"Oh my… No, Matriarch."
"You can call me comfortably, Siana. This isn't an official setting."
"…Yes, Mother. But are you really sure? Your will is the will of all Dream Walkers, so there are no objections, but I wonder if you made this decision too hastily…"
A private room filled with gorgeous decorations unlike the Demon Realm.
Liliana slowly stroked her lips at her daughter's cautious words.
She could fully understand why Siana was saying this.
Even though she had acknowledged Hela as the daughter of the 14th Demon King and her niece, it was still true that they had met for the first time today and hadn't talked for very long.
So it must have felt strange to suddenly pledge loyalty.
"Uhuhu, you're still immature."
"Huh?"
But Liliana was certain.
That her choice was correct.
At first glance, it might have seemed like an impulsive decision, but this was a conclusion reached after calmly considering all circumstances.
"She isn't just a demon with strong power. She's already a full-fledged Demon King."
"…A Demon King? But that's…"
Demon and Demon King.
The gap between them wasn't simply a difference in status.
If she had to make an analogy, it was like elves and high elves… no, the 'race' known as Demon King was even more distinct.
"Huhut— A being who has never even been to the Demon Realm being a Demon King from the moment of their birth. I didn't know such a thing was possible either. This must be fate. It must be the Demon God's will as well."
As one of the strongest in the Demon Realm, she could feel it.
The moment she first saw Hela — her blood, her soul, was drawn intensely to her.
And that was proof that something more than just the opponent's charm was involved.
"Ah, so…!"
Count-level demon Siana exclaimed.
She finally realized why she had been helpless in front of Hela, why even the great Immortal King had acknowledged her as an equal.
All previous Demon Kings were beings born later.
They could evolve into Demon Kings only when they were recognized by the members of the Demon Realm, proved their qualifications, and reached the top, receiving the Demon God's grace.
In that sense, she was in a position similar to the Saintess of the human church, but she couldn't be considered completely the same, as she possessed both authority and actual power.
Demons, unlike other races, were inherently lacking in faith.
'Of course, since she hasn't been officially recognized yet, she probably hasn't gained all the authority of a Demon King.'
In the Demon Realm, the Demon King was a being with a small but distinct divinity.
Naturally, just having the body of a Demon King wasn't enough.
Whether it was faith or worship, or even fear or hatred, it didn't matter.
In the future, if she came forward and gained recognition from the members of the Demon Realm in some way, only then would she become a true Demon King.
"But even if the order is reversed and she's not complete, a Demon King is a Demon King. Moreover, one who has fully inherited Leraje's power. We can't miss this opportunity, can we?"
It was an insight based on transcendental intuition.
That if they followed Hela, they would eventually achieve what they wanted.
That she would surely one day reach the apex of this Demon Realm.
"And one more thing. We don't have much time left."
"Ah!"
The tide of the long war had completely turned in favor of 'Dark Nest,' led by Demon Dragon Duke. The faction of Duke Tuma, the most belligerent, had already completely collapsed and been absorbed, and the other two Dukes were barely holding on, suffering fatal damage and trying to prevent the defection of their lower-ranking forces.
"Walking the tightrope is now at its limit. If this continues, we'll inevitably collapse soon. In such a situation, a Demon King capable of being a game-changer, as well as the Queen's essence, has appeared…"
Liliana shrugged lightly, as if there was no need to say more.
Siana, convinced by her mother's words, nodded.
She, too, felt favorably towards Hela, but she thought the decision about the organization's future was a separate matter.
"So, Siana? What are you doing now?"
"Huh?"
Then, Liliana, looking at her daughter with a strange expression, casually spoke.
Before Siana, flustered by the sudden question, could answer, she continued.
"I told you, didn't I? We don't have much time left."
"Yes, you did…"
"Then shouldn't you hurry up and lend a hand? How long are you going to rest? Your mother is working so hard, but you seem very relaxed."
Liliana held the 'Succubus Queen's essence,' bestowed upon her after pledging loyalty to Hela.
It was an item no different from her mother's relic.
Wooong—
Of course, it was currently just a material being processed with magic power for efficient extraction of power.
For the survival of the Dream Walkers, which she, her mother, and previous generations had protected for so long.
"Ah! Yes! I understand, Matriarch!"
She chuckled as she watched Siana hurrying out, then looked down at the essence again.
A geometric polyhedron with a pinkish hue against a black background, resonating with magic power and emitting a faint aura.
As if gently embracing the daughter she hadn't seen in a long time.
As if praising the Matriarch who had worked hard for a long time and admirably protected their homeland.
