"Hmm, so it's come to this."
Hela slowly nodded after hearing her subordinate's report.
"I expected it… but it's still a shame."
She had prepared a grand welcoming ceremony, just in case. She clicked her tongue in disappointment that her best-case scenario wouldn't come to pass and looked at Siana, who was standing next to her.
"Since things turned out this way, cancel Operation Dragon Snare. We'll have to move on to the next plan."
"That's a shame. We could have finished this easily."
"Well, it means they're not that stupid."
Hela's gaze fell on the operation map covering the wide table. A map of the Demon Realm with various figures placed on it. Her eyes narrowed as she saw two particularly large figures standing side by side.
'Demon Dragon Duke Crushire…'
Someone of his level could easily bypass the gates and use teleportation. Of course, that would mean giving up on large-scale troop deployment, but his superior mobility could be utilized in other ways. For example, quickly gathering the remnants of Dark Nest that hadn't yet fallen into Helheim's grasp…
'Hmm, should I have leaked Ken's location to him? …No, that's too risky. Such a shame.'
If things had gone according to plan, she could have seized him in one fell swoop. She sighed, thinking about the prey that had escaped her carefully laid trap, twirled a strand of her long hair around her finger, and spoke.
"Any other contacts?"
"Yes, it seems they're being extra cautious because of what happened before. It wasn't difficult to confirm their alliance since it was hard to hide, but the details of their discussion are a different story."
"Well, we've been exceptionally lucky so far."
"That means everyone believes in you, Lady Hela. That you are the true Demon King of the Demon Realm."
Hela chuckled at Siana's blatant flattery and bright smile. It was only natural, now that the hegemony of the Demon Realm was within reach. Who would have thought that Dream Walker, which was on the verge of collapse before Hela's appearance, would become the biggest contributor to the Demon King selection? As the faction's successor, she had felt a subtle burden, so this achievement was even more gratifying.
'Of course, not all problems have been solved.'
Hela leaned back in her chair and looked at the figures on the operation map once again. Demon Dragon Duke Crushire, enraged after being repeatedly betrayed, and Shadow Duke Pieta, realizing he had been thoroughly used. Now that the two, who had been fighting each other to the death until recently, had joined forces against her, she needed to crush them to become the true king of the Demon Realm.
Thump Thump
She closed her eyes, feeling the intense pounding of her heart.
'It's really close now.'
As time passed, she felt her body connecting with this world—the 'Demon Realm'. Along with the presence of the countless beings who followed and worshiped her. This was the true authority of the Demon King. The true power of the Demon King, destined to be the strongest in the Demon Realm.
"The Demon God looks upon you."
Time passed, and
Finally, a large-scale attack by the Demon Dragon and Shadow alliance began on the expanded Helheim front lines.
In a darkened office,
Shadow Duke Pieta, his eyes glowing blue, was lost in thought.
'Things are getting complicated.'
He had long since abandoned his original plans. All he could do in this urgent situation was improvise. He preferred schemes and plots to brute force, but even those weren't very effective in the current situation.
'In the end, strength reigns supreme in the Demon Realm.'
Schemes and plots were only possible because he had information on those he had been dealing with for hundreds of years. He had naturally learned to find their weaknesses. On the other hand, Hela and the Helheim she established, whose origins were a complete mystery, were full of variables.
What they could do, what they couldn't, the limits of their members, who was devising their plans, the leader's values, and the nature of the organization.
Unknown.
He had put in a lot of effort to plant informants in Helheim to overcome this, but the results weren't satisfactory. No matter how strong-willed they were, those who reached a position close to Hela became fanatics and confessed all their schemes.
In the end, he couldn't win in an information war. Just like how he was thoroughly betrayed recently.
'Judging by the circumstances, Hela is behind the incident that provoked Crushire.'
But the Demon Dragon Duke, who pinned the blame on him, launched a full-scale attack with his entire army. He didn't know how big of a secret it was, or if he was still skeptical. Even now, after meeting him in person, clearing up the misunderstanding, and returning to a cooperative relationship, he still hadn't heard the exact reason, but there must have been a reason to point the finger at him.
"It happened right after the two clashed head-on. If that's the case…"
It meant that Hela was capable of orchestrating something that required the Shadow Duke's personal intervention in Helheim, while she was away. In the worst-case scenario—perhaps a hidden Duke-class powerhouse was working with her. If that was true, the competition was practically over.
'…This is troublesome. I need to prepare an escape route.'
He coveted the Demon King's throne, but it wasn't more important than his life. Perhaps due to the centuries of war, the situation had escalated to the point where two Dukes had already died. He had no intention of becoming the third victim.
The temporarily lulled war resumed. It wasn't a targeted attack like Hela's, but an all-out war across most of the border regions. As if trying to exploit the instability within Helheim, which was busy managing its internal affairs. Helheim had been preoccupied with absorbing the former Dark Nest demons who joined their ranks, but they couldn't focus solely on internal affairs when powerful enemies joined forces and attacked.
An expanded territory, stronger enemies, and unstable internal factions.
The reason Helheim could withstand it wasn't just because of Hela, but also thanks to the many talented individuals who supported her from below. And not long after the war resumed, good news arrived for Dream Walker, one of the biggest contributors and supporters… practically a meritorious subject.
"Congratulations, Grandmother!"
"As expected of Grandmother. We've been waiting for this day…"
"Congratulations! You finally did it!"
