My ultimate goal

"Is it delicious?" 

"Un, it's delicious." 

"Haha... then, eat more." 

Riser ate the apple pie baked by the ancestor of the Bael House, Zekram Bael. Frankly, he felt weird since it felt like Zekram was kinder and gentler at him instead of Sairaorg. It was as if Zekram was his ancestor instead of Sairaorg's. 

Then, what about his ancestors?

Frankly, Riser wasn't sure, but his ancestor should still be living well, retiring, leaving the rest to the descendants of the Phenex House. 

Nevertheless, the two of them talked about many things, from agriculture, architecture, the scenery of the city, and many others. They had never talked about their purpose to meet each other and just talked to each other like a kind elder met his grandson. 

Still, Zekram had to say that he was surprised by Riser's knowledge, especially on various strange things such as agriculture, architecture, clothes, and many other things. After all, when he thought about Riser's image in his previous battle with Tannin, it was hard to imagine that Riser was such a cultured young man who learned much expertise. 

Yet, this also made it harder for him to deduce what kind of a devil Riser Phenex was. 

Riser was much more complex than Sirzech, who was simple, and Ajuka, who was just focused on his research. 

Zekram felt that Riser's thought was much deeper, making him confused yet intrigued by this young man. 

"You know what? You are like your ancestor?" Zekram suddenly said. 

"I am like my ancestor? What do you mean?" 

"If I may be blunt, you are kind of weird. In our time, your ancestors wished to return to heaven even though we all live well in the Underworld. You give me the same vibe." Zekram told the truth, but then he saw his expression was relatively calm. "How about you give me some reaction?" 

"Many have said that I was an evil, bad, or even scumbag, but it was my first time to be called weird." 

"........" Zekram. 

"Leaving my similarity with my ancestor aside, can you tell me why I am weird?" 

"Hmm... how to say, you are just different from the common sense." 

"Common sense?" 

"The view of the devil, we see generally. Before we met each other, I tried to analyze your personality. When a devil seeks power, naturally, they have a purpose. It's like the descendants of the Old Satans who wish to restart the Great War like Kokabiel, who had attacked you, or it is like the current Four Great Satans, who seek peace, or it is like the champion of the Rating Game, Diehauser Bellial, who wishes to make his parents and everyone in his territory live well.

"However, it is hard for me to see a purpose in your action. Sometimes, you spend your day training. Sometimes, you spend your time with your women. Sometimes, you spend your time learning random knowledge. 

"While it might be rude, I think that you just don't have a purpose in life and just blindly search for something, yet your fight with Kokabiel, the White Dragon Emperor, Azazel, Sirzech, and Tannin made me change your opinion about you.

"It seems that you have something that you want to achieve, a purpose in life that even I can't see it." 

As he said those words, Zekram tried to gauge Riser's feelings through a facial expression, gesture, or anything, but as expected, he couldn't see anything. The young man in front of him was like a bottomless abyss. Unless he jumped into the abyss and sought the monster hidden inside that abyss, he would be unable to tell what kind of person Riser was. 

Nevertheless, facing such an individual, Zekram didn't feel scared. Instead, he was at ease since what he knew as an individual Riser Phenex wasn't bad.

While some might see him as extreme, Zekram didn't think so, as this was the supernatural world. 

The one with the biggest fist was the winner. 

Moreover, Zekram also knew that Riser was the one who sought after him, and he also gave him a chance. The kindness he gave to Riser, especially when he had supported him by sending Roygun Belphegor and Bedeze Abaddon to hype his match with Tannin. 

When many tried to bring him down, Zekram helped to raise Riser's status, and his bet was correct as Riser showed him the power that could match those of the Maous. 

Nevertheless, while it was hard to see what kind of an individual Riser was, Zekram could tell that Riser's conduct was simple. 

Riser believed in kindness, and when someone treated him with kindness, he would do the same. 

Yet, when someone screws him, Riser screws them back twice... no, a hundredfold back! 

The proof?

When his match with Tannin ended, Zekram was sure that if Ajuka didn't stop Riser back then, Tannin would die. 

For this type of individual, the best thing to do was to treat him sincerely. 

This was what Zekram did, and he treated him politely and kindly, yet also friendly, like they weren't strangers and weren't divided by status.  As expected, Riser also gave him respect and gave him a pleasant conversation. 

Facing Riser was as simple as that, yet many made it complicated, using trickery or whatever, messing up with him, causing a demise or destruction for themselves, for which Zekram could only say sorry and empathy as their end definitely wasn't good after being targeted by Riser. 

After all, even if the Phenex appeared like how a devil normally did, showing their handsome or beautiful face, which caused many to forget that they were a fierce beast that could shred their bodies with their sharp talons.

Yet, among that fierce beast, Riser was, without a doubt, the fiercest. 

Zekram believed that Riser was even more powerful than his ancestor. 

"Do you want to dominate the Underworld? The world? Become the Maou? Having a harem with all the women in the Underworld? Or the life of your enemies?

Tell me your wish. Let me know." 

With such mighty might, what did Riser seek?

What made him seek power so much that Riser didn't fear the face of death?

What did Riser seek when he pushed himself so hard?

Zekram wanted to know all of that. 

He knew that he might seem like a pervert as he seemed like a boy who wanted to know everything about the girl he loved, yet, as he had lived so long, his entertainment was limited. 

Sex?

How many times has he done it?

Fighting?

How long had he been fighting?

Fame?

What was the use of it when he had already stood above all the devils as the King?

If he didn't have a purpose in life to maintain the traditional Devil aristocracy, such as Devil blood purity and the continuation of the Devil noble society, then he might die of boredom. 

Still, as expected, every half millennium, something interesting had always happened. 

Now, the time is coming. 

Riser, the young man in front of him, is one of the most important characters in this story. 

As for whether he would become a protagonist or an antagonist, it would depend on Riser's answer, but—

"For me, it's not really about winning or losing. I just want to survive. I want to have a happy life. I want a peaceful life. Seeking peace of mind is my ultimate goal." 

Riser answered calmly as he sipped his warm tea. 

Only Zekram fell in silence. 

"...what?"