The Demon God Has Issued an Oracle
The absolute sovereign of the Demon Realm and the number one ranked Demon King Devil, seated on the highest throne in the Demon King's castle lobby with his chin propped on one hand, spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.
"The Demon God has issued an oracle."
The seven first-rank high official demons standing in two lines before him reacted in various ways.
"She's been quiet for so long—finally!"
"War, right?"
"Hmm... No word at all until now—what could this be about?"
Demon King Devil gazed steadily at the murmuring group before shifting his eyes to the demon with fly wings.
"What do you think the oracle's content might be, Beelzebub?"
Beelzebub. The mightiest demon among the 72 high officials under the Demon King, holding the top rank.
He replied without even trying to hide the greedy gleam in his eyes.
"What else could it be but war?"
The Demon King nodded.
"Correct."
"Yet you seem deep in thought, somehow."
"Why do you think that is?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I am."
"...Ah."
Silence fell over the gathering for a moment. The seven high officials exchanged glances, gauging the Demon King's mood.
'What's with him today?'
'Is this new? We knew to brace ourselves the moment the summons came.'
'Just say what you need to and be done with it. I've got a busy day.'
'Yaaawn~'
'War! It's war! Just declare it already!'
'This worries me. Hope he doesn't get stubborn over nothing.'
As their minds buzzed noisily,
"Listen up, all of you."
The Demon King's mouth opened again.
"The Demon God has commanded war with the Heavenly Realm. She says she's reclaimed the heart we left in the Creator's care."
At those words, the high officials' faces filled with rapture.
"She'll set the day of mobilization again, so prepare thoroughly... However..."
The high officials desperately hoped those lips would utter the command to ready for war.
For 2,000 years now, the Demon Realm's numbers of magic beasts and low demons had been steadily declining. Meaning their food supply was running out.
Even the Demon God didn't know the cause. She prided herself on having created an ideal world where those inheriting demonic blood could live comfortably. Yet the ecosystem's balance was crumbling bit by bit—a true mystery.
"Hm. Agares."
The Demon King swallowed his intended words and called out to Agares instead.
A white-haired old man riding a massive crocodile back smiled warmly. He held the second rank among the first-rank high officials.
Agares stroked the sparrow perched on his shoulder before turning to the Demon King.
"Speak, Your Majesty."
With impeccably courteous speech and a slight bow of his head—
Pop!
Darkness swallowed everything around them. Suddenly, in a space cut off from the outside, only the Demon King and Agares remained.
"You have private words to share, it seems."
The Demon King cut straight to it, voicing his concerns.
"What do you think it means that the Demon God has reclaimed the heart?"
"She must have made contact with the Mid-Realm's ruler. Likely they approached her first."
"Right? Doesn't it feel fishy? We know exactly what kind of bastard the Creator is."
"Recalling the 'Three Realms War' from 1,100 years ago, he's no one we can trust."
The Three Realms War. An enormous conflict 1,100 years ago where the Demon Realm, Heavenly Realm, and Earth Realm all rose against one another.
The Demon King nodded deeply.
"The Demon Realm has shown signs of doom steadily for 2,000 years now, so she started this war to save at least the children she created."
"To seize other lands and let the demons thrive there."
"Yes. But she could have destroyed everything she made and built a new Demon Realm. Honestly, I still think that's the right path."
There were two reasons the Demon King had cast a barrier to speak privately with Agares. This was one of them.
The other high officials would never understand such talk.
But Agares, the wisest among all demons, fully grasped the Demon King's heart.
"I agree. Yet the Demon God holds great affection for us. Unable to kill her own children with her own hands, she chooses the harder path."
"Who wouldn't understand that sentiment? It's just... I'm anxious she might be falling for the Creator's schemes again."
"I share that worry. The Three Realms War was a disaster born of his machinations. But we can't just worry forever—the time left to the Demon Realm is short. You must decide."
"...You're right."
With the Demon King's heavy sigh, the barrier lifted.
The other high officials, excluding Agares, openly showed their displeasure or stared curiously at the Demon King.
Especially Beelzebub, the top of the 72 high officials—fury boiled within him.
'Why him over me?!'
The Demon King read Beelzebub's inner thoughts and chuckled inwardly. The second reason for that performance was precisely to provoke him.
"Beelzebub."
The Demon King called to the deeply frowning Beelzebub.
"Yes."
"To sate your endless greed, prepare thoroughly for the coming war."
Beelzebub was the greediest demon in the Demon Realm, but also incredibly lazy. With war looming, it was time to enforce military discipline strictly.
Yet if the pillar shook, the whole building would. Thus, he'd planted a sense of crisis—that he might lose his top spot to Agares.
Beelzebub's eyes blazed as he curled his lips smugly.
"My greed knows no satisfaction."
"Good. Everyone... prepare for war."
Demon King Devil of the Demon Realm accepted the Demon God's oracle and declared war for the first time in 1,000 years since the last.
