Episode 197
Choi Hyun-seok doubted his ears.
The Demon King’s army is deliberately opening the way.
“What does that mean?” “It’s literally true. For some reason, the Demon King’s army is avoiding combat and just keeps retreating.”
Following Sullivan, Park Hyun-ah took the floor.
“If you think about it, it was strange from the beginning. No matter how much the Gatren guys moved, it didn’t make sense for the front line to be pushed back that quickly.”
It was a war that lasted for 500 years.
Even though it was a war that was intentionally continued by a secret agreement, it was a story that lasted about 100 years.
For the past 400 years, humans and demons fought fiercely.
How could the Demon Clan, which had been like that, suddenly collapse so meaninglessly?
It didn’t make sense.
“The length of the front line that has been pushed back so far is almost a thousand kilometers. At this point, it is no exaggeration to say that we have practically only marched without fighting.”
It has been only two months since the declaration of the temple.
In the meantime, the army of the temple not only recovered all the lands that had been taken by the Demon King’s army, but also pushed forward to the center of the Demon’s territory.
The length alone is a whopping one thousand kilometers.
Considering that the majority of the troops moved on foot, this means that they were moving nonstop, every single day.
“So. In the end, it means that the Demon King’s army is intentionally retreating.” “I understand, but what does the Demon King’s army gain by doing so?”
I understand the situation.
But what does the Demon King’s army gain by repeatedly retreating?
The territory has already been invaded and countless demons have died.
Choi Hyun-seok couldn’t figure out what the retreat was for.
“There is only one hypothesis that comes to mind right away.”
Sullivan said, standing next to the map.
“A plan to surround and destroy.”
Currently, the army of the temple had dug into the territory of the Demon King’s army in a U shape.
“It could be a trap to lure the Temple troops deep into the area and destroy them all at once.”
If done well, it is possible to surround an enemy who has come in from the inside.
“But this won’t be the case.”
Although it seemed plausible enough, Sullivan dismissed his own hypothesis.
“Why?”
“The other units are too quiet. There is no movement of troops or key officers at all.”
Sullivan frowned.
“We need to move now to surround it, but everyone is pretending not to see the threat from the Demon King’s Castle and is only protecting their own territories…”
In the end, it is not a plan to trap and surround them.
“Anyway, this is the conclusion, right?”
At that moment, Park Hyun-ah, who was listening to the story, intervened.
“There’s absolutely nothing we can do.”
She said with a cynical expression.
Although his tone was sharp, everyone nodded because it wasn’t exactly wrong.
The original purpose of the Ultimoon Festival was to assist the Demon King’s army.
Although their power is said to be as strong as that of a single nation, the army of the Holy War is the United Nations of humanity.
If the Demon King’s army has no will to fight, there is nothing they can do among themselves.
“Does anyone have any good ideas?”
Park Hyun-ah asked.
“Hmm, maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but my head has become stiff…”
Chief Carebe Cowell scratched his head and avoided eye contact.
“Since I don’t know the Demon King’s army’s purpose, I can’t even plan a strategy…”
Even Sullivan, whom I trusted, shook his head as if there was no way.
While listening to the story, Choi Hyun-seok suddenly thought of Raidrun.
‘I wish I could have contacted Raidrun at a time like this…’
Unfortunately, the communication port Raidrun gave us was destroyed during the battle.
At that time, there was no inventory, so we couldn’t even worry about communication ports in the midst of fierce battles.
‘I want to go and ask them in person, but I don’t even know where they are right now…’
Choi Hyun-seok, who was thinking hard, suddenly snapped his fingers.
“If we just knew the Demon King’s army’s objective, wouldn’t a solution be available!?”
“yes.”
“Then let me ask you directly.”
Everyone’s attention was focused on Choi Hyun-seok’s words.
Let me ask you directly.
Who on earth would you ask about the Demon King’s army’s plans?
Park Hyun-ah asked a question on behalf of the representative.
“You want to ask about the Demon King’s plans? Who?”
Choi Hyun-seok said with an expression that said he was asking an obvious question.
“Who are you? It’s the Demon King.”
