Upon returning to Ezer, Tia imdiately summoned Nael and Yelena.
“So you’ve finally co back.”
Unlike Yelena, who simply stared blankly, Nael wore a look full of displeasure.
“Weren’t we supposed to be preparing for war with Yafenon? Do you really have ti to be wandering around like this…”
“I went to et Clay.”
At those words, Nael’s eyes widened, “What?”
“Clay has assud the title of Demon King and is now leading the demon race. And it doesn’t appear to be just in na.”
“Clay… actually recognized as Demon King by the demon realm?”
Tia nodded.
It was only natural that Clay would feel betrayed by humans. After all, it was humans who had killed him.
Given what she now knew, it was easy to doubt whether the accusations that he’d colluded with the previous Demon King had ever been true.
But setting that aside—what truly mattered now was that Clay had begun to lead the demons in earnest. That alone signaled the ergence of a whole new threat.
“How in the world…?”
Nael had believed that Clay, after enduring brutal torture by priests, would never again be able to properly wield divine power.
Even if he had recovered to a degree, it had been unimaginable that he’d ever regain strength fitting his forr station.
“If he’s now able to control demonic energy strong enough to overwhelm the demon race through sheer force… this isn’t just so passing issue.”
Nael swallowed hard.
“It won’t be long before the Holy Alliance officially declares Clay the new Demon King.”
That would make Clay the undisputed enemy of all mankind. Holy Krata would undoubtedly use it as a pretext to seize control of the continent once more, rallying everyone under the banner of Clay’s destruction.
“Krata was the main force behind Clay’s execution. They know Clay will never let that go. And he’ll move to strike them first.”
“He will.” Tia exhaled a heavy sigh, “Nael, what do you think?”
“What do you an?”
“I an Clay. Specifically… the things he was accused of before his execution.”
Clay had been condemned for allegedly conspiring with the previous Demon King. Tia was asking Nael what she thought of those charges.
“I don’t know.”
Nael answered honestly.
“But after he was executed, there’s one thing I do know now.”
Despite the content, her voice remained calm.
“I’m not righteous enough to live purely for the greater good.”
“You an…”
“Whether or not he did those things doesn’t matter. If Clay had told it wasn’t true… I should’ve believed him without question. I…”
Her gaze faltered slightly.
“I owed him a debt I never repaid.”
When her people had been on the brink of annihilation at the hands of demons, it had been Clay who stepped forward to protect them.
He was accepted as one of them. She had always taken pride in that. She’d believed that Clay’s dedication to her people showed how sincere he truly was.
“I’d deluded myself. Thought my joy ca from serving a righteous cause… but it didn’t. When Clay disappeared, everything felt empty. Hollow. Tia, didn’t you feel the sa?”
“…”
Tia couldn’t answer easily. She wasn’t soone who could speak as candidly as Nael.
But even so—
“You’re right, Nael.”
She could now admit it.
“We never should’ve let Clay go like that.”
“Then…”
“Yes. Let’s move.”
It was impossible to return Clay to the way he was—to the hero he once had been. He had said it himself: Clay was already dead.
The Clay that lived now bore an unhealable wound, and carried deep-seated malice toward those who had wronged him.
But even as a revenant driven by vengeance, he was soone she needed.
And now, she finally understood that clearly.
“Even if he never cos back to us… I’ll make sure he’s never exiled from this world again.”
Even if they ran parallel paths, she would find a way to keep him alive. Because if she did—then perhaps, one day…
“Fine.”
The reply didn’t co from Nael.
“Count in.”
It was Yelena.
Her eyes still puffy and swollen from crying, she looked up and t Tia’s gaze.
“This ti… I’ll help create a place where he doesn’t have to leave.”
A place where he could belong, even if no one else acknowledged it.
A sanctuary ant for him alone.
“Yeah.”
Tia affird her decision.
“It’s late… but from now on, we’ll do things our way.”
Even if what they wanted was sothing heroes were never supposed to desire.
♧
“Demon King.”
Cardin reported to Clay.
“The elves have left their forest and begun to gather.”
“The elves?”
“Yes.”
He placed a sheet of parchnt on Clay’s desk.
“And they didn’t even try to hide it—they inford us directly.”
The letter, delivered by carrier bird, was absurd from the perspective of the demon race.
To the newly appointed King of the Demon Realm:
We, the elves, have chosen to leave our forest in order to uphold our alliance with Ezer.
We intend to punish Yaphenon, the first to attack Ezer. If you seek any gain, take your opportunity now. If not, we ask that you avoid getting involved.
Please regard this as nothing more than a declaration of intent by the Elves, made in the hope that you will not interfere.
It sounded like they were saying: “Let’s not have any misunderstandings.”
