Chapter 147 : The One Who Will Be a Hero, The One Who Will Be a King (2)

After parting with Ims, I contacted Derix.

“Derix. Where are you now?”

– I am staying in the Disella region with the other demons. I was hoping to see you anyway, do you have time?

“Good. I’ll send you the location to meet, let’s see each other there.”

– Yes, I understand. By any chance…… have you received permission to bring in the demons?

“Yes, I have. Let’s talk about the details when we meet.”

– I will see you soon.

Derix ended the transmission with a seemingly excited voice.

He had been moving for my sake for a while now, but he couldn't officially reveal himself.

He was concerned that if it became known he was a demon, it would cause problems for my reputation.

But as my standing was growing rapidly, I couldn't keep Derix hidden forever.

I felt the need to bring Derix's existence into the light.

– That's a very interesting idea. To think that demons are also Inoe…….

Ims was positive about me bringing the demons who were under the former Demon King to our side.

I was surprised by her attitude of readily accepting my proposal.

Because I thought it might be difficult to persuade her in an era where many believed that coexistence with demons was absolutely impossible.

– But you are right, Lord Polarin. We might be able to use the conflict between the demons who now rule Myeolji and the demons who were under the former Demon King.

– That’s a relief. I thought you might be reluctant, Lady Ims.

– Not at all. I am on your side, Lord Polarin. Besides, I am a merchant.

– Are you thinking that my decision will be more profitable in the end?

– Hoho, that's right. I'm not foolish enough to refuse a deal that is clearly profitable.

I wasn't satisfied with just getting Ims's approval.

I asked Ims to persuade the other supporters as well.

– Please leave it to me. Hohoho.

Ims accepted my request with a good-natured laugh.

I was glad that I didn't have to spend time persuading the others.

“Shall we get going then?”

“Let’s go!”

Ims had already left in the cart she arrived in, and Hike had also gone into the High Dragon’s Nest.

Thanks to the Dragon's Trial and Ims's gifts, my companions and I had a much higher rank and level of equipment than before.

As if to express our gratitude, we bowed our heads to her in front of the High Dragon's Nest.

Then, we set off again to meet Derix.

***

Derix appeared with about thirty demons.

Most of them were low-rank demons, and only five, including Derix, were mid-rank demons.

As soon as Derix saw me, he knelt and greeted me politely.

“It has been a while.”

“Yes, are the people behind you all of the same mind as you, Sir Derix?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

When Derix gestured to the ones standing behind him, they too knelt and greeted me.

I looked over the faces of the kneeling demons.

‘Even if not to the extent of Derix, there are those who are favorable, and those who are dissatisfied with this situation.’

It wasn't bad. Not all of them needed to pledge blind loyalty to me.

Rather, I could confirm that the discipline Derix had established was controlling them well, even though they were members with different thoughts.

“There are those who wish to have their demonic energy driven out. Could you possibly help?”

“Of course. Those who wish for it, step forward now.”

Five demons came forward hesitantly.

There were some who hesitated, but when Derix frowned, they all knelt without a word.

The first five to come out were all low-rank demons.

I decided to change them first. Derix continued to speak with dignity.

“Everyone, accept the Lord’s mana with a reverent heart.”

“Yes!”

The other demons, and my companions, watched in anticipation.

I placed my hand on the first demon's forehead and I focused my mana at my fingertips.

Woooooong──.

A large amount of mana poured into the demon.

“Kugh……”

The demon let out a pained groan.

When the white light of mana from my hand touched the demon's body, black demonic energy seeped out of its body.

Now, driving out the demonic energy accumulated by a low-rank demon was more than possible even without using the power of the Dragon Heart.

The demonic energy resisted for a moment, but it didn't last long.

Thud.

The demon, with all its demonic energy gone, collapsed.

Everyone held their breath and looked at the demon.

The fallen demon trembled and then shot up to its feet.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

After Derix, another person had appeared who called me their lord.

I hid my awkwardness and gave a nod.

“Next.”

***

Beyond the five demons who had initially volunteered, the other demons who were watching this scene also asked me to get rid of their demonic energy.

It was because the power of the demons who had been infused with my mana had all risen.

After the death of the former Demon King, they could no longer receive demonic energy from its source.

However, I could grant them more power as much as I wanted.

Only after the exhausting work was all done could I have some time alone with Derix.

“You’ve worked hard all this time.”

“Not at all. This is all thanks to you, my Lord.”

Just then, the ground beneath us rumbled and collapsed, and a desert fox poked its head out.

– Have you forgotten my contribution?

“It has been a long time, Sir Arandir.”

– Hmph.

Arandir snorted.

He would normally be a high-rank sand spirit full of dignity, but in his current form, it was out of the question.

All I could see was a single cute desert fox with fluffy fur, twitching its nose.

