Chapter 151: Entry into the Heavens

Blan asked on behalf of Ion, who was still acting shy around the noble youth.

“Lord Baba, can you feel the Apostles’ gazes too?”

“Yes. These gazes have no intention of harming me. Much like the monsters of Lake Lidibio, they are simply watching out of curiosity. So, lay down your anxiety, Damion. Anxiety and worry are emotions that only harm your heart and spirit.”

“They don’t want to hurt you? How can you be so sure?”

“I can feel it. Jin Seongha likely knows that the gazes aren’t hostile or threatening as well.”

When Ion and Blan looked toward Jin Seongha, he nodded.

“As I said before, the Apostle’s gaze isn’t hostile. It’s the same now.”

He then added, “When I was a kid, a white-eye bird built a nest in our garden.”

“Hey. Why the sudden bird story?”

“Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I’d sneak over to peek at how many eggs were laid, how many hatched, and how much they had grown.”

“Again, why the bird?”

“I wasn’t hostile toward the birds, nor did I intend to be a threat. But the birds wouldn’t have felt that way. Every time I looked in, they must have felt terror and dread.”

Despite Blan’s constant interruptions, Jin Seongha spoke calmly. Blan seemed to grasp the point and clapped his hands lightly.

“Ah… right. I get it. We’re in the position of the birds right now. They don’t mean us harm, but we feel the threat anyway…”

Ion imagined the four men gathered in a nest and the giant beings looking down into it. It was still chilling. Unlike Jin Seongha watching the birds, there was no guarantee the Apostles wouldn’t crush a tiny, insignificant creature in the nest. Right now, they might find it interesting, but if things diverged from the scenario they had crafted for the sake of divine emotion, they would likely annihilate the nest with a single, careless gesture.

“Why do they find Baba so interesting? They’re just characters in their own scenario anyway. They must have known Baba could transform into the Demon King’s form.”

“Even if they knew, it can still feel new and curious. Don’t you find it fascinating every time a plant you personally grew blooms, even if you knew what season it would happen in? Also, in my opinion…”

Jin Seongha looked toward a point somewhere between the nightstand and the clock. One of the gazes seemed to be fixed there.

“Perhaps the protagonist wasn’t me or Sarah Harundas, but Baba all along.”

“That makes no sense. Maybe if it were Puru. The descendant of the Demon King’s mascot being the protagonist instead of the Hero’s mascot? No way.”

“Is that so? Well, it was just a thought.”

“You are all mistaken. They aren’t watching because I am the protagonist.”

The noble youth spoke solemnly.

“They are watching because I am cute and cool.”

“…….”

“I truly am a great bat of immense popularity. However, it is a hollow fame. What use is the longing of others when Damion avoids me? Look at him even now. He can’t even look me in the eye properly.”

Blan offered some advice at the nobleman’s grumbling.

“Lord Baba, your way of speaking is a bit much. You’re not in a play; try talking comfortably. Like how I talk to a friend.”

“I am not sure. Strangely, when I take this form, I feel the urge to use this tone.”

“Was that the Demon King’s tone too? Anyway, if you fix the way you talk, maybe Ion will feel more at ease?”

“Hmm. I shall try.”

At Blan’s suggestion, Baba’s tone shifted immediately. Ion jumped in urgently.

“No! I told you not to change your tone. Keep the play-acting tone when you’re a human. Only use those ‘-eum’ and ‘-im’ endings when you’re a bat!”

“Understood. If that is what Damion wishes.”

The nobleman gave a slight nod without a hint of refusal, as if to say your wish is my command. Even that gesture overflowed with dignity.

“Now that we’ve checked the gazes, turn back into a bat.”

“I shall do so.”

Poof!

Returning from the noble youth back to a small bat, Baba fluttered over to Ion.

“Damion, touch me a lot. Need pets.”

“Okay.”

Ion busily rubbed the fluff between his fingers as Baba enjoyed it. The Apostles’ gazes vanished shortly after Baba transformed back.

‘Are they interested in the Demon King’s appearance that Baba took, rather than Baba himself?’

Surely they weren’t interested just because he was handsome like Dam Daon. Although Baba and Jin Seongha said there was no hostility in the gazes, Ion couldn’t help but feel uneasy and worried.

The next day. The Pope’s expression became peculiar.

“You mean this gentleman is Baba… that bat? Since when could a familiar take human form…?”

“I think since I have Heavenly blood mixed in, my familiar became a bit special too. Blan, please dress him.”

Ion used his “Heavenly blood” as a universal shield and handed two miniaturization devices to Blan. It was because he couldn’t bring himself to give it to the noble youth directly.

“Team Leader Ion, was it that hybrid’s taste that influenced you to make the familiar take such an elegant and noble appearance among all things?”

“What? Blan’s taste? What does that mean?”

“Didn’t you know? That hybrid bastard likes the fair-skinned, high-bridged, elegant, and haughty type. His preference is to bring down a high, noble wall, make them cling to him, and then dump them in an instant.”

Ion’s gaze toward Blan instantly turned rotten. He immediately grabbed the nobleman’s sleeve and pulled him behind himself. Of course, due to the height difference, the nobleman towered over Ion.

“Blan, don’t get near Baba. Let’s maintain a three-meter distance from now on.”

“Hey, you’re just listening to that guy without checking with me.”

“So it’s a lie?”

“No, well, there was a time when I had those tastes, but…”

“Move three meters away right now.”

“Hey, you have to hear a hybrid out to the end! That was the past, not now. Now I like the cuter types. Besides, that’s Lord Baba; do you really think I’d try something?”

That was true. No matter how much of a libertine Blan was, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to hit on the descendant of the Demon King’s bat who had taken the Demon King’s form.

