Chapter 46 - Rumors of the New Demon King
"You mean she disappeared?"
Guardian Knight Second Seat Kardis heard unexpected news from the subordinate he had sent to track Athanasia.
Athanasia had committed an act bordering on massacre in a village on the border with the demon realm, and then, along with the reanimated corpses, had headed somewhere and disappeared.
"Why couldn't you confirm where she went?"
Kardis's question was met with a grim expression from his subordinate.
"She must have noticed we were pursuing her, so she sent the corpse soldiers..."
"Hmm."
Kardis sighed.
'So, we were tied up by a delaying tactic and lost her.'
Losing her couldn't be helped, but the problem was that there was no suitable content for his report.
"I apologize deeply."
The subordinate bowed his head.
"I will re-investigate Athanasia's movements."
"No need."
"Yes? But..."
"You haven't forgotten where Athanasia was heading, have you?"
Athanasia headed towards the demon realm.
Even if the demons had lost the war and were currently being mopped up, the demon realm itself wasn't treated the same way.
"The demon realm has not fallen yet."
More precisely, it couldn't be conquered.
To completely wipe out the demon realm, the demons' stronghold, a continental allied army would have to be raised once again.
'But right now...'
There was no central rallying point.
'Without the Hero, a proper alliance would be nothing but a dream.'
The atmosphere between the continent's nations was already grim after the Hero's execution.
Regardless of the Hero's alleged crimes, Kratia, the leader of the Holy State Alliance, had unilaterally spearheaded almost everything, which had a significant impact.
Nations that were already displeased with Kratia's sole dominance were slowly voicing their complaints.
The fact that Kratia tacitly approved Yapheon's sudden targeting of Iser was largely for this reason.
It was a strategy to preemptively gain the upper hand and secure resources in the impending war among humans.
"Currently, when we cannot launch a large-scale subjugation operation, the demon realm is still a dangerous zone where we should not easily set foot."
Moreover, there was clearly a force in the demon realm attempting to regroup the demons.
With Beatrice even picking up the Hero's corpse and plotting schemes, they had to be extremely careful, wary of potential traps.
Kardis turned his head to his subordinate.
"Report to the Imperial Palace that Athanasia simply deserted on her own."
"Yes? But to treat it as a simple desertion, the results haven't been confirmed yet..."
"If the next place you wish to go is a grave, I won't stop you."
If it were confirmed that Athanasia had been defeated by the demons and that information reached Emperor Lutan, he might react even more emotionally.
In that process, there could be punishments for those who failed their mission.
"It's already an unreasonable situation, so we need to gauge the atmosphere first. For now, recover your strength."
"...Yes."
As if understanding, the subordinate bowed his head and returned the way he came.
'What on earth is happening in the demon realm?'
Left alone, Kardis merely sighed inwardly.
♧
In the demon realm, a great commotion was underway.
"They say a new Demon King has ascended."
"An ancient god broke free from its seal and wiped out a human village."
"The new Demon King and the ancient god apparently clashed."
The cause of the commotion was none other than 'rumors about the new Demon King'.
"No, but if he really ascended, why hasn't it been properly announced?"
"Does anyone among us actually know?"
"Barungenia."
At that moment, someone uttered that name.
"Barungenia?"
"What's that?"
"It's the hidden fourth Demon King's Castle."
The one who spoke the name Barungenia and answered thus was none other than Machenko, bard of the demon race.
"The place the previous Demon King prepared as a refuge."
The surrounding demons frowned, watching the old woman, her eyes covered with a blindfold, holding a lute, and smiling to reveal her black teeth.
"Is this old hag still alive?"
"When did she arrive?"
"Isn't she just spouting senile nonsense again?"
The old woman was known as an informant among the demons, but she often spoke such vague nonsense that she wasn't properly trusted.
"Barungenia is also a residence prepared for the new Demon King. And now, a new Demon King truly lives there."
"A new Demon King?"
"Yes."
The old woman chuckled.
"Moreover, the one who became the new Demon King is the Hero who killed the previous Demon King."
And then, the shocking revelation.
The demons gasped and scowled as soon as they heard it.
"What?!"
"The executed Hero was resurrected and returned. But he no longer intends to side with humans. Because he was betrayed."
"What are you saying! Do you want your tongue pulled out?!"
"A dead guy came back to life perfectly fine?!"
"Even if it's true, we can't accept it! How many died by his hand?!"
Excited demons waved their hands, and dropped wine cups crashed everywhere.
Amidst the instant chaos, the old woman did not wipe the smile from her face.
"What if they died? He'll help us kill even more humans."
FLINCH.
At the old woman's words, the demons stopped moving.
"...What?"
"The Hero is a strong individual whom even the previous Demon King couldn't handle. An indispensable being for victory. Such a person has fallen into our hands."
The old woman chuckled, her body shaking.
"This time, only the song of victory will resound, continuously. Continuously, continuously, continuously, continuously, continuously..."
