Clang!
With the last of the demons slain in one fell swoop, Aindel sheathed her Holy Sword.
Half the city lay in ruins, and she gazed upon the scattered bodies of people with a sorrowful expression.
The Academy building was also in a state of collapse due to the demons’ attack, and the corpses of students were scattered among the rubble.
Aindel stopped her recovery abruptly and left the Holy City because she sensed an anomaly.
And as she had felt, the outside world was already engulfed in a terrible catastrophe.
Despite her quick arrival, numerous people had already perished.
A simultaneous invasion of demons. With only a handful of powerful forces, including the archdemons, they swept across Santea.
Starting from the capital and moving through the closest regions, Aindel had arrived here immediately, but...
'She’s gone.'
No matter how hard she searched, she couldn’t sense Kaen’s presence.
Not on the Academy grounds, not at her home in the city.
Moreover, if the Seventh Lord, who should have been by Kaen’s side at all times, had been here in the first place, he could not have stood idly by while this disaster occurred.
If the Seventh Lord, who should always be by Kaen’s side, wasn’t in the city, that meant Kaen wasn’t either.
So, where could they be now?
“...”
Aindel turned, about to move to save those who were most in need, but when she turned her head, she saw the head of the archdemon she had just killed. It was rolling on the ground and had its eyes turned pitch-black while its mouth started moving.
- You have indeed grown weaker, hero.
Aindel narrowed her eyes. It was not the demon she killed who was speaking now, but another demon who had borrowed its body.
The leader of the demons who had organized this raid from beyond Altelore.
“Azekel”
The demon’s head chuckled.
- It’s not long now. The day of his resurrection is approaching. You should wait for that day.
Leaving only those words behind, the demon’s head turned into ashes.
Aindel stared at the spot where the head disappeared with a stern expression, then moved her body.
'Where are you, Kaen, Seventh Lord?'
***
After the situation was settled, I planned to hurry back to where Kaen was.
It wasn’t like something was going to happen, but it was not ideal to be far away from Kaen for an extended period.
After my tired body had somewhat recovered from the battle, around the time the sun rose to its zenith, I bid a brief farewell to the chieftains of Adessa.
“We truly received a great help. I will definitely repay the debt of saving Adessa, Seventh Lord.”
After thanking me, the chieftain of the beastmen shifted his gaze to the Beast King.
“Well, why are you staring at me?”
“I believe we’ll have a proper conversation again someday, Ignel.”
At those words, the Beast King snorted.
“There’s nothing left here to hold me back. I won’t see your faces again.”
The chieftain just clicked his tongue and didn’t say anything more. After bidding farewell to them, I prepared to leave.
The Chief of Staff and Thunder Lord would be returning soon, so I would only accompany them as far as the Great Forest.
“Seventh Lord, are you going to Enrock?”
At that moment, the Beast King approached and spoke to me.
I replied briefly.
“No.”
“Then where are you going?”
“Why do you care? Mind your own business.”
“Ha, don’t be a jerk. I’m just asking.”
The Beast King chuckled and shrugged her shoulders. I felt a strange change in the Beast King’s attitude towards me.
Could he be showing me some kindness because of what happened with Igrel?
It wasn’t as if I could see into her mind, so I couldn’t tell exactly what had changed in her.
Soon, I took off into the sky on Ti-Yong’s back.
In mid-flight, I felt a surge of magic and reached for the communication tool.
It was a message from Asher. What’s going on?
“......!”
After checking the contents, I couldn’t help but make a surprised expression.
- The demons have invaded the city. There are three of them, and they are all extremely powerful.
- I don’t know yet if they have an archdemon with them, and I may not be able to reply to you right away, as I’m going into battle from now on. Please hurry back, Sir Ron.
The demons... invaded? In Santea? No, could it be an attack aimed at Kaen?
It made no sense for the demons to know of the successor’s existence.
But why attack Herwyn’s territory? My mind was in turmoil.
'...No, it can’t be.'
I quickly regained my composure. Yes, this might just be that. Demon invasions were an event in the game.
As the Demon King’s resurrection approached, they cautiously launched small-scale attacks on various areas of Santea.
