NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 27
Chapter 27
In the underground prison of the Demon King Castle, Debata Castle on the 72nd floor, numerous humans were imprisoned alive. The ages and genders varied, and all spent their days locked up in the order they were captured.
“…When will we get out?”
Eri, one of Luke’s companions who had been captured while hunting Lamias, muttered. Dein, who was beside her, shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Dein’s face was pale. Several days had passed since they were imprisoned, with no sign of rescue, and he had also seen more people being captured. Not to mention, their friend and fellow companion, Luke, had been dragged away and had not returned.
“…Will we be able to survive?”
“Don’t say that, Dein! We can survive…!”
“Luke hasn’t returned. Do you really think they plan to spare us?”
Eri couldn’t respond. Thinking of Luke, who had not returned, she inadvertently shed tears. When Dein saw her crying, he spoke in a somewhat apologetic tone.
“…Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“Sniff, I want to go back…”
At that moment, loud noises began to echo through the previously quiet underground prison. The sounds of several footsteps could be heard, along with the voices of people talking.
“Have you gathered everyone?”
“Yes, I’ve noted the list here.”
“I trust you did well.”
Those who had come down were a bearded butler who had previously checked on the imprisoned humans and a man with black hair and golden eyes.
“…Who are they?”
“Not sure.”
Eri and Dein were seeing the man for the first time, but they felt an oddly ominous aura. The man walked through the prison, scanning the imprisoned humans with his eyes.
“Cain, move only the humans listed here to this prison and transfer the rest to another.”
“Understood.”
The butler, called Cain, issued orders to the guards.
“From now on, the humans I point out will be moved to this prison. The rest should be transferred to that prison.”
“Yes!”
Cain began to point out the people trapped in the prison one by one. The guards opened the prison door and started forcibly dragging them out, including Eri and Dein.
“Ow! Be gentle…!”
“I’ll get up, so please put away your weapons…”
After being dragged out, Eri and Dein felt slightly flustered. The man with black hair, who had commanded Cain, was staring at them with wide eyes. It was as if he had spotted someone he never expected to see.
“Wait, stop there. I need to ask you something.”
The man called Eri and Dein to a halt. The guards paused in dragging them and Eri and Dein exchanged glances before looking at the man.
“U-Us?”
“Yes, what are your names?”
“I-I’m Eri.”
“…I’m Dein.”
Upon hearing Eri and Dein’s names, the man’s expression turned rigid in surprise. He then subtly asked them.
“Do you happen to know someone named Luke?”
As soon as the name Luke left the man’s lips, Eri and Dein’s expressions immediately hardened. The very person who had dragged Luke away and had not returned was now asking about him as if he knew nothing.
Dein was sufficiently angry, but Eri seemed to become even more emotional, her fear forgotten as she yelled back.
“Luke was taken by you! You haven’t even told us if he’s alive or dead, and you don’t plan to return him…!”
“Taken? Did he come in with you?”
“You captured him! What…!”
Hearing Eri’s words, the man furrowed his brow in deep thought before suddenly bursting out laughing.
“Haha!”
“…What’s so funny?”
“Hah, so that’s how it was. Now that I think about it, that punk was originally active in Soter City.”
“You know Luke?”
Upon hearing Eri’s question, the man’s golden eyes sparkled with predatory intent as he looked at Eri and Dein. He then commanded Cain beside him.
“Put these two in separate cells. Also, pick two more humans from those not on the list.”
“Understood, Nahun.”
Cain bowed his head and saluted the man. Nahun; it seemed that was the man’s name. Eri and Dein were taken aback by the fact that they were to be locked up separately.
Cain ordered the guards.
“Lock those two in solitary confinement.”
“Yes.”
The guards separated the two into solitary cells. They had at least been able to lean on each other, but being completely apart made Eri tremble with anxiety. At least they were in cells facing each other, so they could see each other’s faces.
While Cain and the guards were busy with the sorting task, Eri cautiously whispered through the bars.
“W-Why are we being separated? What’s going to happen to us?”
Hearing Eri’s anxious voice, Dein narrowed his brows slightly. He recalled the reaction of the man named Nahun from earlier and said.
“That demon… he seemed to know Luke. Is it possible that Luke is related to a demon he hunted in the Demon World…?”
“Then he might seek revenge on us!?”
“Hey, be quiet!!”
Because Eri’s voice had risen, a guard raised his weapon and warned them. Eri flinched before lowering her shoulders and muttering.
