Chapter 63
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Test
< Chapter 17 - The Test >
The Demon King's castle was the heart of the Demon World.
Not just geographically, but culturally and technologically as well, it was a hub where things rarely seen in the various dominions and duchies of the Demon World could be found.
The airship port was one such thing.
In the airship port, which consisted of hangars for numerous airships large and small and a vast space for takeoffs and landings, dozens of people had gathered.
Even for the Demon King's castle, using an airship was a rare event, so it was unusual for such a large crowd to assemble.
The children of the concubines and their subordinates.
The nobles of the Demon King's castle and their subordinates.
Servants who had come to greet their masters.
Though their reasons for gathering varied slightly, they were all ultimately there to meet those who would soon arrive.
Someone raised a hand and pointed to the sky. Someone else let out a gasp, while another unconsciously scowled. There were also those who showed their delight.
A sailing ship with pitch-black sails rode the winds of the Demon King's castle.
The treasure of the Dark Elves and the flagship of the 5th Prince, Silvan Doomblade.
The Black Flame Dragon had arrived at the Demon King's castle.
&
There had been no prior discussion. But Chris and Felicia exchanged a look tinged with wry smiles and fell into the most appropriate formation.
The first to step onto the rather large folding staircase unfolded by Silvan's crew was Ingong.
Karak followed right behind Ingong. Flanking them as if to place the two at the center, Chris and Felicia took their positions to the left and right. Caitlin and Silvan stood beside Chris and Felicia, as they always did. With the remaining aides, excluding Karak, following their respective masters, a formation naturally formed with Ingong at the center front.
Positions held symbolic meaning.
It wasn't for nothing that a rectangular table had a seat of honor.
The center of the group.
The one who leads the group.
Not only had five of the Demon King's children gathered in one place, but they were also acting together.
The 5th Prince and 6th Princess, the 7th Prince and 8th Princess.
The royalty of the Dark Elves and Lycanthropes, who had little interaction with each other.
Why were they moving together? Who had united them?
Their positions answered that question.
A single glance was enough to tell who led the group.
The 9th Prince, Shutora Ignus.
He had subjugated the Red Lightning Tribe with the 7th Prince and 8th Princess.
After rescuing the 6th Princess, they had undertaken every mission together. The 6th Princess had shown such devotion that she volunteered for missions just to help the 9th Prince.
And to that was added the 5th Prince, who was utterly devoted to the 6th Princess.
Suspicion became certainty.
While some were pleased, others felt displeasure.
But they all understood instinctively.
A new faction had emerged in the Demon King's castle.
Shutora Ignus, the youngest and once called the trash prince, was the head of this new faction.
Descending the folding staircase into a flood of gazes, Ingong gave a wry smile. It wasn't just because he could guess what everyone was thinking from their eyes and expressions.
“It’s quite overwhelming.”
The first time he visited, there was no one to welcome him. The second time, at least Felicia's attendants had acknowledged him.
And now, the third visit.
Everyone was focused on Ingong. Moreover, this time, there were even people who had come out specifically to greet him.
Flora, the butler of his mansion in the Demon King's castle, stood there with two servants. Seeing Flora looking their way, her face as impassive as ever, Ingong let out a long, relieved breath.
“What a relief.”
“What's a relief?”
“That Flora hasn't been charmed yet.”
Karak tilted his head as if to ask what he meant, and Ingong just smiled faintly.
To think he'd be this satisfied just because Flora wasn't making the same expressions as Karma, Seira, Delia, Sephira, and Daphne when looking at Karak.
Ingong, forcing the smile from his face, had nearly reached the bottom of the staircase when Silvan's voice came from behind him.
“There are Draconians. They seem to have concealed their presence, but they can't fool my eyes…”
“I smell Succubi. Looks like they've all come out to watch. I like it.”
Chris cut Silvan off mid-sentence and spoke as well.
Unlike Silvan's voice, which held a scoff, his was the voice of a predator, tinged with a low growl.
Draconians and Succubi were here. It was unlikely that they, who had no particular connection to the assembled party, had come out to welcome them with pure intentions. It was more likely reconnaissance or spying.
It meant they were that conscious of his group.
They couldn't ignore them.
“Your Highness.”
Flora bowed demurely before Ingong. The managers of Felicia's and Chris's mansions followed suit, and their attendants gathered around.
There were children of the concubines whose faces he recognized from his second return, as well as some he was seeing for the first time.
Ingong ordered Flora to move the luggage from the Black Flame Dragon to the mansion. Ingong himself had practically no luggage, but Amita's was another story.
