< The Demon King's Coming (3) >
The Abnormal Raid Operation was concluded quickly.
It was worth calling in the best mercenaries from Outerica, which were expensive, as it only took a few hours from the start of the attack on the base to the death of Duke Gorang.
‘It’s also thanks to the fact that “The World of the Heavenly King” had a bit of a time-speed adjustment function.’
Even taking that into account, this speed was a breakthrough in itself.
As everything ended so quickly, there were still many people within the giant Abnormal faction who did not fully grasp the situation.
The members who only heard that their base was under attack and were not provided with the latest information.
The troops under his command were dispatched in a hurry to provide support, not thinking that everything would be over already.
The task of swallowing them whole was as easy as eating a piece of cake.
“What did you say your name was?”
“···This is Tabur Pokan.”
“Yes, Tabur. Do you understand the situation now? Or do you still need more explanation? Or, what, do you still want to get revenge somehow?”
A giant tiger-like demon swayed at the sound of a soul-stirring, captivating voice.
At first, I tried to hold on somehow, but…
Now he understood for sure.
That resisting this absolute being before our eyes is nothing but a futile and blasphemous act.
He assessed the situation coolly.
After all, isn’t the Demon World a world where the strong rule?
But now the king who had just punished the wicked Duke of Gorang was before him.
The true king of the demon world, not the Dark Lord or the Demon Dragon.
If this isn’t fate, then what is?
thud-
Finally, unable to control his boiling urges, he knelt down on the spot.
Bowing your head with utmost respect to the person in front of you.
“What a preposterous and unjust statement! I, Tabur Pokan of the Taino tribe! From now on, I will be loyal to Hela! I will always stand at the forefront of Hela’s path!”
A courageous figure shouting out loud as if showing off loyalty.
Hela smiled happily and nodded.
With this, another high-ranking demon of the count level came under his command.
Considering that until recently it had taken a considerable amount of time and effort to ‘convince’ someone, this was a significant change for her.
‘I guess it has something to do with the message that came to mind right after I defeated the monster.’
Unless it’s a children’s game, even in the human world, someone who calls himself a king needs recognition from the international community, so how much more so if he’s the Demon King at the top of a world called the Demon World?
In that sense, ‘Expanding her influence as the Demon King’ was no different from a growth event for her where all of her abilities were strengthened.
It includes not only the fighting ability that encompasses both physical and magical powers, but also the abilities as a monarch, including charm and charisma.
‘Anyway, this is a good start. Let’s keep going like this.’
With the active cooperation of those in key positions within Abnormal, the absorption process gained even more momentum.
While controlling the variables with a much stronger influence, people who had been waiting in advance stepped forward to organize the congested traffic.
And as things progressed, the number of people who felt potential in this area, even if they were not necessarily attracted to it, began to increase one by one.
“It’s already this much? This much control over the organization? You’re really skilled.”
“I was just waiting to see when I could escape from the collapsing castle, but what could this be…”
“Maybe there will be another chance.”
In fact, it wasn’t a bad story even for the existing members of Abnormal, who didn’t have much loyalty to Duke Gorang.
The faction grew in size with the addition of many external forces, including the Dream Walker, and didn’t the new leader prove his abilities by taking the position by slaying a duke-level demon?
‘Even if I go to the Dark Nest now, the treatment won’t be that good.’
‘If I can achieve great things here and become a new Demon King’s confidant…!’
‘The Dragon Duke was really annoying, but it turned out well.’
In this way, a huge faction, ‘Helheim’, which absorbed most of the existing Abnormal, appeared at the forefront.
By overtaking the Demoniac of the Dark Duke who was in league with Abnormal, he took second place in the size of the Demon World faction.
A sudden change that alters the landscape of the Demon World, which was slowly approaching the end of the war.
Naturally, other factions that were on edge in the rapidly changing situation had no choice but to react sensitively.
Demoniac was shocked when the captain of the alliance force changed in an instant.
Even Dark Nest, which was very proud of its hegemony that was right in front of its nose.
