Long time no see. It’s been seven years since the last update.
Previously:
A baby is killed and Jibru snaps.
She kills humans. Destroys continents.
The Stellar Vein’s subordinates: 「This is bad. At this rate, the star will be destroyed.」
They desperately try to stop it. But because of this, the Stellar Vein’s fighting power decreases.
Alto Parto (the long-suffering one) holds his head in his hands. 「What are we going to do…?」
Joker: 「Waaaaah!」
Zepar dies <- We are here now
Chapter 226
Jibru starts running the moment she hears the news.
She heads toward the deepest part of the dungeon by the fastest, shortest route possible. 「Shortest」 indeed—she smashes through every wall in her way. She has no time to worry about such trivial matters.
「It’s a lie, it’s a lie, it’s a lie…」
Finally, in the deepest part of the dungeon—a place where only select few can enter—she sees it.
The corpse of her beloved mate, Zepar.
Zepar’s body is in tatters. The reason is clear.
—The repair of the Stellar Vein.
That task proved too much even for Zepar to bear.
To begin with, Zepar was the only subordinate created by the True Dragon, but his power specialized in 「Alchemy,」 and his combat ability and magical power weren’t particularly extraordinary.
Moreover, his 「Alchemy」 consumed his own life force with each subordinate he created. Only those with extraordinary magical power, like Earth, could create subordinates without any risk.
But Zepar didn’t have that much magical power.
After continuously creating various races and subordinates—Death Dragons, Celestial Dragons, Holy Dragons, and others—his life force was already nearly depleted.
Because he was weakened, repairing the Stellar Vein required him to stake his life on it.
That was his reason for existing, and he had no regrets about it.
But that was only true for him, not for others.
「Aah… aaaah… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」
The impact is devastating for Jibru.
Unbearable sadness, guilt, and self-loathing.
And then the deep, deep, unbearable sadness brings back Jibru’s memories.
No, it forces them out.
The memories she should have devoured and swallowed with Gluttony.
「It’s my fault… I… I… because of me that child… and even Zepar…」
With a sharp headache, Jibru recalls the memories she had forgotten—no, the memories she had deliberately sealed away.
The memory of stillbirth of his child.
Yes, if only she hadn’t let her power run wild that day.
If only she hadn’t suffered a stillbirth when that human attacked her abdomen.
No, if only she hadn’t become interested in humans and gone outside in the first place.
No, if only, if only, if only—
Endlessly, Jibru continues to curse every decision she has ever made.
As a result, she 「remembers」 everything and breaks.
Originally, after the stillbirth, she was in a precarious mental state, but she had forcibly forgotten it by devouring her memories with her own Gluttony.
「Ah, I see. So that’s how it was. I remember… I remember everything. Ah, I don’t care anymore. Everything… everything…」
And then, Jibru tries to awaken her power once again.
But at that moment, she hears a voice.
「Sister! What are you doing?! You can’t do this!」
It’s the Death Dragon Ouronus.
He is one of the few beings who can enter this deepest part of the Stellar Vein, like Jibru. Incidentally, besides him, only Mýrus and Alto Parto can enter. It was Alto Parto who informed Jibru of Zepar’s death.
「Everything is meaningless now… After all, what value does a useless person like me have? Zepar… my child… they died because of me. Because I… because of me… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」
「No! Sister! You can’t! Control yourself! If you release any more power, the Stellar Vein might become abnormal again! That would make everything Zepar did meaningless—」
「Shut up! Let everything be destroyed! The Stellar Vein! This dungeon! Everything!」
「No! That will only make you suffer more! That’s not what Zepar or your child would want! You need to be happy for their sake too!」
Ouronus’s words make Jibru suppress her released magical power, if only slightly.
「Anyway, get out of here! Quickly!」
Ouronus drags Jibru out of the deepest part of the Stellar Vein no matter what. Jibru doesn’t resist. She lets herself be pulled along until they reach the tenth floor.
「Phew… this should be far enough. Sister, have you calmed down?」
Ouronus looks at Jibru, but she keeps her face down, muttering to herself.
He’s extremely worried, but finally she raises her face.
「Happy…? Me…? Ouronus, should I… should I be happy?」
「Yes, that’s right! Sister should be happy!」
「…But how? For what purpose?」
「Um…」
Now that Jibru seems interested, Ouronus feels relief but also struggles to answer.
How can he make this wounded sister happy? Should he become her mate in Zepar’s place?
That’s out of the question.
Despite being called a sister complex, Ouronus has both dignity and common sense. There’s no way he could become mates with his real sister. Besides, although they don’t have that kind of relationship yet, he believes he will eventually have such a relationship with Rias. After all, she is Ouronus’s 「special one.」
「Sister…」
What would he do if he were in Jibru’s position?
Ouronus thinks for a moment and then—
「Um, well, how about… looking at the outside? The outside world?」
「Huh…?」
For a moment, Jibru can’t understand what Ouronus is saying.
