Ch.4The Price of Challenge (1)

“I see you still have no intention of becoming king.”

That’s what Grand Magistrate Matheus said just as they were leaving the council chamber. It was like a bolt from the blue to the nobles who had just completed a major task. The young demons, including Spranches, couldn’t hide their bewilderment as they cautiously glanced at Durin.

It was something only an old demon who had spent the longest time in the castle could say.

While some might have taken it as a great insult, Durin answered calmly.

“I have no right to do so.”

“You could simply take it by force. All the castle soldiers support you. You could easily push aside someone like Ludmila.”

“Without the sorcerers, one cannot rule the entire demon realm. The wisdom they’ve accumulated over the years is quite effective in controlling stubborn warlords.”

“Your Excellency, the warlords wouldn’t dare covet our position. They have too many enemies around them to aim for the throne.”

“The problem is that we also wouldn’t be able to covet their territories. The Demon King’s Castle must always stand at the center of the demon realm.”

“Is the central region not enough? I wonder where the Regent is looking toward.”

Matheus looked straight at him as he asked. Durin answered without hesitation.

“The human realm.”

The corridor leading to the reception room fell into silence. No one dared to interject in their conversation.

However, they could see the direction in which the castle was heading. They didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

“Remember the hero’s invasion last time. Since when did the demon realm become a playground for humans? They come when they want and leave when they please. We even lost our king.”

“A deplorable reality.”

“I couldn’t do anything at that time. Since the King viewed it merely as amusing entertainment, I could only fulfill my duty as guardian. I thought it would end as usual after the King faced the hero a few times.”

Recalling that time, Durin sneered.

“But what happened? The foolish king abandoned his duty, and rulers from distant lands are showing signs of rebellion. Far from subjugating heroes, we’ve entered an era where we must do everything just to survive. We’ll have to face even greater waves ahead.”

The silence grew heavier. The high-ranking demons each fell into their own thoughts. Durin posed a question to them.

“Nevertheless, we are demons. Beings who must oppose angels and rule over humans. No matter how difficult, we must not lose sight of our essence.”

Demons. Not lowly creatures who kill each other in pursuit of power. Powerful beings who feed on fear and revel in the glory of battle.

The self-defined purpose of existence to survive in this world.

“I will not forget the first verse of the law. Grand Magistrate, was that answer sufficient?”

“It was more than excellent.”

Matheus, holding the scripture to his chest, bowed deeply. The young demons, caught up in the atmosphere, knelt down.

“Lead the castle. My lord.”

“We will follow only you.”

The scene they had once dreamed of was unfolding before them. The only flaw was Durin’s lack of response.

“Don’t waste time unnecessarily. I have a busy day ahead.”

He walked forward without looking back. But they didn’t mind.

They simply walked silently, following the path Durin had taken.

……

“Such a show-off.”

The series of conversations that had taken place in the corridor spread to everyone in the castle. Ludmila, who had started work in her office, was no exception. Being closest to the council chamber, she had been able to witness the scene in real-time.

[Never forget. We are demons. We must oppose angels and rule over humans]

It was the first verse written in the demon realm’s law, maintained by Grand Magistrate Matheus. The destiny bestowed upon demons, one of the first races conceived by the Creator God. While angels handle blessings and humans build lives, demons take fear. The power demons held in the world after death was immense.

However, due to the combative nature inherent in demons, daily challenges muddied the waters. Having forgotten the role they were supposed to fulfill, demons weakened themselves. That problem had manifested in the worst possible outcome in the current generation.

The unprecedented situation of the king’s disappearance seemed almost inevitable in retrospect. The future that Ludmila had predicted while observing the demon realm’s astronomy had always been bleak, which added credibility to her perspective.

“Sadly, in the current situation, Durin is the only one we can trust. To think that a lowly former gladiator is now the leader.”

Despite having the most demon-like background, the sorcerers had not acknowledged him because of his lowly origins. They had submitted under his overwhelming power but had not accepted him as a true leader.

