Shortly after the Pope declared a holy war.

A temporary Corps Commander meeting was held at the Demon King’s castle.

“The influence of the Deusis faith is greater than expected.”

Said Ozges, the 5th Corps Commander.

“Indeed. Those fanatics have quite the strength.”

The 1st Corps Commander Dorithugs continued.

The power of the name ‘Holy War’ was remarkable enough for even him to acknowledge it, despite his arrogant nature.

The Demon King’s Army, which had been gaining the upper hand with necromancy, was suddenly pushed into a disadvantageous position.

“In another week… We’ll retreat further than our original front lines…” Said Onyx, the 4th Corps Commander.

“Hmm, is that so? The enemy’s advance is faster than expected.”

Over the past few months, the Demon King’s Army had captured quite a bit of territory through necromancy and all-out attacks.

The front lines they had pushed forward were now returning to their starting point just days after the holy war began.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they would retreat further than their original lines and demon territory would be invaded.

“We need to break the enemy’s momentum before it’s too late. They’re currently centered around Gatren, so how about attacking Gatren’s elite forces?”

“It won’t be easy. Their core forces include three legendaries and none of them are pushovers.”

“If we corps commanders go together, mere legendaries shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Hmm, that’s true, but…”

Dorithugs and Ozges exchanged various opinions.

“It’s time we finally decide on the Corps Commander positions. We can’t leave them empty any longer.”

“Yes.”

“I think we should fill the positions even if we have to call back retired demon folk.”

“Retired demon folk…”

“What does the Demon King think?”

At that moment, the 1st Corps Commander Dorithugs turned the question to the Demon King.

The Demon King, who had been sitting with arms crossed and eyes closed, remained silent.

“…”

A moment of silence.

Dorithugs asked again.

“I, Dorithugs, would like to hear your esteemed opinion, my lord.”

The Demon King slowly opened his eyes.

“… What were we discussing?”

Another awkward silence followed the Demon King’s words.

Fortunately, Dorithugs smoothly continued.

“We were discussing attacking the Holy Empire’s elite forces first, and whether to appoint retired demon folk to the vacant Corps Commander positions.”

“I see.”

Demon King Tegrad nodded and fell into thought.

Dorithugs’s eyes flashed for a moment.

‘What are you thinking about, Demon King.’

To think he would be lost in other thoughts during a temporary Corps Commander meeting that he himself called.

Could he have been dozing off?

Even while thinking it impossible, Dorithugs couldn’t completely dismiss the suspicion.

“Well then…”

After long deliberation, the Demon King spoke.

“Do as you all suggest.”

“By ‘as we suggest,’ you mean?”

“Launch a surprise attack on the Holy Empire’s elite forces. All Corps Commanders together.”

“I have something to say.”

Ozges raised his hand.

The Demon King tilted his chin as if saying ‘speak.’

“Forgive my presumption, but isn’t this a hasty decision when we’re not even sure of the enemy’s true strength?”

“Ozges.”

“Yes.”

“We are demon folk. Are we not?”

“That’s right.”

The Demon King smirked.

“Since when did demon folk fight while calculating everything? That would make us no different from humans.”

“…”

“Demon folk fight and die as demon folk should. That is our identity and our way of living, and surviving.”

“I apologize. My thinking was shallow.”

Ozges bowed his head.

Demon King Tegrad waved his hand dismissively.

“And about the vacant Corps Commander positions. The 2nd and 3rd Corps Commander positions were vacant?”

“Yes.”

“Each of you thinks of suitable candidates by the next meeting. We’ll make the final decision after discussing it here.”

The three Corps Commanders nodded at the Demon King’s words.

“Lastly, regarding the attack, Dorithugs. I’ll leave it to you.”

“I will definitely annihilate the enemy.”

The 1st Corps Commander Dorithugs said while bowing his head.

“Then I’ll take my leave. The rest of you can discuss the remaining matters among yourselves.”

Demon King Tegrad stood up and left the meeting hall.

Bang-!

The door closed.

Silence fell over the meeting hall where only the three remained.

“…”

How long did the uncomfortable silence continue?

The 4th Corps Commander Onyx stood up first.

“If there’s nothing more to say… I’ll take my leave first…”

After Onyx left the meeting hall.

Only Dorithugs and Ozges remained.

“Ozges.”

“Yes.”

“Shall we talk while taking a walk? There’s no need to stay in the meeting hall when it’s just the two of us.”

Ozges silently nodded.

***

The two who left the meeting hall came out to the Demon King’s castle garden.

Though called a garden, it was different from human gardens, with a desolate landscape.

But such barrenness was familiar to demon folk, making it rather comfortable.

“Let me ask you directly.”

Dorithugs opened his mouth.

“What do you think about the Demon King?”

“I’m not sure what you mean by that.”

“Mean by that…”

After dragging his words for a moment, Dorithugs smirked.

“Let me rephrase. Do you think the Demon King is in his right mind?”

“…”

Ozges turned to look at Dorithugs.

While his expression remained unchanged, anger simmered in his eyes.

Dorithugs continued as if explaining himself.

“I know your loyalty runs deep. However, I’m just talking about reality.”

“I’ll listen.”

Ozges continued walking as if nothing was wrong.

Dorithugs also walked while continuing.

“A hundred years ago. The Demon King suddenly made a pact with humans. Despite all Corps Commanders opposing it. Looking back now, he probably wasn’t in his right mind even then.”

“…”

“After that, he stayed holed up in the castle like he was dead, and recently started acting strangely.”

“Strange how?”

“Hemis’s death. You surely don’t believe it exactly as told?”

At the mention of Hemis, emotion showed on Ozges’s face for the first time.

