Demon King

We arrived at the Demon King’s territory, the capital, approximately two months after departing from Juknok’s domain.

My reputation must have spread this far already, as I was invited to the Demon King’s palace.

We received barracks away from the palace, where I had Kureha, Minji, and 300 Tentacle elite soldiers stand by.

I, Louisa, Kanpasha, Nerubika, Teacher Lime, and Hanifa entered the Demon King’s throne room.

In the throne room, the old Demon King Cloven (Demon) was seated on a throne atop a dais in front of a long carpet.

To Cloven’s right sat the First Queen, Oilope (Werewolf), to his left the Second Queen, Rasha (Naga), and the Third Queen, Stephanie (Vampire).

Around the carpet below the dais stood three Demon King candidates, along with lords and high-ranking officers I had not yet met.

They were divided into four groups: Prince Ranulf (Werewolf)’s group, Princess Shagira (Naga)’s group, Prince Silvan (Vampire)’s group, and a neutral faction.

I walked towards the Demon King, observing the faces of those who seemed to be his children.

‘Prince Ranulf looks strong and ambitious. Princess Shagira gives off the air of a proud noblewoman. Huh? Prince Silvan just looks like a woman? Wasn’t he a man?’

I stood before the Demon King and introduced myself.

“Greetings, Demon King, leader of the Demon Lord Army. I am Kyle, King of the Kyle Holy Kingdom, a nation of great dark races outside the jungle.”

The Demon King was an old man with a scraggly beard, but he possessed a tremendous dark power within him, enough to defend against several of my True Heart Punches.

The Demon King greeted me warmly.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, King of a foreign land. I can feel an immense dark power emanating from you. It has been 200 years since Lord Juknok returned, the only time someone from the outside has passed through the jungle. What brings you here?”

“You may not know it here, but the light races still enslave and torment the dark races, including Demons.”

I continued.

“I, Kyle, have united the dark races of the great Bohawk Forest, defeated the merfolk of the Mermaid Sea to establish the Sahagin Kingdom, and conquered the human kingdom of Gale to liberate all Demon slaves of the Gale Kingdom. I am the supreme authority of a vast dark race community.”

People murmured in admiration at my achievements, and I continued.

“My country is now preparing for war with the Hamel Empire, a great nation of light races. My goal is to conquer all the light races and create a continent for the dark races. Therefore, I wish to form an economic and military alliance with the Demon Lord Army.”

I spread my arms wide in a Y-shape, looking around and shouting loudly.

“Let us drive out the light together and create a continent for the darkness!”

The dark races fundamentally love the strong and the outstanding, and they crave battle.

I was a fresh stimulus to the Demon Lord Army’s dark races, who had been stagnant for nearly 500 years without war.

The Demon King was impressed by my speech and applauded, and soon everyone in the throne room looked up to me and applauded.

Clap clap clap clap clap

The Demon King smiled and said to me.

“You are a remarkable person. I pay my respects to your achievements. I need to think a little more about Kyle-nim’s proposal. For now, Kyle-nim and your companions, please stay in the palace’s guest quarters.”

I didn’t expect a decision right away, so I agreed.

“Thank you. And please accept the gifts I have brought.”

As I spoke, precious jewels, ornaments, and specialties of various races poured out from Teacher Lime’s body, filling the throne room.

The Demon King said with a satisfied expression.

“Hahaha. Thank you so much for giving me such precious things.”

It seemed like I had made a good start.

We were guided by a Demon maid to the guest quarters and were able to rest.

My Tentacle soldiers were staying in barracks away from the palace for safety reasons, but the Demon King agreed to provide food for the soldiers.

I was resting in my room when someone knocked on my door.

I called out.

“Come in.”

It was a Demon maid who entered.

“Kyle-nim, hello. I am Kyle-nim’s exclusive maid. From now on, you can order me to do everything you need.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“The Demon King wishes to have a private meeting with Your Majesty over dinner. Would that be alright?”

“Of course. Let’s go.”

The maid led me to the Demon King’s office.

In the office, the Demon King and a Demon man were sitting on a sofa.

Demon King Cloven introduced the Demon man.

“The one sitting next to me is my brother and the 8th-ranked lord, Knevbaum. He is the family member I trust the most.”

Knevbaum greeted me.

“Hello. It is an honor to meet such a strong person.”

We exchanged various pleasantries, including the things I had accomplished and the things the Demon King had done.

The Demon King now brought up the important topic.

“You said you wanted to form an alliance with the Demon Lord Army?”

“Yes.”

“That is impossible right now because of the Demon King succession battle. Even if I form an alliance, the next Demon King could change it.”