“For now, I’m just bowing my head temporarily. Even he knows the situation isn’t easy enough to simply hand over part of his authority to me.”

In the current situation, Ludmila was the only demon flexible enough to talk and coordinate with the castle’s warlords. The Demon King’s seal that Durin had handed over would greatly enhance her abilities, which specialized in speech and enchantment. It was an opportunity to solve the problems Durin demanded while simultaneously strengthening her own power.

Knowing this well, she would now curl up and wait for the right moment.

“Is anyone outside?”

“Do you need something?”

When Ludmila raised her voice after finishing her thoughts, a succubus maid waiting in the corridor cautiously responded.

“Let’s go to the King’s hall together. We need to monitor the angels’ movements and collect traces of the Demon King that the royal guards are tracking.”

“Then I’ll call the sorcerers from the astronomical chamber.”

“Not all of them, just about three. The rest need to monitor the warlords’ movements.”

– Before Durin draws his sword, I’ll prepare the stage.

While others were flailing about without coming to their senses, Ludmila would prepare step by step.

Those fools who didn’t know their place were destined to die by Durin’s hand anyway.

Even now, from the news she heard, foolish actions were continuing in other corners of the castle.

Judging by the direction Durin was heading immediately after leaving the council chamber, that problem seemed likely to be resolved soon.

Along with a fierce bloodbath. Because he was the most cruel demon in the face of challenges…

“Ugh, just imagining it gives me goosebumps.”

The time had come to repay the disrespectful attitude shown by the local warlords when the king disappeared, in his own way.

…….

The reception room was located in a separate building a short distance from the King’s hall.

A stone building quietly showcasing its beauty between the parade ground, the gathering place for soldiers, and [The Queen’s Nest], where large defensive forces were stationed.

While the exterior was quite beautiful, the howls of magical beasts echoing through the corridors drove even demons mad. Among lower demons, this place was known as a den where one could hardly endure even for a moment. Someone once said it was like the first impression of facing the bottom of a labyrinth.

Naturally, it wasn’t a place to host distinguished guests of the Demon King’s Castle. It was where high-ranking demons who could pose a threat to the castle were imprisoned.

They were the children of rulers positioned in the four cardinal directions around the central continent of the demon realm. Hostages to prove loyalty. By placing direct family members or those high in the line of succession in the castle, they had declared they would not dare rebel.

But the situation had reversed.

“Father! Why! Why did you do this!”

Crash!

A vase flew in a straight line and shattered on the floor. A woman’s desperate scream, more harrowing than the terrible howls of magical beasts, erupted from one of the rooms.

“Why did you suddenly cut off contact! I’m here. The heir who’s supposed to inherit the tribe after you is right here, so why did you cut me off!”

Once more, the sound of something breaking was heard. This time, a table split in half and crumbled into sawdust. Berdia, the daughter of the southern continent’s ruler who had done all this, was still breathing heavily with anger, apparently not yet calmed down.

“No matter how I think about it, I don’t understand. Why, what were you thinking to do such a thing!”

Something utterly incomprehensible to her had happened. The morning’s catastrophe was so shocking that it would go down in demon realm history, and everyone in the reception room was hotly debating it. When she heard the reason, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter. To abandon everything for love? And to leave solely for self-satisfaction without considering one’s subordinates.

He wasn’t fit to be king. Any demon who encountered that Demon King would want to behead him on the spot. A disgrace to the demon realm. They gossiped about such details.

Of course, there was a moment of tension when news spread that the warlords were making moves, but fortunately, no one took immediate action. The commotion could soon be calmed. There was anxiety, but no major incident had occurred.

However, there was one exception: the ruler of the south.

He had cut off contact as soon as the situation erupted. The timing was too suspicious to be a simple error. He had even severed all secret communication channels with his heir, Berdia. Confused, Berdia had tried to find a solution by poking around here and there, but the situation only worsened.

“Stop causing a disturbance and stay put.”

Bang!

