292. The Demon Realm Archduke (1)
292. The Demon Realm Archduke (1)
- 1 -
It was a night when the cold moonlight dyed the ridges of the Western Continent silver.
A black falcon soared through the night sky, slicing through the darkness.
The world seen through the eyes of this black bird—with its sharp beak and keen gaze—was filled with dark blue silhouettes.
A city dense with tiled roofs, lanterns hung along castle walls, and alleyways steeped in night mist.
The traditional architecture of the Han Nation, glowing softly in the moonlight, evoked the feel of an Eastern painting, while the river flowed smoothly like silk.
The falcon passed that scenery, flying higher and farther.
She gazed at the distant mountain ridges.
Beyond the barriers unique to the Western Continent, hidden by magic and sorcery, stood tall stone pagodas and palace halls arranged like folding screens. And above them, beings that flew.
A bustling city. The city of the Cheongu.
It was... a 'memory.'
- Ahh...
The peaceful landscape bathed in moonlight warped, and in an instant, it was engulfed in crimson flames.
Within the falcon's sight, the blue world turned blood-red.
An umbrella-like veil had been created in the sky, so that the winged ones could not flee.
Soldiers of the Shin Nation in black armor and warriors of the Hwa Nation wielding long swords swung their blades and hurled spears, ravaging the city below.
And watching over that scene, a white fox with seven tails smiled down.
- Die, all of you. And give up Saya, give up your power.
- Kill them!!
- Don't back down! Kill all the humans!
Screams filled the sky. Those who looked like people with wings on their backs fell brutally, one by one.
Arrows poured down like rain, and the sound of blades flashing as they sliced through flesh struck the ears.
A hellscape of screams, weeping, and shouts of rage unfolded.
Not one of them retreated.
But with their greatest advantage—the sky—sealed away, they could only fall helplessly.
- Lord Saya! Lord!!
A voice calling someone's name could be heard.
Warriors pushed back a woman.
Regardless of age or gender, with arrows and swords lodged in them, they did not stop shielding the woman with their own bodies.
- Flee, quickly. Hurry!!
- Do not forget these brutal humans, and those monster clans who only speak of cooperation when it profits them!
- Avenge us...
- I cannot do that!!!
One sturdy warrior eventually knocked out the fiercely resisting woman from behind, then held her in his arms and ran toward the cliff.
Countless arrows lodged in his back, and his wings became tattered, but he did not stop.
The black falcon could do nothing but watch them.
Below the cliff, a thick fog hung.
The man looked down at the cliff, holding the woman tightly.
- Saya. You must live. My little sister...
Crunch!
The man, whose face looked exactly like Amatsu Saya's, tore off one of his own wings alive and wrapped it around the woman.
Even though the pain must have been immense, there wasn't even a flinch on his face.
The wing became a protective sorcery to safeguard the woman falling from the cliff.
- Kyaaak - !!
What burst from the falcon's throat was not an animal's cry but a woman's scream.
"...Hey? Saya!"
At someone's voice, Saya's eyes snapped open.
"Are you alright? You seemed to be having a nightmare, so I woke you."
Green eyes shining clearly even in the darkness.
Evangeline was looking down at Saya with a worried expression.
Saya nodded slowly.
"...Thank you."
Only then did she realize she was drenched in sweat and tears.
Wiping her face with the handkerchief Evangeline handed her, Saya looked out the window.
Outside, silver-blue moonlight shone down, just as she had seen in her dream.
"It's time to go, Saya. The Master is waiting."
"Yes. I'll be there shortly. It's just..."
As Saya hesitated, Evangeline replied as if she understood everything.
"Wash up and come. I'll stall for some time."
Saya gave a bitter smile.
She knew that stalling for time meant romantic acts, but she couldn't go to see her Master with her body and spirit drenched in such sweat and turmoil.
"Haa..."
Evangeline left, and Saya sat at the vanity.
After magically drying her sweat-soaked hair, carefully applying rouge to her lips, and straightening her appearance.
Finally, she rose, fastening her short sword to her waist.
She looked in the mirror and smiled carefully.
