Chapter 7

The wind howled through the cliffs of the Hittite Gorge. The natural gusts, replacing bellows, whipped the bonfire’s temperature to a level capable of forging steel. It was in this place that a guest arrived.

“Yurinel Larkponsia.”

If you know someone is coming, it’s not an ambush—just a visit. The Wind Demon King, Horisa, sat at the edge of the cliff, simply laughing. He no longer had a reason to live. That’s why he didn’t avoid the hero.

“Welcome.”

“What’s your scheme?”

The Sacred Sword, forged by the Three Divine Gods—the most revered goddesses in the world—gleamed coldly in the presence of the Demon King.

The hero, chosen directly by the Three Divine Gods, wielded power closest to that of a deity. Even as she pointed the Sacred Sword at him, Horisa sneered.

“Look at me. Do you think I have any schemes left?”

The Wind Demon King finally turned around. Yurinel flinched and stepped back. His face was skeletal, skin clinging to bone, eyes devoid of light. Was this really Horisa, one of the top-tier Demon Kings?

“Tell us your plan. Do we look that foolish to fall for such an act?”

The Western Family, renowned demon hunters who sought to conquer evil with evil. The last descendant of the Western lineage, Lucia Western, cracked her whip, the Demon Killer, infamous even among demons. Horisa flinched but soon returned to his melancholic smile.

“I knew you were coming. The winds are my ears, carrying sounds to me. But what does it matter? I don’t have long to live anyway.”

“So, what do you want? To hear your last words?”

The blue-haired mage, Parnell, glared at Horisa with disdain.

“Last words… Haha, hero. Do you even know what you’ve done?”

“Of course. We’ve sent you demons back to where you belong.”

“Lucia Western… Yes, I’ve heard the stories. The nightmare your family’s arrogance brought.”

Horisa genuinely admired it. The deeds of the Western Family were so insane that even a Demon King like him felt chills.

“To provoke Grimudo… That’s the most foolish thing I can imagine. You’d have a better chance of survival insulting the Three Divine Gods in their own temple.”

“You dare! Wait, you know about Grimudo?”

Lucia’s anger subsided as her voice lowered. Parnell also grew serious, pointing her staff at Horisa.

“Tell us everything you know. It’d be even better if you know his weakness.”

“Unfortunately,” Horisa spoke slowly, “the Primal Demon King is an enigma even to us demons. Though I’m ranked fifth among Demon Kings, I’ve never faced Grimudo directly. And I never planned to. Even among Demon Kings, he’s on a different level. There’s nothing good in meeting him.”

“Then we have no reason to spare you.”

“Didn’t you notice I didn’t run? I’m already dying. Can’t you even listen to my last words? How petty, hero.”

Yurinel Larkponsia remained vigilant as she replied.

“You do look unwell.”

“Haha, it’s worse than that. I can see death beckoning me. My hands… they don’t move properly anymore. Harmail, that wench, hid this from me.”

“Harmail? The second-ranked Demon King?”

“Yes… No matter how strong she is, she shouldn’t have been able to kill me. Even if she’s powerful, I should’ve been able to escape.”

Horisa muttered gloomily.

“If only she hadn’t brought Hydra’s Venom.”

“Hydra’s Venom?”

The demon hunter in leather armor looked puzzled. Her sharp black eyes narrowed.

“You mean the venom of the legendary Hydra?”

“Yes, one of the monsters in Grimudo’s army.”

Kuk, kuhaha! Horisa laughed as if something was amusing.

“They say Hydra’s Venom can bring down even a hero, and it’s true. My immense magical power, the winds that envelop me—none of it can counter this venom. I’m slowly dying. Hero, the reason I invited you here is…”

An ambush?

Lucia gripped her whip, Parnell prepared her magic, and Yurinel tightened her grip on the Sacred Sword. But Horisa did nothing. He simply chuckled and continued.

“To let you know that the last of Harmail’s faction, the Wind Demon King, is dying like this.”

“What?”

“Haha, you humans are so foolish. Shedding so much blood, doing her dirty work. Unknowingly, you’ve become the blade that removes her rivals. But judging by Harmail’s schemes, this was bound to happen.”

If you ask who the strongest among demons is, the answer is obvious. Even a three-year-old knows: the Primal Demon King, Grimudo, is the strongest.

But Grimudo is a figure from ancient tales. His monster army rarely shows itself, and Grimudo himself hardly ever steps into history. He has no interest in the fate of demons.

“But the Immortal Demon King… Harmail is different. She has lofty ambitions. Unification of all demons, with herself as the emperor… The establishment of the Demon Emperor’s Empire is imminent.”

Horisa sat back down at the edge of the cliff, completely at ease. Even a child could push him off now. But no one dared to attack him.

“Even if you could achieve strategic victories against a divided demon race, can you do the same against a united one? The Demon Emperor’s Empire will be humanity’s nightmare…”

“Haha, indeed. Don’t look at me like that. The fact that I’m telling you this should make it clear.”

