132. Demon Core of Flames (3)
Grrrrrr.
The sea beast leading the ship carrying Sabnack and the demons had a peculiar snout lined with hundreds of small, sharp teeth. Resembling a giant moray eel, the massive sea beast cleaved through the rough currents, pulling away from the Libria Peninsula.
My heartbeat has calmed…. As expected, it was because of the half Demon Core possessed by the Diablo Slayer. The Demon Core, split by the strike that severs immortality, is drawing toward each other. It's quiet now, but… if they draw close again, they'll resonate with one another.
Sabnack placed a hand on her chest, feeling the throbbing pulse of her heart. It was gradually stabilizing. The heart that had pounded madly now beat calmly, as if nothing had happened. Standing on the deck, she gazed quietly at the horizon with her graceful eyes. As the land receded farther into the distance, Sabnack felt once more the sting of her defeat in the war against the elves.
“Your Highness.”
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The black minotaur approached, his heavy footsteps creaking across the deck.
“Borhes.”
“Heading straight for the southern continent like this… is far too perilous. I beseech you, reconsider.”
The hulking monster bowed his head low, pleading with Sabnack. The ruler of the southern continent would surely make outrageous demands to settle the debt. This world's embodiment of greed would squeeze every last drop of payment from her, no matter what. That was why Borhes proposed turning the ship away and fleeing to some other refuge.
Sabnack quietly shook her head.
“Grid is a monster forged from pure greed. Think you that brigand of the seas would let a debtor who devours his coin and flees escape? He would pursue to the continent's very edge to claim his due.”
Alone, she might have slipped Grid's avarice and fled. But she had her subordinates—comrades who had forged unbreakable bonds amid countless trials and tribulations. She could not abandon them. Thus, the Raging Flames Demon King accepted Grid's summons. Had she refused, the rebelling demons would have slain her, or the elves would have dragged her to Maherith for execution.
“No choice but to parley with Grid once more…. Though whether I, stripped bare as I am, hold any cards for the bargaining table… I cannot say.”
They existed, without doubt. Else Grid would not have called her to the southern continent. But what were they? What remained to her, and what price would Grid demand? Even Sabnack did not know.
“Hmph.”
The ship lurched violently. The colossal sea beast, hauling it like a carriage, battered through raging waves. Mad winds whipped across the deck. Sabnack closed her eyes, savoring the briny tang of salt-laced air. It might be her final chance to bask in nature's gentle blessing in peace.
The elf warrior captains, having let Sabnack slip through their fingers, returned to Maherith with bitter regret. The Demon King had fled to the southern continent. Her rebellious demons had met gruesome ends, and the beasts blocking their path vanished from the Libria Peninsula the instant the spear master invoked reverse summoning.
At last, victory was theirs. News that Granata lay deserted reached the Yetzirah Council, who—while remaining vigilant against the lingering threat of Sabnack—rejoiced greatly at triumphing over the Demon King Army after centuries of war.
“…Do we really have to go this far?”
Yushin asked. Ardena fixed him with a fierce glare, demanding he hold still. Heung. Under the high elf beauty's iron command, Yushin could only yield with a bizarre groan.
“Why in the gods' names did you keep silent all this time, harboring the Demon Core of Flames within you?!”
Ardena roared. Cowed by the high elf warrior's lion-like bellow, Yushin slumped his shoulders and muttered.
“W-Well, 'cause no one asked…?”
Ardena itched to stitch this infuriating human's trap shut.
“It's fine. Doesn't hurt a bit now. See? Lightning's red. Three times faster, yo?”
“Shut that mouth.”
“Yeah, sorry.”
It felt like a solid gag to him, but elves apparently didn't get it. Yushin clamped his lips tight before Ardena's menacing aura.
“…So, you've gained the power to wield a Demon King's might?”
Ileina approached Yushin and Ardena in the reception hall of Maherith Palace. The High Priestess, flanked by a throng of elf maids, scrutinized Yushin—now bearer of raging flames—for any telltale changes. A quick glance at his head suggested she was checking for demonic horns.
