Chapter 106
Nahun walked with a shuffle. Staring at the completely burnt 69th floor, he pondered for a long time about how this had happened.
There were no bodies left. It looked like a ruin that had burned down a long time ago, to the point where nothing remained.
“……!”
Then, Nahun spotted an object. It was the bracelet he had gifted to Seere. An ancient gold bracelet. He couldn’t understand why it was here.
It seemed to have completely lost its functionality. He felt no power from it as an item anymore.
“…Leviathan.”
As Nahun called for Leviathan, a small white whale appeared. He then sequentially called out the names of Behemoth and Gize.
Just like Leviathan, small versions of Behemoth and Gize emerged.
“Puu.”
“Mung.”
“Beeee.”
The three massus remained unchanged. Their condition, brought from hell, was as it was. Then, what could he think of?
‘…Does time flow more slowly in hell?’
But that couldn’t be. When he proposed a two-year delay to Golraph regarding the celestial war, Golraph had accepted.
If time in hell was slower than in the demon world, Golraph would not have accepted a two-year span, as two years in hell would be a much longer time in the demon world.
Unless that was the case, there was only one thing to consider.
“…Was there something wrong with me?”
“Puu.”
As if to affirm this, Leviathan made a sound. The massus seemed to know what phenomenon had occurred to Nahun.
It appeared that much more time had passed than Nahun had thought. But aside from the passage of time, what about the fact that the 69th floor was entirely burnt?
“What on earth…?”
Just as he was thinking that.
“…Nahun-nim?”
At that moment, someone called out to Nahun from behind. He turned his head sharply to confirm the voice’s owner, and there stood someone he had never seen before.
However, Nahun felt he had a good idea of who she was. With her ash-colored hair and pink eyes, such physical traits could only be found in the lunar bloodline.
Although she had grown splendidly compared to before and was dressed in proper attire of a legion commander, she was so different that it was hard to recognize her…
“Veronica?”
“Indeed…, it was you, Nahun-nim.”
Veronica approached slowly and bowed to greet him. After receiving her greeting, Nahun quickly asked her.
“Why is the 69th floor like this? Why is everything burnt and gone?”
“…Nahun-nim, where on earth have you been that you are asking such a question?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re asking something so obvious. Were you perhaps not staying in the demon world?”
“…Yes.”
Veronica was one of the few who knew what Nahun was. The progenitor of the bloodline, she had spoken before Ersha Scarlet, so Veronica vaguely understood what Nahun was.
Therefore, Nahun spoke comfortably.
“I was in hell.”
“…What on earth were you doing in hell… Hah, never mind.”
As Nahun confirmed this, Veronica sighed.
“This is the aftermath of the celestial war.”
“What? That can’t be!”
“That can’t be? What do you mean? Two years ago, the celestial war broke out. Because of that, most of the lower-tier demon kings and their ranks were wiped out. We wanted to defend the 69th floor, but it was impossible.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
The celestial war broke out two years ago?
“Not only us, but the allied side had to give up some of their ranks as well. As a result, about 20 floors of the demon world were burned.”
Nahun’s eyes widened in shock.
“Then where did everyone go? Are they alright?”
“The allied demon kings and His Majesty are alive.”
“Seere….”
Nahun felt relieved. When he saw the bracelet here, having lost its function, he had thought that something terrible might have happened to Seere, but he hadn’t dared to ask Veronica out of anxiety.
Fearing that his question might become a reality. But Veronica shattered that anxiety.
With deep gratitude in his heart, Nahun breathed out a sigh of relief.
“…That’s a relief.”
“…Is it really a relief?”
At Veronica’s words, Nahun swallowed nervously and asked.
“Veronica.”
“Yes?”
“How long has it been since I left?”
Veronica sighed deeply and spoke quietly.
“Eight years.”
“What?”
“It has been eight years since Nahun-nim left his post. A lot has changed during that time.”
“……Eight years.”
They say ten years can change a great deal. But almost equal to that time, eight years had passed. It could be said that the demon world had changed significantly from what Nahun knew.
“…So, are you going to the Demon King Castle?”
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Before that….”
Nahun had things he needed to confirm.
“Tell me what happened during the past eight years.”
“…….”
Veronica glanced around. Then she spoke to Nahun.
“It might be difficult here. My ‘army’ will be coming soon.”
“Your army? You….”
“I know this sounds odd, but it’s because of the war. Because of it, I gained a position. Once the army arrives, you won’t have the time to chat leisurely with Nahun-nim.”
“…Then we need to change locations.”
“Yes, let’s go….”
Veronica said.
“I’ll explain it to you in detail.”
#
Two years since Nahun left for hell.
“Cough!!”
Seere von Debata was still cutting down enemies. She appeared with a hairstyle slightly longer on one side, according to Nahun’s preferences.
During the two years, Seere had already completed the task Nahun had given her. It had been a long time since she had conquered all the layers up to the 61st, besides the one handed over by Gremony.
However, Nahun did not return. Seere continued her conquest, believing that if she focused on her work a bit more, he would eventually come back.
Nahun had originally promised a time of two years, until the demon world convention held this year.
And so, alongside Gremony and Citri, Seere was now crossing the hurdle of the 50th floor.
The demon king of the 50th floor, Balram. A character with average power among mid-tier demon kings, he was not an opponent to take lightly despite only being 14 years old.
Gremony, who was well aware of the power of a mid-tier demon king, even warned her to be cautious. But the direct descendant of the Martial King easily brought Balram down under her feet.
Though she did not kill him as Nahun wished, Seere knocked Balram into a state of combat incapacity and wiped the blood that splattered on her chin.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes, Lin.”
“The outside cleanup is complete.”
