Chapter 314
Chapter 314
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 314
Chapter Title: The Highest Mountain (1)
Duke-class demon Bahel was in a good mood today.
It was the day the task he'd assigned to his subordinate Laria had finally wrapped up.
Humming a tune as he walked down the corridor, Bahel grabbed the doorknob and flung the door wide open.
"Laria! You done?"
The demon turned at Bahel's words. Unusually, this demon had a mosquito proboscis where its mouth should be.
-It's done.
"Yeah? As expected from you, Laria. I love that speedy work of yours."
Bahel gave a thumbs-up. But Laria's expression didn't change.
-Take it.
Laria handed Bahel a glowing golden orb. Bahel picked it up.
"This has all of Dorgo's memories, right?"
-Yes. His mental barriers were strong, so it took some time.
"Hahaha, bound to happen. He used to be a duke-class demon himself, after all."
Bahel grinned as he looked down at the floor.
Dorgo lay there, limp and powerless.
He looked fine on the surface. But Bahel, being a demon, could see how badly Dorgo's soul had been shattered.
Laria belonged to the demon tribe called the Moskiki.
The Moskiki could suck out memories by stabbing their proboscis into a soul.
They could extract every memory vividly, but the problem was the pain.
When Laria drained memories, the victim felt every ounce of agony imaginable.
"Stop... please stop... I'll tell you everything... I'll tell you, so..."
Dorgo was still writhing, unable to escape the torment.
Even though Dorgo had offered to spill everything, Bahel had insisted Laria extract the memories anyway.
The reason was simple. Dorgo might lie.
"Laria, give him just enough first aid to stabilize, then you rest up too."
He couldn't let Dorgo die. This guy was the perfect bait to lure out Demian Haksen.
"Alright, I'm off."
Bahel stepped out, holding Dorgo's memories.
He tossed the orb up and down like he was playing catch.
If he dropped it, the memories would scatter, but no big deal. He could just have Laria extract them again.
-Where have you imprisoned our mother!
-Give our mother back!
Noisy voices echoed nearby. Bahel turned with a baffled look.
-Where do these punks think they are!
-You lot can't stay quiet?!
He spotted four undead locked in a scuffle with his subordinates.
The Four Great Demon Kings that Dorgo had supposedly created. Bahel approached them with a puzzled expression.
"What's going on?"
-My lord! It's nothing. These guys started causing trouble again, so we subdued them.
Bahel eyed the Four Great Demon Kings facing off against his subordinates.
The Four Great Demon Kings glared at Bahel like they wanted to kill him.
-Bahel! Where have you locked up our mother!
-Give our mother back!
The Four Great Demon Kings bellowed. Bahel just let out a scoff.
"Oh, your mother? She's alive, at least."
At Bahel's words, the Four Great Demon Kings' eyes rolled back in rage.
-You bastard! We'll kill you right now!
The Four Great Demon Kings lunged at Bahel. But his subordinates grabbed them first and slammed them to the ground.
-Let go! Release us!
-We'll kill you!
The Four Great Demon Kings thrashed. The demons' strength was overwhelming; they couldn't budge.
"Man, after healing you up and patching you together, you don't know gratitude and start a fuss."
Bahel spoke wearily.
"You should be thanking me. Normally, your mother would've been torn to shreds by my men—thousands of pieces."
The demons' grudge against Dorgo ran deep.
Even now, subordinates suggested killing him.
"But not only did I spare your mother, I kept you lowly undead alive too."
Grand title or not, to demons, they were just undead.
If they wanted, they could smash them anytime. No way they'd treat them properly.
"Last warning. Behave. Or I'll rip off your limbs and toss you in a warehouse. Your precious mommy too."
A chilling aura emanated from Bahel. The Four Great Demon Kings' faces stiffened.
"If you get it, I'm off."
Bahel resumed walking. As he did, he popped the golden orb into his mouth.
"Hmm, ahem, heh-heh."
Dorgo's memories and knowledge flowed into Bahel's mind.
"Huh? Time regression? That's possible?"
"Combining authorities like this... Dorgo was a genius, alright."
"Betraying his own kind with that talent. Pathetic."
"Ah, betrayed by Demian Haksen, huh. Should've managed him better."
Bahel's muttering stopped abruptly.
He replayed the memory he'd just seen. His face grew serious.
"Ah."
A smile slowly spread across Bahel's lips.
"Demian Haksen has family, does he?"
Bahel stood there laughing for a good while.
"Ah, I wanna play with Demian right now... but too much left to do."
Bahel recalled one of Dorgo's memories.
A very old one.
In it, a living Dorgo was aiding a human man.
Ruin.
The nightmare human who slew all Seven Great Demon Kings.
The location was a mountain. So high it overlooked the entire world below.
"Karon Mountain. That's where he made the pact."
The keys alone couldn't negate all the pacts.
He needed a special place and special method.
