Sylvia stopped when she found a woman lying dead on the bed.
'She is...'
She looked at the Demon King lying on the bed for a moment. In the dark room. The soft flame burning in the fireplace cast a dim light on the bed. Sylvia walked to the bedside, making quiet footsteps, but flinched.
“...!”
The Demon King was lying on the bed with her eyes wide open.
'...Have you come to your senses?'
Sylvia instinctively tensed her shoulders. She gestured urgently to Randall to inform him of the situation, and then cautiously approached the bedside with him. However, the Demon King did not move until they were within a stone's throw of the bed. The sight of his red eyes staring blankly into space without even blinking was a little eerie. Sylvia frowned in puzzlement and looked at the Demon King.
'Surely she's not dead.'
She lowered her head slightly at that thought and checked the Demon King’s heartbeat. Fortunately, the Demon King’s heart was beating normally. She was also breathing. However, other than that, she looked as if she was dead and motionless. Especially her two eyes that were not closed.
“Doesn’t something seem strange? Earlier, Baynas Perun and his entourage clearly said that the Duke of Shert was captured while attacking the Demon King...”
At that moment, Randall, who was observing the Demon King just like Sylvia, whispered quietly. His hand gently lifted the blanket covering the Demon King.
“There is no trace of trauma. It feels different from being treated with healing magic or similar effects.”
It was as if she had never been injured in the first place. The Demon King's appearance revealed under the blanket was clean. There was no trace of bandages or blood. In many ways, it was quite different from the description of the Demons who had come out of the castle.
"Wait a minute."
Sylvia reached out to the Demon King's face, wondering if there was anything they had missed, and then flinched. Randall tilted his head.
“Sylvia?”
And then, in the next moment, a faint whisper leaked out through Sylvia's teeth.
"...Horsepower."
"Yes?"
“I can feel traces of magic.”
“What the heck is that...”
Randall frowned as if in protest at Sylvia's words. The demons cannot control magic. Furthermore, the only humans currently in Kelvetia were Randall and Sylvia. But a trace of magic?
"...Muller. Is it really possible for us to suppress our instincts throughout our lives? Wouldn’t suppressing our instincts actually cause something even more terrible later on?"
The Demon King, Evelyn Hayden, was conflicted between hedonism and pacifism before and after ascending to the throne. Muller Schert, who was present at her birth, was the leader of the pacifist faction. So, while he hoped that Evelyn would accept pacifism, he did not want to impose his own thoughts on her because they were close, so he kept his words to himself as much as possible.
Evelyn let out a soft sigh. Muller, also bewildered by the sudden news of war, was lost in his own thoughts beside her. Then, Evelyn, with her eyes set on something, opened her mouth heavily.
"The Duke of Shert."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"Gather your subjects. Before war breaks out, I will hold a meeting with the humans, as if it were the first and last time."
Muller looked at Evelyn with wide eyes in surprise at those words. Then Evelyn smiled bitterly.
"A long time has passed since the Great War. Now it is time for us to decide whether to reject them or accept them. It will not be too late to shed blood after the conference, so I ask you to do so."
'She is...'
She looked at the Demon King lying on the bed for a moment. In the dark room. The soft flame burning in the fireplace cast a dim light on the bed. Sylvia walked to the bedside, making quiet footsteps, but flinched.
“...!”
The Demon King was lying on the bed with her eyes wide open.
'...Have you come to your senses?'
Sylvia instinctively tensed her shoulders. She gestured urgently to Randall to inform him of the situation, and then cautiously approached the bedside with him. However, the Demon King did not move until they were within a stone's throw of the bed. The sight of his red eyes staring blankly into space without even blinking was a little eerie. Sylvia frowned in puzzlement and looked at the Demon King.
'Surely she's not dead.'
She lowered her head slightly at that thought and checked the Demon King’s heartbeat. Fortunately, the Demon King’s heart was beating normally. She was also breathing. However, other than that, she looked as if she was dead and motionless. Especially her two eyes that were not closed.
“Doesn’t something seem strange? Earlier, Baynas Perun and his entourage clearly said that the Duke of Shert was captured while attacking the Demon King...”
At that moment, Randall, who was observing the Demon King just like Sylvia, whispered quietly. His hand gently lifted the blanket covering the Demon King.
“There is no trace of trauma. It feels different from being treated with healing magic or similar effects.”
It was as if she had never been injured in the first place. The Demon King's appearance revealed under the blanket was clean. There was no trace of bandages or blood. In many ways, it was quite different from the description of the Demons who had come out of the castle.
"Wait a minute."