***
My eyelids are heavy.
An unbearable storm has come.
Demon King Tegrad closed his eyes and let himself go with the flow.
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“Your Majesty.”
The 4th Corps Commander Onyx summoned the Demon King.
“onyx…”
The Demon King shook his head and sat up from where he had been leaning against the back of the chair.
“I’m sorry. What were you talking about?” “I was talking about the betrayal of the 1st Corps Commander Doritugs and the 5th Corps Commander Ozges.” “I guess that’s what happened…”
Tegrad didn’t show any particular reaction.
That was expected.
To some extent, it is because he was not without his instigation.
‘Doritugs has always been an ambitious man.’
Although he never showed his intentions, Tegrad knew.
The fact that the 1st Corps Commander Doritugs secretly covets the position of the next Demon King.
‘I’m sorry, but this won’t go as planned. Doritoogs.’
Tegrad, who had been raising the corners of his mouth, suddenly grabbed his head.
I started getting a headache for no apparent reason.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh, it’s okay.”
Tegrad waved his hand once and continued.
“How unexpected. Even if it’s Dorritugs, he betrayed Ozges as well.”
Ozges’ loyalty was higher than anyone else’s.
In addition, he was a rare and honorable demon in this era.
“Perhaps he had no choice but to follow it for the sake of the future of the Demon Race.” “I think so too.”
It must mean that Ozges looked so pathetic that he had no choice but to betray.
Tegrad was rather pleased.
If Dorritugs and Ozges had been at odds now, the survival of the Demon Race would have been even more precarious.
“Your Majesty. You seem to be in a good mood.”
“Do you see it?”
Tegrad chuckled.
“Maybe I’ve gone crazy because it’s time to die.” “Is it hard for you to even maintain your body now?”
Tegrad’s body broke and then recovered repeatedly.
The movements were so subtle that they would be hard to notice unless you looked closely, but they couldn’t fool the eyes of a corps commander.
“Yeah. I think it’s time now.”
“…”
“Onyx. What do you plan to do?”
Onyx was silent.
It seemed like he needed time to think before answering.
“… Don’t you know?”
After not saying anything for a while, he finally opened his mouth.
“The loyalty of the demon race is directed towards the strong.”
Onyx turned around just like that.
“It was fun, Tegrad.” “Me too, it was fun, Onyx.”
Onyx left the Demon King’s Castle.
Tegrad sat on his throne and looked out into the empty hall.
“…”
The Demon King’s castle was infinitely quiet.
All the demons have already been sent out.
In this castle, which is as large as a city, only the Demon King Tegrad remains.
“Umm…”
Tegrad stood up from his seat.
At the same time, his body began to rapidly deteriorate.
The horns on the head wither away, the muscles disappear, and the skin shrivels.
Tegrad, his wrinkled old face, walked down the dark hall.
‘The end is near.’
***
Park Hyun-ah kept mumbling something with her head down.
“f*ck… Is this right? Is this right? No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t seem right…”
He looks a bit anxious and angry.
Park Hyun-ah continued to mutter to herself like that.
“The guy who came up with this plan or the guy who accepted it as right…”
Choi Hyun-seok, who was listening from the side, shook his head.
“Sister. If you’re scared, just leave. I’ll go and come back by myself.”
At that moment, Park Hyun-ah turned around and got angry.
“f*ck, f*ck! Who would be scared!?”
“It’s my older sister.”
“This kid! Did he get shot in the head!? Where did I look to get scared!”
Park Hyun-ah opened her eyes wide and shouted.
‘No matter how I looked at it, I was still really scared.’
He’s been like that ever since he decided to go to the Demon King’s Castle.
Is the Demon King that scary?
Choi Hyun-seok clicked his tongue.
“Huh? Look at this kid? What’s with that tongue motion? I’m hopeless. Does it have some kind of impure meaning? Isn’t this a signal to pull me out right now?”
“No way.”
Choi Hyun-seok laughed slyly.
For him, who had been treated this way so many times by Rachel, acting like this was a piece of cake.
“ha…”
Park Hyun-ah sighed deeply and continued speaking.
