Ch.39Coronation (3)

As the formal meeting concluded after just 30 minutes, the nobles dispersed in all directions.

Some tried to approach Durin, but despite having stepped down from his position as regent, his authority remained so formidable that they dared not open their mouths to him.

Durin leisurely exited the great hall and arrived at his office. As soon as he took his seat, he received a report from the Captain of the Royal Guard.

“The warlords centered around Killahal are mostly positioned in the western regions. Their numbers reach forty thousand, and while their armaments are inferior to Durahan’s, they are considered a significant force for noble private armies.”

It was evident just from looking at the volunteer army that had gathered in front of the castle.

That was just the number of troops they had sent without defending their homelands. They must be hiding more. Those who once manipulated the Demon King couldn’t possibly remain at such a modest level.

“Were there any clues about special military units?”

“Most were listed as infantry, but traces of farms were found in several territories.”

“Realistically, magical beasts would be impossible, so they must be raising war horses.”

“That’s correct. Based on the scale, they could train about a thousand cavalry. It’s a negligible number, so you needn’t worry.”

“More than worry, I feel indignation at their disloyalty. It means that demons other than the castle dare to raise large armies.”

“It seems the previous Demon King did us a favor by fleeing well. Otherwise, he would have given the Senate more time to grow their power.”

The Captain of the Royal Guard couldn’t hide his discomfort. For someone always loyal to the castle, it was an utterly despicable matter.

With his usual temperament, he might have drawn his sword immediately to go and behead them, but Durin was barely restraining him.

“What will you do? If you raise an army now, our entire Royal Guard will participate.”

“The coronation is approaching. We must wait a little longer.”

“Your Excellency. That’s precisely why action is necessary. Shouldn’t we take measures first, at least for the young king?”

“We must deceive the old tiger. It would be better to draw them in a bit more.”

Heat rose in Durin’s red eyes.

Like the Captain, he too felt boiling anger. However, he was enduring it briefly for the greater cause.

The time for revenge would come soon.

“Captain. From now on, meet with the Grand Dukes of each continent and spread rumors about a banquet.”

First, he would set the stage.

He needed to plan his move when the high-ranking demons, including the Senate, were distracted by the coronation.

“It would be effective if you also spread word that I will personally attend. Since the current power of the Demon King’s Castle lies with me, they cannot refuse.”

“Are you planning to capture them then? Those traitors!”

The excited Captain clenched his fist and shouted. The thread of patience he had barely maintained was slightly loosened.

That’s why Durin tightened the reins firmly.

“Refrain from emotional actions.”

“……”

“I will not stand by and watch if you ruin everything with rash behavior.”

Being loyal and action-oriented meant there was a greater possibility of leakage. The Captain, well aware of this himself, hastily bowed his head.

“I apologize, Your Excellency.”

“That will do. You may leave now.”

“I will act more cautiously.”

It ended poorly. The Captain left, blaming himself.

“You could use me for such tasks…”

Verdia, who had been quietly performing her guard duty in the corner, muttered. She shot a jealous-filled voice at the spot where the Captain had disappeared.

“I’ll go to the southern nobles. Since Aurelia and I are close friends, it will be more effective.”

“That’s unnecessary. There’s no need to say pointless things to those who already support me.”

It was a sharp rejection. When Durin responded so firmly, Verdia was left speechless.

-This isn’t right.

The bewilderment she couldn’t express was evident on her face. Durin answered while organizing the reports on his desk.

“The south is under the direct control of the castle. They are not targets for the banquet but allies who should work with us.”

“Are you distinguishing between enemies and allies?”

“Not enemies and allies. Those who submit and those who don’t. We need to educate the foolish ones who haven’t accepted the castle’s rule.”

Durin pushed the reports aside. He rose from his seat.

“Verdia. Preliminary work is needed for that, and you will be used importantly for it.”

The jealousy was momentary. At Durin’s words, Verdia immediately knelt before him with a bright smile.

“I will serve you, Your Excellency!”

“Stop talking and follow me. I will lead.”

“As you command!”

……

A garden where one could see the clear sky.

The place Durin headed to was a resting area.

“What brings you here?”

Serphin, who had fled from the nobles, was there.

The flower garden near the reception room often served as a refuge for young nobles. The young demon seemed to have come seeking solace as well.

If someone were to see this scene, they might view it as merely a childish escape, but…

“Is this about the coronation schedule?”

Her voice was more mature than before.

Though she had only experienced the battlefield once—an inevitable rite of passage for demons—it seemed sufficient.

The anguish that a king must constantly reflect upon resided in the young demon’s eyes. A subtle sense of frustration, possessed only by those who had looked inward, was faintly visible.

Nevertheless, she didn’t show it. Was she enduring because she was the heir to the throne?

Hoping so, Durin walked to the center of the garden.

“Rather than the coronation, I came because I have something to say.”