The demons felt a chill watching her.
'If he draws his sword for our side...'
'Slaughtering those humans wouldn't be impossible, would it?'
The demons looked at each other.
Their beast-like eyes strangely rotated.
Could they make an exception for the Hero, for them who only recognized the strong as their leader?
Not really.
It was just the fact that he was human that bothered them.
Even that would change if he helped kill other humans.
CLACK-CLACK.
The demons began to chuckle like the old woman, rolling their eyes as if imagining the subsequent events.
"Hehehehe..."
The old woman also chuckled again.
She simply liked that new stories were increasing.
Having excited the demons with words heard from a gargoyle who had gone on patrol outside Barungenia, the old woman felt deep satisfaction as a bard who had fulfilled her role.
So she laughed.
Along with the other demons.
Without tiring.
"Gah?!"
But her laughter didn't last long.
Someone had grabbed her by the throat.
"!"
Instantly, the surrounding demons recoiled in surprise.
The old woman confirmed the huge arm clutching her neck.
CRUNCH.
With an immense grip that stifled her breathing, the old woman writhed and lifted her head.
A massive-bodied demon with black skin, a huge axe tattoo on his shoulder.
With two red horns on his head, he was truly a demon's demon.
"Ge-Geshkafo."
As the old woman uttered the name, he smiled.
"Yes, of course, you should know my name too."
He said to her.
"I heard you've been spreading this story."
He leaned his face in and asked her.
"How do I meet this new Demon King?"
♧
"Can I leave the position immediately?"
Beatrice, who was meeting privately with Clay, asked with a worried expression.
"Athanasia is still here, so can I really go...?"
"Don't worry too much."
Clay gave a slight smile.
"I've certainly subdued Athanasia. More importantly, your swift movement is more crucial right now."
"Is there such a rush?"
"Probably because the reserve Heavenly Kings will move before us."
The previous Demon King had conveyed that the reserve Heavenly Kings were not merely beings who reserved the position of Heavenly King.
"They will aim for my position."
The strongest one becomes the leader.
For the demon race, that was tantamount to truth.
"If a new Demon King appears, they won't be able to stay still."
It was clear that they would verify, and if they judged they could win, they would immediately try to ascend to the Demon King's position themselves.
"They're just foolish individuals."
Beatrice ran a finger along Clay's jawline.
"Strength is indeed a condition for the Demon King, but one cannot become the Demon King by simply being strong."
"Are you talking about qualifications?"
"Yes."
Beatrice spoke in a leisurely voice.
"Only someone who can accept that position, like you, can become the true Demon King. Do you think the previous Demon King became a near-immortal being simply through strength?"
"I am curious if I can live as long as my heart beats."
"The previous Demon King probably set up trials to tempt those who would become the new Demon King to aim for that throne."
That trials were actually for the new Demon King.
Clay let out a hollow laugh.
"Did he make them gather on their own so that the hierarchy could be sorted out immediately?"
"Well, you could say that. The demon race is weak to desire. The vessels for Heavenly Kings are no different. So if you just tell them to work for the new Demon King, they won't want to."
Therefore, a stage was set so that they had to be 'convened'.
"But if they harbor the desire to become the Demon King, the story changes, doesn't it? They'll come looking for a fight themselves."
"That's one flashy way to convene them."
"Anyway, it is necessary for you to send me as an envoy."
Beatrice shrugged.
"It's important to check if there are any individuals who can be reasoned with."
"Is that so?"
"You also need advisors, don't you? If rational conversation is possible, then perhaps the next step can be taken."
"You are enough as my advisor."
"Oh, how kind of you."
She smiled faintly and said.
"Thank you, but I think I'm more suited to be a secretary than an advisor."
"I see them as similar duties."
"They are similar, but an advisor needs to be someone who can stabilize your position as monarch. I'm used to carrying out tasks alone, but I don't have much talent for leading soldiers, you see."
Clay let out a wry smile, seeing Beatrice, who always exuded a powerful aura, make a troubled expression.
"What is it?"
Beatrice, seeing that, asked with a slight pout.
"It means I'm relatively lacking in talent. Not that I'm completely ignorant."
"I know."
"Hmm."
Beatrice momentarily eyed Clay before speaking again.
"But where are you planning to have Shiltnaro stay?"
"Shiltnaro? I put her in another room for now, but she said she wants to stay with me."
"Because she needs you to be stable?"
"That's the reason, but..."
Beatrice warned Clay, who trailed off.
"Be careful while I'm gone. To Shiltnaro, you are a more extraordinary being than you think. That thought will have grown even stronger after we defeated Athanasia together this time."
"Don't you think that's a bit excessive?"
"Yes, I hope so."
Knock, knock, knock.
It was then.
Someone knocked on the door of the room they were in.
-Your Majesty, the Demon King, are you there?
It was Shiltnaro's voice.