# Chapter 465: Side Story 138
The Demon Realm of the Skaldion dimension.
There were seven races and seven kingdoms here.
What were the Seven Races?
Demons, Undead, Dark Elves, Lycanthropes, Vampires, Dream Demons, and Dark Titans.
Did the kingdoms have names?
Of course they did.
But they were very simple.
Numbers were placed before the word “kingdom.”
From the First Kingdom to the Seventh Kingdom.
Even in the Demon Realm, was it acceptable to name countries so carelessly?
In a way, it was natural.
Because of the nature of the Demon Realm.
Rankings determined by the logic of strength.
The most powerful nation was the First Kingdom.
Conversely, the weakest was the Seventh Kingdom.
The measure of strength was the size of the territory ruled.
In other words, the larger the territory, the lower the number placed before a nation’s name.
For this reason, country names were not fixed.
They changed frequently due to wars that broke out constantly.
The Second Kingdom might become the Third Kingdom, or the Sixth Kingdom might become the Fifth Kingdom.
Traditionally, the First Kingdom belonged to the Demon race.
For a long time, they had reigned as the strongest nation in the Demon Realm.
What race came to mind when you thought of the Demon Realm?
Was it not the Demon race?
Demons were the traditional Demon Realm race, possessing a balanced trio of magic, physical abilities, and intellect.
But they had been stabbed in the back.
An alliance between the Dark Elves and Vampire clans.
They attacked and seized the territories ruled by the Demon clan, then divided the land among themselves.
As with all wars.
War in the Demon Realm was ultimately about territorial conquest.
However, there were regions in the Demon Realm that did not belong to any kingdom.
So-called neutral zones.
The equivalent of free cities in the mortal realm.
Heldon City was one such place.
It was one of the largest cities in the Demon Realm, yet it remained neutral.
So why was this place a neutral zone?
Because countless dungeons were densely packed in the Heldon region.
Demon Realm dungeons.
Places where demonic energy pooled more abundantly than anywhere else.
Dungeons were used as training grounds for demons, or for harvesting Magic Stones, demonic beasts, and byproducts from aberrations.
What if a single kingdom monopolized all these dungeons?
That would be a disaster.
Of course, being a neutral zone did not mean wars never occurred.
Demons were creatures who fought and clashed whenever they got bored.
Wars broke out constantly.
It was just that conquests were not recognized.
What if a specific kingdom tried to permanently occupy this place?
The other kingdoms would surely unite and declare war.
The mayor of Heldon City was Karax.
He was from the Demon race.
Once a Demon Realm noble and a lord who ruled over a fairly large territory.
But through repeated wars, his lands gradually shrank, and eventually were completely taken away.
The future of a Demon Realm noble who lost their territory was utterly miserable.
But Karax did not give up.
He brought all his family members and assets to Heldon City.
Through schemes and political maneuvering, he built his foundation and finally rose to the position of mayor.
He was no longer a noble, and the mayorship was not a guaranteed position, but nevertheless, Karax’s status in Heldon City was solid.
Karax’s dream was to shed the limitations of Heldon City as a neutral zone and achieve the status of a kingdom.
That was right.
Karax wanted to become a Demon King.
And that opportunity was right before his eyes.
A rumor currently spreading throughout the Demon Realm.
That the existing Demon God had been expelled, and the Divine Status he left behind was hidden somewhere in a dungeon in the Heldon region.
The Demon Realm was turned upside down.
Because it meant that whoever absorbed the Divine Status could become the Demon God.
So the elite forces of the Seven Kingdoms had gathered in the Heldon region.
They were building encampments in various locations and sending demons into the dungeons to search for the Divine Status.
A battle for Divine Status among the seven Demon Kings to become the Demon God.
Well, it would ultimately result in war.
The war would likely be a three-way conflict.
The First Kingdom of the Vampire clan.
The Second Kingdom of the Demon clan.
The Third Kingdom of the Dark Elf clan.
Karax could play the role of kingmaker.
Throwing his support behind a specific Demon King and having Heldon City recognized as a nation in return.
Who should he support?
The Demons, his own clan? The Vampires, the most powerful? The Dark Elves, the rising power?
‘What a wonderful dilemma.’
But he must not decide hastily.