「Right now, sister surely has a hole inside her. A big hole called Zepar. I don’t think me or anyone else can replace him. Because no one can take Zepar’s place.」
「…」
「I know. It’s those idiots on the surface who made you like this. That’s undeniable. But you know, there are so many more fun things out there. Beautiful scenery and delicious food that don’t exist in this dungeon. Though I mostly only know about them from Rias and Agil’s stories…」
Ouronus continues speaking.
「There aren’t any foolish humans who would oppose us anymore, and if it’s a place that Agil ruled, it’s absolutely safe. Everyone will guard you, and we’ll have Zahak and Anri prepare delicious food. Plus, I’m sure there will be new encounters on the surface too, just like how I met Rias. So surely for sister too—」
「…up.」
「Huh, what did you say, sister?」
「Shut up, Ouronus.」
「Sis…ter…?」
Ouronus feels a chill run down his spine.
His sister’s eyes hold no light whatsoever.
Ah, this is—bad.
「Ouronus… Since when did you start speaking to me in such a way? How insolent. You said you loved your sister so much, but was that a lie? Ah, I see. You have a replacement now. If you have Rias, you don’t need me anymore, is that it?」
「That’s wrong… That’s not it! You’re misunderstanding, sister! I just wanted Zepar to—」
It wasn’t reaching her.
His words weren’t resonating with Jibru’s heart at all.
「Don’t you dare speak about Zepar! Zepar was my husband! That child and Zepar were my everything! And! And I lost them…! How much… how much do you think I…!」
WHOOSH! Tremendous magical power rages through the Stellar Vein dungeon.
Of course, the aftereffects don’t stop at just the dungeon.
The Stellar Vein dungeon is this star’s core. Its influence spreads to all continents.
「Ugh… sister… Ah, no…」
Sensing this power, other subordinates rush to the scene.
「What’s happening!」 「Hey hey, what’s going on here?」
「Don’t tell me Lord Jibru is in a rampage state again…」 「Eek… what’s going to happen to us?」
Harsha, Yamu, Feel, and Joker tremble in fear at Jibru’s state.
「…Lord Jibru」 「So it has come to this after all…」
Mýrus and Alto feel an unbearable sadness.
Feeling that nothing can be done anymore, Ouronus makes up his mind.
「Ugh…! If it’s come to this, we have no choice. Yamu, Harsha! Release your power! Agil, return to your original form—become the Emperor Beast! Joker, create a mist barrier to prevent sister’s power from leaking outside! We will… seal sister—seal Jibru!」
At these words, all the subordinates are shocked. Yamu whistles.
「Hey hey, are you sure about this? She’s your beloved sister, you know?」
「…There’s no choice now. At this rate, sister won’t stop until she destroys everything—the Stellar Vein, the dungeon, the surface, everything. If that happens, what did Zepar die for? I won’t let his death be in vain! We’ll stop sister. Absolutely!」
「…Indeed, there is no other way.」
「…Right. Just in case, I’ll have Senior Rias evacuate to the surface.」
「Please do. Everyone except the floor guardians should evacuate outside. I don’t want unnecessary sacrifices.」
「Understood.」
And so they release their power to stop Jibru.
They believed that if everyone worked together, they could surely stop her.
However, that was far too naive an illusion.
Jibru with her released power was far too overwhelming.
After three days and nights of mortal combat, only Jibru remained standing.
「Hah… hah… I… I again… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」
However, after raging with all her might, Jibru regains her composure.
「No. No, no, no… Such foolish actions again. I’ve had enough. I… want to die.」
She had reached her limit.
Having regained her composure, Jibru feels ashamed of her foolish actions and deeply regrets them.
And so Jibru turns her fangs upon herself.
「Die… die… die! Die, you useless dragon! Die! Just die! Please! Die! I don’t want to live! Please let me die!」
Squelch. Squelch, squelch.
Arms, legs, heart—Jibru wounds herself without hesitation.
If there was anyone who could kill Jibru, the strongest wielder of 「Gluttony,」 it would be none other than Jibru herself.
Jibru tries to devour herself completely.
「Ugh… ah… BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH…」
But she couldn’t do it.
Whatever she eats, she vomits back up, and it returns to become part of her body again.
Even if she tries to devour her memories like before, she has developed a resistance to that and can’t forget anymore.
Breaking down, even suicide—none of it is permitted for Jibru.
「Ah… ah… why… even though I want to die. Even though I want to end it all… why can’t I die… why won’t you let me go to where Zepar and my child are…」
「Ugh… sister…」
「Ah… Ouronus. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Please forgive your foolish sister… If you can, please kill me. Please. I don’t want to live anymore…」
Jibru begs.
For her own death.
「I can’t do that, sister…」
Ouronus understands Jibru’s suffering better than anyone. If she can’t die, then at least she shouldn’t suffer anymore… That’s probably what he thought.
