I Was Abandoned by the Demon King I Served for 10 Years

Chapter 16

"How serious is the situation?"

"The Northern Warlord has deployed all his forces toward the Angel Garrison. If things go south, we might have to mobilize every troop we have prepared to advance in this direction. It's not looking good."

"At that level......."

"One legion will descend into the Demon Realm."

The war was closer than expected. While it was anticipated that Heaven would respond immediately after the Demon King crossed into the Human Realm, their reaction was faster and bolder than predicted.

"Is the Archangel descending?"

"Since the Demon King crossed into the Human Realm, the Angels see this as the perfect opportunity to clean up the Demon Realm."

"It would be great if they let their guard down and we could gain the upper hand."

"That would be ideal, but we don't even have enough troops to execute a deception strategy right now. If we scrape together even the Royal Guard and lead them, we might match their numbers... but the difference in quality will result in significant losses."

"At this point, when we're trying to expand Central's influence, that's the worst move we could make. If we fight, we must mobilize forces from other continents to minimize losses."

"If we request reinforcements, the East will come. But the difference is whether only Central gets destroyed or if the East gets dragged down with it."

"Either way, it's death. Can't we enthrone another High Demon as king to oppose the Archangel?"

"There's no promising candidate. Durin, it's a situation where you have to nurture one, but there's no time. Even if we enthrone someone, you'll still have to take the lead."

Rudmila furrowed her brows as she spoke, unable to hide her concern.

"I'll be honest with you. There's no one but you. The young nobles of the castle are rallying behind you after you cleanly suppressed the recent rebellion. If you want, you seem to have the highest chance of being enthroned...."

"The legitimacy is lacking, Rudmila."

Durin cut her off decisively.

Born at the bottom of a labyrinth and starting as a gladiator, he was a warrior who rose to become the second-in-command of the castle purely through strength. While it was a legendary tale, that was the extent of it.

"If I ascend as the Demon King ruling the Demon Realm, the story changes. According to the law, we must choose a noble being who can wield the power and authority of a king. 'A noble being.' Hearing those words, do you think the high-ranking nobles would support someone like me, a former gladiator?"

"The Senate will inevitably be divided. Among the old nobles, many still adhere to bloodline supremacy."

Good blood breeds good demons.

It was the driving force that allowed the Demon King's bloodline to inherit the throne for a thousand years and the root cause of the current situation.

Knowing this well, Durin could only shake his head.

"Of course, if I wanted, I could seize the throne. But the castle would fracture. The chaos wouldn't end with rebellion but would likely lead to the emergence of rival claimants to the throne. Facing the Angels, that's the one thing we cannot allow."

"Can we hold out? Until we find a new king?"

"We will endure. For the Demon Realm, I will employ every measure."

The demons' insatiable greed for power.

The only way to satisfy their instincts while fulfilling the duty of protection.

"That's why I remain as the Regent."

"......."

"So don't worry and wait. I will head to Central soon."

#

Rudmila's warning spurred Durin into action.

While the Regent worked to expand Central's influence with the judges and shamans dispatched from the castle, he gathered all the Southern Warriors who could become seeds of discord. Those deemed useful were incorporated into the Legion at Ractelrun and sent to Central.

"Grow stronger and return! My comrades!"

Though the cost of warping was high, appointing heirs of large tribes as commanders turned it into an opportunity for advancement, and they even offered tributes.

In their minds, the South was increasingly imprinted as land ruled by the castle. Even if it was somewhat forceful, the effect of engraving magic energy into their bodies was evident. He efficiently shortened the time needed for conquest.

This led to the Legion rewriting history by conquering an entire continent and returning within a week of their expedition.

"As of today, the expedition is over. All subordinate commanders are to organize their assigned tasks and promptly return to Central. Once the withdrawal preparations are complete, we will immediately prepare for the next war."

There was no time for them to rest. The Demon King's magic energy had been completely erased from this land. All demons felt uneasy, and the Angels were watching for an opportunity. At times like this, the Central Legion had to demonstrate its steadfastness. If they held firmly onto the surrounding forces, the demons would still have enough strength to wage a full-scale war against Heaven.

Durin's mind was entirely consumed with thoughts of war against Heaven. Around that time, Aurela came to bid him a final farewell.

"You've worked hard."

"Not at all, Your Excellency. It was an honor to serve someone so great."

She, who had been the Governor of Ractelrun, became the Southern Ruler. Like the demons of Central, her authority was symbolized by her Red Horn.

"Aurela. The task entrusted to you is immense."

"I will do my utmost to fulfill the command."

"If the South rises again, I will make sure to rely on you."

Durin placed a hand on Aurela's shoulder. Startled, Aurela flinched and hastily bowed. Countless words of reverence lingered on her lips, unable to be spoken aloud. To the Governor, who had frozen in place, Durin spoke.

"Our enemy has always been in the sky. The hypocrites who alone claim the glory of the previous era."

"...You mean the Angels."

"The time is approaching."

Aurela raised her head. Under the Black Sun, a demon scattering dark magic energy clenched his fist.

"The Angels who stole our sky are now sharpening their blades to erase even our existence."

"We will never lose, Your Excellency."

"Holy Power is a force so strong that we demons cannot dare to oppose it. The moment it touches us, we might completely dissolve. Are you not afraid?"

"As long as I can stand with you, even if it is before the Archangel, I will advance."