***
The Dark Nest’s home base, underground.
Ken Miyamoto, with a nervous expression, walked slowly through the pitch-black darkness.
‘Whew, this is it···.’
Having recently presented the essence of a Marquis-level demon, he was able to successfully settle into the depths of the Dark Nest.
To begin with, there are only four Marquis-level demons in their faction, which boasts the largest scale in the Demon World.
The historical value of being a legacy from the time of the continental invasion was added to the precious item, so it was enough to gain the Duke’s trust.
‘Well, that wouldn’t have been possible if I wasn’t a high-ranking demon, like a count. I’ve been indifferent to the organization’s life and have been a bit of a loner, but it’s not like I’m at a level where I wouldn’t be treated well wherever I go.’
And in the process, he was able to learn the reason why he was sent, the ‘things from the demon world that spread across the earth’, were needed.
The driving force that finally allowed the Dark Nest to gain an overwhelming upper hand in a war that had lasted for hundreds of years—.
‘I never thought that was the material to summon those monsters.’
Items that were created in the Demon World but have accumulated karma for a long time outside the Demon World.
That was the medium that brought those unknown monsters here.
The same was true of the Marquis-level demon essence he brought.
It is probably much stronger than other common mediums and is used to summon many monsters.
And that will have a significant impact on making Duke Marryong the ultimate winner of the Demon King Race.
‘···We can’t leave it like that.’
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Ken’s expression, which had been extremely tense, became cold.
A pair of eyes burned fiercely in the darkness.
Although he was now a member of the Dark Nest’s elite, his mind had long since been turned elsewhere.
‘It’s Helheim···.’
A new faction that has recently become a hot topic of conversation.
The sudden appearance of a high-ranking demon named Hela, who murdered the evil Duke Sippar and took everything from him, was a matter of unprecedented interest even in the Dark Nest.
‘I would like to leave for that place right now, but···.’
It couldn’t be done yet.
Now he was doing something more important than joining Helheim and lending a hand, something only he could do.
‘Duke Marryong is the biggest obstacle to Lady Hela ascending to the throne of the Demon King. And we still haven’t figured out what else he’s hiding.’
Ken was the vanguard who discovered the hidden number of the Dragon Duke and the deadly knife secretly stabbed by Hela.
He had no doubt that he was the most loyal subject who understood his master’s will best, and that he was also his master’s most trusted subordinate.
“···They all came.”
How long had it been since I walked away, lost in thought like that?
He was finally able to reach his destination through the dark passage.
“Phew.”
He took a deep breath, opened the iron door in front of him, and slowly stepped inside.
What caught his eye right then was.
It was a space filled with all sorts of ritual implements, including bones, skulls, ornaments, and miscellaneous items, as well as magic circles drawn with blood.
“Hmm.”
He let out a soft sigh in the ominous atmosphere that made it seem like a summoned demon might burst out at any moment.
Then he remembered that he was the devil and lightly licked his lips.
‘I was told to deliver the items to the person in charge here. Where did he go for a moment?’
This was one of the places where the ritual needed to open that ‘door’ was performed.
In some ways, it would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the most important space for Duke Marryong.
He slowly looked around, secretly delighted that the person in charge was away.
Hoping that I might be able to get some important information.
‘I was able to come in now because I was on an errand to deliver the offering, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back here again.’
From the fact that they even use high-ranking demons like counts as errand boys, you can see how thoroughly this place is managed.
The reason he was able to come this time was probably because his security level was raised by bringing back valuable items.
He was trying so hard to look calm and look around the ceremony hall, but the moment he turned behind the large pillar, he couldn’t help but flinch.
“···That?”
There, a gigantic being was restrained, barely able to breathe, in a miserable state.
There were countless restraints, including bandages and chains with all sorts of strange characters written on them, that restricted his freedom, and stakes, thorns, hoses, and wires were stuck all over his body and connected him to somewhere.
It was a sight that made one frown as if nothing was right, but the real problem was something else.
“A large balrog that looks twice its normal size. And with four pairs of horns, I can’t believe it…”
Duke of Touma Karakul.
