Crisis on the Continent?
Was the air in the human world always this refreshing? Compared to the damp, heavy aura of the Demon Realm, the atmosphere here was clear and pure. It felt like the warm energy of living beings was wrapping around my entire body, infusing me with vitality. It had been five thousand years since I'd last felt the vibrancy of the human world.
Upon arriving at the Demon King's castle, towering walls greeted me. The fortress where Carpe had resided still boasted its majestic presence. The high walls built from black granite, the spires piercing the sky, and the demonic runes etched everywhere... Though time had brought moss and crumbling stones, its dignity remained intact.
"Quite an impressive castle."
As I pushed open the gates to enter, a massive shadow emerged from the darkness.
"Welcome, Lord Abraksas."
A deep, low voice echoed. A colossal demon covered in black scales knelt before me. It was Drusilla, the current ruler of the underground labyrinth beneath the Demon King's castle.
"It's been five thousand years, Drusilla."
"Yes. Upon hearing of your arrival, I ascended with all the followers from the labyrinth to await you."
True to her taciturn nature, her words were concise yet polite. But her voice carried genuine loyalty.
"Well done. And what of Carpe's private quarters?"
"No one has set foot in them. As per your command, they have been preserved exactly as they were."
"Excellent."
A satisfied smile curved my lips. A reliable subordinate indeed.
"Have all the followers wait outside the castle with you. I will explore alone."
"Understood."
Drusilla bowed deeply and retreated. Soon, footsteps echoed from various parts of the castle interior, and I saw followers quietly exiting. The corridors, once bustling with demons, now stood empty. Only my footsteps reverberated off the high ceilings.
It was a solitude I hadn't felt in ages. But it wasn't unpleasant. Quite the opposite—it was comforting.
My first stop was Carpe's old study. The vast room held countless books coated in dust. But one ornate bookshelf in the corner stood out. The volumes there, adorned with gold leaf, were pristine, without a speck of dust. Preservation magic, no doubt.
A few books caught my eye.
The Basics of Elegant Rhetoric
Perfect Etiquette Guide
Gem Appraisal and Valuation
Introduction to High Society for Beginners
"Carpe... quite taken with human culture, were you?"
These differed sharply from the others. Worn covers and bookmarks tucked everywhere suggested frequent, diligent reading. Even the margins were filled with neat notes in small script.
I carefully pulled one out and opened it. Annotations like 'Important—memorize this' and 'Practice in real life' filled the pages.
"Fascinating..."
A mighty Demon King so immersed in human refinement. An odd taste for a demon.
Next, the bedroom. A lavish canopy bed, pillows embroidered with delicate stitches, elegant paintings adorning the walls...
"Carpe dreamed of conquering the human world from here, no doubt."
On the bedside table sat a single journal. Its leather cover bore a small floral motif, edged in gold thread. I lifted it gingerly.
Opening the first page revealed beautiful handwriting.
'Today, labyrinth management proceeded smoothly...'
Carpe's daily life was meticulously recorded. No grand schemes as I'd hoped, but it revealed the delicate, meticulous side hidden behind the brutal Demon King's facade.
Finally, the throne room. In the grand hall stood a throne of black marble. But what drew my eye more was the small flowerpot beside it. A single withered rose remained inside.
"Even raising flowers..."
Another unexpected facet of Carpe. She valued life, it seemed.
Unbidden, I thought of Ricoris as I gazed at the wilted rose. That child is a flower too...
"Enough reminiscing."
I couldn't forget my purpose here. Behind the throne, a hidden passage came into view. Narrow and dark, it emanated thick demonic energy.
Deep inside, a vast secret chamber appeared.
"At last..."
My breath caught. In the center, meticulously arranged bones and dried flesh pieces lay preserved on special magic circles, unrotted despite centuries.
Carpe's remains.
"Millennia of effort bear fruit at last."
This skull fragment... retrieved from an ancient dragon's belly. It took Gatron twelve years just to slay the beast. These ribs fell into the ocean depths... Drusilla had to scour the seabed while evading Nis. And this single finger bone cost hundreds of followers thirty years of desert searching.
Each piece was precious.
"Now, only the soul remains to complete it."
I extended my hand, casting soul-tracking magic. Dark energy flowed from my fingertips, enveloping the area.
But...
"What?"
Nothing. I tried again—same result.
"Strange... I thought descending to the human world would allow detection..."