***
After joining forces with the Dream Walkers, the rate of expansion exploded. Although they were currently in a position of being pushed around by powerful factions, they were a prestigious group that had produced the former Demon King and was led by a current Marquis-level powerhouse.
Since they would be welcomed with open arms if they switched to any faction, once they decided to make their move, it wasn't difficult to contact the high-ranking demons they had previously struggled to reach.
'Good, at this rate, I can say I've established roots in all levels of the Demon Realm.'
Demon Dragon Duke's 'Dark Nest,' the largest faction, and Duke Tuma's[1] 'Burning Inferno,' which had been absorbed into it. Dark Shadow Duke's 'Demoniac' and Monstrous Duke's 'Abnormal,' who were holding on by cooperating while suppressing their pride, as well as other minor factions.
Although they were currently hiding their true intentions and acting according to their existing policies, busy adjustments were constantly being made beneath the surface so that they could rise up at any moment with Hela's command.
However, as the organization grew, its security level naturally decreased.
Eventually, this secret movement would inevitably be discovered by outsiders.
"We've lost contact with Parma. According to the information, an elite unit of Dark Nest suddenly raided and captured all the executives…"
"The situation with Kilown doesn't seem to be good either. Fortunately, they hid as soon as they realized they were being watched, so there's no evidence left, but they're being relentlessly pursued as if they've already been identified."
Even if she had persuaded all the leaders and executives of the organizations, there were limits to controlling the entire group with just them.
The movements of their subordinates were a sensitive issue even for the lords who were engaged in war, so it was actually quite a feat that they had held out this long.
"Hmm, that's a shame. I thought I could take in a bit more."
It was unavoidable that she felt regretful now that the time had come, but…
As Hela grumbled at the bad news coming from the situation room, Siana, who was sticking to her side like a secretary, added,
"The others aren't fools either. Still, the results aren't bad. With this much, we should be able to face the other Duke's factions head-on, even if not Dark Nest."
Considering that even the other two Dukes combined couldn't defeat Dark Nest, it wasn't very good news.
Moreover, even that assumed they were weakened after being gradually chipped away by her.
At this rate, there was no telling when she would be able to subdue them all.
"…Hmm, it can't be helped."
Hela, who had been lost in thought with her hand on her chin, slowly nodded.
With a determined expression, as if she had made up her mind.
Siana looked at her with an anxious expression.
"Um… Hela-nim? If I may ask what you're thinking…"
"Huhut, there's only one way to use in this situation, right?"
Hela smiled.
Her smile was bright enough to illuminate the surroundings in an instant, but the meaning contained in her beautiful voice was far from bright.
"—A demonstration of power."
A chilling coldness that seemed to drip with blood.
She got up from her seat and brushed past Siana, who gulped.
It would have been best to wait for an opportunity and take advantage of the situation, but now that their existence had been revealed, she couldn't just keep hiding.
Their existence was currently an unknown variable.
Not only Dark Nest, who were gaining the upper hand, but also the other factions wouldn't tolerate a variable that eroded their power.
'It's better to strike first while they're off guard. A dagger is most effective when it's hidden.'
Not all of those who had switched to her side had been revealed yet.
If she personally stepped forward and drew attention, she could buy them more time.
That brief respite would be the key to finishing the job comfortably.
'Well, and honestly, this much power is enough. I don't want to be stuck on this for too long.'
With a sly grin, black magic bloomed like flowers with each step Hela took.
Elite demons followed behind her, one by one, as if signaled by it.
They were forces that had been assembled for immediate mobilization, separate from the factions positioned in various locations.
"Huhung~ Which one is closest to here?"
The faction closest to the Dream Walkers' territory.
In other words, the faction that had tormented them for the longest time.
"…It's Abnormal, Hela-nim."
"Right, that's the one, right? Led by that guy Bizarre Duke."
"Yes, but… are you really going to attack them first?"
Unlike human warfare, demons weren't as constrained by distance, as their basic abilities were overwhelming and they were also proficient in magic, but it was natural to pay more attention to those nearby.
Although they had become quiet with the rise of Dark Nest, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that Abnormal had been the main culprit in draining the Dream Walkers' blood for a long time.
'It doesn't really have anything to do with me… but it wouldn't be bad to avenge my subordinates.'
Considering the current war situation, the most rational approach would have been to attack Dark Nest first along with the other two Dukes' factions, but…
She had no intention of doing so.
This could also be considered a golden opportunity.
'The advantage of a surprise attack due to information asymmetry is now or never. It's much better to take down one Duke and absorb their entire force than to waste that opportunity on the small fry of the large Dark Nest!'