Daphne, holding Amita in her arms, decided to accompany Flora. It had already been decided that Amita would pretend to be an ordinary raccoon, at Amita's own request to avoid getting involved in complicated matters.
Like Ingong, Felicia and Chris entrusted their luggage to their butlers but continued to accompany Ingong instead of returning to their own mansions.
Thanks to them, their attendants also joined the group, creating a procession of over twenty people. Once again, Ingong stood at the head of the group.
‘A triumphant return.’
Many of the concubines' children wanted to speak to Ingong. Among them were Silas and Celine, whom he had wanted to secure just as much as Daphne.
Seeking out and recruiting talented individuals one by one wasn't the only way. Creating a faction that made talented people seek you out was another method of recruitment.
Ingong dealt with them appropriately as he headed for the Office of Meritorious Deeds.
The children of the concubines and other followers all dispersed in front of the Office of Meritorious Deeds, but the group was still large.
Five children of the Demon King and their four aides, making nine in total.
Inside the Office of Meritorious Deeds, which felt unusually cramped, the official in charge, Isabella, wore a smile mixed with admiration and perplexity.
“9th Prince, you never cease to amaze me.”
The tip of the lamia's long, long tail quivered pleasantly. A beautiful woman's smile was always a pleasant sight, so Ingong smiled back, but a disgruntled voice cut in between them.
“Isabella, I'm here too, you know?”
It was Chris, grinning mischievously. Anyone else might have been flustered, but Isabella, who was on good terms with all the Demon King's children, was different. As if accustomed to Chris's teasing, she smiled with her eyes and gave a slightly exaggerated bow in his direction.
“Of course, I know. It's been a while since I've seen you at the Office of Meritorious Deeds, 7th Prince.”
Chris was satisfied with her friendly tone. Then, another disgruntled voice chimed in.
“I'm here too.”
“Yes, 5th Prince. Of course. It's a great pleasure to see the 6th Princess and 8th Princess as well.”
‘She's like a nanny soothing children.’
After all, Isabella had known the Demon King's children since they were much younger. She even maintained a friendly demeanor with the likes of Zephyr. It was probably no different with the 1st Prince, Baikal, or the 4th Princess, Anastasia.
Whether it was because she was genuinely close to all the children, or if it was a means to stay close to them, Isabella never got involved in political matters like factions.
Today, too, she faced Ingong solely as the official in charge of the Office of Meritorious Deeds.
“9th Prince, what can I help you with today?”
“I'd like to add a new facility to my mansion.”
&
“You swindler! You said there was a smithy!”
Amita, no longer content with just smacking the floor with her tail, stomped her two feet and hopped around in anger.
Ingong stood in the middle of the smithy—which had just been installed today and was therefore virtually empty—and spread his arms wide.
“There is one now. You can decorate it however you wish, Lady Amita. Consider it your personal smithy. If there's anything you need, just let me know.”
At Ingong's kind reply, Amita shook her head vigorously and covered her face with her tiny hands.
“Ugh, I have a terrible feeling I'm never going to be able to leave this place…”
After all, there were over a dozen pieces of equipment that needed to be crafted immediately. A long-term stay was practically a given.
As Amita was busy despairing over her reality, Daphne quietly approached and took out a blue dog collar.
“Lady Amita, here's a collar. All pets in the Demon King's castle must have one. Please wear it at all times so you don't lose it.”
She then actually fastened the dog collar around Amita's neck. Stunned by the sudden turn of events, Amita stared blankly up at Daphne.
“You... you seem to be enjoying this, don't you?”
“Oh, of course not.”
Daphne laughed softly and hugged Amita, who let out another long sigh. It seemed she had given up.
‘I'm glad I have Daphne.’
It seemed he could just leave everything related to Amita to Daphne.
Ingong piled up the various materials he had stored in his inventory in a corner of the smithy and then headed for the mansion's drawing room. Felicia, Silvan, Chris, and Caitlin were gathered there.
“Where are the aides?”
“They're having their own tea time. The aides need a break too, don't they?”
At Felicia's answer, Ingong furrowed his brow slightly. An image of Karak sitting in a flower garden automatically popped into his head.
Ingong was seized by an inexplicable rage, and Caitlin looked up at him, finding his reaction odd.
“Shutora?”
“No, it's nothing.”
Forcing the image of Karak frolicking through a flower garden from his mind, Ingong took a seat between Caitlin and Felicia.
Unlike Caitlin, who was blinking in confusion, Felicia giggled as if she knew exactly what kind of delusion Ingong had just entertained.
