Ball of Nothing - Chapter 155
Chapter 155
At long last, everyone gathered in the biggest room Baal had in his castle . Zero's new body was revealed and Lilith squealed in excitement .
"Oh my gosh . . . he's so cute! I want to have him," the succubus queen tugged hard at Baal's arm, almost ripping the limb off .
"He's not for adoption . Also, you should stop talking now . Zero might be able to hear you," he told his overly excited friend .
Some of the occupants in the room shot her hostile glares when they heard that . Hades was holding onto Zero's soul and waited for everyone to settle down before continuing what he was about to do .
Yes, it was the day Zero finally returned and everybody was excited about it . Gaia splurged a little when creating Zero's new body . Merlin and Wiser worked hard after hearing from Mii about Zero's special condition . They created a special kind of fabric that Grem Lee used to design the clothes Zero wanted . The good tailor raised a brow at the unusual design at first but commissioned the order without delay .
As Hades lowered Zero's soul into his new body, Baal wondered what happened to Buddha and Hua Tuo who were both absent from today's important gathering . He didn't have to wonder for long because Zero's soul started fusing with his new body the moment it made contact with the vessel .
There was a powerful pull of energy despite Buddha's sealing charm on Zero's soul . Could the charm have broken? Baal had to stop himself from instinctively throwing himself in the direction of his friend's soul . He could see from the side of his eyes how the other Demon Lords and Sage Gods were doing the same . Isis, Freya and Hades tensed when that happened . Usually, it was hard to have any Great God be at the same place at any one point of time . However, due to how risky today's operation was, three out of six decided to attend the meeting .
It didn't take much longer for Zero's soul to settle in its new vessel . The pull disappeared and Baal waited nervously . Normally, he was known to be the most patient person . Laziness had a huge hand in that . However, Baal found himself bouncing on the balls of his feet while waiting for Zero to open his eyes . he knew that there was no way anything would go wrong with so many powerful figures in the room . However, his heart refused to listen to logic, skipping straight into skyrocketing his blood pressure and taxing his body with the amount of worrying it was doing .
It was pin-drop silent and everyone held their breaths, not wanting to miss the moment Zero opened his eyes . Baal certainly wasn't disappointed when Zero didn't do as what everyone expected him to do . His eyelashes didn't even flutter but everyone knew at once that Zero was back .
The teen's sneeze exploded and Baal thought that anyone within half a mile would be able to hear him . Then, he began to choke on the air . Hua Tuo would have facepalmed if he knew what happened . Coux offered some water that Zero drank gratefully .
"Welcome back," the Demon Lord of Laziness said . Zero tried to speak and drink at the same time which resulted in another round of coughing .
"Thanks," he smiled crookedly and passed the now empty glass back to Coux .
"So, what's been going on since I've been gone?" Zero asked as if he hasn't missed out on all the action .
Baal smiled serenely and it reminded the doctor-in-training about Buddha . However, Zero wasn't fooled by it .
Before the teen could react, Baal had already thrown a punch aiming straight for Zero's middle . The teen coughed at the force and had all the air in him forced out . Coux winced but didn't stop Baal . Everyone knew about Baal and Zero's odd friendship after all .
"What was that for?" the doctor-in-training winced and asked after healing himself with healing magic . Merlina and Wiser exchanged proud looks . The special fabric was working well . As long as Zero didn't take go crazy while taking a shower, everything should go very smoothly . With this new type of fabric, Zero doesn't have to wear thousands of magic suppressing devices to keep it under control . Granted, the fabric was slightly thicker and heavier when compared to ordinary clothes . However, this was a small price to pay . Besides, it's not as if Zero wouldn't notice the difference in cloth thickness .
Zero didn't have much time to argue with Baal because when his eyes followed the direction that Baal pointed to, the teen couldn't breathe .
Truen didn't have much time to react when Zero barrelled straight into him . The two boys fell onto the ground in a heap of tangled limbs . Zero was too happy to care . It had been way too long since he'd last seen Truen . Honestly, he missed his friend and guardian more than he thought was possible . It also surprised Zero that the difference in their heights wasn't as much as he thought it would be . Truen was only taller by a head and the doctor apprentice didn't have doubts that he would soon catch up .
Seeing that Zero was doing well, the busier Demon Lords took their leave . Isis returned with Freya but Hades stayed on . Merlin decided that it wouldn't hurt to stay another day in the abyss with his current student . The two boys needed the time to catch up after being apart for so long, especially Zero . In a way, Truen acted as the doctor trainee's emotional anchor . It had been rough with the wood elf by his side and Merlin felt a small sense of pride swell in his chest like a father proud of their children's first successful errand trip to the supermarket .
"Shh, I'm not going anywhere . Don't cry," Truen tried to tell Zero but the brunet continued to sob, turning the tunic Truen wore wet . Despite maturing physically and mentally, Zero was still very much the crybaby and softie inside .
Coux left to tell Amaraline and the rest about Zero's return . There would be a feast for sure and Coux was determined to be able to cater to Zero's black hole of a stomach .
From the corner of the room forgotten by everyone else, Lucifer observed the young doctor with interest . Ever since Baal recommended Zero as a transfer student at his school, the headmaster had been curious . Morning Star Academy only accepted the finest demons who could contribute to research . What could Zero possibly contribute? No matter how he looked at it, Zero was only a child . he might have grown from a hatchling into a chick but he was far from becoming a young rooster . Hua Tuo's testification that Zero was a genius didn't mean much to the Demon Lord . Medicine and magic were two very different things . If anything, Lucifer was keener to enrol Wiser into the Academy . The strategist and inventor had designed many things unheard of . Such talent couldn't possibly be compared to the overly pampered boy called Zero .
