Demon King (1) - Entering the Demon Realm
Perhaps this was the first time since awakening as a player that I truly had no backup and would have to flail desperately on my own.
Am I scared? Hell yes, I am. I, Lee Hoyeol, haven't lost my head like some people yet.
Yusra Kingdom.
I stood in the backyard of the annex in the Golden Palace. Lush trees grew thickly, forming a natural fence around it. The only sound was the occasional chirp of birds, making it feel utterly cut off from the world.
In that view, the only thing faintly visible was the Garden of Dignity attached to the annex.
I have no idea how he took my rambling, but...
After the Tianxia Tongyi incident, Elcidoir had stayed in China. No need to worry. He'd become someone I could somewhat trust. And even if he pulled something unexpected, with the Hierarchy of Blessing, controlling him wouldn't be hard.
"I trust you will handle it well."
Besides, I didn't waste my social experience. Keeping him tied to the garden forever would violate labor laws, right?
Anyway, with no Elcidoir guarding the Garden of Dignity, there were no eyes on this place.
So let's check it out.
Know thyself.
Before entering the Demon Realm, I wanted to assess my own forces. Naturally, blackening wasn't included. That was Grandfell's power, not Lee Hoyeol's.
Too risky, as expected.
Blackening wasn't a skill I could activate at will. The only pure power of mine I could count on was Heaven and Earth Sole Respect at 10% proficiency.
Of course, that's not all.
Whoosh.
A gentle breeze rustled, making the Dawn Jacket draped over my shoulders flutter.
The spoils from the Seven Deadly Sins: the neutral parasites Envy, Lust, and Wrath.
I gazed at the three items sparkling like jewels.
Gluttony and Sloth.
Those two didn't die by my hand as a demon hunter. They were taken down by Shahin Dune with his red eyes and Gamond Phil, leader of the Diamond Merchant Guild.
"Remember that I am watching."
Like Greed, they'd resurrect. But no immediate worry. Recall how Greed, even after absorbing every negative emotion in the Yusra Archipelago, was only level 600.
It's different now. For me, of course.
The current Arcana Continent was worlds apart from when Greed revived. Quirnburk Mechanical Towers dotted the Empire territories, and the surviving Arcana natives were battle-hardened veterans who'd faced demons and every ordeal.
They wouldn't cower easily. Plus, the players stepping onto Arcana wouldn't go down without a fight against freshly born Seven Deadly Sins.
My usual rambling gave a cold assessment.
"They might even come begging for eternal rest at my feet."
In short, better to fall cleanly to my hand and drop to hell than keep dying and resurrecting endlessly.
I reached for the Seven Deadly Sins' spoils.
No need to recheck Envy.
I examined the two new items.
◈ Restriction: Unknown
◈ Effect: Lust exists in three forms—good, neutral, evil—each granting different effects to the user. Current state: Neutral - Provides the 'Charm' stat to the user.
◈ Description: A small creature of unknown origin.
While Envy was a transparent crystal-like gem, Lust clung to my jacket like a small, ruby-red pomegranate seed.
By the way.
Charm, huh.
It wasn't my first new stat. I'd gained Tenacity through relentless training, and Aesthetics from wearing an item—neither basic stats.
But Charm?
Never heard of it.
Before I could even evaluate it, my mouth twitched first.
"A worthless effect."
The great Grandfell would never welcome artificial Charm.
But I'm different. With the Demon Realm ahead, I had to value everything. A legendary item's effect? No way I'd ignore it.
A stat, yet utterly concise. Not like Aesthetics, where I could allocate points, nor did it have numerical values. More like a buff...
A unique aura? What the hell is that?
Felt like I wouldn't know until I tested it in real combat.
At least it seemed usable somehow.
Whoosh.
To wield a legendary item, you build affinity with it. For some reason... it seemed Lust already had high affinity with me, rolling happily in my palm.
Unlike Wrath.
◈ [Affinity insufficient.]
◈ [Cannot exert full effect.]
◈ Item info partially unavailable.
The spoil from Wrath of the Seven Deadly Sins. Fitting for the unyielding Wrath to the end.
Every bit counted, so it was a shame, but I couldn't show it.
"It's not I who should feel regret."
...Even so, let's not power-struggle with an item, Grandfell.
I'll figure out affinity later. I still had more to check beyond the Seven Deadly Sins' spoils.
I looked at my status window.
Titles aren't just titles. Look at the ones I've acquired: from my first, Last Adventurer, to Sublime, Transcendent, Black Dark Dragon... Every title grants something related to it.