“I want to see Luke…”
“……”
Dein felt the same. Luke, Dein, and Eri had been inseparable since childhood friends. It was natural to miss Luke, who had suddenly disappeared and not returned.
As they felt a tremendous sense of loss, they heard the sound of a cell being locked somewhere. Perhaps the sorting had ended, as Nahun slowly approached the solitary cells where Eri and Dein were trapped.
Even though he was just looking at them normally, every time they met his golden eyes, they couldn’t help but flinch in surprise. Eri and Dein looked at him with expressions full of tension.
“Your names are definitely Eri and Dein, correct?”
“Y-Yes. But…”
“Right… It doesn’t seem like you’re lying. The Luke you know is a tall man with blonde hair and a rather slim figure, correct?”
For some reason, Nahun seemed to know Luke’s appearance perfectly. Eri and Dein felt a chill crawling down their spines as they stared blankly at Nahun.
“How do you know that?”
“That he was taken by the guards?”
“Why are you confirming that again after taking him?”
“Hmph.”
Nahun called Cain over. When Cain, who had just finished sorting, approached, he asked him a simple question.
“Was there a blonde man among the humans who underwent the ‘Adjustment Operation’ led by Lin?”
“Yes.”
“Was he a slender man with blue eyes who was quite good-looking?”
“…Yes, he was sent to Soter City. That’s the city you asked to be the very last one to send them to, Nahun.”
“He went to Soter City?”
Nahun smiled broadly. Eri and Dein felt a sense of unease as they watched his smile.
“…Well, it seems incredible luck has come our way.”
Nahun chuckled lightly and ordered Cain.
“Open it.”
“Yes?”
“And take him to the office. Don’t remove any restraints.”
Having briefly issued his orders, Nahun left the underground prison. Cain watched his figure leave before turning back to Eri and Dein. He then commanded the guards.
“Take these two to the office.”
“Yes, Butler.”
Eri and Dein exchanged puzzled glances, then were seized by the guards and dragged along.
#
The reason Nahun wanted the two brought to him and knew of ‘Luke’s existence’ was obvious. Luke was a key character who also appeared in the game.
The most important enemy to pay attention to while progressing the Ebel Queen Maker was obviously the Demon Kings of different tiers, but similar caution was warranted regarding the forces in the human realm. Luke was one of the figures that players had to be most vigilant about in the human realm.
The Sword Hero Luke.
That was Luke’s true identity, who was merely a C-rank adventurer. He might only be a C-rank adventurer at present, but he was one of the three heroes who appeared when player characters raised the hostility of humans beyond a certain threshold.
Although Nahun was unaware, that Luke had been captured during this operation and seemed to have been sent into the human realm as an agent. Even worse, it was precisely to Soter City, which Nahun had been most anxious about.
“To think I would be able to eliminate one of the heroes so early…”
Coincidentally, since he went to Soter City, Luke was certainly dead. The guild master of that place, Adelbert, would have noticed the mental manipulation placed on Luke.
“Adelbert wouldn’t let a manipulated human go free.”
At that moment, someone knocked on the door to the office.
“Nahun, I’ve brought them.”
It was Cain. When Nahun signaled for him to enter, Cain came in with a guard, bringing Dein and Eri along.
“You can leave now.”
“Yes!”
The guard greeted Nahun and exited the office, and Nahun turned his attention to the two.
Dein and Eri were the most formidable allies of the Sword Hero Luke. They had each become a very skilled rogue and mage, and they were among those who would pose the most challenge to players trying to eliminate the hero Luke.
“While they appear young and weak now…”
If you think about their portrayals in the game, it was evident that their potential was remarkable. Selling such figures off as mere slaves would indeed be an enormous loss.
“Dein, and Eri. I have a proposal for you.”
“…For us?”
“What is it…?”
“Come under my command.”
Cain’s eyes widened in shock. Not only was it surprising that he intended to take humans under his command, but it was clear that Nahun was not asking them to serve under Seere von Debata, but rather under himself.
“Nahun? What do you mean by that?”
“I can’t put humans under Seere. If it gets out that humans are among us, those opposing Seere will arise.”
“Ah… I understand, but why take humans under your command?”
“Rest assured, I have my reasons.”
It couldn’t be explained that they would be the companions of humans who would awaken as heroes later. All he could say was to trust in Cain’s suspicions.
Having deftly dodged the question, Nahun made a proposal to them.