The intention was to minimize the uncertainties of the hero coming to Antelore alone, just in case it might happen, and at the same time, to assess the hero’s current condition.
The Emperor’s plan was also hastened and had now taken place. There was no way to avoid calling it a demon invasion.
Even the hero had said that the Demon King’s resurrection was near.
Damn.
I sent a message to Asher, but there was no immediate reply.
What if an archdemon was involved in the forces that attacked the city?
Even thinking about it was dreadful. My heart grew cold.
Right now, I must hurry back to where Kaen was.
But this way was too slow. Even with a Wyvern, it would take well over a day to travel at full speed without stopping.
What should I do? Wasn’t there any way?
Racking my brain, one thought flashed through my mind.
“Chief of Staff!”
The Chief of Staff, flying next to me, looked up. I called out to him and dived down. As I hit the ground, the three stopped moving and followed suit.
“What is it, Seventh Lord?”
Their curious gazes gathered on me. I said to the Chief of Staff.
“Is there a teleportation point set up in Santea?”
The Chief of Staff made a strange expression. It was information that passed by like a breeze in the game. I barely recalled it.
Like the underground of the Overlord Castle, the Chief of Staff also had a long-distance teleportation point in Santea.
“Yes, there is.”
“Can we move there right now?”
“It’s possible, but... could you explain what’s going on first?”
As I hesitated for a moment, the Chief of Staff spoke.
“As you know, my teleportation consumes an enormous amount of mana and resources, especially for the distant locations I’ve secretly prepared outside Calderic. Even if it’s a task requested by the Seventh Lord, I’m sorry, but I cannot comply without a convincing reason.”
The Chief of Staff was a direct subordinate to the Overlord. As we didn’t have a superior-subordinate relationship, I didn’t have the authority to give him orders.
Feeling helpless, I briefly explained the reason.
“I just received a message from my subordinate. The demons have launched a sudden attack on Santea.”
Upon hearing this, both the Chief of Staff and the Thunder Lord were taken aback. The Beast King raised an eyebrow.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, and it seems my subordinate, who was executing my orders in Santea, is in danger.”
“Your subordinate, you mean...?”
“The last surviving descendant of the White Moon Tribe.”
Of course, I couldn’t mention Kaen in this context, so instead, I created a reason involving Asher.
The Chief of Staff knew how much I valued Asher as my most trusted aide, so there should be no reason for him to object.
“We don’t have much time, Chief of Staff. Are you refusing my request?”
I pressured him subtly with a cold tone. Soon, the Chief of Staff shook his head.
“I understand. If the demons have moved, I need to act quickly to assess the situation. Shall we move right now?”
“Yes, we should hurry as much as possible. Exactly where in Santea is the location of the teleportation point?”
“It’s near the Kanteber Region, located to the east of Santea.”
Fortunately, if it’s to the east of Santea, it’s also close to the city of Bayonte.
“Hey, Chief of Staff, I’m going too.”
Suddenly, the Beast King interjected. The Chief of Staff looked surprised as he glanced at her.
“Will the Fifth Lord be accompanying us?”
“Do you have any objections? I’m sure the Seventh Lord is very tired, so I’ll help him out if he needs it.”
The Thunder Lord said after hesitating.
“I will accompany you as well.”
“Huh? Why would you do that?”
“If we’re going to teleport, there’s no reason for me to waste time going back alone.”
I didn’t bother stopping them. It wouldn’t hurt to have additional powerful forces in case we encounter strong enemies.
“Is it possible for us all to move together, Chief of Staff?”
“It would be a close call, but yes, gather around me, everyone.”
I, the Beast King, and Thunder Lord stood by the Chief of Staff’s side.
The wyverns also stayed as close to him as possible.
Rumble!
Soon there was a great surge of magic power, and the surrounding space warped with blue light.
***
Asher narrowed her eyes and focused his mind. The opponent was an archdemon. She wouldn’t be able to defeat him with her own power.
'We have to escape.'
Even if she was to die here, she had to ensure the successor would survive. It was an order from Sir Ron.
So, what she needed to do right now was clear.
“While I deal with this guy, all of you run away.”
Upon hearing Asher’s words, three people—Kaen, Rigon, and Lea—snapped back to their senses.
