The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Glanston Castle, Earl Derek's study. In the stone-brick fireplace, blazing flames flickered, dispelling the chill of late autumn.

The Earl sitting behind the desk wore a faint smile as he toyed with the crest of the Granston family in his hand, carefully savoring the radiance gleaming on that golden shield.

The Campbell family was like the firelight in that fireplace, having forged the splendor of the Granston family. Yet when that hearth-fire grew too dazzling, it still fell to nobles of pure blood like them to turn the tide, to remind the former who was the true, shining gold.

Fortunately, the Granston family's foundations were deep, and that Duke whose roots were still shallow could not stir up much of a storm.

Everything lay within his grasp—

Be it the North Stream Valley Earl's Territory, the Campbell Duchy, or that Demon King in Thunder County.

Watching his master, who seemed certain of victory, the old Steward's expression was tinged with unease. At last he could not help but cough lightly and speak.

"Master… I am still somewhat worried. Demons from Hell are, after all, not so reliable. What if they go back on their word?"

"There is indeed that risk, but it is no real problem."

Earl Derek carelessly closed his hand around the Golden Shield Badge. The shadow cast by that broad palm covered the firelight reflected on the badge, as though blotting out the sky of Campbell itself.

"The Trident Knights are in our hands, the Light of Praise is in the Twilight Province, and Edward has already lost his greatest bargaining chip. The only thing he can rely on now is the citizens of Thunder City. The reason I contacted our ancient allies was no more than to reduce casualties."

Even without considering the Demon King, he still held two cards in his hand.

One was Jelock, and one was the King of the Ryan Kingdom…

The guests last night had not been only the Trident Knights, but also friends from the Royal Capital. In name they were mercenaries, but only peasants who knew nothing would truly take them for mercenaries; among them were even Knights who pledged allegiance to the King himself.

They had all come to rectify the chaos within the Campbell Duchy!

As he spoke of this, a glint of sharp light flashed in Derek's eyes.

"Furthermore, I do not believe the Demon King of Thunder County will refuse our proposal. The Campbell family is their hereditary foe; Aaron Campbell killed Xino's father. Even if that cold-blooded Horror Demon cares nothing for his father's death, they will never give up this once-in-a-millennium chance to win."

Reduce casualties… is it?

The old Steward could not help but let out a bitter smile.

Clearly, in Earl Derek's eyes, the citizens of Thunder City could not be called human.

Including those peasants who had left the land their families had tilled for generations, the Adventurers who earned their keep by the Maze, and the small and middling Nobles who had betrayed their own class.

It was not that the old Steward sympathized with these strangers he had never once met; he was merely worried that joining hands with the Demon King might draw the fire onto themselves.

The Church Court's Judicial Court had never been so close to this land; Lord Himenes was separated from them by no more than that single Rapids Pass.

This civil war… must it truly be fought?

They all claimed it was for Campbell's Future, yet it was Campbell people who died.

A soft knocking sounded at the door of the study; Earl Derek's gaze drifted toward the doorway.

"Enter."

The door opened.

A trusted aide who shared his secret faith stepped in, right hand pressed to his chest in a respectful salute.

"My lord… that Venerate has sent a letter."

Derek almost instantly straightened in his chair and pushed it back as he rose, a look of elation on his face.

"Take me there!"

…

The underground altar of Glanston Castle.

The air was thick with a stench where sulfur and beast blood mingled; a barbaric sacrifice had just concluded, transforming into those two streaks of crimson upon the statue.

Xino Dragon had descended here!

All was proceeding as smoothly as in Derek's plans. This Demon King, newly descended once more upon the altar, swept away his earlier unease, loudly venting his hatred for the Campbell family and lavishing praise on the loyalty of the Granston family!

"So long as you—and the Vassals of the North—dare to raise the banner of rebellion and challenge Campbell's throne, the million Demons of the Maze will pour forth in full strength and swallow Thunder City whole from beneath the Earth Surface!"

"…Once I have conquered the Campbell Duchy, you will remain the Earl of the North Stream Valley! No, I shall grant you the entire Valley Plain as your fief!"

Clearly—

He had already reached a fresh agreement with his Demon Generals on launching an assault upon the Earth Surface; otherwise, he would never have allowed his confidence to swell to such a pitch!

Derek was wild with delight, respectfully lowering his head, hiding the scorn and defiance in his eyes, leaving only the rapture curling at the corners of his lips.

"Praise the master who rules the night, praise the Demon God, praise the Demon King… the Granston family awaits your descent." He murmured softly, his voice nothing but devout.

This foolish "Minotaur"…

He actually thought he could conquer the Earth Surface!

Ha ha!

A mere piece of cannon fodder also wishes to sit at the table—he had never heard such a hilarious joke!

The two streaks of crimson upon the statue faded; the aura of terror departed this dank and clammy chamber, and the Demon King's will returned to his loyal Great Maze.

Derek likewise shed all traces of respect from his face and left the chamber without a backward glance.

With a brisk stride he passed through the corridor, leaving that stale air behind in the depths below, and returned to his own warm and bright study.

The flames in the fireplace still burned fiercely.

Unusually for him, he poured himself a glass of fine wine in broad daylight, gently swirling the goblet as he sat in that oak chair upholstered with velvet, carefully savoring it… as though celebrating in advance the birth of a crownless king within the great Campbell Duchy.

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