As Lin bowed while reporting, Seere pointed at the Balram she was stepping on and said.
“Lock him up too.”
“Understood.”
“…By the way, Lin.”
“Yes?”
“Is there still… no news from our teacher?”
“…If there is any news, it will probably reach you first, Your Majesty.”
“…Okay.”
Seere pulled out her sword from Balram’s thigh.
“Cough!!”
“Just treat him so that he doesn’t die.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lin escorted Balram away with the soldiers, and Seere stood there with her sword, staring blankly at the ceiling. Seere felt lonely. Although many people around her, including Lin, cared for her, that unbearable feeling of loneliness still hung heavy.
“…Teacher.”
She missed the touch of the hand that would pat her head. Even during the five years when he was always by her side, she loathed being apart for even a moment… and now with two years without seeing him, it felt even worse.
That feeling became evident when Seere fought. Recently, her battles had mostly resembled someone venting their frustrations on an enemy. The enemies fell like autumn leaves to the wrath of the demon king, leading to a surprisingly successful conquest.
“Haah.”
“Your Majesty.”
At that moment, someone other than Lin approached Seere. Not a member of the army, but a servant of the Demon King Castle, Eldein.
“Eldein, what’s the matter?”
“Um, I think you should come quickly.”
“Why?”
“Eri has arrived.”
“…That person? But alone?”
“Alone… it’s hard to say she’s alone.”
“Is Deim with her?”
Seere tilted her head, and Eldein shook his head.
“No. Deim did not come.”
“Then what do you mean she’s not alone? If you’re playing games with me, Eldein, stop it.”
“It’s not a game. Eri arrived with a child.”
Seere’s eyes widened in surprise. And Eldein, as if affirming the truth of his report, didn’t add anything more.
“…Really?”
#
During the two years Nahun was gone, Deim and Eri had kept an eye on the dynamics of the Bismarck Empire’s civil war in the human realm. The civil war had lasted longer than expected.
At first, Princess Charlotte had pressured Emperor Leonardo’s army, believing the civil war would desolve quickly. But at that moment, the Holy Kingdom moved its military.
As if they had been waiting for this time, they struck the left side of Bismarck and, because of that, Charlotte was unable to completely eliminate the emperor and the northern army.
She had to give up on them just one step away, and the emperor and the north had regained their footing.
Charlotte quickly responded to the Holy Kingdom’s invasion, but the problem was that they were already soldiers exhausted from the civil war.
Charlotte issued a deployment order after allowing the soldiers as much rest as possible, but even so, the Holy Kingdom’s army was too strong for a half-prepared army to overcome.
Charlotte had to give up most of the western territories of the empire, and realizing that she could not drive away the Holy Kingdom’s army, she forfeited the lost lands. They locked the doors of the remaining forts and went into a defensive posture.
Thus, from the Holy Kingdom’s perspective, it became a situation where continuing the invasion would only result in losses, and the war fell into a stalemate.
As a result, the empire remained mired in civil strife, and the once glorious Bismarck Empire was gradually declining due to the civil war.
“Deim.”
“Yeah?”
“You didn’t give me a morning kiss.”
“…Right.”
And here in the outskirts of the Piast Kingdom, in the city of Ruteniun, they were. The culprits who urged the Holy Kingdom to rush the timing of the invasion a little earlier, Deim and his beloved wife Eri.
Of course, it was only part of the act, and most of it had long turned sincere. Unable to resist her charm, Deim kissed her cheek, and Eri beamed with a smile.
“Okay, I can give it my all today.”
“I’m the one going out.”
“Didn’t I cheer you on a lot last night? You’re still sore, huh….”
“…Ahem.”
That wasn’t an incorrect statement. Deim had a rather vigorous libido. Though he hadn’t realized how much until he started dating Eri, he realized it after becoming her lover.
“Where were we going today again?”
“I was thinking of heading to the Holy Kingdom for a bit. It seems I should take a look at what’s going on there as well.”
“Nahun-nim… has still not contacted us, right?”
“Yeah. Still, it’s a relief that Seere has been providing reports.”
Where on earth had he gone, leaving the work behind and disappearing without a trace? Deim had tried to investigate somewhat, but his tracks had completely cut off after visiting the forge on the 70th floor.
Eri, now much more accustomed to chopping vegetables, suddenly froze, then turned to Deim.
“Deim… you’re not going to leave me, right?”
Deim understood why Eri was anxious. The source of her anxiety began seven years ago, when Luke had lost his life to humans first.
Plus, this time, Nahun, whom she had trusted and followed, had vanished quietly without a word, multiplying Eri’s fears.
To ease Eri’s anxiety, Deim reassured her.
“Don’t say that. And Nahun-nim said he had something he needed to do. He’ll be back soon.”
“…Yeah, I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Anyway, I’m never going to leave you.”
Deim said with a playful smile.
“Unless you kick me out.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Hm, is that so? Then I’m glad.”
“Did you really think I might kick you out?”
“Not particularly, but… then I could keep being with you.”
“…Ugh.”
Eri lowered her head, looking shy, and Deim chuckled lightly at her. It was a peaceful daily life. He didn’t know how long it would last, but Deim thoroughly enjoyed this everyday life.
After finishing a breakfast prepared with quite remarkable skill by Eri, Deim put on his shoes. Then Eri hurriedly approached him.
“Have a good day.”
“Yeah.”
After exchanging such simple farewells, the two naturally pressed their lips together. Eri’s cheeks were still slightly flushed, but she was no longer surprised by it.
“I’ll be back.”
“Come back safely~.”
Eri greeted him cheerfully as usual, and Deim embarked on his journey as he always did.
Everything was as usual.
And when the daily life was to be broken would indeed come without warning.
