The operation to raid Abnormal was concluded in a swift, decisive strike.
As expected, bringing in Outerica’s finest and most expensive mercenary had been well worth it; from the assault on their headquarters to the death of Duke Gwerang, it had taken less than a few hours in total.
‘Though it’s also thanks to the fact that 「World of the Demonic Heavens」 had a slight time-acceleration adjustment function.’
Even taking that into account, this speed was nothing short of extraordinary.
Because everything had ended in the blink of an eye, there were still quite a few within Abnormal, a massive faction, who had yet to grasp the situation properly.
Members who had only heard that the headquarters was under attack and had not received any updated information.
Subordinate forces who, never imagining that everything was already over, had come trotting out to provide support.
Swallowing them whole was no different from eating rice cakes while lying down.
“What did you say your name was?”
“...Tabur Pokan.”
“Right, Tabur. You understand the situation now, more or less, don’t you? Or do you still need more explanation? Or what, do you still want revenge somehow?”
At the soul-bewitching, alluring voice, the tiger-like, hulking demon’s body trembled.
At first, he had tried to hold out somehow, but...
Now he understood with certainty.
That resisting this absolute being before his eyes was nothing but futile and blasphemous.
He assessed the situation coldly.
After all, was the Demon Realm not a world where the strong ruled?
And yet the King who had punished the wicked Duke Gwerang now stood before him.
Not the Black Darkness, nor the Demon Dragon, but the true King of the Demon Realm.
If this was not destiny, then what was?
Thud—
In the end, unable to suppress the impulse boiling up within him, he dropped to his knees on the spot.
Bowing his head to the one before him with utmost reverence.
“Your words are utterly, utterly undeserved! I, Tabur Pokan of the Taino tribe! From this day forth, I shall offer my loyalty to Lady Hella! Wherever Lady Hella goes, I shall always stand at the vanguard!”
His brave figure thundered as if to display his loyalty.
At that, Hella smiled with satisfaction and nodded.
With this, another count-class high-ranking demon had entered her command.
Considering that, until not long ago, it had taken a considerable amount of time and effort to “persuade” just one of them, this could be called a highly meaningful change for her as well.
‘It must be related to the message that appeared right after I dealt with Gwerang.’
Unless it was a game of make-believe, even in the human world one needed recognition from the international community to call oneself a king. How much more so if one was a Demon King standing at the peak of an entire world called the Demon Realm?
In that sense, the “expansion of influence as Demon King” was no different from a growth event that strengthened all her abilities.
Not only her combat prowess, encompassing body and demonic power, but even her qualities as a monarch, including charm and charisma.
‘At any rate, this is a good start, isn’t it? Let’s keep pushing forward like this.’
Once the active cooperation of key figures who had held important posts in Abnormal was added, the absorption process gained even more momentum.
With her influence having grown even stronger, she controlled variables, while the personnel who had been waiting in advance stepped in to organize the traffic that had fallen into chaos.
And once the situation had progressed that far, even without charm, more and more began to sense possibility on her side.
“It’s already reached this level? To have this much control over an organization. Her skill is incredible.”
“I was just waiting for the right moment to escape from a collapsing castle, but perhaps this...”
“It may become another opportunity.”
In truth, it was not such a bad story for the existing members of Abnormal either, whose loyalty to Duke Gwerang had not been particularly strong.
Many outside forces, including the Dream Walkers, had been added, making the faction’s scale even larger, and had not the new leader also proven her ability by slaughtering a duke-class demon and ascending to that position?
‘Even if I go over to Dark Nest now, I doubt I’ll be treated all that well.’
‘If I can distinguish myself here and become an aide to the new Demon King...!’
‘I always found the Demon Dragon Duke rather uncomfortable anyway. This worked out well.’
Thus, the massive faction “Helheim,” which had absorbed most of the former Abnormal intact, appeared on the forefront.
It instantly overtook the Black Darkness Duke’s Demoniac, which had been affiliated with Abnormal, and seized second place in scale among the Demon Realm’s factions.
A sudden change that altered the balance of power in the Demon Realm, which had been slowly approaching the end of the war.
Naturally, the other factions, which had been closely watching the rapidly changing situation, had no choice but to react sensitively.
Demoniac, bewildered by the sudden change of captain in its allied force, of course.