Simply put.
Maybe I really am...
The throne of the Ten Thrones. Claiming it might have let me wield an upper demon king's authority.
Yes. That's why I stood in this secluded Yusra Golden Palace annex backyard, away from all eyes.
Time to test it.
The throne's authority.
I knew the Seven Deadly Sins' authority from observation. They induced status ailments corresponding to humanity's seven sins.
But upper demon kings were different. I couldn't see Buer's form due to blackening, but recalling Gami Gin let me guess.
It wasn't a status ailment.
If lesser demons like the Seven Deadly Sins induced plain fear, the fear toward Gami Gin bordered on worship. Like kneeling before an absolute king.
My lips moved.
"I must examine what it is you wield."
Of course, Grandfell recognizes no upper demon king. That's why I could probe this authority. If the thrones themselves were extraordinary, not the kings, it made sense.
Then a question arises. Even with no eyes here, was it okay to unleash such power in Yusra Kingdom? Wouldn't it turn the backyard, the Garden of Dignity, and the whole kingdom into a wasteland?
I can't waste elixirs on that.
It was about time for our appointment... Meaning I'd called someone who could handle it.
And soon, that person appeared before me. More precisely, she dismounted from her broom.
"Have you been well, Lord Claudy?"
*
The Witch of the Southern Sea, Mary. Her fame echoed even in the Spacetime Salon, accessible only to transcendents.
She was one of the rare transcendents, alongside the heads of the four great families who could enter the upper floors.
Simply put, Mary surpassed Segwin, the Sword Saint of Arcana; the Warrior of Dawn who conquered the East; even Urs, who'd consumed dozens of elixirs.
A Twilight Descendant with pure mage blood. Among them, Mary's talent stood out. Her power was the pinnacle of mages, Mage Tower included.
Someone might ask: But isn't she badly injured?
Can't she exert full power?
Not wrong. Mary had suffered under Omen's whispers for centuries. To resist, she'd smoked dozens of cigarettes daily.
But the poison affected stamina, not ability. If anything, the awakening effect of those harsh cigarettes...
Her body steeped in tobacco, Mary's magical prowess was at its peak now. Like a candle burning brightest before extinguishing.
"I gladly accept Lord Claudy's proposal."
Tap.
Mary lightly touched the ground with her broom. Ahead of the duel.
Soon, Twilight mana enveloped the annex backyard.
Whoosh.
A protective barrier to contain the duel's shockwaves. Through the purple mana particles, Mary's gaze turned to Hoyeol.
...Short hair now.
More precisely, to the length of Hoyeol's hair.
She suspected: Lord Claudy couldn't wield his past prime power.
But for some reason, when his silver hair grew long again, he reproduced that era's might.
Another Claudy family secret?
Mary didn't know.
No.
But she decided not to dwell. From saving her clan swallowed by Omen to now.
She owed Lord Claudy too much.
If you don't wish it, I won't interfere.
So for this moment, she'd focus only on the duel Hoyeol requested.
Of course, she wouldn't go all out. Against prime Claudy, maybe... But now, with short hair, not showing that prime.
My magic might be too much for you.
True powerhouses know their own strength. Mary too.
No long explanations needed. Her endless cigarettes proved it.
Spacetime missions rewarded Spacetime gold coins. Her cigarettes cost 100 each, a luxury even in the Spacetime shop.
Even the arrogant four family heads never doubted her strength. Arrogance didn't suit her—she earned it.
She lightly invoked magic. Stirring Twilight mana like a storm.
The moment her fingers bent like a bowstring.
"Go all out."
Hoyeol said.
Impertinent, but for a split second, Mary thought:
...If I go all out.
You might not withstand it now.
But she soon realized: For the first time in her life, she'd been arrogant.
Rooooar.
An indescribable pressure erupted.
"...?"
Amid the scattering purple particles, a being at an untouchable height appeared.
Mary doubted her eyes. The hair was still short. Clearly not a glimpse of his prime.
"...!"
She questioned herself.
...Why am I looking up?
She couldn't measure the power. Like even the greatest general can't defy the king's command.
At this moment, Mary looked up to a true king.
Intertwining aura rising. Black and silver churned.
The fluttering jacket spread like wings.
Trees bowed their heads. Chirping birds fell silent.
All life held its breath.
The solemn atmosphere proclaimed:
A King of the Ten Thrones was here.
[Unique aura dominates the area.]
[Current aura: Demon King of the Ten Thrones, Lee Hoyeol]
[Caution: Akkshan is watching you.]