Ch.41Coronation (5)

Unlike outside, the observatory was quiet.

As a place to glimpse the future beneath the draped Milky Way, it was a space inaccessible to anyone except the castle’s command staff.

With an environment perfectly suited to block out unnecessary demonic commotion, it served as an ideal location for Serphin’s lessons.

“The thousand-year history of the Demon King’s Castle breathes in this place. Always remember—their glory and their mistakes.”

Matheus gazed up at the night sky as he spoke to Serphin about the long ages past. As the old demon’s voice narrated, Ludmila assisted, and history unfolded.

“If you consider yourself a weak ruler, you’ll first recall past mistakes. From the moment you claim the throne, you are the greatest demon in the demon realm—have confidence. Then you’ll be able to remember the glory first.”

Though he was saying the same things as Alberto, the feeling was distinctly different. The weight of encouragement from the Chief Justice who had served numerous kings was palpable. Normally, it would have been enough to melt away the knots in her heart.

But Serphin felt no resonance. It sounded like mere passing words.

It wasn’t simply because she felt deeply inadequate or lacked confidence.

“How should demons be handled?”

The chaos in the castle had stopped growing.

From the moment the Southern Army, moving under Durin’s guidance, firmly grasped the East and Central regions, control was rapidly established. Stability returned as they began to excellently repel demons who had gathered to suck up power in the gaps as rulers.

Durin possessed great strength. He ruled the castle efficiently by utilizing that power at appropriate times.

“A castle ruled through powerful demonic energy. I thought that was the ideal way for a Demon King.”

“The Regent is governing in a similar fashion. Isn’t he mending the divided castle with the power he cultivated in the South that he absorbed?”

“Previous Demon Kings wouldn’t have mobilized armies. They would have stepped forward themselves, summoned the two elders of the council, and immediately stopped the fighting. Or perhaps they might have openly pitted them against each other and supported the winner.”

“An excellent insight.”

“But Durin was different.”

History showed the arrogance and cruelty of Demon Kings. They used terrible deaths to oppress demons.

Durin possessed the same cruelty but lacked arrogance. He distinguished between when to step forward himself and when to send subordinates so clearly that some might say it was unbecoming of a warrior.

However, because his power was so overwhelming, any potential flaws were completely obscured.

“I wonder what background allows a demon to control their desire to dominate?”

“The desire to protect the castle and return the demon realm to its former glory. That’s where it lies.”

“I’m curious about what triggered it. According to rumors, the Skull Crusher, as the name suggests, was originally a lowly gladiator. While it’s not impossible for a lower demon to rise to become a high demon, how is he so dedicated?”

Serphin asked Matheus. It didn’t make sense in the young demon’s understanding.

The Chief Justice smiled at the young demon and answered.

“He is one who has sworn before duty. A warrior who struggles to regain eternal peace for the demon realm and forgotten rights.”

“I understand eternal peace, but…”

Forgotten rights?

Once again, Serphin tilted her head in confusion.

“Does he have a mission?”

“A mission… you could see it that way. Perhaps he’s looking toward an ideal that all demons unconsciously yearn for.”

“Hmm.”

The more they talked, the deeper they fell into the unknown. Unable to comprehend, Serphin could only offer an ambiguous smile. Matheus seemed to understand her feelings well and didn’t continue the conversation further.

“You’ll understand when the time comes. It’s something that the upper echelons of the castle eventually learn.”

“Then did the previous Demon King also know about his mission?”

“Of course. Let me tell you something interesting—that woman fled, crushed by the enormity of the duty. There were times when she threw tantrums, saying she couldn’t overcome it.”

It was beyond imagination. There was a duty that even made the Demon King retreat.

The vague form she had simply thought of as a protective duty transformed into something massive in her mind. Along with the atmosphere of the observatory surrounded by the hazy Milky Way, it evoked an unnecessary fear.

“Will I eventually learn this as someone who must sit on the throne?”

“Don’t worry too much. Durin will always be by your side. Even when the previous Demon King tried to flee, he never let go of her until the end. The reason he bears the protective duty that a king should shoulder also lies in the same place.”

Hearing those words made her feel somewhat relieved, but she was still anxious. Her worries were transcending dimensions with each passing day. If it had started with feelings of inferiority about being a weak ruler, now she was being overwhelmed by an unbearable burden.

Ruling the demon realm. Standing tall above a world. Confronting angels. Ruling humans through fear.

All these words were just beginning to resonate with her. And they all converged into one.

“I want to meet Durin. There’s a problem I want to solve that’s more important than royal lessons.”

“Successor, are you mentally prepared?”

“Of course. Honestly, I haven’t sorted everything out yet…”

Serphin’s voice trailed off. But it wasn’t due to a lack of confidence. A deep longing coexisting with fear in the depths of her heart drove the young demon forward.

“I think everything will fall into place if he tells me. I’ll come back for other lessons once everything is resolved. Is that okay?”

It was a first. For the first time, she had summoned the courage to speak up rather than being dragged along by the castle’s political situation.

She elicited Matheus’s response.

“That’s the answer I’ve been waiting for. Remember this. A king is not one who is led, but one who steps forward at the forefront. Learning from others is good, but if you practice taking steps like this, you can ascend to become a true sovereign.”

“I’m still lacking. I’m a powerless Demon King.”

“You already have power. You just don’t know it yet.”

It carried the same meaning as what Durin had said before. Serphin had a small doubt, but it was momentary.

Right now, she wanted to move forward as a ruler without worrying about trivial matters.

“Then I’ll believe it. Thank you for everything, Chief Justice.”

