Chapter 415
Chapter 415
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 415
Chapter Title: Calling the Three Demon Kings
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Ssssh-.
Sensing a presence in the dead of night, Soo-hyuk opened his eyes.
Yawning expansively at the pitch-black silhouette standing by the window where moonlight poured in brightly,
"Why are you standing there like a statue?"
"I'm exhausted. You think sneaking in is a walk in the park?"
"Who was it singing that it's easier than eating cold rice porridge?"
The person who slipped in through the window was Ye-ryeong.
She had infiltrated a temple crawling with demon commanders, no less.
It was no easy feat. Yet there was only one reason she'd come all this way.
"How's it going with the Heavenly Demon?"
It was all because of the Heavenly Demon.
Even if the Heavenly Demon's soul fragment was gone, sending her alone with him—right into the heart of demon territory—was cause for endless worry.
Clunk-.
The door swung open right then.
Ye-ryeong feigned surprise at the Heavenly Demon stepping inside.
"Oh, did you hear that?"
"Sounded like you wanted me to."
"I'm not into gossiping behind backs."
In truth, even after sensing the Heavenly Demon's presence, Ye-ryeong had spoken loud enough for her to hear.
It was a warning: We're watching, so don't try anything funny.
The Heavenly Demon snorted and entered the room, plopping down on the sofa. Ye-ryeong eyed her suspiciously.
"Still doing fine."
Soo-hyuk could guess why Ye-ryeong was going to such lengths.
"So quit picking fights and pass a message to your uncle. Tell him Soo-hyuk's still kicking, no need to worry."
The one most anxious about the Heavenly Demon's escort was Jin-un.
Ye-ryeong had come here herself at his request. Could you check on things?
"While you're here, ask her this: What's the situation? What are we doing here?"
"They're mistaking us for demons sent by the Demon Kings' side."
"You two?"
"And the real Greed faction sent a legion commander. We beat him down and chased him off."
"For real? Right when we're here?"
"Lucky break."
"...Not bad luck?"
They were now directly tangling with the Demon King faction. Beating down their commander and sending him packing left plenty of room for conflict.
"The others will target this place too, not just Greed."
Soo-hyuk recalled Gasgar's words.
"Where did you come from? Sloth? Or Lust? Slowpokes like you moved fast for once."
The Three Demon Kings were already on the move. Greed, the most obsessed with riches, had acted first—but the other two were surely interested too.
That left Soo-hyuk with one clear course of action.
"I'll lure all Three Demon Kings here."
Ye-ryeong jolted in shock at his words.
The Heavenly Demon reacted too.
"All three?"
"You serious?"
Soo-hyuk nodded at their echoing questions.
"No need to plunge deep into demon territory. I'll bring them all right here."
"...!"
Ye-ryeong and the Heavenly Demon both looked stunned.
He meant to turn the abandoned temple into the stage to draw out the Demon Kings.
Spare Gasgar on purpose? Probably part of that calculation.
"Better than us marching into the Demon King's castle, sure..."
"Worst case, all three show up at once."
All three Demon Kings in one spot. Could anything be more nightmarish?
It was so hopeless even fighting guardians seemed preferable. No wonder the Heavenly Demon voiced concerns.
Of course, Soo-hyuk had considered it.
"I've thought it through."
All three gathered together.
Would it really happen? No guarantee it wouldn't.
In fact, it might be more likely.
'If one moves, the other two will follow suit.'
Even so, Soo-hyuk committed to this stage.
"Demons are far more tightly knit than Players."
Players splintered into countless guilds.
Demons formed kingdoms and armies.
"Even one legion numbers tens of thousands. Full-scale war with them? No chance. They'd swarm endlessly, no matter how many we kill."
"So settle it somewhere other than the Demon King's castle?"
"Ideally."
The Heavenly Demon gave Soo-hyuk an odd look at his resolve.
"Not like you."
An unexpected remark.
It sounded like she knew him well—and carried a hint of subtle concern.
"What's 'like me'?"
"The you I know was cautious, moved only when necessary. This feels different. Because of some inevitable future clash? No, there's more."
"Yeah."
Soo-hyuk nodded readily.
"There is something."
"What?"
Her eyes burned with intensity, as if that's why she'd come.
Soo-hyuk chuckled wryly—he hadn't expected to tell her of all people.
"I have a 20-year blank."
"Twenty years?"
"Yeah. I know what Si-woo, Ye-ryeong, and Hyo-min went through in that time. But Gyu-seong? Nothing. His time was spent completely differently from ours."