“Something to say?”

It was unexpected. Serphin looked at Durin with surprised eyes, simultaneously trying to gauge his intentions.

While Serphin was frantically thinking, Durin passed by the young demon and proceeded to a deeper area inside. It was a place lined with tall poles, an area she normally wouldn’t wander around.

It felt eerie, as if countless heads were watching, but what could she do when Durin was advancing? Serphin forced her sluggish legs to move and followed him.

When they arrived, a scene she had never seen before unfolded.

“This place…”

“It’s a quiet place where demons obsessed with war don’t visit.”

There was a modest tombstone standing nobly amidst corpses. Not being particularly tall, it had a modest feel, making it difficult to see from outside. Being far from external touch, it was certainly well-preserved. The letters that Durin traced with his fingertips were clearly visible.

[Caldorago del Istria]

[The Great Green-Horned Conqueror and the Last Demon King who fought against the Angels.]

Serphin’s eyes widened in that moment.

She couldn’t help but be surprised to see with her own eyes the traces of the Istria dynasty, which had only been recorded in history.

“Wasn’t the Green-Horned dynasty expelled? Surely they would have erased all traces…”

“This is where traitors are executed. It’s an honorable place for spectators but a shameful one for those who lost their lives.”

“……..”

“The Senate deliberately preserved it. It’s their way of recording the history of victory.”

Upon hearing those words, Serphin clenched her teeth. Uncontrollable anger manifested through her twisted lips.

“Why? Why did they do this? It makes no sense to treat a Demon King who fought against angels as a traitor and discard him.”

“The horn color is different. It means they were competitors fighting for power. For the Senate, anyone who encroaches on their territory is a greater enemy than angels.”

Durin removed his hand from the tombstone. Simultaneously, history flowed from the regent’s mouth.

“A powerful Demon King desired absolute authority, and the nobles were obstacles. Serphin, what is the role of the Senate?”

“To assist the king’s decision-making and to ensure the castle’s dominion spreads across the vast land.”

“Istria wanted even that to be held by the king. If the Senate, the leader of the nobles, wanted to maintain their previous power, they had to pay enormous taxes.”

“…There must have been intense resistance.”

“The problem was that the only means to suppress that discontent for generations was the power of the true body. The Demon King’s army, organized according to tradition, was still divided by horn color and faction, so it wasn’t the Demon King’s limb.”

“I know this part. I learned that the Demon King created the Black Army as a new means to check the nobles.”

Durin shook his head at Serphin’s answer.

“That’s how it’s known to the public, but the Black Army was made up of warriors meant to fight angels. The Demon King was arrogant enough with his power to believe he could suppress the high nobles alone.”

“And the result is the current Demon King’s Castle.”

Serphin smiled bitterly.

Having great power led the demon realm to its golden age, but when that power couldn’t reach the successor, it became a monster that devoured the future.

The young demon stepped forward to face the tombstone.

“Even a king with tremendous achievements eventually fell due to misjudgment in his later years. Seeing this makes me wonder: can someone as weak as me lead the demon realm well?”

She asked Durin, who stood beside her.

“A foolish king who lacks even power and is about to be swayed by nobles is about to be born. Do you still have a reason to believe in me?”

“Potential.”

“I don’t know what you see, but all I can see is darkness ahead. I feel blind, unable to find even a trace of direction.”

The lament continued. Serphin’s eyes were tinged with desperation.

“So tell me. What do you really want?”

“……”

“A duty to protect? That’s a secondary issue since it doesn’t matter who the Demon King is. I want to know the reason I must become king. I want to know the reward for your efforts in building justification, even seeking consent from other continents.”

The days of being rivals or enemies for the throne had faded. Despite the throne she so desired drawing near, sitting on it only increased her discomfort, so the young demon wanted answers. She tried to make that opaque conviction clear.

“Symbolism. Being someone who helps demons accept death. Is that fulfilling my duty?”

“If that were the reason, I would have created a religion, not a throne.”

Perhaps her feelings were conveyed.

Durin properly faced Serphin.

“You haven’t yet realized your power. Those around you don’t know either. Only I could discover you.”

“I don’t understand. What power do I not know about?”

“You will soon find out. If you come to this place at the same time tomorrow, I will make you clearly aware of it.”

Red demonic energy flickered. The words from the regent’s mouth transformed into whispers in Serphin’s ears.

“Don’t you want to become a true king?”

Serphin instinctively frowned.

It felt similar to enchantment. But it was different. Durin hadn’t cast any spell, so she could verify that.

Instead, it drew out the fundamental concern that the young demon had been harboring in her heart.

It felt like her pent-up frustration had been exposed.

But she wasn’t embarrassed. Rather, it felt refreshing.

If a strong demon led her, surely…

“Can I really do it?”

“I will guide you.”

Serphin nodded as if entranced.

Lessons to become a king. There was no reason to refuse that.