The Saya in the mirror was a little haggard, but still beautiful.
Now it was time to go to her Master.
- 2 -
Around the same time, in the middle of the deep sea that cut between the three great nations of the Western Continent.
In that abyss where giant demon beasts swam leisurely around, there was a city.
The city's name was Tesaureom.
It was a beautiful city whose golden lights shone clearly even in the deep sea.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you in person, Andras."
Gaph's voice clearly carried languor and the ferocity hidden within it.
Her golden-scaled lower body, extending below her muscular upper body, shone brilliantly even in the darkness of the deep sea.
And magical power that glowed like molten gold continuously streamed from her eyes.
Despite the cold deep-sea waters, the surroundings were heated as if by blazing flames.
"Your palace is endlessly uncomfortable, as always, Gaph."
Andras sat opposite her in an elegant human form.
Long, slender limbs and large, round violet eyes.
His long, deep-green hair, like a woman's, moved constantly like living snakes.
"I don't know what you called me out here for, but I don't have much time. Let's get to the point."
"...Haha!"
At Andras's words, Gaph burst into laughter.
Her laughter shook the undersea palace.
"You're in a hurry. Is it because of those rumors? About the expansion of that new Dungeon Lord called Libertas."
Andras's eyes curved languidly.
He was already reading her inner thoughts, because she would be of the same mind as himself.
"We both know. Her growth rate is... breaking all precedents."
"Isn't she said to be the child of the Gluttony Duke? Then, she might be receiving his support."
"Hmph. If that were possible, the entire surface would be overrun with his children. That greedy old bastard really did scatter quite a lot of offspring."
At Andras's sneer, Gaph slowly leaned forward.
Something massive stirred in her chest, but neither of them paid it any mind.
"I'm also curious about her, just the same. I heard you sent reconnaissance into her demon realm... what was the result?"
Andras was silent for a moment, gazing out the window.
Outside the palace, the sea of Gaph's domain was visible, boiling with golden light—the reason the nearby volcanoes erupted whenever they felt like it.
In his eyes, there was a hint of wounded pride, the peculiar displeasure of an injured beast.
"Lost."
"Ha!"
Gaph's laughter shook the council chamber once more.
"Just as I expected! My subordinates were the same. The ones who entered her territory all had their connections severed... or returned without remembering anything."
A fierce smile spread across her lips.
"It was interesting. Whether she is truly the daughter of a Demon Realm Archduke, or if she herself is special."
Tok-tok.
At that moment, a knock sounded from the door of the council chamber.
"Who is it!"
- Your Highness. An envoy has arrived.
At Gaph's irritable question, a careful answer from an attendant came from beyond the door.
"An envoy? There weren't any scheduled. Let them in."
As she answered with a frown, the massive door opened and a figure quietly walked in.
Light blue hair and violet eyes.
She was a beautiful female demon with an elegant flower-patterned eyepatch over one eye.
"Where is this guest from?"
At Gaph's words, recognizing at a glance that she was a noble, Mure slowly bowed her waist in formal greeting.
"Greetings to the two Demon Realm Archdukes. I am Ririana Mur Relix. I am a viscount serving the Sloth Archduke."
She was Myur Relix, who had been staying as a guest in Libertas's dungeon.
The woman who had been invited from the Demon Realm as Libertas's necromancer teacher.
Until recently, she had been aiding Libertas's research, but she was now at a stage where she could no longer help Libertas in terms of ability.
Instead, she had not returned to the Demon Realm but settled down in the dungeon, spending her time leisurely, and Libertas had left her to do whatever she wished.
'So that was to use me as an envoy at a time like this.'
Though a viscount, Mure, as a noble of the Demon Realm, was relatively free from the threats of surface demon tribes or monsters.
Thus, she was a suitable choice to send as an envoy to those whose allegiance—enemy or ally—could not be discerned.
Mure gave a bitter smile, then straightened her bowed back and looked at the two Archdukes facing each other.
Gaph spoke first.
"What business does a noble serving the Sloth Archduke have here?"
