Ch.16Twisted Fate (2) (Partially Revised)

“How serious is the situation?”

“The northern warlord has positioned all their forces toward the angel garrison. It’s quite concerning—we might need to mobilize all the troops that were meant to advance here.”

“If it’s that bad…”

“An entire legion will descend upon the demon realm.”

The war was closer than expected. They had anticipated Heaven would respond immediately after the Demon King crossed into the human realm, but the response was faster and bolder than predicted.

“Will an archangel descend?”

“With the Demon King gone to the human realm, the angels see this as the perfect opportunity to clean up the demon realm.”

“I hope they’re overconfident enough for us to gain the upper hand.”

“That would be great, but we don’t even have enough troops for deception tactics. Even if we scrape together every last member of the royal guard, we might match their numbers… but the quality difference means we’ll suffer considerable losses.”

“This is the worst possible move at a time when we’re trying to extend central authority. If we fight, we’ll need to mobilize forces from other continents to minimize casualties.”

“If we request aid, the eastern forces will come. The difference is whether just the central region gets destroyed or the east falls with us.”

“Either way, it’s death. Can’t we crown another high-ranking demon as king to face the archangel?”

“There’s no promising talent available. You need to groom Durin, but we don’t have time. Even if we support someone else, you’ll end up leading the main force anyway.”

Ludmila frowned, unable to hide her concern.

“I’ll be honest with you. You’re our only option. The young nobles of the castle are supporting you after your clean suppression of the rebellion. If you want it, you have the highest chance of being crowned…”

“I lack legitimacy, Ludmila.”

Durin cut her off sharply.

Born at the bottom of the labyrinth, he began as a gladiator. Rising to become the second-in-command of the castle through pure martial prowess was certainly legendary, but that was the extent of it.

“Becoming the Demon King who rules the demon realm is different. According to our laws, we must choose someone noble who can rightfully wield the power and authority of a king. ‘Someone noble.’ When they hear those words, would the high nobles support me, a former gladiator?”

“The Senate would inevitably be divided. Many of the older nobles still follow bloodline principles.”

Good blood produces good demons.

This was the driving force that allowed the Demon King’s bloodline to inherit the throne for 1,000 years—and also the culprit behind the current situation.

Knowing this well, Durin could only shake his head.

“Of course, if I wanted, I could seize the throne. But the castle would be divided. The chaos wouldn’t end with rebellion but would likely lead to the emergence of throne claimants. With angels at our doorstep, that’s something we cannot allow.”

“Can we hold out? Until we find a new king?”

“We will endure. For the demon realm, I will use every means at my disposal.”

The demon’s greed for power.

The only way to satisfy instinct while fulfilling the duty of protection.

“That’s why I remain as regent.”

“…”

“So don’t worry and wait. I’ll head to the central region soon.”

#

Ludmila’s warning accelerated Durin’s actions.

While judges and sorcerers dispatched from the castle expanded central influence, the regent gathered all southern warriors who could become seeds of discord. Those among them who were useful were incorporated into the legion at Raktelrun and sent to the central region.

“Return stronger, my friends!”

Though the warping costs were high, when he appointed successors of large tribes as commanders, they offered tributes, seeing it as an opportunity for advancement.

In their minds, the south would gradually be imprinted as territory ruled by the castle. Though somewhat forceful, the effects of engraving demon energy into their bodies proved highly effective. He efficiently shortened the time needed for conquest.

This led to the creation of new history—conquering an entire continent and returning in just one week after the legion’s departure.

“As of today, the expedition is over. All commanders are to complete their assigned tasks and promptly return to the central region. Once withdrawal preparations are complete, we will immediately prepare for the next war.”

They had no time to rest. The king’s demonic energy had been completely erased from this land. All demons would feel anxious, and angels would look for opportunities. At times like these, the central legion needed to show strength. If they held firmly onto surrounding forces, demons still had enough power to wage a proper battle against Heaven.

Durin’s mind became completely filled with thoughts of war against Heaven. Around that time, Aurelia came to bid him farewell.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all, Your Excellency. It was an honor to serve such a great figure.”

Once the governor of Raktelrun, she had become the ruler of the south. Red horns like those of central demons symbolized her authority.

“Aurelia. The duty given to you is weighty.”

“I will do my utmost to fulfill your orders.”

“If the south rises again, I will have important use for you.”

Durin placed his hand on Aurelia’s shoulder. She flinched in surprise and hurriedly bowed. Countless unspoken words of reverence lingered on her lips. To the stiffened governor, Durin said:

“Our enemies have always been in the sky. Hypocrites who alone possess the glory of bygone eras.”

“…You speak of the angels.”

“The time approaches.”

Aurelia raised her head. Under the black sun stood a demon clenching his fist, dark demonic energy scattering around him.

“The angels who stole our sky are now sharpening their swords to erase our very existence.”

“We will never yield, Your Excellency.”

“Holy power is a force that we demons cannot hope to match. It could melt us on contact. Are you not afraid?”

“If I could stand with you, I would advance even if it meant facing an archangel.”

The opportunity to participate in the glorious battle against angels—her voice spread to the many nobles who had come to see Durin off.