“If you join under me, I’ll guarantee not only your lives but also ample compensation and treatment.”
“B-But you’re a demon, aren’t you?”
“Correct.”
Dein seemed very tense, swallowing nervously. He couldn’t understand why Nahun wanted to take them, mere humans, under his command.
Nahun spoke to the hesitating pair.
“Of course, it’s fine to refuse.”
“Pardon?”
“If you refuse, you’ll just return to that underground prison. Nothing will change.”
Eri and Dein looked at each other at Nahun’s words.
“…If we return to the underground prison, what will happen?”
“You’ll be sold as slaves, or you’ll end up like your friend…”
“W-What?”
“Your friend, the one named Luke. He’s dead.”
In his nonchalant tone, both Dein and Eri froze for a moment. It was natural that news of Luke’s death coming from a demon would be shocking. The two, who had seen Luke being dragged away, felt a surge of rage.
“…How can you say that so confidently!? Luke was taken by you guys!!”
As Dein yelled furiously, Cain’s expression changed completely. Nahun raised a hand to stop him.
“Don’t misunderstand, we didn’t kill him. It was a human who did.”
“…What?”
“I needed a human for my plans, so I just asked him and several others for errands. Luke was sent to Soter City, and I received reports that he was killed there.”
Dein had been consumed with rage just moments before, but his expression was now one of shock upon hearing of Luke’s death at the hands of a human, not a demon.
“Luke was killed… by Adelbert?”
That was indeed the truth. Luke had been killed by Adelbert Granz.
Of course, the reason Adelbert was led to kill Luke was entirely due to Nahun’s planning, but he intentionally concealed that fact. After all, bringing up Luke’s death was for two reasons.
First, to threaten Eri and Dein’s lives. And second, to instill hostility toward the demons, making them harbor animosity towards the same humans as well. Utilizing the death of their most cherished friend.
Nahun spoke with a demeanor suggesting they should choose freely.
“Choose. Will you secure your lives and work under me? Or will you be sold as slaves?”
“Slaves… you say?”
“Yes, slaves. The humans we capture will be sold as slaves to the demons of other tiers. It’s not difficult to predict what kind of end they will meet after being sold as slaves.”
Dein and Eri exchanged glances. The revelation that Luke had been killed by a human was shocking enough, and hearing they could be sold off as slaves left the two unable to steady their eyes.
Ultimately, it was Eri who wavered first.
“W-Will you really spare our lives?”
“I don’t speak with a forked tongue.”
“I-I’ll do it!”
“Eri!?”
Eri abruptly turned to the stunned Dein and declared.
“He said he would save us and treat us well!”
“Why would he treat us well? Do you believe what he’s saying?”
“…Even if I can’t believe it, I want to believe it.”
Eri gave a hollow laugh.
“When have we ever been treated well by someone? Since becoming adventurers, all we’ve done has been chores, and who would treat a C-rank adventurer with such petty tasks?”
“Eri….”
“I don’t want to die. I don’t want to be sold as a slave. So I’ll seize this opportunity, no matter what.”
Eri’s gaze turned toward Nahun.
“Even if it means making a pact with the devil.”
“…Well then, Dein, I would like to hear your answer too. I won’t give you more time to think. I’m a busy man after all.”
Nahun looked at Dein. While his gaze had already wavered, now that Eri had readily accepted Nahun’s proposal, his feelings were all the more destabilized.
Most people choose life over death. Dein was no different. Although he mourned Luke’s death, he didn’t wish to follow him to the grave.
“…I understand. I’ll also join. You said you would treat us well, right?”
“Indeed, if you listen to my words and do your roles well.”
“What will you have us do?”
Nahun replied simply.
“Study.”
“Yes?”
“With your current abilities, you can’t do anything. To be of help to me, you need to grow your capabilities first.”
Dein and Eri had great potential for growth, but they weren’t immediately useful.
“I’ll give you a period of three years. If you can’t show substantial growth in that time, your future will become bleak.”
Hearing the grim warning, the two recoiled slightly in fear. Nahun turned to Cain, instructing him to prepare accommodations for Dein and Eri, adding a remark.
“Keep an eye on whether they are doing properly or not. If they become lazy, feel free to deal with them as you see fit.”
“Understood.”
Cain released the shackles that bound Dein and Eri’s wrists and ankles. He then glared at them with a fierce expression.
“If you want to live, you’ll have to prove yourself useful.”