Chapter 21 — A Surprise Encounter and an Interesting Conversation
After Laura and Jon returned, Loona stood up and looked at them, asking, confused:
— What's up?
Laura replied, her voice calm but firm:
— Miss, we've already treated everyone. They're all healed. Every single person is stable now, and their wounds have closed completely.
Loona nodded slowly, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any remaining issues. She then asked:
— And you, Jon?
Jon took a deep breath, straightening his posture as he prepared to give a precise report:
— Miss, I already told you: when we arrived here, there were 400 of us. After eliminated the 80 who didn't pass the test, 320 remained, of which 110 joined the healing group, 90 the support group, and 120 the security group. I have double-checked the numbers, and everything matches.
Loona's expression softened slightly, but she still seemed analytical:
— Got it. Anything else?
She looked at Jon, who seemed hesitant, as if he had something more to say but was unsure how to phrase it. After a short pause, he spoke carefully:
— Miss, if possible, could you take us to the site of Lord Dragon's battle? We need to see the situation in person before starting the construction projects. I want to ensure everything is planned perfectly before we begin.
Loona replied with a nod:
— Alright.
Then, in a swift motion that surprised everyone, she punched Razan on the shoulder, who had been pretending to sleep in a corner to avoid work:
— Get up, lazy! We still have work to do!
Razan groaned, stretching his limbs as he rolled over exaggeratedly:
— Why did you have to wake me to take them? You also have teleportation powers! I could've just gone myself…
Loona muttered under her breath, her tail flicking irritably:
— Stop being lazy! You have to show up at the site, demonstrating your intention to build something there. If you don't, someone from Hell might try to cause trouble once construction starts.
Razan scratched the back of his head, clearly exasperated:
— How annoying… I didn't think working would be this much work.
Jon and Laura exchanged glances, both of them trying not to laugh but failing. The absurdity of the situation was almost comical. Who would have thought that beings who had been trading blows with Adam, shaking the very foundations of heaven and earth, would act this way simply because of a girl? Laura smiled quietly to herself, thinking: Even being so strong, they are still children… I must work to help them in any way I can.
After some time of playful banter and stubbornness, Razan was finally convinced to cooperate willingly. His pride and desire to grow as a worthy man won over his laziness. Of course, it had nothing to do with the fact that a certain girl had threatened that if he didn't comply, he wouldn't be allowed to touch her ears for an entire week—a thought that made him flinch slightly.
Razan sighed dramatically:
— When will I get to be the boss? I'm already being threatened when she has nothing to touch properly… and when she grows up, how will I rebel then?
Loona, clearly irritated by his whining, punched him lightly on the arm:
— Nothing to touch, you idiot!
Razan detached himself from the factory wall and, with a mock salute, said:
— Don't worry, little wolf. I'm confident about your future. You'll grow up strong, and I'll be here cheering you on.
Razan then walked toward Jon's side and asked:
— Well, let's go.
Jon blinked rapidly, trying to process the morning's events. He had been expecting a serious, tactical mission to inspect a ruined battlefield, not a theatrical comedy between a lazy dragon and a spirited wolf-girl. For Jon, it was clear: weak beings would never dare attack stronger ones. The fact that Razan treated Loona's playful attacks as nothing more than a nuisance showed just how much he cared for her.
Jon nodded thoughtfully before speaking:
— Sir, I still need to fetch an assistant. After talking with the team I'm responsible for, I discovered that we have an engineer and a master builder who will be extremely useful for the project. They both have unique skills that can help us manage resources and construction efficiently.
Razan, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, replied:
— Understood. Then you can call them.
After a few minutes, Jon returned with two new figures. The first was a lioness with a sharp, intelligent gaze, and the second was a spider-man with multiple arms, each moving independently as if he were already calculating structural angles in his mind.
Jon introduced them formally:
— Sir, this is Carla, the engineer, and this is Robert, the master builder. Both are highly skilled and can contribute greatly to the project.
Carla bowed slightly, her mane glinting in the faint sunlight:
— I hope we can be of use, sir. I'll do my best.
Robert extended a hand confidently, multiple arms gesturing precisely:
— Likewise, sir. I intend to give my full effort to ensure success.
Razan nodded approvingly:
— Alright, let's go.
He then opened a shimmering portal, stepping through with Jon, Carla, and Robert close behind. The air shifted as they emerged at the site, revealing devastation that stretched as far as the eye could see. The battlefield bore scars of immense battles—craters, broken structures, and scattered debris covering every inch. Razan whistled softly, a mixture of awe and concern in his voice:
— My friend… I didn't think the situation here was this bad.
