Chapter 728: [Paradise]

Where... is this?

Allen slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the clear blue sky and a towering thousand-year-old ancient tree that pierced through the clouds.

Where am I?

He remembered that he was clearly in the Demon World and was fighting a large war—so what had happened now?

More like, this place, blue sky? Snow white clouds? This is not hell.

He suddenly had an irresistible ‘anger’ that made him want to slaughter every being in the world. Following that, he lost consciousness.

When he opened his eyes again, he realized he was in this unfamiliar place.

What place was this?

Where was Asmodeus?

Allen surveyed his surroundings in a daze.

He discovered that he was situated in a primordial jungle.

The trees were intertwined with each other. They extended their branches with lush leaves that formed a cloud of emerald green. A towering camphor tree was in front of him. Its bark was dark green in color and its thick and odd branches seemed like dragons coiled around the tree.

A gentle breeze blew over, producing a rustle through the leaves that resembled a dragon's sigh.

Next, his gaze fell upon that enormous crescent moon-like lake a few meters away from him.

This crescent moon-like lake was extremely beautiful.

It was the same as those lakes that constantly appeared in fantasy movies—tranquil, reflecting the moonlight, and causing one to be charmed by it. If one were to use their phone to capture an image of it, it would not even require any filters—it could be used directly as a computer or phone wallpaper.

Just as Allen’s gaze was about to get closer to the lake… suddenly, something within the lake sensed his gaze.

"Splash!"

A huge and long blue fish jumped out of the crescent moon-like lake, directly charging towards the sky.

It was really huge—just by observing its body; the part of its body that was out of the water was at least ten meters long. Its figure was like that of a snake, but it had no fish scales—but akin to that of beautiful blue colored dragon scales.

This is… as I thought this is not hell, but a paradise… Allen sighs as he looks at his surroundings which were not less inferior than his Solheim.

Where is this place?

As Allen was trying to recall what had happened, suddenly at this moment—

"Husband..."

Suddenly, a gentle and alluring voice sounded in his ear. A pair of snow-white arms wrapped around Allen’s waist, hugging him gently from behind.

That was the world's most tender hug.

Not strong, not soft either…

"Um..."

Allen lightly answered. He did not need to turn back for simply listening to her voice and catching a whiff of her fragrance was enough for him to know that the person that suddenly appeared behind him and hugged him was the girl with the most beautiful silver hair.

It was the treasure he had been thinking and desiring for countless millennia.

She stepped out of the darkness but she filled his life with light.

She gently hugged him and did not say another word. He too remained silent.

At that moment, the silence was better than any sound.

In the quiet peaceful place, sunlight shone in through the gaps of the leaves and trees. It was bright and clear with a hint of bashfulness.

Allen slowly turned around.

"Did I die?" he asked, a wry smile flashing across his lips,

There, as expected was Hela, with that unchanging beautiful face.

Hela gently raised her head and bit her lower lip. She muttered, "Well, although you didn’t die coming here...what’s with the corruption that corroded your soul, that it even separated your soul from your body? You, don’t you think you are throwing yourself too much in danger lately?"

Allen acknowledged it as he looked at the face that was inches from him.

That was definitely the most perfect work the creator made.

Looking at her at such a close distance was damaging. Just like light and darkness were antitheses to each other, this absolutely beautiful face was extremely innocent but also very coquettish.

Seeing how her teeth were biting down on her lower lip, the most flawless whiteness and the most alluring pinkness were intermixed together, creating the world's most stirring scene.

Allen stared at it in a daze and suddenly felt a baffling urge. But he shook his head with a wry smile; “Corruption, huh? Probably because of the Mark right? Well, my body should be fine with Asmodeus guarding it,”

“You! Aren’t you acting too carefree?”

Her tone sounded a little resigned.

“…It’s not my intention,” Allen smiled bitterly.

“I know that it is not your intention but, aren’t you too being reckless?” Hela asked with some anger flashing across her eyes. "How many times have you been almost sent into this place this year?"

“Reckless or not, it’s not something I can just avoid…” Allen muttered as he massaged his forehead in pain, and had felt slightly unwell. The aftereffects of what had occurred in the physical plane had yet to disappear. "Whether I want it or not, I could only grit my teeth and pushed on forward. The final lap had already started, Lucifer is awakening and the three Realms are already in shambles.”

"... ..."