Still, Lucifer continued to observe . It was rare for one of his best students to push a recommendation for someone else . Baal was famous for not involving himself with anything troublesome . Maybe it was Lucifer who was wrong .
Zero didn't question the new presence in the room even though that person's gaze has been bothering him since earlier . He just wanted to spend time catching up with his friends . It was very rare for everyone to be together after all . Although nobody mentioned it, Zero could smell food from some corner of the castle . There was definitely going to be a feast of some sort and Zero looked forward to it . Perhaps the person staring holes into the back of his head was an important figure in Hell . Zero would have to be nice to him so that he can be invited to partake in the feast . With that thought in mind, the apprentice turned around to smile at Lucifer politely as a sign of respect .
Baal took that opportunity to formally introduce his teacher and friend .
"Zero, this is my teacher Lucifer . Lucifer, this is Zero whom I spoke about . "
Zero took the chance to scrutinise the odd demon . Lucifer was an ageing demon who had grey streaks in his hair . If not for the two curly horns on his head, Zero would have mistaken him for some elderly on Earth . Upon closer examination, Zero found those coal black eyes to be most odd .
"Yes?"
Zero frowned . He didn't know how to ask it without sounding rude so he decided to be honest . "Mister, are you blind?"
Baal stiffened and Lilith stopped chatting with Truen . Nobody moved an inch when Lucifer didn't answer immediately . Zero wanted to reverse time and smack himself for thinking that asking something in such a blunt manner was a good idea . It clearly wasn't . Lucifer would be angry at him for being so insensitive but it was much too late to regret . The doctor's apprentice mentally readied himself for a tongue-lashing but it didn't come .
Lucifer threw his head backwards and laughed . It was no secret that he'd lost his sense of sight . Everyone in the abyss knew that . For Zero to be ignorant about it, Lucifer had nothing to say about that . However, what tickled him was the way Zero looked at him with such sincerity and concern . Even if he lost both his arms and legs, Lucifer wouldn't need the concern of anyone . He was the most powerful demon in Hell, such a handicap was nothing .
Zero was confused when Lucifer started laughing . Was the demon also touched in the head?
"Boy, I may be blind but I'm no handicap . "
Zero nodded, unsure of how to react to it . "I'm sure you don't have problems walking without banging into anything but wouldn't it be nice to see again?"
Lucifer didn't think that Zero understood how the abyss worked . He was better off without his eyes . Who in the right frame of mind wanted to look at all the filthiness and ugliness that existed in the abyss? It was a corrupted place, forsaken by everything else . Without the Demon Lords holding it together, the plane would collapse and fall into the void .
"I've lived for a long time, there is nothing more I wish to see . "
Zero didn't quite believe that . However, he didn't pry . After inheriting Gugu's memories, he learnt not to meddle too much into other people's business . Often times, nothing good came out from it . Still, he couldn't help but feel that it was a shame . Not wanting to see such a beautiful world? Zero couldn't imagine it .
"Aren't you curious about how I look like?" he asked, trying to reel Lucifer into agreeing .
The Demon Lord of Pride raised a brow elegantly . Did this runt seriously think he wouldn't see through his intention? Healing the eyes of a Demon Lord with his superior powers, Zero could ask for anything in the world . As terrible as demons were, they were creatures of contract . Lucifer wasn't a fool, he wasn't going to fall for that .
"I bet you're only saying it because you haven't seen how awesome my new body looks like . "
Zero pouted when Lucifer didn't bite . Baal was sweating nervously behind . What was his stupid friend trying to accomplish by provoking the greatest demon alive?
Instead of taking offence, Lucifer threw his head back to laugh . "And what makes you think that I'm interested to see what you look like?"
Zero thought hard and bit on his bottom lip . It was really hard to get this unsolicited patient to agree to treatment . Demon Lords sure can be stubborn . Zero remembered how difficult it was for him to have Baal agree to have let him cure his sinus issues . Without renewed determination, Zero countered .
"I bet you've never seen a person as ordinary as me before . "
That declaration left everyone in the dust . What was Zero talking about? Ordinary? Him?
Lucifer didn't bother to control himself after that statement . Baal watched in sick fascination at how his teacher drooled and snorted after failing to control the laughter tearing him apart from inside . Zero didn't sound like he had any ulterior motive other than wanting to cure his eyes and that in itself screamed stupid or kind . In Zero's case, maybe a little of both .
"Very well," he conceded . "Let's do it . You can cure my eyes . However, if I'm not impressed by how ordinary you look, you will have to attend my school for a week . "
The Demon Lord knew that Baal had lost to Zero in a bet and was unable to find a way to get the teen to attend school . Taking pity on his ex-student who now had to become a guest lecturer for his elite classes for a week, the headmaster decided to use this to his advantage .
Zero blinked . He didn't know what school was exactly but according to Baal, it was the worst place in the abyss to be at . Zero didn't want to go there but in order to appease his stubborn patient, the brunet agreed to do a face reveal .
"Deal," he told Lucifer and immediately a magic scroll materialised . Zero signed it after reading the contract thrice and Lucifer did the same . The scroll disintegrated and Zero wondered what he'd gotten himself in .
"You can begin treatment tomorrow . I'll be looking forward to how ordinary you will look like in my castle," Lucifer smirked and turned into a cloud of bats before making his dramatic exit .
Baal sighed . It certainly didn't take long for Zero to look for trouble . He gave Truen a clap on the back as the wood elf worked himself into another frenzy .