Chapter 186
The next day.
“…Why hasn’t Dein arrived yet?”
At Nahun’s question, Ersha also shook her head slightly. It indicated that she didn’t know either. Nahun looked at the letter he had received. It bore the seal of the Bog faction, and the content mentioned that Phynox had been notified, so Dein would be released soon.
“It seems like Paimon did everything right.”
“Was there a problem?”
“Hmmm…”
Nahun contemplated for a moment. It was hard to believe that Phynox had arrogantly disregarded Paimon’s orders. Although he was not well-acquainted with Phynox’s temperament, it was natural given the hierarchy.
Then where had Dein possibly gone? He couldn’t have soared to the sky or sunk into the ground. If he had been released, he would have surely returned by now…
“…Well, it’s not a terrible situation.”
“Pardon?”
“Get in touch with Phynox. Press them by saying that Dein hasn’t arrived yet, and let them know that if needed, we can talk to Paimon again.”
“That could be used to greatly destabilize them.”
“Right.”
As Nahun agreed, Ersha asked another question.
“What about Dein?”
“I’ll search for him separately. I happen to have a useful talent available.”
Ersha nodded and bowed slightly.
“Girl, I heed the command of the great one.”
Then she briefly left the office to deal with her tasks. Alone, Nahun pondered a bit.
“The possibility that Dein hasn’t been released seems low…”
Then he concluded that Dein had intentionally not returned to the 50th floor. Was there a possibility of betrayal? That seemed impossible.
‘Eri and Lukah are here.’
Even now, Eri and Lukah were residing in the Demon King Castle. If the news of Dein’s betrayal were to be revealed, even the members of the Demon King Castle, who were being kind to him now, would change. That was only natural, as they belonged to different races.
“There’s no way he would make such a choice…”
Then why had Dein intentionally not returned? Considering this, Nahun had a thought.
‘Is he hoping that I’ll take advantage of this situation?’
As he contemplated this conclusion, Nahun couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It can’t be anything else.”
Nahun got up from his seat and prepared the paper to write a letter. He took up his pen. If Dein had not returned because he was hoping that Nahun would use this situation…
‘I should make good use of it.’
It would be too lackluster to pressure only Phynox. It was also a good idea to gain something more from Paimon under the pretext of this matter.
“If I overdo it, things could get out of hand…”
Finding a balanced approach, Nahun began to draft the letter. Once he finished, he got up and left a note for Ersha to send the letter.
And then he exited the office. He headed underground to find someone he could use and meet with the individual Seere had entrusted to him for aftercare.
As he descended into the underground prison, the guards recognized Nahun and respectfully saluted him. Nahun lightly acknowledged their greetings and spoke.
“Is the hero still inside?”
“He’s still alive and well. He keeps refusing to eat, so we’re forcing him to consume something.”
“Good job.”
Nahun restrained his praise and entered further inside. In the deepest part of the underground prison was a woman restrained. Unusually, only one arm was bound, as it was possible due to the lack of her other arm.
“Hero.”
“…Is it you?”
The hero, Iris. She was still trapped here. Despite her current state, her gaze had not dulled; however, to Nahun, it seemed entirely like a facade.
“It’s quite inconvenient to live with one arm.”
“Who put me in this state to say such things…!”
“I did. That’s why I’m saying it.”
Nahun narrowed his eyes and glared at her. Iris flinched slightly, shrinking back.
“Remember that I can take your life whenever I wish, just like I did with that girl’s arm.”
“…!”
“However, I do prefer obedient dogs.”
“…What are you saying…?”
Iris trembled slightly. Then, as if hesitating, she spoke in a voice filled with disbelief.
“Are you… telling me to be your… plaything? Like a female dog…?”
“…What?”
In that moment, Nahun’s mind went blank. He was so taken aback by Iris’s statement that he momentarily forgot what he had intended to do.
Thud!
Nahun punched Iris’s forehead hard.
“Ah!!!”
“What kind of lowly words are those?!”
“Weren’t we discussing that? Then why say you like dogs…?”
“I said obedient dogs! Do you not comprehend that I meant I could spare your life if you served me as a loyal subordinate?!”
As Nahun explained, Iris’s eyes widened in realization. Nahun found her response frustrating.
“What on earth do you think about on a regular basis to come to such a vulgar conclusion?”
“I don’t think like that!! I was a holy knight!”
“Then explain why you came to such a conclusion.”
“D-Demons are all lowly and obsessed with lust…”
“…”
Nahun facepalmed. He narrowed his eyes at her and asked.
“Who says that?”
“Just books and various things…”
“What books?”
“…”
As Nahun pressed her, Iris clammed up. With no response from her, Nahun spoke irritably.
“If you don’t answer, I’ll break your remaining arm as well.”
“Please, can we not discuss those weird books anymore?!”
“Haa.”
As expected. Even before his reincarnation, people existed who viewed everything in a vulgar light. They always had some circuitry in their brains burning for such things. Nahun felt a similar vibe from Iris, confirming it to be true.
‘Metatron… this fellow also has a discerning eye for talent…’
Try as he might, she seemed entirely off. Nahun scratched his head slightly and said once more.
