Chapter 14 - Ah, Laziness...

Lucifer stood, his fiery gaze fixed on Belphegor, while the vast room around them trembled with tension. The air was thick with the intensity of the confrontation, but Belphegor seemed utterly unaffected. He was sprawled over an improvised throne made of broken bones, his bare feet nearly touching the fiery floor, his eyes half-closed, as if the entire hell was merely a mild inconvenience to him. His posture exuded laziness, as if the war between the sins was something he simply couldn't be bothered to engage with.

Lucifer, moving closer with a fierce look, finally broke the silence.

You're still here, Belphegor? Always so... apathetic. You know, this attitude of yours is starting to annoy me. I can't allow you to stay here, doing nothing, while the world is about to be consumed by war. What are you going to do about it?

Belphegor was staring at a screen showing the circle of laziness, while eating the small intestine of a body lying on top of him. He casually tilted his head, glancing at Lucifer with a bored expression, as if the answer was obvious, but he made a slight effort to respond.

Ah, man... laziness, you know? Don't care. I think I'll just hang out here, relax. War, the throne, all that stuff... it's too... busy, I don't really like it, you know? I think I'll just... skip that part.

Lucifer frowned, frustrated by the response. He stepped forward, coming even closer, his face now a mask of anger and impatience.

This is not a choice, Belphegor. You have a role to play here! Don't tell me you're going to keep acting like you're always... resting?

Belphegor, without even moving, waved his hand disinterestedly, as if swatting away a fly that was bothering him.

I'm not going, Lucifer. Oh, fuck off! What do you want from me, huh? Run where? Like... if I go there, I'll have to do a bunch of stuff, and... ah, it's even making me lazy to talk to you, I'm fine here. Hell is big, there's plenty of places to chill, and this is one of the best.

Lucifer bit his lip, trying to control the anger that was starting to bubble up inside him. But Belphegor, oblivious to all of it, let out a dramatic yawn, in no hurry to even sit up properly. He looked utterly at ease in his apathy, his face radiating an almost irritating serenity.

You're really not going to help me, are you? You don't want to fight, you don't want to dominate, you just want to stay here like a... like a... lazy?

I'm not. Belphegor said, shrugging and turning his attention back to the screen and then to the corpse's larynx on top of him, a feast that seemed as interesting as anything else in hell. I don't know, Lucifer. I... I'm... doing my thing, you know? If you need someone to do all the stuff, maybe you'll have to find someone else. But I'm already on the inactivity grind here. There's nothing wrong with just... existing.

Lucifer fell silent for a moment, his eyes full of a fire that seemed like it would consume everything around him. He knew Belphegor wasn't an easy one to persuade, but the demon's indifference was starting to irritate him in a way he couldn't control. He moved closer, now so close to Belphegor that his shadow covered half of the throne where Belphegor was lying.

You're going to challenge me until the end, aren't you? You're going to keep relaxing while everything around us begins to crumble?

Belphegor stretched, cracking his shoulders lazily, and turned his head, looking at Lucifer with a disinterested smile.

Ah, it won't crumble. It'll just be a... nothing moment. This guy is just a human, those three up there messed up by opening space for that guy to talk, that's why the three of them died. If I don't do anything, I won't die either... And I'll stay here, relaxing. No mistake. I'm good, bro. Relax. You're the one with this whole thing about wanting to do everything, not me.

Lucifer didn't know whether to be angrier at the response or at Belphegor's attitude, but he knew trying to convince the lazy demon would be like trying to force a stone to roll uphill. With a heavy sigh, he finally backed off, not without throwing a disdainful glance at Belphegor.

One day, you'll regret this attitude, Belphegor. When hell is ruled by those who have the power to act, you... you'll be just another shadow in the darkness.

Belphegor didn't move, just shook his head lightly, a low laugh escaping his lips.

Ah, fuck off, seriously, if I ever wake up, I'll tell you. Now, get lost. I think I'll take a nap.

And so, Lucifer, without another word, walked away, leaving Belphegor in his lazy indifference, as if nothing else mattered more than the sleep he was finally about to have.