“As expected.”

“Perhaps Kyle-nim is trying to become the Demon King?”

“My purpose is to form an alliance with the Demon Lord Army, not to become the Demon King.”

“Hoo…. Then I would like to ask Kyle-nim for a favor.”

“What is it?”

“I am aware that my children and each family are fighting for the Demon King’s seat beneath the surface. But I cherish all my children.”

“Then….”

“I don’t care who becomes the Demon King, but please prevent my children from engaging in a bloody feud with each other.”

“That’s a difficult request.”

“If you do this, all the Demon lords in my support base will help Kyle-nim.”

Knevbaum also looked at me and asked with a serious expression.

“My nephews and nieces were not originally on bad terms, but now they are trying to kill each other because of their ambition to become the Demon King. Please prevent my nephews and nieces from making mistakes.”

The Demon King opened his mouth with eyes full of regret.

“If my children kill their siblings, they will regret it for the rest of their lives like I do.”

In the Demon King’s eyes was a deep desire not to have his children walk the same bloody path as he did.

I seriously considered it and accepted the Demon King’s request.

The Demon King’s supporters were the 9th-ranked Knevbaum, the 12th-ranked Quillan, the 15th-ranked Morgan, the 17th-ranked Marcel, and the 18th-ranked Benny.

Being able to receive the support of the Demon King and five lords would be a great help to my future endeavors.

“I accept.”

The Demon King’s expression brightened.

“Thank you. All my Demon lord relatives will help Kyle-nim. However, I will not help with any requests that put any of my children in danger. Also, if my child dies at Kyle-nim’s hands, I will become an enemy at any time.”

“I understand. I will try my best since you trust me and give me such an important request.”

I talked more with the Demon King and Knevbaum before returning to my quarters.

I told my subordinates about what I had heard and my decision.

Louisa said with a bright expression.

“Kyle-nim. The current Demon King’s and the five lords’ support is definitely not light. I think you made a good choice.”

“I think so too. Now the important thing is what to do next.”

“If we wait, the other groups will come looking for us on their own.”

---

As Louisa said, the next day a werewolf came to find me and led me to a place in the palace.

There sat Prince Ranulf (Werewolf), his grandfather, the 2nd-ranked Lord Terius (Werewolf), his mother, the First Queen Oilope (Werewolf), and his great-uncle, the 7th-ranked Lord Lycaon (Werewolf).

They were all in human form.

Despite having lived for a long time, Terius and Lycaon looked like men in their late 30s.

Since hybrids between different dark races strongly exhibit the traits of one race, Oilope was a werewolf, even though she was the daughter of a werewolf and an Alraune.

Ranulf was an ambitious-looking, gray-haired, muscular man of 190cm.

Ranulf welcomed me.

“It is an honor to meet such a great person.”

I also greeted him.

“Thank you for calling me that.”

We exchanged simple pleasantries.

Soon, Ranulf brought up the important topic.

The others had trusting faces and seemed to have entrusted everything to him.

“Please help me become the Demon King.”

“Why me?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Kyle-nim has a stronger presence than anyone I’ve ever seen. If someone like you supports me, I will definitely become the Demon King.”

“Then what do I get?”

Ranulf proposed with a relaxed face.

“Kyle-nim wanted an alliance with the Demon Lord Army, right? If I become the Demon King, I will follow Kyle-nim and wipe out all the light races. I have always wanted to go outside this small territory, and I think this is my chance.”

His grandfather, Terius, also spoke.

“If you support Ranulf, our werewolf clan and my wife Mishisha (Alraune)’s Jungle Autonomous Region tribe will all become Kyle-nim’s allies.”

“Hmm. Those are good conditions. Give me a little more time to think.”

Ranulf looked straight at me and said.

“Only if I become the Demon King can Kyle-nim obtain the strong Demon Lord Army you desire. Also, werewolves do not betray favors.”

“I understand.”

I talked a little more before returning to my quarters.

---

A few hours later, this time a Naga came to my quarters and led me to another room.

There sat Princess Shagira (Naga), her grandfather, the 3rd-ranked Lord Adnel (Naga), her grandmother, the 8th-ranked Lord Ambrava (Naga), and her mother, the Second Queen Rasha (Naga).

The strong ones controlled their aging, so they all looked young, but I could tell they were lords from the powerful dark energy emanating from their bodies.

As a Naga, Shagira had webbed fins on her ears and shoulders, and a water snake’s tail covered in turquoise scales.

Shagira’s hair was turquoise, and her figure was slim, but her breasts were D-cup.

Shagira exuded the atmosphere of a proud noblewoman.

This time, Rasha spoke as the representative.

