It’s not uncommon for devils to have memories however memories are just fragments that we will leave behind untouched. We will neither cherish nor give an essence of it. It is another burden for us devils so we didn’t care much.

Is what I thought.

There was a time when I was a devil that rampages the land of the humans, I came across a particular warrior, a woman of tall stature and brown hair that grows up to her waist. She wore a silver armor from her torso to the very bitter end of her toes.

In her left hand is a short sword that gleams with black and red hue while in her right hand is a spear with a snake as its motif.

Despite the charming and heroic appearance, the woman’s eyes are dead as if it had seen so many tragedies that no human could ever experience in their lifetime, an utterly broken living creature that obeys orders even if it meant suicide.

As a devil with no remorse or guilt at that time, it was nothing sort of important to me. A prey is a prey and I must kill whoever in my sight.

Her spears swung mightily and ferociously. None could think that such woman had so much power back in her spine. Her short sword is swift and sharp. None would think that it can hack something even greater of mass.

Our fight didn’t last an hour, however, I didn’t go down without letting her experience the brink of death. My last memory of her ended as she stabs her spear to my head. I can still remember her cold and dead eyes that couldn’t even see me as an opponent but an object to annihilate.

Now that I remember such scene, especially the way she looks at me, endless shivers run down through my spine as I can feel how a devil kills a living creature.

Merciless, dreadful, cold, uncaring, and most of all, didn’t even cared if we have memories.

.

.

.

Our Lord Eresti stand before me.

A strong headache overwhelms me as his presence becomes closer to me. Goosebumps started appearing in my body and great awe mixed with despair washes over my very being. He easily surpassed two meters of height and literally looks down on me as I sit on the floor, daunted and confused.

One should feel relieved and gladness upon meeting their creator, however, my senses are screaming that I am scared.

“What an ungrateful child, however, I am rather impressed by your strong will for not bowing down.”

I gulp down my saliva.

My body trembles and my lips started quivering. My breathing becomes labored and my legs started becoming numb.

“Though what a curious hybrid that bastard Nil did. You are dearly a devil at the essence.”

“Ah…a…a….ah…..haaa….”

“Basic knowledge, normal motor skill akin to humans, the hierarchy of psychological needs, and even ingrained instinct such as sleep, eat and sex is deeply attached to your very being. Indeed, a creation worthy of praise even though they just altered a trash.”

Lord Eresti walks in a circle around me as he evaluates me from top to bottom. The sound of his footsteps that clacks on the ground make my heart beat faster in utter fear.

With just a snap of a finger, I could instantly lose my life and even remove from the life cycle of a devil.

Something wet and warm douses beneath me, however, it was not something I can give attention to such situation.

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“That is also rather interesting. A functioning biological body with a beating heart complete with arteries and veins, a skeletal frame structured before a human, organs that are meant to function the same way as a living creature, and a brain that gives you your complete individuality, a nervous system that enables you to become independent.”

After speaking words I can barely recognize, Lord Eresti stops right in front of me. I can only look down to avert my eyes from him.

“I am not a cruel one, my child. Your life is not something I will throw away whimsically. After all, I am just retrieving what has been stolen from me.”

“L-Lord…E…E…Eresti…?”

“That’s right! I am your Lord! I am your one and only rightful Lord! Nil the presumptuous and cocky bastard just stole you from me. His actions are unforgivable and I will make him dearly pay for all the plans he foiled.”

“Ah…That’s…”

“Make no mistake. I do not care for your well being. I am infuriated at the notion that something I own got stolen. However, my child, this of I ask you, a chance to return to your very own cradle. A world full of innocence where no emotion is nonexistent and pain does not exist.”

“Re…Return…?”

“That’s right. As someone as special existence such as you, I shall grant you a title of a general. Incidentally, Devil VI just died so his divine essence is currently in my possession.”

A chance…to return?

No more pain, no more bothersome emotions, and no memories to care for.

It was the ideal life I am hoping for.

Lord Eresti brought out a beating heart colored with darkness. It was Devil VI heart, its very divine essence materialized as one. My eyes followed it as if it is something precious.