“We will march to the glorious battlefield. We are southern warriors.”

To stand shoulder to shoulder with the strong.

This was the life goal that all demons harbored from birth.

The souls rising from the land of struggle began pounding in their blue hearts. A new throne had been established over the traces where the Rock Mother had disappeared. The fervor Aurelia spread infected others.

To encourage them, Verdia stepped forward. As Durin’s right hand, she shouted:

“Durin! My master!”

Verdia’s lead call guided the nobles. Warriors and nobles advancing toward the central region shouted with one heart:

“We will stand with you! Please grant us the opportunity!”

“Conqueror of the South! Ruler of the Red Horns! Our Regent!”

Hundreds of nobles knelt in unison. They raised both hands in supplication. Those who had lost everything in the ravages of war craved new glory. They accepted a new ruler in place of the Rock Mother.

Glory and honor that could be drawn based on law and decree.

“…”

For a moment, something flickered in the eyes of the golden royal guards protecting Durin.

An old nostalgia. This scene where authority born from a conqueror’s power overwhelmed the assembly.

“I will wait. Soon there will be a day when we stand together.”

Hundreds of years ago, on a certain day. Memories of time spent with the young Demon King briefly flashed through their minds.

#

“Isn’t it amazing?”

The fervor reached even the Rock’s shrine in the inner castle of Raktelrun. Though it was so secret and deep that one could only feel the flow of the world, the pulsations Durin created were incredibly powerful.

Not a mere demon. He was one of the few beings who could interfere with the fate of the world.

“You’re fortunate. A blessed life that can witness this flow.”

“Thanks to that, several of my comrades died, and our human realm is likely to be devastated.”

In the dark space, a dwarf in a black hood grumbled to the Witch of Prophecy. Since his brush with death, Turan had lost his fear and could now speak his mind to any being. Compared to Eliya, who couldn’t even open her mouth in the witch’s presence, he was quite free.

“Sorceress! What powers do you possess?”

“I have a special destiny that allows me to glimpse the future and fate of those living in the world.”

“So Durin sent us here to show us our fate?”

“Half right, half wrong. The fate I’ll tell you about here isn’t yours.”

The witch spoke with a smile. There was a goodness and charm unlike that of a demon. But Eliya could sense it. Inside the small-framed woman slept demonic energy greater than Durin’s. She was as powerful as the Demon King among all the demons they had seen so far.

The elf fell into questions even here.

Why had Durin spared the hero?

Why had he taken good care of the survivors and sent them here?

What did this demon who introduced herself as the Witch of Prophecy intend to do?

“You have many questions, young elf.”

The witch, who had approached without notice, whispered to Eliya. Sweet and sticky. Involuntarily, goosebumps rose on her skin, and she retreated with a shrill scream.

“How cute. Having lived in the world for such a short time, you naturally have questions before every trial. That’s the natural order of things.”

The witch’s voice lingered. The dwarf Turan, also displeased, helped Eliya up and looked after her.

“Stop beating around the bush and tell us! What’s your purpose?”

“A way to restore the hero’s power. And a place where you can revive your dead comrades.”

A moment of silence fell. The two stared up at the witch floating in the air.

With blue demonic energy as her halo, the Witch of Prophecy spoke, still wearing her beautiful smile.

“Durin has given you a new destiny. As I said, he is one who can disturb the flow of the world.”

“A new destiny?”

“If you can accomplish it, you too can enter a path of happiness.”

“How can we trust a demon’s words? He clearly seems destined to become the Demon King.”

“Demon King?”

The Witch of Prophecy asked back for the first time. Her expression suggested she had heard something amusing.

She didn’t answer the dwarf’s question. Instead, she mocked it.

“He is not a demon who will remain in such a limited vessel. He is a great key not confined to the demon realm, heaven, or the human realm.”

The witch raised her head to look into the distance. Perhaps at some sky somewhere, or starlight hidden behind the sun.

“A position awaits Durin that is greater than that of Demon King.”

“…I don’t understand at all.”

“That’s alright. If you follow the flow, you’ll understand someday. For now, just follow along.”

The witch set foot on the ground. Standing before the surviving party members, she extended her hand.

“Saving the hero and party members.”

“…”

“Isn’t that good for you too?”

Beside the speechless Turan, Eliya could see the witch up close.

Having encountered the World Tree, she could accept otherworldly beings a little more easily. Inside the beautiful woman’s body, a scale was swinging left and right. What this meant, Eliya with her limited knowledge couldn’t understand. But she could clearly see that the witch’s proposal was weighing on one side.

“We must save him. I want to save the hero.”

Eliya murmured without realizing it. The words came from an inexplicable pull. By the time Turan looked at her in surprise, the situation had already concluded. The witch gave Eliya a fresh smile.

“I knew you would answer that way.”

Simultaneously, something slipped away. Startled, Eliya briefly looked away from the scale. She examined her body but found nothing wrong.

Only a throbbing scar remained.

But.

“Eliya?”

When she looked again, the completely stopped scale inside the witch’s body captured her attention.

The elf could not answer the dwarf’s question.