“Hello. I am the Second Queen Rasha. It is an honor to meet such a great dark being.”

The others introduced themselves and greeted me, and I also greeted them.

After we talked for a while, Rasha brought up the important topic.

“Please become the support base for my daughter Shagira.”

“Then what do I get?”

“Shagira is now a mature Naga woman and a good child. How about you get engaged to my daughter first and then marry her when my daughter becomes the Demon King?”

“Didn’t we just meet?”

“Power is the most important thing to the dark races. Your dark power is stronger than my husband, the Demon King Cloven. If you become my daughter’s husband, no one will be able to ignore my daughter.”

“What about the alliance with the Demon Lord Army?”

“Since you have become my daughter’s husband, it will naturally be achieved. Shagira. Tell Kyle-nim.”

Shagira crossed her arms with a bewitching face and looked at me.

“Ahem. I am a woman from the noblest family in the Naga. Marrying me is the greatest honor. And the military and economic alliance that Kyle-nim wants will also be achieved.”

This time, her grandfather, Adnel, spoke.

“If you become my granddaughter’s husband, of course all the Nagas will take the lead with Kyle-nim and strike the light races.”

“Thank you. I will think about it.”

Shagira added one more word.

“I, the best woman, have proposed marriage, and you say you’ll think about it? You won’t find better conditions than this.”

Everyone except me was nodding at Shagira’s words.

I greeted them and returned to my quarters again.

---

When it became night, this time a skeleton came to find me and took me to another room.

There were Prince Silvan (Vampire), his grandfather, the 5th-ranked Lord Balthazar (Vampire), his mother, the Third Queen Stephanie (Vampire), and his maternal aunt, the 11th-ranked Lord Magdalena (Dullahan).

Silvan had long, straight, lavender-colored hair, a pretty and slender face, a height of 164cm, a slender body, thin arms, and smooth legs.

Silvan had a slightly clumsy and innocent atmosphere, and except for the fact that he had no breasts, he was just like a woman.

Unlike humans, vampires and Dullahan all looked young for their age.

When I entered, Balthazar nudged Silvan, who was sitting next to him, with his elbow.

Silvan bowed and greeted politely.

“Ah, hello! I, I am Prince Silvan!”

It was a thin, feminine voice, and Silvan was really an otokonoko.

‘Hey. Is he really a prince? He’s just like a woman?’

I also greeted him.

“Hello.”

Magdalena, a Dullahan with a pink ribbon fastened around her neck, looked at Silvan with a troubled face and touched her chin with her hand.

We talked for a while, and then Balthazar brought up the important topic.

“Please support my grandson Silvan in becoming the Demon King.”

Then Balthazar nudged Silvan with his elbow again, and Silvan looked around and shouted.

“Hyung! Please support me!!”

‘No. His voice is a woman’s. Shouldn’t I call him oppa? Does he even have a dick?’

I had other thoughts during the important conversation, but I pretended not to notice and asked.

“What can I get?”

Balthazar proposed.

“If you support my grandson Silvan, all the Undead in the Demon Lord Army, including me, and the Retched Hollow tribe in the Jungle Autonomous Region will become your allies.”

Magdalena also said with a serious face.

“Silvan may seem innocent, but he is a really strong child. Silvan can lead the Demon Lord Army and help you achieve your goals.”

“What is the relationship with the Retched Hollow tribe?”

Magdalena replied.

“The king of the Retched Hollow tribe is Dead Trent, but he is a brother who was born at the same time as me in the same cemetery. We Undead are naturally born in places with strong dark energy, and if we are born in the same place at the same time, we are considered brothers. Of course, there are also Undead who can have children, like vampires.”

I was curious if Juknok was included, so I asked.

“Does that perhaps include the 16th-ranked Lord Juknok-nim?”

Magdalena explained.

“We have done many favors for Juknok and his brother in the process of becoming liches. They are too far away to get involved in the Demon King succession battle, but if we ask them, they will choose us.”

The Third Queen Stephanie stroked Silvan’s hair, and Silvan laughed heeheehee.

Magdalena glared at him, and Silvan became serious again.

‘I don’t trust him.’

Then Silvan shouted as if he had remembered something.

“Ah! And the 10th-ranked Lord Asmodeus-nim supports me!”

“Are you talking about Asmodeus the Tentacle?”

Magdalena explained.

“Yes. Asmodeus-nim is very kind to Silvan only. Asmodeus-nim is the Tentacle of Original Sin who suddenly appeared 200 years ago. He will be of great help to Kyle-nim.”

“I’ll think about it for now.”

I returned to my quarters and went to sleep because it was late.