If the Demon King he supported failed to become the Demon God, he would lose everything too.
‘First, I should meet with the Demon Kings….’
At that very moment!
Kaboom! Thud! Thud! Crack! Boom! Rumble rumble rumble…..
The castle shook as if an earthquake had struck.
‘Hm?’
What was that?
Had a war broken out?
‘That can’t be…’
Karax hurried out to the city hall balcony.
And the horrific scene that unfolded before his eyes.
“Th-this is insane!”
What was that?
“Golems?”
No, they were so enormous they could not even be called golems.
And the medium-sized golems that were smaller but moved with incredible naturalness.
The small golems firing destruction beams from their eyes and demolishing the city.
But those were nothing.
Beings that should not exist in the Demon Realm were running rampant.
“…Humans?”
That was right.
There was no mistake.
They were humans, not demons.
“H-how dare mere humans.”
At that moment!
“What’s wrong with being human?”
“What’s wrong? They’re inferior and pathetic…. Urk!”
A voice from behind.
When had they approached?
Karax slowly turned his head.
A human stood there.
An old man with white hair and a white beard.
“Speak. This lord is also human. Do I look pathetic to you?”
“…”
Gulp.
Karax swallowed hard.
The thick crimson energy rippling from the old man’s entire body.
‘How can a human possess such power?’
Karax’s eyes darted about.
What should he do?
Should he run? Or should he fight?
“You’re fretting like a little rat. Too embarrassed to run, too scared to fight.”
Vroom!
The human elder’s aura intensified.
‘Haa.’
It was nearly at the level of a Demon King.
No, perhaps even stronger than a Demon King.
“You still haven’t made up your mind. Let me resolve that dilemma for you.”
At that moment!
-Swish!
“Heave-ho!!!”
Thwack!
A shadow suddenly appeared and struck the back of Karax’s head with a dagger handle.
“Gak!”
Karax lost consciousness and collapsed forward.
“I caught him.”
“…”
Gwangma was dumbfounded.
“What are you doing?”
“Hm? Isn’t this guy the leader? So I caught him.”
“Heh heh, you truly are a thief. Did you not see that this old man marked him first?”
“Didn’t see it.”
“What a shameless fellow!”
Vroom!
The Blood Jade Force grew even denser.
“Enough! This is frustrating! Stop acting like a child, hm? What does it matter who caught him? Hm? Did we come here to compete for credit? Hm? We’re on the same side! Get a grip. Aren’t you embarrassed to act like this in front of Summoner Bong-nim?”
Mmm.
Gwangma’s face flushed at Kozak’s words.
Because every word was absolutely right.
‘I’ve grown old in vain.’
That was right.
Why had he come to the Demon Realm?
Was it not to assist the Summoner?
Yet here he was, blinded by competition over achievements.
“I’ll take this one. Don’t worry. I’ll tell the Summoner that you caught him, Gwangma-nim.”
Fine.
Kozak, you are the magnanimous one.
I acknowledge it.
You’ve grown a lot.
-Swish!
Kozak dashed toward Hwangcheon’s Gigant, carrying the unconscious Karax.
“Summoner Bong-nim! I caught the leader! The old man Gwang was fumbling around and nearly let him escape, but I went and caught him.”
…What?
“Oh! Really? Good work.”
“Geez, it was hard because of old man Gwang. He was wandering around clueless, unable to catch just one guy.”
“Come on, surely not.”
“It’s true. He really almost let him go.”
“Oh dear!”
“But I caught him, so don’t worry. Who am I? Kozak, Summoner Bong-nim’s eternal right hand. Hehehe.”
Heh heh.
Gwangma wore an empty expression.
“…Damn it.”
But what could he do?
That was just who Kozak was.
* * *
Heldon City plaza.
The situation was quickly resolved.
Could the demons withstand the overwhelming show of force from the Gigant golem army and the summoned beings?
Not when even gods could not handle them.
Ju-hyeok used the Judge’s Mallet to fully expose Karax’s past sins through visual recordings.
The various deeds the man had committed to rise to the position of Heldon City mayor.
But that was not what mattered.
What mattered was understanding the current situation in the Demon Realm.