Han Ji-woo returned to the Hidden Dungeon.
Though his time in the Demon Realm hadn't been long, it felt like days had passed.
"Master!"
"Ahh! You're back safe, sir!"
Nya~a~a~a~!
Nya~a~a~!
Qruruk!
Qruuuu~!
The pets welcomed their master enthusiastically after his return through the Dimensional Gate.
As always, Lucy and the chubby Seibier were the most fervent, rubbing against him and licking wildly to show their joy.
Brisong, now huge and seemingly hitting puberty, stood a step back, wagging his tail gently.
But Toryong was nowhere in sight.
"Where's Toryong? Sleeping underground?"
It wasn't bedtime yet.
"Well, you see..."
As Ferrofero moved to explain to the curious Han Ji-woo—
Pop!
Toryong poked just his head out from the ground over there.
Brisong, who had been sitting obediently, sprang up and charged like the wind.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho~ You're slow, aren't you~!"
Before Brisong's paw could grab his head, Toryong ducked back underground.
Then he popped up from behind.
"The ruler of the underground! Teasing Brisong is fine, isn't it~?"
Brisong whirled around and charged again, but missed once more.
The scene repeated endlessly.
"Here!"
"Right here~"
"Here, isn't it~?"
"Yo-ho-ho-ho-ho~ Where did the Logaku who catches Toryong go~?"
"Are you letting me catch you on purpose?"
"Acho! I dozed off thinking you weren't coming to catch me~"
"Oh dear? Were you coming to catch me? Thought you were coming slowly to greet me~ Yo-ho-ho-ho!"
Han Ji-woo couldn't hold back and muttered,
"Aish, annoying. Look at that smug mug!"
It wasn't even directed at him, but it irked him anyway.
Brisong, however, seemed to be having the time of his life.
Hah-hah-hah-!
Woof! Woof woof!
Arrrf!
Big as he was now, he rarely barked and spent most days lounging after his duties. But now, tongue lolling out, he bounded around excitedly.
Seeing that face, Han Ji-woo sensed something and asked Ferrofero,
"Is Toryong playing with Brisong right now, by any chance?"
"Seems like it, sir."
"Ah... Then it's commendable, but why so infuriating?"
"At first, I thought Toryong was just bored and teasing him, sir. Can't you fix that mouth of his? I hold back from smacking him every time he says something rude to the princess!"
Han Ji-woo chuckled.
"You'll get it. His manners are grating, but as you see, he's got depth."
Even now, wasn't he passionately playing with the seemingly lonely post-puppy Brisong?
"You'll adapt soon enou—"
As Han Ji-woo comforted Ferrofero, Toryong's face suddenly popped up right in front of him.
"Eek!"
"Oops? Came out wrong~ Yo-ho-ho-ho!"
"You little...!"
As he reached to squish that annoying face flat—
"The earth calls me~"
Toryong dove underground.
"...Huh."
Han Ji-woo hadn't anticipated it and ended up—
Thud! Crash!
—tackled by Brisong, rolling on the ground.
He'd missed Toryong, who vanished, and crashed into his master instead.
"Cough. Our Brisong's gotten so sturdy."
Feeling guilty for accidentally harming his master, Brisong licked his cheeks fervently.
The warmth he hadn't felt in a while brought a smile to Han Ji-woo's pained face.
"Heh-heh. There, there. That's enough."
Though brief, Brisong's recent aloofness had stung a bit. But now it seemed he'd just grown out of overt displays—his love for his master remained unchanged.
'Did Toryong set this up on purpose?'
He wondered if Toryong had orchestrated it, knowing Brisong felt neglected.
Anyway, Brisong's eager licking only stopped after Han Ji-woo repeatedly assured him he was fine.
And right on cue, a Dimensional Gate-related system message appeared.
Quest Clear Reward: The Dimensional Gate to the Demon Realm is strengthened.
"Oh."
He hurried to the Logaku house and peered at the humming Dimensional Gate within.
Black sparks crackled from it, noise flickering across its surface before vanishing.
The Dimensional Gate to the Demon Realm has been strengthened. You can now travel while bringing along one other living being besides yourself.
"Yes!"
The upgrade aligned perfectly with what he'd hoped.
Clenching his fist, Han Ji-woo looked at Toryong.
This guy optimized any land for farming. Crops grown there ignored climate and yielded massive harvests without fail.
So next time the gate opened, bringing Toryong to the Demon Realm would solve their farming woes!
"Perfect. Now, time to craft some weapons."
Han Ji-woo dumped the weapons and gear he'd swept up from the Demon Realm onto the ground and rubbed his hands.
But then—
'...Hold on.'
The poem from the earlier system message suddenly resurfaced.
That oddly out-of-place verse had felt full of dissonance.
'Could it be...?'
He quickly opened his message log, found that childish poem, and his brow furrowed.