It was a grand hall that perfectly matched the palace's overwhelming scale.
The entire chamber was steeped in darkness, yet Overlord Elara Noctis Belial sat before me with striking, impossible clarity. No… to be precise, the hall wasn't dark at all.
Her beauty simply made everything else fade into shadow.
"Ah."
She lounged on an opulent, colossal, decadent throne, legs crossed with elegant arrogance as she looked down at me. The moment our eyes met, my heart nearly stopped beating.
She was a goddess in the flesh.
Long hair flowed in a perfect mix of yellow and black, as if it held the very essence of darkness and light within each strand. Massive cyan horns curved upward from her head. Her grey eyes were crystal-pure. With her legs crossed, her long, flawless thighs and calves were emphasized in the most sinful way.
Above all, she wore a tight black dress that shamelessly revealed every voluptuous curve of her body. Even the crown of jet-black metal and the lavish ornaments only seemed to get in the way of her raw, breathtaking beauty.
She was beautiful enough to stop a heart.
And at the same time, she terrified me to my core.
A vast, suffocating fear crashed over me. Demon women were fatally beautiful, but they were monsters first. The being sitting on that throne was undoubtedly the most terrifying creature in all of Hell. Pure dread gripped my chest like an iron fist.
Thud.
Before I even realized it, I had dropped to my knees and pressed my forehead to the cold floor.
"I greet Overlord Elara Noctis Belial, more beautiful and magnificent than anything in existence."
The words spilled out automatically from all the etiquette training. Honestly, I was fucking terrified. Scared enough to collapse, scream, and wail for Mama like a child.
But that mother was the most terrifying thing of all.
What a fucked-up contradiction.
Calling for Mama out of fear? The very source of fear was sitting right in front of me… and she was my mother.
That could never make sense.
"Oh? So you can speak?"
"Yes?"
For a split second, the voice that cut through the darkness was so gentle I actually flinched. It felt so warm, so caring, that I genuinely thought I was talking to a real mother.
"Yes. I can."
"I heard you were mute."
"Th-that's right. Everyone called me that. But I only learned to speak properly around last year."
"Is that so? How commendable. You've done well. Fufufu."
That soft, melodic laughter pierced straight into my ears and made my legs threaten to give out.
"…"
What the hell was this?
I couldn't understand the feelings surging through me. For someone who came from another world, these sensations were completely alien. Every instinct, every impulse screamed at me to throw my body and soul at this woman and swear eternal loyalty on the spot.
"So, my son? What's your name?"
Mother asked gently, calling me her son in that sweet, honeyed voice.
"Ku… Knull. Knull Belial."
Did she really see me as her son? It was hard to believe. To her, I had to be just one of countless offspring. A queen ant didn't care about each individual worker. There was no affection, no special interest. She birthed them and used them as tools.
Our relationship had to be the same… right?
"Fufufu, Knull. What a cute name… Ah, I'm sorry for asking. I didn't realize it wasn't one I personally gave you. I won't forget it now."
"Thank you. It's an undeserved honor…"
"Will you stand up? Don't stay kneeling like that."
Pa-at!
I shot upright into perfect attention faster than I ever had in my old life.
"Come closer."
"Yes."
I walked toward the throne immediately, climbing the wide stairs step by step.
Why was she being so kind to me?
Was it really because of my origin? Did I actually carry some secret after all? I felt like something even bigger than the fact that I hatched from an egg was waiting to be revealed…!
And then I stood right in front of mother.
The intoxicating scent and overwhelming beauty radiating from her made it impossible to think straight. My vision started to blur.
"Closer."
"…Yes."
I was terrified, but I couldn't refuse. I stepped even nearer until I was within arm's reach.
And then—
A warm, impossibly soft hand touched my cheek.
"Ah…!"
Mother began to caress my face with gentle fingers. The warmth was so perfect it felt like my mind would melt away. Like finding a hot spring right before freezing to death on a snowy mountain. I was drowning in it.
"You're quite handsome, aren't you? My son?"
She smiled as she spoke.
"I-it's all thanks to you, Mother."