One of the masters of a great force that once divided the Demon World into four parts was imprisoned here underground in a horrifying state.
As a sacrifice to an unknown consciousness.
‘I thought you were already dead, but you’re still alive.’
Ken stared blankly at the being.
I never would have thought that Duke Touma would end up like this in a place like this.
‘···Well, if you’re a peacock-level demon, then regardless of the conditions, you’re the best sacrifice.’
In any case, it seemed certain that Duke Marryong was up to something more.
Ken, who had been nodding his head slowly, naturally turned his gaze elsewhere.
Actually, there was one thing that particularly caught my eye from earlier.
A single door visible on a large pillar behind the restrained Duke of Touma.
This ceremony hall was particularly nerve-racking because, although it was structurally divided into sections, there were no separate spaces.
‘Why is there a door only there? What’s inside?’
Ken swallowed without realizing it and slowly moved forward.
It wasn’t just out of curiosity.
It felt like something unknown was calling him.
The feeling that the body instinctively wants to go there.
He stopped in front of the door, feeling his heartbeat starting to beat more and more violently for some reason.
And the moment I carefully grabbed that handle—.
“Warning. You are not yet cleared to enter.”
An emotionless voice flowed into Ken’s ear.
A voice was heard, disabling his senses.
He was startled by it and quickly turned around.
Suddenly, a woman with a tired expression and wearing a shabby gown was looking at him with dull eyes.
“Apologies. I’m sorry if I startled you. Introduction. I haven’t given you my full name yet. I’m Sodian. I’ve already heard about you.”
A woman who introduces herself with a strange tone of voice and greets you politely.
But his expression was as if he was wearing a mask, without even the slightest movement.
‘She’s like a robot.’
But I couldn’t look at those scenes as something funny.
Because she was a Marquis-level demon who was in charge of this place and its sole researcher.
Especially considering that the location is her home ground, which seems to be related to magic…
“Guide. Let’s stop that and come this way.”
Ken obediently let go of the doorknob and followed her as she started walking ahead.
It’s a little disappointing, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
Now, no matter how much you resist, it is an opponent you can never win against.
He turned his head slightly and looked behind him.
A giant Balrog, completely restrained and on the verge of suffocation, and a door behind it.
He stared at it blankly for a moment, then turned around and followed Sodian.
There was no need to move in a hurry now.
There was still plenty of time left, and if we waited, the opportunity would come someday.
***
Hwaruk—
A bright red flame rose.
The fire we experienced just a short while ago.
But the user had completely changed.
“Oh! That’s great? Davidson.”
Hela, impressed by this, nodded in satisfaction and tapped the back of the monster she was riding.
Immediately afterwards, a stream of bright red flame shot out from his mouth again.
It was the “Hellfire” obtained after eating the entire giant body of the Gorang Duke.
‘This is an unexpected harvest. I never thought I would get something like this.’
Now, I was filled with gratitude towards Sippar, who was no longer alive.
Because he left so much behind for himself.
No matter how you look at it, it was a tree that gave generously.
“Ahem.”
At that moment, an uncomfortable cough came out of the mouth of the person guiding me.
It seems that the stream of fire coming from Davidson’s mouth felt threatening.
‘Well, actually, it’s not wrong to say it’s a threat. It’s also a demonstration of force.’
Hela shrugged slightly.
The place she was now was not the area of Helheim that had been growing rapidly recently.
This place is a little bit away from that area—.
“Your Majesty, I have brought a guest.”
It was the territory occupied by the Demoniacs of the Dark Duke.
She had now come there in person to meet the owner.
“Bring it inside.”
Squeak—
The door opened slowly.
Beyond that, I noticed the other person sitting quietly in his seat.
A figure of extremely suspicious appearance, wearing flowing black robes and a goat skull on his head, slowly turned towards me.
With blue flowers blooming from those eye sockets.
“Haha, this is fun.”
Hela, who had been lying down on Davidson’s wide back, jumped down.
A bright smile appeared on her lips.