And even Dark Nest, which had been in high spirits with hegemony right before its eyes.
***
The underground of Dark Nest’s headquarters.
Miyamoto Ken, his expression tense, slowly moved his feet and crossed through the pitch-black darkness.
‘Hoo, so this is...’
Having recently presented the essence of a marquis-class demon, he had successfully settled into the depths of Dark Nest.
To begin with, marquis-class demons were existences of which there were only four even within their faction, the largest in the Demon Realm.
Because such an extraordinarily precious object also carried the historical value of being a legacy from the time of the continental invasion, he had accomplished a feat great enough to earn the duke’s trust in one fell swoop.
‘Well, even that would have been impossible if I weren’t a count-class high-ranking demon. I’ve been indifferent to organizational life and a little on the fringes all this time, but I’m not so low-level that I wouldn’t be treated well anywhere.’
And in the process, he was also able to learn why the “objects of the Demon Realm that had spread across the surface,” the reason he had been dispatched, were needed.
The driving force that had finally allowed Dark Nest to seize an overwhelming advantage in a war that had continued for hundreds of years—.
‘To think those were materials for calling in those monsters.’
Objects created in the Demon Realm but which had accumulated karma outside the Demon Realm over a long period of time.
Those were the mediums used to summon those unknown monsters here.
The essence of the marquis-class demon he had brought was the same.
It would probably be used to summon monsters far stronger and more numerous than those called by ordinary mediums.
And that would have a considerable impact in making the Demon Dragon Duke the final victor of the Demon King race.
‘...I can’t let that happen.’
Ken’s tense expression sank coldly.
A pair of gleaming eyes blazed fiercely in the darkness.
Though he was currently a member of Dark Nest’s upper ranks, his heart had long since turned elsewhere.
‘Helheim, huh...’
A newly risen faction that had recently become a hot topic.
That force, created by an ultra-high-ranking demon named Hella who had appeared out of nowhere, killed Duke Gwerang Shifar, and seized everything he had, was a matter of unprecedented interest even within Dark Nest.
‘If I could follow my heart, I’d leave for that place right away as well, but...’
He still could not.
Because right now, he was doing something that only he could do, something even more important than joining Helheim and lending them a hand.
‘The Demon Dragon Duke is the greatest obstacle to Lady Hella ascending to the throne of Demon King. Besides, we still haven’t fully grasped what else he’s hiding.’
Ken was the scout meant to uncover the hidden cards of that Demon Dragon Duke, and the deadly dagger Hella had secretly thrust inside.
He had no doubt that he, more than anyone else, was the loyal retainer who best understood his lord’s will, and that he was also the subordinate she trusted most.
“...I’m here.”
How long had he been walking while lost in such thoughts?
At last, he was able to pass through the darkness-shrouded passage and arrive at his destination.
“Hoo.”
After taking a light, deep breath, he opened the iron door before him and slowly stepped inside.
What entered his eyes immediately afterward was—
A space filled with all kinds of ritual implements, including bones, skulls, and ornaments, assorted odds and ends, and magic circles drawn in blood.
“Mm.”
At the sinister atmosphere, as if a summoned demon might leap out at any moment, he let out a low groan.
Then, recalling that he himself was that demon, he lightly smacked his lips.
‘They said I just had to deliver the item to the person in charge here. Did they step out for a bit?’
This was one of the places where the ritual needed to open that “gate” was performed.
In a way, it would not be an exaggeration to call it the most important place to the Demon Dragon Duke.
Inwardly delighted that the person in charge had left their post, he slowly looked around.
Hoping that he might be able to obtain some important information.
‘I was able to come in now because I’m on an errand to deliver the offering, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to come this far again.’
The fact that they were using a count-class high-ranking demon as a mere errand boy showed just how thoroughly this place was managed.
The reason he had been able to come this time was probably because his security clearance had risen after procuring a precious item.
Thus, while striving to feign calm as he inspected the ritual chamber, he could not help but flinch the moment he rounded the back of a large pillar.
“...What is that?”
There, some enormous being was bound in a wretched state, barely breathing.
Countless restraints, including bandages and chains engraved with all manner of strange characters, bound its freedom, and stakes, thorns, hoses, and wires were densely embedded all over its body, connected somewhere beyond.
Its appearance, with seemingly not a single intact spot, was enough to make one frown just by looking at it, but the real problem lay elsewhere.
