EP.265 Revisited the Cave Again
The traitors of the Demon Realm cannot move easily.
Earth has the Beast Slayer, and they know very well how strong she is.
Moreover, since my followers are still around, Malphas will prioritize stabilizing the internal affairs.
This means I have time.
The problem is the demons still serving me.
High-ranking demons like Malphas, the Four Knights, and Vine betrayed me after escaping my influence.
But they did not. They even fought against Malphas.
Even though they could escape my influence, they showed such loyalty?
They were loyal servants who should be taken care of until the end.
Vine said they didn’t know who their leader was.
Moreover, if they are being defeated one after another, it means there is no central figure.
That bothered me.
Among my true subordinates, there are many demons who lead legions, so the situation won’t change drastically in an instant…
‘Action is needed.’
What my subordinates in the Demon Realm need most right now is a leader who can guide them.
For demons who follow the unique demonic power of the Demon King, my manifestation will be very effective.
However, I often have to leave my post because of Silvia and Adeline.
This increases the likelihood of the demons’ morale being broken again.
There is a way to show my face briefly, but it’s less effective than making a direct appearance, and if I show up and disappear quickly, what would the demons think?
It’s better for me to focus on corrupting Adeline and Silvia.
‘In that case, it would be better to send Sehwa and Yuria first.’
Sehwa inherited the densest part of my demonic power and is the queen who shares it with me.
Right after becoming queen, she made her presence known to all high-ranking demons.
Without a hint of fear, very naturally.
Although she was immature at the time, she exuded the perfect dignity and grace of a queen.
The demons also sincerely bowed to her.
Yuria, with her gentle nature, is liked and admired by lower-ranking demons.
Both are my closest confidants and are strong, so they will perform the role of a central figure well.
Perhaps it’s even better than me stepping forward.
Why? Because they are stronger than me.
Sehwa and Yuria fighting on the front lines against the rebel forces.
You can’t help but be impressed.
“Marcella.”
“Yes, Demon King.”
“Have the retainers been sent to the Demon Realm?”
“Not yet.”
“Send them now. Let them stir things up for a day and spread rumors in the Demon Realm that the queen and concubine are going to restore order to the chaotic Demon Realm.”
At my sharp words, Marcella swallowed and replied.
“Ah, understood.”
“Also, open a portal at the base for demons who cannot open portals on their own.”
“Huh…? But there’s a possibility that the rebels might use it…”
“If we install it in my castle, that possibility will decrease. Moreover, the benefits outweigh the risks. Move the medical devices from the Antarctic base to the headquarters in Eunpyeong-gu.”
Since I’ve already made even the doctor my retainer and injected evil into Adeline, who is the top priority for surveillance, I think it’s not bad to make the base a resting place for demons like in the early days of my resurrection.
This will also have the effect of showing that I am sufficiently considerate of the demons.
“I will do so. Uh… Demon King.”
“Speak.”
“Thank you…”
Suddenly expressing gratitude?
This was proof that Marcella was also worried about the demons.
Before being affected by divine power, my demonic power was invincible.
No demon doubted or refused my orders.
They even thought it was natural to sacrifice themselves for me.
But now that my influence has weakened?
They are fully showcasing their individuality.
From now on, I will treat the demons following me like my children.
Because they chose me of their own will, even though they could escape the binding of demonic power.
Once the Aiter replication research is complete, I will have the newly created Evil Valkyries live harmoniously in the Demon Realm.
Those who waited to escape my influence and revealed their ambitions… I will deal with them as I had previously planned.
After finishing the arrangements and sending Marcella away, I chuckled when Sehwa and Yuria came to me with excited expressions.
They were also feeling frustrated.
Well, how are you going to conquer the heavenly realm if you’re just treated like princesses?
This is the time to gain real combat experience, build strength, and develop leadership.
Come to think of it, Yuria will look for Meril when she goes to the Demon Realm.
I hope they meet well.
**
“…. Mr. Jihyuk.”
“…..”
“Mr. Jihyuk! Your hand!”
Snapping out of my daze while crafting a weapon, I was startled by Adeline’s urgent cry.
I almost burned myself with the welder.
After pushing the workbench aside, I smiled at Adeline, who was looking at me with a worried expression.
“Thank you.”
“What were you thinking about that you couldn’t concentrate? You almost got hurt!”
What was I thinking? I was thinking about corrupting you quickly.
So please stop serving that Rosario girl and give me your faith.
“I was thinking about the demon that appeared yesterday.”
“Ah… that weak demon?”
Weak? It’s still S-class…
Vine, who died, would be upset.
“Yes.”
“But you told me to leave the head behind, right? What did you do with the body?”
“The head? I washed it clean and sent it to the Demon Realm. As a warning.”
“Huh…?”
Adeline’s mouth slowly opened.
I laughed and corrected myself.
“Just kidding, I thought about researching it to use as an energy source, but it disappeared quickly.”