He looked at Jon and said:
— Well, I'll sit over there while you finish the work. Don't worry about me.
Jon responded firmly:
— Yes, sir. We won't disappoint you.
The team immediately began analyzing the site, discussing measurements, material needs, and construction plans. Razan, meanwhile, sat on the ground, looking at the sky, the faint breeze brushing against his face. He thought quietly to himself: Who would have thought that I, an otaku who just wanted to relax, would end up creating a faction and managing a construction project in Hell…
Closing his eyes, intending to take a brief nap, Razan was interrupted by a soft, polite voice calling out:
— Excuse me, may I talk to you?
Razan, recognizing the voice instantly, replied without opening his eyes:
— Yes, you may speak with me. It would be rude not to respond to our little princess of Hell.
He opened his eyes to see Charlie standing before him, looking a bit younger than in her usual depiction in the Hazbin Hotel series. Her eyes shone with curiosity and determination.
Surprised, Charlie asked:
— How did you recognize me?
Razan smirked slightly:
— Well, in Hell, I don't think there's anyone else who says "excuse me" and "please" without cursing every other sentence… only you would talk like that.
Curious, Razan tilted his head and asked:
— But why did the little princess of Hell come to see me, a lazy dragon who does nothing most of the time?
Charlie's expression grew serious:
— Well, I saw you fight Adam, but it wasn't to gain fame or power, right? I noticed that your companion was saving people while you were fighting. So, I came to ask if redemption is possible.
Razan gestured for her to sit beside him. Charlie gracefully lowered herself to the ground next to him. Razan opened a small portal, reaching through to grab two sodas, tossing one lightly to her. She caught it with a soft gasp of surprise.
— Sorry, princess, but you'll only get soda from me. I don't drink alcohol, not even a little.
Charlie tilted her head, blinking in surprise:
— It's not that… I just… I'm surprised.
Razan grinned:
— Because I'm not an arrogant idiot who thinks he's better than everyone else.
Charlie laughed softly:
— Well, yes. When I heard you were here, I thought you would be… a pompous jerk.
Razan chuckled:
— Sorry to disappoint.
Charlie shook her head, smiling:
— I'm not disappointed.
Razan was about to continue speaking about the sinners they would encounter when Jon arrived, urgency in his voice:
— Sorry to interrupt, sir, but I have something urgent. Because of the fight with Adam, the ground is full of giant craters. If we don't fill them, no construction project can begin safely.
Razan waved casually:
— Ah, it's just that.
With a swift gesture, he used the Wood Style to summon four massive golems. The earth trembled as they appeared, each towering over the others. He looked at Jon, who was visibly shocked:
— Just use them to fill the holes. I've placed a bit of my consciousness in them, so they can follow basic orders automatically.
Jon nodded eagerly:
— Thank you, sir. With these golems, we can level the entire site and lay the foundations efficiently. I'll get started immediately, sir.
Razan smirked, pointing to one of the golems:
— Jon, climb onto the Golem; you won't be able to keep up on foot with how fast it moves.
Jon replied:
— Yes, sir!
Watching Jon disappear with the golems, Razan turned back to Charlie:
— Well, about the redemption of sinners… I have a different view. I want to hear your perspective first.
Charlie's eyes lit up with excitement:
— I think everyone deserves a second chance. That's why I want to found the Hazbin Hotel, where I can help people achieve redemption and escape from suffering.
Razan smiled thoughtfully:
— Well, princess, it seems we're aligned in only one thing: our visions about sinners and redemption are completely different.
Charlie, curious, asked:
— And what's your view?
Razan leaned back slightly, his gaze steady:
— In my perception, redemption only truly happens if someone genuinely regrets their actions. Not everyone is capable of that. For example, a person who steals but never harms anyone can repent and be saved. But someone who kills for fun, tortures, and murders without reason… how could such a being, completely lacking empathy, ever achieve forgiveness? What action could make them forgiven after committing so many atrocities?
Charlie remained silent, listening intently to every word.
Razan smiled gently:
— But you don't need to think or act like me. Even if I consider your attitude naive or foolish, I respect dreamers like you. I wouldn't mind being your friend.
He extended his fist, and Charlie, smiling warmly, bumped hers against his:
— I don't mind being your friend either.
Razan nodded:
— Then, as a friend, my advice is: if you follow this path, keep your feet firmly on the ground. Take everything slowly; don't rush or force things.
Charlie nodded, grateful:
— Well, thanks for the advice, friend.
While Razan continued talking with Charlie, he mentioned that he would introduce Loona to her. Meanwhile, Jon and the others worked with the golems, completing the preparations for the construction site and ensuring that the ground would be stable and ready for the project.