Lust and Indulgence's Demon
Since the fifth fire spirit, Oshiki, could no longer proceed, Rune turned to Heungmi.
"Good work. Send the spirits back now."
"Yessir! Ugh, I feel kinda off."
As Heungmi grumbled while recalling the spirits, Rune sat her down on the sofa.
"Take a drink from the snack pouch Christina packed for you."
"Okay!"
Heungmi opened the pouch, pondered for a moment, and pulled out some lemon herb tea to sip.
Rune sensed that Heungmi was more exhausted than he'd expected.
The young fox beastkin usually drank anything without fuss, but she rarely chose herbal teas.
This meant she'd picked it to calm her nerves, not for the taste.
Meanwhile, the fire spirits returned one by one, vanishing into Heungmi's red pendant with varied expressions of fatigue.
"Oshiki, good job."
Heungmi especially lifted the most weary-looking spirit onto her palm and patted it gently.
Rune, watching the spirits, fell deep into thought.
Most elves in the castle were in no condition to move properly.
This was both fortunate and unfortunate.
To air out the tension, Rune spoke up.
"There shouldn't be any obstacles on the way to the dining hall. The longer we delay, the worse it'll get."
"Looks that way. The elves locked in the basement will turn demonic soon enough."
Perdikion nodded and gripped the door handle.
"Then, as planned—head to the dining hall and mix Rune's healing water into the food. Belianus, lead the way."
"Understood. Time is of the essence, so let's hurry."
With that, Belianus invoked the Path of Wind.
If the makeshift side path they'd used entering the village felt temporary, Belianus's path was like a grand avenue wrapped in breezes.
At that moment, the entire castle rumbled with a deep groan.
It was an ominous sound, like a monster's roar.
"Doesn't feel good."
Perdikion's grimaced mutter spoke for the group's unease.
And Rune had just formed a grim hypothesis.
After a moment's hesitation, he spoke.
"Bro, Belianus. I think the whole castle is turning into the demon's domain."
"What?"
"!"
Shock spread across their faces.
It was only natural—they'd never imagined the entire castle becoming a demon's territory.
"Why do you think that?"
"Bro, remember helping Amelia's family? Think back to the Cursed Dungeon then."
"!"
The Dungeon of Waves, steeped in darkness for so long, had lost its form and color, transforming into a Cursed Dungeon of the Shadow Clan's attribute.
Belianus's expression showed he grasped the gravity.
"You're saying the elves' castle is becoming a demon's dungeon?"
Rune nodded with conviction.
"Yeah. Once it's fully dungeonized, the magi-addicted ones will pour out beyond the walls, and anyone inside without magi won't survive."
The moat and village around the castle would become fields.
The castle interior, a magi-infested dungeon.
Even the World Tree's fate was uncertain.
Most elves inside are already turning into monsters.
At this point, he couldn't guarantee the Seal of the Forest or the Elf King's condition either.
Belianus's face paled as impatience surfaced.
"Then shouldn't we see the Elf King first? If he becomes untouchable, we'll lose our king."
"He might have already become the final boss."
Belianus bit his lower lip at Rune's words, speechless.
Rushing in claiming it wasn't too late could mean instant death at the hands of a boss-turned Elf King.
Perdikion crossed his arms, shifting his gaze in frustration.
"I want to take out the enemy leader first too. Normally, beating the boss makes the small fry irrelevant."
It endorsed Belianus's approach, but Rune intervened.
"We could end up as the dragon clan that killed the elves' king. Dragons already have a bad rep— even if he's 'demonic,' the elves' resentment will aim at you, bro."
"Then what if I convince the elves myself? They know I wouldn't let the Elf King's life be taken lightly while I'm with them."
Rune remained skeptical of Belianus's proposal.
"I know your influence is strong, but emotions don't bend to logic."
Even perfectly reasonable arguments can fail to sway hearts.
Changing minds and feelings takes time, and it's always arduous.
It could even backfire, sparking defiance and contrary views.
We can leave anytime, but Rand has no plans to abandon the elves. If dragon discrimination worsens, his situation will deteriorate further.
Deep down, Rune even had a hunch.
But testing it required solid proof.
Belianus sighed, rubbing his face.
Rune spoke up.
"If the cooks are still making food, it means they haven't been fully corrupted by magi yet. They might hold the key to turning this around."
And I have a guess.
Rune recalled the wine he'd packed in his subspace pouch.