Berdia stopped moving at the words of a soldier who had opened the door and entered. The soldier, who had observed her every move, said that acts of rebellion against the castle could not be forgiven. Shortly after, he captured all the lower demons who had acted as liaisons with the south. News soon arrived that they had been handed over to the punishment department, and all the southern lower demons were hanged on poles in a garden visible from the reception room.

“…….”

The sight visible through the window was chilling. Contorted faces, as if they had felt the pain of death, were staring directly at her. Twisted expressions conveyed an insane fear.

Her father had abandoned his daughter. She, who had been struggling, was helplessly captured.

‘You’ll soon be like us.’

The severed heads seemed to say. For the first time, fear gripped her, who had been born in the south and possessed the most beautiful and powerful abilities.

She could do nothing. The helplessness was overshadowed by fear.

“Please. Please. Please. Please. I don’t want to die like this. Why do I have to suffer this fate?”

Berdia collapsed onto the table. Even as she did so, her shoulders trembled like an aspen tree, making it impossible to stay still. She wanted to grab onto something, anything, and cry out for help.

If only she could die honorably while fighting someone. But to be branded a traitor and executed miserably.

“Or… should I really cause a disturbance and die?”

Berdia, raising her head, muttered. It seemed better to meet a demon-like end. Perhaps that’s what her father had wanted.

To sacrifice her life for the tribe’s independence. Since she was trapped in this castle with no way out, it would be better to at least preserve her honor. That seemed right. A strong warrior of the south should meet a glorious end.

“……”

Berdia slowly rose. Her trembling body had calmed considerably. She felt reborn as a warrior, not a weeping girl.

Though weaponless, she would knock down all enemies outside with her bare hands.

Berdia moved step by step and stood before the door.

“Hoo…..”

Her heart pounded. She could feel her blood rushing so fast that her neck felt stiff. Her vision, brighter than usual, revealed the excitement of battle without filter.

“Hup!”

No preparation like deep breathing was needed. Berdia kicked open the door and clenched her fist. Recalling the face of the soldier who had intimidated her earlier, she vowed to smash it mercilessly.

And she would meet an end worthy of a southern warrior…

“Argh!”

Berdia’s strike was deflected with a thin scream. It was due to some black armor outside the door. Whatever material it was made of, it was so hard that the strength drained from her fist, which she had clenched with all her might.

Who on earth is outside? Wait, black armor?

In that moment, Berdia could recall. There was only one person in this Demon King’s Castle who wore such armor.

“Durin?”

“That’s right.”

The indifferent response. Thinking she might have misheard, she slightly raised her gaze and saw red eyes glowing.

“As expected of a traitor’s daughter. Isn’t that right, Spranches?”

“Despite being of barbarian blood, her courage is commendable.”

Durin, the skull crusher of the Demon King’s Castle, and Spranches, the small lizardman who assisted him.

“Ah.”

Berdia collapsed to the ground. Fighting, showing spirit, all those thoughts disappeared somewhere into the recesses of her memory.

She couldn’t win. There was no one under heaven who could defeat Durin except the Demon King. But the Demon King is gone, isn’t he?

In that moment, her dazed mind snapped back. It was the moment when reason, paralyzed by fear, returned.

-She had thrown a punch at Durin. But failed.

-Not a glorious end worthy of a southern warrior, but likely a miserable death.

-It was hard to find a possibility of survival here. But fighting would likely make her the most wretched in the world.

Berdia’s response was remarkably quick.

“I’m, I’m sorry! Please! Please! At least spare my life, please spare my life!”

The daughter of the southern ruler prostrated herself on the floor with perfect posture. Her form was so impeccable that a soldier watching from behind couldn’t help but admire it.

“Forgive me. Representative of the Demon King, no, Captain of the Guard… ugh! O Four Heavenly King. I have committed disrespect!”

But none of that registered in Berdia’s mind.

She had to beg for her life, rubbing her palms together.

Honor or whatever, she was about to die miserably, so what did that matter now?

And so, the small rebellion came to a pathetic end.