Chapter 81: First Visit to Afraksas (3)
Clang-!
A sharp metallic ring echoed through the forest.
Beyond mere metal clashing, it was mana colliding against mana.
Purple mana and black-red mana sparked like fireworks between the blades.
"Grk!"
Romanell and the high elves recoiled swiftly, as if even those sparks carried something sinister.
"You bastard...! I thought we could at least talk it out, but now they're all scattering because of you!"
"Shut your trap! Those elf scum deserve to be cut down on sight!"
'Of course. No surprise there.'
From the Demon King's viewpoint, any race that had opposed him from the start was a mortal enemy.
It was only natural for Horakti to be this furious.
"But you're seriously going to fight the high elves? They're among the strongest races in Afraksas."
"With your power and mine, it's possible."
"No, that's not the point."
Ha, this old-generation birdbrain was stubbornly unreasonable.
"Can't we just settle this with words?"
Horakti was even more unyielding than when he'd invaded Jeonghyeon's territory.
Such potent mana, yet he hadn't killed me outright? Baffling.
Dark purple light gleamed from Horakti's eyes.
Having to convince his own side before the enemy—what a pain.
Jeonghyeon had always found allies tougher to handle than foes.
'Damn, what a headache.'
How to play this? Beastkin followed their animal instincts, so maybe a show of strength would decide it.
"You brainless young Demon King punk!"
Nus popped out of the inventory like a jack-in-the-box.
The mana-dense air of Afraksas seemed to delight him; he glowed with an even brighter sheen.
For an Ethereal Slime that fed on ambient mana, this whole realm was an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Nus's mana didn't just surge—it overflowed, plain as day.
"Don't you even know the high elves in Elaha's Garden are just a tiny fraction?!"
Nus bounced forward in front of Jeonghyeon, forming a perfect sphere before zipping right up to Horakti's beak.
Yet Horakti didn't waver, keeping his mana and Guide of Spirits primed as he replied.
"Damn high elves—scurry into hiding anywhere they can, like the rat bastards they are."
'Why's he so pissed?'
Did this guy have some past-life grudge too? Otherwise, such irrational rage made no sense.
"Fine. Raze this one spot, and word will spread to every other high elf out there. They've got their own ways of communicating."
Nus expanded into a small humanoid shape.
Another form for a slime that could reshape at will: the pixie form, flitting about like a tiny fairy or human.
True to his arrogance, Nus's pixie form had white hair, eyes glowing with inner light instead of pupils, golden epaulets and armor conjured from mana, and a cape as big as his body.
'This guy's consistent, I'll give him that.'
Perched atop Horakti's beak, looking down imperiously, the ever-arrogant Nus spoke.
"Think it through. Even if Jeonghyeon 'sir' wipes out this handful of elves, then what? You confident you can survive making enemies of every high elf?"
Emphasizing the honorific after Jeonghyeon's name to flex his master's Demon King status.
Swords still crossed, Jeonghyeon felt a twinge of embarrassment.
"Or are you planning to flee across dimensions forever?"
"......"
Whoosh.
Whether Nus's ploy worked or not, Horakti finally withdrew his Guide of Spirits.
Not bad—persuasion laced with a threat.
Right. Bitter as it was, that was the weak's reality. No helping it.
Even if they handled this small group now, a united high elf assault would wipe out the remaining beastkin.
Target somewhere outside Elaha's Garden, or negotiate coexistence—that was priority one.
"......Damn it."
"Good. Smart choice."
Jeonghyeon sheathed Blood Dissector back into his inventory.
"Leave this place to me and Jeonghyeon sir. A ruler doesn't leave his kin for too long."
Having served a Demon King for ages, Nus's words carried weight.
Experience. Savvy.
'Veteran vibe hits different.'
That so-called "time served" power.
"So, what's your plan, exactly?"
Horakti had relented, but he wasn't sold on talk turning high elves friendly toward a Demon King.
"That'll be—"
Nus turned to Jeonghyeon as if it were his cue.
Thwack!
—and slammed his forehead hard.
"Ow! What the hell?!"
"Even an attack from your familiar won't faze our benevolent Demon King sir. He'll handle it."
'This prick just wanted an excuse to smack me...'
Stunned by the uncalled-for stunt, Jeonghyeon watched Horakti sigh deeply.
"Fine. Let's do it this way."
"Call if a fight breaks out. For us beastkin, this land is all we have. I'm desperate."
Horakti was as devoted to his kin as Jeonghyeon.
To the point where one wondered if all Demon Kings existed to protect their races.
"I get it. That's why I'm staking my life on figuring this out."
