Episode 432. No Negotiation with Terrorists (2)

A life of several decades is not that long a time for an incubus.

Albedo had lived for over 200 years.

Considering an incubus’s average lifespan is 1000 years, a 30-year-old succubus was no different from a young child.

When Albedo first coincidentally met Liliana Calliope on the street, the first emotion he felt was cuteness.

He had seen many succubi and lain with them.

However, Liliana Calliope was the best among them.

A fresh feeling, like she had just become an adult.

He, who was the Demon King’s successor, grabbed Liliana’s shoulders and abruptly spoke to her.

‘Hey. Succubus. Do you know who I am? I am Karman Albedo, the Demon King’s successor.’

Albedo, who had approached so confidently…

‘What is this trash saying?’

For the first time in his 200-year life as a demon, he was beaten up until he was just short of death.

In the Underworld, the existence of a Demon King is unique.

The condition for being Demon King is being the strongest demon.

Therefore, it is a unique existence.

Just that. No other conditions are necessary.

Things like family or legitimacy offer no help in the face of strength.

The basic nature of demons is greed.

Naturally, the Demon King’s children are not just one or two.

Beautiful women are offered from nobles or influential figures located throughout the Underworld.

It’s not just women.

Sometimes, the Demon King even enjoyed homosexuality.

Among the numerous children, only four, born with immense talent, could be recognized as the Demon King’s successor.

Lucifer of Ruin.

Centaur of Aura.

Incubus of Nightmare.

And… the Succubus of Massacre.

Naturally, there is only one Succubus of Massacre in the Underworld.

This means she is the only one among countless succubi.

But of all people, the cute succubus walking down the street turned out to be my half-sibling.

At that time, I hadn’t even been recognized as the Demon King’s successor yet, so I didn’t even know her face. From my perspective, getting beaten up like that was completely unfair.

It was just one mistake.

Flirting with her.

I thought I must have been forgiven after being thoroughly beaten like that, but Liliana Calliope’s torment did not end.

She absorbed almost all the forces I had built and pushed me to the brink of giving up the succession competition.

That’s not all.

She beat Chiron, known as the Centaur of Aura, into a half-dead state, forcing him into seclusion, and grew strong enough to compete with Lucifer, whose succession was considered certain.

It was an amazing achievement for a succubus who had only lived for 30 years.

Thinking back now, I guess I didn’t suffer such humiliation just because of that flirtation.

However, the fear remaining in Albedo’s heart was real.

I harbored the thought of getting revenge someday, but.

She disappeared overnight.

As if she had never existed from the beginning.

And the Demon King declared he would choose a successor and went into a period of rest.

Lucifer’s faction rejoiced as if they had already won, but Albedo did not let his guard down.

That woman’s scariness was real.

There was no way that bitch would give up overnight.

Albedo spent his days trembling with anxiety, and one day, like Chiron, a magic circle appeared before his eyes, summoning him to Earth.

And, he returns to reality again.

In front of Albedo stood a human presumed to be an incubus (?).

Beside him, Liliana Calliope stood blankly.

I couldn’t figure out what their relationship was.

“I have a lot I want to ask you, but let’s ask this first. Why did you come to Earth?”

“…I don’t know either. When I opened my eyes, I was here.”

“In the Underworld, what were you doing? Were you perhaps living in seclusion like Chiron?”

“Chiron…? How do you know Chiron?”

“Just answer my question. What were you doing in the Underworld?”

“……I was fighting the succession war as the Demon King’s successor.”

Of course, the succession war was just a formality.

In the Underworld, they already considered Lucifer the next Demon King.

Because records about Liliana Calliope had almost disappeared.

“So weak, and yet you’re becoming the Demon King’s successor?”

“I’m not weak! The reason I’ve become weak is because Earth’s mana doesn’t suit me.”

“You’ve been rude since earlier. You’re a prisoner right now. A prisoner.”

“….”

Albedo immediately shut his mouth.

I know well how painful it is when this man kicks my ribs.

“Is he always that pathetic incubus?”

“Yeah. Still, he seems to be the real successor indeed.”

His fighting skills were pathetic, so I was worried, but fortunately, he was the real deal.

Since Liliana, a succubus, also said she had weakened compared to her original state in the Underworld, perhaps those races that use vital energy might have weakened too.

Suddenly, the brainwashing phrase came to Lee Hoyeon’s mind.

“Ah, right. I forgot to mention this. You, repeat after me. Two Arma Maestro.”

“…Two Arma Maestro.”

Lee Hoyeon examined Albedo’s condition.

His breathing and mana were perfectly normal.

Even after scanning his body with the rune barrier, there was nothing unusual.

That means he wasn’t brainwashed.

“So you weren’t weakened by brainwashing; it was really because you don’t match Earth.”

“I don’t match Earth either. I was stronger than this originally, I tell you.”

“Were you as strong as in Chiron’s memories?”

“Not quite that strong… but still, I was the strongest in the neighborhood.”

Beside him, Liliana struck a cool pose, raising her arm.

Of course, there wasn’t a single muscle on her.

“To speak informally to Calliope… You must be truly insane….”

“What are you talking about? You seem to know a lot about Liliana, so this is perfect timing.”

I had many questions.

Lee Hoyeon had found out, at least roughly, the state of affairs in the Underworld while talking with Chiron.

I knew Liliana was incredibly strong, and I knew the Demon King had gone into a year-long rest period.

