A land of unending violence and war, the Demon Realm.
Yet, apart from that notorious reputation, the Demon Realm was also a world where intelligent beings formed civilizations and lived.
Despite the war lasting for hundreds of years, not every region could be a battlefield all year round; most areas maintained their own societal structures and rules.
“What’s up, you bastard? I’ll kill you!”
“Bring it on! This time, I’ll end it!”
“Oooh! Are we fighting? Hey, the stage is set!”
“Kelrok! Show them what you’ve got! Show the pride of the Marang Tribe!”
Although society may seem twisted from another intelligent being’s perspective, it was also a part of their culture.
In fact, considering the demon tribe’s tendencies in the Demon Realm, filled with negative energy, their violent nature wasn’t too surprising.
“Isn’t it lively? It must be due to Dark Nest gaining momentum and the expectation that the long-standing wars will soon end. Ah! Of course, this is also thanks to House Coatl.”
The demon with a Doberman head, guiding Hela, remarked while looking at the commotion happening on the side of the street.
His response seemed like a customary comment on the ordinary scene.
‘Can I just brush that off as lively?’
There were crowds surrounding the area and two demons engaged in a fierce battle at the center.
Although neither looked particularly strong, the brutality of their fight was impossible to ignore.
“Die!”
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
“What are you doing, Kelrok! Tear them apart and kill them!”
Both sides were doing their utmost to destroy each other’s flesh.
Attacks given and received with the intent to genuinely kill, blood and flesh flying, and crowds cheering at the sight.
‘Is regeneration also a common ability for demon tribes? They really fight brutally.’
Is this what cultural differences look like?
Seeing such a fight happen openly in the middle of the street truly made one feel that they were in the infamous Demon Realm.
Moreover, it seemed like they could survive just fine without eating as long as they had their magical energy supplied — essentially biological weapons born to fight.
“We have arrived. This way, please.”
As Hela moved while taking in the rumored reality of the Demon Realm, she soon reached a massive mansion at the center of the castle.
To see if what was said beforehand was true, someone was already waiting at the mansion’s main entrance.
“Cough—! Welcome. I am Dalun, the lord of this land.”
The lord, who held the highest position in this castle, personally welcomed her.
It was a remarkably courteous reception.
‘They’re bowing this much just because of the mention of House Coatl… This seems to indicate a fully subservient relationship.’
Hela, with a haughty demeanor, concealed her expression and quickly assessed the situation.
It seemed these demons also hurried to attach themselves to ‘Dark Nest’ right after the balance of the battlefield collapsed.
As she followed the lord who came to welcome her into the mansion, the demon with a boar’s head, Dalun, sniffled roughly, slightly frowned, and lowered his voice.
“Cough! However, I didn’t expect you from Coatl to come here suddenly without notice… Especially not someone I’ve never seen before. I assume the previous area manager has something urgent come up? Seeing you here in their stead.”
Truly, the lord did not disappoint, presenting himself with dignity while not appearing overly submissive.
Unlike his subordinates, who were merely caught up in the situation, he quickly grasped the suspicious parts and subtly probed.
‘Impressive. Well, it makes sense considering Dalun is a noble-level demon.’
It was only natural for him to respond like that, as they hastily prepared to welcome someone unexpected when a member of the imminent power entered the territory.
Even though he was a baron, which is the lowest rank among titles, achieving such a status in this meritocratic Demon Realm was proof of his qualifications.
‘Well, it doesn’t really matter much to me.’
Anyway, the most efficient and certain response method existed in this situation.
“Hmm, are you picking at me about why I’m here?”
“Um? No, that…”
It was to overpower them through sheer strength.
This was the land of the Demon Realm, where violence and coercion thrived.
A subtle intimidation aura began to seep from Hela’s body.
“…!”
Before the lord Dalun could even speak, his surroundings were suddenly dominated by powerful remnants of that frightening force.
The undeniable magical power almost dismissed all doubts and distrust as unspeakable for a mere baron.
gulp—
The lord struggled to swallow.
His entire body grew stiff, and the color of his face gradually began to pale.
Though covered in boar fur, making it hard to tell on the surface.
“Ah, I see. Just sitting quietly makes your stomach uneasy, right? Trying to obey the words of a girl who seems like she could easily knock you down if she wanted, huh?”
