Chapter 264

EP.264 Declaration of War

[Residents and tourists, please evacuate to the bunkers immediately.]

The evacuation broadcast repeated in multiple languages, as expected for a tourist destination.

Tourists and residents quickly moved in an orderly manner and disappeared, leaving the streets eerily quiet.

All of this infrastructure was set up by me and the Doctor… Suddenly, I feel a surge of irritation.

While heading to Hawaii in a fighter jet, I monitored the situation through the screen.

Goooooo…

The already gloomy weather in Hawaii grew even darker.

It became almost pitch black. Streetlights automatically turned on, creating a chilling atmosphere.

Then, it started to rain.

A heavy downpour with thick raindrops.

‘Hmm…’

A noisy portal that I didn’t authorize…

And it’s enormous.

It feels like a declaration of war from the Demon Realm.

The scanner’s gauge stopped at 91%.

Meaning an S-class demon was about to appear.

An S-class demon accompanied by a thunderstorm…

‘Vineiro.’

Sssssss-!

A portal opened, and from it emerged a handsome man clad in pitch-black chainmail, wielding a massive bow.

With a relaxed expression, he glanced around, but as a crimson and golden light approached rapidly from the distance, his face hardened, and he drew his bow.

Kkkkkk…

A bizarre sound, like the screams of souls, emanated from the bowstring.

Vineiro released the string just as Silvia and Adeline closed in.

Fwoosh-!

A deafening roar shook the surroundings, and a straight black line appeared in the center of the monitor.

Simultaneously, a massive shockwave erupted, obliterating everything in its path.

Booooom-!

A balloon-popping sound came through the speakers.

I was momentarily worried, but…

Seeing the crimson light, enveloped in golden energy, cutting through the black aura, I felt relieved.

Adeline’s divine power must have provided the defense.

-Ugh!?

A surprised gasp escaped Vineiro’s mouth.

That was his last breath.

Sssss-! Sssssss!

Vineiro’s body was slashed to pieces by Silvia, who approached at a terrifying speed, and his torso was pierced by Adeline’s “Die Already” punch, killing him.

Being a long-range demon, he was extremely vulnerable in close combat.

If it had been a close-range demon, it might have bought some time, but alas.

Still, Silvia and Adeline’s strength is impressive.

Even for a long-range demon, I didn’t expect it to end so quickly…

Do they have some kind of synergy when they team up? Ridiculous.

I need to make them mine soon. Their power is too tempting.

-It’s done, Jihyuk. How was it?

Adeline’s excited voice echoed through the fighter jet.

I replied after hearing her report.

“Too fast to see clearly, but it seemed like you wrapped Silvia in divine power. That’s why the arrow was blocked, right?”

-Exactly.

“Impressive. Return for now.”

-Huh…? What about the body?

“I’m on my way to retrieve it now, so head back to Uijeongbu and rest.”

-Can’t I stay with you? Another portal might appear.

“If there’s any sign of that, the device will alert us. Come help then.”

-Ugh… Alright.

After sending the two back, I arrived in Hawaii.

There, I incinerated everything except Vineiro’s head and secretly headed to Antarctica.

**

“Ugh…”

Vineiro groaned in pain as he opened his eyes.

Looking around to assess the situation, he seemed stunned, unable to believe he had been defeated so quickly.

Then, he realized his entire body was bound.

And that his body had been replaced with that of a skinny human.

“This…! This…!”

Vineiro’s face twisted in anger.

“Demon King! Tairat! My master!”

He began shouting in the common language of Erandel, loud enough to shake the room.

Outside, Sehwa, Yuria, Marcella, and the Doctor watched with me as I stood up.

Yuria immediately stood behind me.

She was ready to guard me in case of any unforeseen events.

I smiled at her and, without hesitation, opened the heavy alloy door.

Clank!

The door opened with a loud noise.

As red light seeped into the pitch-black room, Vineiro frowned momentarily.

But the moment he saw my face and Yuria drawing her bow, he bowed his head in a servile manner.

“It is an honor to be in your presence, Demon King! Forgive me for not being able to offer a proper greeting while bound!”

I closed the door without a word and approached him.

I crouched down in front of him, his arms and legs chained, unable to move, and met his gaze.

“Struggling to survive, huh? Just spouting sweet words.”

At my low, cold tone, Vineiro’s face filled with terror.

Being a human-like demon, his emotions were clearly visible. It’s almost endearing.

He’s still influenced by my demonic energy, though…

“Demon King…! I have served you faithfully all this time…! How could you attach a human’s body to me…!”

Seeing him make such presumptuous remarks, it’s clear he’s no longer under my influence.

“If you don’t want to suffer for eternity, cut the flattery.”

“…..”

“Being a human-like demon, the fusion worked quite well.”

“Human-like demon…? Why are you using humans as a standard?”

I have no rebuttal for that. My mistake.

I’ll admit it.

“How’s your body?”

“I feel a strange sensation from my neck. It’s painful! Please release me!”

I raised one corner of my mouth and moved closer to Vineiro.

Yuria drew her bowstring to its fullest.

Ready to shoot at any moment. Vineiro was terrified.

I smirked at him and said,

“If you answer my questions honestly, I’ll restore your body. Not only that, but I’ll also show leniency, even though you deserve execution.”

