Demon Realm War (1)
Hmm, so it has come to this.
Hela nodded slowly at the report from her subordinate.
I had expected it, but now that it’s a reality, it’s a shame.
She had even prepared a grand welcoming ceremony just in case.
With a bit of loss, she licked her lips and looked at Siana beside her.
Since it has come to this, the Dragon Trap operation is cancelled. We need to move to the next plan, I guess.
It’s a pity. If done well, we could have wrapped things up easily.
Well, they aren’t that stupid either, I suppose.
Hela’s gaze turned toward the strategic map that filled the wide table.
The Demon Realm’s battle map, with various types of pieces placed all over.
Among them, she noticed two particularly large pieces standing side by side, narrowing her eyes.
Duke of Dragons Crushair…
In fact, someone of his level could easily use space movement to bypass the gate.
Of course, that would mean giving up on large-scale troop operations, but that superior mobility could be applied in many other ways.
For example, quickly gathering the remnants of the Dark Nest, who had not completely fallen under Helheim’s grasp…
Hmm, should I have subtly hinted at Ken’s location to him? …No, that’s too big of a variable. What a pity, what a pity.
Had everything gone as planned, she could have seized his leash in one go.
Sighing at the thought of the prey that slipped through her carefully prepared trap, she twirled her long hair with her fingers and spoke.
Is there any other contact?
Yes, it seems they’re particularly cautious since they’ve suffered recently. The coordination between the two factions was hard to hide in the first place, so it wasn’t too complicated, but details about discussion matters are another story.
True, up to this point, we’ve been exceptionally lucky.
That just shows how much everyone trusts you, Hela. You truly are the Demon King of the Demon Realm.
Hela chuckled at Siana’s unabashed flattery and bright smile.
It was only natural, as the supremacy of the Demon Realm was finally coming into sight.
Who would have thought the Dream Walker, which had been a mere flickering light before Hela’s appearance, would become the greatest contributor in selecting the Demon King?
Since she had been subtly feeling the burden of being the successor to the faction, this success was all the more gratifying.
Of course, not all problems are solved yet.
Leaning back in her chair, Hela quietly observed the pieces on the strategic map.
The Duke of Dragons, who had been hit repeatedly from behind, and the Duke of Darkness, who realized he had been thoroughly used.
Not long ago, the two had been at each other’s throats but were now dramatically joining forces against her. To become the true king of the Demon Realm, it was first essential to crush them thoroughly.
Thump— Thump—
She felt the raging beat of her heart and closed her eyes gently.
It won’t be long now.
As time passed, she began to feel her body gradually connecting with this world— the Demon Realm.
Amidst the energy of countless beings who breathed and lived within, following and aspiring to her.
This was the true authority of a Demon King.
The real power of a Demon King destined to be the strongest in the Demon Realm.
The Demon God watches over you.
And so time passed.
At last, a massive assault from the allied forces of the Duke of Dragons and the Duke of Darkness began against the newly expanded Helheim front.
*
In a dimly lit office shrouded in darkness.
Duke of Darkness Pieta lit up a pair of blue eyes as he sank into thought.
Things are getting complicated.
All the plans he had previously set were long gone.
In this urgent situation, all he could do was adapt on the fly.
Though he usually enjoyed schemes and intrigues over sheer force, in a situation like this, those methods could only pale.
In the end, strength is supreme in the Demon Realm.
After all, the underworld was a means facilitated by the information gathered over hundreds of years of interactions.
Efforts to find gaps in those formidable competitors naturally taught him survival skills.
In contrast, Hela, who appeared out of nowhere, and her organization Helheim, were a bundle of variables in themselves.
What could they do? What could they not do? What were the limits of their members? Who set the plans? What were the leadership’s values and the organization’s tendencies?
Unknown.
He had made numerous efforts to plant informants in Helheim to solve this mystery, but the results were far from satisfactory.
No matter how strong-willed one was, getting close to Hela meant becoming a zealot who confessed all their ulterior motives.
In the end, if it turned into an information war, there was no way he could win.
Just like how he had been hit from behind not long ago.
Given the circumstances, the incident that provoked Crushair must be behind Hela.
However, the Duke of Dragons, who had identified Hela as the culprit, immediately mobilized his entire army for a massive counterattack.
How great is that secret, or are they still half-heartedly considering it?
Even now, despite having met to clear misunderstandings and work together, he had yet to hear the exact cause—but there must be a reason to designate him as the mastermind.
The incident occurred just after those two had a direct confrontation. In that case…
In a Helheim lacking Hela, it meant the Duke of Dragons was capable enough to scheme something that would force Pieta into action himself.
In the worst-case scenario— there might even be a hidden Duke-level powerhouse allied with her.
If that were true, the competition would almost be over.
…This is troublesome. I need to prepare an escape route.
While he desired the Demon King’s throne, it was not more important than his life.
Perhaps due to the centuries-long war, they had become so heated that two Dukes could die.
He had no intention of being the third victim.
*
The temporarily quiet war resumed once more.
It was not a targeted strike like Hela had executed, but an all-out war spreading across most of the borderlands.
As if trying to take advantage of the instability within Helheim.
Though Helheim had been frantic about absorbing the existing demons from the Dark Nest that had entered their territory, they could no longer focus solely on internal affairs in light of the formidable enemies who had come together.
With a significantly expanded territory and a stronger enemy, not to mention the still-unstable internal turmoil…
The only reason Helheim managed to hold its ground was not only because of Hela but also thanks to many talents who had firmly supported her from below.
And one of those talents, the greatest patron, for instance, the Dream Walker, received a piece of good news shortly after the war resumed.
Congratulations, Grand Matriarch!
As expected from you, Grand Matriarch. How long we’ve waited for this day…
Congratulations! You’ve finally succeeded!
