The General Assembly Concludes
The Demon Realm General Assembly continued thereafter. Naturally, because there was more than one agenda item on the table. With the prohibition on entering the Human Realm lifted, new policies had to be established. Among the passed agendas, the most significant was a shift in the Demon Realm's overall stance. They would no longer confine the battlefield of the Heavenly Demon War to the Demon Realm alone.
"If movements from the Heavenly Realm are detected, we will intercept them in the Human Realm as well."
Of course, fighting within the Demon Realm favored the Demon Kings, as the realm brimmed with external mana. Yet the problem was that any damage from the Heavenly Demon War would fall squarely upon the Demon Realm and its rulers.
"From the moment humans worship the Archangel as a heavenly god, receive his weapons, and invade the Demon Realm... they are undeniably our enemies."
Belzebute von Deus declared as much. No one dared refute him. On the contrary, many Demon Kings welcomed the idea, eager to teach the lowly ones the folly of their ways.
Another critical agenda concerned shifts in rank. While the upper echelons remained largely unchanged, significant movement occurred from the 40th rank downward. The cause was obvious: Seere von Devata and her faction. Even after her rank surged to 50th, she pressed her conquests relentlessly. Within six years of the General Assembly's convening, she had secured the 46th floor.
"Seere von Devata's rank rises from 50th to 46th. Her ally Gremory von Dieu rises from 51st to 48th. Sitri rises from 52nd to 49th."
Seere's achievements benefited her allies as well. This was only natural, for power and influence ranked among the key factors determining a Demon King's standing. It was precisely why Demon Kings formed factions. Those within a faction stood as mutual allies, and because each faction was led by a top-ranked Demon King, its members often reaped rank advantages.
'Now they've all entered the top 50.'
They had climbed to a respectable position even among mid-tier Demon Kings. Nahen found it acceptable. Seere was only twenty years old—still a mere child by Demon King standards. Among rulers who had lived at least a century, she was nothing more than a fresh sprout. Yet she already stood at 46th. Nahen smiled in satisfaction. With such growth, she would surely reach the pinnacle one day.
"Seere."
"Yes?"
"You did well. Already at 46th—it's thanks to your efforts even in my absence."
"...You've been praising me quite often lately."
"Don't like it?"
"No? You praise me plenty, but the rewards are scarce. That's what disappoints me."
Nahen, who had nearly caused a disaster by offering a reward earlier, broke into a cold sweat. Yet faced with Seere's genuinely crestfallen expression, he—weak to his disciple's gloom—pondered briefly before speaking.
"As long as it doesn't put me in a difficult position, I can grant a reward."
"......Really?"
Her voice carried a meaningful undertone. Nahen rolled his eyes and added a condition.
"Nothing lewd, either."
"Yes."
"...Will you actually keep that promise?"
"Of course. I can simply promise it."
Nahen studied Seere. Her eyes were sincere. She would not break her word.
"...Understood. As promised, nothing that troubles me or crosses any lines."
"Hehe, wonderful. Then I'll tell you later."
"Very well."
Nahen did not know. That this promise would later become a grave crisis for him.
The assembly concluded cleanly. It had been a success, achieving everything Nahen desired. He leaned close to Seere and whispered.
"Go offer your thanks to the Demon Kings who lent their support."
"Ah, yes."
"It would be good to introduce Sitri and Gremory while you're at it."
Seere nodded. She relayed the message to Sitri and Gremory, then made her way toward the Demon Kings of the Equites Faction. Nahen turned to wait outside the hall. Yet someone followed him. He deliberately feigned ignorance. At first he assumed she would maintain a polite distance, but she did not. With a deep sigh, he turned his head.
"...What is it?"
"Our deal isn't finished yet."
Paimon von Hog. She stood there. He had intended to part cleanly once the transaction concluded, rather than exploit her weakness. Yet here she was, claiming the deal remained incomplete.
"What deal? His Majesty has already done enough, and I will keep my promise. This matter stays secret—"
"Was that the only deal we made?"
"Pardon?"
"You clearly said it. You were the only one who could listen to and understand my plan."
Nahen narrowed his eyes. He had indeed said those words, but only while explaining why Paimon could not kill him. They had not formed part of their agreement.
"That was not part of the deal."
"I know. I said the deal wasn't over because I have a proposal regarding that matter."
"...What do you mean?"
Paimon smiled brightly.
"Instead of cooperating with the Equites Faction, how about joining hands with me? You said it yourself—trust Seere von Devata and take her hand."
