Chapter 206 - First Stop - Gluttony (2) (2/2)
Numbly, Beelzebub headed further into the dry swamp to get the wood Zero requested for. He didn't let Zero out of his sight, unable to understand what he just witnessed. Zero didn't notice the conflicted look on his ex-room mate's face. His excitement of trying out the unknown meat made him work with twice the efficiency.
Somebody in Zero's mindscape noticed the way Beelzebub was acting. Mii felt troubled by Zero's gradual change. Ever since the system stopped her from interfering, Zero's character has been altered heavily by the memories he received. His all-embracing nature made it difficult for him to form an opinion over what was good and evil. Without Truen around to guide him or the neutral Hua Tuo, the teenager learnt a lot from Lucifer, Baal and even Olaf. the value of life in Hell just didn't have the same meaning as it did for the living creatures on Earth. Things only became more muddled with Professor Rhinestone's betrayal. Beelzebub was badly mutilated and even Baal was severely hurt during the battle. Zero's principle of not killing became twisted there and ever since that day, the young doctor made a resolution to not let history repeat itself. To kill one and save many was the road he had decided to walk after coming to terms that the ideal world of peace wasn't possible without some form of sacrifice.
Bobbinskrier was also concerned with some of Zero's darker thoughts as he worked mechanically cleaning the meat and preparing them for roasting. He sprinkled the spices and sneezed when some powder got to his nose. The Eternal Dragon only pondered silently about having the memory of four Divine Entities merged with Zero's. As the saying goes, anything that is next to vermillion turns red and anything next to ink turns black. Zero was like a child who doesn't know anything. All his thoughts, actions and emotions were things influenced by the people around him. Hua Tuo's good nature and pacifistic idealism shaped Zero's dream of wanting to become a doctor. Baal's distaste for troublesome things, Venn's battle frenzied lust and Jevy's lack of self-confidence shaped Zero's behaviour as a teenager. While there was still some of Hua Tuo and the Great Gods' teachings left in Zero, his perspective of life had changed. Right now, Zero was beginning to judge the worth of each soul and life much like King Yama. The ponygators were like the fishes Hua Tuo had him kill in order to teach him resurrection magic. In order for Zero to become stronger, they became the stepping stones he required.
”Did you find the wood?” Zero asked when he heard Beel coming closer. The Demon Lord was usually quiet but Zero sensed that something was off about the silence they shared now.
”Yes, I did. Zero...”
”Hmm?”
Beelzebub hesitated. There was something really disturbing about how clear Zero's eyes remained despite that disturbing massacre that occurred only minutes ago. It was as if the teenager didn't know that he'd committed sins by taking away lives.
”What you just did... I thought you wanted to become a doctor to save lives. Why did you kill them all when you could have run?”
The teenager blinked and tilted his head in confusion. ”Run? Why should I run from food? besides, I wasn't the one who started this fight. They tried to eat us first, didn't they? I was kind enough to end it quickly and not prolong their suffering as they died. Unlike those fishes that I failed to revive during my training, these monsters have a better death. It was quick and painless. Once the brain is destroyed, they wouldn't be able to feel anything at all.”
Beelzebub watched as Zero made a bonfire and skewered chunks of seasoned meat to roast. It didn't take long for a mouth-watering smell to fill the air. The Demon Lord felt his stomach rumble despite the questions in his head.
”Also, this is my gift to you before I leave. I know that Baal was half-lying. It would be difficult for me to visit Hell again in future. We also wouldn't be able to hang out and have moments like this very frequently in the future. You're going to become a great Demon Lord like all the others busy maintaining the balance of the plane and protecting the demons under your domain. You're a friend of mine and I'm very sorry that I couldn't help you before due to my wussy nature. I let you get captured, tortured and badly hurt because I decided to back out of the crucial moment and not follow the original plan.”
Beelzebub wanted to sigh. While it was true that Zero stole his target suspect back then, Beelzebub didn't hold it against him. He always knew that Jeremiah was the only solid lead they had. He was using Zero to clear up the suspicions of the other four suspects because it was tedious and beyond his capabilities to do so. Having Zero to see his tortured form must have made the teenager blame himself deeply for it.
