The Demon King's Incurred Debt (2)
The demons who had bared their hostility toward Sabnack took a step back.
The king of all beasts. The tyrant who would bring an end to the continent. At the words of the black spearman who introduced himself as a subordinate serving the ruler of the southern continent, the demons' faces twisted in shock.
'The king of beasts…!'
'A monster rivaling Tuma in strength.'
'When Sabnack fled to the southern continent after losing control of the Liberia Peninsula… he got help from him.'
Sabnack ground her teeth at the demons' murmurs, glaring daggers at the black spearman.
"…I know."
"Then this'll be quick. Our ruler has summoned you, Lady Sabnack."
The spearman extended his hand as he spoke. Return to the southern continent. And repay what you borrowed. He relayed the command the king of beasts had given to Sabnack.
But Sabnack had no means to repay it. She had lost the war against the elves. And on top of that, she'd been betrayed by her own subordinates. Even if she miraculously survived this place, her situation was so dire that she doubted she could rebuild the Demon King Army.
"If you'd won the war against the Liberia Elf Kingdom, you promised to offer up all the rare treasures and resources on the Liberia Peninsula for the next hundred years. But alas, you lost…."
The black spearman spoke with feigned regret, his gaze fixed on Sabnack. His red eyes flickered. It was a gesture asking if she remembered the price agreed upon for defeat.
Sabnack nodded. She had no intention of playing dumb about the pact she'd made.
"I'm not running. I'll pay up. Though whether a penniless loser like me can actually do it is another question."
"Don't worry about that. Our ruler will definitely collect his 'due' one way or another."
"…Do as you please."
The red-haired Demon King slowly set down the rusted sword she'd been gripping before her. She closed her eyes. Let out a deep sigh. Her face twisted in a passionate grimace, as if reliving the bitter taste of defeat.
What the king of beasts would demand from her was unknown. He might sever her arms to steal the swordsmanship she'd built for revenge. He might take the half-remaining Demon Core. Or she could end up as his lackey until death.
"Thank you for cooperating so readily. As expected of Lady Sabnack."
"Spare me the flattery. I know you've already unleashed your beasts to watch the outskirts of Granata."
"Ah. Busted?"
Caught off guard, the spearman shrugged sheepishly. He tapped his spear against the ground—a signal to the distant beasts. With Sabnack accepting the debt repayment, it meant withdraw from Granata.
The thousands of beasts lurking in the shadows around Granata slithered away.
"Shall we head to the southern continent to settle your debt? I'll guide you kindly."
The black spearman raised his spear, eyeing the beasts encircling them. You're in the way, his surging red gaze declared.
Even as the spearman dispatched by the king of beasts exuded intimidation, most demons refused to back down. They wanted Sabnack's Demon Core. Refusing to yield until they claimed the Rampage Flame Demon Core, they held their ground spears and swords at the ready.
"Don't interfere!"
"That bitch got countless kin of ours killed!"
"Today, we claim the Rampage Flame Demon Core."
The demons besieging Granata numbered in the tens of thousands. They seemed to trust in their overwhelming numbers.
Faced with the demons' defiance, the black spearman tapped his shoulder with his spear, looking troubled. But he soon resolved it. With decision made, he lowered his black spear and began a ritual. The sharp tip unleashed a dark, murky mana, unfurling punishment.
"Pierce."
Thud.
He slammed the spear tip into the ground. Black thorn-bones summoned from below erupted like stakes, mercilessly impaling the obstructing demons.
Thick hides, sturdy metal armor, even magic-reinforced spells—none escaped. All demons marked as foes by the spearman received equal, merciless death.
Crunch. Scraaaape. Pffft!!
Flesh tearing, skin slicing, armor rending—the sounds didn't stop.
And with that as the signal, the beasts that had crossed the sea with the spearman assaulted Granata.
* * *
The forces led by the Rocksfield family swiftly recaptured Tarbr, crushed the Lourdes rebellion, and proved they were the kingdom's finest knights.
They suppressed the uprising harshly. Not only executing the citizen militia en masse, but hanging even those who sympathized with them—stomping out any potential sparks.
But an unexpected blunder occurred during the suppression. They let the ringleaders of the Valua Kingdom rebellion escape.
"Pursue to the end. Those scum dragged the kingdom's dignity through the mud and sullied the royal honor. On the Rocksfield name, we'll have their heads."
At Commander-in-Chief Troyed Rocksfield's words, his aides balked.
"But sir… the traitors fled into the Akiteon Mountains."
"Isn't that elf territory? We can't just barge in. The elves will surely handle the traitors for us."
