The Day of Departure
The day of departure dawned.
“It’s about time to move.”
Nahen finished checking his gear one last time, then firmly pressed a helmet onto Seere’s head. She had been standing idly beside him. Seere shook her head in protest, clearly uncomfortable, but Nahen forced the helmet on anyway.
“Bear with it. This might just save your life.”
“Yes…”
Nahen lifted Seere into his arms with ease. The helmet made her look oddly fierce, and he chuckled at the sight.
“If you keep it on without complaining, I’ll give you a slice of cake when we get back.”
“Really?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“No!”
Seere’s face lit up with joy, the discomfort of the helmet instantly forgotten at the promise of cake. Nahen turned to Kain.
“Has the commander already left?”
“She departed at dawn.”
“Then we should hurry. I’m off.”
“I wish you victory.”
Carrying Seere, Nahen stepped into the front courtyard of the Demon King’s castle, where a man greeted him with a respectful bow.
“Vice-Commander Baruna.”
“I’ve been waiting.”
It was Baruna, vice-commander of the Fourth Legion. Unlike Rin, who had already moved to the 70th floor, he had been ordered to escort Nahen and Seere. Baruna gestured toward a temporary portal.
“Her Majesty Sitri provided it. It will take us straight to the 70th floor.”
Nahen studied the portal for a moment before muttering under his breath.
“Cheapskate.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
Nahen and Seere stepped through the portal, followed by Baruna and his legionnaires. Once they vanished, a group emerged from the shadows.
“All threats have been removed. Seize the Demon King’s castle.”
“Understood.”
They were Andromalius’s elite ambush unit, Tenebris, specialists in covert operations. Enraged that the 72nd floor had intervened in the war on the 70th floor, Andromalius had dispatched them to strike the castle. Their leader, Duncan, gave a quiet order.
“Only non-combatants remain inside. Eliminate them all.”
“Yes!”
The Tenebris operatives slipped into the castle with the precision of a well-trained strike force. The non-combatants within likely never noticed their intrusion—until the front door exploded inward with a thunderous crash.
Duncan’s eyes widened slightly as a door panel flew past him, accompanied by one of his own men. A neatly groomed man in a formal suit stepped out, calmly holding another operative by the face.
“I don’t recall inviting anyone… Who are you?”
Duncan’s brow furrowed sharply.
“What the hell are you…?”
According to their intelligence, the 72nd floor’s combat forces had all departed with Baruna. The man before them should not have been a fighter. Yet here he was, tossing his subordinates aside like trash.
Head Butler Kain. Was he a combatant after all?
No. Their information had been correct. Kain was a civil official, not a warrior. He had served as head butler since Seir’s time and had never fought as a soldier. However, certain retainers who had protected the castle since the previous Demon King’s reign possessed unexpected strength despite their non-combatant status. This was a result of Seir von Devata’s caution. He had deliberately chosen capable individuals for the castle staff in case of surprise attacks during the absence of the main forces. Their true abilities had simply never been revealed to the outside world.
In other words, the few who had managed the castle’s internal affairs since the previous reign were…
“Is this an ambush?”
If Rin and Baruna’s strength were rated at 100, then Kain and several other retainers possessed strength around 70–80. A mere ambush unit from the 70th floor was no match for them.
“Gah!”
“Aargh!”
Windows shattered as Tenebris operatives plummeted into the courtyard. Screams echoed from inside the castle as more fell.
“Head Butler, we’ve cleared this side too~!”
Secily, her fox tail swaying, twirled a bloodied broom with a cheerful grin. Through the broken doorway came Rea, the head maid, dragging two operatives behind her with a gentle expression.
“I only found two on my end.”
“Oh, is everyone all right? A little rat snuck into the kitchen.”
Mark emerged holding a bloodied kitchen knife, dragging the corpse of another operative into the courtyard. Kain turned to the rigid-faced Duncan.
“Is that all of you?”
Six elite Tenebris operatives had been eliminated in an instant. Duncan stared at them in terror. Though they wore friendly expressions, to him they looked like predators with glowing eyes in the dark. He screamed the name of the mad Demon King who had hidden such monsters within the castle’s inner circle.
“Seir… von… Devata…!”
#
“By the way, Lord Nahen.”
“Hm?”
After arriving on the 70th floor through the portal, Baruna spoke carefully.
“Is it really all right to leave the castle completely empty? I know Andromalius has an ambush unit under his command…”
“Even if they attack the castle, it won’t matter. You know that too, don’t you?”
“!”
Baruna was genuinely shocked. Nahen’s words implied he already knew the true strength of the retainers Seir had stationed in the castle out of caution.
“Since when did you know?”
From the very beginning. Nahen had learned such secrets while playing the game. But saying that would raise suspicion, so he gave a vague reply.
“Some things can be hidden. Others cannot.”
“…I see.”