“Yeah. Red lightning now. Three times the speed.”
“Ooh!”
Ileina's eyes lit up like a kid's as Yushin held up three fingers. At nineteen, she hadn't shed her chuunibyou ways. The weight of her title forced gravity upon her at times, but inside, she remained an innocent girl.
“I'm not entirely sure myself. A human wielding a Demon King's power…. Humans possess a freer nature than other races, true—but I've never heard of one commanding the authority the Demon God granted the six Demon Kings.”
“There is one, actually.”
Yushin reminded Ardena and Ileina of the ‘human’ among the six Demon Kings. A human wielding demonic authority. Yushin Gilliard was neither first nor last. Silent powerhouses lurked in the shadows, ignoring the world—including a Demon King born human.
“We'll summon healers to examine you thoroughly…. Sound good?”
“I'm good.”
“Thank you.”
Yushin nodded without protest. Probing his internal mana was fine, so long as they didn't crack him open.
“Very well, then…. I have questions about Sabnack.”
Ileina peppered Yushin with queries on the Raging Flames Demon King, gathering details. Was her immortality truly erased? With half the Demon Core lost, would that vile inferno trouble them no more? She probed Sabnack's diminished state.
“You know anything about the southern continent?”
Yushin turned the question. Ileina shrugged her petite shoulders.
“The land across the strait? Ancestors dubbed it an ill-omened realm of death—a forbidden zone to shun. Crossing the sea or even showing interest was banned. Swarming with vile beasts, a land of death… that's the extent of it.”
“Don't go, don't even look. Sounds like scolding a bratty kid.”
“Ahaha, spot on.”
Ileina giggled at Yushin's cheeky simile. They clicked oddly well. Ardena scowled between them. From Liberia Elf Kingdom's view, it was ideal—the Holy Empire's Demon King Slayer, vanquisher of Tyranny and Flames, befriending their ruler promised future gains.
Yet… watching Yushin beam while chatting warmly with another woman soured her mood.
Jealousy? No, impossible. I'm the warrior captain safeguarding Liberia Elf Kingdom. I've sworn all I am to country and kin. Petty envy wouldn't sway me.
Ardena shook her head furtively. No way. But as Ileina clapped delightedly at Yushin's quips, flames roared unchecked in her chest.
“High Priestess, strawberry cake.”
A maid, shadow-silent against the wall, approached and set down the cakes. Ripe red strawberries crowned them. Three cakes filled the table.
“Thank you.”
Ileina forked a strawberry atop Yushin's slice—a stingy prize, adorably so.
“Best keep the raging flames power under wraps. Yetzirah Council's fossils would kick up a storm if they knew. Continental nations would freak too.”
A Demon King Slayer wielding demonic might—like some hack's fantasy tale, devoid of realism. Without the captains' reports on Yushin's shift, belief would have taken ages.
“Anywhere hurt?”
“Nah. Just keep my distance from Sabnack, seems.”
Demon King social distancing. Ileina dissolved in giggles again. Their humor synced perfectly. First impressions aside, they shared punchlines and mental ages. Yushin, jaded from wrangling Bria Academy's troublemaker Alonne Valencia, was a pro with younger girls.
What's funny about that creepy uncle joke?!
Crafty kid. Rude nineteen-year-old elf. Shameless palace prowler in graceless garb. As Ileina bantered closer with Yushin—skin brushing skin—Ardena's eyes sharpened with jealousy, defying her noble vows.
“No ordinary sorts, that's for sure. Even cornered, issuing demands—or orders—to pride-swollen Sabnack? Formidable foes.”
“Southern continent's ruler…. The founding High Priestess's tomes might mention it. Or other scholars'. Elves breed eccentrics. Taboo as it was, some geek likely studied it.”
Yushin took his fork. Eyeing Ileina cake-deep, he slid his own strawberry onto Ardena's plate. She startled; he grinned impishly. Not Ileina's gift—his original. Ardena popped it quick, lest Ileina see.
Sweet.
Ardena murmured. Whipped cream and berry were sweet, true. But the sweetness flooding her mouth stemmed from neither.