"I am currently serving Countess Libertas as a guest. I have come as her envoy."
"...Ha. I see. So it was an envoy from a junior. To already keep a Demon Realm noble as a guest..."
As Andras smiled cynically, Gaph gestured with her chin again.
"Speak. What business have you come for?"
Mure bowed only her head slightly and smiled.
"The Countess holds a special interest in the two of you and your territories. Especially... regarding certain specific races residing there."
The two Demon Realm Archdukes were looking down at her with indifferent eyes.
Mure paused slightly before speaking again.
"The first is the Cheoneungcheongu Clan."
"Cheoneungcheongu?"
Gaph's eyes instantly narrowed like a snake's, and a dangerous air flickered in Andras's eyes.
Gaph raised the corners of her lips in a slight smile and asked.
"Interesting. Why take an interest in a race on the brink of extinction?"
"Because one of the Countess's subordinates is a survivor of that clan."
Andras's eyes also narrowed.
Mure tensed. A dangerous violence was swirling in his pupils.
But fortunately, his ensuing question contained only curiosity.
"You say there is a member of that ancient clan among Countess Libertas's subordinates?"
"Yes. That is correct. The Countess wishes to find her subordinate's kin."
Gaph rested her chin on the armrest and fell into thought.
"There are a few survivors in my territory. They work as messengers in my surface domain."
"I heard there are some in Lord Andras's territory as well..."
"Ha."
Andras laughed lightly. The violence filling his eyes deepened further.
"There were. In the past."
"When you say in the past...?"
"They were servants of a fallen clan, yet they were too arrogant. I didn't like it."
Leaning back in his chair, he stroked his stomach.
The corners of his eyes curving cruelly.
"So I ate them."
"I see."
Mure's expression remained unwaveringly courteous.
"You said the first one earlier. Then what is the second?"
At Gaph's question, Mure spoke in a gentle tone.
There was not a single flaw in her etiquette.
"The second is the Monstrous Celestial Fox Clan. I have heard they are currently affiliated with Lord Andras's territory."
"Hmm."
A strange expression crossed Andras's face. With the violence and cruelty somewhat diluted.
"They are in my territory. They are a marquis house, one of the important noble families in my demon realm."
Mure guessed the reason for that expression.
Every marquis was both a subordinate and a potential rival to an Archduke.
Even if it wasn't a case of fierce clashes like Dantalion and Kimaris, it was a relationship that could not be completely trusted.
Hiding such inner thoughts, Mure turned her gaze to Gaph.
"I also have a few bloodline members. They are ones who rebelled against the clan and fled to me about twenty years ago. They now serve as part of my army."
At her words, Andras shot her a disapproving look.
Even if they were rebels, absorbing his subordinates without permission was bound to be an annoyance to him.
"Thank you for your kind answers, both of you. The Countess will be pleased."
Mure bowed deeply and continued speaking.
"In that case... would you also be willing to arrange a meeting with them?"
The two Demon Realm Archdukes smiled simultaneously.
Like predators who had spotted prey, an irrepressible greed bloomed in their eyes.
They were demons. Beings more honest about greed than any other race.
Gaph shifted from her half-reclining posture. The golden scales on her legs shimmered, producing a smooth friction sound.
"Of course... it's possible. But you know that we, too, expect a corresponding price in return, don't you?"
Andras smiled thinly and tapped the table with his finger.
His long, deep-green hair swayed softly in the air of the deep sea.
"Tell her to offer what we want. Then we will help."
Mure bowed her head slightly without any change in expression.
Both her eyes held a faint glimmer as she looked at the two Archdukes.
"Of course. If you would inform me of what conditions you desire, I will certainly convey them."
Gaph and Andras looked at each other and exchanged meaningful smiles.
Andras leaned forward.
His voice was as sweet as boiled sugar, but within it, a fierce greed churned.
"Tell the Countess. Our conditions are..."
As the words of the two Archdukes continued, the air in the deep-sea golden palace grew heavier, and Mure's expression stiffened more and more.
Watching her, the Demon Realm Archdukes laughed merrily at each other.