Nahen narrowed his gaze further. Slowly, he turned to face her directly.
"Are you serious?"
"Do you think I would joke here?"
"You won't regret this?"
"Regret? I only accept deals that benefit me. You and the Devata faction will receive much from me. In return, I receive understanding from you."
"If this is merely for your plan, isn't the timing premature?"
Paimon chuckled at the question.
"Who knows how the relationship might reverse later? If you're going to seize an advantage, you should do so firmly while you still hold the upper hand."
"......"
Nahen regarded her with a blank expression, then grinned. Smiling, he extended his hand.
"Welcome, Paimon von Hog."
"Likewise. I look forward to working with you."
Paimon clasped his hand. Nahen smiled pleasantly, though his thoughts ran differently.
'She'll prove quite useful.'
Her 9th-rank position and influence. Her command of both martial prowess and strategy. Her sizable faction and leadership of the Plebs Faction. Everything about her overflowed with assets Nahen could exploit—stepping stones for Seere and her forces to claim the pinnacle.
There was a reason Nahen did not regard Paimon as a true ally the way he did Sitri or Gremory. It was not the same reason he distrusted Barbatos. Though Paimon was strong, Seere could prove her martial superiority by defeating other combat-focused Demon Kings. The true reason Nahen refused to draw Paimon into a genuine alliance was simple.
"I'll invite you to our floor next time. We can speak in depth then."
She was ambitious. Paimon desired not only reform but also advancement in rank. Her original plan had been to seize control of the Demon Realm itself, so ambition was only natural. To keep such a Demon King as an ally?
'Can one sleep soundly beside a tiger?'
Sitri sought only to reclaim her former rank. Gremory aimed merely for the upper echelons. Their ambitions did not overlap with Seere's pursuit of the pinnacle. Paimon, however, was different. She already coveted the 8th floor ruled by Barbatos. A woman of such towering ambition could threaten Seere at any moment. For now she remained docile, having found someone who understood her goals, but...
Paimon departed with a pleasant smile. Watching her retreating figure, Nahen murmured coldly.
"...I'll make sure to drain every last drop of value from her."
Nahen was that sort of man. If it benefited Seere and her faction, he would do anything. Possession of an Archdemon's body had made him colder, crueler, and less burdened by guilt, yet this trait had always been part of him. He was obsessed with Seere's growth. Obsessed with success. Not merely to witness the ending.
"I'll use you thoroughly."
He refused to relive the failure of that day—the failure he had suffered in reality.
After the assembly ended, in a dim, secluded space, the four greatest Demon Kings of the Demon Realm had gathered. Agreas wore his usual pleasant smile. Vassago watched Belzebute's expression warily. Samigina remained indifferent and silent. At the center stood Belzebute von Deus, frowning as he reviewed the passed agendas.
"I don't like this."
"Then why not manipulate the votes? It would have been simple enough."
Agreas spoke as though corruption were nothing unusual. No one refuted him.
"You've done it plenty of times before. Why not this time?"
The reason was that such manipulation had long been their habit. The Patrician Faction, composed of the four strongest Demon Kings, had remained unknown to others precisely because they used their combined power to twist agendas in the assembly. Agreas was asking why they had not done so again. Yet Belzebute's reply was negative.
"...I could not."
"Huh? What kind of nonsense is that?"
Vassago tilted his head.
"Did you fear Barbatos might notice?"
"No. It would not have mattered even if he noticed—and he could not have noticed in the first place."
"Hmm, that makes sense. Then what worried you enough to stop you? Is there anything in the Demon Realm you cannot do?"
At the question, Belzebute fell silent—an unexpected reaction. Vassago looked startled. Agreas's interest sharpened. Even Samigina, who usually cared for nothing, showed curiosity.
"Belzebute, what troubles you?"
"...I will tell you later."
"What? Waiting is boring. Tell us now."
"I cannot. This requires proper confirmation."
Agreas looked dissatisfied but accepted the refusal. Vassago nodded for the moment. Samigina erased the curiosity from her face. Belzebute pondered alone.
'That face...'
At first he had thought it merely familiar. Then his thoughts changed the instant he saw those golden eyes. An unforgettable memory surfaced.
'I must go to Hell.'
Only there could he confirm the truth. The man Belzebute had seen was one of the ten Archdemons of Hell. The strongest among them, master of his own domain, to whom the three Beasts of the Apocalypse had voluntarily bowed. The sole ruler of the inverted kingdom, Nehemoth. He was Nahemah.