“Run away? That’s impossible, isn’t it?”
The archdemon, Oxytodus, sneered and raised his hand.
Then, a massive, hemispherical barrier rose around them, turning all obstacles into ashes.
Kwaaang!
Before the barrier could fully form, Asher hurriedly threw her sword energy at it, but it dissipated without dealing a single blow.
All escape routes were blocked. But Asher still moved quickly.
With all her strength, she rushed toward Oxytodus.
Oxytodus, who had been staring at Rigon with interest for some reason, shifted his gaze.
“But you really look like a White Moon tribe member, don’t you?”
Oxytodus stood still, merely waving his hand to effortlessly block Asher’s attacks.
“I heard you’re one of the top aides of Calderic’s Seventh Lord? Why would a Calderic knight be in Santea?”
Asher wasn’t surprised that her identity had been quickly exposed.
Even the demons of Altelore were not oblivious to events in the outside world.
The fact that a top aide of the Seventh Lord was a survivor of the White Moon tribe had already become well known, making it easy to deduce.
Asher solely focused on her attacks.
She tried to find the slightest opening, searching for a chance to strike, but it was futile.
The gap in power between them was enormous.
As Oxytodus counterattacked, Asher couldn’t withstand it and was sent flying, blood splattering as she crashed to the ground.
Witnessing that scene, Kaen clenched her sword and desperately prayed inside.
'Please, please!'
Golden sword energy. If only she could use that unknown power once more.
However, no matter how desperate her wish was, her sword didn’t turn golden again.
Oxytodus’ gaze returned to Rigon.
“Hey, young human. Yes, I’m talking to you.”
Rigon, with a mix of despair on his face, looked at him.
“I have a proposal for you. Make a contract with me and accept my power. And obey me.”
“...What are you talking about?”
“I can sense potential in you. You can accept my power quite well. You can become much stronger than these pathetic worms. Even this one.”
Oxytodus gestured towards the decapitated snake-headed demon’s corpse. Rigon stammered, trying to speak.
“I can’t... accept something like that.”
Oxytodus raised the corner of his mouth.
“If you accept the offer, I’ll spare one person among the humans here, excluding you. What do you say?”
The devil’s whisper shook Rigon’s gaze. Lea clenched her lips, blocking the way in front of Rigon, and shouted.
“Never accept it, Rigon! Never...”
Swoosh. A sharp sound echoed.
Lea felt her consciousness fading and lowered her head. There was a hole in her chest.
“Ah...”
Her body turned to ashes and disappeared in an instant.
Rigon remained staring at the empty space, stunned, then collapsed to his knees.
“Wh-what...?”
Kaen also watched the scene in a daze.
Lea was dead. The process was so empty and unrealistic that she could only freeze in place.
“Now there are two left. Choose. Whether to save one of them or let them all die.”
Oxytodus’ voice snapped them back to reality. Kaen trembled and rushed towards him.
“Yo-you bastard!”
Roaring, Kaen charged at Oxytodes, who waved his hand in response.
At the same time, Asher leapt in, wrapping her arms around Kaen and rolling on the ground. It was a close call.
Half of Asher’s face crumbled into ash from the attack, exposing every muscle.
“Ugh...”
Oxytodus reached out his hand toward Asher again. Rigon shouted.
“No! Please!”
“Well, make your choice. Next, it’s the White Moon’s turn. Will you make a contract with me?”
The demon’s mockery echoed. An unbearable despair shadowed him.
It was the moment Rigon was about to open his mouth with a miserable face...
Kwoong.
A massive vibration echoed through the barrier.
And the next moment, a blue ray of light flashed across the surface of the barrier.
Kwaah!
A group of people walked through the shattered barrier, and Oxytodus narrowed his eyes at them.
“You are...”
Fifth Lord, Beast King, Second Lord, Thunder Lord, Chief of Staff, and Seventh Lord, Ron.
“Are you the archdemon? You really stirred up the hornet’s nest, you demon brat.”
The Beast King laughed and drew the greatsword from her back.
The Seventh Lord looked around at the three fallen people.
“Oxytodus.”
He opened his mouth with an icy gaze.
“Die here.”