“Ah, no… That’s not what…”
The desperate twisting of the topic and the obvious display of strength.
His face twisted in displeasure, arms crossed tightly, and his hair slightly tilted as strands flowed down added to the picture of an excellent overbearing boss.
“Then what? Are you saying I shouldn’t be here? Hmm? Is that what you mean?”
“…No. I’m sorry. It was a slip of the tongue.”
In the end, Dalun had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.
He hadn’t actually done anything wrong, but it was unavoidable.
In the Demon Realm, lacking strength and expressing one’s opinions was practically a capital offense.
‘At least a count, maybe even higher. Where on earth did such a monster come from? Is she really from Coatl? Unless they pulled back key forces from the battlefield now that the situation has calmed down…’
His mind raced with all sorts of thoughts.
From how to calm the rage of that mysterious strongwoman beside him to his concerns about the worst-case scenario when she acted according to her whims.
‘The worst case would be if she were aligned with another faction. The outcome is long decided. If she were to forcibly support a different faction now, Dark Nest would retaliate…’
That would only change the timing of his death; he could see no future.
In a tight spot, unable to act one way or another.
‘For now, let’s pretend to cooperate. After that, I can contact Dark Nest behind the scenes to explain the situation, and perhaps I could earn some credit.’
Dalun was racking his brain, trying to find a way out.
Contrary to his appearance, where it seemed he would blindly follow power, he was the type of demon who preferred cunning strategies.
A crisis could become an opportunity, and if handled well—.
“Pfft.”
But at that moment.
A low chuckle flowed from the side.
There was no need to mention where that sound originated.
“Why so stiff? It’s just a joke, a joke.”
“Ah, ahaha… I see. This is quite surprising.”
“Hmm, it was amusing, wasn’t it?”
What a terribly unfunny joke.
But he didn’t have the guts to say it outright.
After all, there was no way that warning was just a casual jest.
“…This is our castle’s reception room. Let’s discuss the details inside a bit more…”
“Well, this will do. It’s quiet, so we won’t be disturbed. Great.”
“Huh?”
As he struggled to keep a neutral expression, yet another incomprehensible statement came out.
No, that wasn’t all.
Saah—
“What…!”
The atmosphere shifted dramatically.
He hurriedly turned his head to look at the suspicious guest beside him, only to freeze in place.
But it was in no way his will.
‘Cough, her eyes…?’
Somehow, the opponent’s pupils had changed.
What once were merely beautiful ordinary eyes now glowed with a rubies-like brilliance in black sclera.
And it was as if he couldn’t take his eyes off those pair of eyes, which seemed to ensnare him.
“Relax. It’s all right. After all, it’s useless to resist, so let’s go comfortably. We’ve still got a long way to go.”
Now that he noticed, the opponent’s horns had also changed shape, but there was no longer time to confirm that detail.
His mind was already sucked into an abyss, unable to escape from the compelling crimson gaze.
“Good boy, Dalun. For starters, could you call the heads of this castle one by one? I’m not accustomed to working on several at once yet.”
“…Yes. As you command.”
As Dalun, enchanted by the Eye of Domination, responded courteously, Hela smiled contentedly, patting his sturdy shoulder.
Who would have thought she’d have the opportunity to have a private meeting with a castle lord so easily?
Since collecting even one high-ranking demon would normally take considerable constraints and time, having an environment where she could operate without external interference was undoubtedly delightful.
‘Even if they can’t come with their subordinates, it’s fine. They can be supplied as needed right here.’
Local procurement, factory direct.
This was the homeland of the demon tribe, where there was an abundance of candidates who could serve under the Demon King.
‘As the demons in the Realm grow stronger, their defenses will likely increase as well, but I will too, so it doesn’t matter. The more I use it, the more my proficiency will increase.’
Moreover, what she used, the Eye of Domination, wasn’t solely about forcibly manipulating the mind.
It was an authority and part of the power that the Demon King holds over their armed forces.
In other words, this series of submission acts were all parts of a ceremony conducted through legitimate procedures.
‘First, let’s determine the exact location of this castle… Then, I should contact the others. I left instructions for each of them, but I wonder if they’ve been following them well. I have a lot to do.’
If there were problems in the Demon Realm, they were most likely deeply tied to the current turmoil belonging to ‘Dark Nest.’
