The most important moment in the history of the loving, harmonious New Demon Association.
The parade ground, originally used as the "Knights' Order" training grounds, was packed with demons and humans.
Apart from Lugner, every single demon wore an expression that said, Huh? When exactly did I join this thing? Even Linie, who had once served as vice-president, looked a little bewildered.
Nanoda had always been lenient with the Great Demons to begin with, so on the rare occasion she summoned them like this, everyone was quite obedient.
As Nanoda's followers, they tacitly accepted their membership in this association.
And Nanoda had already decided to slot her Demon Association into the Church of the New God, making it an important branch of the Church.
She couldn't assemble her own Twelve Apostles, but the Church's—that she could.
So, picking an auspicious day, she invited Schwenk over for the handover, and thus today's scene came to be.
Schwenk looked even more nervous than he had a few days ago when he'd encountered that eerie elf. Never once since the day he was born had he laid eyes on this many demons—especially several who looked exceptionally vicious. They wouldn't actually eat him, would they?
"Hahahaha, truly the Free City of Gaderia, brimming with talent."
After tossing out that flattery with no rhyme or reason, he had no idea how to keep going.
Beside him, Aaron—long accustomed to scenes like this—simply watched and said nothing. He knew this wasn't something he had any say in.
Yuna, too, gazed at this batch of formidable demons, comparing herself to them in her heart. Before she'd even realized it, so many beings had gathered at Lady Nanoda's side. Along with her relief, she felt a certain unease.
"This time I just want you to bear witness, to get to know everyone, and while you're at it, to help sort out the rankings among the apostles."
The Twelve Apostles were still short a few members, but she could already muster up most of them.
"Oh, oh, is that so? No problem at all. The current apostles serve merely as one of the figurehead symbols of the Church of the New God. Ordinarily they don't need to make appearances unless it's necessary, and of course, they aren't required to help spread the faith."
"In other words, as long as there's no major incident, they're free to act as they please the rest of the time."
None of the demons present raised any objection. This seemed no different from how things had been back when they served under Nanoda.
"Then it's settled. I'll leave the rest to our esteemed Acting Pontiff."
Schwenk recovered a bit of a Grand Bishop's composure and took his place behind Nanoda.
"Then let me start by process of elimination—Great Demons over a thousand years of age, step forward first."
Nanoda simply went with the elders-first method.
In Frieren's world, every old-timer who managed to survive had some signature trick up their sleeve. They might not be the strongest, but they were absolutely, considerably above ordinary in power.
Qual strode out first, Macht close on his heels, Nofi came drifting out too, and Jane hesitated a moment before slowly walking out as well.
Four Great Demons over a thousand years old—one could only wonder what Frieren would think if she saw this.
"I'd like to leave the position of First Apostle for Aura, who isn't here right now. Does anyone have any objections?"
Aura was only about seven or eight years old, but she'd followed the longest, and her magic was tremendously convenient. Those contributions couldn't be ignored.
Nanoda showed just a touch of favoritism toward the luckless Aura.
"This old one has no objection."
"Fuwaah~ (the sound of sleep-breathing)"
"I'll listen to Mother."
And so Aura was awarded the position of First Apostle.
"Qual, as the eldest of the current generation, you're well suited to the position of Second Apostle. Anyone else object?"
"This old one accepts the command." Qual placed his great hand over his chest, his sharp-fanged maw splitting into a grin.
Macht had yet to say a word, Nofi lay sleeping the whole time atop a floating cushion, and Jane watched on timidly, blankly.
"Former head of the Seven Sages of Destruction—Macht, the seat of Third Apostle goes to you."
Only then did Macht react, kneeling on one knee like a human knight receiving a title, his manners looking entirely proper.
"Alright, rise."
After signaling that Macht needn't be so formal, Nanoda turned her gaze toward her "daughter."
"Jane, you'll be the Fourth Apostle."
"Mm."
Jane came trotting over to her "Mother's" side and clung to her.
Last it came to Nofi, who hadn't been around long. Aside from Yuna and Nanoda, no one present knew her true strength.
"Nofi, the positions of Fifth and Sixth Apostle both go to you."
The reply to Nanoda was a yawn, as Nofi drifted back into the ranks.
It was at this moment that Draht stepped forward.
"Why does she get two positions?"
Draht hadn't wanted to come in the first place. The one he wished to follow was Lady Aura, who wasn't present—but since every demon of status and standing in the territory had shown up, he certainly wasn't going to be the one left out.
"She has the qualifications for it."
Nanoda gave only that simple reply before carrying on.
Sweeping her eyes over the remaining demons, Nanoda let her gaze settle on Linie and Lugner. After weighing them for a while, she made her choice.
"Linie, you'll be the Seventh Apostle. Lugner, while doubling as the association's president, will be the Eighth Apostle."
"Linie, understood."
"It's my honor."
There was more than a little sense of just filling out the numbers to it. Nanoda had seen Linie's strength back in Kinton—a full twofold increase over when they'd first met—but compared to Qual and the others, she still fell far short.
"Schlacht, Ninth. Draht, Tenth. The remaining two seats stay vacant for now."
And so the ranking of the ten seats, from Great Demons down to generals, was concluded.
The Great Demons each had things that mattered to them, and cared nothing for their placement.
The demons who ranked beneath them all had self-awareness, and raised no objections to beings who had been their superiors from the start.
And it was precisely at this moment—
"Why am I dead last?! Just because I'm the youngest?!"
Draht suddenly grew agitated. Apart from the fury that came when his emotions ran high, he was normally the very picture of cold indifference.
In truth, Draht's pride ran high. He couldn't tolerate being at the very bottom.
"Then let me add one more condition. Among the Twelve Apostles, a lower-ranked member may issue a challenge to a higher-ranked one. Under my supervision, you may compete for placement in the ranking order."
Nanoda had already prepared a simple solution for the scenario of a demon being dissatisfied.
"Then I'll challenge Schlacht right now! Duel me one more time, Schlacht!"
The gazes of the overwhelming majority of humans and demons gathered onto Draht.
"The present setting isn't suitable. Tomorrow, this same place—I'll trouble Lady Nanoda to bear witness."
Schlacht didn't refuse. With so many strong ones assembled here, he'd meant to keep a low profile, only to become the most conspicuous focus of attention because of Draht.
Nanoda realized that, in terms of competitiveness, Draht really was a lot like an obstinate human. If Schlacht was dull and rigid, then Draht was stubborn and rigid—truly a pair of inflexible rivals fated to clash.
"I grant it. With that, this ceremony ends here. From now on, the New Demon Association is incorporated as a part of the Church of the New God, and the Twelve Apostles are officially established! The Church of the New God and Gaderia hereby form an eternal alliance!"
The once-quiet parade ground erupted all at once into a chaotic buzz of discussion. This was an event worthy of being recorded in the annals of history.
And thereafter, in the far distant future, the fearsome renown of the Twelve Apostles became a status every demon yearned for, and that demonic god who stood above them all was passed down through the ages, eternally.
____
👻🔥+40 ch on Pátreon: Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: Zenless Zone Zero: Rewriting Fate in New Eridu — read it on The_Mikudayo
📚 Forty chapters of advanced reading at Walnut-chan, and it goes straight into keeping the translations on schedule
Let's achieve our community goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 extra chapter for everybody