Horisa’s words had merit.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not on your side, nor am I colluding with you. But I know this much: the fate of the demon race should not be left to Harmail. That foolish woman cannot be entrusted with our destiny.”

“So you called us?”

“Yes. You stop Harmail. To some extent, this is your doing. Now, with all demons united, Harmail is at her strongest yet most vulnerable. Strike now, and there’s a chance. Otherwise, all that’s left is war.”

Could they believe him?

The three heroes exchanged glances. Horisa noticed and chuckled. The now skeletal man pulled out a cigarette and tried to light it, but the wind kept extinguishing the flame. Parnell, annoyed, lit it with magic.

“Is this your final act of kindness to a fallen Demon King?”

Horisa exhaled smoke and muttered.

“Thank you.”

“Horisa. I can’t fully trust your words.”

Lucia Western crossed her arms and replied.

“We’ve encountered Hydra’s Venom before. The Slime Demon King, Marmanun, used it against us.”

“What…?”

Horisa’s eyes widened for the first time.

“That’s impossible. It must’ve been a fake. If it were truly Hydra’s Venom, you wouldn’t be alive. No magic can cure it!”

The legendary Primal Demon King, Grimudo, might have a way, but Horisa didn’t know it. No matter how much he searched, the venom that was killing him had no cure.

“Hydra’s Venom is feared more than any curse. It even infects those around me. That’s why I distanced myself from others and sent my subordinates away. The idea that there’s a cure is absurd!”

Hydra, the venomous monster. One of Grimudo’s monster army, with nine heads, feeding on pitchblende—a radioactive ore.

The venom is not just poison but highly radioactive waste. Yet, slimes, being liquid-based creatures, can extract and withstand it. That’s how Marmanun, the Slime Demon King, managed to use it.

Some of it was given to Harmail to target Horisa, while Marmanun used the rest on the hero party. He died laughing, believing the heroes would soon follow.

But the hero party was still alive—very much so.

“We felt dizzy and nauseous, but then we were fine. Is this really the incurable venom? Well, you demons can’t use divine power, so maybe it’s harder for you. Pathetic.”

Parnell openly mocked. Demons, even the infamous Evil God Oberta, are rejected by all gods. Demon Kings, being the leaders, are even more so. No god extends a hand to demons, descendants of those who defied the gods.

The unknown god behind Kyle doesn’t reject demons, but that’s abnormal. Normally, all divine power is hostile to demons. Trying to heal with divine power is suicidal.

Of course, whether demon or human, trying to cure radiation poisoning with divine power is insane. Horisa knew the examples of Hydra’s Venom’s use. Whether human or demon, unless you’re a slime, you’d die.

No hero has ever survived it. It’s rare, but once used, it brings certain death. Its self-heating nature makes it hard to store unless cooled with magic.

Yet, it’s used because once ingested, no one survives.

Once, the Archbishop of the Three God Faith drank tea, suddenly developed a fever, and died. Divine power was useless—it even hastened his death. The tea was suspected to contain Hydra’s Venom. Horisa had searched for a cure but found nothing.

If someone could cure it, they’d be beyond human.

“This is… unbelievable. How is this possible? Curing Hydra’s Venom? How? Did a goddess descend? Are the saints of this generation that powerful?”

“Saints? A mere平民 priest solved it with a single blessing.”

The once-proud Demon King crumbled. He clutched his head and screamed.

“Where is that priest? I want to see him. I’ll answer anything. I’ll tell you where my treasures are. Gold mountains, silver seas—what use are they if I’m dead?”

Even rolling in dung, life is fun. Horisa, facing death, pretended to be calm, but a Demon King who once enjoyed glory and power couldn’t truly be so. He was just desperate.

There was no way to survive, but even the faintest hope reignited his will to live. That hope instantly turned into a dagger piercing his heart.

“We don’t know.”

“What…?”

“We drove him away. We didn’t want a mere平民 around us.”

Parnell yawned as she replied, but to Horisa, it was as if the sky had fallen.

He stared blankly for a while before finally speaking.

“That’s fine too. I’ve made a fool of myself. I’ve been thoroughly beaten.”

“What?”

“Do you think I don’t know it’s all lies? No one can survive Hydra’s Venom. A mere priest curing it is absurd, and driving such a person away is even more ridiculous. Did you really want to mock me this much?”

Suddenly, the winds swirling around twisted. The hero party’s expressions froze as the wind blades tore Horisa himself apart.

“After all I’ve done to help you, you insult me like this? Fine, do as you please. Whether Harmail or you survive, it’s no concern of mine, a dying man!”

“Hey!”

“Yes, I was foolish. What does the fate of demons after my death matter? Do as you wish. I’ll do as I please!”

With a curse instead of a scream, the Wind Demon King disintegrated. The hero party was left stunned. Only after the blood mist was swept away by the whirlwind did Yurinel speak, bewildered.

“Why did he suddenly…?”

The dead Demon King had no more words, and the living companions were too shocked to speak. Only the sound of the wind continued to howl through the Hittite Gorge.