The opportunity to participate in a glorious battle against the Angels. Aurela's voice spread to the numerous nobles who had come to see Durin off.

"We will march to the glorious battlefield. We are Southern Warriors."

To stand shoulder to shoulder with the strong.

It was the life goal ingrained in every demon from birth.

The souls that rose from the land of strife began to pound their Blue Hearts. Over the traces where the Rock Mother had disappeared, a new throne was established. The fervor spread by Aurela infected others.

To encourage them, Verdia stepped forward. As Durin's right hand, she shouted.

"Durin! My lord!"

Verdia's rallying cry led the nobles. Warriors and nobles heading to Central united in one voice.

"We will follow! Please grant us the chance!"

"Conqueror of the South! Ruler of the Red Horn! Our Regent!"

Hundreds of nobles knelt in unison. They raised their hands in supplication. Those who had lost everything in the wake of war yearned for new glory. In place of the Rock Mother, they accepted a new ruler.

Glory and honor that could now be drawn based on law and Verbal Command.

"......."

For a moment, a glimmer appeared in the eyes of the Golden Royal Guard protecting Durin.

The nostalgia of long ago. The authority born from the power of the conqueror overwhelmed the audience.

"I will wait. The day we will be together again will come soon."

A memory from hundreds of years ago. A fleeting thought of the days spent with the young Demon King crossed their minds.

#

"Isn't it amazing?"

The heat reached even the Rock Shrine nestled within the inner castle of Ractelrun. Though it was so secretive and deep that only the flow of the world could be felt, the pulse created by Durin was overwhelmingly powerful.

He was no ordinary Demon. He was one of the few beings capable of interfering with the fate of the world.

"You are fortunate. To witness this flow is a blessing in itself."

"Thanks to that, many of my comrades have died, and the Human Realm is likely to be thrown into chaos."

In the dark space, a dwarf wearing a black hood grumbled to the Prophetess of Oracle. Since crossing the threshold of death, Turan had lost his fear and now spoke his mind freely, no matter who he encountered. Compared to Eliya, who couldn't even open her mouth in the presence of the witch's aura, he appeared far more liberated.

"Shaman! What kind of power do you wield?"

"I possess a unique destiny that allows me to glimpse into the future and fate of those who live in this world."

"Then, did Durin send us here to show us our fate?"

"Half correct, half wrong. The fate to be revealed here is not yours."

The witch smiled as she spoke. Her expression carried an uncharacteristic kindness and charm for a Demon. Yet Eliya could sense it. Within her small frame lay magic energy even greater than Durin's. Among the Demons she had encountered so far, she was as powerful as the Demon King herself.

The elf found herself sinking deeper into doubt.

Why had Durin spared the Hero?

Why had he cared for the survivors and sent them here?

What was the Demon, who introduced herself as the Prophetess of Oracle, planning to do?

"You have many questions, young elf."

The witch, who had approached unnoticed, whispered to Eliya. Her voice was sweet and sticky. Unconsciously, Eliya shuddered and let out a sharp scream, stepping back.

"How adorable. Having lived in this world for such a short time, it's only natural to be curious in the face of every trial. That is the way of things."

The witch's voice lingered. Even Turan, who was displeased, helped Eliya to her feet and looked after her.

"Stop beating around the bush and just tell us! What is your purpose?"

"A way to restore the Hero's power. And a place where your fallen comrades can be revived."

A moment of silence passed. The two stopped moving and looked up at the witch, who floated in the air.

Bathed in the blue magic energy that radiated like a halo, the Prophetess of Oracle spoke with the same beautiful smile.

"Durin has granted you a new destiny. As I said, he is someone who can shake the flow of the world."

"A new destiny?"

"If you can achieve it, you too can walk a path of happiness."

"How can we trust the words of a Demon? He seems destined to become the Demon King, no matter how you look at it."

"The Demon King?"

For the first time, the Prophetess of Oracle asked back. Her expression suggested she found the statement amusing.

She did not answer the dwarf's question. Instead, she sneered.

"He is not a Demon who will remain confined to such a small role. He is a great key that transcends the Demon Realm, Heaven, and the Human Realm."

The witch lifted her head and gazed into the distance. Perhaps at the sky somewhere, at the starlight hidden behind the sun.

"The place awaiting Durin is far beyond the Demon King, at an even greater position."

"...I can't make sense of any of this."

"It's fine. As you follow the flow, you will understand someday. For now, just follow along."

The witch descended to the ground. Standing before the surviving party members, she extended her hand.

"To save the Hero and your comrades."

"......."

"Isn't that a good thing for you as well?"

Beside the speechless Turan, Eliya was able to observe the witch up close.

Having encountered the World Tree, she could accept otherworldly beings a little more easily. Within the beautiful woman's body, a scale swayed back and forth. Eliya, with her limited knowledge, could not understand what it signified. However, she could clearly see that the witch's proposal tipped the scale to one side.

"We must save him. I want to save the Hero."

Eliya murmured unconsciously. The words came out as if drawn by an unknown force. By the time Turan looked at her in surprise, the situation had already concluded. The witch gave Eliya a radiant smile.

"I knew you would answer that way."

At the same time, something slipped away. Startled, Eliya momentarily took her eyes off the scale. She examined her body but found nothing amiss.

Only a throbbing scar remained.

However.

"Eliya?"

When she looked again, the scale within the witch's body had come to a complete stop, capturing her attention.

The elf could not answer the dwarf's question.