Until three years ago, I'd sensed Carpe's soul somewhere in the human realm—faint, but definite. Then, suddenly, it vanished without a trace. What could conceal it so perfectly?
Carpe was central to my plan, the final boss for Ricoris to defeat...
"The plan can proceed without Carpe for now."
1. Bestow a 1-minute oracle upon Cecilia. (Consumes 100,000 Demonic Divinity)
2. Do nothing.
※ Current Demonic Divinity: 2,371,503
"It appears again."
The demonic divinity required for a solo oracle to Cecilia was unusually low. Likely due to her immature speech. She couldn't yet form proper sentences, so complex messages were impossible—hence the minimal cost.
In the quiet basement, I selected option 1.
Oracle bestowed.
This made four oracles. I focused my consciousness on Cecilia. Once more, her pure, untainted inner world welcomed me.
"Cecilia, can you hear my voice?"
『Abwaksathu!』
Still mangling my name. But her voice, brimming with pure joy, brought a smile to my face.
"Are you well?"
『Ung! New home super good! Bugs go sparkle-sparkle!』
She loves her new home. Must be Frostia's new lair in Jenes Kingdom. I'd been astonished watching that massive construction from the Demon Realm.
"Your joy as my apostle gladdens me too. Are Frostia, Nis, and Ricoris with you?"
『Uuuung~ Gwanny and Auntie-Gwanny awe busy, but Mommy went secwet talk with pwetty unni!』
"Gwanny and Auntie-Gwanny...?"
Presumably Frostia and Nis.
『Ung! White one Gwanny! Bwack one Auntie-Gwanny!』
What nicknames... But more importantly—secret talk with a pretty sister? Was Ricoris having an important private chat?
"Cecilia, time's almost up. We'll end here. I'll oracle again when opportunity arises."
『Otay! Bye-bye!』
"Truly... my apostle is adorable."
Disconnecting from Cecilia, I shifted consciousness to the Serenade Acadene brooch. Voices of a young girl and Ricoris filtered in.
"Lady Ricoris's true form is a man-eating plant with hundreds of eyes and octopus-tentacle roots..."
"What kinda nonsense is that! I'm a totally pwetty flower! I'll show you later! What other rumors?"
Rumors? Investigating gossip about herself, then.
Not important.
"There's talk that Lady Ricoris drains people's blood on sight and kills them..."
"What!? I wuv blood, but I don't just suck it wike that!"
"Rumors she appears in villagers' dreams at night, giving nightmares..."
"No! I don't have that powew!"
"Um... that she tried to eat the prince, so His Highness knelt..."
"Ugh...! I saved this kingdom! What's with these wumors!"
'Humans ungrateful for her grace.'
I shook my head. Ricoris had indeed swept away my hidden followers in Jenes Kingdom, saving it. She'd severed their control and averted crisis—yet this.
"Oh yeah! Ever hear I’m besties with Abraksas?"
My name tensed me.
"Pardon...? Abraksas? The famous evil god?"
"Yup! That guy!"
"No, never."
"Phew..."
Don't worry, my dear friend. Your secret's safe—for now. I'll reveal it after you become humanity's savior. The betrayal and despair then...
Yet oddly, hearing Ricoris' indignant voice tugged at my heart.
'No, focus.'
I returned consciousness to the Demon King's castle. The basement with Carpe's remains. Her soul's undetectability was an unforeseen variable.
But the plan's core remained. First, make Ricoris humanity's savior. A substitute final boss could wait.
Exiting the secret chamber, I headed outside. Beyond the gates, Drusilla and her orderly followers—massive demons and human cultists from across the continent—awaited.
"Lord Abraksas, how was it?"
Drusilla asked cautiously.
"Execute the plan."
All eyes fixed on me.
"Send appropriate threats to each kingdom. Neither too strong nor too weak."
"What level of threat, my lord?" Drusilla inquired deeply.
"Difficult for ordinary adventurers, but manageable if a special being appears."
"Understood."
"Leave no trace linking to us. Make it seem like natural monster outbreaks."
Followers nodded. No questions—just obedience.
"Drusilla, you handle the two empires. Valen, the Eastern Kingdom Alliance. Morgan, the elves and dwarves."
I assigned roles to demons and humans alike.
"Understood!"
They replied in unison.
"Prepare fitting threats, but don't overdo it."
They needn't know my scheme.
"I head to the Dragon Kingdom."
A Dragon King would suit as a final boss.