“I only need someone to serve as my hand and foot. I have no interest in your body.”
“Ugh…”
“Now, I will ask you properly. Will you obey my commands and keep your life, or…?”
His golden eyes, narrowed ominously, glimmered coldly. At that gaze, Iris recalled the figure she had seen during the Great Demon War and trembled.
“Are you saying I will die by your hand if I refuse?”
“If you do not listen to me, at least not by my hand.”
The image of Nahun overflowing with magic power and influencing the whole world was one she would never forget. The sheer calamity that he had become struck fear within her as she lowered her head deeply.
“I-I will follow you. What shall I call you…?”
“Nahun.”
“N-Nahun-nim.”
“Good.”
Nahun opened the bars and approached Iris. She flinched and trembled, but Nahun did not touch her; instead, he reached for the restraints.
Crack!
With a bare hand, he shattered the restraints. Iris looked at Nahun with wide eyes, shocked that he had broken what should have been unbreakable.
“Come. We have something to do right away.”
“Y-Yes…!”
Iris scrambled to her feet, following Nahun.
“Your task is straightforward. Go to the 40th floor and find another ‘human’ like yourself.”
“Pardon?”
“Are you having trouble understanding?”
“N-Not at all. It’s just…”
“Are you curious as to why there is a human among demons?”
Iris nodded. Nahun briefly explained to her.
“They’re similar to you. Do you understand now?”
“A-Yes.”
Iris thought. What other poor human might have been captured and reduced to such a state? Perhaps the other person lacked an arm as well – at that moment, Nahun continued.
“Don’t let the other demons find out. If they learn you’re alive, it’ll become troublesome for both of us.”
“I’ll consider it a stealth mission…”
“Good. I’ll see if you’re useful or not…”
Nahun handed her a sword. The shining white sword was Iris’s holy sword. Iris looked at Nahun with a confused expression, wondering why he was giving it to her, but he spoke matter-of-factly.
“I’ll judge you based on this mission.”
That confident gaze made Iris realize.
‘Ah.’
Even if he handed me this, he could easily kill someone like me.
That did not feel like a mere boast. She had witnessed the fate of the Archangel who had handed over his holy sword to Nahun firsthand.
“Since you possess the holy sword, you should be able to distinguish between demons and humans.”
Nahun said.
“I expect great things from you.”
“I will do my best.”
###
Soon after Nahun sent the letter to Paimon, a response arrived quickly. She confirmed that she had relayed the message to Phynox and added that if he were to violate it, it would merely indicate Phynox’s caprice. She also noted that she had conveyed the message once more.
“Which means…”
Nahun read through the letter thoroughly. Indeed, Paimon had outlined the subsequent actions as well. She stated that she wouldn’t interfere in this matter. It effectively implied that she could abandon Phynox implicitly, a significant statement.
From the perspective of the top-tier Demon King, the merit of the 40th-floor Demon King seemed to be worth no more than this. As Nahun folded Paimon’s letter, he contemplated.
‘It would be unreasonable to press harder this time.’
Just having made Phynox abandon the same faction was already quite an accomplishment. Even if it did not have a significant impact, it would surely have a small effect. This would likely act as an unsettling factor for the relatively lower-ranked Demon Kings belonging to the Plebs faction.
“Well then…”
Now, the conditions were set to strike at the alliance formed by the Demon Kings between the 44th and 40th floors. With Phynox, the strongest among them, having fallen out of line, it was evident that he would not take any action under this pressure… it was time to methodically advance from the 44th floor onward.
The groundwork was laid, and now it was time for action. Nahun stood up and headed to the office where Seere was.
“Hmm?”
“Oh, Nahun-nim.”
However, upon leaving the office, he found a visitor waiting. The ever-lovely Eri, alongside her son Lukah, who resembled her.
“Is there still no news about Dein?”
“…Don’t worry. It seems he was indeed released by Phynox.”
“Really? Then why…”
“It seems Dein has some kind of scheme in mind. So I’ll take advantage of that…”
“T-That can’t be true. You know how loyal Dein is. He wouldn’t betray you at this point…”
“…It’s not that type of scheme, Eri.”
“Ah…?”
Nahun slightly looked down before speaking.
“When a protector is anxious, that child will also naturally become anxious. Try not to show such feelings in front of them if you can help it.”
“…Ah.”
Eri looked at Lukah. Seeing his mother trembling in anxiety caused his expression to also sour. As Lukah, confused, was picked up by Eri.
“Mom…”
“It’s nothing. Everything is okay.”
“Um….”
When Lukah leaned his face against her chest, Eri gently patted his back. To Eri, Nahun said.
“Don’t worry and wait. I’m looking into Dein separately, and I think I might understand what he’s thinking about, why he hasn’t returned.”
“…Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me.”
Nahun looked at Eri for a moment. Technically, she should also be acting as Nahun’s subordinate, but…
“Take good care of Lukah. I’ll bring Dein back myself.”
“Yes, Nahun-nim….”
“You can trust me.”
Nahun moved on, passing Eri, and added.
“I sent a quite capable one.”
