I am… a devil.
I lived in an age long past, led my comrades through countless battles, and finally, fulfilled, I died…
I have no regrets.
…….
No regrets, but I’m still not dead.
My body is gone, lost and destroyed, but my soul remains.
Immortality, huh…
It makes dying really difficult.
It’s such a hassle.
Still, even as just a soul, I retained power.
Because of that, I ended up attracting other beings like myself, souls without bodies.
Surrounded by countless such souls, I began to blend with them, to lt into them. In ti, I would lose my sense of self and truly die.
Thousands of years passed, and the shape of my soul has beco faint and blurry.
How much longer will it take?
I was looking forward to it.
But just as I was drifting in that half-asleep haze, soone grabbed , forcefully, and sealed into place.
What is this incomprehensible stone… Black Fla Stone?
Isn’t that the crystallized remains of a mighty monster?!
They’re carving it…
They’re carving it into a statue… and etching my soul into it?
What are you doing!
Hey, you there! Human! Listen! Listen to !
Listen up!
Listen!!
Please listen!!
Damn it, what insane concentration!
No, wait, is this person a saint or sothing?
Like one of those who can’t hear the voice of a devil?
That’s racial discrimination!
No matter the race, it is important to talk!
Yes, everything should begin with a conversation, don’t you think?
…
React a little!
I’m trying to lighten the mood here, you know! A devil talking about dialogue, this is absolute cinema, and you’re just ignoring !
I know you know I’m here!
You couldn’t have singled out from that sea of muddled souls otherwise!
Co on, I’ll do whatever you want!
There’s gotta be sothing you desire, right?
Like wanting to be popular with the opposite sex?
…
Sigh.
Fine.
So, you’re really going to ignore completely.
Very well.
It’s been ages since soone has angered this much!
Let’s see… it’s been thousands of years, I think!
It’s too late to regret now!
You’ll pay for enraging ,
Wait, what’s with that spear?
Reacting to bloodlust is cheating!
And you’re still ignoring …
Fine.
No more killing intent.
Spear, please.
Can you say sothing to your master?
No good?
He doesn’t hear anything when he’s focused?
I see.
…
Sobody, help eeee!
A complete stranger is doing sothing to eeee!
-0-
I cald down.
No matter how much I cried for help, no one answered.
I had no choice but to regain my composure.
Damn it, I curse the strength of my own will.
But by calming down, I was finally able to observe the human… no, the statue the human was carving.
The statue being carved by the human…
Isn’t bad.
Hmm.
Looks strong.
The waist is a bit too slim for my liking, but the horns are magnificent.
Devils take pride in the size of their horns.
The bigger, the better.
And the fact that it’s ard with so many weapons, I like that.
It ans it can deliver many forms of attack.
…
Could it be…
Yes, just maybe, this human…
Is trying to resurrect ?
Would that be…
A good thing?
Is it really?
Would it be forgivable for to return?
I caused a lot of destruction.
Even the Evil God who descended to the mortal realm stepped back when I raged.
And now, this human is choosing despite that?
This human…
Has potential!
Hahahahahahahahahaha!
-0-
The Devil Who Guards Art.
That is my new na.
My old na… has been discarded, or rather, overwritten.
I can’t even rember it anymore…
Not that I have any lingering attachnt to it.
My new power is to protect works of art.
All of my abilities have been adjusted to specialize in that one purpose.
I don’t mind.
It might be inconvenient to use, but that depends on how it’s used.
I have no complaints.
The only thing I do have a complaint about is this body of mine.
My body is a statue.
A massive sculpture carved from Black Fla Stone.
As far as reviving goes, it’s not a bad thod.
But this statue…
It’s too well made.
It’s a work of art.
Which makes it perfectly compatible with my new power.
And while I’m inside the art museum, I can block any kind of attack.
Even a god’s attack.
Though… not the full strength of a true god.
I can deflect the playful attacks of lesser gods, at least.
So, what’s the complaint?
I can’t move.
I am the Devil Who Guards Art.
To those who harm works of art, I am allowed to unleash any form of attack.
If soone moves a piece of art without permission, they beco a target.
That, I understand.
Which is why, as a work of art myself, I’m not allowed to move on my own.
I must not move.
What kind of nonsense is this?!
You showed hope, hope of revival, and now this!
I can’t move!
What is this despair?!
N-no… technically, there is a way.
There is a thod.
If I leave the museum, I’ll no longer be a piece of art on display.
Then I’ll be able to move.
But getting out of the museum will be difficult.
Because even my position is treated as part of the display.
If anyone tries to move , I’ll instinctively resist.
I won’t be able to help it.
Which ans the only way I’ll ever be able to move…
Is if the museum is destroyed.
If it’s damaged so badly it can no longer be recognized as an art museum, then I’ll be free.
But!
Yes, but!
I’m using my own powers to protect the museum.
Because if I don’t, the other works of art will be damaged!
So there’s no way the museum will ever be destroyed.
Absolutely not.
