Chapter 188

Chapter 188

Nahun didn’t have to wait long for Phynox. He was soon able to proceed to the audience room, guided by a servant.

As Nahun entered the audience room, he could clearly sense that the gazes directed at him were not particularly friendly. However, he was not the kind of man to be intimidated by that.

With a very brazen expression, he greeted them with exaggerated gestures, as if he were completely oblivious to their uncomfortable stares, radiating confidence.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Phynox.”

“…Yes, what brings you here from the 50th floor?”

“Didn’t you hear? Ah, it seems my subordinates didn’t relay the message properly.”

“What? No, that’s….”

It was, of course, a polite inquiry. Phynox was well aware of the reason for Nahun’s visit. But Nahun spoke as if he hadn’t considered that at all, or pretended he didn’t know.

“I have no choice but to repeat myself clearly, Your Majesty.”

“……”

“I came to hold you accountable for the improper transfer of prisoners on the 40th floor. Are you clear on that now?”

“How dare you act so insolently, even if you are a Reaper? Are you out of your mind?”

“I am perfectly sane. After all, do you think it’s the situation for you, Phynox, to nitpick how I conduct myself?”

“What!?”

Anyone who overheard might think Nahun was mad or that his sanity was in question. Phynox, too, was the lord of a floor. It was only natural to maintain proper decorum, yet Nahun behaved with such disrespect that it could be described as above insolent.

“Are you defying the orders of His Excellency Paimon?”

“What do you mean? You don’t mean to tell me…”

Phynox gritted his teeth in anger.

“Was it all part of your scheme that His Excellency Paimon sent such a letter to me!!”

“A scheme? I merely sought assistance from His Excellency Paimon. Since you and His Excellency belong to the same faction, I simply brought it up.”

“How dare you! Did you think you could toy with me and His Excellency Paimon with your trifling words?”

“What are you talking about? It’s not toying; it was a request. And if you had properly adhered to His Excellency Paimon’s words, I wouldn’t be here confronting you like this.”

Nahun responded to Phynox’s tirade with shamelessness, behaving as if all responsibility lay with Phynox.

“It was your side that failed to fulfill the promise, Your Majesty.”

“Shut up! What nonsense are you spewing after sending spies to me!? If you’re going to argue right from the start, it should begin with that!”

“Are you insisting that you have no responsibility then?”

“Ugh… We’re searching for them on our side as well, so wait a little! I’ll have them back soon….”

“One hour.”

“What?”

Nahun held up a finger.

“If you can deliver them to me within an hour, I will overlook this incident.”

“Are you giving me orders!!”

“Please listen to all my words, Your Majesty. This is not an order; it’s me stating a condition. If the prisoner we agreed upon does not appear before me within one hour….”

Nahun declared softly.

“It will be war.”

“…What?”

“His Excellency Seere von Debata has informed me. ‘If the Demon King Phynox reacts indifferently or tries to evade responsibility, I shall not hesitate to declare war.’”

Phynox could only be surprised. The 50th floor must have known. He had allied with Bine from the 44th floor, Shaz from the 43rd floor, Shabnak from the 42nd floor, and Sephar from the 41st floor.

So, for him to declare war meant he was confronting five floors. To say such a thing while knowing that…

‘…Does he think he stands a chance?’

Suddenly, Phynox recalled one fact. These were the ones who had brought an end to the Great War of the Celestial Demons.

The other Demon Kings felt the same, and so did Phynox, but they believed the end of the Great War of the Celestial Demons was not due to the power of Seere von Debata.

It was something that didn’t make sense. How could a Demon King ranked 46 drive off the armies of the Archangel and the Spirit King?

They all assumed there had to be some other reason. But for them to come at him with such an attitude…

‘Did they really have that power?’

It made Phynox think. Satisfied with his indecisiveness, Nahun smiled.

“What will you do?”

From Nahun’s perspective, it was fine if Phynox chose war or if he decided to give up. They were all opponents he intended to crush, after all. If war was chosen, it would proceed as planned without any changes, and if he gave up, dealing with the other allied Demon Kings would become easier.