At first, Baruna had not been fond of this royal advisor. But Nahen’s actions—from the training grounds onward—had forced him to acknowledge the man’s capabilities. Even now, before the campaign, Nahen had already assessed the castle’s true strength and focused on conquering the 70th floor. It was the mark of a capable commander. Baruna bowed his head in respect.
“Lord Nahen, your orders.”
“Baruna, you’re mistaken about something.”
When Baruna looked up, Nahen pointed at the adorable little girl in his arms.
“The one you should pledge loyalty to is not me, but Seere von Devata.”
“…I will remember that. Your Majesty, please give me your command.”
“Seere, may I give the order for a moment?”
Seere, still wearing her helmet, nodded eagerly.
“Baruna, by now Commander Rin should have made contact with Aron Raedas’s forces. Join them and provide support.”
“As you command.”
Baruna and the elite soldiers of the Fourth Legion quickly disappeared. Seere looked up at Nahen with bright eyes.
“Teacher, where are we going?”
“To Her Majesty Sitri.”
“Lady Sitri!”
“And…”
Nahen started to say something, then smiled gently at Seere.
“I’ll explain once we get there.”
“Uung?”
With Seere still tilting her head in confusion, Nahen headed toward the battlefield where Sitri awaited.
#
Upon arriving on the 70th floor, Sitri could only laugh dryly at the number of enemy troops that appeared. Less than a quarter of Andromalius’s army had shown up. The numbers were far smaller than expected.
So he really did fracture the 70th floor’s forces completely.
Aron Raedas. Convincing a powerful noble who had built such influence on the 70th floor could not have been easy. Yet Nahen had seized the perfect opportunity, succeeded in a short time, and even incited rebellion. At this point, Sitri found Nahen’s intelligence, execution, and strategic mind genuinely frightening. Her advisor, the sage Baphomet, spoke in a voice tinged with unease.
“Your Majesty, that man Nahen is dangerous.”
“…Yes. He is.”
“We should eliminate him while we still can…”
“Baphomet, if that were possible, do you think I would have done nothing?”
Sitri recalled the power she had witnessed from Nahen and shuddered. The memory of that colossal white whale still sent chills down her spine. She warned the oblivious Baphomet.
“Don’t touch him. One wrong move and the 71st floor will end up just like this place.”
“…If you say so.”
“We just need to do our part and take what we’re owed.”
Sitri stepped out of the command tent and ascended the platform overlooking her assembled troops.
“Soldiers! Show Andromalius’s followers the full extent of your power!”
Her hand pointed toward the enemy lines.
“Advance!!”
“Waaaaah!!”
The soldiers’ morale soared to the heavens. As Sitri’s army began to march in formation, a man approached from behind her.
“…What are you doing here?”
“I came to check if everything was going smoothly.”
It was Nahen. Seere was in his arms as well. With the helmet on, she looked even more adorable than usual, and Sitri felt her heart waver for a moment.
Why is she so cute…
Keeping her expression neutral, Sitri spoke to Nahen.
“You can see for yourself, can’t you? I moved exactly as you wanted.”
“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”
“So now it’s your turn to move?”
“That’s the plan.”
Nahen held Seere out toward Sitri with both hands. Their eyes met.
“Hwet.”
“W-what?”
“Please take care of her. It won’t take long.”
“What?”
“There are too many things to worry about if I bring Seere along.”
Seere’s face fell at Nahen’s words.
“I-I want to go with you, Teacher.”
“It won’t take long. Just wait a little while.”
“Uung…”
Nahen pulled the whale plush he had bought for Seere from his pocket.
How did that even fit in there?
Sitri stared at him in disbelief, but Nahen paid no attention. He placed the plush in Seere’s arms.
“Play with this for a bit. I’ll be right back.”
Seere nodded vigorously.
“Your Majesty Sitri, please take her quickly. I need to go.”
“Uh, um…”
Suddenly entrusted with Seere, Sitri looked down at the girl with a slightly flustered expression. When Seere’s pure, untainted eyes met hers, Sitri’s face softened on its own.
So cute…
Nahen chuckled at the sight.
“Then I’ll leave her in your care.”
Nahen vanished in the blink of an eye. Startled by the speed even she couldn’t follow, Sitri heard Baphomet speak.
“Lady Sitri, this is…”
An opportunity. A chance to eliminate the Demon King of the 72nd floor and dismantle their forces. Sitri knew it. But Nahen surely knew it too. He had left Seere with her despite knowing that. It meant he was testing her—whether she intended to maintain their alliance or not. He might even be watching from somewhere right now.
Sitri closed her eyes tightly, then opened them.
“…If you’re planning something, stop. Baphomet. Treat me with the same respect you always have.”
“Understood.”
Sitri looked down at Seere, who was happily playing with both the white bear and whale plushies in her arms, and thought to herself.
Why a whale, of all things…