Understanding that drive, Jeonghyeon nodded with genuine empathy.
"Call anytime. And I know it's no small thanks. Risking your life for an ally's territory isn't easy."
"Heh. Appreciate the recognition."
Thanks to Nus.
The weak's plight. Horakti, feeling that forgotten bitterness, went humbly low.
"Hand this territory to me, and I'll back every move and decision you make from here on."
"Talks well for an old bird. Head back to your kin."
Nus cut him off sharply and turned to Jeonghyeon.
Colder than Jeonghyeon himself.
"Yeah. I'll call you later for sure."
"......Good luck."
Horakti melted into the air like mist.
Now, only Jeonghyeon and Nus remained in the forest.
"So, what's the plan now, oh frustrating and clueless Demon King sir?"
"Haha. Guess we talk it out."
"Hey, regressor Demon King."
"You punk, that's top-secret classified info you're just—!"
"Think before you act from now on."
"Huh?"
"You're a Demon King now. Dragons' nemesis. The races that were your comrades in your past life? They're your enemies now."
"I'll play along this time, but going forward......"
Before finishing, Nus cracked a dry smile.
"Ha. Knew it. You incompetent fool."
Thud.
Jeonghyeon felt a strange arrow in the back of his neck and collapsed flat.
"Haha."
But Nus's eyes, looking down, weren't laughing at all.
Jeonghyeon had wrapped mana around his neck the instant the arrow flew, barely avoiding a fatal wound—but that wasn't the issue.
The arrow was coated in potent anesthetic poison.
'Damn it...! Move...!'
His mind was sharp, but his body wouldn't budge.
High elf-made nerve toxin, no doubt.
As he lay face-down, vibrations rumbled through the earth into his ear.
The high elves approaching.
'Screwed...! If they strike now...!'
No chance for talk if ambushed like this.
Even on high alert during the standoff with Horakti, scanning dozens of meters—he'd still been hit.
Had to be a shot from hundreds of meters out.
Elves and their damn archery.
"Our Demon King sir. You hear me?"
-Yeah.
Jeonghyeon even used Demon King's Whisper to reply to Nus.
"Then remember what I do next. Gotta sync up."
-Me? Lips? With you? That's a bit...
"Not that, you idiot!"
Thud.
Nus kicked the back of his head with a tiny foot.
Jeonghyeon's skull jerked slightly.
"Sync our story. The words."
Then say so earlier. Jeonghyeon grumbled inwardly.
"Watch and learn. This is quick thinking."
Nus dropped to his knees toward the approaching high elves.
"What the—? The Demon King's familiar?"
Romanell's voice carried from afar.
Nus wept conjured tears at him, pleading.
"Spare our master, please! He's infected with the Demon King's mana!!"
'Oh, going with that angle?'
Jeonghyeon was impressed inwardly.
"What...? An Ethereal Slime? Why's something so rare here...?"
Romanell and the elves shifted to sweet, neighborly tones upon identifying Nus—like spotting a stray cat.
A tone even past-life Jeonghyeon had never heard.
"Yes! I'm an Ethereal Slime! You know! I only bond with the righteous and steadfast!"
'Was that true? Overkill setup?'
Jeonghyeon wondered, but the elves bought it.
"Right. Ethereal Slimes are the noblest among slimes."
"Exactly! And my master sought out you exalted high elves—beings of grandeur, purity, and ancient history—to purge the Demon King's corrupting mana!!"
Nus hammed it up, squeezing out endless tears like he knew nothing.
"......So that's his tragic story...?"
Romanell seemed fully hooked by the performance.
"Yes! Even the Demon King who hunted us was after him! My master's a righteous hero who fights injustice!"
Nus ad-libbed wildly without breathing.
"He recently saved suffering masses, awakened them as comrades, and came to fight for more of the weak... Sob sob sob!"
Not wrong, exactly.
Though not entirely accurate either, the high elves were mesmerized by Nus's act.
"L-Let's take him back and heal him."
"Yeah. No way someone with an Ethereal Slime is a Demon King."
Unbelievable.
Owe Nus big time.
What a useful familiar all around.
Unable to even stand, Jeonghyeon was hoisted onto Romanell's back.
Quite the ridiculous sight.
The Demon King, piggybacked by the high elves' young next-in-line chief, off for treatment.
Amid the absurd scene, Jeonghyeon sent Nus a whisper.
-Nus, nice! Thanks! Killer acting!
In response, Nus secretly smashed Jeonghyeon's head with full force.
Crack-!
Then, feigning sorrow again, he turned to Romanell with a pitiful face.
"Master's having a seizure! Hurry, take him!"
'......Shit.'
Eat that one properly.