The Black-Clad Demon
“……”
As Adel pushed open the door to the barracks, a man exuding black aura stood right before him.
“Ka-cha! Ka-cha!!”
He casually grabbed a savage infant by the scruff of its neck, tossing it up and down like a toy.
“Hee-hee, looks tasty, this little one.”
Dressed in a black uniform, he appeared impeccably groomed, as if he belonged to a different world from the savages.
“Ka-cha! Ka-cha!!!”
But the long tail protruding from beneath his uniform betrayed his true nature as a demon.
The savage child, batted around like a ball in the minion's hands—tossed up only to fall again—thrashed wildly in the air, on the verge of bursting into tears.
Yet no one dared stop the demon's reckless antics; they could only watch in silence.
Thud—
Then it happened.
The infant hovering mid-air suddenly vanished.
“……?!”
The minion's eyes widened in shock, but they soon curved into crescent moons as he grinned.
“You don't seem to value your own life much. No wonder you treat others' so carelessly.”
“So you're the human brat who killed Hatuk.”
Adel gently set the savage infant down from his arms.
Murmurs—
Murmurs—
The savages couldn't hide their astonishment.
Few had even noticed him snatch the child from the air.
Incredible speed.
Worth taking down Hatuk, indeed.
As expected……
They gazed at Adel with eyes brimming with tension.
His speed surpassed human limits, but to the savages, their concern outweighed any admiration.
But it's not enough.
No way he can take that monster with just that.
Splat—!!!
Their worries became reality in an instant.
The very moment Adel placed the infant on the ground, his shoulder tore open as if sliced by something razor-sharp.
“Not bad. I was aiming for your neck.”
Red blood trickled from the wound.
Adel winced slightly at the stinging pain.
“Ku-ka! Ku-ku-ka!!”
The savage infant standing beside him cried out in a whimpering voice, as if worried for Adel.
“I'm fine. Go on.”
But Adel patted the child's back and nudged it back into the crowd.
“Lord Jin ordered me to bring you. My name is……”
“My name's Adel. And I don't care about yours. Not some minion's.”
“W-what?”
The minion's face twisted at Adel's words.
“Cheeky bastard. Cutting off a limb or two won't kill you, right?”
“As I was saying.”
Thud—
The minion scowled and reached for the sword at his waist.
But astonishingly, his hand grasped at empty air.
“Huh?”
As he twisted his head, he saw his own hand resting atop the sword's hilt.
His arm, however, dangled limply in mid-air, severed at the wrist.
“M-my arm!!”
He clutched the hilt desperately, staring at his severed hand with a pallid face, screaming.
“Not bad. I was aiming for your neck.”
Adel threw the minion's own words back at him.
“But you didn't even notice the cut? With skills like that, whose what are you planning to slice?”
“You little……!!!”
Clang—!!!
The minion flung his severed hand away—sword sheath and all—and drew his blade.
Skreeeang—!!
As he swung the slender longsword, black currents of energy unleashed razor-sharp sword winds toward Adel.
“……”
Crescent-shaped sword qi hurtled forth—one, two, three…… endlessly surging.
Adel simply watched them impassively.
Boom—!!
In that instant, an opaque barrier materialized before him.
“……?!”
The minion's sword qi clashed against the barrier and dissipated; he couldn't hide his shock.
“W-what is that?”
What else? Your sword qi is just weaker than my power.
“……!!!”
The minion jolted at the low voice from behind, whipping his head around in alarm.
Grrrr……!!
In that moment, a black wolf sank its teeth into his nape, eliciting a scream from the minion.
“Aaaagh!!!”
Tch.
Kalderet pinned the collapsed minion's head down with a forepaw.
From what I recall, mid-tier demons of fifth hierarchy and above have excellent regeneration…… but you're not even that capable, are you?
“Kuh, kugh…… What are you?”
You don't even know who I am? Must be some pathetic fledgling who hasn't been around long. Listen well, whelp. Just because your master is strong doesn't make you strong.
“Raaargh!!!”
The minion, pride wounded by the sudden black wolf stepping on his head, roared and slashed his sword at Kalderet's leg.
“Don't do anything pointless.”
But Adel's sword pierced straight through the back of the minion's sword hand.
“Kyaak!!!”
Nazas's blade, infused with sharp energy, skewered the minion's hand without resistance.
“Those who can't gauge their opponent's strength only hasten their own death.”
“Y-you……”
Adel seized the fallen minion's head, yanking it back to bring his face close to his own cheek.
“From now on, answer my questions. Or you'll go back to the mansion as ground meat.”
“You human…… Do you think Lord Jin will let this slide when he finds out?”
Bashed into the floor, face bloodied, the minion bared his demon fangs and snarled at Adel.
