ITSM 28

Chapter 28

I got up immediately from my seat and rifled through the bookshelf to pull out a hidden book.

“What’s The War Between Demons and Angels about?”

The cover and title didn’t particularly draw me in or make me feel like reading it. Yet, much like before, it was one of those books that somehow made me want to read it.

Leaning against the headboard of the bed, I began to read.

To be honest, whoever wrote this clearly wasn’t skilled at writing.

“…Is making a book this hard to read a skill, too?”

Even I, someone obsessed with books, found it a bit overwhelming. The sentences were packed like bricks, and it was difficult to tell what the preceding sentence was even trying to say.

Even after flipping through about twenty pages, my initial impression hadn’t changed much.

“Maybe I should just close it.”

The content wasn’t anything special—it was just boasting about how amazing demons were. Surely, it must have been written by a demon who was arrogant and didn’t care about anyone else.

“No respect for the reader at all.”

I didn’t want to read any more of a book that only told the author’s own story.

“In the end, there’s nothing about the war at all.”

Just as I was about to close the book, I suddenly felt it would be a waste not to finish it.

“…Just one more chapter, then?”

After all, I had already read twenty pages.

With a short sigh, I turned to the next chapter—and instantly, I was drawn into the book.

The content was clean and well-organized, unlike what I’d seen before.

“The prologue to the war between demons and angels began because of the woman the king of demons loved.”

It was a fairly intriguing opening line. At the same time, it differed from the original story I knew.

The king here must be Roan, and he supposedly said that the feelings of love he had for the female protagonist, Lily, would be his first and last…

“Was there another woman before her?”

Curiosity prickled, and I widened my eyes, focusing on the text.

“The woman loved by the king of demons was an angel.
Her pure white wings and hair, in perfect harmony with him, shone brilliantly as she floated across the sky.
When he gazed into her sparkling eyes, the demon king who loved her said,
‘I will love you as my destiny for my entire life.’”

For some reason, it felt like I was reading Roan’s private love diary, something I shouldn’t really be seeing.

I had expected the book to be full of war stories, but even halfway through, it continued to describe Roan and the woman he loved.

“They were recognized by angels, demons, and humans alike.
The demons and angels, who were thought to never get along, reconciled and contributed to the world’s peace, so it was only natural that everyone loved them.
Of course, there were those who envied them, but they didn’t care much.
The king of demons thought, ‘Angels and demons are just races, and we will love each other forever.’
At that time, they loved each other without knowing a single thing about the future.”

I naturally became curious about who Roan loved.

But history is usually filled with misfortune. As indicated by the part introducing the prologue to the war, I could vaguely predict that their ending would be tragic.

Turning the page, my prediction was confirmed.

“Misfortune began because the angel the king of demons loved shone just as brilliantly for someone else.
A holy knight coveted the angel loved by a demon.
A mere human wanted to possess an angel.
Of course, a human had no way of defeating an angel or a demon.
So he chose to ally with someone who felt the same—a being who loved the king of angels, Michael, and joined forces with Gabriel.”

“Gabriel…?”

I paused at the familiar name. In the original story, she had supported the two main characters, Lily and Diego, and yet had also been mean to Lily.

The reason Gabriel disliked Lily was…

“Because she thought Michael loved her, right?”

Gabriel, who outwardly appeared lively in front of everyone but had a sinister side, had always felt closer to demons than angels.

“Gabriel, second in rank among angels, recruited other angels.
Unable to fight a full-scale battle with demons, they chose to use the angel loved by the demon king as bait.
Even knowing it was a trap, the demons risked their lives to save her.
Even though entering the angels’ territory meant they would surely lose.
Even though losing this fight would mean losing the holy relics.”

“What? They did that knowing they would lose the relics? Are they crazy?”

I exclaimed in shock. The original story had mentioned the holy relics somewhat—how the angels had taken the king’s relics at the very edge of confrontation to face the demons.

The relics were practically the source of power. With them, they could have killed Roan, who normally could not be killed.

A question popped into my head.

“…So do the demons not have the relics now?”

If the book’s account was true, the demons would currently be without them.

“What are they planning to do now?”

Without the relics, they wouldn’t be able to fight the angels—they would just face a one-sided massacre.

“One day during the war, the king’s lover, held captive by the angels, called the demons. She said they could meet her if they came there.
The king didn’t hesitate. The demons didn’t stop him from leaving. He had to meet the angel he loved, the angel they all loved.
That day, at the promised place, the king’s lover was brutally slaughtered by the holy knight.”

A faint groan escaped my lips. Even reading further, my crumpled expression wouldn’t smooth out.

The violent content made my stomach churn. At the same time, a question arose.

“What exactly is the original story?”

The original hadn’t even started yet, but judging by Roan’s state, it seemed he had already had the relics taken by the angels.

From beginning to end, nothing in the book matched the original story. My head started to ache.

“I tried to clear my head, but it just got more complicated.”

Just as I frowned and was about to close the book, the last page caught my hand.

Tilting my head, I flipped it open—and let out a shocked gasp.

“The holy knight’s name was Diego Wicks.
The eternal enemy of demons.
–Written, Winsphere Calendar, April, Year 408.”

“…What is this?”

I wasn’t shocked because it was the name of the original story’s male protagonist. It was the date written below.

I turned my head and saw Gremory’s neatly arranged calendar: Winsphere Calendar, April, 2408.

So this story had been written 2,000 years ago. My head spun instantly.

Had I entered this world 2,000 years after the original story ended?

“No, that can’t be.”

All the demons in the original story had been annihilated. So the original story hadn’t even started, yet according to this book, demons and angels had already fought a war—and the demons had been decisively defeated.

The demons’ relics were in the angels’ possession.

Conflicting stories collided in my mind.

“Ouch…”

Trying to think any further brought a splitting headache. I shook my head rapidly to clear my thoughts and finally felt a little better.

The clock was approaching 2 a.m.

“…I’ll stop thinking and go to sleep.”

Even if this place was different from the original story, my initial resolution hadn’t changed.

If I got involved with demons while serving the empire that worshiped angels, the outcome would surely not be good.

So, as promised, I had to complete three years and leave Winsphere.

“Yeah, I won’t get deeply involved.”

The demons had already lost a war once. The angels were somewhat chilling.

It was an uncomfortably tense situation, but I didn’t want to get caught in it.

The pale light of dawn began to slowly fill the top of the Winsphere mansion.

At the same time, Roan’s closed eyes snapped open.