Regardless of Phynox’s choice, Nahun and Seere’s side would incur no losses. Conversely, Phynox was suffering from a headache.

He realized the reason for Nahun’s brash and impertinent demeanor. If he had picked a fight over that instead, it would have only served to provide a justification for war.

The anxiety of not knowing the full strength of the opposing forces combined with Paimon’s advice troubled Phynox. Just then, Nahun added fuel to his dilemma.

“Oh, His Excellency Paimon said he would no longer concern himself with this matter.”

“……!”

That statement was tantamount to declaring that Paimon would not protect Phynox as a member of the Plebs faction. When Phynox looked at Nahun with a startled expression, Nahun spoke confidently.

“If you don’t believe it, you can check.”

“…You came here fully prepared for all of this.”

“Ah, that’s such a natural question.”

Nahun looked at Phynox with a gaze full of conviction, and to Phynox, such a gaze no longer appeared brazen or disrespectful. Rather…

“If that were not the case, would I have come here to your camp?”

That overflowing confidence began to instill fear.

#

In the end, Phynox chose war. It was impossible to bring back the prisoner within an hour anyway, and he judged that, without Paimon’s protection, he had to maintain his current alliance properly.

“I will respond to the declaration of war from the 50th floor. From this moment on, I declare hostility against the Debata faction. There is no longer any need to uphold any courtesy toward you Reapers; if you do not leave, I will execute you on the spot.”

“…If that is what you say, I will withdraw. I hope you do not regret this choice.”

“I will not regret it! I don’t know how strong you are, but we will not fall easily either.”

Nahun considered Phynox’s decision to be a reasonable one. He had expected a bit more floundering, but the quick resolution was commendable.

‘However.’

He overlooked one thing. That was the fact that Dein had already returned to the 50th floor. The information he had received from the 40th floor had already been reported in full to Seere, who was preparing for war.

“What were they preparing on the 40th floor?”

“Yes, it seems to be a new type of weapon. It felt like magical power, so it appeared to be a fusion of magical tools with weaponry… but I couldn’t ascertain the exact potency.”

“What was its shape?”

“It looked like a small cannon.”

“So, it’s a firing form. Got it. Prepare for it. You should also get treated before the teacher arrives.”

“…Thank you.”

Nahun tore open space to create a passage and returned to the 50th floor. Shortly after he appeared, Seere came to his office.

“Did you arrive, Teacher?”

“Has Dein returned?”

“Yes. I heard the information, too.”

“Well done. How is he?”

“He is currently receiving treatment. He is not in perfect condition. He is likely with Eri and Lukah right now.”

“You took good care of him in my absence. Thank you.”

As Nahun expressed his gratitude, he lightly patted Seere’s head. Seere accepted his touch with a pleasant smile.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes. The weapon inspections are complete, and the condition of each legion is fine.”

Seere wore a confident smile.

“We should be ready to deploy by tomorrow.”

And secondly.

The fact that Seere von Debata’s forces were already exceptionally strong. Nahun could see that her army had long surpassed the strength of the Demon King ranked 46.

Just observing their ability to carry out operations without issue even when supplies were cut off and not faltering against the celestial army was evidence of that.

Knowing this, Nahun nonetheless spoke cautiously.

“The opponent is an allied force of five floors. Our forces are not particularly disadvantaged, but we are certainly outnumbered. Keep that in mind.”

“Yes, Teacher. Still, I’m fine.”

Seere said.

“What hinders us, I will dispose of all of it.”

“Hmm?”

“Please trust and wait for me?”

“…Alright, understood.”

Even as he replied that he understood, Nahun tilted his head slightly.

‘…What is it?’

For some reason, he felt a slight chill from her. Nahun thought it was just a misunderstanding, but in reality, he was not mistaken.

“Then, I will go and do a final check.”

“Sure, do that.”

Seere smiled brightly at Nahun and left the office. After closing the door behind her, she moved away and murmured.

“I was hoping to spend some leisurely time with the Teacher for a while….”

She was about to miss out on the reward she should have received today, thanks to someone. Seere ground her teeth as she thought of the person who had brought the situation to this head.

“I’ll have to eliminate all the nuisances.”

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