"Fufufu, I suppose so. But you seem uncomfortable. There's a wall in your heart."
The only person who could feel relaxed in front of her would be a complete psychopath.
"Especially when standing before Mama."
"Th-that is! As a lowly being standing before the great Overlord Elara Noctis Belial, I'm just a little nervous!"
"Hmm… Lowly? Drawing such a clear line hurts Mama a little."
"Haa-eok!"
Hurt?! Was she mocking me right now?!
"Let's talk comfortably, shall we? Hm? We're mother and son, after all."
"I-I understand!"
I still couldn't figure out why she kept emphasizing our parent-child bond! Was she planning some kind of ritual that required sacrificing her own child and I was the only one available?
"Hmph. Then try calling me Mama."
I had no choice but to obey.
"Ma… Mama…"
"Mmm-hmm. Well done. My son is such a good boy."
The hand that had been caressing my cheek moved to the top of my head. She started stroking my hair gently.
This entire situation made no sense. The Overlord Elara I knew was supposed to be cruel, powerful, and terrifying. She was one of the rulers of Hell itself.
"Then, a question. Why do you think Mama called our Knull here?"
"Th-that… I cannot possibly fathom the intentions of the great Mother…"
"You're being formal again? If you keep drawing that line, Mama will truly get hurt."
Hwaaah!
"No!"
The killing intent that flashed for a single instant nearly stopped my heart.
Fuck. No choice now!
From what I could tell, she seemed to like people who obeyed instantly.
Then I would obey!
"Th-that is! Mama! Honestly, I really don't know why you called me either! I've thought about it, but I just don't know, hahahaha! Oh my goodness, I'm so terribly curious! Please tell me, Mama!"
I immediately started chattering like I would to my real mother back in my old life, playful and glib. It had been almost ten years since I last talked to anyone like this.
Her reaction?
"Hm?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Fu… fufufu. It seems Knull has a rather unique personality. Yes. I like it."
She covered her mouth with one hand and smiled warmly.
Did she actually enjoy that? I had no idea, but at least she didn't kill me for speaking so casually. My glibness seemed to work.
"How truly fascinating… Anyway. I should tell you why I called you. Knull. Have you heard of the Demon King's Descent Festival?"
"Yes?"
Demon King's Descent Festival?
Ah.
Something clicked in my memory. Even though I'd only learned to speak properly a year ago, I had heard the term recently.
It was described as some kind of grand festival.
Other demons had been talking about it starting soon. I didn't know the exact details, but it was an event to honor the Great Demon King who had once ruled most of the mortal realm.
"Of course I've heard of it. Isn't it a festival to honor the Great Demon King?"
But why bring it up?
Surely she wasn't planning to make me work as event staff or something. No. That couldn't be. There was no reason for someone like her to waste time on anything trivial.
It had to be important.
"Yes. It's a festival. You know about it?"
"But I don't know the details. Not exactly what it involves."
"Then I'll explain."
"Yes."
She said she would tell me, so I listened.
"The Demon King's Descent Festival is indeed a festival. A celebration to honor the Great Demon King who once ruled even the mortal realm."
"Wow! That sounds incredible! To think such a ritual exists!"
It really was amazing.
"But what happens to the demons who descend? Do they just enjoy the festival, sightsee the mortal realm, and come back?"
Mama.
Please.
Tell me that's exactly what happens.
Cold sweat started pouring down my face.
Descend to the mortal realm…? If someone as weak as me got sent there, wouldn't it be a disaster? Wouldn't I just die?
But mother shook her head slowly.
"Hmph… The Great Demon King never retreated, did he? Running away is a disgrace for our kind. So there is no return. If you descend through the ritual, you must become the Demon King who rules the mortal realm."
"Whoa! So that's how Demon Kings are made! But has any demon actually conquered the mortal realm like that?"
At my question, she traced a finger under her eye with a sad smile.
"Knull…"
The way she said my name sounded so wistful.
"Our family has decided that you will participate in the Descent Festival."
"Kya-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ak!!"
I tore at my hair and screamed at the top of my lungs.