He bit his lip tightly.

“As you’ve probably guessed, there are many strange points about Hemis’s death. From what I’ve personally investigated… This was a joint work between the Demon King and the Pope.”

“Can you take responsibility for those words?”

“Well, whether you believe it or not is up to you. However, the Demon King’s strangeness doesn’t end there.”

Dorithugs continued explaining his doubts about the Demon King.

“Using the taboo necromancy. Attacking and turning Park Hyun-a into an enemy when we were already short on power after Rotark and Hemis died. And after Park Hyun-a left too when the Demon King’s Army was at its weakest. The Demon King forced a full-scale attack.”

“…”

“Ozges. Does this look like rational thinking to you?”

Ozges couldn’t answer.

Dorithugs was right.

The Demon King’s recent actions were far too strange.

At first, he thought it was simply because of Hemis’s erratic behavior, but no.

The sequence of events was wrong.

It was because the Demon King became strange that Hemis acted more wildly.

Ozges had also realized this earlier but couldn’t bring himself to accept it.

Then Dorithugs asked an unexpected question.

“Ozges. Do you know the lifespan of high-ranking demon folk?”

“Hmm, around 500 years, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. Even the most powerful demon folk usually end their lives before 600.”

While Hemis was still vigorous even after 1,000 years, this was an extremely exceptional case.

Generally, high-ranking demon folk retire after 400 when they enter complete decline.

And they die of old age between 500-600 years.

“The Demon King was already a Demon King before coming to this land. And already fully grown at that.”

“That means…”

“The Demon King is at least 700 years old. Probably over 800.”

“Hmm…”

Dorithugs here is about 350 years old. Ozges is 250.

They’re in their prime as demon folk.

If the Demon King really is over 800, he is no different from an elderly person who could die at any time.

While they weren’t unaware of this fact until now, everyone thought nothing of it.

Because Hemis, who was even older, was so vigorous.

Everyone naturally assumed the Demon King would be the same.

“Ozges. This is what I think.”

“…”

“The Demon King is too old. He’s at death’s door and can’t think straight anymore.”

Ozges remained silent.

Dorithugs sensed it was time to drive in the final nail.

“Loyalty, honor. They’re all good things. Virtues that demon folk should have.”

He placed his hand on Ozges’s shoulder.

“But you need to survive to have such things. If all demon folk are annihilated from this land, who will seek and remember demon folk honor?”

Finally, Ozges slowly nodded.

“What should I do?”

“For the future. We sacrifice our generation for the next generation.”

Dorithugs wore a grave expression.

“We overturn the rotten foundations of demon folk.”

***

Meanwhile, the Demon King who left the meeting hall was heading somewhere alone.

It was deep underground in the Demon King’s castle.

This was a space newly created a hundred years ago.

Since underground spaces didn’t exist before, no Corps Commander knew about this place.

All workers involved in its construction were killed.

There wasn’t even an entrance, so it could only be accessed through teleportation.

In other words, a secret space only the Demon King knew about and could enter.

Before the Demon King who arrived there was a dark corridor.

Tap, tap-

The Demon King walked down the corridor naturally, but his steps were strangely weak.

After walking for several minutes, he arrived at a door.

The door had complex defensive magic circles operating as double security.

When the Demon King reached out his hand, the magic circles recognized the user and temporarily deactivated.

Finally, the door opened.

“You’ve come.”

Inside was a young demon folk.

Was he even 100 years old?

With a small build and young-looking face, the demon folk seemed still in his growth period.

“Let’s begin.”

“Yes.”

The Demon King sat habitually in the chair placed in the center.

The young demon folk stood before him and closed his eyes.

Woong-

Soon a magic circle glowed and the Demon King’s demonic energy flowed into the young demon folk.

At the same time, the Demon King’s appearance began changing dramatically.

His muscular body shrank, skin instantly shriveling.

His horns, once massive and solid, rotted and crumbled.

Woong-

Even during this, the magic circle continued extracting the Demon King’s demonic energy.

How much time had passed?

“Stop.”

Only when the Demon King’s demonic energy was nearly depleted did the magic circle stop.

“Hmm…”

Demon King Tegrad groaned softly.

As the demonic energy left, exhaustion swept through his entire body.

The young demon folk kept his eyes closed, concentrating as if trying to absorb even a little more of the Demon King’s demonic energy.

Time passed again like this.

Finally, the young demon folk opened his eyes.

“Phew…”

“The absorption rate?”

“About 0.2 percent.”

“That’s not enough. We don’t have much time left.”

“Yes…”

“Then I’ll be going now.”

The Demon King stood up.

“You’re leaving already?”

“My demonic energy has recovered somewhat.”

As if to prove those words weren’t lies, the Demon King had already returned to his original sturdy, muscular form.

His crumbled horns had also regained their original large, majestic appearance.

“Hah, maintaining this form is starting to become difficult…”

Suddenly the Demon King staggered.

The young demon folk hurriedly supported him.

“Just a little. Rest just a little longer.”

“… Alright.”

The Demon King sat back in the chair.

The Demon King growing weaker with each passing day.

The young demon folk knew it was because he was sharing his power with him.

Of course, it would have happened eventually due to aging, but he was causing that time to keep moving forward.

“You…”

Then Demon King Tegrad spoke.

“More strongly than anyone…”

His eyes gradually closed as he spoke.

“Lead the demon folk…”

With those words, the Demon King’s head drooped.

The young demon folk startled and checked on the Demon King.

“…”

Fortunately, the Demon King wasn’t dead.

He had simply fallen asleep.

“Phew…”

Looking at the silently drooping Demon King, the young demon folk nodded.

“Leave it to me. Father.”

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