal was revenge, nothing more.

“So you’re planning to break that balance for good?” Janus asked.

“Yes.”

“Either way, you’re half right because the one who can truly erase them is me.”

“You?”

“Yeah. My role is to return things to nothingness.”

“Because you can wield both light and darkness at once.”

“Exactly.”

“Then why only half right?”

“Because I’m the only one who can do it.”

“You’re the only one?”

“Right. Even if you manage to make light and dark coexist, you can’t gain the power of annihilation.”

So that’s what he meant by half true, half false.

“Then how could one obtain that power of annihilation?” Jeong-hoon asked.

“There isn’t a way.”

“There isn’t?”

“No matter how hard you struggle, you’re still a mortal. It’s absurd to say a mortal could hold the power to erase an immortal.”

Jeong-hoon fell silent for a moment. He couldn’t think of a rebuttal to Janus’s words.

What if he shed his mortal shell? No—what kind of thought was that? His mother was alive and well; he wouldn’t abandon being human just for revenge. He would finish this and return to a normal life with his mother. He couldn’t discard his humanity.

“So instead of annihilation, I want you to aim for balance,” Janus said — the real reason he’d been summoned. Balance, not annihilation. Check good with evil and vice versa, so both restrain one another. Then the dimension that humans belong to would be left alone by both Celestial and Demon realms and guaranteed safety. Neither side would accept it easily, but Janus believed it was the best option now.

Fortunately, the human standing before him wasn’t blinded by vengeance.

Since he was still capable of making his own judgments, Janus had thought Jeong-hoon would understand his reasoning…

“No, wait—if that’s the case, then you can just lend me your power,” Jeong-hoon said.

Janus immediately took it back. This human’s judgment was seriously off.

“I’m saying just focus on balance. All you’d have to do is set the stage so the Demon Realm and Celestial Realm can negotiate—”

“That’s not happening. Whatever their relationship is, I have no intention of leaving the demons alone.”

“Hey, I’m still talking. Why do you keep cutting me off?”

“I did it once.”

“Anyway!”

This wasn’t going to work. Talking to this human felt like his brain was starting to twist.

“So you’re saying it is possible?”

“Huh?”

“If it were impossible, you’d have rejected it right away.”

“….”

Sharp human. Janus silently nodded.

“Even if it’s possible, I have no intention of helping you.”

“That’s a lie.”

“What?”

“If you had absolutely no intention of helping me, you wouldn’t have called me here in the first place.”

“….”

Janus stayed silent. The human had hit the mark.

He wasn’t a volunteer. He’d approached Jeong-hoon at great risk because he wanted something from him.

“What do you want?”

Jeong-hoon asked directly. Circling around wouldn’t change Janus’s mind; it was better to find out what he wanted and offer it in exchange for his power.

“You sound like you’re saying you won’t compromise no matter what.”

Jeong-hoon nodded. Janus let out a long sigh.

“I asked what you want.”

“…Freedom.”

“Freedom? Someone like you is being oppressed by someone?”

“‘Someone like me’? And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“A being who can annihilate both good and evil.”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

So in other words, he was being kept in check.

“So by helping me, you can gain freedom?”

“Yeah. By using you to bring about balance, I was planning to exert my own influence.”

Apparently changing tactics, Janus answered honestly.

“Knew it. You’re as dark inside as they come.”

“…I won’t deny that.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better for you to lend me your power instead?”

“Power?”

“Yeah. I’ll make the deal with the Celestial Realm myself.”

“You’ll make a deal?”

Janus cocked his head.

“I’ll make sure you can take the Demon Realm and live freely.”

The Celestial Realm’s goal was to purge the Demon Realm. These beings were hoarding power by destroying dimensions; to wipe them out, Janus’s aid could be used as leverage to approach the Celestials and propose a bargain.

‘Seat Janus as the ruler who helped purge the Demon Realm. Then have the Celestials help the Demon Realm and the Celestial Realm reach a balance.’

If the Celestials accepted, Janus could live freely.

“What if they double-cross you?”

“They claim to be the side of good — do you really think they’ll go back on their word?”

“The Primatos might.”

“Primatos?”

“Yes. Primatos.”

Primatos: like Janus, a god who existed from the beginning, the deity who created the angels and built the Celestial Realm.

“You think that god would double-cross you?”

“He hates me.”

Apparently Primatos held Janus in contempt. That’s why Janus had been kept under control and unable to act freely.

“Hmm, so the Celestial Realm isn’t perfect good after all.”

“Hmm?”

“Think about it. They oppressed someone just because they were bothersome, even if that someone did nothing wrong.”

“Are you trying to flatter me now? …Well, I don’t dislike it.”

It had been a long time since Janus had a conversation like this; flattery loosened his lips despite knowing the human’s motives.

“I’m serious. If you lend me your power, I’ll stop at nothing to restore your freedom. I’m the type who always returns what I’m given.”

“Even if that means confronting the Celestial Realm?”

Jeong-hoon nodded.