I have sealed myself in place with my own power!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Human!
Human! Human! Human! Human!
You really did it!
Human!
You’re more of a devil than a devil!!!
Incredible!
I’m shocked!
I’ve never encountered soone this devilish before.
Ah… that frail little human…
What growth!
To think that soone like this would be born while I was dead!
Very well!
Human!
I shall remain in this museum for ten thousand years and protect every last piece of art!
Hahahahaha!
It’s more stimulating than just drifting in my soul-state, half-asleep!
Hmm?
How will I protect the artwork if I can’t move?
Oh, that’s easy, I can attack the minds of those who an them harm.
I can’t swing any weapons, unfortunately…
-0-
Oh?
Is that 《Gold Coin》 I see over there?
It’s been a while.
Oh ho, and 《Box》, 《Sound》, and even 《Letter》 are here too.
Your forms have grown quite fragile, but your souls haven’t changed at all.
Hahaha.
Hm?
The Ancestor of the Devil Race, Despair-sama, was it?
Ahh, that’s right. My forr authority was 《Despair》, wasn’t it?
Fufufufufufu!
And now I’m the one bearing it.
Fuhihihihihi!
How delightful. How utterly delightful!
Even though I can’t move.
Ah yes, I do accept offerings.
Prepare a proper altar for tribute.
I don’t like anything spicy, make it sweet.
And definitely nothing bitter.
That’s not reverse psychology.
If you bring sothing bitter, I’ll take it as an act of malice.
-0-
Later on.
《Brave》 ca, leading 《Selfless Love》 and 《Indebted Love》.
Hahahahaha.
The trio is as inseparable as ever.
Ah, don’t tremble like that. Don’t be afraid.
I won’t do anything to you.
The first ti we t… was after I had already died, wasn’t it?
Though, can that really be called “eting”?
Well, no matter.
《Brave》… you were seeking power, weren’t you?
Shall we reminisce a little?
-0-
So days later.
《Eternal》, once a servant of the Evil God, ca to visit…
Back when the Evil God was still around, we were enemies, but I hold no hostility now.
Though I do get irritated when people laugh at my immobile form.
Hmm?
Ah, you’re going by the na Versa now?
I’ll rember that.
Yes, your coming here was fated.
There’s sothing I’d like to ask of you.
It’s sothing 《Eternal》 should be capable of.
I won’t force you.
Feel free to refuse.
No, no, I’m not in the habit of running my mouth about the past.
I would never stoop to sothing so low.
I promise.
It’s just… when I see soone from the old days, I get a little chatty…
Yes.
Apologies.
It’s not a difficult task.
When I was being made, the human who created had a sample.
It’s not here.
If it were in this museum, I would know.
Which ans that human took it with him.
It’s also a work of art, but I cannot stop the creator from taking his own work.
Now then, that sample, perhaps because it was near , or perhaps due to that human’s power, contains a fragnt of my soul.
Indeed.
It would be a pity to leave a newly born soul trapped in an immobile statue.
I ask you to find it and move it into a human-shaped vessel.
Only if you can, of course.
If not, then so be it, such is fate.
Hmm?
You know the human who made ?
You’re indebted to him?
Oh, what good fortune!
Then I leave it to you!
No need to report back.
I’ll be sleeping.
Fufufu.
I’ve spent ages dozing away, you see.
Suddenly staying awake all the ti is a bit much for .
I need to let my… no, my spirit adjust slowly.
You ca at the perfect ti, 《Eternal》.
I was just about to go to sleep again.
Fear not, even in sleep, I will still protect the art.
This body is capable of that much.
Hahaha.
Well then, until we et again in a few hundred years.
Ah, and offerings are welco at any ti.
Even while I’m asleep.
I’m counting on you.
-0-
《Gold Coin》 Prada
《Box》 Kati
《Sound》 Rudio
《Script》 Sharune
《Brave》 Gucci
《Selfless Love》 Bulga
《Indebted Love》 Stifano
《Eternal》 Versa
Not appearing this ti:
《Disease》 Beton
TN: Bulga and Stifano’s authorities are written as 慈愛(jiai) and 恩愛(onai). Both are love but from different sources. Bulga’s love is selfless, nurturing, and deep love, like a parental or god-like love. Stifano’s love is love that arises from a sense of gratitude or indebtedness, often within a familial context (like parent-child, or husband-wife).
-0-
●The History of Despair-sama
Born around the sa ti as humans and demi-humans. Begins thinking about his(?) own domain.
↓
As humans and demi-humans begin to multiply, takes on the role of 《Despair》 and works hard.
↓
The Evil God descends to the surface. Becos an enemy of the Evil God. ets Versa. Is defeated by the Evil God and dies, but the soul remains.
↓
4,000 years ago. Continues working as the concept of 《Despair》.
↓
2,000 years ago. The outline of the soul begins to fade. Starts to forget the world and drifts into slumber. (ets Prada and Gucci around this ti.)
↓
Present day. Reborn as the 《Devil Who Guards Art》.
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