The Master of Demons (2)

"I heard there's an outsider who came in today. Where are they?"

A group of demons burst into the tavern. Unlike the demons Cluster had seen walking with Lovern, these ones exuded a completely different aura. Anyone could tell they were trained soldiers with strict discipline. They all wore robes resembling those of mages.

"Rikian, what brings you here?"

Lovern stood and approached the man who seemed to be their leader.

"Sir Lovern, you're here. When did you return? Didn't get lost again, did you?"

"No, that's not the issue. Aren't you supposed to be guarding Duchess Franet's estate? Why are you away from your post?"

The demon named Rikian, who had roughly thrown open the door upon entering, now chatted amiably with Lovern, as if his entrance had been a mere act. There was no tension on his face—it didn't seem like a grave matter at all.

"Oh, right, this isn't the time. Sir Lovern, do you know anything about the outsider?"

"Of course. I brought them here myself."

"Really? Where..."

"Where's the outsider!"

The tavern door flew open again as another group of demons stormed in. They had the same disciplined look as Rikan's group, but these wore light armor. If Rikan's crew gave off a mage vibe, these screamed knights. Unlike the mixed-gender group with Rikan, this one was all men.

"Kainzel? What's your deal?"

"Sir Lovern, long time no see. I heard you went outside, but looks like you're back."

"That's the second time I've heard that today. From the looks ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of it, you're here for the same outsiders who came in today."

"'You too'? You mean someone else besides... Rikan?"

"Finally noticing us?"

"I was busy with urgent business and didn't... Wait, does Duchess Franet know you're here too?"

Rikan nodded at Kainzel's words, staring at him in surprise as if he'd realized something.

"You two, this isn't the time for chit-chat."

As Kainzel and Rikan eyed each other, another voice came from the entrance. White hair, matching white ears and tail—sharp eyes that screamed cat beastkin to anyone who saw her.

"Heh, looks like every gatekeeper in Versilver Territory is gathering here today."

"Uncle Lovern... Ahem. Sir Lovern. Aria of the Setarite family's guard, at your service."

"Aria, seeing you put on airs instead of calling me 'uncle' like usual means something's up, huh?"

Aria's cat ears flushed red.

"Since we're all here for the same reason, why not join my group before heading out? Those two seem pretty casual, so it can't be that urgent."

"Chit-chat? Sir Lovern, I was just so happy to see you!"

"Exactly! Rikan just started talking to me out of nowhere!"

"You two, quiet down. Sir Lovern's inviting us to talk."

As Aria sat at the table, Rikan and Kainzel followed suit. Thanks to them, Cluster, Silvia, and Veronica ended up facing the demons across the long table, with Lovern at the head.

"These are the outsiders you've been looking for."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Aria."

The cat beastkin Aria stood, offering a slight smile and her hand, acting like the leader. The other two didn't object—maybe they accepted her as leader, or figured she was the best one for the job.

"Um, this is a bit awkward. Are you hesitant because I'm a beastkin? I hear humans treat elves similarly to us."

Aria shot a puzzled look at the elf staring at her hand. Wasn't a handshake customary? Did elves have different customs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from demons? Or was her impression that bad? She'd even smiled! Fully aware her eyes looked sharp, Aria's mind raced with possibilities.

"It's not that. I was just thinking since I'm not the leader."

Aria tilted her head at the elf's words. She could sense the elf was incredibly strong—strong enough that even calm, non-aggressive Aria wanted to spar with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her. Of course, Aria knew she'd lose. But wanting to test herself against the strong and acknowledging defeat afterward was demon nature. Just look at those two beside her—they were clenching and unclenching their fists, barely holding back from challenging someone right then.

"You're not the leader?"

It was only natural for Aria to ask.

"This person is."

The elf's gaze led to the black-haired human man sitting quietly. Aria's brows furrowed. It was pathetic that someone as strong as this elf followed a mere human. That feeling soon turned to self-loathing for her own battle lust toward such a being. She quickly suppressed it, realizing she needed to hone her composure more. With her urge to fight the elf gone, her mind cleared fast. The cool head deduced why she, Rikan, and Kainzel were here. And then, an absurd possibility popped into her mind.