While Hela was stirring up the main base of the Dark Nest, the Dream Walker’s Grand Matriarch, Liliana, had finally ascended to a new Duchy.
The faces of those gathered were filled with excitement at the monumental news that could cement the current situation.
Hehe, it’s all thanks to everyone’s endurance until now. …More than anything, it would have been impossible without Hela’s grace.
Looking down at her palm, she smiled bitterly.
Though her skill level was still low and far from other Duke-level demons, she realized best how much she had fallen short from her earlier self, given her current status.
If she hadn’t received the “Essence of the Succubus Queen” bestowed by Hela, it would have been impossible for someone like her with little talent to rise to a Duke in the first place.
Being able to become a Marquis, albeit belatedly, was purely thanks to the bloodline of the Demon King and the Queen. Without that…
Even when her sister LeRay had become the Demon King, she had barely managed to reach the level of Baron.
Even in an environment where she could receive nearly unlimited support for her growth.
In fact, in the Demon Realm, just being a Baron was enough to be considered a High-ranking Demon, but compared to her sister who became a Demon King, it felt drastically insufficient.
Tight—
Pink magic overflowed from her tightly clenched fist.
The pure magic she could only feel in her mother’s presence was flooding her from within.
How can I ever repay this grace?
She felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount received.
Indeed, in order to repay this grace even just a little, the best course of action would be to assist that one in ascending to the true throne of the Demon King as quickly as possible.
So, now, shall we begin lightly?
Thus, the Dream Walker Duke Liliana made her appearance on the battlefield.
And.
Long live Duke Liliana!
[For Helheim!]
Waaaaah—!
Not long after she appeared, one battlefield was neatly resolved.
*
[Duke Liliana, that little brat?]
Crushair’s fearsome face grew even more frightening at his subordinate’s report.
As if trouble was piling on.
The unrest among his underlings was already considerable, and now, a Duke-level powerhouse had been added to the enemy’s ranks?
The best would be for that little brat to take a stand against the mongrel…
Briefly considering a hopeful scenario, he realized the odds were low.
After all, the two could not be merely described as a simple lord-subject relationship.
Moreover, betraying Hela in the current situation and taking a path of independence was a decision that could only be made with a brain completely soaked in black magic.
Damn it, what kind of ridiculous situation is this…
There really was no chance left.
Not long ago, he had been sure he would become the Demon King.
How had it come to this?
Again? It’s happening again? I, Crushair, again?
After thousands of years of wishing and longing, the future had finally come within reach.
He thought he could finally grasp it this time.
He believed he could laugh at the fate that had obstructed him at every turn!
His three pairs of eyes burned with fury.
From between sharp teeth, through flaring nostrils, and amid tightly coiled scales, dark flames began to seep out.
Seizing the moment as his steadfast composure broke, an energy lurking within the shrine cautiously pricked at him.
Barely perceptible.
Grrrrrrr—!
By now it was clear.
Once again, the Demon God was standing in his way!
Attempting to prevent a dragon from sitting on the throne of the Demon King!
Having teamed up with the nameless god to avoid the Demon God’s interference…
Now that those who had invaded the shrine had destroyed a multi-century plan, all he had left was a boiling hatred.
Could it be that those who invaded the shrine… no, that little brat was, until recently, one of the Dukes. Surely now she must have crossed the threshold.
Though his temperament was twisted and impatient, he was certainly no fool.
Ever since he pointed Pieta as the culprit and initiated the attack, he had meticulously verified whether any previously known Dukes were involved, confirming their innocence.
The only one he could not be certain of was Pieta, who had reached a similar level and wielded strange magic.
Though priorities had shifted due to the sudden crisis of the main base being targeted, he still remained suspicious of Pieta.
That gloomy skeleton, who loved to scheme, might be attempting to deceive him once again.
That was why he pretended to have resolved misunderstandings and did not let his guard down against Pieta any more than against an attack on Helheim.
The tenacious gaze of the Demon Realm’s greatest black magician was upon him.
…Hah! Hahaha! I knew it!
In the end, he had captured suspicious circumstances.
[Pieta, how dare you—! Are you trying to mock me?!]
A strange contact that occurred amid the ongoing war.
And the unnatural movements that followed only further confirmed his suspicions.
Hmph… so the two of you have been in cahoots from the start, trying to make a fool out of me. You looked down on me!
The assault on the shrine during the ensuing battle, and the war born from that retaliation, as well as the occupation of the main base of the Dark Nest and Pieta’s proposal for peace, all pointed to a meticulously constructed scenario.
One designed to thoroughly deceive him and tighten the noose around his neck.
…So be it, if you’re coming at me like this, then I have no choice.
There would be no more retreats.
If he were to lose this competition again, it would signify the end of his long life.
If he understood what they were plotting in the shrine, then he would never let him live.
[Pieta. Come see me for a moment.]
—What is it, Duke of Dragons? I’m busy right now, you know. As you know, things have gone awry due to that little brat as well.
[Same here. This is crucial, so lend me some of your time. I’ve come up with a surefire way to catch that mongrel.]
—Hmm?
That was it.
Now the Demon King, the conquest of the continent— none of that mattered.
What filled his being was solely seething, burning rage.
Ugh, could it be? What kind of madness is this, Duke of Dragons?!
[Hehehe! Hahaha! Madness? No, this is the answer! I should have done this long ago!]
To sacrifice all my followers as offerings…! Do you really think you can become the Demon King after doing such a thing?!
[Doesn’t matter to me.]
So, he decided.
To smash everything.
The demons still following the Duke of Dragons had vanished.
Based on that, the Duke of Darkness, who had been fortified, also fell into the palm of the Duke of Dragons.
And then…
The Abyssal Gate opened in the Demon Realm.
