Ch.34Trial (3)

When Durin declared the Northern Expedition, the border region tribes scoffed.

“A sudden war when we’re facing an angel invasion?”

“Does the Central think they can stop Heaven alone? They still think they’re so great, don’t they?”

“It’s obvious they’re trying to forcibly install that vacant Demon King position. They need a good thrashing to come to their senses.”

It would be a quick war. In the early stages, as they focused more on subjugating the Central, events unfolded exactly as they had predicted.

The Regent seems to be trying to secure stable power by building his own strength.

When he completely takes control of the Central, if we send a message of cooperation, we can surely resolve the issue smoothly. They thought that if they could just negotiate before Heaven’s legions dealt with the human realm’s Demon King, they could continue living as before.

“Let’s set these cavalry aside for later. These soldiers will be useful when we extend our hand to the Central. We’ll secure our share then.”

They were the warlords of the border regions who had profited for ages by playing between the Great Warrior and the Central. They dreamed of maintaining peace again by providing troops and filling their coffers, just as they had done before.

But the reality that approached was the exact opposite.

“The fortresses that declared betrayal have all disappeared by sorcery!”

“The Regent’s army is heading this way. We need to prepare.”

The first warning bell rang when Durin cleared out all the Red Horn fortresses. They couldn’t believe the situation, lacking any sense of reality. The Central’s army was still far away, and above all, the Regent’s grasp hadn’t yet reached the border.

“We have no choice but to side with the Great Warrior. They’ll try to kill us, so let’s resist!”

This choice led to the worst outcome. They pushed all their gathered troops to the Great Warrior. A single victory would reverse the situation.

“……”

The dagger that Durin personally thrust destroyed all the hopes of the border tribes who thought this way. The defeat reported by the messenger shocked the entire northern region.

If they had simply been overpowered, they might have thought of recovery, but the problem was that even the elite cavalry led by the Great Warrior had been repelled. The confusion spreading among the tribes that had rebelled against the Central grew uncontrollably from that moment.

The Grand Duke who had disrupted the East kept pressing, and the Central’s forces were poised to devour the remaining territories at any moment.

“What about the field army? Were they completely annihilated?”

“Not entirely, but they’ve lost their momentum. When the Great Warrior was defeated by Durin, they all scattered.”

“Couldn’t they win if they regrouped? Why did they make such a choice?”

“The High Sorcerer could destroy even the remaining land. In the end, we have no choice but to submit.”

“Damn it.”

They had resisted to the end in this bleak situation. They had relied on the shallow organization of the Central that revolved around warlords. But as it turned out, the North was the one that was like grains of sand.

A group that had gathered believing in the Great Warrior’s elite forces. These pathetic barbarians ended up kneeling before Durin’s power. Of the ten thousand elite northern cavalry that had gone to intercept, only five thousand remained.

Half had died or fled. With the chaos in the East and the greatly reduced forces, the situation had severely deteriorated. They had inflicted damage on the Central army, but those were merely soldiers from other warlords, not the main force.

The Demon Castle’s army centered around Durin remained intact.

The North had no options left.

In other words, only negotiations facing defeat remained.

#

“Congratulations on your victory.”

A Durahanian soldier who had finished cleaning up the battlefield bowed to Durin. After displaying his intense power in the South once more in the North, the Central army had become even stronger.

No matter what trials come, as long as the Regent stands, the Demon Castle will not fall. Even now, with the angels’ descent approaching soon, their firm faith would not crack.

“The remaining enemies?”

“All have fled. The only ones left in the distance are the Northern Great Warrior and his close associates who had no choice but to come to the battlefield.”

“He’s not an opponent who would flee shamefully before the opposing commander.”

As Durin said, he was not a person who would crumble after one defeat. He was a general who had survived the time of rebellion. This was also why the North was included in the future he would draw.

“Your Excellency. The other side has sent a white flag. They seem to want to negotiate.”

A messenger who arrived just then announced the end of the war to him. The cornered opponent had realized the situation was not favorable. No matter how strong their soldiers were, they couldn’t withstand the Central’s greatest forces.

“Those who boasted that with 100,000 Northern cavalry they could occupy the Central, in the end…”

“It was foolish to think they could intimidate us with just 10,000 troops. No, it means they were that desperate.”