Liliana, Grandmother of Dream Walker, who had been in charge of defending their territory while Hela attacked Dark Nest's headquarters, had finally ascended to the rank of Duke. The faces of those gathered were filled with excitement at the great news that could solidify their current advantage.
"Hmph, it's all thanks to everyone's perseverance… More than anything, it wouldn't have been possible without Lady Hela's grace."
She looked down at her palms and smiled wryly. Her proficiency was still low, far behind other Duke-class demons, but she knew best how lacking she was before her rank increased. She also knew that she wouldn't have become a Duke, let alone a Marquis later on, without the 'Succubus Queen's essence' that Hela bestowed upon her.
'The fact that I could even become a Marquis later on was purely thanks to my Demon King and Queen bloodline. If I didn't even have that…'
She had barely managed to reach the Count level even when her sister, Leraye, became Demon King. Despite having access to almost unlimited resources for growth. A Count was considered a high-ranking demon in the Demon Realm, but she couldn't help but feel inadequate compared to her sister, who became a Demon King.
Squeeze
Pink magic power overflowed from her tightly clenched fist. Pure magic power, like what she felt when her mother was still alive. That same power now filled her.
'How can I ever repay this grace?'
She felt overwhelmed by how much she had received. To repay this grace, the best course of action was to help Hela ascend to the true Demon King's throne as soon as possible.
"Phew— Now then, shall we start with something light?"
Thus, Succubus Duke Liliana appeared on the front lines.
And.
"Long live Succubus Duke!"
[For Helheim!]
"Roar—!"
Not long after she joined the battle,
One battlefield was completely cleared.
[That harlot Liliana?]
The Demon Dragon's ferocious face contorted even more at his subordinate's report. Insult to injury. The unrest among his demons was already growing, and now another Duke-class powerhouse had been added to the enemy ranks?
'The best scenario is for that greedy harlot to clash with the mongrel…'
He briefly entertained the hopeful thought, but the probability was low. Their relationship wasn't simply that of a ruler and a subject. And betraying Hela and going solo in this situation was a decision only someone whose brain was completely soaked in black magic would make.
'Damn it, what is this bullshit…'
There was no chance of winning now. Until recently, he had been confident he would become the Demon King. How did things turn out like this?
'Again? This is happening again? To me, Crushire? Again?'
It was the future he had longed for, finally within his reach after thousands of years. He thought he could finally grasp it. That he could finally laugh in the face of fate, which had constantly hindered him!
His three pairs of eyes blazed with killing intent, fueled by his extreme rage. Black flames seeped from between his sharp teeth, his flaring nostrils, and his dense scales.
Taking advantage of the crack in his composure, an energy that had subtly seeped into him while he was in the temple carefully stimulated him. So subtly that he didn't even notice.
[KROOOOOAR——!]
There was no doubt now. The Demon God was obstructing him again! To prevent a dragon, not born in the Demon Realm, from becoming the Demon King! He had even joined forces with a nameless god to avoid the Demon God's intervention.
Now that the intruders in the temple had ruined his centuries-long plan, all he had left was burning hatred.
'Could it be that the ones who invaded the temple were…? …No, I'm certain that harlot was a Marquis until recently. She must have just broken through.'
Although he was twisted and hasty, he wasn't a fool. After launching his attack on the Shadow Duke, he had repeatedly verified his suspicions. He had already confirmed that Liliana, as well as all known Marquis-class demons, were innocent. The only one he couldn't be certain of was Shadow Duke Pieta, who had reached a similar level as him and used strange magic. Although his priorities had shifted after his headquarters was attacked, he hadn't completely dismissed his suspicions about Pieta.
That gloomy skeleton, who loved scheming, might be playing tricks to deceive him again.
So, while pretending to have reconciled, he kept a close watch on Pieta, and
The persistent gaze of the Demon Realm's greatest black mage,
[…Ha! Hahaha! I knew it! Kuahahaha—!]
Finally caught something suspicious.
[Pieta, you bastard——! You dare mock me?!]
A suspicious contact during their war,
And the unnatural movements that followed solidified his suspicions.
[Keuh huh… As expected, those two bastards were working together from the beginning to screw me over. They took me for a fool.]
The temple raid during his battle, the ensuing war as retaliation, the capture of Dark Nest's headquarters, and Pieta's peace proposal were all a carefully crafted scenario. To deceive him and put a noose around his neck.
'…Alright, if that's how you want to play it…'
He had nowhere left to retreat. If he lost this competition, it would truly be the end of his long life. They would never let him live if they knew what he was planning in that temple.
[Pieta. Come see me for a moment.]
-"What is it, Demon Dragon Duke? I'm busy. As you know, things went wrong because of that Succubus Duke."
[It's the same for me. Make some time; it's important. I've figured out a way to capture that mongrel for sure.]
-"Hmm?"
That was it. He didn't care about the Demon King or conquering the continent anymore. His heart was filled only with burning rage.
"What? What is this madness, Demon Dragon?!"
[Keuh huh huh! Kuahahaha! Madness? No, this is the answer! I should have done this from the beginning!]
"Sacrificing all your followers…! Do you think you can become Demon King after doing this?!"
[It doesn't matter.]
So he simply,
Decided to destroy everything.
The demons still following the Demon Dragon Duke vanished. And the Shadow Duke, who had built a solid defense, also fell into the Demon Dragon's grasp. And,
The gate to the abyss opened in the Demon Realm.