Lord Eresti beholds it to me in his hand and I stare at it. He gently smiled at me as he brings it closer for me to reach. Within the span of my arm, I can go back to the life I am used to. I can go back to the mundane cycle I am familiar with.

It was an offer I cannot pass up.

Slowly, I reach out my hand to it. Slowly, my mind becomes euphoric of the thought of becoming my own self again. Slowly, I became…

I became…

Slowly, as my hand was about to touch it, tears flow like a river from my eyes…

My hand twitches before it can even touch it.

Why?

Why am I…?

Why did I stop?

It’s not even a centimeter away and my hand stops. Something is stopping me from becoming the devil that I wanted to be. Didn’t I always want this? Didn’t I always think that emotions and human instinct are bothersome?

So…why am I hesitating now?

“What’s wrong my child? Are you too happy to you started tearing up?”

What am I even doing in the first place?

I have only lived for months now. Why does it have an adverse effect on me? Why do I desire for? What do I really wanted?

It’s a question that I didn’t bother thinking much. However, Asagao, Mimi, everyone made me think of these things.

Why do I exist? I don’t even have a sliver of an idea of my purpose here.

But...

But that’s exactly why they urged me to live.

I see…

I… was already given something…

“Aren’t you going to take it? Here, you can be someone stronger.”

“N..n….”

“Hmm?”

“No. I don’t that!”

“…I see.”

I open my eyes and look at my Lord directly as I convey my refusal. He just closes his eyes and with a snap, he destroyed the beating heart on his hand.

“I thought I could use you as a backup in killing Asagao Lionheart but it seems you are more human now than a devil.”

“I have something I wanted to know through my own actions. I learned so many things, however, I truly don't understand their importance. But that’s more the reason I need to keep living as Topaz!”

“Imbecile. Begone.”

Lord Eresti outstretched his palm to my face.

This is it…

However, I hope that I can carry all of these memories, these emotions, these important feelings together with those people…

……

“I won’t let you, Eresti!”

“Wha--?!”

Suddenly, a thin barrier of pure divine power envelopes me and parted me from Lord Eresti. Lord Eresti jolted from the sudden invasion of a new power in his own realm.

“Since this girl has already decided, it is my responsibility now to look out for my daughter’s friends!”

Behind me, another presence that could only be described as godly manifest behind me. The one who protected me is none other than Nivalis, the Goddess of Blessing, the creator of Laws and Orders, the Former Administrator of this Universe.

Lord Eresti’s eyes change from someone gentle to enraged madmen in half a second upon laying his eyes on Goddess Nivalis.

“Nivalis! You…you and Nil! And now, your daughter! All of you!! Even in the past, Astlan Lionheart had kept me at bay! All of you!!”

“Eresti, how many years have passed…”

“We’ve been fighting for over ten thousand of years. However, we’ve become an observer for ten thousand three hundred thirty-two years of revision caused by that damn Nil! I have reached my patience and this has become an opportunity as Asagao Lionheart has spun the wheel of destiny with her existence.”

“Just how much did you hate me…? To even create creatures that sole purpose is to kill.”

“How? Don’t you remember the first time we’ve fought, Nivalis…the cruel.”

“I still remember it, Eresti the Virtuous. Our tale and legend…has been reversed in the scripture and text of living beings.”

“I was the one who descended from this world to vanquish evil. However, your trickery has caused the other gods to be confused. However, your acts were fine to me that time, but, how have you changed, NIVALIS?!”

“Two thousand years after that incident, Eresti, I repented. I kept conveying my apologies to you, yet, you ignored it…”

“That’s obvious. Your actions are irreversible. I am branded as the evil and you gained the light that everyone envied!”

“My actions are my own responsibilities… That’s why I am confined to a space of singularity up to this day.”

“And yet…and yet you kept escaping like that!”

“I need to. I am going to protect this girl. Eresti, I may have a lot of personas, especially in the past, however, I am honest to myself now. I am going to protect anyone I can from you.”

A battle unknown to those who in the realm of living starts here…

A god against a god will be fighting over someone worthless like me…