Sylvia reached out to the Demon King's face, wondering if there was anything they had missed, and then flinched. Randall tilted his head.
“Sylvia?”
And then, in the next moment, a faint whisper leaked out through Sylvia's teeth.
"...Horsepower."
"Yes?"
“I can feel traces of magic.”
“What the heck is that...”
Randall frowned as if in protest at Sylvia's words. The demons cannot control magic. Furthermore, the only humans currently in Kelvetia were Randall and Sylvia. But a trace of magic?
However, Sylvia carefully placed her hand on the demon King's cheek. Then, confidence appeared in her golden eyes.
“I’m sure. I think she was affected by mental magic.”
“But who... And didn’t they say that magic power in Kelvetia is extremely unstable?”
Randall's words were objective facts. As Sylvia frowned and pondered, a hypothesis flashed through her mind.
“Not handling magic ‘directly’.”
“...!”
“If we use something like a ‘magic stone’ that holds magical power... it might be possible.”
Sylvia said this, closed her eyes and concentrated on feeling the magic.
'To maintain the effects of mental magic using a magic stone, you must carry the magic stone with you. If you find the magic stone and destroy it, you may be able to awaken the Demon King.'
Of course, since she was the Demon King with the strongest dark power among the existing demons, it was not easy to find traces because the darkness felt thicker than the magic power. However, Sylvia was able to feel and control both darkness and magic power at the same time. Because she was so focused, sweat slightly broke out on her forehead.
“I’m sure. I think she was affected by mental magic.”
“But who... And didn’t they say that magic power in Kelvetia is extremely unstable?”
Randall's words were objective facts. As Sylvia frowned and pondered, a hypothesis flashed through her mind.
“Not handling magic ‘directly’.”
“...!”
“If we use something like a ‘magic stone’ that holds magical power... it might be possible.”
Sylvia said this, closed her eyes and concentrated on feeling the magic.
'To maintain the effects of mental magic using a magic stone, you must carry the magic stone with you. If you find the magic stone and destroy it, you may be able to awaken the Demon King.'
Of course, since she was the Demon King with the strongest dark power among the existing demons, it was not easy to find traces because the darkness felt thicker than the magic power. However, Sylvia was able to feel and control both darkness and magic power at the same time. Because she was so focused, sweat slightly broke out on her forehead.
It was the moment when Sylvia barely sensed the magic power through the darkness surrounding the Demon King.
'Found it...!'
Knock knock.
'Found it...!'
Knock knock.
Then there was a knock. Randall and Sylvia froze.
“...Your Majesty, I am Baynas Perun. I will go in.”
Baynas Perun.
“...Your Majesty, I am Baynas Perun. I will go in.”
Baynas Perun.
As soon as the two recognized the name, the doorknob turned with a click. Without saying a word, Randall and Sylvia covered themselves with the blankets and ran to the window. They were able to avoid running into Baynas by jumping out the window at the last minute. Fearing that Baynas might find out their tracks, Randall and Sylvia climbed down the outer wall of the castle to the second floor to catch their breath. They crouched on the roof of the castle, catching their breath. And they whispered quickly.
“Did you find it?”
“Yes. I kept it hidden in my mouth.”
Sylvia clicked her tongue involuntarily at the thought of how terrible it was. She had thought that the magic stone could be disguised as an accessory and carried on one’s person, but the magic power felt strongest in the Demon King’s mouth.
'That's right. There's nothing wrong with her body, and no crazy person would search the mouth of a Demon King who's just lying there.'
Finding the location of the magic stone was a blessing in disguise. However, the problem was that Baynas Perun was currently in the Demon King’s bedroom. In addition, Randall and Sylvia had to hear the story of Duke Muller Schert as soon as possible.
“Did you find it?”
“Yes. I kept it hidden in my mouth.”
Sylvia clicked her tongue involuntarily at the thought of how terrible it was. She had thought that the magic stone could be disguised as an accessory and carried on one’s person, but the magic power felt strongest in the Demon King’s mouth.
'That's right. There's nothing wrong with her body, and no crazy person would search the mouth of a Demon King who's just lying there.'
Finding the location of the magic stone was a blessing in disguise. However, the problem was that Baynas Perun was currently in the Demon King’s bedroom. In addition, Randall and Sylvia had to hear the story of Duke Muller Schert as soon as possible.
After thinking for a while, the two decided that since they couldn’t return while Baynas Perun was in the Demon King’s bedroom anyway, they should go find Duke Schert in the meantime. Perhaps because they had coordinated in advance, the path to the dungeon was easier than the path to the Demon King’s bedroom.