Ion handed the nobleman back to Blan.

“Damion…….”

The nobleman sounded hurt, but Ion feigned ignorance.

“Team Leader, don’t be relieved. That hybrid is fickle.”

“Yes. I’ll keep a good watch. Thanks for the advice.”

“Hey, we’re going right now, right? I’m pulling the cord.”

Perhaps worried that Ion might change his mind, Blan pulled the cord on the nobleman’s miniaturization device and his own at the same time.

The two disappeared. More accurately, they shrank.

The party’s gaze moved to the floor. Blan and the nobleman, now the size of fingers, stood before the Heavenly Realm entrance. They were so small they looked like they would blow away if someone breathed on them.

“…! ……!”

Blan waved both hands and said something, but it sounded like the beep-beep of a small animal. Jin Seongha let out a sigh.

“Mmm, sending only the three of you is indeed making me anxious.”

“There’s no other way. Tell Sa-on the situation when he gets here.”

“He’s going to be furious. He trusted me to keep watch, and I ended up sending you off alone.”

Sa-on was currently traveling through portals as fast as he could. He was expected to arrive in three days. Jin Seongha stepped closer and leaned down. Seeing the gesture for a whisper, the Pope politely stepped back. Jin Seongha lowered his voice.

“Ion, don’t forget that finding him is the goal of this trip. Once you find the location, come out immediately. I mean, don’t even think about capturing him to bring him before me and Sir Sarah.”

“I don’t have those thoughts.”

It was true. He no longer intended to let Jin Seongha and Sarah land the finishing blow on the Demon King. He planned to persuade the Demon King to fight the Apostles.

“Please take good care of Sanse. If even one leaf turns yellow…”

“Are you going to break my finger or something?”

“I won’t leave Puru alone.”

“Oh… that is a very effective threat that shows you know me well. Don’t worry about Sanse and the rest; just come back in one piece with both arms and legs. Don’t jump into dangerous places, and make sure you eat. Chew slowly and thoroughly.”

Avoiding Jin Seongha, who was starting to sound like a nagging parent, Ion grabbed his cord. However, he didn’t pull it immediately. There was one thing he had to check.

“Your Holiness.”

“Yes.”

“Did anyone… try to enter the Heavenly Realm yesterday?”

“There were none. This place is thoroughly guarded by the Holy Knights, so rest easy regarding intruders.”

“Then is there any other entrance to the Heavenly Realm?”

“As far as I know, this is the only one. Why do you ask such a question?”

“No, I was just curious.”

Did the return of the stray from the Heavenly Realm mentioned in the memoir fail to happen? Was I truly not the stray? Or was the Apostle simply overlooking a one-day difference in date? He wouldn’t know until he went in and checked for himself.

“I am worried since contact with the Heavenly Tribe has been cut off for so long. I hope nothing bad has happened in the Heavenly Realm. Please, travel safely…”

Following the Pope’s worried farewell, Ion pulled the cord.

Zip.

His body shrank in an instant. The noble youth and Blan stood before Ion’s eyes.

“Hey, you’re here. Don’t the ‘dog house keeper’ and Jin Seongha look totally gross because they’re so huge? They look like giants.”

Vroooom—

“Ah, the air vibration every time those guys speak is too much. Let’s go in, Dam Ion.”

“Yes.”

Looking at the Heavenly Realm entrance in his shrunken state, it wasn’t a mouse hole anymore—it looked like a cave harboring mysterious secrets. Ion stepped forward without hesitation.

Inside the cave was pitch black. But as they moved further in, torches appeared on both walls, making it brighter the deeper they went.

“The cave seems long; shall we fly?”

“Sure.”

“I am ready, Damion.”

Blan wrapped himself in demonic energy. The noble youth also spread the bat wings on his back. Ion used flight magic as well.

“……!”

Ion cried out in surprise and pitched forward. More accurately, the nobleman quickly grabbed the back of Ion’s neck just as he was about to fall.

“Damion, what is wrong? Why were you trying to bury your head in the cave floor?”

“I briefly forgot that there is no mana here.”

One of the pieces of information received from Il-on. There was a high probability that there was no natural mana in the Heavenly Realm. And…

“Are these plants not enough?”

The nobleman stood Ion up properly and pointed at the cave wall. The wall was covered in moss.

“In the Heavenly Realm, mana is not generated from plants either.”

For reasons unknown, Il-on’s had deduced this information: the Heavenly Realm was a world where mana did not exist at all.

“Then ride on my back, Damion. I am a helpful bat. If you are shy around me, ride on Blan’s back.”

“Lord Baba, what about my opinion!?”

“It’s fine. I’ve absorbed enough mana to use flight magic.”

Whirr— wings manifested on Ion’s back. The group flew toward the exit once more. After flying for another hour, they finally saw the exit. Ion leaped into the bright light.

. . .

Outside the cave was a forest. Underbrush that wasn’t much different from Earth or Idea. The trees before them were similar to species found on Earth and Idea. Even the sky, with a white sun hanging high in a deep blue expanse.

However, Ion knew. The Heavenly Realm had a topography completely different from Earth and Idea.

“The weather in the Heavenly Realm is nice today. Not a single cloud in the sky.”

“I suppose so. Since the clouds are beneath our feet.”

“What?”

Whirr—

Ion flew up high. Blan and the nobleman followed. Once they reached a high altitude, the entire landscape finally came into view.

Centering around an endless pillar of white light, thousands of islands were floating. Some islands consisted of rugged mountain ranges and sheer cliffs. Some islands had vast plains, and others featured skyscrapers that formed a skyline one might see in a sci-fi movie.

“Hey, look over there.”

Even before Blan pointed, Ion noticed. A winged being carrying a trident was flying rapidly toward them.