“…..”

“I’m offering you forgiveness.”

At the word “forgiveness,” Vineiro’s eyes widened, and he nodded frantically.

Watching his grotesquely creaking neck, I clicked my tongue and asked,

“Malphas sent you, didn’t he?”

I didn’t ask who sent him; I specified the target.

I had my suspicions about Malphas.

And my guess was correct.

Vineiro flinched and confessed readily.

“….Yes… Malphas sent me…”

“What did he say when he sent you?”

“He… told me to deliver a message…”

“A message… How arrogant…”

“…..”

“Tell me exactly what he said to you, word for word.”

At that, Vineiro’s pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck.

He even glanced at Yuria.

Malphas, that bastard, must have said something provocative. It’s obvious.

Suppressing my rising anger, I continued,

“No need to embellish. Just say it as it is.”

Perhaps emboldened by my calmer tone, Vineiro cautiously opened his mouth.

“He said… ‘You’ve neglected the demons and ignored the Demon Realm… You have no place here… Do not set foot here again… This is the last courtesy to the former Demon King…'”

Before Vineiro could finish, an enraged Yuria released her bowstring.

Sssss-! Thud!

The arrow pierced the wall next to his face in an instant.

Vineiro’s entire face trembled, and he sobbed.

“Ugh…! I-I’m sorry…!”

I raised a hand to stop Yuria and lifted Vineiro’s chin.

“Balrog betrayed me too, didn’t he?”

“N-no, not Balrog…!”

Really? The retainers I sent turned to ash in Balrog’s hellfire.

I don’t think he’s lying.

Vineiro is still influenced by my demonic energy, and in this situation, he wouldn’t dare lie.

Then Malphas must have used some cunning trick to deceive Balrog.

Balrog would have sensed my demonic energy in the retainers, but being simple-minded, he must have fallen for Malphas’s lies.

I took out a notebook and said,

“Vineiro.”

“Yes…! Yes, Demon King!”

“Just name the demons who betrayed me. Then you can go back.”

“If… if this gets out in the Demon Realm, I…”

“The ruler of the Demon Realm is right in front of you. Are you afraid of it getting out? My influence has waned, huh?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Names of the traitors.”

“Malphas, the Four Knights, Dantalion, Fur…”

As I wrote down the names, I let out a hollow laugh.

All A-class or higher. Nearly half are S-class.

“Th-that’s all…! Please forgive me…!”

The number of demons Vineiro named exceeded twenty.

Assuming there are others he doesn’t know, the number could be even higher.

The betrayal of the Four Knights was particularly painful. These bastards, calling themselves knights, should have upheld their loyalty…

Even if I’ve been neglectful lately, to stab me in the back like this?

All of them deserve execution. No mercy.

I shook my head and asked again,

“What’s the current situation in the Demon Realm?”

“It’s split into two factions. Those who follow Malphas, and those who remain loyal to you…”

Oh… So there are still demons who understand my grand vision.

I’ll cherish them for life.

After dealing with the traitors, I could give their castles to the loyal ones.

“Who’s leading the loyal faction?”

“I… I’m not sure. Our side is gaining the upper hand, and they’re being eliminated one by one… Gasp!”

Vineiro choked on his words after saying “our side.”

I chuckled softly and reassured him.

“Don’t worry. You said you came to deliver a message. That’s proof you sided with Malphas.”

“I am the Demon King’s…”

I lightly slapped Vineiro’s cheek, cutting him off, and stood up.

“Yuria.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Cut off this bastard’s head, clean it thoroughly, and send it to the Demon Realm with one of our retainers.”

At that, Vineiro’s eyes widened to twice their size.

“Demon King! You said you’d forgive me if I answered your questions…!”

“Those who betray me once will do it again. I only keep trustworthy ones by my side.”

“You said I could return to the Demon Realm…!”

“When did I say I’d let you go alive?”

“Mercy…! Please show mercy! I…”

“Vineiro, let me tell you something. Do you know why a high-ranking demon like you was sent to Earth as a mere messenger?”

“….?”

“Because Malphas didn’t like your wolf-like nature either. You were sent as a sacrificial lamb.”

Vineiro’s eyes bulged.

“…..”

“Didn’t know that, huh? You’re quite the character. It’s rare for an ignorant fool to have such a sly streak… Anyway, consider yourself lucky. I was planning to make the traitors suffer, unable to live or die, but I’ll send you off cleanly.”

“De…”

Thud-!

Before he could utter another word, an arrow pierced the center of Vineiro’s throat.

His body slumped, and a dark red liquid oozed from his neck, mouth, nose, and eyes.

The red blood of the fused human mixed with Vineiro’s black blood.

I looked at Vineiro’s corpse with indifference and turned away.

Then, I gently stroked Yuria’s pale jawline.

“Clean it thoroughly and send only the head. Drain all the blood.”

“Why drain all the blood?”

“I’m sending a message too. Tell them to wash the head clean and wait.”

The Demon Realm has been infiltrated. But there are still demons loyal to me.

And confirming Malphas’s betrayal was a significant gain.

‘That bastard…’

My teeth gritted on their own.

To challenge me directly, has he fully taken over the Demon Realm?

I’ll give him credit for that much courage.

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