What made it worse was that the elves had even included information that might prove useful to Clay.
“Hm.”
Clay let out a quiet sigh as he saw the letter even included the exact date of their planned assault on Yaphenon.
“Demon King?”
Cardin asked, concerned, but Clay shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”
Had it only been written words, Clay might have suspected forgery—but then he spotted the seal at the bottom.
Yelena’s seal.
After the forr Elf King passed, the elves had effectively acknowledged Yelena, his daughter, as their new ruler. Though Yelena herself disliked leading, preferring a quiet life in harmony with nature, the elves were a different breed altogether.
When a direct command ca from above, they moved as powerful warriors willing to sacrifice everything for the whole.
A hollow slogan, in the end.
That Yaphenon, a mber of the Holy Alliance, had attacked Ezer, ant that the barrier of peace Tia had fought so hard to maintain had already crumbled.
Clay's death had been aningless. Nothing had been preserved.
“They’ve a knack for doing too little, too late.”
“Pardon?”
“The elves,” Clay replied, setting the letter down.
“Back when they were still seen as mysterious beings, maybe things were different. But the Holy Alliance had already considered the possibility that elves might beco enemies. That’s why they so thoroughly investigated everyone associated with the Hero’s party—even . And at the ti, I believed them.”
“You an…?”
“If they charge in unprepared, Yaphenon will deal them a crushing blow.”
Tia and Nael might be present, so they likely wouldn’t lose outright—but it would leave a gaping hole in their forces.
“Cardin,” Clay said, turning toward him.
“Do you know why the elves sent this letter to ?”
“Perhaps they’re hoping we’ll join their attack on Yaphenon? Just in case things go wrong?”
“That’s not wrong. A hopeful request, perhaps.”
Clay gave a dry chuckle.
“But more than that… they wanted to test .”
Elves were never ones to ddle in others’ affairs. Though Yelena might’ve acted at the execution, the rest of the elves had no stake in Clay’s revenge.
This was just a way to find out.
They were watching to see how far Clay had turned. How much of his past still remained.
Foolish.
He wasn’t about to act for the sake of a people who had done nothing during his execution—no matter how close they had once been.
But if they suspected that Clay might still possess so remnant of his heroic self, sothing that would not let him ignore others’ sacrifices, then…
It was a clever enough gamble.
Disgusting.
Just the fact that such a test had been made left Clay deeply unsettled.
Truly disgusting.
Cardin noticed the deepening scowl on Clay’s face and looked flustered.
“Demon King, if I’ve spoken out of turn…”
“No. You didn’t. I just… don’t like this letter.”
Clay’s tone was firm.
“Cardin. Still no word from Beatrice?”
“Not yet, sir.”
“Tell her to return as soon as she can once you get in touch.”
Cardin stole a glance at Clay’s hand.
He’s really upset…
His hand was trembling ever so slightly. Cardin assud it was from anger.
She really needs to co back soon.
Though Clay never said much, he often checked in on Beatrice’s whereabouts. It was clear that her presence gave him peace of mind.
“Demon King… I’m not sure if this is the right ti, but…”
“Speak.”
“Lady Beatrice asked to deliver sothing to you in case sothing ever upset you.”
At those words, Clay’s eyes widened slightly.
“What is it?”
Cardin slowly reached into his coat and pulled out an envelope.
“What is…”
Clay took the envelope with a bewildered look—and as soon as he opened it, the mood lightened just a bit.
“Unbelievable.”
Inside were white marshmallows, just like the ones she had roasted for him the day they t.
“When she returns… I’ll have to interrogate her a little.”
Despite his words, a faint, mismatched smile tugged at the corner of Clay’s lips.
♧
Boom!
Yaphenon’s royal palace.
Seated upon the throne, Utor slamd his armrest in fury.
“That damn witch Yuru…!”
Not only had she attacked Lakara, but she’d even stolen one of the artifacts housed there.
At least she didn’t discover the secret lab Krata had installed there…
Still, losing an artifact that could point to it was a serious concern.
“Your Majesty, we must prepare for retaliation from Ezer—”
“Perhaps we should ask Krata for—”
“Silence!”
Utor’s glare swept across his ministers like a blade.
“Krata’s already turned a blind eye to our strike against Ezer. You want to go back and stir that nest again?”
“But…”
“We can handle this ourselves.”
Utor grabbed the Crescent Moon Axe resting beside his throne.
“Ezer’s nothing but a bug twitching on the ground. I’ll crush them myself.”
As he rose to his feet, the court went silent in awe of his enormous form. No one dared question his strength.
But none of them knew.
That the first expedition of the Demon King’s army was already aid directly at Yaphenon.
(End of Chapter)
Reviews
All reviews (0)