「I won’t let sister die. So—at least, with my ‘Annihilation,’ I’ll take sister’s memories…」
「Ouronus… what are you…?」
Mustering his last strength, Ouronus plunges his fangs into Jibru’s head—her brain.
Just as Jibru had once devoured her own memories with 「Gluttony,」 now Ouronus tries to erase Jibru’s memories using 「Annihilation.」
「Ah… ah, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?」
However, Ouronus’s 「Annihilation」 isn’t as perfect as Jibru’s 「Gluttony.」
The memories shatter into pieces, becoming lost like moth-eaten fabric.
「Sister… now you can be together with everyone again…」
Having used up all his power, Ouronus loses consciousness, leaving only Jibru with her hole-riddled memories.
And so—Jibru awakens, having lost all her memories, no, left with only incomplete memories.
「What is this? What was I…? Oh right, Ouronus told me to go outside…! Ouronus, how dare you suggest that I go outside!」
For some reason she can’t understand, Jibru shows tremendous aversion to the act of going outside.
Holding the battered Ouronus, Jibru contemplates what to do.
Then, Rias appears.
With Joker’s barrier gone, the subordinates who had been outside return.
「What is this…? Lord Jibru! What are you doing? Why is Ouronus so wounded? And everyone else too…」
The situation was too urgent, and Rias and the others hadn’t been told what had happened.
「Rias… he told me to go outside, you know? Can you believe it? He told ME to go outside? How could I possibly forgive that?」
「Eh…? No, just for something like that…?」
「That’s all it takes, for me. Yes, I shall seal Ouronus. He needs to be taught a severe lesson.」
「What…」
Rias can’t believe it. The voice is too cold. She doubts whether this is really the Jibru she knows.
「W-wait please! First of all… what is this about?! Why… why does he… why does Ouronus need to be sealed?! Please, Lord Jibru! Please reconsider!」
「Be quiet, Rias.」
「Gah…」
Jibru’s eyes flash. With just a slight release of magical power, Rias is blown away and rolls across the ground.
「S-Senior Rias, are you okay? My head is really throbbing…」
「J-Joker… sorry…」
Joker, who had awakened first, supports Rias’s shoulders.
At that time, Agil also opens his eyes. His blurry vision captures the battered Rias.
「Reconsider? What nonsense. This is only natural, isn’t it? He rebelled against the Stellar Vein. He should be killed for this, but I’m being merciful by only sealing him. What part of that displeases you?」
「That’s wrong! Ouronus hasn’t rebelled against you at all! He just wished to go outside with you! Yet… yet why…!?」
Then Ouronus regains consciousness.
「…Ri…as…?」
「Ouronus, thank goodness. Please wait! I’ll help you—GAH!」
But with just a wave of Jibru’s hand, Rias is blown away again.
「Be quiet, Rias. I wasn’t planning to harm you too—no, you’re right. You helped Ouronus, so you’re equally guilty. I shall punish you by banishing you from this Stellar Vein dungeon.」
「Sister, what are you…? The memories, did they properly… no, did this fail? I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, sister… Was what I did just unnecessary after all…」
Jibru whispers in Ouronus’s ear.
「Ouronus, I will take away your memories of Rias. She will surely try desperately to break your seal. And when that seal is broken, you won’t remember anything about her. This seems like a fitting punishment, don’t you think?」
The moment he hears this, Ouronus’s face changes color.
「No… stop, sister! Not that! Anything but that! Everything was my fault! I selfishly tried for Zepar’s sake—… So please, just don’t—don’t take away Rias… don’t take away my memories of her—」
What kind of fitting punishment is this? It’s a demonic act that makes hell seem lukewarm in comparison.
But Jibru, having lost her memories, doesn’t doubt her actions.
She truly believes Ouronus is in the wrong.
(Ah, I… what did I do wrong…?)
Briefly, Ouronus takes one last look at Rias.
I never want to forget her.
He tries to engrave her into his soul—her image, his feelings for her.
However—
「—Well then, goodbye, Ouronus.」
CHOMP.
The sound of something being devoured.
And so, Ouronus, stripped of his memories, is sealed, while Rias and Joker are banished from the Stellar Vein.
Jibru and the Stellar Vein’s subordinates, their memories riddled with holes by Annihilation, forget various things.
It was an incredibly cruel ending.
Zepar had to stake his life to fulfill his mission.
Jibru couldn’t forgive herself for letting Zepar die.
Ouronus just wanted to save his sister who was drowning in sadness.
Neither the Stellar Vein’s subordinates, nor Rias, nor anyone else acted with malicious intent.
Everyone desperately struggled only because they wanted to help someone, to save someone.
But what awaited them at the end wasn’t salvation.
It was an absurdly cruel tragedy where no one was saved.
And then—the memory vision cuts off there.
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