The dungeon of the Demon King’s castle was very large. Perhaps because they were worried that the demons would run wild, the dark aura felt thick from each iron bar.
Randall and Sylvia looked around the rooms near the entrance to the dungeon, starting from the innermost room. As they got closer to the inside of the prison, they could hear footsteps rumbling along the stone walls. Soon, they found an old demon locked in the innermost cell of the prison. It was easy to recognize him as Muller Schert, as there were no other prisoners around, perhaps because many criminals were pardoned on the anniversary of Alyssa.
Squeak.
As the door to the solitary cell opened, Muller Schert's shoulders flinched behind the bars. He instinctively turned his head and immediately glared.
“Who is it?”
“...Are you Muller Schert?”
“I asked who you were... Are you the servants of Baynas Perun?”
Muller bared his teeth and growled when his name came out of Randall's mouth. It was almost like a confirmation that he was Muller Schert. Randel and Sylvia exchanged glances in silence for a moment. Perhaps feeling that they were ignoring him, Muller suddenly got up and ran towards them.
“Who is it?”
“...Are you Muller Schert?”
“I asked who you were... Are you the servants of Baynas Perun?”
Muller bared his teeth and growled when his name came out of Randall's mouth. It was almost like a confirmation that he was Muller Schert. Randel and Sylvia exchanged glances in silence for a moment. Perhaps feeling that they were ignoring him, Muller suddenly got up and ran towards them.
Kwaang!
The iron bars shook violently with a loud noise. Randall pulled Sylvia behind him at the same time as Muller kicked the ground, but Muller stopped holding onto the iron bars. Muller glared at Randall and Sylvia through the iron bars and warned them quietly but fiercely.
“Don’t do anything useless and go back. If you take even one step inside, I’ll kill you immediately.”
It was an incredible spirit for someone who was the oldest among the demons. Randall and Sylvia met eyes once again. Muller was about to open his mouth with his face crumpled when they suddenly took off the hood they had been wearing. Shock flashed across Muller’s eyes.
"...Human being?"
For a moment, he doubted his eyes. The skin color and eyes are revealed above the mask. It was clearly that of a 'human' and not a demon.
“How on earth did humans get here...”
Muller, who had been muttering unconsciously, seemed to realize something and shook his shoulders. Having found the answer himself, he spoke to Sylvia and Randall in an urgent voice, unlike a moment ago.
“Oh, has the war with humans already begun? So...!”
“Don’t worry, Duke. We came to you to prevent war.”
“Don’t do anything useless and go back. If you take even one step inside, I’ll kill you immediately.”
It was an incredible spirit for someone who was the oldest among the demons. Randall and Sylvia met eyes once again. Muller was about to open his mouth with his face crumpled when they suddenly took off the hood they had been wearing. Shock flashed across Muller’s eyes.
"...Human being?"
For a moment, he doubted his eyes. The skin color and eyes are revealed above the mask. It was clearly that of a 'human' and not a demon.
“How on earth did humans get here...”
Muller, who had been muttering unconsciously, seemed to realize something and shook his shoulders. Having found the answer himself, he spoke to Sylvia and Randall in an urgent voice, unlike a moment ago.
“Oh, has the war with humans already begun? So...!”
“Don’t worry, Duke. We came to you to prevent war.”
“Really?”
"Yes."
Randall nodded calmly. His voice and expression had the power to calm others. From that attitude, Muller breathed a sigh of relief, perhaps sensing that they were not lying. He relaxed and sank down, still holding onto the iron bars. However, Muller’s composure did not last long. After the shock of humans appearing and the fear that war might have already begun had subsided, he saw something he had not been aware of.
"Yes."
Randall nodded calmly. His voice and expression had the power to calm others. From that attitude, Muller breathed a sigh of relief, perhaps sensing that they were not lying. He relaxed and sank down, still holding onto the iron bars. However, Muller’s composure did not last long. After the shock of humans appearing and the fear that war might have already begun had subsided, he saw something he had not been aware of.
Muller opened his mouth slightly as he noticed the darkness surrounding Sylvia and Randall. And he also realized that he could not smell any human scent from them at all. He muttered, slowly suspecting that all of this was his own vain delusion.
“Surely you’re not a demon disguised as a human to fool me?”
“If you want, I can briefly clear the darkness so you can check the scent, but I don’t think that will work because it will leave a trace.”
“..."
Muller stared at Sylvia with trembling eyes. He tightened his grip on the iron bars and opened his mouth in a low voice.
“...There was only one human in history who knew how to control darkness.”
“...”
“How on earth do you control the darkness? Could it be that you are...”
“Until then, you don’t need to know.”