“Oh, I see… That was a scary thing to say…”
“Sorry.”
“And no matter how evil, it’s still a life… Trying to use the head is too cruel. The dead should be sent off properly. Please don’t do such things in the future.”
Cruel? Who was it that punched through Vine’s stomach with one fist?
You have the nature of a demon.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
While we were chatting, Silvia arrived.
She greeted Adeline and me with a bright expression and headed to the lounge.
She seemed very satisfied with her first activity as the Beast Slayer.
Watching Silvia’s back as she turned on the news, I said to Adeline.
“Silvia’s face looks quite happy.”
“Yes, she said she’s happy that she can now protect Earth. I feel happy too. But… I think my sister is lying to me.”
“What do you mean?”
Adeline glanced at Silvia and lowered her voice.
“I saw my sister transformed yesterday… There was a wound on her neck. She told me she overdid it during exercise and put on a patch…”
A wound? A hickey isn’t that serious, is it?
Did Silvia self-harm?
“Really? A patch on a wound… That’s strange… Should I subtly ask her?”
“Hmm… No. Don’t worry about it, Mr. Jihyuk.”
I silently tapped my knee.
Then Adeline came over and sat on my lap as if to show Silvia.
She’s still very conscious of it. A good sign.
While pressing Adeline’s chubby cheeks to express affection, I carefully called her.
“Adeline.”
“Yes?”
“I think I need to go on a business trip. I have to go overseas for a day tomorrow. There’s been an accident at the company’s overseas branch.”
“An accident?”
“An employee made a mistake, and I need to handle it.”
“Really…? I guess there’s no choice…”
She stroked my head as if understanding.
She’s acting mature, but I can tell she’s disappointed.
“Let’s go out together when I come back.”
“Then let’s go see the sea. I want to see it before the weather gets colder.”
“Let’s do that.”
Adeline smiled brightly, grabbed my cheeks, and leaned in for a kiss.
While kissing her, I squinted and glanced at the lounge.
Silvia… was watching us.
I couldn’t see clearly, but she seemed to have a complicated expression.
**
Early the next morning, in the laboratory.
Chewing gum, I smiled brightly when Silvia, dressed casually, hesitantly approached.
“You’re here?”
“Yeah… Are we leaving now?”
“We should. But…”
When I looked at Silvia with a meaningful gaze, she flinched and avoided eye contact.
“Wh, what…”
“What did you tell Adeline?”
“I said I was going to a karate club dinner… I said I’d be back today…”
“You’re going for a day trip?”
“You lied about going on a business trip… If I’m gone too, Adeline will feel lonely. Let’s just stay for about ten hours and come back…”
Ah… What beautiful sisterly love.
And yet you’re meeting me behind Adeline’s back.
Impressive, impressive.
Since you care so much about Adeline, I’ll accept it.
After all, my plan to take Silvia’s virginity and inject evil into her today remains unchanged.
“It’ll take about four hours round trip.”
“It’s shorter than driving to Busan…”
“That’s true. Did you wear pretty underwear?”
“…. If you don’t want your bones broken, be quiet.”
You wore what I wanted.
I’ll appreciate it later.
I smirked and quickly approached Silvia.
Then I tapped her forehead and nose twice with my index finger.
When I moved my hand near her mouth, she pursed her lips.
She’s worried I’ll smudge her lip tint again.
Shrugging at her reaction, I said.
“Shall we go?”
She nodded with her lips sucked in.
It was so cute that I burst out laughing.
“How’s the Device’s charge?”
“8… 85 percent…”
“You consumed quite a bit for killing a demon in an instant.”
“I was transformed before entering the portal…”
“Is that so? Understood.”
When I spoke casually, Silvia glanced at me.
“What?”
“…. By the way… No… I want to go into the medical device first…”
She seemed to want to ask if I was going to charge her today but changed the subject.
What kind of reaction would she show if I said I was going to inject her?
Staring at Silvia for a moment, I reached for the patch on her neck.
Then Silvia tried to push my hand away.
“St, stop…”
“Stay still.”
“…..”
“You came to the lab yesterday to go into the medical device but couldn’t, right? Just get treated confidently, why are you being so timid because of Adeline…”
“I… Haah… Adeline wants to go home together, what should I do?”
“Just say you’ll go after getting treated. Don’t you have any backbone?”
Silvia glared at me, offended.
Her eyes were quite scary, but to me, she just looked cute.
Ignoring it, I checked Silvia’s neck and frowned.
“The wound is quite deep… Did you scratch it on purpose?”
“…. Yeah.”
“Why would you do such a thing?”
“The patch flew off when I transformed… I didn’t want Adeline to notice…”
“Really… What a crude method. I’ll treat you now.”
“Okay…”
Silvia tends to get timid in these awkward situations.
The contrast with her usual confident self is amusing and endearing.
After treating the wound on Silvia’s neck, I boarded a small fighter jet with her.
We then headed to a secret hideout I had prepared in the Grand Canyon.