”It's not your fau-”
Zero shook his head and cut Beelzebub off. ”I should have been there. We were partners, we were supposed to work together and yet I-”
Unable to stand any more of Zero's self-loathing speech, the Demon Lord got up and smacked Zero really hard with his fist. Zero cradled the top of his head and teared up in pain.
”Listen. I'm only going to say this once. None of what happened was your fault. Nothing is as it seems at surface level, there is more going on undercurrent than you would think. Baal and Lucifer don't want to say it but I'll let you in on their secret. If you didn't do what you did, you could forget about returning to Earth. You might be annoying but your meddling has done Hell some good. You don't know this yet but you will in a few centuries. What you did might be messy and uncalled for but it was the necessary change that everyone needed. I can assure you that everyone is grateful for what you have done for us. Without you, we would be forced to have another war against Heaven. Many demons would have died, the plane may be destroyed by the end of everything but you - one silly little lad, stopped it all because of your kindness. It might be stupid to be so blindly trusting and kind but you did it somehow. Be proud of the path you have chosen.”
”What do you- Mmph!”
Tired of hearing Zero's blabber, the Demon Lord shoved a piping hot freshly grilled skewer of meat into the teenager's mouth. He grabbed one for himself, unable to resist the perceptual hunger and chowed down before moaning in bliss. Whoever Cleo was, she knew just how to make everything taste better with her spices.
”Dammit Zero! You need to tell me who Cleo is, I need her spices in my kitchen and have my chef make us roasted ponygator every meal.”
The apprentice blinked with a long silence. ”Alright. If you're interested in her I could always make a portal at Half Moon Village's entrance that links to Hell. I intend to do it because Sekkin needs to travel and I don't want Mitchnew to be lonely without her husband. Plus, it might be good for Coux to travel to and fro and keep an eye of Schaf. As much as I want to trust that banker, I just don't think it is a good idea to let him do as he pleased. It is meant to be punishment after all...”
Beelzebub snorted in laughter as Zero delved into tales about the villagers and their silliness. Perhaps Earth wasn't that much of a boring planet. Having not travelled out of the abyss before, Beelzebub found himself incredibly curious about some of the things Zero shared with him. If possible, he would like to see them for himself about the sun and the stars that Zero described so vividly., They sounded beautiful, a complete contrast to the never-changing darkness on the horizon and fiery red sky unless it was raining or something.
”How beautiful,” Beelzebub thought as he roasted another skewer of meat. ”I would love to travel too if I wasn't a Demon Lord...”
Zero smiled. ”One day when you retire as a Demon Lord and I've become a successful doctor who has travelled the multiverse, I will show you all the best places to eat and the most beautiful sights!”
”Now that is a promise,” Beelzebub smiled even though he knew that it was a promise unlikely to be fulfilled.
The duo finished the rest of the food with gusto and small talk before heading back for dinner. To Zero's delight, Beelzebub had specially asked the chef to prepare a hundred-course cuisine from the Abyss.
”I heard that you once participated in an eating competition and had no worthy opponent. Today, the Lord of Gluttony shall change that. The rules of this competition are simple. We eat till we can no longer eat or when the house is out of food. The one who quits eating first will wear this flower crown of shame for a day.”
Zero stared at the flower crown with raised eyebrows. ”Are those Poxie flowers?”
Beelzebub grinned. ”Yupp, good for digestion.”
Zero snorted and the competition began. Needless to say, Baal who was an unwilling participant in the competition ended up wearing the flower crown of shame. Zero smacked his lips and compared notes with the insatiable Demon Lord on what could have been better. Baal let them be and retired early, knowing that they had to depart early the next day to the next Demon Lord.
”Thank you,” Zero told Beelzebub when the servants were clearing the last of the dishes.
”What for?” the youngest Demon Lord asked.
Zero smiled and yawned. ”For being my friend...” he answered and then snored.
Beelzebub looked at the passed out teenager and smiled. ”Yeah, thank you for being my friend too. It's been nice knowing you, Zero. All the best for your adventures.”