But Sylvia cut off Muller's words firmly. There was no need for her to be 'Alyssa' in the peace treaty with the Demons. Sylvia lowered her body to meet Muller's gaze, who was kneeling and holding the iron bars. She sat down on the prison floor with one knee and her eyes shining seriously.
“Muller Schert. Did you really harm the Demon King Evelyn Hayden?”
“Absolutely not!”
Muller denied it with a loud voice. Sylvia and Randall exchanged glances, thinking that it was as expected. Meanwhile, Muller continued his explanation in a hoarse voice.
“Surely you’re not a demon disguised as a human to fool me?”
“If you want, I can briefly clear the darkness so you can check the scent, but I don’t think that will work because it will leave a trace.”
“..."
Muller stared at Sylvia with trembling eyes. He tightened his grip on the iron bars and opened his mouth in a low voice.
“...There was only one human in history who knew how to control darkness.”
“...”
“How on earth do you control the darkness? Could it be that you are...”
“Until then, you don’t need to know.”
But Sylvia cut off Muller's words firmly. There was no need for her to be 'Alyssa' in the peace treaty with the Demons. Sylvia lowered her body to meet Muller's gaze, who was kneeling and holding the iron bars. She sat down on the prison floor with one knee and her eyes shining seriously.
“Muller Schert. Did you really harm the Demon King Evelyn Hayden?”
“Absolutely not!”
Muller denied it with a loud voice. Sylvia and Randall exchanged glances, thinking that it was as expected. Meanwhile, Muller continued his explanation in a hoarse voice.
***
"...Muller. Is it really possible for us to suppress our instincts throughout our lives? Wouldn’t suppressing our instincts actually cause something even more terrible later on?"
The Demon King, Evelyn Hayden, was conflicted between hedonism and pacifism before and after ascending to the throne. Muller Schert, who was present at her birth, was the leader of the pacifist faction. So, while he hoped that Evelyn would accept pacifism, he did not want to impose his own thoughts on her because they were close, so he kept his words to himself as much as possible.
There was definitely some truth to what Evelyn was saying. Then, a few days ago, news that humans were preparing to conquer Kelvetia was secretly delivered to Evelyn and Muller through the dark bugs. Naturally, they were greatly embarrassed.
"War... you say?"
"War... you say?"
"Yes. I heard that the human Crown Prince has stepped forward to eliminate all demons... and end this lingering conflict."
The demon who was delivering the information couldn't bring himself to say 'kill and destroy' to his King and hurriedly changed his words. Evelyn listened to the news with a serious face and quietly sent her servants away. After that, she remained in the same posture as she had been listening to the news for a long time, lost in thought.
"War..."
The demon who was delivering the information couldn't bring himself to say 'kill and destroy' to his King and hurriedly changed his words. Evelyn listened to the news with a serious face and quietly sent her servants away. After that, she remained in the same posture as she had been listening to the news for a long time, lost in thought.
"War..."
Evelyn let out a soft sigh. Muller, also bewildered by the sudden news of war, was lost in his own thoughts beside her. Then, Evelyn, with her eyes set on something, opened her mouth heavily.
"The Duke of Shert."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"Gather your subjects. Before war breaks out, I will hold a meeting with the humans, as if it were the first and last time."
Muller looked at Evelyn with wide eyes in surprise at those words. Then Evelyn smiled bitterly.
"A long time has passed since the Great War. Now it is time for us to decide whether to reject them or accept them. It will not be too late to shed blood after the conference, so I ask you to do so."
"...All right."
Muller silently bowed his head to his King. Then, he summoned the powerful demons under him, including Baynas Perun, to the audience room one by one.
"Why are you calling a meeting so suddenly, Your Majesty?"
Baynas Perun looked up at Evelyn and asked. Evelyn took a moment to catch her breath at his question and then declared calmly and firmly.
"They say that humans declared war on the demons. They say they created a magic circle that connects to Kelvetia."
"...!"
"So, before humans set foot on the land of Kelvetia and innocent demons shed their blood, I plan to have a conversation with them for the first and last time."
Muller silently bowed his head to his King. Then, he summoned the powerful demons under him, including Baynas Perun, to the audience room one by one.
"Why are you calling a meeting so suddenly, Your Majesty?"
Baynas Perun looked up at Evelyn and asked. Evelyn took a moment to catch her breath at his question and then declared calmly and firmly.
"They say that humans declared war on the demons. They say they created a magic circle that connects to Kelvetia."
"...!"
"So, before humans set foot on the land of Kelvetia and innocent demons shed their blood, I plan to have a conversation with them for the first and last time."
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