Chapter 1888: with translation of chapter title

NO. 506: A bit self-indulgent

For decision-makers, consistent caution is one thing; whether to use caution to support impulsiveness and discard the newly taken-in collaborator is quite another matter.

But upon closer examination, this is merely the difference between long-term caution and immediate caution, and the Light Beast, Fallen Type chose the latter.

This is not the first time.

After that crushing defeat that had already become legend, it sealed away its past extreme self in half of its being and cut it off to pursue a new path; the greatest restriction it set after that painful reflection repeatedly allowed it to break through the underlying logic of the Pride Demon King, displaying words and deeds once impossible and walking the path they entailed.

In terms of the new path and the fresh start, there is no doubt it succeeded.

But whether this is the best choice, only the future looking back will tell.

Even if it personally cut out the heart of pride, that steadfast belief when choosing a path has always remained deep in its heart.

It also cannot allow itself not to believe.

Because the new path also means a completely unfamiliar territory.

Each step requires great courage, yet each step lacks sufficient experience.

Even if it has the ability to contact others' experiences and glean their observations, the virtue left after losing the heart of pride constantly probes and questions it.

Should it do this?

Should it avoid this here?

Would this avoid it?

Would choosing this way be correct?

... Such self-doubts surged like waves, as if returning to that long-forgotten moment of its birth before its fall, however many years ago. In that era when the concept of Digital Beasts was still vague, and the application of the 'beast' concept had not yet appeared, as the most ancient Angel-type Digital Beast, taking the etymology of 'Lucifer' as its core, it merely constructed an immature framework for its growth stage—a tragedy limited by its time.

The mismatch between vessel and content resulted in an immature state—it was not like today's Digital Beasts, which are born able to receive the instincts, powers, and even duties defined in their data core.

It had to learn.

In the fear not yet defined as 'unknown,' it explored, remembered, and then revealed a rudimentary concept of learning, serving together with many contemporary ancient Digital Beasts as what later researchers would call an 'experimental field'; all its attempts and measures became the complete initial data for later Digital Beasts, pioneering many phenomena that later Digital Beasts now take for granted.

Such a Light Beast, even its exceptional, extraordinary strength in the growth stage, was likewise taken for granted; no matter how it explained itself, it was seen only as the modesty of the strong.

With many repetitions, it became arrogance on the level of Versailles.

Those who came later to enjoy the shade under the trees could not understand the hardships the pioneers faced when opening the way; their estrangement only worsened amid the various conflicts brought by the harsh early survival conditions of the Digital World, until prejudice finally solidified into fact.

Having abandoned the hope of being understood, the Light Beast, in the name of arrogance, vowed to conquer this world where only ignorance proliferates and the gods stand idly by—a hopeless world.

What followed became a widely spread legend.

The ten warriors who lived in the same era as the Light Beast jointly defeated the tyrant-transformed Light Beast, Fallen Form in that primordial age, bringing long-lasting peace to the world.

Thus the Fallen Morning Star was sealed into the Netherworld of the Digital World, and at that time that place did not even have the formal designation 'Hei'an Region'.

Even the fact of its being the dark side of the Digital World was a secret shared only among a handful of insiders; only the legends of the Netherworld spread without barrier, yet they were long regarded as the delusions of mad beasts.

Even the Light Beast that had fallen initially only vaguely sensed the existence of such a place, never imagining that, when falling as a defeated, sealed being, it could even see a host-like presence.

Grand Dracula Beast.

It sent an envoy, who nonetheless set foot in the place of Babel Tower without waiting for its permission, claiming also to be a visitor here, merely having arrived earlier. It said it had prepared a banquet to welcome the new neighbor, hoping for a chance to entertain. It also said that in this place it had explored and gained many secrets and rules, hoping to share them with itself and desiring a companion for joint exploration.

But the Light Beast refused.

It was always courteous, friendly, and patient; even when refused, attacked, or threatened, it showed no anger, nor did it mock the sight of its holy-ring-formed chains hanging upside down.

It simply left quietly.

Through countless ages, the Vampire King's kindness remained, invitations came frequently, yet the Light Beast never gave it even a single chance.

It even struck down the envoys several times.

Then, when did the Grand Dracula Beast give up?

The Light Beast itself is not clear either.

It never specially recorded it, and the Grand Dracula Beast never mentioned it to it.

It only remembers a long stretch of no contact, accompanied by the simultaneous expansion of the Hei'an Region and the main world, with the birth rate of Hei'an Digital Beasts gradually increasing, even experiencing several massive surges in proliferation, suggesting something major happened on the main world's side.

In this process, the Hei'an Region became ever more lively; likewise, many strong beings defeated and fallen from the main world began to appear one after another, and their arrival invisibly completed the evolution chain of the Hei'an Digital Beasts, giving the indigenous Digital Beasts a relatively smooth evolutionary path, and allowing the unique supreme power of the Hei'an Region—the power of the Crown of Deadly Sins—to accumulate to overflow and blossom, achieving the first generation of the Seven Great Demon Kings filtered by the rules of the Hei'an Region.

At the same time, it can also be called a gathering of the defeated.

Yes, the first-generation Demon Kings were all outsiders who came from the main world after being exterminated, exiled, or cast down.

But nowadays, the only ancient-origin Demon Kings still retained are the Light Beast, Fallen Type, the Barba Beast, and the Levi Beast, all of which are also noted in the Grand Dracula Beast's records.

But still the same words: no opportunity.

Just as a clever woman cannot cook without rice, the Levi Beast has long been diving, the Barba Beast prefers to hide and run about even more than it does, and the Light Beast, Fallen Type, is steadfast in attitude and impervious to persuasion; even if one is skilled at manipulating emotions, if words cannot be conveyed, it's all for naught.

Although there are realms where one can manipulate people's minds with just a few arrangements, these three are all sufficiently cold and unfeeling; only the Barba Beast still cares a bit about territory and legions, while the other two… you can make up anything, they've always been indifferent.

This operation is quite troublesome.

Although it has sufficient patience, foresight happens to be its motto as well.

Rather than personally entering the fray to become a confronting chess piece, it is indeed more inclined to witness the collapse of the iceberg with a small push.

It must not involve itself in the situation; this is its insistence.

Even if it must intervene, it should not become the protagonist, nor a strong supporting character, for that would only narrow its view and cause it to miss more secrets and enjoyment.

And indeed, it has thereby seen much.

It has seen the desires and secrets of the Seven Great Demon Kings, seen the surging undercurrents in the Hei'an Region amid ever more human organization interference, and also seen that a heavenly feast awaits without needing to personally host it.

Right now, at this very moment, in the present!

Because the Barba Beast exists, it must be far from the Light Beast's location.

But it still found a quite good position from which it could overlook the whereabouts of those two Demon Kings, the surging tide of the Lilith Beast X leading its legions to the battlefield, and——

That, like a heaven-sent treasure, from the moment it appeared detonated several of the secret nodes it cared about—three great dragons.

But there is a problem in that.

That is, it doesn't know whether it's an illusion, but it constantly feels that the nonhuman eyes in a row on the dragon's central head are staring at it.

(End of chapter)