“Okay. Let’s be honest and frank.”
“Please speak.”
“I’m going to ask the Demon King about the Demon King’s army’s plan. Do you think that’s right?” “If not the Demon King, who else would you ask?” “f*ck! That’s not what I said!”
Choi Hyun-seok held out his hand as if telling her to calm down.
“Sister. Think about it. Aren’t we helping the Demon King’s army, even if it’s only temporarily?”
“Keep going.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend! Since we have a common enemy in the Holy Empire of Gatren, wouldn’t the Demon King be cooperative if he had a brain?”
At first glance, Choi Hyun-seok’s words seem reasonable.
However, there was a big flaw in his logic.
“Did the Demon King’s army you encountered look like a group with a head?”
The Demon King’s army has no heads.
No, to be exact, there is no brain.
Choi Hyun-seok had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.
“Those little brats’ heads are just stands for eyes, noses, and mouths. They’re decorations!” “Hmm, but isn’t the Demon King a little smart? I’ve met him in person…” “Yeah. The Demon King is quite smart. The problem is the ones below him. When we crawl into the Demon King’s castle, will the ones below him say “welcome~” and guide him to the Demon King?”
Suddenly, Park Hyun-ah grabbed Choi Hyun-seok’s wrist.
“Before you can see the face of the Demon King, you will be surrounded and beaten. I bet your right wrist on him.” “Why are you betting mine!?”
“Then shall I bet mine? It’s your plan!”
At this point, Choi Hyun-seok also began to feel anxious.
‘It’s been so long since I left the Demon King’s Army that I had forgotten.’
How madness and instinct run rampant there.
I had forgotten that we were a group where reason and intelligence were nowhere to be found.
“Umm…”
As Choi Hyun-seok’s expression hardened, Park Hyun-ah smiled faintly.
“Why? Are you starting to get nervous too?” “What can I do? It’s already been done. Let’s go.”
Choi Hyun-seok shrugged his shoulders as if he had no other choice.
Park Hyun-ah wiped her face with her hand.
“Ha, you punk.” “So if you’re scared, it’s okay if you leave… .”
“I said I wasn’t scared!”
Choi Hyun-seok and Park Hyun-ah kept meowing until they arrived at the Demon King’s Castle.
***
“Ah… I finally arrived…”
Park Hyun-ah stared blankly at the huge castle in the distance.
A castle as large as the black castle where Choi Hyun-seok previously resided.
The sky happened to be overcast at the time, creating an eerie atmosphere that made it seem like the Demon King was really living there.
“Hmm, but sis.”
Choi Hyun-seok opened his mouth while staring at the Demon King’s Castle.
“Why? Are you starting to feel like you’re screwed now?” “No, that’s not it. I’m just curious about something.”
“What is it?”
“Is the Demon King that strong?”
Park Hyun-ah looked back at Choi Hyun-seok with a bewildered expression.
You’re asking that now.
I wondered if there was such a person.
“Is that even a question? Of course I’m strong.” “But if you and I join forces, wouldn’t we be able to escape if the time comes?” “No way. Are you confident that you can escape from Snout?”
Choi Hyun-seok was lost in thought for a moment.
Can you escape from Hemis?
He nodded after finishing his thoughts.
“I don’t think that will work.”
No matter how strong Choi Hyun-seok becomes, Hemis is on a different level.
Even if you run away, you should be prepared to lose at least one limb.
“The Demon King is more than just a snout. Once you meet him, he won’t come out nicely.”
Choi Hyun-seok suddenly knelt on the floor.
Park Hyun-ah looked at the sight with her eyebrows furrowed.
“What are you doing?”
“Shall we pray for a moment and then go?”
“Idiot.”
Park Hyun-ah grabbed Choi Hyun-seok by the collar and lifted him up.
“Wait a minute! I’ll go even if I don’t do this!” “Why is the kid who said he’d go sticking to the floor like this!?” “Wait a minute! Just pray once…!”
The historic moment when two warriors arrive at the Demon King’s Castle.
Reality wasn’t as wonderful as the fairy tale.