The cooking elves would confirm his suspicions.
"Very well. Rushing won't solve it."
Belianus's throat bobbed visibly—he looked in agony.
Rune turned to Heungmi.
"Heungmi, how's your stomach?"
"All better now!"
"Cheep!"
Heungmi hugged Baekya, smiling with relief.
Rune nodded once and stepped toward the Path of Wind.
"Let's go."
Caution was key, but time was short.
Belianus first bestowed Wind Runner's blessing on everyone, then set foot on the path.
Whoosh!
He shot to the corridor's end in an instant, the group following swiftly.
On the way from the fourth-floor chancellor's office to the dining hall.
Agonized elf groans echoed along their path.
Scratching noises and head-thuds against walls punctuated the air.
Belianus looks miserable.
Rune's guess was spot on.
As an elf with keen ears, Belianus heard his kin's suffering more vividly.
- Aaaargh! Aargh!
- Grgh... Guh.
Each door they passed brought wrenching sounds of pain.
For a steadfast soul like Belianus, ignoring it was impossible.
There are still some unscathed ones.
The elves not yet advanced enough in demonization to eat were on the second floor.
As they reached it, an elf blocked them.
"Halt!"
The guard-uniformed elf stood in the corridor.
But these sentries had rolled-back eyes and heaved breaths.
Their halt wasn't duty-bound.
"W-water, please..."
Unable to even stand properly before Belianus, they begged like desert travelers spotting aid.
"Here."
Rune casually handed over pre-made healing potion.
The clueless elf gulped the clear liquid and clutched his throat, rolling on the floor.
"Grahk!"
Blugh!
The soldier vomited sticky magi clotted with rotten blood, then collapsed trembling.
Rune approached the near-fainting elf and slowly absorbed the magi.
"I'll help too."
Heungmi, with Baekya, hurried over in surprise.
Positioned opposite Rune, she carefully siphoned magi while asking worriedly,
"You okay, mister?"
"Y-yes..."
Belianus patted the elves' backs; the soldiers nodded raggedly.
A short lemon-haired elf soldier in layered rare armor and chainmail finally inspected the group and blinked.
"Ch-Chan...cellor Belianus?"
"One who remembers me."
"Of... of course."
Belianus gripped the sweating soldier's shoulder firmly and continued.
"How's your body?"
"Heavy... like barely breathing. But just now... voices in my head, couldn't even think straight."
It was intriguing.
Rune stepped forward, listening intently.
The elf, steadying his breath, cast a hazy gaze upward.
"Chilling, goosebump whispers. 'Kill. Sever necks. Tear flesh and devour.' Over and over. Then ravenous hunger hit. Wanted to eat, drink anything..."
"The Demon of Lust and Indulgence."
Perdikion scowled at Rune's murmur.
"To hear that foul name here."
"Those wretched scum, at last!"
Belianus's kindly face twisted in rage.
The Demon of Lust and Indulgence.
Among demons, they obsessed over elves most fiercely.
If it's the one leading them... a high demon with serpentine lower body and humanoid upper. Name was Lepanon, I think.
From Christina's transmitted knowledge alone, Lepanon's deeds were gruesomely vile.
- His domain sounded like a paradise fulfilling human desires: endless feasting, drunken laziness, indiscriminate entanglements. They boasted of their fall. Women selling bodies for finery like nobles, thieves stealing those jewels. Gluttons fattening without work, drunks rolling in revelry. Amid cheers, demons absorbed their profane energy, kicked crawling slaves, killed for sport. A hell of parasites swelling ranks through sin, conquering via rivers of sweat and blood.
Evil demons divided by attributes and traits too.
For those worshiping Lust and Indulgence, it meant debauchery, booze, gambling.
They warped reality, corrupted minds of intelligent beings.
"We severed their necks countless times—how did they taint the royal castle like this!"
Belianus erupted; even Perdikion bared undisguised disgust, knowing well.
Amid it, Heungmi blinked at the new term.
"Master Rune, what's the Lust and Indulgence clan?"
Rune frowned but explained—it was a likely foe, caution demanded it.
"...In a word, they dumb down smart, sane folks to amoeba level. They ruin humans, elves alike without mercy, and they're brutally cruel."
"Eek! Real bad guys! Right, Baekya?"
"Cheep!"
Baekya chirped in agreement.
Heungmi clenched her tiny fist like she'd deliver a knuckle-rap.