Hela's confident footsteps stopped.
An important facility lined with teleportation circles for troop transport.
Perhaps because she had deliberately sent a signal and moved slowly, numerous combatants had already gathered and lined up here.
Loyal soldiers, full of morale and looking at her with fervent gazes.
Hela looked at them and smiled, shouting in a clear voice.
"It's finally time to deploy! Just follow me, my babies! We'll finish this quickly!"
"Woooh—!"
"Hela! Hela! Hela!"
It was Demon King Hela's official debut in the Demon Realm.
***
Syphar, the Monstrous Duke, one of the only four… no, now only three remaining Dukes in the Demon Realm.
[What? The Dream Walkers?]
He tilted his head, distorting his vicious, scarred beastly face, and his abundant mane shook.
[Krrrr— Are they crazy?]
Following that, a scale-covered head with tusks like a boar growled.
[I knew it! We should have wiped them out long ago!]
A beast with a distorted face and burn-scarred skin roared fiercely.
Kurrrrr—
The air vibrated as the giant beast—the three-headed dog Cerberus—rose.
A massive body nearly 10 meters tall.
A long, snake-like tail flicked its tongue and wriggled.
But only for a moment.
Syphar left that matter to his subordinates and turned his attention elsewhere.
The reason Abnormal had stopped attacking the Dream Walkers wasn't because they lacked the ability.
If it weren't for the interference of other factions, it wouldn't have taken long to deal with them.
Right now, Dark Nest was more important than dealing with those small fry.
"Your Grace! Talav has fallen!"
"Battles are breaking out everywhere! We're tied up in the battle with Dark Nest, so we can't send any support…"
"Gallak, who was guarding the central gate, has betrayed us! The Dream Walkers are advancing rapidly through there, Your Grace!"
However, the situation wasn't unfolding as he had expected.
News of defeat came one after another, impossible to ignore.
Even if he had invested most of his resources in the battle with Dark Nest, this speed was clearly beyond his expectations.
'What did they do? That stupid succubus Liliana couldn't possibly have this kind of ability?'
He already knew that they had been reaching out to numerous lower factions, regardless of affiliation, recently.
He had scoffed, saying they were acting like the lowly creatures they were, and hadn't he ordered an investigation into it?
'No, this isn't something that can be achieved just by gathering forces.'
The demons under his command weren't weak enough to be overwhelmed by mere numbers.
There was definitely something more.
Something he didn't know.
As his four heads, including the snake tail, were busy racking their brains to find a way to respond.
"Your Grace! They…!"
Kwaaaang—!
A loud explosion came from a short distance away from the cave where he was staying.
In addition, the faint scent of the battlefield drifted in.
The Dream Walkers' forces had already invaded this far.
[…Huh?!]
All the heads exhaled in disbelief at once.
The current situation meant one thing.
They had been targeting him from the beginning.
In the wars of the Demon Realm, to prevent infiltration from the rear using spatial movement, gates that could only be traveled in one direction were installed in the areas they occupied.
The current attack was at a speed that could only be achieved by breaking through the gates that led directly to this place in the shortest possible distance.
Of course, that alone was quite impressive, but—.
[Pffft… This is ridiculous.]
[Krrrr— They underestimated us.]
[Slaughter! Kihahaha! It's time for slaughter!]
Kwang—!
With a roar, Syphar's massive body shot towards where the commotion was coming from.
The reason he had been holed up here wasn't because he was cowardly.
He was simply waiting in the center to respond to the appearance of other Dukes or precarious battlefields, in order to utilize himself, Abnormal's greatest force, most efficiently.
[To think they would come here with their own two feet!]
It took only an instant for him, filled with rage, to reach the battlefield.
Abnormal's headquarters, a melting pot of chaos with various demons entangled.
[······!]
However, the moment he arrived at the scene.
Syphar's body paused.
Even though he had been confident until he arrived here, he unconsciously bristled all over and stared in one direction.
There was something there that stimulated his instincts.
It was—
"Cerberus? Wait, isn't that a dog? But why 'Monster dog' and not 'Monster Wolf'?"[2]
A single insolent woman who was provoking Syphar's ire.
"Kahahahaha!"
And a single four-legged monstrous creature, making a strange cry while carrying her on its back.
[1] The MTLs couldn't translate it to a specific word so I'll keep it as Tuma for now.
[2] So there is a Korean Wordplay happening here. The term Monstrous (Gaorang) from Monstrous Duke is similar to 'Monster Wolf' (Also Gaorang). Here Hela is remarking how rather than a wolf, the Duke transformed into a Cerberus, a monster dog (goegyeon).