If the Celestials helped purge the Demon Realm but then became an obstacle, they wouldn’t be spared either.

“Heh… you’re a strange one.”

Janus felt both appreciation and understanding. That mindset explained how this human had come so far: a being who won’t hesitate to use any means to achieve his goal. Janus liked that even more.

“You won’t regret it.”

“You must keep that promise.”

“I will.”

“…Alright. I’ll lend you my power. But I’ll follow you in spirit form and watch you all day. Try anything funny and I’ll take your life.”

“By all means.”

Jeong-hoon smirked.

* * *

How much time had passed?

Jeong-hoon slowly opened his once-shut eyes.

‘Master!’

‘You’re awake!’

When his vision cleared, he saw Mukho and Anima’s tear-streaked faces.

Even Tenebris and Harniun, who didn’t easily lose their composure, looked pale and sighed with relief.

“How long was I out?”

‘Out? Master, your heart stopped for three hours!’

‘Your body had gone cold… you were no different from a corpse.’

That explained it.

The broken, lifeless feeling he had when waking up was because his soul had been completely separated from his body — he had truly died, if only for a time.

Jeong-hoon used Divine Healing to restore his body.

“That was horrific.”

He’d experienced returning from the brink of death before, but this was the first time his breath had actually ceased.

‘And how do you think we felt watching that?’

‘Seriously… you could’ve at least warned us.’

‘It felt like our lifespans were cut in half.’

Jeong-hoon let out a bitter laugh.

“Sorry. More importantly, there’s someone I need to introduce you to.”

‘Introduce?’

“Yeah. Come out.”

At his words, a strange figure — a being that seemed part demon, part angel — emerged from his chest in spirit form.

‘Huh?!’

‘Wh-what is that…’

The alien presence put Mukho and Anima on edge for a moment.

‘That’s…’

‘Janus…’

Unlike the two, Tenebris and Harniun recognized him instantly. Tenebris had once been an angel of the Celestial Realm, and Harniun had devoted his life to it as a warrior.

‘Tch. No matter how I try, I can’t see the Celestial Realm in a good light.’

Janus clicked his tongue in irritation at their glares.

“Anyway, this is Janus, who’s agreed to lend me his power.”

At Jeong-hoon’s introduction, Tenebris tilted his head slightly.

‘Lend his power?’

“That’s right. The only reason I survived releasing the dark energy was because I linked with Janus.”

Within Jeong-hoon, spirit energy and dark energy still clashed violently.

Yet he could maintain his composure and use his strength because Janus was inside his body, helping him suppress and regulate the power.

‘Hmm…’

‘If it must be so, then may he aid the Celestial Realm.’

Tenebris still looked conflicted, but Harniun extended his hand toward Janus..

At that, Janus gave Harniun an incredulous look, swept his eyes up and down him, and slapped away his outstretched hand.

‘Aid the Celestial Realm? Don’t make me laugh. Human, why don’t you just get rid of this one?’

‘What?!’

As Harniun flared up in outrage, Janus suddenly seized him by the throat.

‘Know your place. Just because the Celestial Realm chose you, don’t delude yourself into thinking you stand as my equal.’

‘G–ghhk!’

The overwhelming difference in power forced Jeong-hoon to step in between them and pull them apart.

“Enough.”

‘Tch. Human, let’s hurry and cross into the Celestial Realm to make the deal.’

‘Deal?’

Tenebris looked at Jeong-hoon, as if to ask what he meant.

“I’ll give Janus his freedom.”

‘Freedom?’

“Yeah. We’ll wipe out the Demon Realm—and then hand it over to Janus.”

‘That’s unacceptable! He’s evil disguised as good. We must purge the Demon Realm and erase him along with it—’

“Has Janus ever actually harmed the Celestial Realm?”

‘No, but…’

Tenebris found himself unable to respond further.

“Then it’ll be done my way.”

A promise is a promise.

Without pausing for rest, Jeong-hoon opened the Gate to the Celestial Realm.

* * *

“I understand.”

As soon as the gate opened, it wasn’t long before Uriel and the Archangels appeared. The moment they heard Jeong-hoon’s words, they accepted without hesitation.

‘…What is this? So easily?’

Suspicion flickered in Janus’s eyes.

“Are you certain about this?”

Honestly, Jeong-hoon had been worrying about how he would even persuade them. He hadn’t expected them to agree so readily—it was unsettling.

“When you declared you’d begun wielding dark energy, the Archangels gathered and discussed it. Even the bracelet was given to you in hopes that you could receive Janus’s aid.”

The bracelet was Janus’s own artifact.

From the moment they entrusted it to Jeong-hoon, the outcome had already been decided.

“Was this also discussed with the High God?”

“…Yes.”

Uriel hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

‘Hah. That answer doesn’t sit right with me.’

Janus scowled, but Jeong-hoon decided to let it slide—for now.

“That promise—you’d better keep it.”

The final battle was about to begin.

The target: the Demon Realm’s named beings.

With a resolute expression, Jeong-hoon opened the Gate to the Demon Realm.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]