A rumor had spread that the Demon God’s Divine Status was hidden somewhere in a dungeon in the Heldon region.
And the armies of the Seven Kingdoms were stationed throughout the area to claim it.
What would happen if news broke that it had been found?
War would erupt to seize that location.
Ju-hyeok actually knew the answer.
He knew which dungeon contained the Divine Status.
“What should we do? Should we charge in with the Gigant army again this time?”
That was the simplest method.
“I have heard that all Seven Kingdoms are gathered in the Heldon region. If we are not careful, we may have to face them all, so please decide carefully.”
Gyeon Dal-rae’s words were also correct.
We would not lose, but if we tried to suppress them, it would spark a Demon Realm-wide war.
That would defeat the purpose of coming here.
They had come to prevent unnecessary war.
‘In that case…’
Ju-hyeok looked at Karax kneeling in the plaza and spoke.
“Mayor Karax.”
“…Y-yes.”
Karax answered courteously.
He had no choice.
The energy emanating from this young man before him.
It felt like facing a god.
Submission naturally welled up from within.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“P-please speak.”
“Can you send your subordinates to deliver letters to the seven Demon Kings?”
“Certainly. B-but what should the contents say?”
What else?
That he wanted to meet them.
“Write that I have come at the request of Wignar, the main god, to assist in selecting the next Demon God.”
“Pardon?”
Furthermore.
“Also write that I know the location of the Divine Status. Tell them if they come to Heldon City, I’ll share it with them.”
“…Uh. A-alright. I will deliver the message as such.”
Let’s start with interviews.
Find a promising candidate and just appoint them as the Demon God.
What if the rejected candidates protested?
Well, what other choice was there?
They would just have to be suppressed by force.
***
The temporary encampments of the Seven Kingdoms’ armies in the Heldon region of the Demon Realm.
Mayor Karax’s subordinates delivered the letters.
Demon race Demon King Vulcanic read the letter.
With an expression of utter disbelief.
“A human? Are you saying the one who sent this letter is a human?”
“Th-that is correct.”
“And he claims to be an apostle of Wignar, the main god?”
“Yes.”
“And that he knows the location of the Divine Status?”
“That is correct.”
“Ha!”
It was absurd.
‘How dare a mere human interfere in the battle for the Demon God’s Divine Status?’
But he planned to go for now.
Not because he was following the human’s wishes.
He was going to tear the human apart and kill him.
And torture him beforehand to find out the location of the Divine Status if possible.
“Fine. Tell him I’m coming.”
The Undead Lich Demon King Remotar as well.
“Kekeke, how amusing. Very interesting.”
A human.
And one with the ability to reach the Demon Realm.
“He would make good material.”
Or perhaps he could make a soul orb from him and consume it.
“I should go see.”
Dark Elf Demon King Kadian too.
“I should see what kind of human he is.”
Lycanthrope Demon King Severn.
“Tell him to wash up well and wait. So I can enjoy eating him.”
Dream Demon Demon King Liliana.
“Haa, looks like I’m getting a new toy? Got it. I’ll be right there.”
Dark Titan Demon King Kraton.
“I’m going.”
And finally, Vampire Demon King Zaikal.
“A human who received divine revelation from Wignar, the main god.”
The contents were unbelievable, but….
This was definitely not a fake.
The letter bore the seal of Heldon City Mayor Karax.
Either Karax had sent it himself, or the human had subdued Karax and forced him to send it.
Either way, it could not be ignored.
This was definitely someone with something going on.
“Are you planning to go to Heldon City….”
“I wonder.”
Demon King Zaikal pondered for a moment.
Then.
“Tell Mayor Karax this. That I’m afraid I can’t make it due to scheduling conflicts.”
“…U-understood. I will relay that message.”
Did that mean he really was not going?
Absolutely not!
He would definitely go.
But secretly.
Without anyone knowing.
He planned to quietly infiltrate Heldon City, assess the human’s identity, and return.
Because that was the way of the Vampires.
* * *
Heldon City plaza in the Demon Realm.
Ju-hyeok was resting in a reclining chair that Rajiks had brought out for him in the plaza.
While sipping on a health drink that Mari had made.
He had sent letters to the Demon Kings.
Most had replied that they would come, so he just had to wait.