Listening, Ye-ryeong closed her eyes softly.
The moment she'd parted from Gyu-seong resurfaced, regret flooding in for not holding him tighter.
Soo-hyuk thought of him too.
His dying moments, his final words.
"Kept wondering: Sloth, Lust, Greed—which one was Gyu-seong with? Which? Or all three?"
Nothing certain. Guessing alone would loop forever.
"But he was with at least one, grew stronger under them. Not out of pure kindness—they're not the type."
"To uncover a dead comrade's past? How romantic."
Soo-hyuk nodded instead of bristling at the unclear mockery.
"Yeah. We're a bit romantic. He's family."
For a split second, the Heavenly Demon's eyes wavered.
Steadying her gaze, she glanced at Ye-ryeong, whose expression showed the same resolve.
Reclaiming all of Blue Eyes.
Honor for the dead restored. Now, uncover Gyu-seong's lost 20 years.
"I believe that 20-year gap will lead us somewhere. Don't know where. But we'll go."
"Blindly, no clue what's there? Just on a dead comrade's word?"
"Yes."
Ye-ryeong answered, arms crossed, eyes blazing with conviction.
"Even if it's the ends of hell."
The next day.
As dawn broke, Belzerion summoned Soo-hyuk and the Heavenly Demon.
"Slept well?"
He hadn't killed the fallen Gasgar.
No point giving Greed's King an excuse to storm the temple by slaying him personally.
Instead, he treated Gasgar like a guest. A defeated foe posed no threat.
"Now, business."
To build his kingdom here, Belzerion planned to use Soo-hyuk and the Heavenly Demon as stepping stones.
Kingdom-building needed resources. Demon spirit stones were top-tier valuables in the demon world.
Trade them right, and his temple kingdom wasn't a pipe dream.
"You want to trade spirit stones? Do you have the authority?"
"What do you think?"
Soo-hyuk's retort brimmed with confidence. As if we wouldn't.
In the demon world, power equaled rank. Stronger demons held greater sway.
The Heavenly Demon had crushed a legion commander with ease. Soo-hyuk's skills were no joke either.
Meaning they ranked at least legion commander or higher.
Soo-hyuk smiled, stoking the misunderstanding.
"All spirit stones from this temple? We'll buy them outright."
A bold offer.
Belzerion's eyes gleamed.
"Really?"
"Yes. So gather as much as you can. The more, the better."
Belzerion brightened at the lavish demand, nodding eagerly before pausing.
"One thing to confirm first. Where exactly are you from?"
"Curious which of the Three we're from?"
"Not Greed, obviously. Lust or Sloth? Doesn't fit either."
"Sharp eye."
Soo-hyuk pointed upward.
"Higher up."
"Higher... up?"
Belzerion's eyes trembled.
Above the Demon Kings? Did such a position exist here?
But it didn't sound like bluffing. Yesterday's display proved their strength.
In that moment, Belzerion harbored ambition.
'This could be my chance.'
A faction beyond the Three Demon Kings.
Maybe he could use them to build his real kingdom.
His thoughts shone too plainly on his face. The Heavenly Demon sent a mental message.
Belzerion's expression turned sly.
"Wondered why you needed the stones so bad. Starting to get it now."
He seemed convinced they were demons unaffiliated with the Three.
Soo-hyuk could read Belzerion's mind. Maybe the real greed lurked in his head, not Gasgar's.
'Lucky for us.'
Spirit stones emerging here. And the demon occupying it being Belzerion, hostile to the Demon Kings.
Everything flowed perfectly.
Then.
Rumble-.
The ground quivered faintly.
The Heavenly Demon, arms crossed and listening to Soo-hyuk and Belzerion, narrowed her eyes.
"Quite the crowd."
Flash-.
The Heavenly Demon vanished from her seat. Sensing the commotion outside, she'd dashed off without a word to Belzerion.
Soo-hyuk and Belzerion followed.
They arrived at the temple roof, vision unobstructed. What they saw was a blood-red wave.
Rumble-.
The temple shook. Vibrations reached the rooftop.
Gasgar, nursing wounds inside, stepped out and froze.
"Th-that's..."
The crimson tide engulfing the land was no ocean wave.
Demons in red armor surged like a tsunami. Soo-hyuk grinned at their countless numbers—tens of thousands?
Blood-red demons.
Only one group matched that uniform attire and ant-swarm horde.
"Lust made their move."
Sloth, Lust, Greed.
One of the demon world's three dividing powers.
Lust's demons had arrived at the temple.