Marching an army into the Akiteon Mountains risked clashing with the elves. All the aides opposed it. With rebellions erupting across the kingdom, making enemies of the forest folk was folly.
"You're right. But we need the heads of the ringleaders. The elves won't want to dirty their forests with human corpses either."
The Rocksfield family never let royal traitors slip away. For the family's honor and glory, Troyed insisted on claiming those heads.
Leaving the main army behind, Troyed took his three sons and a handful of knights toward the Akiteon Mountains.
"Brother, talk Father down."
"You think he'll listen to begging?"
At the youngest, Berban's words, second son Gubelas shook his head. No chance.
"Our brother-in-law got captured by those vicious elves too."
"Brother-in-law? You mean Gilliard?"
Berban and Yushin had bonded after meeting in the Rocksfield household. Same age, they clicked. Though Berban called his sister Allen a 'monster' and avoided her, he got along well with Yushin, whom Father had chosen as her fiancé. So Berban brought up Yushin to argue that entering elf territory was suicide.
"Yushin Gilliard betrayed the Valua Kingdom and sided with the elves. He sullied the honor of kingdom knights—he's an unforgivable enemy."
"Allen's with him."
"If they'd quietly returned to the kingdom, things wouldn't have escalated like this."
"Well… true."
Gubelas' words rang true, so Berban nodded. Traitors who betrayed the kingdom. Hard to argue.
Abandoning return to the Valua Kingdom and staying in the Liberia Elf Kingdom was betrayal, plain and simple. Stubborn like their father, Gubelas hammered it home.
"Still, he beat a Demon King, right? Pride of the kingdom knights. Toppling the Tyranny Demon King and now the Rampage Flame Demon King… Keeping it secret from me was infuriating, but I get he had reasons."
"Father hasn't broken the engagement, so he must trust Yushin Gilliard. Or he just wants a Diablo Slayer as a son-in-law no matter what."
"Who'd pass up the Holy Empire's Demon King killer?"
Berban laughed and tugged the reins. The heavily armored warhorse picked up speed. Soon, they reached the Akiteon Mountains.
As the Rocksfield knights appeared, sharp arrows rained from the mountainside. The knights drew swords, batting them away.
"Haha! Quite the welcome!"
"Quiet, Berban."
Gubelas warned his boisterous youngest brother. He glanced at Father. Only his back was visible at the lead—no reading his reaction.
The elves attacked without hesitation. No room for talk. This arrow volley was a warning shot. One more step, and it'd be merciless.
"Guardians of the Akiteon Mountains, hear me!!"
Count Rocksfield, Troyed Rocksfield, bellowed to the elves lurking in the foliage, glaring unseen. His voice boomed, mana-infused like a lion's roar, echoing thunderously.
"We've pursued kingdom traitors here. They surely came this way. We demand their custody! If slain, hand over the bodies. We'll compensate, of course."
Arrogant tone, befitting a veteran knight dubbed a kingdom guardian. Imperious pride laced his words. His three sons and the Rocksfield knights held firm, banners of the Valua Kingdom and family lowered, awaiting reply.
'No way that'll work… Father's tone sounds like he's picking a fight. What if they capture us as slaves? Heard kingdom soldiers taken in battle end up as breeding stallions in the elf kingdom.'
Sensing the piercing gazes from the shadows, Berban swallowed dryly, scanning warily. Clear killing intent. The elf rangers were on edge after their comrades' kidnapping. But the oblivious Rocksfield knights chalked it up to the long enmity between Valua Kingdom and Liberia Elf Kingdom.
"Someone's coming. An elf."
Eldest son Sermes, at Troyed's side, spoke up. An elf emerged from the trees. Liana Linehold, 11th Sword Warrior. The silver-haired elf approached the kingdom knights with sharp aura.
As she advanced, Troyed heard bowstrings tauten. He sensed the ambushed rangers aiming. Unfazed, he addressed her.
"I am Troyed Rocksfield, here to capture the traitors who rebelled against kingdom and crown. Hand over the fugitives who fled here. As I said, compensation will be paid."
"…Rocksfield?"
Liana murmured. Familiar name. Rocksfield. It sent an inexplicable chill through her.
"Not sure if traitors, but the humans who trespassed are in our custody."
"That's them. We've tracked them here."
Troyed replied. He sensed her razor-sharp energy, confirming her as an elite among elf swordsmen.
"No need for compensation. One demand: Hand them over and leave immediately. Refuse, and we use force."
Gubelas bristled at her wary, contempt-laced words. But unlike his son, Troyed kept cool, nodding acceptance of the elf warrior captain's demand.