Ch.110Twelve Heavens (5)

The Twelve Heavens (5)

Esmeralda had managed to deliver a proper warning to Eirene.

By supporting Millia, she was reducing Eirene’s influence.

‘Yes, it’s about time I mixed in some carrots with the whip.’

She had finally done what she’d only talked about before.

Through this incident, Millia would understand that good things come when she listens to Esmeralda.

Of course, there were risks involved. The friction between Eirene and Millia would intensify.

For Esmeralda, who had been walking a tightrope between them, the situation would become even more precarious.

But she needed to maintain this balance between the two.

‘I’m still far from adequate.’

It was good that she had gained confidence after facing the Third Legion Commander, but she had also hit a wall against the Second Legion Commander.

After the situation was resolved, Esmeralda went to where her holy sword had been and collected the fragments.

When she placed the hilt and the broken fragments side by side, she could see its form.

“There was no resistance.”

The holy sword had regenerative abilities, so it would return to its original form over time.

But that wasn’t the issue.

The way the holy sword had been broken looked as if it had been slashed by a beast’s claws.

The important point was not that the holy sword had been broken in one strike, but that she hadn’t felt any resistance while it was happening.

‘The holy sword grows stronger in proportion to my power.’

This meant there was such a gap between her and the Second that she couldn’t offer any resistance.

The evidence was how the holy sword had been sliced like tofu.

When she fought Eleven, she had trembled.

Seeing a swordsman who remained humble despite possessing such power, she understood why he was inevitably strong.

When she fought Five, she broke into a cold sweat.

Without the help of the magic tower, she wouldn’t have been able to defeat even a single clone.

When she saw Belphegor, she despaired.

She couldn’t see any way to win, nor could she envision a future where victory was possible.

And when she saw the Second Legion Commander.

‘I’m not yet at a level where I can even discuss the Demon King.’

She understood the world.

The Second’s indifferent violence was that intense.

It was even more pronounced because she had been gaining the upper hand against the Third.

Strong. Too strong.

At this rate, she would be finished by the Legion Commanders before ever meeting the Demon King.

The confidence that she would win eventually…

That overwhelming confidence alone wouldn’t be enough.

She needed to become stronger than she had ever imagined herself to be.

Because…

‘…there’s another monster who can’t even handle someone like the Second.’

The First Legion Commander.

The threat of this being, previously only known through rumors, was gradually taking shape.

***

When the Second and Third Legion Commanders arrived at the Demon King’s castle after being summoned by Belphegor, they found themselves in a large cavern rather than the usual audience chamber or meeting hall. The Second frowned at the unsettling atmosphere that permeated the place.

“What is this…?”

“You’ll understand when you go in.”

The gatherings of Legion Commanders were never pleasant affairs.

However, that was mostly due to the tension between the First and Second. The suffocating air that hung now, in the First’s absence, could only be described as abnormal.

“Robeno…”

“You should call me Second. Third.”

“Ah, yes. Second. The atmosphere here is a bit… Am I being purged?”

“Nonsense. If anyone were to be purged, it would be me, not you.”

The Second, ruffling the hair of the atmosphere-sensitive Third, boldly threw open the door to the cavern.

And the moment the door opened, the Second witnessed a sight that made him completely forget about the Third beside him.

Inside the cavern, besides the Legion Commanders and Belphegor, there was one more person.

The moment he confirmed that face, the Second almost cursed out loud.

“What the f—!”

Click.

But as if to divert the Second’s attention, someone deliberately made a sound with their shoes.

“Well, let’s go in.”

It was Lilith.

She bowed her head to Belphegor, who was seated at the head, and then led the Second and Third to the place closest to the highest seat.

The Second, having regained his senses, asked Lilith, still not understanding the current situation.

“What is this about? Why is that damned bastard here?”

Being in an official setting, the Second spoke respectfully to Lilith, the Demon King’s advisor. However, he couldn’t hide the murderous intent in his eyes.

Sitting right next to Belphegor was the former Demon King, Leviathan.

The self-proclaimed King of Abaddon was here now.

Everyone present could understand what that meant.

Since the talks had already concluded, there was only one reason for him to be here.

“Hmm, it’s been a while. Robeno… or should I say Second now? What an intuitive naming system. Haha!”

The Second knew.

The Demon King, Leviathan, had no honor. Even a mere thug like himself knew that.

Yet, he had been able to be the Demon King because he was strong.

Still, he hadn’t imagined Leviathan would be this shameless.