Tracking their actions would be the shortcut to approaching the source.
“Lord? Why am I—”
“Come here at once. You know, they’re important visitors, so mind your manners.”
Then, they heard Dalun’s and the Doberman’s voices from outside the reception room.
It appeared he also held a significant position, likely in charge of security.
Hela smiled brightly as she looked at those entering through the slowly opening door.
Simultaneously, the pair of ruby-like crimson eyes ignited.
‘The more tasks I have to complete, the more having a faction is essential.’
That was a fact she had learned through numerous experiences.
Having to struggle alone in this unfamiliar foreign land had its limits.
‘First, let’s completely swallow this castle.’
And then—.
And so, an unexpected new Demon King faction silently and swiftly began to take root in a corner of the Demon Realm.
*
In the rear area of the Demon Realm occupied by Dark Nest.
“What’s up, Ken? Why are you back already?”
“Hmm? Ah, Lucy Coatl.”
“‘Ah’ my ass. Start explaining properly! Why are you back so soon? Do you have any idea how much it costs to cross the dimensional walls of the Demon Realm? You were able to complete your mission, right?”
With a loudly ringing woman’s voice, Miyamoto Ken furrowed his brows.
No matter that she was the one in charge of this area, starting with nagging right off the bat was just off-putting.
She really was someone he could never grow fond of.
Tsk, if only she had the slightest charm of Hela, suitors would be lining up.
But that was unlikely.
There’s no telling who would dare to compare themselves to a literal divine being.
Though there weren’t really any deities worthy of the title in Auterica, Ken was convinced that his new master was the most deserving.
“Are you listening to me? I sent you out because you were so eager to go, but if you come back without any accomplishments, those above won’t just sit idly by…”
“Don’t worry. I had some decent results.”
“…Huh? Really?”
Ken rolled his eyes at Lucy Coatl, whose eyes widened in surprise as he pulled out an item from his arms.
A black gem-like object resembling a polyhedron with star-shaped spikes protruding out.
“This is the essence of a marquis-level demon who perished during the 14th Demon King’s invasion.”
“…Cough, seriously?!”
The task assigned to those sent to the continent, including Ken, was simple.
To retrieve as many Demon Realm items scattered on the surface as possible, no matter what that item was.
Though they said “anything,” there were always expected standards depending on the quality.
“Wow, I didn’t expect that something like this would still be left on the continent. How on earth did you manage that? Did you raid a dragon’s lair or something?”
“Phew! It wasn’t easy.”
“Hm, a trade secret? Whatever, it doesn’t matter. This level of accomplishment is definitely something to boast about.”
The minimum requirement to challenge for the title of Duke was being a Marquis.
There were only four such individuals in the Demon Realm, and they were the leaders of each faction, essentially governing the divided territories.
Marquis-level demons were the strongest forces who could be found on any battlefield.
‘And if it’s the essence of a demon that perished during the last continental invasion…’
The amount of debts tied to it would not be easily fathomable.
Ken was sure of one thing.
If no one else had retrieved the remains of the 14th Demon King or the essence of the Marquis-level succubus queen, no one could have returned with spoils exceeding his from this mission.
‘…Indeed, I must fulfill the expectations placed upon me by being entrusted with this.’
Ken’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Lucy, who was admiring the essence.
Honestly, he wanted to rush out of there and find his master, but he had to hold back for now to fulfill the directives given by her.
After all, hadn’t she personally bestowed such a precious item upon him?
“Lucy Coatl, this should be enough to prove my merit, right?”
“Hmm, yeah. I can’t deny it. With this level of achievement, you could make a hundred trips to the continent without anyone complaining.”
“Then why are you just standing there? Hurry and guide me!”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Ken straightened up, tucking the demon’s essence back into his arms, saying it confidently.
“I need to see Duke Marong. I’ll present this magic stone to him myself.”
Flames of fanaticism ignited in his eyes.
Lucy tilted her head, surprised at his level of devotion, but she accepted it when realized that his request was entirely reasonable given his accomplishments.
‘Everything is for Hela.’
Of course, if she knew where his devotion was aimed, she wouldn’t have easily accepted it.
‘Even if it means burning this body down one day…’
A zealot resolved to plunge into the heart of the heretical faction.