“May you obtain everything you desire.”

#

Six more nights until the full moon rises.

It meant that the coronation ceremony announcing the birth of a new Demon King was not far away. That’s why Serphin’s face was more serious than ever.

“I want to learn.”

Serphin, who had suddenly visited the office, said to Durin. The throne successor, who had usually been confined to the observatory, had personally come out.

Durin paused his work and asked.

“What do you want?”

“The things I need to master as a king.”

“Isn’t Matheus teaching you well? The Chief Justice, who is more versed in law than I am, would be more suitable. Learn those things first, and then we’ll talk again.”

“I can learn those slowly later.”

Serphin insisted, not backing down. Despite Durin’s clear dismissal, the young demon stood her ground.

“I want to understand duty. I suddenly felt that I’m not yet worthy of the throne because I don’t have the desperation that’s currently beyond my reach.”

Those words awakened Durin. His red eyes finally turned toward Serphin.

“No desperation. Why must you be desperate?”

“Because I can’t rule demons. I feel so powerless knowing I can’t do anything without strength.”

“Is that all?”

“No. I’m a demon who must ascend to the throne with your support, even if I’m weak. Whether I like it or not, duty will be given to me.”

Duty. The word finally came from Serphin’s lips.

The responsibility that comes with bearing the heavy crown.

“Durin. You moved forward even in difficult situations. I want to have the strength to not succumb to fear. As a Demon King who must bear duty, I need to overcome all waves.”

She wasn’t talking about simple innate power. Serphin recognized her weakness but didn’t despair. She set a new goal by observing the demon she had been watching.

“Teach me how to rule demons. I want to acquire other authority that I can have as a king.”

Durin looked into the eyes of the young demon who was making a bold demand.

She was full of passion. The spirit of a warrior who chose to confront rather than flee was palpable. The presence or absence of power didn’t matter. Like a descendant of the Demon King, she yearned to clash once more.

It didn’t matter how the process had been. After all, the product of deep contemplation had manifested in this form.

Finally, the qualification had opened.

“I’ve waited a long time.”

Durin could smile for the first time in a while. Undisguised joy showed on his face.

“Follow me to the great hall.”

He gladly extended his hand to the king who wanted to stand on her own.

#

Unlike during the day, the great hall at night was very dark.

Only a single blue lamp in the center burned dimly. It was too quiet without the nobles who would normally fill the surroundings.

Durin stood in the center, facing the throne.

“I’ll tell you this only once. This is the qualification of a Demon King, as specified in the law.”

Gulp.

Serphin, who had followed, tensed. Finally, Durin’s first lesson—perhaps the last opportunity—had arrived. She focused on him with the determination not to miss it.

“The Demon King must be strong. No demon in the demon realm should dare to challenge them, and by their divine status alone, others should fear and obey.”

“…”

“Looking at you now, it’s unimaginable. Because every Demon King in history has always been such a being.”

They must lead demons on the battlefield and break through holy power as formidable as natural enemies. They must display overwhelming divine status against archangels and lead to victory, so it was natural.

“But hardly any Demon King has maintained this. Only a few great demons during the golden age briefly realized this image. Most were trapped by that clause, went to the battlefield, and were killed by angels.”

It didn’t matter whether they were Red Horn or Green Horn Demon Kings. All failed. For over a thousand years, the image of the Demon King remembered from the beginning was not recreated.

“That’s why everyone made different moves. Their strength lay in how they led demons.”

“How they led.”

“Yes. The Red Horn Demon King inherited the bloodline from the beginning, using that legitimacy as justification to lead warriors. Because they always painted scenes from myths, the legion willingly charged at angels.”

Then what about the Green Horn? Durin immediately answered Serphin’s question.

“But the East was a usurper. With weak legitimacy, they had to think of another method. That’s the power hidden within you.”

Durin approached Serphin. He precisely poked her heart with his finger.

“The East had many nobles, so they strongly handled enchantment magic, and among them, there was one family that handled demonic energy exceptionally well enough to stimulate instincts.”

“Then that family is…”

“Istria. Another virtuous ruler who drove out the incompetent Red Horn King and brought about the renaissance of the demon realm. They had enough charm to overcome legitimacy.”

Simultaneously, Durin drew up his demonic energy. The moment his red eyes blazed fiercely at Serphin, a different energy began to ripple from the young demon’s body.

It was a reaction so intense that even Serphin herself was surprised.

It was similar to when she used magic, but now it looked quite different. It was clearly demonic energy. The golden light unique to Istria rippling…

“Wasn’t it just enchantment?”

“Is there a being that can enchant demons managing the depths of the castle with mere enchantment? It’s stranger that you didn’t find it strange yourself.”

“I just thought it was possible because I was the Demon King’s successor.”

“Partly right and partly wrong. But it doesn’t matter now.”

The moment Durin removed his hand, the golden demonic energy shot up to the ceiling. A swirling vortex of demonic energy spreading out enveloped the surroundings.

“Always remember. The true power of Istria is this domination demonic energy.”

“Domination demonic energy.”

“Yes. With the last remaining Red Horn legitimate line gone, it’s time for the East to establish a dynasty again. Rebuild it with your hands.”

“Can this power fill my inadequacies?”

“No matter how inadequate you are, I will fill everything. I will support you so that your dignity as a king can live. I will always be with you on the battlefield.”

The golden waves whispered. That the time had come for the power of the ruler to awaken again.

“Grow. I will be your shield.”

She was ready to accept the crown handed by the last great demon.

Serphin did not reject Durin’s touch.