Bahel bellowed loud enough for all his subordinates in the fortress to hear.
"Kids! Gear up—we're heading out! To Karon Mountain!"
* * *
"Karon Mountain, then."
Iris, who had been gripping Demian Haksen's head for a while, spoke to him.
"Fate showed it to me. The demons are definitely planning to head there."
"Why Karon Mountain?"
At Demian's question, Iris pondered briefly before answering.
"Not certain from the memories... but I know all pacts require a special place to be negated fully. Karon Mountain's the likeliest spot."
"Then we'd better hurry."
Demian rose immediately. Iris grabbed him.
"Demian, take Valhard with you."
"Valhard?"
Iris nodded.
"He's nothing compared to you, but among young dragons, he's the strongest. He'll help for sure."
Demian thought for a moment, then nodded as if agreeing.
"Sorry I can't help more."
Iris said with a dark expression.
"I'd give more kin, but... only one dragon can slip the pact using dragon tongue."
After long research, dragons had found a way to deceive the pact with dragon tongue.
That's how they'd been sending dragons to the surface for ages to gather info.
It was thanks to them that dragons knew about Demian.
"I already told Typhon. Use Valhard however you want—up to you."
"Then I'll wring him dry to the bone."
Iris giggled at Demian's words.
Demian, who made the joke, looked deadly serious.
* * *
As Demian left Iris's home, he saw a young man with a sullen face.
His hair was entirely red, and he had a very rough look.
Demian stared at the young man and spat one word.
"Eyes down."
The young man immediately averted his gaze. Sweat poured down his face.
As if fear was etched into his instincts.
Of course. This young man was Valhard in human form.
"Valhard, Iris mentioned Karon Citadel. We're going there now."
"Understood."
Valhard instantly used dragon tongue to open a dimensional gate. The two passed through, leaving the back world for Karon Mountain.
"The air's definitely different."
Demian took a deep breath upon exiting.
He somewhat understood why dragons strained so hard to escape the back world.
"What now, sir?"
"Find the demons. They're definitely here..."
That's when it happened.
A massive boom echoed from afar, demonic energy spreading.
Demian and Valhard exchanged glances.
"Valhard, looks like we head that way."
"Understood."
The two headed toward the noise. They found demons rampaging.
-Damn it! Where the hell's the altar?
-His Excellency said it's here! Search every inch!
Several demons were causing havoc, crumbling peaks and shattering terrain.
-Huh?
One demon spotted Demian and Valhard.
-D-De-Demian Haksen! Demian Haksen's here!
At the shout, demons scattered nearby converged.
Demian examined them closely. Two earl-class, many baron-class mixed in.
"Quite a few, huh."
"Indeed."
"Alright, Valhard. Deal with them."
"Got it... Pardon?"
Valhard stared at Demian in disbelief.
"No fighting together...?"
"You expect me to handle small fry like that? You solo it."
Humiliation flashed across Valhard's face.
For a dragon, following a human's orders felt deeply insulting.
"I said eyes down."
But at Demian's lowered voice, he bowed his head instantly.
"What, can't do it?"
"N-No, sir."
"Scared? Skip it then. Wouldn't want you dying on me."
Rage flared in Valhard's eyes at Demian's words.
"...No! I can do it!"
Valhard shed his human form, reverting to his true body.
-D-D-Dragon? How's a dragon here?
-Aren't all dragons locked in the back world?
The demons panicked at the dragon's appearance.
Normally, even if dragons escaped via dragon tongue, they couldn't use their full power.
But with the pact loosening, restrictions eased. Valhard could unleash freely.
-Hell scum! I'll burn you all to ash right now!
Valhard spewed breath. Demons scattered instantly.
-Kraaagh!
One who couldn't dodge took it full-on, turning to ash in seconds.
-Careful! Not an ordinary dragon!
-Someone fast, draw its eyes!
But the demons charged Valhard without fear.
-To dare challenge me!
Valhard roared in fury, attacking the demons.
The dragon-demon battle began.
* * *
"Oho, fighting pretty well."
Demian watched Valhard's battle from a distance.
"He'll manage without my help. Don't you think?"
As he spoke, Demian turned. A woman stood there, cloaked in a thick mantle.
"Yeah. Where'd you snag a dragon like that? Two or three earls wouldn't cut it."
She replied nonchalantly. Demian nodded, then asked.
"So, what kind of demon are you?"
At his question, the woman shook off her mantle with both hands.
It billowed, revealing countless daggers hidden beneath.
"I'm Laetishi. In Hell, they called me the Sword Marquis."
The daggers on the mantle floated into the sky—thirty in all.
Laetishi gripped two. Aurablades extended long from their edges.
"Demian Haksen, as your senior, I'll teach you a thing or two. Consider it an honor."
Demian scoffed at Laetishi's taunt.
"Thrilling honor, really."
Demian drew Dawnbringer.
Instantly, two aurablades clashed.