The Fall of the Demon Kingdom
The sudden death of the Demon King, who had longed for peace, brought consequences that could only be called a catastrophe for the demon race. The disappearance of the absolute monarch—the strongest of all demons and the very center around which every demon had gathered—immediately plunged both the demon race and the Demon Kingdom into chaos. Ordinary citizens trembled with anxiety at the unexpected crisis, while the high-ranking demons either fell into despair or turned on one another in bitter infighting. There was no sign the turmoil would settle anytime soon.
And into that disarray stepped the very people who had spoken of peace only days before. The allied races, as if they had been waiting for this moment, declared a holy crusade against so-called “evil” and launched a full-scale invasion of the Demon Kingdom. The allied forces struck with terrifying speed, leaving the Demon Kingdom no time to prepare. In an instant, the entire land was transformed into a living hell. Small villages were swallowed by flames and reduced to ash, while great cities were looted and toppled. Countless demons—men, women, and children alike—were slaughtered without mercy, killed simply for the horns upon their brows.
As the situation grew ever more dire, the high-ranking demons desperately tried to mend their divisions and resist the invaders, but the scales had already tipped too far. Led by the Hero wielding the Holy Sword, the allied army crushed the Demon Kingdom’s forces. In the process, even high-ranking demons such as the dancer Hela were scattered or taken captive. The Demon Kingdom, once the so-called “Empire of Evil” that had made the entire allied races tremble, was reduced to nothing more than smoldering ruins.
*
“This… is what happened during the half-year since Your Majesty disappeared.”
“…”
Hela finished her account in a somber voice. I could not speak for a long moment. I had known some time had passed, but never imagined I had slept for half a year. Far worse, however, was the fact that the Demon Kingdom had fallen in that time. And that truth forced me to confront one painful, undeniable reality.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Pardon…?”
“This is my fault. Because I was foolish enough to trust them…”
“…!”
The words of apology left my lips. Hela looked momentarily bewildered, yet I knew I owed an apology not only to her, but to every demon who still drew breath in this land. Even in chaos, it should never have been possible to destroy the continent’s most powerful nation in a mere six months. Yet the Demon Kingdom had fallen, and its capital now lay in ruins before my eyes. There could be only one explanation.
They had been preparing from the very beginning… From the moment I extended my hand while they spoke of peace, they had already been plotting our annihilation.
The allied races had smiled to my face while sharpening their knives behind my back. I had trusted them in my innocence, and the price was this horrific ending—rivers of innocent blood. The realization filled me with a guilt heavier than the pain of betrayal itself.
At that moment, Hela gently placed her hand on my shoulder. Her voice, though quiet, was clear as she spoke beside my ear.
“Your Majesty… please do not say such things.”
“But…”
“In the end, you have returned to us. Though much has been lost, simply seeing you again—our hope—fills me with gratitude.”
“…Hela.”
She knelt before me, her voice trembling with sincerity.
“Thank you… for still being alive. Truly… thank you, my lord.”
Her unwavering loyalty, offered even after my grave mistake, eased the crushing weight in my chest. Looking down at her battered form kneeling before me, I made my decision.
Revenge. I would make the allied races and the Hero pay for trampling my goodwill and for the merciless slaughter of Hela and the demon people. Not merely for personal vengeance, but as a ruler’s duty. Together with Hela, I began to discuss the path ahead—including the fate of the human hunter we had just captured.
*
“Kgh…”
A splitting headache. Through the pain, Ziren struggled back to consciousness.
“Damn it… What the hell is going on…”
“Awake?”
“Hrk!”
The moment he opened his eyes, a cold voice reached him. Before him stood the very demon from before—golden eyes, reddish-brown hair, and black horns. The demon regarded him like an insect and spoke in an icy tone.
“There’s something you need to do for me.”
“?! W-what do you—”
Crack.
Before Ziren could finish, agony exploded through him and a scream tore from his throat. Only then did he realize the small object in the demon’s hand was one of his own severed fingers.
“Do as you’re told and I’ll let you go quietly. Let’s both make this easy.”
“Kgh… aaargh…!”
The demon seized another finger. Overwhelmed by unbearable pain, Ziren had no choice but to submit.
*
Thirty kilometers south of the fallen Demon Kingdom’s capital stood a small fortress. Inside, a group of humans had made their base—the demon-hunting organization Kerks. Their work was to roam the ruined Demon Kingdom, capture demons, and sell them on the black market: as slaves, playthings for nobles, or test subjects for magical research. Demand for demons remained constant across many fields, and Kerks, the largest such organization on the continent, had grown immensely wealthy because of it. Their ability to establish a foothold this deep inside what had once been the Demon Kingdom’s heartland was proof of both their strength and their riches.
In the largest chamber within the fortress, the branch leader Crassus wore an expression of deep displeasure.
“How many days has it been now? Why is there still no word? We only have two days left!”
“I-I’m sorry, sir.”
“It’s the dancer we’re after, after all…”
“B-but we sent our best trio. Any moment now, we should receive good news—”
“Silence! You useless lot! How can capturing one defenseless demoness take this long? You already botched the order for two hundred demon children. If you fail this time as well, what do you expect me to do?”
“Ugh…”
“Kgh…”
The subordinates fell silent, fidgeting nervously. Crassus spoke again, his voice heavy with urgency rather than mere anger.
“I’ll say it once more—this deal was arranged personally by the Master. If it fails, none of you will escape unscathed. Do you understand what that means?”
“Th-the Master…”
“W-we’ll… remember it.”
The Master—the shadowy head of Kerks, a man whose wrath was legendary. Knowing exactly what happened to those who incurred his anger, the men felt a chill run down their spines.
“If you understand, then move. Don’t leave everything to the trio—go out there yourselves and find that woman! Understood?”
“Y-yes!”
“U-understood!”
The subordinates hurried out. Crassus sank into his chair, frustration burning in his chest.
I never thought she’d give us this much trouble… I should have been more careful from the start.
The root of the problem was simple: they had grown complacent after capturing such a valuable prize. Worried that lust-crazed subordinates might damage the merchandise, he had deliberately kept his distance—an oversight that now cost them dearly. Regretting his carelessness, Crassus considered joining the search himself.
Just then—
“S-sir! They’re back!”
“What?”
A subordinate burst into the room. At his next words, Crassus’s face lit up with relief.
“Is that true?”
“Yes! Ziren has captured the dancer and is returning as we speak. Here’s the message—”
“Oh! Finally!”
Crassus snatched the letter written in Ziren’s hand, his expression brightening instantly.
“Excellent! I knew those three would pull it off.”
“There… was a slight problem, however.”
“A problem?”
“Yes. During the capture, they were ambushed by another demon. Marco was killed, and Louis, who returned early due to injuries to deliver the news, is in bad shape.”
“Hah… Marco, dead? What a waste of a young man. And Louis’s wounds?”
“His face is badly injured, but we’ve already sent him to the infirmary. He should be fine.”
“Good work. At least we can breathe easy now that we have the dancer.”
With the target secured, the deal was no longer in danger. Relief washed over Crassus, followed by a wave of exhaustion. He leaned back in his chair, letting fatigue claim him.
It’s done… All that remains is to keep the dancer under control until the transaction is complete. Once this succeeds, I’ll never have to worry about money again…