Yes, Leviathan…

“Since we’ll be eating from the same pot from now on, I’ll greet you in advance.”

He had now defected to the Demon King’s army.

Something the Second had deemed impossible.

But the current Demon King, Belphegor, had judged it possible.

By now, Abaddon must be in chaos, abandoned by its leader.

“Did His Majesty approve of this?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t he?”

The one who had transformed a perfectly functional peace group into something closer to a military organization, only to abandon them irresponsibly. And now he’s being welcomed into the Demon King’s army?

Despite thinking this, the Second merely gritted his teeth without disobeying.

He was a soldier, after all.

If it was a decision made by the Demon King, Belphegor, there was nothing he could do.

The benefits of embracing Leviathan outweighed the losses.

Leviathan was strong enough to crush a group like Abaddon without concern.

After all, he was the former Demon King.

So while he didn’t like it, he could understand. That’s why the Second didn’t disobey this time.

“Seems like everyone who needs to be here is here.”

Belphegor, after observing the seated Second, spoke in a languid voice.

The reason for summoning them was obvious.

“As you can see, the former Demon King, Leviathan, has joined the Demon King’s army. Well, he was the Demon King before me, so his skills are certainly real. I’ve decided to show him proper respect.”

Belphegor recalled what had happened in the meeting hall that day.

Leviathan had knelt before his power, in a different manner than when he had lost his position as Demon King.

It was a sign of loyalty.

He had seen the power Belphegor possessed and sensed potential.

As expected of a bastard who only craved power, his judgment was swift.

Normally, with Belphegor’s personality, he wouldn’t have spared such a coward, but he couldn’t simply dismiss someone like Leviathan.

If he had been an enemy, he would have crushed him, but he had offered to become a subordinate.

So, for now, he accepted him.

Even though he was certain Leviathan harbored other intentions.

“Considering his power, he should be placed in a Legion Commander position, right?”

And the reason for gathering the Legion Commanders was also because of Leviathan’s power.

He couldn’t be placed as a mere soldier or a mediocre official.

Breaking the rule of power would be like insulting Belphegor himself, who had become the Demon King according to that rule.

“So I wanted to give this guy a chance. I’ll give him the right to challenge, regardless of his current position. But he only gets one chance, so he’d better choose his opponent wisely.”

“I’m grateful for this opportunity, Your Majesty.”

A ranking battle between Legion Commanders.

Through this, Leviathan would determine his own place.

In other words, Leviathan could challenge the 12th Legion Commander right now, or even the 1st Legion Commander.

‘Damn it.’

The Second, watching this process, had to swallow another curse.

It was like a well-scripted play.

And it was obvious who had scripted it.

As straightforward as Belphegor was, he had appointed a strategist to act on his behalf.

The Second looked at Lilith, who was standing near Belphegor, with an indecipherable expression before sighing.

Yes, it was a well-scripted play.

The fact that he was positioned closest to the highest seat, unlike usual, was telling.

‘Originally, that was the First’s place. Giving it to me means…’

It was as good as deciding who Leviathan would challenge in the ranking battle.

The First Legion Commander.

There was no one else standing there, ready to step forward at any moment.

‘This is messed up.’

And the First, who had been saved by Leviathan, wouldn’t genuinely face him. Yes, this was a ranking battle with a predetermined outcome.

It was a play to place Leviathan in the First’s position.

“I, a nameless demon, challenge the position of the First Legion Commander.”

“…”

One abandons their name for the position of Legion Commander.

Leviathan, now a nameless demon, immediately requested a ranking battle with the First, wearing a vile smile.

Thinking he would regain power this way.

***

A well-scripted play.

The Second had judged the current situation as such. And it was true. This situation was all orchestrated by Lilith for Belphegor.

But she knew.

How important the rule of power was to demons.

And who revered it the most.

“What… is this…?”

The Second’s voice, filled with shock, echoed in the silent cavern.

No, not just him, but every Legion Commander present must have felt the same.

An outcome no one had anticipated was unfolding before their eyes.

The only ones who knew the ending of this script were Lilith, who had written it, and the Demon King Belphegor, who had reviewed it and laughingly approved.

“It’s over.”

Belphegor’s playful voice dismissed the shock around him.

The Demon King, Belphegor, wearing a more vicious smile than ever, rose from his seat and gave an order to the First, whose position had been determined through the ranking battle.

“Then, First. Handle the trash ‘as usual’.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

This was after the First Legion Commander, a demon who valued the rule of power more than anyone, had slaughtered the challenger Leviathan… or rather, the foolish demon who had even given up his own name.