However, I didn’t properly know about Liliana’s sudden disappearance.

Since Albedo said he continued the succession competition unlike Chiron, even if I didn’t know the cause, I would know how the situation progressed afterward.

Chiron was a hermit mercenary, so his information was limited.

‘Before that, shall I ask about Liliana?’

Different information might emerge compared to what I got from Chiron.

“Tell me about the Liliana you know. Anything is fine.”

“What are you talking about…? Calliope is right beside you, why don’t you ask her directly?”

“Just tell me first. How strong Liliana was. What rumors there were. Things like that.”

Albedo turned his eyes towards Liliana, but she was just looking at Lee Hoyeon.

I intended to live a new life without any worries in the human world, but could it be I would meet Calliope even here?

She was treating me like someone she was seeing for the first time.

‘Is this her new form of torment?’

Did she not forget the mistake from back then, even in the human world?

Anyway, if I’m captured as a prisoner, I have to do something, right?

Albedo spoke out loud the things that came to mind.

“Calliope was… a strong succubus. Truly beyond imagination. A mere 30-year-old succubus defeated the strong figures of the Underworld.”

“She was that strong?”

“No explanation was needed. Her nickname was the Succubus of Massacre.”

“…’Massacre’ isn’t English.”

Why do these bastards arbitrarily use English or Chinese characters?

Maybe there’s Hangul too?

Lee Hoyeon stopped his useless thoughts.

Right now, things like that weren’t important.

“Succubi are not strong in combat. Usually, a succubus becoming the Demon King’s concubine and then the Succubus Queen of the era is proof enough. But Calliope was different. She had little interest in seduction and loved bloody wars. Among succubi, she was an anomaly.”

“That’s why the name ‘Killer Queen’ exists.”

“To think someone would mention that name… Calliope hated that name. Seeing you bring it up without hesitation, you must be close with Calliope.”

“…It is indeed a close relationship.”

Lee Hoyeon muttered, licking his lips.

As expected, it wasn’t the Underworld that was strange; that centaur was the crazy one.

I still vividly remember Chiron’s memory.

I clearly told him not to call such a name, but he ran off shouting ‘Killer Queen!’ all by himself.

That crazy bastard. That’s why he got beaten up, isn’t it?

“Her talent shone brighter in combat. Despite being a succubus, she didn’t use the power of seduction at all, and surpassing other successors, she drew the nobles of the Underworld under her command.”

“Ho… then did you specialize in seduction?”

“…No. My power just disappeared. I was combat-oriented too.”

Albedo explained the situation in more detail than Chiron had.

Perhaps Albedo might have been stronger than Chiron in the Underworld.

“Still, you know quite a bit. I suppose that’s why, being a successor of the same Demon King as Liliana.”

“We were successors, but she was on a different level from me. I was busy escaping her torment. Every time we met, I just lost power.”

“Didn’t you do something wrong? You must have made a mistake, just like Chiron.”

“…Calliope tormented not just me, but all demons.”

“So Liliana was just a bully.”

Lee Hoyeon quickly understood.

Even now her personality is willful; if she was that strong like in Chiron’s memory, how terrifying would she have been.

She might have beaten up demons just for demanding snacks.

“There’s no way I would… I wouldn’t do that….”

Liliana tilted her head, looking wronged, but it was entirely possible.

Lee Hoyeon sent his condolences to the demons in the Underworld who were tormented by Liliana.

“Okay. I get the gist. So, after Liliana disappeared, what happened? Liliana’s forces were supposedly huge. Don’t tell me those forces all disappeared too?”

“No, that’s not it. But those forces scattered overnight. Even though their loyalty towards Calliope was immense… they scattered without raising any complaints.”

“Hmm… You’re a successor. Couldn’t you find out more?”

“I conducted personal investigations too, but there were no traces left. However, around the same time, the Succubus Queen went into seclusion, and the Demon King went into rest. I think it’s probably related to those two.”

“….”

The Succubus Queen.

Liliana’s mother.

But no matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t make sense.

If Liliana doesn’t have two mothers, then the mother Liliana mentioned must be the Succubus Queen.

This means the mother who was beside her while Liliana wasted her life playing games is the Succubus Queen.

‘Does that even make sense?’

I don’t know much about the existence of a Succubus Queen, but she’s the Queen. The Queen.

A queen.

Meaning she’s the top of a race, but a succubus who nagged Liliana, who only played games at home, being the Succubus Queen?

How ridiculous.

Lee Hoyeon’s brain couldn’t comprehend it.

“Sigh. Liliana. What do you think? Do you have anything you want to ask?”

“Ummmm. I’m not sure. Nothing comes to mind right now.”

“Then that’s fine. You did well, Albedo.”

Lee Hoyeon habitually raised his mana.

I haven’t killed beings from the Underworld, but I am accustomed to killing demons.

Of course, there’s nothing good about getting accustomed to it, but… my mind was calm, even facing murder.

“P-Please spare me. I’ve said everything you told me to say. What, what more do you want!”

Albedo realized Lee Hoyeon’s approaching change.

The killing intent reached up to his neck. Albedo trembled unconsciously.

Lee Hoyeon looked down at Albedo expressionlessly.

He didn’t touch me, but he touched my woman.

I’m going to kill him, so there’s no need to hear his last words, right?

“Hey. Over here.”

Just then, Liliana, standing slightly apart, beckoned Lee Hoyeon over.