The Demon King's Incurred Debt (3)
The ringleaders of the rebellion, who had fled into the Akiteon Mountains to evade the kingdom's army, had all been captured without exception. They were all unharmed—mere scratches from resisting the elves, nothing more. When the elf rangers guarding the Akiteon Mountains handed over the prisoners without a fuss, the Rocksfield forces couldn't hide their bewilderment.
"We'll repay this debt someday."
Troyed gave a curt nod of thanks to the elf warrior captain who had surrendered the ringleaders. The elves steadfastly refused any reward. It was utterly unlike elves, who were obsessed with wealth to the point of mercilessly selling war captives into slavery. No doubt it stemmed from their deep-seated animosity toward humans.
"Kuh! Damn elf bitches!"
"The kingdom's army chased us all the way to the Akiteon Mountains?!"
"Valua Kingdom will soon fall to the hands of us citizens! That incompetent king will one day be dragged from his throne by furious mobs and marched to the gallows!"
The ringleaders, detained by the elf rangers, gnashed their teeth and bellowed in rage. They spat curses laced with unimaginable fury at both the elves and the kingdom's army.
"Kingdom knights. Withdraw from our territory immediately, as per our demands."
Liana issued the command. Troyed nodded at her words, heavy with wary tension, and raised his hand. The Rocksfield forces, now in possession of the ringleaders, began to retreat.
"Elf!"
Berban stepped forward toward Liana, who was watching Troyed intently, his face stiff and rigid. Arrows from the elf rangers hidden in the forest trained on him—a clear threat that any funny business would turn him into a pincushion.
"What is it?"
Liana asked. Berban spoke up again.
"Yushin... How is Yushin Gilliard faring?"
An out-of-left-field question. Liana's guarded expression flickered for a moment at the unexpected query.
"He's doing just fine, safe and sound. He's the hero who slew Demon King Sabnack and saved us elves, after all."
"Ah, yes... I see."
Berban nodded. Relief washed over his face at the news that Yushin was well. What connection does he have with Yushin? Liana nearly voiced the question bubbling up inside her but clamped her mouth shut, maintaining silence. It was just personal curiosity. Her top priority right now was keeping watch on the humans.
Wait, Rocksfield...? Rocksfield... Same as that monster girl...
As the Rocksfield knights turned to leave after finishing their business, Liana finally pieced it together. The Kingdom's Seven Swords, who possessed overwhelming power even against Ardena Valencia. The kingdom's female knight who had fought the Raging Flames Demon King alongside the Diablo Slayer. They were connected to Allen Rocksfield.
No way they're getting revenge on me for rudely telling them to leave when they visited her family, right? Given that rabid bitch's temper, it's pretty likely. I'll ask Yushin to fend her off. Sure, that pervert will demand some ridiculous terms, but surviving the mad dog comes first.
Allen's family. Liana was certain the middle-aged man leading the kingdom's forces was her father. She could tell from the thick, razor-sharp aura radiating from him. He was no ordinary human. Clearly a monster on par with a high-ranking warrior captain.
Steel forged through repeated heating and tempering. That was Troyed Rocksfield.
Hmm? But...
As she watched the Rocksfields escort the ringleaders away, a suspicious doubt flitted through Liana's mind.
Why didn't he ask about his own daughter? What father wouldn't worry about his kid...?
Troyed remained silent. Berban, who had spoken up, had only inquired about Yushin— not a word about his little sister.
By a hair's breadth, Yushin and the Rocksfields missed each other. Upon receiving the urgent report, Yushin and Ardena had rushed straight to Maherith.
They arrived at High Priestess Ileina's office. Elf warrior captains were already gathered there. Miguel LaMancha, freshly returned from the Holy Empire, sat among them.
Allen's gonna chew me out again later...
Yushin scratched his head. He'd left Allen back at Valencia Castle. Just imagining her sulky face right now, pissed that he'd ditched her again, made fatigue crash over him.
"The demons who rebelled against Sabnack in Granata have all been wiped out."
Ileina spoke up. The silver-haired elf girl wore a grave expression, announcing the new crisis they faced. A monster that had dismantled tens of thousands of demons. Thousands of demonic beasts that had assaulted Granata. From the elves' reports on the Demon King Army's movements, Ileina couldn't hide her distress.
"What the hell is going on?"
Yushin clicked his tongue. A monster capable of obliterating tens of thousands of demons in one go. No way such a powerhouse had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Clearly, a new faction had intervened in the Demon King Army.
New faction's involvement. It meant another threat loomed over the Liberia Elf Kingdom, which had barely reclaimed peace by repelling the Demon King Army. For Yushin, who had poured everything into toppling Sabnack, it was a colossal pain in the ass.
"The Demon King Army never interferes in each other's territories, so they wouldn't have helped Sabnack."
"Then the southern continent?"
Miguel said. Yushin chimed in.
"Likely. Though we can't say for sure..."
The southern continent was an unknown realm. To humans and the Demon King Army alike. It was a savage wilderness, fiercely isolationist and self-sustaining. The only known fact: a monster transcending providence, called the king of all beasts, ruled the continent.