“Perfect. I'm not planning to sit idle either. So answer me. What hierarchy are you?”
“Die, you son of a……”
Bam—!!!
Without hesitation, Adel slammed the minion's head into the ground.
Before he could finish, it met the floor again.
Bam! Bam! Bam!!!
After several more brutal impacts, the minion's face was a mangled mess. Even the watching savages flinched with each thud.
“I, I surren……der……!”
Adel's hand paused at the minion's choked voice.
“Feeling like talking now?”
“Chiiiuuuaaa……”
“What?”
Bloodied and sniveling, the minion spoke to Adel.
“Sev…… seventh hierarchy……”
“Hmm, good. As far as I know, demons go up to tenth hierarchy. Right?”
“Y-yes.”
“Then how many demons are here with you right now?”
“Ugh…… Urgh…… Me and one fifth hierarchy.”
Adel tilted his head slightly at the answer.
“Belkan mentioned something about a second hierarchy or higher.”
“Urp?! Mmph!”
He shoved his hand into the minion's mouth.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
Then yanked out his tongue, making the minion writhe in agony.
“Lie again, and I'll rip it out.”
“Th-the demons…… that's all!!”
“Then?”
For a moment, the minion stared at Adel.
Then he trembled with a sinister grin.
“Kuh, ku-ku…… You idiot. Didn't even know who rules the holy site and you were baring your teeth?”
“What?”
“Once you learn who owns this holy site, you'll faint. You're the one begging for death.”
The minion spat.
“He's no mere demon.”
“Guess you need more.”
Adel scowled at his words.
“W-wait!!! That's enough!!!”
Grabbing his nape, the minion reverted to fawning obeisance, waving his hands desperately.
“H-he is the master of the Rift Heart, one of only two Demon Kings in the demon realm. A mere human daring to defy him.”
Blood foaming at his mouth, the minion shouted.
“Heh-heh, Lord Jin will soon tear you apart and savor your flesh! He bears the blessing of the God of Annihilation!”
Splat……!!!
Why does this bastard's attitude flip-flop like this? Either rebel or submit—pick one.
“Urbl…… Uuugh……”
Kalderet irritably swatted the minion's head with a paw.
“Right. So the being you serve is one of two Demon Kings in the demon realm, blessed by the God of Annihilation. Impressive.”
Adel eyed the prone minion.
“We're one of only two ourselves, though.”
“……What?”
A chill ran through the minion.
“Ancient God.”
* * *
“Ah, forgive my ignorance……”
The minion, who introduced himself as Bill, knelt politely as if nothing had happened.
“To think you were contracted to an Ancient God…… I'll report to Lord Jin at once.”
“No need. I'm heading to meet him anyway. Humans and demons haven't exactly been on greeting terms.”
“Haha, humans are no different from slaves, of course. But a god's contractor is another matter.”
Bill groveled.
“I made a grave mistake. On par with Rune'r…… A contractor like you is Demon King-level at least.”
He winked flirtatiously at Adel with a saccharine tone.
“Use me as you please. I pledge my full loyalty.”
“Skip the loyalty. Bill, any high-hierarchy demons in your family tree?”
“How did you know? My father is of the Towell house, fourth hierarchy demon.”
“Figured as much.”
Judging by your bootlicking, reaching seventh hierarchy with that brain must be daddy's doing.
Kalderet sighed at Bill, who seemed oblivious to his captors, still treating humans like slaves.
“More importantly, tell me about this Demon King Jin. I thought the God of Annihilation was in the desert Forbidden Zone, not here in Cove.”
“Oh dear, you know nothing of the Forbidden Zones, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
Bill smirked proudly.
“Well, only demons know this. The Forbidden Zones are all connected.”
Twitch.
Adel's eyebrow twitched.
This was news even to him, who had lived his previous life.
“The demon realm itself is indeed in the desert Forbidden Zone, as you said. But that's just the city where demons live. The other two are the Demon King's domains—accessible only to his minions.”
Bill placed a hand on his chest.
“Yes. I was gloriously chosen by Lord Jin, selected over countless demons.”
“And the other one? In the North Sea Forbidden Zone?”
“Precisely.”
Adel pressed him.
“You said your Demon King only has you and one other. How many demons follow him?”
“Well……”
Bill scratched his head, looking troubled.
“Around a thousand, give or take?”
“Aha. I get the picture now. What kind of guy this Jin is.”
A strange smile crept across Adel's face, a plan forming in his mind.
“Bill, you're an idiot, but a pretty useful one.”
“……Pardon?”
“Following a fallen Demon King and all.”
Adel grabbed his collar.
“I've seen plenty. How defeated kings end up after losing the throne war.”
“Th-that's……”
“Now guide me to your master.”
Bill stared at Adel in bewilderment.
“I think we can strike a pretty good deal.”