“If I still act reserve, I would be the one crying in the end. After all, the situation right now is like a boat going against the current. If I don’t improve and prepare myself, I will surely fall behind!"

“… …” Hela wanted to say something but she understands that what Allen had said was indeed the truth. She can only sigh and helped him knead his temples while her heart ached for him. At the same time, she used her cute big eyes and ‘fiercely’ stared at the sky.

Her gaze turned cold and fierce—she cannot blame Vergil as the latter was still none other than her beloved Solomon, at least a part of him, and she knows that Vergil was not actually being pretty hard to Allen, only having a 'let’s see and wait' kind of attitude towards his counterpart. More like, he was even treating this as their game--

But the problem was Mammon, who she despised greatly. If she was not confined in this prison-like realm of hers, she would surely be the one rushing towards the Demon World and kill Mammon and the other Great Demons personally.

And there is also her father who just can't take a rest and whose ambition topples even the heavens. Because of their stupidity, there is no peace in the Thousand World.

Allen closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of Hela’s gentle and soft hands massaging his head. Then, he unknowingly leaned over, and eventually lay down on Hela’s lap, which the latter happily let him. She even gently adjusted his head so that he was laying down flat in a comfortable position, looking up at her.

She smiled. "Now I'm able to see you quite clearly."

Allen chuckled in amusement.

His heart threatened to burst out of his chest.

This is happiness…

Just by being with her, Allen can feel that his heart had found his only solace. Although he didn’t want to compare the people who love him, and felt it extremely rude and impolite, he still can’t help but do it. Obviously only in his heart and he would never say it aloud. However, Hela, for him was a very important being, an existence he treated above other people.

She was his true ‘home’.

Unlike other women who love him and he loves greatly, Hela was the only one who can give him this much sense of safety and feeling of home.

His heart would flutter just by being near her.

His existence would feel fulfilled just by seeing her.

And no matter what other people or being say anything bad about her, he would feel anger and dissatisfaction as if he was the one being cursed and mocked.

He loves Hela, desired her above anything he wanted…!

She was his treasure, a precious treasure that could never be replaced or substituted.

As they stared at each other, Allen almost lost himself in the pools of her eyes; he couldn't help but avert his gaze.

Hela giggled. She reached out with her hand to stroke the resting Allen’s face, but her hand froze in midair, and she was unable to move it.

Allen, having noticed something, opened his eyes. He saw that the Goddess of Death was looking at him with a melancholy look in her eyes.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing..." Hela smiled faintly and shook her head. Allen looked a long while at her beautiful face. "Are you troubled about something? Is it because of me? Or about your father? Then, you don’t need to worry, I won’t drop dead so easily. I will do my best to succeed,"

“That’s not what I meant…”

Hel sighs.

“If only you can stop fighting and hurting yourself like this, I would be content…”

Allen smiled wryly, “That’s impossible now…”

Hela heaved a long sigh.

“Hel,” Allen suddenly addressed her.

“Hm?” Hela smiled and stared down at Allen.

“I love you.”

A confession that suddenly came out of nowhere.

Simple, straightforward, yet filled with a deep sense of tenderness and affection, not even a tiny of deceit and teasing. Hel was suddenly startled from the suddenness of things. Fully and completely.

“Do you…” Allen’s voice resonated slightly, a gentle warmth that seemed to cast a spell. “…love me?”

“…what are you suddenly asking that for?” Hel smiled wryly. “Of course, I love you… I love you most in this world…” she muttered, stroking Allen’s face with her soft and smooth slender fingers.

“Hm…” Satisfied, Allen smiled brightly. His smile was like that of an innocent child, full of warmth and innocence, without a tiny bit of malice. As bright as the sun, as vast as the sky.

Hel laughed mischievously and boisterously, licking her lips seductively.

Allen discovered that mischievous laughter suited Hell. When she laughed, there was an evil charm to her. It was like a raging flame that moths fly desperately into despite knowing it was dangerous.

Perhaps she felt she had laughed too much, for she quickly covered her mouth. She giggled and suddenly, everything turned dark. Hel had covered his eyes with her flawless hand. "You're tired. Close your eyes and rest for a while."

"Okay..." Allen obediently closed his eyes.

To be able to rest in the beautiful Goddess lap in such an elegant world surrounded by extravagant nature...

'This really is living the life,' he mused.

… …