###
In a certain dim alleyway on the 40th floor, Dein was still walking, barely holding himself together. Given the ambiguity of his whereabouts, it seemed the factions of Phynox were in chaos. Even from the back alleys, one could feel the added tension of the tier.
‘It’s a relief that things have gone as planned…’
When he had not returned, he had expected that Nahun would swiftly interpret and judge the situation. Therefore, he had deliberately refrained from contacting the 50th floor. He also wished to prevent any clues that could hint toward his own involvement.
Thanks to that, it had become a scheme to deceive even the 50th floor… Dein trusted Nahun’s wisdom. And indeed, Nahun was appropriately utilizing this situation.
Everything was unfolding exactly as Dein had intended. However, there was one issue…
“Ugh…”
The wounds from the torture were not healing easily. He was unable to receive treatment and was hiding in this filthy alley when he should have been resting in a clean place. Moreover, there were many vagrants who would harass him upon seeing his state, so he could not even find a moment’s peace.
‘Still, it would be better to endure a little longer.’
He thought he had to hold out until Nahun would start taking action on the 40th floor. In that moment, Dein flinched and turned around.
With an instinctive movement, he threw a dagger. It was a near-supernatural action. Anyone else would have failed to react and would have been struck in the brow, but the person in front of him was anything but ordinary.
Clang!
The woman easily deflected the dagger and then looked at Dein. Dein felt slightly flustered. She was missing one arm. With her remaining arm, she was holding a pristine white sword, from which Dein sensed an unsettling aura.
“…You throw dangerous things. The dagger’s sharpness is one thing, but it’s coated in deadly poison as well?”
“…Who are you?”
Dein did not recognize her existence. He had not participated directly in the Great Demon War, nor had he been informed that Nahun had imprisoned her.
The woman tilted her head slightly, then nodded as if she understood the situation.
“I am Iris.”
“Iris? That’s the first time I’ve heard that name…”
“I’ve come to retrieve you on the orders of Nahun-nim.”
“…What?”
Iris conveyed Nahun’s message.
“Right now, you are commanded to return immediately by Nahun-nim. And personally, I think in your current state, you won’t be able to do anything. You should return and receive treatment quickly.”
“…How am I supposed to trust that you received Nahun-nim’s orders?”
Naturally, it was suspicious for a stranger to come claiming to carry a master’s orders, especially when that person was also human. After all, besides him, Eri, and Lukah, no other humans were under Nahun’s command.
Then Iris pointed to the missing arm on her body.
“…I lost this arm to him.”
“What?”
“However, if you still don’t believe me, I will forcibly take you back. If I don’t follow Nahun-nim’s orders…”
Iris spoke with a hint of trembling in her voice.
“I could possibly die.”
“…”
Dein studied her reaction for a moment. It seemed genuine—she was truly afraid. If that fear were directed at Nahun…
It wouldn’t be odd for such a reaction to occur. And no one besides Nahun would think of using a human as an obedient servant in this demon realm.
“…Alright, I understand. I’ve been in a tough spot anyway, so this works out.”
“Will you believe me?”
“Yeah, you look like someone I’ve seen before.”
In the past, both Dein and Eri had shared that experience. There was a time when they too had feared Nahun and his strength. Seeing the same resemblance in Iris, Dein obediently followed her.
If things had not yet started, he might have suggested to Iris to wait a bit longer…
‘…It seems the start has already begun.’
Nahun must have decided that he no longer needed to let Dein stall. Feeling relieved, Dein followed Iris as she led the way when suddenly, he sensed something and turned his head.
Iris was also directing her attention toward that direction. There was…
“…Didn’t I tell you?”
A man appeared with two horns on his head. He was wielding a sleek and sharp dagger as he approached.
“Turn back properly.”
The man was none other than Oris, the closest aide to Phynox.
Dein frowned. He was in such a battered state, with a one-armed companion beside him. Having felt Oris’s power firsthand, Dein determined that there was no hope.
“Hey, you should go back first. I’ll be fine…”
“No.”
Iris interjected.
“Didn’t I mention that if I don’t take you with me, I will die?”
“You’ll die here as well. If I explain the situation to Nahun-nim, they may understand…”
“Why would you die?”
Iris raised her sword with her one arm and stepped forward, causing Dein to panic slightly as he called out to her.
“Hey, wait a minute…”
“The one-armed swordsman…such a curious sight. But you too… emit the same repugnant odor as that fellow.”
Oris stated.
“I only needed that fellow from the 50th floor, so you’ll have to die here.”
“…That’s always how it goes.”
Iris’s sword slashed diagonally downward. She scrutinized her opponent with a seriousness and composure she had never shown before.
“It’s those without strength who always act so arrogantly.”
“…You speak quite boldly.”
Oris readied himself.
“Then let’s see the strength of one who talks so much.”
“Fine.”
Dein was already convinced that this fight was hopeless. Oris was far too powerful for merely being an executive of the 40th floor Demon King. He truly was a formidable warrior, being from the battle race of the yaksha.
However, what Dein had not accounted for was Iris. She was a being whom he had no knowledge of, and she was…
“I will strike.”
One of the strongest representatives of humanity chosen as the hero.