Most dismissed it as baseless legend, but Yushin knew the king of all beasts truly existed.
"Sabnack would know plenty about the southern continent shrouded in mystery."
"After fleeing to the southern continent following defeat at Lady El Seed's hands, Sabnack regrouped her scattered Demon King Army forces. It wouldn't be strange if she had allies there."
Ardena elaborated on Ileina's words, highlighting the threat lurking in that unknown land. Sabnack's ally. That's what Ardena called the force that had appeared in Granata.
Hmm. Ninety-nine percent fucked.
Yushin muttered as he watched the elf warrior captains' heated debate, arms crossed. Just when he'd thought he could catch a breather. He let out a deep sigh at the world's refusal to go smoothly. What a goddamn aggro magnet this place is.
Yushin grumbled in lament.
"Yushin!"
The meeting hit a lull. Ardena called out to Yushin as he stepped onto the outdoor terrace for some fresh air.
"Yeah? What's up."
"About the meeting just now... what do you think?"
"Think? It's all speculation. We know jack shit about this faction backing Sabnack. What are we supposed to do in this state? Best we can do is stay vigilant and make sure it doesn't hit us."
"...Yeah, you're right."
Ardena nodded at Yushin's words, exhaling a sigh tinged with worry.
"I don't know much about the southern continent myself. My master might, but... what's the point in missing someone so far away?"
The man who trained the Kingdom's Seven Swords, hailed as the kingdom's greatest swordsman. Yushin thought of his own master, a wistful expression crossing his face. To him, Heinkel was more father than mentor. Recalling him always stirred feelings of longing.
"I miss my master too. I understand completely."
"Yeah, thanks."
Yushin forced a smile at Ardena's empathetic words.
"Granata's a headache, but Valua Kingdom keeps nagging at me too. I've wished that shithole would just drop dead more times than I can count... It's like an ex nagging at you."
How the hell would you know? You've never even had a girlfriend, virgin. Ardena nearly snapped at Yushin's obliviousness, casually invoking a nonexistent ex right in front of her.
"But the priority's this mess, right? Yeah, Ardena?"
"Thank you."
"Don't get too comfy, though. I don't work for free. We had a deal, remember?"
Yushin burst out laughing. Ardena whipped her head away at the teasing grin, dodging a reply. Her pointed ears flushed crimson. Not just her ears—the heat spread to her snowy cheeks and nape, radiating like a boiling pot.
Granata was dyed red, as if someone had spilled a massive vat of crimson paint across the ground. Severed heads without owners rolled about. Half-eaten limbs lay discarded, and mangled flesh unrecognizable as human reeked of fishy rot, wedged in road cracks.
Krrrarrr.
Kurrrrrarrr, kahak!
A four-legged beast cloaked in black fur and hide prowled with eerie growls. Between its razor fangs—still satisfying its gluttonous hunger—strands of what seemed to be hair were lodged.
"With the disturbances quelled, shall we cross to the southern continent now?"
The black spearman bowed with exaggerated flourish to Sabnack and her subordinates.
Sabnack nodded. Her minions, however, eyed the monstrous figure with unease, as if facing a savage beast.
His power wasn't martial prowess but pure slaughter. A force built for one-sided massacres. It was natural to fear his bizarre authority, launching needle-sharp bone spikes from underground.
"A word of caution."
"Speak, Demon King Sabnack."
Sabnack addressed him. The spearman guiding her lifted his head.
"If you plan to demand the Demon Core of Rampage Flame as payment, withdraw it. I lost half my core to the Diablo Slayer's strike. Even my immortality's blessing is gone."
After her war defeat left her penniless, the halved Rampage Flame Demon Core was all she could offer. Thus, Sabnack assumed the southern continent's ruler would demand it.
"Hm."
The black spearman crossed his arms thoughtfully at Sabnack's words, nodding slightly. After a brief silence, he met her gaze.
"It's fine. The Ruler knows that too. I was sent to you because you possess something worth paying with. And you're summoned to the domain to deliver it. No need to worry."
"...Understood. I'll pay the price."
"Then, to the harbor. The path is prepared."
The spearman slung his black spear over his shoulder, waving grandly to command the beasts. The gluttonous fiends, bellies stuffed like vultures, parted left and right, opening a path. As they withdrew, exposed bones and scant flesh remained.
Grrraaaaaarrr.
Kkek. Grgrgrgr. Kagakak.
The beasts, mouths dripping blood, emitted grotesque cries. Ignoring them, Sabnack strode through thousands of the ferocious creatures. Even as they slavered and glared, she marched steadfastly, leaving her demons stunned.
"Not following Her Highness? The black beast's reputation must've hit rock bottom."
The undead knight sneered at the black minotaur standing dumbly like a totem pole. He stepped forward, armor clanking metallically, trailing the Demon King.
"You hollow tin can with nothing but a soul left! I swore to follow Her Highness anywhere. Insult my resolve, will you?!"
Borhes bellowed, quickening his massive strides. The other demons followed suit. Through every adversity and peril, they had guarded Sabnack faithfully. Now, with resolute expressions, they reaffirmed their unwavering loyalty to their king.