Ch.35Angel (1)

The Northern Spear has been broken.

The Demon King’s Castle will soon dispatch sorcerers to re-establish the collapsed laws in the North and imprint their dormant rule upon the frozen land. The authority gained by the Central as the Great Warrior’s prestige crumbled has placed a yoke on the tribes that had been rebelling.

As long as Durin stands firm, the North will not escape the Castle’s control. This alone could be considered a sufficient military achievement, but the Regent’s desired future lay much further ahead.

He did not stop but moved on to the next phase.

The ultimate strategic objectives of this war were the production of demonic beasts to supply the army’s material needs and the training of knights to fight against the holy knights.

He confiscated the property of those who rebelled in the border regions and reorganized the castle grounds destroyed by sorcery to establish a new foundation. The place that was once a battlefield was situated at a strategic location within the solid border yet not far from the Central, making it perfectly suited to serve as a cavalry training ground.

Since the Demon King’s Castle had separate farms for demonic beasts, forming a legion was just a matter of time.

Moreover, hundreds of trainers, including those who brought demonic beasts from the North, joined the Central Army, increasing its size. Additionally, the Demon King’s Castle had acquired quite a number of Durahans through the conquest of the South. Transforming them into cavalry would finally provide a proper hammer to the army that had only been a solid anvil until now.

“Your Excellency. An envoy has arrived from the West.”

Once momentum builds, the world begins to move.

The moment the North collapsed, the isolated West made the first move. Those with black horns came to the Northern camp before Durin’s forces could turn their banners.

The commanders of each formation gathered to celebrate the victory growled at the sight of them, but the envoy was brazen.

He prostrated himself, showing the highest respect possible to Durin.

“I am in the presence of the ruler of the Central, conqueror of the South, and subjugator of the North. Thank you for granting me this honor, Your Excellency.”

“That’s enough with the greetings. Don’t add unnecessary words and get to the point.”

“Indeed, you are practical. Please accept the tribute our West has brought.”

He advanced on his knees. In his respectfully held hands was a letter written by the ruler of the West. Aurelia snatched it and unfolded it on behalf of Durin, who looked down silently.

“Your Excellency. Our West will show you the utmost sincerity we can offer. Military forces, supplies, relics—please tell us whatever you need.”

Through the envoy with his forehead pressed to the ground, the West was already showing its soft underbelly. Having witnessed the collapse of a continent that had once stood united in rebellion, they had erased their will to resist.

The black-horned demons considered angels a greater threat than the Central and decided to offer everything they could sacrifice. In fact, the letter that Aurelia read aloud meticulously indicated that they were even considering offering their land as a direct territory, just like the South had done.

“They’ve written it quite eloquently,” Aurelia said, passing the parchment to a Durahan soldier. She glared at the envoy and reported to Durin.

“Your Excellency. They claim they will provide troops, but in the end, nothing will come back to us. Look at the land they’re offering to surrender immediately. Isn’t it all swampland near angel garrisons?”

“We have offered all of them to Your Excellency to prevent unrest in the border regions preemptively.”

“Nonsense! This is deception!”

Aurelia pushed forward in outrage. She continued without pause, as if unwilling to give even the slightest room for negotiation.

“We must immediately mobilize our forces to subjugate them, Your Excellency. Please entrust this to our Southern army. We must deal with all these damned traitors.”

“Your words are harsh. The West has merely come to pledge loyalty to Your Excellency.”

“It’s even more intolerable that one who speaks of loyalty can be so brazen.”

The blue horns and black horns growled at each other. The atmosphere immediately turned hostile. The Durahan soldiers were even placing their hands on their scabbards, watching the situation carefully.

“Enough.”

It was Durin who stopped them both. The Regent rose from his seat and approached the envoy. He pushed aside Aurelia, who startled and moved away, and looked down at the envoy with his red eyes.

“You spoke of loyalty with your own mouth. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Our West pledges loyalty for the eternal glory of the demon realm…”

“Words are enough. Show it through action.”

“Then please accept this tribute. We will send it in the near future.”

“No.”

He cut off the words sharply. At the same time, he showed his displeasure plainly to the envoy who was bowing his head.

“I cannot trust those who have betrayed once. If you wish to show loyalty, bring additional tribute.”

“Please tell us. We will give you all the confidence we possess.”

“Fight the angels.”

“Your Excellency. Our Western warriors have prepared ten thousand troops to fight alongside the Demon King’s Castle…”

“Form a detachment.”

“……”

The envoy was at a loss for words. His voice, which had been flowing like honey, was cut off. Durin sneered at him.

“Didn’t you say you would give everything? Then what I need is the West’s dedication. Go back right now and tell the black-horned ruler to prepare to attack the angel garrison.”

“The Demon King selection isn’t even finished yet. Why are you talking about war?”

“Do you think the Celestial Realm will wait until we select our king? They are the ones who constantly sent detachments to the northwestern border to harass the Demon King’s Castle even when I was on an expedition to the South. Now it’s our turn.”

“Y-Your Excellency.”

“I won’t say it twice. Lead your forces yourself and harass the angels. I’ve heard they’ve already sent legions to watch us vigilantly. If you show the Castle’s warning with blood, I will believe in your loyalty.”

Instead of deploying his war-depleted forces to the northwestern border again, he intended to buy time to replenish his strength. Conveniently, the West had escaped the flames of war and maintained their forces relatively intact.

To Durin, they were nothing but delicious prey.

“If you refuse, we will lead our sorcery forces to the West. Remember that the red-horned forces have not yet entered the battlefield.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

“If you understand, then leave. There is nothing more to discuss.”