This was his second experience with the Demon Realm.
When conquering the Black Tower, he had moved to the Demon Realm dimension and beaten down arch-demons and Demon Kings.
He had met King Yama there as well.
What would this Demon Realm be like?
Would the Demon Kings be strong?
“There’s a high chance they’ll be pushovers. So weak that you’ll want to die from boredom.”
“Isn’t that too definitive?”
“Demon Kings are usually not strong. In fantasy novels, Demon Kings are the first ones to die to the protagonist.”
Was that so?
“It’s a famous cliche in modern fantasy return novels. Demon Kings die in the prologue.”
He had wondered when the cliches would come up.
“It’s a common plot device when the protagonist who crossed over to another world returns to modern Earth.”
In what way?
“In return novels, when the protagonist goes to another world, they have to come back. Otherwise, how would the modern fantasy story progress?”
True.
“That’s when you need the Demon King. When the Demon King dies in the prologue, a goddess appears.”
Like that white-robed god?
“The protagonist demands this of the goddess. I killed the Demon King, so send me back home as my reward.”
It did sound familiar.
“The goddess makes a sad expression and says, ‘Must you really go?’ The protagonist replies, ‘Yes, I must go. I want to eat kimchi jjigae.'”
Kimchi jjigae.
That was understandable.
“Then the goddess says, ‘Kimchi jjigae, I’d like to try it too. Hahaha! If you ever get the chance, please try some. Well then, goodbye.’ It goes something like that.”
So the point was that Demon Kings were nothing more than extras who appeared in novel prologues.
“But this isn’t a novel, this is reality?”
“As I’ve said repeatedly, novels are reality, and reality is a novel.”
Hmm.
Kozak, the cliche devotee, as expected.
“There’s another Demon King cliche too.”
“What kind?”
“When the Demon King appears as a female character.”
A female Demon King?
“It’s a cliche rated 19 and above.”
Oh!
His ears perked up.
“A beautiful girl Demon King. Voluptuous, perverted, tsundere, and while she’s antagonistic toward the protagonist at first, she eventually falls head over heels and secretly at night….”
At that moment!
“Dream Demon Demon King Liliana-nim is entering Heldon City.”
Oh!
The first Demon King had arrived.
Succubi and incubi, nightmares, and various other dream demons.
Liliana passed through the gates of Heldon City with her entourage.
Her outfit maximized exposure.
There was more uncovered than covered.
Her seductive figure was fully on display.
A face that combined an innocent and sexy charm.
A tail that swayed this way and that.
A languid, swaying gait.
She was temptation incarnate.
If you were human, if you were a man, you could not help but be swayed.
“Hmm.”
“Mm.”
“Ahem.”
His gaze naturally went to her, but Ju-hyeok was unaffected.
Because he had experienced something even more intense.
‘She’s not as good as Diamat.’
Our dream demon could make hearts race with just a slight twist of her body.
Meanwhile.
Arch-demon Diamat let out a small scoff.
How utterly pathetic.
‘You don’t even know your place, trying to cast such vulgar charm on the Master?’
Charm Authority activated.
This was also a form of attack.
Sufficient grounds for applying the Third Principle, Article 3.
Diamat blocked Liliana at the gate.
“Hey!”
Liliana flinched in surprise.
A succubus?
A face she had never seen.
“Cut it out? What kind of stunt are you trying to pull?”
Liliana was flustered.
Her heart pounded.
Her mind went blank.
The unfamiliar succubus’s presence was utterly devastating.
She nearly threw herself at her feet.
She wanted to place her head at the succubus’s feet and beg for love.
“Wh-who?”
“Me? Arch-demon Succubus Queen, Diamat.”
“Aah…”
“Stop wagging your tail and walk properly. Put on more clothes too, unless you want to die.”
“Yes.”
Immediate submission to a stronger being was the nature of demons.
Resistance was impossible.
Liliana immediately tucked her tail.
And walked carefully.
“Like this?”
“Yes. And go bow your head before my Master and kneel quietly.”
“Yees.”
In an instant, Demon King Liliana had become a modest lady.
The other dream demons followed suit.
“As expected, Diamat is the absolute authority in that field.”
“Indeed.”
Ju-hyeok acknowledged it as well.
