Chapter 52: The Seal, the Deception, and Beelzebub’s Arrival

Lucy followed the priests into the Magic Council.

The first place they headed to was the central library.

Towering shelves lined the vast hall, filled with countless books from floor to ceiling.

Apprentice priests, many of them dark elves, sat at long desks, diligently studying. The atmosphere was nothing like what Lucy had imagined.

At Edem Academy, she had been taught that the northern forces were nothing more than savages. But seeing them now, it was clear that wasn’t true. The city, the people—everything seemed just as civilized as Hellatos, if not more so.

‘Did they deliberately paint them in a bad light just because they were the enemy?’

It wouldn’t be surprising. Such propaganda was common in times of war. Even in her previous life, she had seen such practices were pretty common in the real world too.

“This way, please.”

A dark elf priest guided Lucy down a corridor and into a massive laboratory.

Piles of research papers covered the desks, and mysterious magical artifacts were displayed throughout the room. Lucy needed to find one related to teleportation.

She carefully examined the artifacts, but they were all unfamiliar to her. None of them resembled the teleportation items used in Ragnarok Online.

“What are all these?” she asked.

“They are all related to teleportation.”

“All of them?”

There were at least seventy magical artifacts in the room, all dedicated to teleportation? That was unusual. This was the Magic Council, the heart of research in the northern forces. Surely, they had more to study than just one type of magic.

“You’re very focused on teleportation research.” said Lucy.

“Of course. Leaving the Demon Continent has been the dream of all demons. We are simply searching for a way to make that dream a reality.”

Lucy had read about the ideological divide between the northern forces and Hellatos. The demons of Hellatos, led by Satan, sought stability within the continent, while Beelzebub’s northern forces sought to break the seal and escape to the outside world.

That difference in belief had led to war and the divided world they lived in today.

“We have been studying the seal for generations,” the dark elf priest continued. “And we discovered something.”

“What?”

“To break the seal, we need the power of someone from the outside world.”

Lucy’s breath hitched. “…What makes you think that?”

“We observed something. The day an outsider entered the Demon Continent, the seal wavered for a brief moment.”

He turned to Lucy, his golden eyes sharp.

“The day Satan reclaimed his daughter.”

Lucy’s body tensed.

“If we can harness your power, Princess Lucy, we can break the seal.”

The priest’s eyes gleamed. They were Mystic Eyes—ones that could see through deception.

From the beginning, he had known who she was.

Realizing this too late, Lucy leaped backward, activating her teleportation spell.

But—

Clang!

The magic shattered.

An unseen force blocked it.

Boom!

The ceiling crumbled as a massive figure descended into the council hall.

A hulking being, over four meters tall, with blue skin and jagged spikes protruding from its body. Atop its head were white horns—a mark of the highest-ranking demons.

Lucy immediately knew who it was.

“So, you’re Beelzebub.”

“That’s right. This is our first time meeting in person, Daughter of Satan.”

“Seems like the northern forces are lacking in manpower if the king himself had to show up just to capture a mere child like me.”

“Ahahahahaha!”

Beelzebub’s laughter shook the very foundation of the council hall.

The dark elves trembled under his presence, save for Lucy.

“You’re no ordinary child,” he said, eyes filled with amusement. “So, will you cooperate with me?”

Lucy remained silent.

“If you refuse,” Beelzebub continued, “you will have to face me and my army of one million soldiers alone. As you know, all teleportation magic has been sealed. Escape is not an option.”

Lucy calculated her options. Fighting Beelzebub and his forces head-on was impossible.

Pretend to cooperate, then escape at the first chance?

No. She didn’t like deception.

Instead—

[Hellfire.]

Without hesitation, she unleashed one of the highest-tier spells directly at Beelzebub.

“Foolish.”

Beelzebub exhaled, releasing a snowstorm-like gust.

Boom!

Fire and ice clashed, sending shockwaves through the council hall.

Beelzebub grinned, drawing a massive battle axe. With a single swing, he cleared away the lingering smoke.

“What are you waiting for? Capture her!” he roared.

Dark elf priests lunged at Lucy—but then—

Boom!

A fireball struck Beelzebub.

Lucy smirked. More dark elves attacked Beelzebub.

“…An illusion?”

Every dark elf in the council had fallen under her spell. To their eyes, Beelzebub now appeared to be Lucy.

“You can’t recognize your own master? Idiots!” Beelzebub roared, slaughtering them without hesitation.

Amidst the chaos, Lucy slipped away, dragging along a hostage—the dark elf priest with Mystic Eyes.

“Release me, you wretch!” he spat.

“Shut up.”

Deep in an underground passage, Lucy pressed him for information.

“Where’s the nearest teleportation artifact?”

“I’ll never—”

Before he could finish, flames erupted from Lucy’s fingertips, searing his eyes away.

“AAAAAAGH!”

“Well, now you don’t have Mystic Eyes,” Lucy said coolly. “Let’s try this again.”

[Hypnotic Incense.]

With his resistance broken, the priest fell under her spell.

“…The Staff of Reconfiguration… in the temple’s underground vault… it can teleport you anywhere within the Demon Continent…”

Lucy smirked. “Perfect.”

Now, all she had to do was retrieve it.

Using a hidden route, she infiltrated the temple unnoticed. Layers of security stood in her way, but she bypassed them with invisibility, sound suppression, and scent concealment spells.

Finally, she reached the underground vault.

Two heavily armored guards stood at the entrance.

“Sleep.”

The guards collapsed instantly. Taking one of their keys, Lucy unlocked the door.

Click.

As the door swung open, her eyes widened.

Inside, a massive ancient mural covered the wall, depicting a world beyond the Demon Continent.