“A large balrog that looks twice the normal size. And with four pairs of horns, could it be...”
The Fighting Demon Duke Karakul.
One of the masters of the great powers that had once divided the Demon Realm into four was imprisoned in this underground place in a horrifying state.
As a living sacrifice for an unidentified ritual.
‘I thought he was already dead, but he was still alive.’
Ken stared blankly at that being.
To think that the Fighting Demon Duke would be in such a state, in a place like this.
‘...Well, when it comes to a duke-class demon, setting all other conditions aside, he’d be top-grade as a sacrifice.’
In any case, this made it certain that the Demon Dragon Duke was plotting something more.
As Ken slowly nodded, his gaze naturally turned elsewhere.
In truth, there had been one thing that had been catching his eye especially since earlier.
A single door visible on the large pillar behind the restrained Fighting Demon Duke.
This ritual chamber was structurally divided into sections, but there were no separately partitioned spaces, so it particularly drew his attention.
‘Why is there only a door there? What’s inside?’
Ken swallowed without realizing it and slowly stepped forward.
It was not simply because of curiosity.
He felt as if something unknown was calling to him.
A sensation that his body instinctively wanted to head there.
Feeling his heartbeat, which for some reason had begun to pound increasingly violently, he stopped in front of the door.
And the moment he carefully grasped the handle—
“Warning. You are not yet authorized to enter.”
An emotionless voice flowed into Ken’s ear.
A voice that reached him after neutralizing his perception.
Startled by it, he hurriedly turned around.
Before he knew it, a woman in a shabby gown, with a tired-looking face and hollow eyes, was staring at him from there.
“Apology. I am sorry if I startled you. Introduction. We have yet to exchange names. I am Sodian. I have already heard about you.”
The woman introduced herself in a peculiar manner and gave him a courteous greeting.
However, her expression did not move even the slightest, as though she were wearing a mask.
‘A woman like a robot.’
But he could not look down on such qualities.
After all, she was the person in charge of this place and its sole researcher, a marquis-class demon.
Moreover, considering that even the location seemed to be her home ground as a magic-type...
“Guidance. Let go of that and come this way.”
Ken obediently released the doorknob and followed after her as she began walking ahead.
It was a little regrettable, but it could not be helped.
Right now, no matter how much he resisted, she was an opponent he could never defeat.
He turned his head slightly and gazed behind him.
A gigantic balrog, thoroughly bound and on the verge of breathing its last, and a single door behind it.
After staring at it silently for a moment, he turned back again and followed after Sodian.
There was no need to move hastily right now.
There was still plenty of time left, and if he waited, an opportunity would come someday.
***
Fwoosh—
Crimson flames flared up.
Flames she had experienced not so long ago.
But their user had completely changed.
“Oh! Impressive, Davidson.”
Hella, admiring it, nodded with satisfaction and patted the back of the grotesque creature she was riding.
Immediately afterward, another streak of crimson fire shot out from his mouth.
It was 「Hellfire」, obtained after he had devoured the entirety of Duke Gwerang’s massive body.
‘This is an unexpected harvest. I never thought I’d be able to gain something like this.’
Gratitude toward Shifar, who was now dead and gone, welled up within her.
He had left her far too much.
No matter how she looked at it, at this point, he was the very embodiment of a giving tree.
“Ahem.”
Just then, the guide beside her let out an uncomfortable cough.
It seemed the stream of fire that had burst from Davidson’s mouth felt threatening to him.
‘Well, in truth, calling it a threat isn’t wrong. It also serves as an armed demonstration.’
Hella lightly shrugged.
The place where she was now was not Helheim’s territory, which had recently been rapidly expanding.
This place was slightly removed from that domain—.
“My lord duke, I have brought the guest.”
It was territory occupied by the Black Darkness Duke’s Demoniac.
And she had come here in person to meet its master.
“Let her in.”
Creak—
The door slowly opened.
Beyond it, she saw the other party sitting quietly in place.
A figure with an extremely suspicious appearance, draped in a long, trailing black robe and wearing a goat skull over their head, slowly turned this way.
Blue ghostfire blazed fiercely within the eye sockets.
“Hehe, how amusing.”
Hella, who had been lying as though sprawled atop Davidson’s broad back, hopped down.
A radiant smile formed on her lips.