As Durin turned his back, the waiting Durahans stepped forward. With the steel soldiers reeking of blood pressing them, the envoys could not say anything more to the Regent.

They had no choice but to turn around and deliver the Central’s demands to the Western continent.

On that day, when one war moved two continents…

Durin finally obtained what he wanted and could withdraw from the border.

#

The demons had waited for a very long time.

For the day when they would reunite the scattered continents and recreate the unified era after the king disappeared.

Though incomplete, as that form began to take shape little by little, they could hardly contain their beating hearts. The completion of their duty as guardians was beginning to appear.

With Durin, it seemed possible to see the end of that path.

“Once the Demon King selection is over, my role will end here.”

But the quiet words Durin left while returning to the Central after getting what he wanted were different. The nearby soldiers didn’t hear it, but it was enough for Ludmila, who was advancing alongside him, to receive it with shock.

“What? What are you saying?”

The perplexed High Sorceress gave him a look. It was a dangerous statement that could cause confusion in the army if mishandled.

“After doing so well until now, why are you suddenly showing weakness? Do you want to crush our army’s morale?”

“I mean exactly what I said. My role as Regent is over. Now it’s time to see the war with the angels.”

“Still, watch your words. If rumors spread and get distorted, there could be an uproar in the Council of Elders or the noble assembly.”

Durin showed no particular reaction to Ludmila’s rebuke. Instead, he glanced at Serphin, who was following a step behind.

“Did you call for me?”

Though it wasn’t particularly significant, the daughter of the East immediately attached herself to Durin. Her sparkling eyes showed meaningful aspiration.

“Tell me what you want. I’ll work hard to become a better demon.”

“There will soon be a Grand Duke council. You must prove yourself as king there, so prepare thoroughly.”

“P-prove myself?”

She had approached confidently but quickly became dejected. She remembered how she had rushed forward to accomplish this and nearly faced defeat. Serphin momentarily lost her words and became intimidated.

Ludmila sighed deeply at the sight.

“You still intend to make someone like that king? Is she really helpful for what you’re planning?”

A questioning gaze pierced consecutively. But because it was a valid point, Serphin couldn’t answer this time either. She felt her inadequacy too strongly at the moment.

The young demon could only lower her eyes, unable to meet Durin’s gaze.

“She is the successor I support.”

Support. For what reason?

Is it because she’s weak and easy to use after placing her on the throne?

Well, that’s the inevitable result for a pathetically weak demon. A good tool to greatly enhance Durin’s authority…

“That child’s abilities will soon be greatly utilized in the celestial war.”

At these unexpected words, Serphin raised her head. The child looked at Durin walking ahead.

“I hope you won’t deny the potential I’ve seen. This child can build authority on the throne.”

“Hmm…”

“I will certainly lead her to a glorious path.”

It wasn’t mere confidence. It was closer to certainty. The Regent, unwavering, affirmed to the doubting High Sorceress that he could—and would—make the young demon Serphin into a king.

“……”

This is nonsense. Could someone like me accomplish such a thing?

Death brought by greed had killed the young demon’s confidence. It made Serphin constantly doubt herself.

If someone had relayed this story to her, she probably wouldn’t have believed it.

But.

“I want you to believe. I will make Serphin into an excellent king.”

Hearing his voice directly, her unstable heart stabilized.

The confidence that she really could become that returned, if only slightly. The possibility that had seemed thin now appeared truly significant.

Can I… do it?

“Everything is for the demon realm, right?”

“You already know what I’m going to say.”

“Of course. You say it all the time.”

The conversation between Ludmila and Durin continued but gradually faded.

Serphin delved deeply into her thoughts alone. She reflected on herself as the heir to the throne.

What aspects should she work harder on to qualify?

Honestly, she still lacked qualifications, but with the Regent determined to support her, she couldn’t retreat.

The long journey back to the castle became Serphin’s first step toward becoming king.

#

Victory is the crystallization of pure joy and honor.

The Demon King’s Castle was elated with the continuous reports of victory Durin sent. The demons gathered for the Grand Duke vote began to look toward the future.

“An army has come from the Celestial Realm? So what?”

“If the entire continent unites, we can overcome them. Besides, our commander is the Regent!”

“Let them come if they dare! We’ll crush them immediately.”

Led by young red-horned demons who had previously supported Durin, the war faction emerged. When the legion returning from the expedition shared their achievements, it ignited even more fiercely.

As the West participated in the anti-celestial front, igniting the spark of war, they could no longer hold back.

The Central warlords voluntarily gathered resources to form legions. Though qualitatively inferior compared to the Castle’s undead legion, their will was strong. They raised their fighting spirit to the point of perceiving the battlefield showered with holy power as a place of glory.

The air was thick with the signs of war. It seemed like it could break out at any moment.

Just the high-ranking troops and vassals from each continent gathered for the Grand Duke vote numbered in the tens of thousands.

They would not be numerically inferior if they clashed with the celestial legion dispatched to the angel garrison. Rather, they would overwhelm them.

The continental alliance was a massive threat. Moreover, they were uniting around Durin rather than dividing, so they began to develop systematically.

If the cavalry resulting from the Northern subjugation were added, the hammer to crush enemies on the anvil of undead heavy infantry would be complete.

As expected, the response came quickly.

“Does the demon realm desire war? How arrogant. It’s laughable that those without a king aspire to victory. Do you have confidence in winning if an archangel descends?”

White wings appeared before Durin and the leadership.

Unlike the West, which had prostrated itself, they held their heads stiffly.

“Finally facing us properly.”

“You’ve been causing such a commotion, wanting to die, so what choice do we have?”

The Celestial Realm.

Feeling threatened, they had come directly to the Demon King’s Castle.