Arandir must have put in a lot of effort in the process of Derix gathering the demons.

Arandir, who usually loathed demons, had worked with Derix and helped gather them.

– I have finished speaking with the other spirits as well. They are aware that this is an opportunity to sever the long-standing ill-fated relationship with Myeolji.

“That will be a great help. Thank you. Can you tell me which spirits can participate in the expedition?”

– None have given a definite answer yet. Spirits are not ones to give such clear-cut answers. But since even the Spirit Kings are showing interest, I should be able to bring you some positive news soon.

Arandir showed confidence.

Although there were no concrete results yet, I hoped Arandir could persuade the Spirit Kings.

I had seen enough of the prowess of the water spirits in the battle before Myeolji.

Especially in a battlefield where many clashed at once, the power of the spirits was worth trusting.

“Thank you. I ask for your continued efforts.”

– It is too early for thanks. I will make sure to persuade the Spirit Kings.

“Yes, please do. After persuading the Spirit Kings, will you move with us as before?”

– For now, I will stay in the Spirit Realm and watch the situation. The spirits are gathering their strength because demonic energy is seeping even into the Spirit Realm. I must also help diligently so that the spirits will participate in the expedition.

Unlike his deep and dignified voice, when I tickled him under the chin with my fingertip, Arandir rubbed his face against me as if pleased.

He would be incredibly reassuring to have with us, but Arandir also had many things to do.

– Then I shall leave the matters of the Middle Realm to you all.

“Yes, sir. We’ll be in your care.”

Arandir trotted away and then buried himself in the sand.

Seeing the disturbed soil and then the stillness, it seemed he had headed to the Spirit Realm in his own way.

Now, it was truly just Derix and me left. Derix continued his report calmly.

“We plan to recruit more demons in the future. The number of the former Demon King's demons who want to resist the new demons is not small.”

“Indeed, the demon that Sir Tayon cut down before also disregarded the previous generation of demons.”

“Yes. We don’t know what tricks the new demons are using, but they are continuously receiving power from the Demon King. Because of that, they treat the previous generation of demons like insects, so there is much dissatisfaction about it.”

Recently, the defenses in front of Myeolji had been continuously breached.

It was likely because it was difficult to completely fill Tayon's vacant spot.

There were quite a few demons who dug through the ground under the Dome like beasts, and they were causing various problems in the world.

In that process, the conflict between the previous generation of demons and the new demons, which Derix called the new demons, seemed to have flared up.

“I have named it ‘Remnant’.”

“Is that the name of the force that is with you?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

It seemed Derix had even decided on a name for the thirty or so demons including himself.

Since it was a group led by Derix, I didn't intend to meddle with the naming, but there was something I was concerned about.

“It sounds self-deprecating, is that okay? I don’t think there’s a need for that.”

“Those who remain and exist without disappearing. It is a name that suits us.”

“At least to me, Derix, you are not someone who needs to disappear.”

“Yes, I know. But we also have a mission. A mission to remain and exist.”

“To remain, and achieve what you desire, I see.”

“That is correct. We intend to remain, to survive to the end, and take our revenge. Since we are a group gathered solely by vengeance, not everyone in Remnant may be friendly to humans.”

“Not everyone can live by a single belief. At the very least, it is enough that we share the same enemy.”

“……Thank you for your understanding.”

It wasn't just that I understood.

If the old demons’ anger was directed at the new demons, if we shared the same anger, that was enough.

Because sometimes, just sharing the same enemy makes for the strongest alliance.

“I will leave the management of Remnant to you from now on. Still, may I ask what your future plans are?”

“Of course. We are now planning to move to the North.”

“The North?”

“The North is where the most old demons are gathered. There will be quite a few high-rank demons, but we plan to go there and urge them to join us.”

I knew that there were quite a few demons hunkered down in the North.

If we could recruit them into Remnant, they would surely be a great force.

After some thought, I said to Derix.

“We’ll go to the North too. Let’s move together.”

“Will you be alright?”

Derix asked worriedly.

It seemed it was because there weren't just strong demons in the North.

The guardian of the North, the Northern Archduke.

A figure who, at this point, was without a doubt considered the strongest of mankind, and the one closest to being a Tuner.

It was because the Archduke was protecting the North with his sharp eyes wide open.

“I heard the Archduke has decided to fight on the Empire’s side in the war. I need to find out his true intentions, so I was planning to visit at least once.”

“The Archduke is famous for being ruthless to everyone, be they demon or human, without discrimination. What do you plan to do if the Archduke ultimately decides to fight on the Empire’s side?”

“First, I’ll have to persuade him. I will try to break his will to fight and ask if he can be of help when we advance into Myeolji.”

“……What if it does not go as you wish, my Lord?”

“If his blade is ultimately turned towards humanity.”

I answered in a cold voice.

“I will kill the Archduke.”