“Anyway, the audience is scheduled for two days from now. Since a full summons was issued, it seems all of us—the Demon King's children—will be there... Brother Baikal, Brother Zephyr, Brother Victor, and Sister Anastasia.”
Having all of the Demon King's children attend an audience was something that hadn't even happened in Knight Saga. Caitlin and Chris had naturally been absent during the Lycanthrope subjugation, and in other cases, Shutora had been the one to miss it.
Silvan, who grew quiet whenever he was with Chris, remained silent this time as well. Caitlin, who wanted to get along with the other children of the Demon King, pursed her lips, her expression a mixture of worry and anticipation.
Chris took Caitlin's hand and said.
“As Mother said, it doesn't seem to be anything to worry too much about. It looks like there's some trouble on the frontier.”
“The frontier?”
It was Felicia who asked. Chris nodded and continued.
“I only heard a little about it on the way here, so I'll have to confirm it again today. It seems they plan to discuss it on the day of the audience, as there hasn't been an official announcement in the castle yet.”
Perhaps another incident like the Red Lightning Tribe's uprising had occurred.
Judging that it wasn't a major issue since rumors weren't circulating in the castle, Chris changed the subject.
“More importantly.”
“More importantly?”
“I'm already looking forward to it. I wonder what will happen at this audience. It was a real shame I couldn't attend Shutora's second one.”
He seemed to be hoping for another shocking event that would astound everyone.
Felicia, on the other hand, knitted her brows in a worried frown, pressing a hand to her chest.
“It's bad for my heart. Let's please have it go quietly this time, Shutora. Okay?”
Silvan and Caitlin's gazes also turned to Ingong. Ingong nodded, a wry smile on his face much like the one Amita had worn in the smithy.
And two days later, on the day of the audience.
Ingong's faction, along with their respective aides, gathered in the waiting room of the audience chamber. Baikal and Zephyr were scheduled to attend the audience directly without waiting, and Victor and Anastasia were using a different waiting room. So, aside from Silvan, who grew dispirited whenever he stood next to Chris, everyone else looked relatively at ease.
“Hmm, it's starting to feel familiar after wearing it three times.”
Karak said, adjusting his necktie. With his large build and broad shoulders, the suit looked quite good on him.
Ingong looked around at the others. Felicia wore a red dress that was, as usual, cut so low in the back that it dipped to the base of her spine. Silvan wore a black uniform lavishly decorated with gold thread. He couldn't wear his captain's hat to the audience, so like Felicia, his silver hair was exposed, but he still had his eyepatch on.
Caitlin wore a blue dress with a different colored fabric wrapped only around her waist to accentuate her slender figure, giving her an overall calm yet cute appearance.
But the most striking, as always, was Chris. Though his build and muscles were on par with Karak's, he exuded a wild aura despite being in a black suit.
Ingong was again wearing the same white suit he had worn to the previous two audiences. Felicia, greatly displeased that he would wear the same outfit to a formal event three times in a row, was nagging him that they needed to set a day to get him a new wardrobe.
“In any case, I hope it all goes smoothly.”
Felicia said, clasping her hands together. Chris snickered, his expression saying that was unlikely.
And as if on cue, the waiting room door opened. It was time for them to enter.
&
The moment the audience chamber doors opened, Ingong knew instinctively.
Something was wrong.
The chamber was filled with a chaotic silence. Suppressed bewilderment and shock felt like they could erupt into sound at any moment.
Why?
Ingong looked straight ahead. He could see the backs of the 1st Prince Baikal, 2nd Prince Zephyr, 3rd Prince Victor, and 4th Princess Anastasia, who were kneeling on one knee before the Demon King.
It wasn't because of them. They were surprised too.
Zephyr and Anastasia were the very picture of composure, but Baikal and Victor were showing some agitation.
Then what was it?
Ingong's gaze traveled further. From behind him, not in front, he heard Silvan let out a stifled gasp of shock. Not only Felicia and Caitlin, but even Chris, who had been hoping for a dramatic situation, couldn't hide his unease.
At the highest point of the dais.
The Demon King was not alone. A person was standing next to the Demon King's throne.
The Sword Duke, Ishgard.
The Sura elder who had never once shown himself at an audience. The sword master who, aside from the Demon King, could still claim to be the strongest in the Demon World!
He looked into the distance. In the silent audience chamber, he alone spoke in a cheerful voice.
“9th Prince, it's been about a month. Have you been well?”
A casual greeting.
But one that could never be taken lightly.
Everyone's gaze turned to Ingong. Gasps like suppressed groans erupted from all around.
< Chapter 17 - The Test > End