“I’m curious to see what tribute they’ve brought with such desperate wishes.”

Durahan looked happily at the approaching group. Compared to the Central army, which had gained momentum from successive victories, they were a small, shabby group.

At the front was a middle-aged demon with fierce eyes. His yellow horns, full of scars, bore the marks of battlefields he had traversed. The wound from this defeat seemed deeper than expected, as his expression showed more distress than his faded horns.

Durin stepped forward to stand before him.

“You threw out some tasty bait, Regent.”

The Great Warrior dismounted from his beast. Then, with a weak voice, he looked at Durin standing proudly.

“I didn’t expect you to rebuild the Central army so solidly in such a short time. I broke through the front, but the flanks were solid. That was my mistake. Regent, the power that could have counterattacked when you appeared was there.”

“If I had thought I could win the battlefield alone, I wouldn’t have come to the North, Great Chieftain.”

“I thought that if you somehow managed to nurture those Eastern army nobodies or noble private soldiers well, they could become a truly fearsome army in the near future.”

At first glance, it sounds like a compliment. Words that might come from a defeated general. But his subsequent words revealed his true feelings.

“But they don’t look like an army that can stand against Heaven. Do they look like they’ll regain their former glory of overcoming holy power and tearing apart the archangel’s jaws? Even if you take beasts from us in the North to raise cavalry, the result seems similar.”

“That doesn’t mean we can sit idle. As the guardian of the Castle, I will gather all the resources needed to fulfill my duty. I will not be devoured helplessly, Great Chieftain.”

“…Words are always easy.”

“And tasks are always difficult. So I will bring the North before the Castle.”

As Durin finished speaking, the Castle’s sorcerer who had been waiting stepped forward.

She unfolded a parchment before the Great Warrior and recited the Regent’s demands.

The territory ruled by the Great Warrior will once again be included under the Castle’s rule and will follow the demon realm’s laws from now on. According to the law’s governing provisions, the North will offer certain tributes to the Castle and submit a certain percentage of specialty products.

“It’s written in detail, but it’s simple. Hand over your beasts in exchange for bearing the Castle’s name. Then I won’t interfere with your power in the North.”

“My authority is already buried in the ground due to defeat. Now you’re speaking empty words.”

“Not empty words, but clemency and warning.”

Durin silenced the Great Warrior who was lamenting his scratched pride. At the same time, strong demonic energy made his red eyes blaze.

“Don’t think of going back to how things were before. We can burn you at any time. Do you want to end up like those border region fortresses?”

“Regent…”

“Come prepared to impale all Northerners except yourself on stakes. Then I’ll accept your challenge.”

Durin was firm. This was a warning not only to the North but to all other warlords in the Central.

If they coveted their own bowls under the pretext of the Demon King selection battle, they would be punished. Support the rightful owner of the throne purely for the sake of the demon realm.

It was the strong will of the Regent who thought only of duty.

“Do you think you can achieve this even after burning everything?”

The Great Warrior asked. Sacrificing someone for the sake of a unified demon realm. It was a question of whether unity forged in blood could truly overcome holy power.

In this war alone, the Eastern army and border region fortresses had suffered great damage. In a situation where every single one was precious, what had he seen to choose sacrifice so firmly?

He wanted to ask.

“I will raise strong warriors. No matter how many are sacrificed. Now is the time to reforge the demons dulled in the time of decline into warriors.”

A solid legion that would not crumble even against holy power. An army with faith that overcomes fear in any situation.

“And to achieve that, I accepted the position of Regent. It is my duty that I realized while spending time under a Demon King infected with weakness.”

Only after hearing that answer could the Great Warrior see where Durin was looking. Though their meeting was brief and his vision still blurry, Durin’s gaze was fixed on Heaven. This current stage was merely a stepping stone to pass through.

That’s why he didn’t fear losses. It was just part of the demon realm’s growth process. However, because it involved pain, there were bound to be deficiencies. Due to these deficiencies, one might sit down on the path toward the goal.

“You intend to hold out as a shield until the demon realm properly grows. Regent.”

Durin did not answer. The sorcerer simply handed over the parchment she had finished reading to him.

“I hope you succeed. As the defeated, that’s all I can say.”

The Great Warrior accepted the gesture.