The moment that impossible figure appeared in her thoughts, her face froze. If that being wanted to hide their identity, she had to conceal her shock. Just a hypothesis, but Aria never ignored even a slim chance.

"As I said earlier, I'm Aria of the Setarite family."

Cluster glanced down at Aria's outstretched hand, quickly scanning her expression. Unlike with Veronica's handshake, her face was blank.

She judges me as weak.

Cluster had decided back when leaving Lai's Cave: hide his power and identity until others figured it out. Controlling his demonic mana was training, after all.

Lovern already noticed, but if I restrain it, even demons can't gauge my strength.

The undead Lovern and regular demon Aria hadn't noticed. Even though Aria was stronger than Lovern, who seemed unaware she'd restrained her power to some degree. Cluster, who'd been worried since Alicia spotted him as Demon King instantly, inwardly chuckled that he could hide from powerful demons too. Of course, he'd slipped up with Alicia by using power accidentally. But mid-rank demons and below couldn't sense his restrained strength. He reined it in further and took Aria's hand.

"I'm Cluster. Nice to meet you."

"Lord Cluster. A pleasure to meet you."

Aria flashed a quick smile at his introduction. But Kainzel and Rikan's faces twisted beside her. They thought Cluster was disrespecting her by using casual speech, despite her polite tone.

In the demon world, strength ruled. Humans valued strength and age. Demon-wise or human-wise, dropping formalities with her was straight-up disrespect.

"Hey, human. Don't think you can act rude just 'cause we're being civil."

"The one who gave us orders said bring the outsiders—not bring them intact."

Kainzel and Rikan stood. Their groups at nearby tables rose too. Cluster quickly assessed their power. Aria the beastkin outclassed those two by far. Their subordinates were a bit stronger than the knights from the warehouse earlier.

Even if Lovern joins, Veronica could handle them alone.

Cluster planned to keep hiding his identity. Partly for training, but mostly to smack down the fake Demon King acting like the real deal in his followers' lands. Until he knew the fake's power level, hiding was priority. Of course, if the fake bore no ill will, no fight. The fake had developed the territory, after all. Cluster, plotting to slack off as pants Demon King while mooching off the territory management, desperately hoped for goodwill from the fake.

"What do you think you're doing?"

As Cluster pondered slacking off on territory ops, Aria's aura exploded—not at him, but at Rikan and Kainzel.

"You two. Don't forget who gave us our orders."

Under her unleashed pressure, the pair sat back down. Their groups practically collapsed into their seats. Aria swiftly scanned Cluster's group. The elf was stronger than her, fine. But Cluster casually lost in thought? That tilted her absurd hypothesis toward certainty. Why's the kid fine, though?

"Aria. You were hiding your strength."

"I didn't mean to fool you, Sir Lovern. Sorry if it felt that way."

"Heh, no need to apologize. Demons worship strength—growing stronger is natural. Congratulations."

Aria's cheeks flushed at Lovern's words—not romantic, just pure bashfulness at the praise.

"Now, tell us. Why are the gatekeepers of the three pillar families of this land here instead of at your posts?"

The three demons spoke in turn at Lovern's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠prompt.

"The head of Setarite family, Bold Setarite, has awakened."

"The head of Ripent family, Duke Zephyr Ripent, and Knight Captain Yev Ripent have awakened."

"The head of Franet family, Duchess Seress Franet, and Magic Legion Commander Satern Franet have awakened."

Lovern shot to his feet.

"Finally, they've awakened! The day Versilver reclaims Boreas draws near! Praise Rozania's benevolence!"

These high demons awoke a year after the Demon King appeared. Coincidence they stirred right after outsiders arrived? For top high demons, a year might be short. But Aria bet it wasn't Rozania's doing.

"We'll escort you to the Setarite estate. The two dukes who ordered Rikan and Kainzel are likely headed there too. Don't keep important guests waiting."